CHICAGO (AP) — Free-agent closer Craig Kimbrel has agreed to a contract with the Cubs in a big move to strengthen Chicago's bullpen.The team said Friday he passed his physical. Contract terms were not disclosed.The addition plugs a major hole for Chicago, which has been beset by blown saves but is still tied for the NL Central lead. Brandon Morrow is going slowly after he had a setback in his recovery from offseason elbow surgery, and Pedro Strop just returned after being sidelined by another hamstring injury.Even before the deal was announced Cubs manager Joe Maddon said he thought Kimbrel would be ready to pitch in about three weeks."I would imagine in the position that's he's been in, he had some kind of a strategy of program mapped out," Maddon said Thursday. "The first thing you do is find out and then set up program. You think about a three-week window, normally it sounds right."Once Kimbrel is ready to go, Strop will likely move back to his usual setup role and Steve Cishek will... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Free-agent closer Craig Kimbrel has agreed to a contract with the Chicago Cubs.The team said Friday he has passed his physical. Contract terms were not disclosed.The addition plugs a major hole for Chicago, which has been beset by blown saves. Brandon Morrow is going slowly after he had a setback in his recovery from offseason elbow surgery, and Pedro Strop just returned after being sidelined by another hamstring injury.The 31-year-old Kimbrel has 333 career saves and a 1.91 ERA over nine seasons with Atlanta, San Diego and Boston. The hard-throwing right-hander also is averaging an exceptional 14.7 strikeouts per nine innings for his career.___Jay Cohen can be reached at https://twitter.com/jcohenap___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — Cubs manager Joe Maddon is projecting how to use Craig Kimbrel, even before Chicago announces a deal with the free agent closer.Maddon said Thursday he thought the 31-year-old right-hander might be ready to pitch in about three weeks."I would imagine in the position that's he's been in, he had some kind of a strategy of program mapped out," Maddon said. "The first thing you do is find out and then set up program. You think about a three-week window, normally it sounds right. Think about relief pitchers in spring training. Conventionally it would be like that kind of a window. But you've got to talk to the guy first and see what he's been doing."Kimbrel, who has 333 saves and a 1.91 ERA over nine major league seasons, turned down a $17.9 million qualifying offer from Boston last November and remained a free agent. Starting this week, a team could sign him without the loss of amateur draft picks or international signing bonus pool allocation.Chicago's bullpen has 11 blown saves this year. Brandon Morrow has not returned from offseason elbow surgery, and Pedro Strop came back Tuesday from a hamstring injury that had sidelined him since May 6. Strop and Steve Cishek have been closing."When you get a guy like Kimbrel, whoever was being utilized, who was in that role easily steps aside," he said. "When the whole group realize this makes us better, then everybody falls in line."___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs activated reliever Pedro Strop from the 10-day injured list before Tuesday night's game against the Colorado Rockies and optioned reliever Dillon Maples to Triple-A Iowa.The 33-year-old Strop, who went on the IL on May 8 with a strained left hamstring, is 1-2 with a 5.06 ERA and has four saves in six chances. The right-hander is one of several relievers manager Joe Maddon has shuffled into the closer's role as Brandon Morrow recovers from right elbow surgery.In three rehab appearances at Iowa, Strop allowed one hit and one walk in three innings.Maddon believes a healthy Strop can help improve the Cubs' inconsistent bullpen. Before Tuesday's game, the manager said he'd lean toward using Strop to protect a ninth-inning lead against the Rockies.Maples, a 27-year-old right-hander, was 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 5 2/3 innings over seven appearances with the Cubs.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — Cubs closer Brandon Morrow has started throwing again after experiencing a setback in his recovery from offseason elbow surgery.President of baseball operations Theo Epstein says Morrow threw from 45 to 60 feet Monday in Arizona.The Cubs shut down Morrow's rehab last month after he didn't recover well from a bullpen session. He led Chicago with 22 saves in 35 games last season after signing a $21 million, two-year contract as a free agent, but missed the second half.Epstein also says reliever Pedro Strop (strained left hamstring) threw a 25-pitch bullpen session Monday.