NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees activated All-Star right fielder Aaron Judge on Wednesday and batted him second against Toronto, giving the team a full stable of active regulars for the first time since Aug. 8.Judge has been out since Aug. 26 after re-aggravating a strained right calf and landing on the injured list for the second time this season. Judge initially went on the IL on Aug. 14, returned for one game and promptly was put back on the shelf.Judge is batting .292 with nine home runs, 20 RBIs and a 1.081 OPS in 18 games this season.“Writing him back in the lineup is big,” manager Aaron Boone said. New York has been short-handed offensively since designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton was sidelined by a strained left hamstring on Aug. 9. Stanton was activated for Tuesday night's game against Toronto and went 0 for 4 with a walk.Second baseman DJ LeMahieu, shortstop Gleyber Torres and third baseman Gio Urshela have also been placed on the IL this season, but all have since returned.... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees activated All-Star right fielder Aaron Judge on Wednesday and batted him second against Toronto, giving the team a full stable of healthy and active regulars for the first time since Aug. 8.Judge has been out since Aug. 26 after re-aggravating a strained right calf and landing on the injured list for the second time this season. Judge initially went on the IL on Aug. 14, returned for one game and promptly went back on the shelf.New York has been short-handed offensively since designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton was sidelined by a strained left hamstring on Aug. 9. Stanton was activated for Tuesday night's game against Toronto and went 0 for 4 with a walk. Stanton was not in Wednesday's lineup.Second baseman DJ LeMahieu, shortstop Gleyber Torres and third baseman Gio Urshela have also been placed on the IL this season, but all have since returned. The team suffered through a 5-15 slump amid the injuries, nearly dropping out of the AL's eight-team playoff... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Ailing sluggers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton might be back in the New York Yankees' lineup as soon as next weekend.Manager Aaron Boone said Friday that both players are at the tail-end of their recoveries and could be sent to the club's alternate site in Scranton, Pennsylvania, this weekend to get at-bats. That would put them on track to return for the final 10 or so games in this pandemic-shortened 60-game regular season.“I would say they're both close,” Boone said. “They're both feeling well. They're both doing well. Hopefully, we're in the final days before they start getting some at-bats.”Judge is recovering from his second stint on the injured list this season with a strained right calf and last played Aug. 26. Stanton has been out since Aug. 8 with a left hamstring strain.New York has slumped badly without its towering power hitters. After starting this pandemic-shortened regular season 16-6, the Yankees entered Friday with 15 loss in their past 21 games, dropping... [More]

A look at what’s happening around the majors today:MAKEUP GAMEThe Astros and Athletics will play a doubleheader on Saturday, recognizing Jackie Robinson Day in the first game. Teams around baseball honored Robinson on Friday, but Houston and Oakland didn't play. The teams jointly walked off the field following a moment of silence, draping a Black Lives Matter T-shirt across home plate.Baseball’s protests against racial injustice continued for a third straight day. Friday night’s postponement came in the wake of 29-year-old Jacob Blake, a Black man, being shot by police in Wisconsin last weekend.All players, managers and coaches at Minute Maid Park were wearing No. 42, the jersey number Robinson wore when he broke the major league color barrier in 1947. The Athletics and Astros placed a No. 42 jersey in each batter’s box. Houston starters took their positions, with other players on both sides lining up in front of their dugouts.After a moment of silence, the teams walked back to their clubhouses.There... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The Yankees have placed right fielder Aaron Judge on the 10-day injured with a strained left calf just days after the star slugger returned.Judge was activated Wednesday but aggravated the injury in a game at Atlanta and was removed in the sixth inning. He was added back to the IL on Friday before the opener of a doubleheader against the Mets.New York promoted top outfield prospect Estevan Florial to be the 29th man, batting the 22-year-old seventh and starting him in center field. Florial has blazing speed, big power and one of the strongest arms in baseball, but also hasn't played above Class A, where he hit .237 with eight home runs last year. Florial had been working out at the team's alternate site in Scranton, Pennsylvania.Third baseman Gio Urshela was also sidelined Friday with a bone spur in his right elbow and is considered day to day. New York also promoted recently acquired shortstop Jordy Mercer from the alternate site and released left-hander Luis Avilán.Judge... