WASHINGTON (AP) — Second baseman DJ LeMahieu was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list by the New York Yankees on Thursday as they set their opening day 30-man roster before playing Game 1 against the Washington Nationals.Closer Aroldis Chapman and starter Masahiro Tanaka begin the season on injured lists — Chapman on the COVID IL, and Tanaka on the 7-day IL after getting hit in the head by a batted ball.Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced on July 4 that LeMahieu and right-hander Luis Cessa tested positive for the coronavirus before traveling to New York for the team's summer camp and said they were self-isolating at home.LeMahieu signed with the Yankees before last season and hit .327, setting career highs with 26 homers and 102 RBIs.The Yankees also recalled infielder Thairo Estrada and righty pitchers Ben Heller and Michael King from the alternate site Thursday. That trio is part of a group of eight Yankees making their first career opening day active roster, along with outfielder... [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]

NEW YORK (AP) — Joe Girardi’s new path was evident Monday. And unfamiliar.So was the result.Girardi's Philadelphia Phillies tied the New York Yankees 2-2 Monday night in a preseason exhibition after Mauricio Llovera allowed a solo home run in the ninth to pinch hitter Mike Ford.A tie was not what he had envisioned.“That doesn’t happen in real baseball,” said Girardi, who started his day by watching a simulated intrasquad game. “But, obviously, we’ve got a long trip back, and we’ve had a long day of baseball.”About to start his first season as Philadelphia's manager, he was at Yankee Stadium for a prep ahead of his team’s pandemic-delayed opener Friday at home against Miami. He had been back just once since he was cut loose by the Yankees, for an appearance.“I always came in through the garage, down the stairs, into the home clubhouse,” he said. “We came through the loading dock and from center field all the way around. So that was different.”Not everything was a change.“I did see a lot... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Joe Girardi’s new path was evident Monday. And unfamiliar.About to start his first season as Philadelphia's manager, he was back at Yankee Stadium to lead the Phillies in an exhibition game against New York ahead of his team’s pandemic-delayed opener Friday at home against Miami.“I always came in through the garage, down the stairs, into the home clubhouse,” he said. “We came through the loading dock and from center field all the way around. So that was different.”Not everything was a change.“I did see a lot of familiar faces in Lou Cucuzza and and his clubhouse staff,” he said, referring to New York’s director of clubhouse operations. “So that seemed kind of normal. But you’re on the opposite side, and it’s different.”After winning three World Series titles as a catcher with the Yankees, Girardi began his managing career in 2006 with the Marlins, led the team to a 78-84 record and was fired — before he was voted NL Manager of the Year.He was hired by the Yankees after the... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — Major League Baseball's COVID-19 testing sweep appears to be having some success even as large swaths of the United States continue to struggle with containing the fast-spreading virus.MLB and the players' union released statistics Friday saying six of 10,548 samples were new positives in the week ending Thursday, a rate of 0.05%. In addition to five players, one staff member tested positive. That's fairly good news for a sport that's trying to begin its abbreviated 60-game schedule next week. But players and coaches are also aware that the optics of baseball's relative testing success — especially in hard-hit states like Arizona, California, Texas and Florida — might not be ideal considering demand for tests has sometimes been higher than the supply for the average person.“If they’ve deemed that players being tested is necessary to provide jobs, opportunity, entertainment, TV, all that’s going on -- if they think that’s really valuable -- then they’ve weighed it’s important... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The crowd noise was phony. Gerrit Cole’s scowl was real.The new ace gave up consecutive home runs to Mike Ford and Miguel Andújar in an intrasquad game as the pitcher and the public-address system's recorded crowd sounds tuned up for New York Yankees debuts.Those runs in the fourth inning were the only ones Cole allowed over 5 2/3 innings Friday night. He struck out seven, walked none and hit a batter, throwing 87 pitches.“The back-to-back homers were undesirable from my perspective,” he said. “Just kind of got into a position there where I was spraying some breaking balls and just kind of became noncompetitive. And I got in some fastball situations where I had to challenge, guys. It was kind of a predictable count, and then they got their swing off.”Next up is the opener of the pandemic-delayed major league season, at the World Series champion Washington Nationals on Thursday night in a matchup against Max Scherzer.“Gosh, it’s going to be fun,” Cole said. “It’s going to... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — Major League Baseball's COVID-19 testing sweep appears to be having some success even as large swaths of the United States continue to struggle with containing the fast-spreading virus.MLB and the players' union released statistics Friday saying six of 10,548 samples were new positives in the week ending Thursday, a rate of 0.05%. In addition to five players, one staff member tested positive. That's fairly good news for a sport that's trying to begin its abbreviated 60-game schedule next week. But players and coaches are also aware that the optics of baseball's relative testing success — especially in hard-hit states like Arizona, California, Texas and Florida — might not be ideal considering demand for tests has sometimes been higher than the supply for the average person.“If they’ve deemed that players being tested is necessary to provide jobs, opportunity, entertainment, TV, all that’s going on -- if they think that’s really valuable -- then they’ve weighed it’s important... [More]

