WASHINGTON (AP) — Slumping Bryce Harper was moved to the leadoff spot for the first time since 2013 and responded with a three-run homer that helped Max Scherzer win his fifth straight start as the Washington Nationals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 12-4 Wednesday night.Harper entered in a 5-for-35 slump and had not gotten an extra-base hit since April 16. He grounded out in the first inning against Chad Kuhl (3-2), followed Wilmer Difo's go-ahead homer in the third with a flyout, then gave the Nationals a 5-0 lead in the fifth with his ninth homer this season.Scherzer (6-1) allowed two runs and three hits in 6 1/3 innings, striking out eight and walked one.YANKEES 4, ASTROS 0HOUSTON (AP) — Gary Sanchez hit a three-run homer in the ninth off Ken Giles (0-1), who punched himself on the face and chin when he walked to the dugout after he was knocked out later in the inning, then threw a bat in the dugout and kicked it. New York won for the ninth time in 10 games.Yankees starter Jordan Montgomery... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Tyler Austin rushed the mound after being hit by a pitch from Red Sox reliever Joe Kelly, triggering a bench-clearing brawl in a ramped-up rivalry as the New York Yankees ended Boston's nine-game winning streak with a 10-7 victory Wednesday night.Benches cleared briefly in the third after Austin's spikes clipped Brock Holt's leg on a slide into second base. Holt took issue with the contact and they exchanged words before being separated.Then with the Yankees leading 10-6 in the seventh, Kelly caught Austin on the side with a 98 mph fastball. Austin slammed his bat on the plate, threw it down and took four steps toward the mound while hollering. Kelly waved Austin at him, and things quickly escalated.Austin, Kelly, New York reliever Tommy Kahnle and Yankees third base coach Phil Nevin were ejected.The Yankees scored four runs off David Price (1-1) in the first inning before the lefty ace exited the game with a tingling sensation in his pitching hand.Gary Sanchez hit two home... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Tyler Austin rushed the mound after being hit by a pitch from Red Sox reliever Joe Kelly, triggering a bench-clearing brawl in a ramped-up rivalry as the New York Yankees ended Boston's nine-game winning streak with a 10-7 victory Wednesday night.Benches cleared briefly in the third after Austin's spikes clipped Brock Holt's leg on a slide into second base. Holt took issue with the contact and they exchanged words before being separated.Then with the Yankees leading 10-6 in the seventh, Kelly caught Austin on the side with a 98 mph fastball. Austin slammed his bat on the plate, threw it down and took four steps toward the mound while hollering. Kelly waved Austin at him, and things quickly escalated.Austin, Kelly, New York reliever Tommy Kahnle and Yankees third base coach Phil Nevin were ejected.The Yankees scored four runs off David Price (1-1) in the first inning before the lefty ace exited the game with a tingling sensation in his pitching hand.Gary Sanchez hit two home... [More]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Saying he's not disappointed about being passed over as Arizona's opening day starter, Robbie Ray dominated a minor league game in his final spring training appearance on Sunday. And with that, he pronounced himself ready to build on his breakout 15-win season of a year ago.Ray struck out 12 with no walks in 6 1-3 innings against Colorado players from the high Class A ranks. He allowed two runs on five hits, including a two-run homer. He threw 86 pitches.Ray said his command was "really good.""Obviously it's tough when you go and play guys (on the back field) to get the adrenalin going, the same atmosphere that you're going to encounter in a big league game," he said, "but it went really well."When manager Torey Lovullo announced last week that Zack Greinke would not be ready to start on opening day, the obvious choice to replace him would've seemed to be Ray. Greinke was 17-7 with a 3.20 ERA and 215 strikeouts in 32 starts last season — Ray was 15-5 with a 2.89... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — There isn't a lot new to the Arizona Diamondbacks this spring, with a couple of notable exceptions.J.D. Martinez won't be in the outfield and the Diamondbacks need a closer.Still, there should be plenty of optimism when the team reports to the Scottsdale, Arizona, training facility, with the entire rotation and pretty much every position player returning from the team that won 93 games, earned the top NL Wild Card spot and beat Colorado in the Wild Card game before being swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS.The glaring omission from last year's team is Martinez, who probably slugged his way well out of the Diamondbacks' price range with his half-season in Arizona following a trade with Detroit. Martinez is among the many free agents yet to sign a deal.Torey Lovullo, named National League manager of the year for his work in his first season in Arizona, has to determine who his team's closer will be. Fernando Rodney is gone, and an intriguing possibility is for the... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — There isn't a lot new to the Arizona Diamondbacks this spring, with a couple of notable exceptions.J.D. Martinez won't be in the outfield and the Diamondbacks need a closer.Still, there should be plenty of optimism when the team reports to the Scottsdale, Arizona, training facility, with the entire rotation and pretty much every position player returning from the team that won 93 games, earned the top NL Wild Card spot and beat Colorado in the Wild Card game before being swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS.The glaring omission from last year's team is Martinez, who probably slugged his way well out of the Diamondbacks' price range with his half-season in Arizona following a trade with Detroit. Martinez is among the many free agents yet to sign a deal.Lovullo, named National League manager of the year for his work in his first season in Arizona, has to determine who his team's closer will be. Fernando Rodney is gone, and an intriguing possibility is for the team's... [More]

C John Ryan Murphy was 0-for-4 in his first start of the season, given a start the day after Arizona clinched home field advantage in the NL wild card game with a victory Sunday. He played 26 games for Minnesota last season, starting 23.