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The Yankees have placed right fielder Aaron Judge on the 10-day injured with a strained left calf just days after the star slugger returned.Judge was activated Wednesday but aggravated the injury in a game at Atlanta and was removed in the sixth inning. He was added back to the IL on Friday before the opener of a doubleheader against the Mets.New York promoted top outfield prospect Estevan Florial to be the 29th man, batting the 22-year-old seventh and starting him in center field. Florial has blazing speed, big power and one of the strongest arms in baseball, but also hasn't played above Class A, where he hit .237 with eight home runs last year. Florial had been working out at the team's alternate site in Scranton, Pennsylvania.New York also promoted recently acquired shortstop Jordy Mercer from the alternate site and released left-hander Luis Avilán.Judge has now been sent to the injured list four times in the past three seasons. Yankees manager Aaron Boone was hopeful... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees star shortstop Gleyber Torres is expected to miss two to three weeks while recovering from strains in his hamstring and quad and pitcher James Paxton won’t throw for 14 days because of a strained left forearm.New York manager Aaron Boone provided the updates Saturday. The team worked out at Yankee Stadium after this weekend’s Subway Series at Citi Field was postponed when two members of the Mets tested positive for the coronavirus.Torres, Paxton and reliever Luis Avilan were put on the injured list Friday. Big-hitting Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and DJ LeMahieu already were on the IL, along with relievers Zack Britton and Tommy Kahnle and backup catcher Kyle Higashioka.Many pitchers around the majors have gone on the IL this season, including World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg, Justin Verlander and Madison Bumgarner.“I think it’s pretty simple,” Paxton said. “We didn’t get enough time going at a lower speed to kind of build up.”Major League Baseball shut down... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:BIG APPLE BREAKThe Subway Series scheduled for this weekend has been postponed after two members of the Mets tested positive for the coronavirus Thursday. The Mets say they won’t have any team workouts this weekend, instead letting players and coaches isolate at home while New York and Major League Baseball undertake more testing and contact tracing measures. It’s a well-timed pause in the season for the Yankees, who placed shortstop Gleyber Torres and left-hander James Paxton on their crowded injured list Friday. New York was already without star hitters Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and DJ LeMahieu, as well as left-hander Zack Britton, right-hander Tommy Kahnle and backup catcher Kyle Higashioka. Judge was expected to be activated Saturday after recovering from a strained right calf.NO TITOThe Indians don’t expect to have Terry Francona on the bench this weekend for a series against Detroit after the manager had a scheduled medical procedure... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — All-Star shortstop Gleyber Torres and left-hander James Paxton have joined the New York Yankees' crowded injured list.Torres had an MRI on Friday that revealed mild strains in his left hamstring and quad, while Paxton had an MRI on Thursday that showed a low-grade strain in his left forearm flexor. Both were added to the IL on Friday.Left-hander Luis Avilán was also placed on the injured list after an MRI on Thursday revealed left shoulder inflammation.The Yankees were supposed to play three games against the crosstown Mets this weekend, but the Subway Series was postponed after two members of the Mets tested positive for the coronavirus Thursday.The Yankees are already without star hitters Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and DJ LeMahieu, as well as left-hander Zack Britton, right-hander Tommy Kahnle and backup catcher Kyle Higashioka — all on the IL. Judge was expected to be activated Saturday after recovering from a strained right calf. Torres was injured running to first... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:SAN DIEGO SLAMMERSThe Padres have hit grand slams in four straight games, the only team in big league history to accomplish the feat. Eric Hosmer extended the streak when he connected Thursday night against Texas.All four slams have come against the Rangers -- Fernando Tatis Jr., Wil Myers and Manny Machado did it earlier this week.The Padres next take aim on Lance McCullers when he starts for the Astros at Petco Park. Houston has won eight in a row.HOLD ONThe Mets have another day off after two positive tests for COVID-19 in the organization. Their game at Miami scheduled for Thursday night was postponed an hour before it was supposed to begin and the series opener against the Yankees at Citi Field also was called off.Seth Lugo’s promotion from the Mets bullpen to the rotation was delayed because of the latest developments. He leads the team with three saves, but was set to start in place of place struggling lefty Steven Matz, who is 0-4... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors on Friday:SAN DIEGO SLAMMERSThe Padres have hit grand slams in four straight games, the only team in big league history to accomplish the feat. Eric Hosmer extended the streak when he connected Thursday night against Texas.All four slams have come against the Rangers -- Fernando Tatis Jr., Wil Myers and Manny Machado did it earlier this week.The Padres next take aim on Lance McCullers when he starts for the Astros at Petco Park. Houston has won eight in a row.HOLD ONThe Mets have another day off after two positive tests for COVID-19 in the organization. Their game at Miami scheduled for Thursday night was postponed an hour before it was supposed to begin and the series opener against the Yankees at Citi Field also was called off.Seth Lugo’s promotion from the Mets bullpen to the rotation was delayed because of the latest developments. He leads the team with three saves, but was set to start in place of place struggling lefty Steven Matz, who... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge homered twice and drove in five runs, connecting for the fifth straight game and breaking an eighth-inning tie with a tape-measure shot that powered the New York Yankees past the Boston Red Sox 9-7 on Sunday night for their sixth consecutive victory. Luke Voit also went deep in a back-and forth slugfest to help the Yankees (7-1) finish a three-game sweep in the first series this season between the longtime rivals. New York has won six in a row and 11 of 12 against Boston since last July.DJ LeMahieu tied it 7 in the eighth with a two-out RBI single off Matt Barnes (0-1) past diving second baseman José Peraza. The clutch hit came after Mike Tauchman, who entered on defense in the seventh, walked and stole second.Judge then launched a no-doubt drive that landed several rows up in the raised bleachers beyond the left-center bullpen for his sixth home run already this year. The big slugger socked a three-run shot in the second, making him the first Yankees player... [More]

Red sox first. Kevin Pillar lines out to deep left field to Miguel Andujar. Rafael Devers strikes out swinging. J.D. Martinez doubles to deep center field. Xander Bogaerts homers to center field. J.D. Martinez scores. Christian Vazquez grounds out to shallow infield, James Paxton to Luke Voit.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Red sox 2, Yankees 0.Yankees second. Gary Sanchez called out on strikes. Gio Urshela singles to left field. Miguel Andujar reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow left field. Gio Urshela out at second. DJ LeMahieu walks. Miguel Andujar to second. Aaron Judge homers to left field. DJ LeMahieu scores. Miguel Andujar scores. Gleyber Torres grounds out to shallow infield, Jose Peraza to Michael Chavis.3 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Yankees 3, Red sox 2.Red sox third. Kevin Pillar doubles to deep right center field. Rafael Devers singles to center field. Kevin Pillar scores. J.D. Martinez strikes out on a foul tip. Xander Bogaerts singles to left field, advances... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says he's confident his sport can get through the regular season and postseason without being stopped by the coronavirus, though not every club might play all 60 games and winning percentage could be used to determine playoff teams.During an interview Saturday with The Associated Press, Manfred said Major League Baseball knows which player introduced COVID-19 into the clubhouse of the Miami Marlins. Miami and Philadelphia both postponed games for an entire week.“I think that if everybody does what they are supposed to do, we can continue to play, have a credible season and get through the postseason,” Manfred said.Just 1 1/2 weeks into a pandemic-delayed regular season shortened from 162 games per team to 60, the coronavirus has forced 19 postponements in 11 days, including St. Louis' three-game weekend series at Milwaukee.The virus also prompted at least two more players to opt out Saturday: Brewers All-Star outfielder Lorenzo Cain and... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says he's confident his sport can get through the regular season and postseason without being stopped by the coronavirus, though not every club might play all 60 games and winning percentage could be used to determine playoff teams.During an interview Saturday with The Associated Press, Manfred said Major League Baseball knows which player introduced COVID-19 into the clubhouse of the Marlins Marlins. Miami and Philadelphia both postponed games for an entire week.“I think that if everybody does what they are supposed to do, we can continue to play, have a credible season and get through the postseason,” Manfred said.Just 1 1/2 weeks into a pandemic-delayed regular season shortened from 162 games per team to 60, the coronavirus has forced 19 postponements in 11 days, including St. Louis' three-game weekend series at Milwaukee.The virus also prompted at least two more players to opt out Saturday: Brewers All-Star outfielder Lorenzo Cain and... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says he's confident his sport can get through the regular season and postseason without being stopped by the coronavirus, though not every team might play all 60 games and winning percentage could be used to determine playoff teams.During an interview Saturday with The Associated Press, Manfred said Major League Baseball knows which player introduced COVID-19 into the clubhouse of the Marlins Marlins. Miami and Philadelphia both postponed games for an entire week.“I think that if everybody does what they are supposed to do, we can continue to play, have a credible season and get through the postseason,” Manfred said.Just 1 1/2 weeks into a pandemic-delayed regular season shortened from 162 games per team to 60, the coronavirus has forced 19 postponements in 11 days, including St. Louis' three-game weekend series at Milwaukee.The virus also prompted at least two more players to opt out Saturday: Brewers All-Star outfielder Lorenzo Cain and... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says he's confident his sport can get through the regular season and postseason without being stopped by the coronavirus, though not every team might play all 60 games and winning percentage could be used to determine playoff teams.During an interview Saturday with The Associated Press, Manfred said Major League Baseball knows which player introduced COVID-19 into the clubhouse of the Marlins Marlins. Miami and Philadelphia both postponed games for an entire week.“I think that if everybody does what they are supposed to do, we can continue to play, have a credible season and get through the postseason,” Manfred said.Just 1 1/2 weeks into a pandemic-delayed regular season shortened from 162 games per team to 60, the coronavirus has forced 17 postponements in 10 days and prompted at least two more players to opt out Saturday: Milwaukee All-Star outfielder Lorenzo Cain and Miami second baseman Isan Díaz.At least 18 Marlins players have been... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says he's confident his sport can get through the regular season and postseason without being stopped by the coronavirus, though not every team might play all 60 games and winning percentage could be used to determine playoff teams.During an interview Saturday with The Associated Press, Manfred said Major League Baseball knows which player introduced COVID-19 into the clubhouse of the Marlins Marlins. Miami and Philadelphia both postponed games for an entire week.“I think that if everybody does what they are supposed to do, we can continue to play, have a credible season and get through the postseason,” Manfred said.Just 1 1/2 weeks into a pandemic-delayed regular season shortened from 162 games per team to 60, the coronavirus has forced 17 postponements in 10 days and prompted at least two more players to opt out Saturday: Milwaukee All-Star outfielder Lorenzo Cain and Miami second baseman Isan Díaz.At least 18 Marlins players have been... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Masahiro Tanaka threw 20 pitches during batting practice Tuesday and is on track to make his first start July 31 against Boston after missing one turn in the New York Yankees' rotation.Tanaka walked two in his one inning, his first time facing batters since he was hit in the head by Giancarlo Stanton's line drive on July 4.“I thought he was strong. Fastball had life to it,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.New York placed Tanaka on the 7-day concussion injured list. He is to throw batting practice again on Sunday at the Yankees' alternate training camp at Scranton, Pennsylvania, likely 35-40 pitches.“If everything comes out OK, I should be ready to go,” he said through a translator.He did not use a protective screen. Tanaka thought about getting hit only before delivering his first pitch.“After I threw that, it was back to business, back to normal,” he said.The 31-year-old right-hander is 75-43 in six major league seasons and is entering the final year of his contract.With... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees pitcher Luis Cessa threw a 31-pitch bullpen on Monday as he returned from a layoff caused by a positive test for the coronavirus.The 28-year-old right-hander is not sure how he became infected. He had been in Arizona, where he lives with his girlfriend, and they both tested positive before he was scheduled to travel to New York for the resumption of training.Cessa said he felt sinus problems but no fever during his bout with COVID-19.“I wouldn't say opening day is realistic,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.While waiting to recover, Cessa worked out with equipment in his garage and bought a net and took it to a park to throw.“I just tried to stay in shape,” he said.LEMAHIEU WATCHSecond baseman DJ LeMahieu, the other Yankees player sidelined by a positive test for the virus, played his second straight exhibition. He went 0 for 3 against Philadelphia with a warning-track flyout to right field and got grazed on the thigh by a pitch from Vince Velasquez. LeMahieu played... [More]