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — The crack of the bat at spring training camps replaced the sound of trash can lids banging in homemade YouTube videos as baseball emerged from its winter of cheating scandals and salary dumps to bask in the Florida and Arizona sun.The Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres held their first official workouts, and pitchers and catchers for 16 other teams reported to their Grapefruit and Cactus League complexes on Tuesday. The rest of the major leagues will filter in this week. Red Sox players checked in without knowing who their manager will be, almost a month after Alex Cora was fired for his part in the Houston Astros 2017 sign-stealing scheme. Bench coach Ron Roenicke, a former Brewers skipper, will serve as interim manager while the team waits for Major League Baseball to wrap up its investigation into Boston's attempts to steal signs after Cora arrived in '18.The Red Sox were also without a former MVP and Cy Young Award winner after the long-haggled trade of... [More]

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — The crack of the bat at spring training camps replaced the sound of trash can lids banging in homemade YouTube videos as baseball emerged from its winter of cheating scandals and salary dumps to bask in the Florida and Arizona sun.The Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres held their first official workouts, and pitchers and catchers for 16 other teams reported to their Grapefruit and Cactus League complexes on Tuesday. The rest of the major leagues will filter in this week. Red Sox players checked in without knowing who their manager will be, almost a month after Alex Cora was fired for his part in the Houston Astros 2017 sign-stealing scheme. Bench coach Ron Roenicke, a former Brewers skipper, will serve as interim manager while the team waits for Major League Baseball to wrap up its investigation into Boston's attempts to steal signs after Cora arrived in '18.The Red Sox were also without a former MVP and Cy Young Award winner after the long-haggled trade of... [More]

