Opening day rosters gained clarity on Tuesday when the Atlanta Braves reached an agreement with Yasiel Puig, while Tampa Bay pitcher Tyler Glasnow provided hopes for teams awaiting players to be cleared following positive tests for the coronavirus.Puig agreed to a one-year deal pending a physical, a person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement is not official until Puig passes the physical.The 29-year-old Puig, who began his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, hit a combined .267 with 24 homers and 84 RBIs for Cincinnati and Cleveland in 2019. He also stole 19 bases.Puig was the last big-name free agent from the offseason who had not signed with a team. He helps the Braves fill a void left when Nick Markakis opted out for the season.Glasnow re-joined the Rays on after missing the first 11 days of summer camp following his positive test. The right-hander immediately jumped into a simulated game at Tropicana... [More]

Well-traveled Milwaukee Brewers first baseman-outfielder Logan Morrison figures it will be easy for him to adjust to games without spectators this season.“I played for the Rays and the Marlins, so I’m used to it,” Morrison said.The Brewers and other major league teams worked out again Monday in mostly empty ballparks, mindful the long-awaited start to the season is barely a week away and fans won't be coming. So teams are trying as best they can to ramp up the competitiveness of summer camps conducted in isolation.Several teams announced upcoming exhibition games, including Houston at Kansas City, Kansas City at St. Louis, and Cleveland against Pittsburgh.The Brewers will play intrasquad games for several nights starting Tuesday and are dubbing them the Blue and Gold World Series, a nod to manager Craig Counsell's alma mater, Notre Dame. Catcher Omar Narvaez and outfielder Avisail Garcia will draft teams for matchups designed to approximate the intensity of regular-season games.“It’s important... [More]

Well-traveled Milwaukee Brewers first baseman-outfielder Logan Morrison figures it will be easy for him to adjust to games without spectators this season.“I played for the Rays and the Marlins, so I’m used to it,” Morrison said.The Brewers and other major league teams worked out again Monday in mostly empty ballparks, mindful the long-awaited start to the season is barely a week away and fans won't be coming. So teams are trying as best they can to ramp up the competitiveness of summer camps conducted in isolation.Several teams announced upcoming exhibition games, including Houston at Kansas City, Kansas City at St. Louis, and Cleveland against Pittsburgh.The Brewers will play intrasquad games for several nights starting Tuesday and are dubbing them the Blue and Gold World Series, a nod to manager Craig Counsell's alma mater, Notre Dame. Catcher Omar Narvaez and outfielder Avisail Garcia will draft teams for matchups designed to approximate the intensity of regular-season games.“It’s important... [More]

Well-traveled Milwaukee Brewers first baseman-outfielder Logan Morrison figures it will be easy for him to adjust to games without spectators this season.“I played for the Rays and the Marlins, so I’m used to it,” Morrison said.The Brewers and other major league teams worked out again Monday in mostly empty ballparks, mindful the long-awaited start to the season is barely a week away and fans won't be coming. So teams are trying as best they can to ramp up the competitiveness of summer camps conducted in isolation.Several teams announced upcoming exhibition games, including Houston at Kansas City, Kansas City at St. Louis, and Cleveland against Pittsburgh.The Brewers will play intrasquad games for several nights starting Tuesday and are dubbing them the Blue and Gold World Series, a nod to manager Craig Counsell's alma mater, Notre Dame. Catcher Omar Narvaez and outfielder Avisail Garcia will draft teams for matchups designed to approximate the intensity of regular-season games.“It’s important... [More]

Well-traveled Milwaukee Brewers first baseman-outfielder Logan Morrison figures it will be easy for him to adjust to games without spectators this season.“I played for the Rays and the Marlins, so I’m used to it,” Morrison said.The Brewers and other major league teams worked out again Monday in mostly empty ballparks, mindful the long-awaited start to the season is barely a week away and fans won't be coming. So teams are trying as best they can to ramp up the competitiveness of summer camps conducted in isolation.Several teams announced upcoming exhibition games, including Houston at Kansas City, Kansas City at St. Louis, and Cleveland against Pittsburgh.The Brewers will play intrasquad games for several nights starting Tuesday and are dubbing them the Blue and Gold World Series, a nod to manager Craig Counsell's alma mater, Notre Dame. Catcher Omar Narvaez and outfielder Avisail Garcia will draft teams for matchups designed to approximate the intensity of regular-season games.“It’s important... [More]

MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Yu Darvish's spring training debut began exactly the way he predicted.First pitch, home run.Orlando Arcia connected right away, launching a drive over the fence in left center field, prompting the Chicago Cubs right-hander to rapidly snap his glove open and closed, imploring the plate umpire to give him another ball.“I knew that he was going to swing, and also this is first game, so I want to throw a fastball, a get-me-over fastball for a strike,’’ Darvish said. “So I was thinking last night if Arcia is the leading (off), he's going to hit the homer. So it happened.’’Darvish wound up going two innings against Milwaukee, allowing only one more hit while striking out three. He touched 98 mph with his fastball and mixed in five other pitches.While the 33-year-old Darvish aims to allow fewer home runs this season, he believes he’s ahead of schedule in his preparation to replicate his exceptional 2019 second half, which featured a 2.76 ERA, including 118 strikeouts in his... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Now that the Milwaukee Brewers have added Avisaíl García to their talented outfield, Ryan Braun could see more time at first base.García's $20 million, two-year contract was finalized Tuesday, a deal that includes a 2022 club option and could be worth $30 million over three years.Braun, who turned 36 last month, is Milwaukee's primary left fielder. The 2011 NL MVP played 18 games at first in 2018 but none this year.“Ryan's going to see some time at first base,” general manager David Stearns said. “He's open to it. He understands it. We certainly believe he can play over there at a good level, so that will be part of the rotation in 2020 but that will not be his exclusive position.”García gets a $500,000 signing bonus and salaries of $7 million next year and $10.5 million in 2021. The Brewers have a $12 million option for 2020 with a $2 million buyout, and the option would become mutual if García has 550 plate appearances in 2021 or 1,050 in 2020 and '21 combined. If the... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Now that the Milwaukee Brewers have added Avisaíl García to their talented outfield, Ryan Braun could see more time at first base.García's $20 million, two-year contract was finalized Tuesday, a deal that includes a 2022 club option and could be worth $30 million over three years.Braun, who turned 36 last month, is Milwaukee's primary left fielder. The 2011 NL MVP played 18 games at first in 2018 but none this year.“Ryan's going to see some time at first base,” general manager David Stearns said. “He's open to it. He understands it. We certainly believe he can play over there at a good level, so that will be part of the rotation in 2020 but that will not be his exclusive position.”García gets a $500,000 signing bonus and salaries of $7 million next year and $10.5 million in 2021. The Brewers have a $12 million option for 2020 with a $2 million buyout, and the option would become mutual if García has 550 plate appearances in 2021 or 1,050 in 2020 and '21 combined. If the... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Now that the Milwaukee Brewers have added Avisaíl García to their talented outfield, Ryan Braun could see more time at first base.García's $20 million, two-year contract was finalized Tuesday, a deal that includes a 2022 club option and could be worth $30 million over three years.Braun, who turned 36 last month, is Milwaukee's primary left fielder. The 2011 NL MVP played 18 games at first in 2018 but none this year.“Ryan's going to see some time at first base,” general manager David Stearns said. “He's open to it. He understands it. We certainly believe he can play over there at a good level, so that will be part of the rotation in 2020 but that will not be his exclusive position.”García gets a $500,000 signing bonus and salaries of $7 million next year and $10.5 million in 2021. The Brewers have a $12 million option for 2020 with a $2 million buyout, and the option would become mutual if García has 550 plate appearances in 2021 or 1,050 in 2020 and '21 combined. If the... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays are disappointed, though hardly discouraged.The overachieving franchise with baseball's smallest payroll returned home from losing to the Houston Astros in the AL Division Series confident that getting its first taste of postseason success since 2013 will make it stronger moving forward."We would have loved to be World Series champs, but reaching the ALDS for the first time in six years is a right step forward," defensive whiz Kevin Kiermaier said."You hate seeing it end right now, but at the same time, you think about Day 1 spring training, we accomplished most of our goals," the center fielder added. "We didn't finish where we wanted to, but at the same time ... what a fun year."After compiling the best record among major league teams failing to make the playoffs in 2018, the Rays improved from 90 to 96 victories this season to make the playoffs for the fifth time in club history. They beat Oakland in last week's wild-card game, then survived... [More]