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — Addison Russell and the Chicago Cubs don't believe the 2016 All-Star has become a completely changed man since his ex-wife accused him of physical and emotional abuse.They do believe he's made positive strides and, with the Cubs needing an infielder for a depleted roster, Russell has been deemed the best option available.Russell rejoined the surging Cubs on Wednesday after completing a 40-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy and spending extra time in the minors to get ready.The Cubs recalled Russell from Triple-A Iowa, then started him at second base and in the eighth during a 3-2, 11-inning win over Miami. Russell was eligible to rejoin the team May 3 against St. Louis at Wrigley Field, but the organization opted to give him more time with the minor league club."This is not a finish line," Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Esptein said. "This does not represent the end of the road or an accomplishment in any way, but there... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Addison Russell and the Chicago Cubs don't believe the 2016 All-Star has become a completely changed man since his ex-wife accused him of physical and emotional abuse.They do believe he's made positive strides, and with the Cubs needing an infielder for a depleted roster, Russell has been deemed the best option available.Russell rejoined the surging Cubs on Wednesday after completing a 40-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy and spending extra time in the minors to get ready.The Cubs recalled Russell from Triple-A Iowa, then started him at second base Wednesday night and in the eighth spot in the batting order against Miami. Russell was eligible to rejoin the team May 3 against St. Louis at Wrigley Field, but the organization opted to give him more time with the minor league club."This is not a finish line," Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Esptein said. "This does not represent the end of the road or an accomplishment in... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Addison Russell and the Chicago Cubs don't believe the 2016 All-Star has become a completely changed man since his ex-wife accused him of physical and emotional abuse.They do believe he's made positive strides, and with the Cubs needing an infielder for a depleted roster, Russell has been deemed the best option available.Russell rejoined the surging Cubs on Wednesday after completing a 40-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy and spending extra time in the minors to get ready.The Cubs recalled Russell from Triple-A Iowa, then started him at second base Wednesday night and in the eighth spot in the batting order against Miami. Russell was eligible to rejoin the team May 3 against St. Louis at Wrigley Field, but the organization opted to give him more time with the minor league club."This is not a finish line," Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Esptein said. "This does not represent the end of the road or an accomplishment in... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Shortstop Addison Russell is rejoining the Chicago Cubs after completing a 40-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy and spending extra time in the minors to get ready.The Cubs recalled Russell from Triple-A Iowa and he was set to start at second base Wednesday night and bat eighth against Miami. Russell was eligible to rejoin the team May 3 against St. Louis at Wrigley Field, but the organization opted to give him more time with the minor league club.The 25-year-old Russell was suspended last fall after a series of allegations made by ex-wife Melisa Reidy. Without getting into specifics, he said in February that he was accountable for his past actions and apologized for "the hurt and the pain" he caused. Russell was working out in Arizona, playing in extended spring training games and meeting with a counselor twice a week before joining Iowa in late April. He batted .222 (10 for 45) with two doubles, three home runs and 13 RBIs in... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell took a perfect game into the sixth inning and Tommy Pham hit his first career grand slam, leading the Tampa Bay Rays over the Arizona Diamondbacks 12-1 on Monday night.Snell (3-3) rebounded from allowing a career-high seven runs over three innings of an 8-2 loss at Kansas City last week to hold the Diamondbacks without a hit until Ildemaro Vargas singled with two outs in the sixth. Snell got out of the inning and finished with nine strikeouts in an 83-pitch outing.Chaz Roe relieved to start the seventh and Casey Sadler allowed an unearned run in the ninth to finish a two-hitter before 8,124, the lowest at Tropicana Field since September 2017.Pham's grand slam off Merrill Kelly (3-3) finished a five-run second inning that put the AL East leaders up 6-0.PADRES 4, METS 0SAN DIEGO (AP) — Pumped-up rookie Chris Paddack struck out a career-high 11 to outduel NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom, and Hunter Renfroe homered... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Ryan Braun's career-high sixth hit, a two-run single with one out in the 18th inning, lifted the Milwaukee Brewers to a 4-3 comeback victory over the New York Mets on Saturday night in the longest game in Miller Park history.Braun stood on first base with his hands raised above his head as Yasmani Grandal slid across home plate with the winning run, ending the game that lasted 5 hours and 22 minutes. A jubilant bunch of Brewers ran out to greet Braun, who was the only Milwaukee player to have multiple hits.The Mets took a 3-2 lead in the top of the 18th on Jeff McNeil's run-scoring single off Taylor Williams (1-1), who was Milwaukee's eighth and final pitcher.But the Brewers were far from done. Eric Thames drew a leadoff walk from Chris Flexen (0-2), who then got Mike Moustakas to fly out to center. Flexen, just recalled from Triple-A Syracuse earlier in the day, walked Grandal and Travis Shaw to load the bases for Braun. The Brewers' longest-tenured hit a sharp grounder... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Boston Red Sox strung together 10 straight hits against White Sox left-hander Manny Bañuelos, ending one hit shy of the major league record during a nine-run third inning in a 15-2 rout of Chicago on Saturday night.Bañuelos (2-1) retired his first eight batters before Christian Vázquez opened Boston's two-out rally with a single. Xander Bogaerts, Michael Chavis and Eduardo Núñez each homered, Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez had RBI doubles, and Vázquez capped the streak with another single before White Sox manager Rick Renteria pulled Bañuelos with a 9-1 deficit. Carson Fulmer replaced Bañuelos and interrupted the hit parade by walking Andrew Benintendi. Betts flew out to right to end the inning after 14 batters.The Colorado Rockies had a major league-record 11 straight hits during a 17-2 win over the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field on July 30, 2010.Chavis added another solo shot in the fifth for his first multihomer game and finished with four hits and three RBIs. All of... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Boston Red Sox strung together 10 straight hits against White Sox left-hander Manny Bañuelos, ending one hit shy of the major league record during a nine-run third inning in a 15-2 rout of Chicago on Saturday night.Bañuelos (2-1) retired his first eight batters before Christian Vázquez opened Boston's two-out rally with a single. Xander Bogaerts, Michael Chavis and Eduardo Núñez each homered, Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez had RBI doubles, and Vázquez capped the streak with another single before White Sox manager Rick Renteria pulled Bañuelos with a 9-1 deficit. Carson Fulmer replaced Bañuelos and interrupted the hit parade by walking Andrew Benintendi. Betts flew out to right to end the inning after 14 batters.The Colorado Rockies had a major league-record 11 straight hits during a 17-2 win over the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field on July 30, 2010.Chavis added another solo shot in the fifth for his first multihomer game and finished with four hits and three RBIs. All of... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Cubs reliever Pedro Strop made a quick decision to help his team secure a win over the Los Angeles Dodgers before completing the paperwork about his stolen car.The 33-year-old right-hander was talking to police in the Cubs clubhouse late Wednesday about his stolen Genesis when the score became tied. Cubs spokesman Julian Green said that's when Strop told police, "I gotta get out of here, I gotta pitch tonight."Strop later earned the save in the Cubs' 7-6 win.Strop told police that based on surveillance video, his car was stolen from his North Side apartment building's garage around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday. About eight hours later, police tried to pull over a person behind the wheel of the car, but the driver sped away. The car was later found after it struck a parked car. Police said no one is in custody.Strop on Thursday laughed about the theft and recovery of his car, saying he was concerned about the vehicle's condition.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Cubs reliever Pedro Strop made a quick decision between completing the paperwork about his stolen car or helping his team beat the Los Angeles Dodgers.The 33-year-old right-hander was talking to police in the Cubs clubhouse late Wednesday about his stolen Genesis when the score became tied. Cubs spokesman Julian Green said that is when Strop told police, "I gotta get out of here, I gotta pitch tonight."Strop later secured a save in the Cubs' 7-6 win.Strop told police that based on surveillance video, his car was stolen from his North Side apartment building's garage around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday. About eight hours later, police tried to pull the auto over, but it sped away. The car was later found after it struck a parked car. Police said no one is in custody.Strop on Thursday laughed about the theft and recovery of his car, saying he was concerned about the vehicle's condition. .... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Cubs reliever Pedro Strop made a quick decision between doing the paperwork about his stolen car done or helping his team beat the Los Angeles Dodgers.The 33-year-old right-hander was talking to police in the Cubs clubhouse late Wednesday about his stolen Hyundai Genesis when the score became tied. Cubs spokesman Julian Green said that is when Strop told police; "'I gotta get out of her, I gotta pitch tonight.'"Strop later secured a save in the Cubs' 7-6 win.Strop told police that based on surveillance video, his car was stolen from his North Side apartment building's garage around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday. About eight hours later, police tried to pull the auto over, but it sped away. The car was later found after it struck a parked car. Police said no one is in custody.Strop on Thursday laughed about the theft and recovery of his car, saying he was concerned about the vehicle's condition. .... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Adam Wainwright was warm enough on a cool day, allowing one run in six innings for his 150th career victory, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-2 on Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep.Last year's MVP, Christian Yelich, had most of the day off but still had a chance to rescue the Brewers. He came up as a pinch-hitter with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, but Jordan Hicks struck him out to pick up his seventh save in eight chances.Wainwright (2-2) matched his season low in runs allowed, and it was his first quality start in a game with a starting temperature of 60 degrees or cooler since May 27, 2017.Marcell Ozuna and Yadier Molina homered for the Cardinals as part of a four-run fourth.St. Louis' three-game sweep of Milwaukee was its first against its NL Central rival since July 1-3, 2016.Jhoulys Chacin (2-3) lasted four innings, allowing four runs on five hits.PHILLIES 6, METS 0NEW YORK (AP) — Rhys Hoskins homered off reliever Jacob Rhame... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Adam Wainwright was warm enough on a cool day, allowing one run in six innings for his 150th career victory, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-2 on Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep.Last year's MVP, Christian Yelich, had most of the day off but still had a chance to rescue the Brewers. He came up as a pinch-hitter with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, but Jordan Hicks struck him out to pick up his seventh save in eight chances.Wainwright (2-2) matched his season low in runs allowed, and it was his first quality start in a game with a starting temperature of 60 degrees or cooler since May 27, 2017.Marcell Ozuna and Yadier Molina homered for the Cardinals as part of a four-run fourth.St. Louis' three-game sweep of Milwaukee was its first against its NL Central rival since July 1-3, 2016.Jhoulys Chacin (2-3) lasted four innings, allowing four runs on five hits.PHILLIES 6, METS 0NEW YORK (AP) — Rhys Hoskins homered off reliever Jacob Rhame... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Christian Vazquez hit a sacrifice fly in the 11th inning, and the Boston Red Sox completed an uplifting three-game sweep of the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays with a 4-3 victory Sunday.Rafael Devers singled off Jose Alvarado (0-2) to start the 11th and went to second when Michael Chavis walked.Both runners moved up a base on Jackie Bradley's sacrifice bunt and Vazquez followed with his fly that Kevin Kiermaier ran down in center field.Marcus Walden (3-0) allowed an infield hit over two scoreless innings and Ryan Brasier worked the 11th to get his sixth save.After starting the season by losing eight of 10, the defending World Series champions are 7-5 over the last 12 games and went from eight to five games behind the Rays.DODGERS 6, BREWERS 5MILWAUKEE (AP) — Cody Bellinger reached over the right field wall to rob Christian Yelich in the eighth inning of yet another home run, then hit a solo drive off Josh Hader with two outs in the ninth to lift Los Angeles over... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Christian Vazquez hit a sacrifice fly in the 11th inning, and the Boston Red Sox completed an uplifting three-game sweep of the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays with a 4-3 victory Sunday.Rafael Devers singled off Jose Alvarado (0-2) to start the 11th and went to second when Michael Chavis walked.Both runners moved up a base on Jackie Bradley's sacrifice bunt and Vazquez followed with his fly that Kevin Kiermaier ran down in center field.Marcus Walden (3-0) allowed an infield hit over two scoreless innings and Ryan Brasier worked the 11th to get his sixth save.After starting the season by losing eight of 10, the defending World Series champions are 7-5 over the last 12 games and went from eight to five games behind the Rays.DODGERS 6, BREWERS 5MILWAUKEE (AP) — Cody Bellinger reached over the right field wall to rob Christian Yelich in the eighth inning of yet another home run, then hit a solo drive off Josh Hader with two outs in the ninth to lift Los Angeles over... [More]