A team-by-team look at the American League East entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad:___New York YankeesManager: Aaron Boone (third season). 2019: 103-59, first place, lost to Houston in AL Championship Series. Training Town: Tampa, Florida. Park: George Steinbrenner Field. First Workout: Feb. 13/18. He's Here: RHP Gerrit Cole, C Erik Kratz, C Chris Iannetta, C Josh Thole, RHP Nick Tropeano, LHP Luis Avil�nHe's Outta Here: LHP CC Sabathia, SS Didi Gregorius, 1B Edwin Encarnacion, C Austin Romine, RHP Dellin Betances, OF Cameron Maybin, OF Jacoby Ellsbury, 1B Greg Bird, RHP Chance Adams, LHP Stephen Tarpley, LHP Nestor Cortes Jr., RHP Cory GearrinGoing campin': After a big league-record 30 players went on the injured list a total of 39 times last season, health remains a concern. Left-hander James Paxton had back surgery Feb. 5 and is expected to be sidelined until May or... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Wednesday:NOW OR NEVERA pair of winner-take-all Game 5s will decide the two NL Division Series.First, the Atlanta Braves host the St. Louis Cardinals at 5:02 p.m. EDT. Then, it's the Washington Nationals at the Los Angeles Dodgers beginning at 8:37 p.m. The winners meet in the best-of-seven NL Championship Series starting Friday.ARMS RACEA star-studded series loaded with outstanding pitchers comes to a dramatic conclusion at Dodger Stadium. Stephen Strasburg starts for the wild-card Washington Nationals against Los Angeles right-hander Walker Buehler.The league-best Dodgers were 59-22 at home during the regular season, when they drew more than 3 million fans."Very confident we're going to come out of this and move on," manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday.The Dodgers are trying to reach the NLCS for the fourth consecutive year, while the Nationals have never won a playoff series since the franchise moved from Montreal to Washington in 2005. They've... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Injured New York Yankees center fielder Aaron Hicks feels like he's ready to return to the roster for the AL Championship Series.Hicks, who has a right elbow flexor strain and last played on Aug. 3, is among a group of players at the Yankees' complex in Tampa who were not on the AL Division Series roster.Hick said Tuesday he is "definitely ready to go out there and play.""For sure," Hicks said. "That's really what I'm getting ready for is to get back and play in the playoffs. Get back to playing baseball."New York, which completed a three-game sweep of Minnesota on Monday night, will face either Houston or Tampa Bay in Game 1 of ALCS on Saturday night.Hicks is facing live pitching and throwing to bases."I'm pretty much doing everything," Hicks said.Hicks watched the Yankees' series-clinching win with Rays catcher Travis d'Arnuad and his family at a restaurant in St. Petersburg."It's the second time that they celebrated without me, so it's one of those things that you... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Slumping first baseman Luke Voit was picked over rookie Mike Ford for the New York Yankees' AL Division Series roster against Minnesota because he provides a potential right-handed bat off the bench in the late innings.Minnesota chose three players who had been hurt of late: center fielder Max Kepler and infielders Luis Arráez and Ehire Adrianza.New York also selected speedy and versatile Tyler Wade for the series, which started Friday night. Wade can play second base, third, shortstop, outfield, and pinch run or be a defensive replacement.Voit struggled in his return from a sports hernia, ending the season hitless in his last 12 at-bats and in a 1-for-33 slide, leaving him with a .263 batting average, 21 homers and 71 RBIs. Ford hit .259 with 12 homers and 25 RBIs, including .379 with eight homers and 17 RBIs from Aug. 17 on.Yankees manager Aaron Boone viewed Voit as a better potential pinch-hitting option against Twins closer Taylor Rogers, who is left-handed, than the... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Versatile Tyler Wade was included on the New York Yankees' AL Division Series roster while slumping first baseman Luke Voit made it over rookie Mike Ford.Minnesota chose three players who had been hurt of late: center fielder Max Kepler and infielders Luis Arráez and Ehire Adrianza.The series starts Friday night at Yankee Stadium.Wade, who can play outfield, second, shortstop and third, can pinch run or be a defensive replacement.Voit struggled in his return from a sports hernia, ending season hitless in his last 12 at-bats and 1 for 33, leaving him with a .263 average, 21 homers and 71 RBIs. Ford hit .259 with 12 homers and 25 RBIs, including .379 with eight homers and 17 RBIs from Aug. 17 on.Yankees manager Aaron Boone views the right-handed-hitting Voit as a better potential pinch-hitting option against Twins closer Taylor Rogers, who is left-handed, than the left-handed hitting Ford."Looking at it from an off-the-bench situation, there's not a lot of our righties that... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Versatile Tyler Wade was included on the New York Yankees' AL Division Series roster while slumping first baseman Luke Voit made it over rookie Mike Ford and Cameron Maybin was picked for outfield depth.Minnesota included three players who had been hurt of late: center fielder Max Kepler and infielders Luis Arráez and Ehire Adrianza.Both teams decided on 12 pitchers.Wade, who can play outfield, second, shortstop and third, can pinch run or be a defensive replacement.Voit struggled in his return from a sports hernia, ending season hitless in his last 12 at-bats and 1 for 33, leaving him with a .263 average, 21 homers and 71 RBIs.Ford hit .259 with 12 homers and 25 RBIs, including .379 with eight homers and 17 RBIs from Aug. 17 on. Maybin, the fourth outfielder, batted .285 with 11 homers and 32 RBIs in 239 at-bats.As expected, the Yankees included designated hitter Edwin Encarnación, who hasn't played since Sept. 12 because of a strained left oblique. Encarnación hit .249... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Versatile Tyler Wade was included on the New York Yankees AL Division Series roster while slumping first baseman Luke Voit made it over Mike Ford and Cameron Maybin was picked for outfield depth.Minnesota included 12 pitches and three players who had been hurt of late: center fielder Max Kepler and infielders Luis Arráez and Ehire Adrianza.Kepler started only two of the last 19 games because of a strained left shoulder muscle. Arráez sprained his right ankle last weekend, and Adrianza strained his right oblique muscle Sept. 12.Voit struggled in return from sports hernia, ending season 0 for 12 and 1 for 33.Ford hit .259 with 12 homers and 25 RBIs, including .379 with eight homers and 17 RBIs from Aug. 17 on. Wade, who can play outfield, second, shortstop and third, can pinch run or be a defensive replacement.New York's 12 pitchers included lefty Tyler Lyons and righties Luis Cessa and Jonathan Loisiga. The team's pitching was weakened last month when reliever Dellin Betances tore an Achilles tendon in first appearance back from a lat injury that had sidelined him since spring training, and 18-game winner Domingo Germán was placed on administrative leave under baseball's domestic violence policy.