Astros first. George Springer singles to left center field. Michael Brantley singles to left center field. George Springer to third. Jose Altuve singles to deep right center field. Michael Brantley to third. George Springer scores. Alex Bregman doubles to deep right center field. Jose Altuve scores. Michael Brantley scores. Yordan Alvarez grounds out to shallow infield, Willy Adames to Ji-Man Choi. Alex Bregman to third. Yuli Gurriel singles to left field. Alex Bregman scores. Carlos Correa strikes out swinging. Josh Reddick strikes out swinging.4 runs, 5 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Astros 4, Rays 0.Rays second. Eric Sogard homers to right field. Avisail Garcia grounds out to shortstop, Carlos Correa to Yuli Gurriel. Joey Wendle strikes out swinging. Kevin Kiermaier strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Astros 4, Rays 1.Astros eighth. Michael Brantley homers to right field. Jose Altuve homers to center field. Alex Bregman flies out to right field to Avisail Garcia. Yordan Alvarez walks. Yuli Gurriel flies out to deep left center field to Austin Meadows. Carlos Correa strikes out swinging.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Astros 6, Rays 1.

Rays first. Austin Meadows strikes out swinging. Tommy Pham homers to center field. Ji-Man Choi walks. Avisail Garcia singles to left field. Ji-Man Choi to second. Brandon Lowe flies out to shallow left field to Michael Brantley. Travis d'Arnaud singles to left field. Avisail Garcia to second. Ji-Man Choi scores. Joey Wendle doubles to deep right field. Travis d'Arnaud to third. Avisail Garcia scores. Kevin Kiermaier strikes out swinging.3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Rays 3, Astros 0.Rays fourth. Willy Adames homers to center field. Austin Meadows strikes out swinging. Tommy Pham lines out to left field to Michael Brantley. Ji-Man Choi walks. Avisail Garcia singles to shallow center field. Ji-Man Choi to second. Brandon Lowe strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Rays 4, Astros 0.Astros eighth. Carlos Correa grounds out to second base, Brandon Lowe to Ji-Man Choi. Aledmys Diaz pinch-hitting for Josh Reddick. Aledmys Diaz strikes out on a foul tip. Robinson Chirinos homers to center field. George Springer flies out to deep center field to Kevin Kiermaier.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Rays 4, Astros 1.

Astros first. George Springer grounds out to shortstop, Willy Adames to Ji-Man Choi. Jose Altuve homers to center field. Michael Brantley strikes out swinging. Alex Bregman walks. Yordan Alvarez reaches on error to shortstop, advances to 2nd. Alex Bregman to third. Throwing error by Yandy Diaz. Yuli Gurriel pops out to shallow center field to Brandon Lowe.1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 2 left on. Astros 1, Rays 0.Rays second. Ji-Man Choi grounds out to shallow right field, Jose Altuve to Yuli Gurriel. Avisail Garcia singles to center field. Brandon Lowe grounds out to second base, Jose Altuve to Yuli Gurriel. Avisail Garcia to second. Travis d'Arnaud hit by pitch. Kevin Kiermaier homers to center field. Travis d'Arnaud scores. Avisail Garcia scores. Willy Adames doubles to deep right center field. Matt Duffy pinch-hitting for Yandy Diaz. Matt Duffy grounds out to shallow infield, Zack Greinke to Yuli Gurriel.3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Rays 3, Astros 1.Rays third. Austin Meadows strikes... [More]