C John Ryan Murphy, 28, was recalled from Triple-A Reno. Arizona acquired him July 27 from the Minnesota Twins for left-handed pitcher Gabriel Moya. In 76 games between Triple-A Rochester and Reno, Murphy threw out 40.7 percent of attempted base stealers (24-for-59) and hit .238 with six homers with 34 RBIs. In 19 games with Reno, Murphy hit .284 with a .351 on-base percentage with two homers and seven RBI an threw out 46.2 percent (6-for-13) of attempted base stealers. In 141 major league games over four seasons with the New York Yankees, Murphy is hitting .238 with five homers and 27 RBIs.

C John Ryan Murphy will join the Diamondbacks when rosters expand Friday, manager Torey Lovullo said. Murphy was acquired from Minnesota in a minor league trade in late July. Murphy was slashing .284/.351/.373 in 19 games at Triple-A Reno. Arizona had played with three catchers all season until C Jeff Mathis suffered a broken hand Aug. 21.

Murphy took grounders at first base Tuesday, the NY Post reports.

With rookie Greg Bird struggling against left-handed pitching and Mark Teixeira out for the season, the Yankees are looking for a right-handed option to potentially see some starts at first base. If the team feels comfortable enough with Murphy's defensive abilities, he could draw a start there either in the final week of the regular season or in the postseason.

Murphy had a nice day at the dish Monday, going 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI.

The backup catcher has had a productive season for the Yankees, hitting .282 with 14 RBI and three home runs. Murphy now has two home runs in his last three games.

Murphy went 1-for-5 with his second home run of the season in Wednesday's win over the Red Sox.

It was just Murphy's first start in the last seven games, as the Yankees are less likely to give starter Brian McCann a day off down the stretch locked in a tight division race. The 24-year-old is hitting a decent .276, while his two homers and 12 RBI both mark personal-bests in his second year serving as the backup option behind the plate.

Murphy went 1-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts in Tuesday's loss to the Astros.

Tuesday was the third start in the last four games behind the plate for the 24-year-old, but the Yankees just appear to be trying to keep starter Brian McCann rested for the home stretch. Murphy is slashing a respectable .273/.305/.372, but won't see regular playing time, barring any injuries.

Murphy went 1-for-4 with a three-run homer in Saturday's win.

Murphy's game-winning homer was just the second of his young career, and his first of the season. The 24-year-old has picked up six hits in his last four outings, but his playing time has remained infrequent this season, and another home run this season seems highly unlikely.

Murphy went 3-for-4 with a trio of singles and a pair of runs scored in Thursday's win over the Orioles.

Murphy is hitting a respectable .272 on the season, just a hit away from putting up a career high in that department. But with little power (zero home runs) and infrequent playing time, there's not much here from a fantasy perspective.

Murphy went 3-for-4 with the game-winning two-run double against the Orioles on Sunday.

Murphy got off to a slow start at the plate, but Sunday was by far his most productive day of the season. Serving as Brian McCann's backup though, Murphy likely won't help out fantasy owners in most formats.

Murphy went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in Sunday's loss to the A's.

After posting surprisingly strong numbers at the plate in 2014, Murphy has struggled this season, as he's slashing just .205/.267/.333 with 13 strikeouts in 19 games. Still, the 24-year-old figures to remain the backup option to Brian McCann behind the plate, though he usually won't see more than just a couple starts per week.

Murphy is in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays.

Murphy will get the start Wednesday in place of Brian McCann, who is getting the day off. Murphy has seen limited action this season, but he is 5-for-16 (.313) with three doubles and an RBI. He will hit seventh against Rays starter Drew Smyly.

Murphy has apparently won the backup catcher job with Austin Romine designated for assignment, the New York Daily News reports.

Muprhy hit .246/.292/.397 with six homers in 59 games at Triple-A last year. He'll offer a little bit of pop as a backup catcher, but not uch else with the bat.

Murphy struck out in his only at bat in Sunday's Grapefruit League win over the Phillies.

Murphy has been competing with Austin Romine for the backup catching duties behind Brian McCann, with the loser of the competition likely headed to Triple-A. The 23-year-old was looked at as the slight favorite entering camp, but Murphy has gotten off to a slow start in the spring, going just 2-for-18 in eight appearances, so he may have to hit better down the stretch to earn the big league position.