NEW YORK (AP) — New nameplates greeted Yankees players in their clubhouse ahead of the Division Series against Minnesota: "OCTOBER SAVAGES" is spelled out under each number, a reference to manager Aaron Boone's famous tirade at an umpire in July.As players worked out at Yankee Stadium on a summer-like Wednesday, Boone maintained many roster decisions have yet to be made."First, we'll go through the 13th pitcher and then what makes the most sense as far as what gives us the best option off the bench," Boone said before the workout. "We'll meet as a staff after the workout and hopefully finalize whether it's 12 or 13."Edwin Encarnación, who hasn't played since Sept. 12 because of a strained left oblique, appears set to return. The 36-year-old hit in a simulated game for the second straight day and homered off left-hander Jordan Montgomery."I think yesterday was a little confidence-builder for him as far as the ability to let it go and then coming in today feeling like he's ready," Boone said.Encarnación... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — New nameplates greeted Yankees players in their clubhouse ahead of the Division Series against Minnesota: "OCTOBER SAVAGES" is spelled out under each number, a reference to manager Aaron Boone's famous tirade at an umpire in July.As players worked out at Yankee Stadium on a summer-like Wednesday, Boone maintained many roster decisions have yet to be made."First, we'll go through the 13th pitcher and then what makes the most sense as far as what gives us the best option off the bench," Boone said before the workout. "We'll meet as a staff after the workout and hopefully finalize whether it's 12 or 13."Edwin Encarnación, who hasn't played since Sept. 12 because of a strained left oblique, appears set to return. The 36-year-old hit in a simulated game for the second straight day and homered off left-hander Jordan Montgomery."I think yesterday was a little confidence-builder for him as far as the ability to let it go and then coming in today feeling like he's ready," Boone said.Encarnación... [More]

Yankees first. DJ LeMahieu flies out to center field to Danny Santana. Aaron Judge triples to deep center field. Brett Gardner out on a sacrifice fly to deep right field to Scott Heineman. Aaron Judge scores. Giancarlo Stanton grounds out to shortstop, Elvis Andrus to Ronald Guzman.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Yankees 1, Rangers 0.Rangers first. Shin-Soo Choo walks. Elvis Andrus strikes out swinging. Willie Calhoun pops out to shallow infield to Didi Gregorius. Danny Santana walks. Rougned Odor doubles to deep right center field. Danny Santana scores. Shin-Soo Choo scores. Scott Heineman walks. Ronald Guzman grounds out to second base, DJ LeMahieu to Mike Ford.2 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 2 left on. Rangers 2, Yankees 1.Rangers fourth. Scott Heineman doubles to deep left field. Ronald Guzman walks. Jose Trevino doubles to deep left field. Ronald Guzman to third. Scott Heineman scores. Isiah Kiner-Falefa strikes out swinging. Shin-Soo Choo strikes out swinging. Elvis Andrus is intentionally... [More]

Yankees first. DJ LeMahieu grounds out to shortstop, Elvis Andrus to Danny Santana. Giancarlo Stanton homers to center field. Gleyber Torres singles to left field. Luke Voit called out on strikes. Gary Sanchez strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Yankees 1, Rangers 0.Rangers first. Shin-Soo Choo flies out to deep center field to Brett Gardner. Elvis Andrus singles to center field. Willie Calhoun reaches on a fielder's choice to second base. Elvis Andrus out at second. Danny Santana homers to center field. Willie Calhoun scores. Nick Solak doubles to deep center field. Rougned Odor strikes out on a foul tip.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Rangers 2, Yankees 1.Yankees second. Brett Gardner called out on strikes. Gio Urshela called out on strikes. Cameron Maybin homers to center field. Mike Ford called out on strikes.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Yankees 2, Rangers 2.Yankees fourth. Brett Gardner homers to center field. Gio Urshela singles to right center field.... [More]