Astros fourth. Alex Bregman homers to center field. Yordan Alvarez strikes out swinging. Yuli Gurriel grounds out to first base, Ji-Man Choi to Diego Castillo. Carlos Correa grounds out to shallow infield, Diego Castillo to Ji-Man Choi.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Astros 1, Rays 0.Astros seventh. Yuli Gurriel reaches on error. Throwing error by Willy Adames. Carlos Correa doubles to deep left field. Yuli Gurriel to third. Kyle Tucker grounds out to shallow infield, Emilio Pagan to Ji-Man Choi. Martin Maldonado singles to left center field. Carlos Correa to third. Yuli Gurriel scores. George Springer pops out to shallow right field to Brandon Lowe. Jose Altuve flies out to deep right field to Avisail Garcia.1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 2 left on. Astros 2, Rays 0.Astros eighth. Michael Brantley pops out to Yandy Diaz. Alex Bregman singles to third base. Yordan Alvarez singles to right field. Alex Bregman to second. Yuli Gurriel flies out to deep right field to Avisail Garcia. Alex Bregman... [More]

A look at the best-of-five American League Division Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and Houston Astros:___Schedule: (All times EDT) Game 1, Friday, at Houston, 2:05 p.m. (FS1); Game 2, Saturday, at Houston, 9:07 p.m. (FS1); Game 3, Monday, Oct. 7, at Tampa Bay, TBA (MLB); x-Game 4, Tuesday, Oct. 8, at Tampa Bay, TBA (FS1); x-Game 5, Thursday, Oct. 10, at Houston, TBA (FS1).x-if necessary.___Season Series: Rays won 4-3.___Projected Lineups:Rays: 2B Joey Wendle (.231, 3 HRs, 19 RBIs in 75 games), LF Tommy Pham (.273, 21, 68, 33 2Bs), RF Austin Meadows (.291, 33, 89 in 138 games), C Travis d'Arnaud (.263, 16, 67 in 92 games with Rays; .087, 0, 2 in 10 games with Mets, and 1 at-bat in only game with Dodgers), 1B Ji-Man Choi (.261, 19, 63) or Yandy D�az (.267, 14, 38, .816 OPS in 79 games), DH Brandon Lowe (.270, 17, 51 in 82 games) or Avisail Garcia (.282, 20, 72, 25 2Bs in 125 games), 3B Matt Duffy (.252, 1, 12 in 46 games), CF Kevin Kiermaier (.228, 14, 55, 19 SBs in 129 games), SS Willy... [More]

Rays first. Yandy Diaz homers to center field. Tommy Pham called out on strikes. Austin Meadows strikes out swinging. Travis d'Arnaud strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Rays 1, Athletics 0.Rays second. Matt Duffy singles to shortstop. Avisail Garcia homers to center field. Matt Duffy scores. Willy Adames grounds out to shortstop, Marcus Semien to Matt Olson. Kevin Kiermaier strikes out swinging. Mike Brosseau called out on strikes.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Rays 3, Athletics 0.Rays third. Yandy Diaz homers to center field. Tommy Pham singles to center field. Austin Meadows strikes out swinging. Travis d'Arnaud flies out to deep center field to Mark Canha. Brandon Lowe pinch-hitting for Matt Duffy. Brandon Lowe grounds out to first base to Matt Olson.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Rays 4, Athletics 0.Athletics third. Marcus Semien reaches on error to third base, advances to 3rd. Throwing error by Mike Brosseau. Ramon Laureano out on a sacrifice fly to... [More]

A look at the American League wild-card game between the Tampa Bay Rays and Oakland Athletics:___Schedule: Wednesday, at Oakland, California, 8:09 p.m. EDT (ESPN).___Season Series: Athletics won 4-3.___Projected Lineups:Rays: 2B Joey Wendle (.231, 3 HRs, 19 RBIs in 75 games), LF Tommy Pham (.273, 21, 68, 33 2Bs), RF Austin Meadows (.291, 33, 89 in 138 games), C Travis d'Arnaud (.263, 16, 67 in 92 games with Rays; .087, 0, 2 in 10 games with Mets, and 1 at-bat in only game with Dodgers), 1B Ji-Man Choi (.261, 19, 63), DH Brandon Lowe (.270, 17, 51 in 82 games) or Avisail Garcia (.282, 20, 72, 25 2Bs in 125 games), 3B Matt Duffy (.252, 1, 12 in 46 games), CF Kevin Kiermaier (.228, 14, 55, 19 SBs in 129 games), SS Willy Adames (.254, 20, 52).Athletics: SS Marcus Semien (.285, 33, 92, 123 runs, 43 2Bs), RF Ramon Laureano (.288, 24, 67, 10 assists), 3B Matt Chapman (.249, 36, 91, 102 runs, 36 2Bs), 1B Matt Olson (.267, 36, 91), CF Mark Canha (.273, 26, 58), DH Khris Davis (.220, 23, 73), LF... [More]

A look at the American League wild-card game between the Tampa Bay Rays and Oakland Athletics:___Schedule: Wednesday, at Oakland, California, 8:09 p.m. EDT (ESPN).___Season Series: Athletics won 4-3.___Projected Lineups:Rays: 2B Joey Wendle (.231, 3 HRs, 19 RBIs in 75 games), LF Tommy Pham (.273, 21, 68, 33 2Bs), RF Austin Meadows (.291, 33, 89 in 138 games), C Travis d'Arnaud (.263, 16, 67 in 92 games with Rays; .087, 0, 2 in 10 games with Mets, and 1 at-bat in only game with Dodgers), 1B Ji-Man Choi (.261, 19, 63), DH Brandon Lowe (.270, 17, 51 in 82 games) or Avisail Garcia (.282, 20, 72, 25 2Bs in 125 games), 3B Matt Duffy (.252, 1, 12 in 46 games), CF Kevin Kiermaier (.228, 14, 55, 19 SBs in 129 games), SS Willy Adames (.254, 20, 52).Athletics: SS Marcus Semien (.285, 33, 92, 123 runs, 43 2Bs), RF Ramon Laureano (.288, 24, 67, 10 assists), 3B Matt Chapman (.249, 36, 91, 102 runs, 36 2Bs), 1B Matt Olson (.267, 36, 91), CF Mark Canha (.273, 26, 58), DH Khris Davis (.220, 23, 73), LF... [More]

Blue jays first. Teoscar Hernandez singles to left field. Cavan Biggio singles to shallow center field. Teoscar Hernandez to second. Randal Grichuk flies out to right field to Avisail Garcia. Rowdy Tellez pops out to shortstop to Willy Adames. Justin Smoak doubles to deep left field. Cavan Biggio scores. Teoscar Hernandez scores. Breyvic Valera strikes out swinging.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Blue jays 2, Rays 0.Rays fourth. Ji-Man Choi homers to right field. Avisail Garcia doubles to deep left field. Mike Brosseau grounds out to shallow infield, Breyvic Valera to Justin Smoak. Daniel Robertson grounds out to shortstop, Richard Urena to Justin Smoak. Matt Duffy walks. Mike Zunino flies out to deep left field to Teoscar Hernandez.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Blue jays 2, Rays 1.Blue jays fourth. Breyvic Valera singles to shallow infield. Richard Urena pops out to shallow infield to Yonny Chirinos. Jonathan Davis singles to center field. Breyvic Valera to second. Luke Maile... [More]

Rays third. Joey Wendle singles to right field. Austin Meadows flies out to left center field to Teoscar Hernandez. Tommy Pham homers to left field. Joey Wendle scores. Brandon Lowe strikes out swinging. Travis d'Arnaud pops out to shallow center field to Cavan Biggio.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Rays 2, Blue jays 0.Rays fourth. Nate Lowe walks. Avisail Garcia grounds out to third base, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to Rowdy Tellez. Nate Lowe to second. Kevin Kiermaier called out on strikes. Willy Adames singles to center field. Nate Lowe scores. Joey Wendle flies out to center field to Teoscar Hernandez.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Rays 3, Blue jays 0.Blue jays seventh. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singles to center field. Reese McGuire reaches on a fielder's choice to second base. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. out at second. Teoscar Hernandez homers to center field. Reese McGuire scores. Richard Urena strikes out swinging. Derek Fisher strikes out swinging.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on.... [More]