HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Astros surrendered a tiebreaking two-run single to rookie Kyle Lewis in the eighth inning of a 7-6 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Sunday, and then announced ace Justin Verlander will be shut down for at least two weeks with a strained right forearm.Astros manager Dusty Baker denied a report that said the injury would end Verlander’s season. He said Verlander would be evaluated after two weeks.Lewis and Shed Long Jr. each had two hits and two RBIs for the Mariners, who had dropped their last 15 games against Houston.Dan Altavilla (1-0) got the win. Taylor Williams yielded an RBI double to Michael Brantley before striking out Alex Bregman for his first career save.Martín Maldonado drove in two runs for Houston. Chris Devenski (0-1) got the loss.MARLINS 11, PHILLIES 6PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Miami scratched right-hander José Ureña from its victory at Philadelphia and delayed its postgame trip home amid concerns about a possible coronavirus outbreak within the team. No... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Astros surrendered a tiebreaking two-run single to rookie Kyle Lewis in the eighth inning of a 7-6 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Sunday, and then announced ace Justin Verlander will be shut down for at least two weeks with a strained right forearm.Astros manager Dusty Baker denied a report that said the injury would end Verlander’s season. He said Verlander would be evaluated after two weeks.Lewis and Shed Long Jr. each had two hits and two RBIs for the Mariners, who had dropped their last 15 games against Houston.Dan Altavilla (1-0) got the win. Taylor Williams yielded an RBI double to Michael Brantley before striking out Alex Bregman for his first career save.Martín Maldonado drove in two runs for Houston. Chris Devenski (0-1) got the loss.MARLINS 11, PHILLIES 6PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Miami scratched right-hander José Ureña from its victory at Philadelphia and delayed its postgame trip home amid concerns about a possible coronavirus outbreak within the team. No... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Astros surrendered a tiebreaking two-run single to rookie Kyle Lewis in the eighth inning of a 7-6 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Sunday, and then announced ace Justin Verlander will be shut down for at least two weeks with a strained right forearm.Astros manager Dusty Baker denied a report that said the injury would end Verlander’s season. He said Verlander would be evaluated after two weeks.Lewis and Shed Long Jr. each had two hits and two RBIs for the Mariners, who had dropped their last 15 games against Houston.Dan Altavilla (1-0) got the win. Taylor Williams yielded an RBI double to Michael Brantley before striking out Alex Bregman for his first career save.Martín Maldonado drove in two runs for Houston. Chris Devenski (0-1) got the loss.MARLINS 11, PHILLIES 6PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Miami scratched right-hander José Ureña from its victory at Philadelphia and delayed its postgame trip home amid concerns about a possible coronavirus outbreak within the team. No... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Astros surrendered a tiebreaking two-run single to rookie Kyle Lewis in the eighth inning of a 7-6 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Sunday, and then announced ace Justin Verlander will be shut down for at least two weeks with a strained right forearm.Astros manager Dusty Baker denied a report that said the injury would end Verlander’s season. He said Verlander would be evaluated after two weeks.Lewis and Shed Long Jr. each had two hits and two RBIs for the Mariners, who had dropped their last 15 games against Houston.Dan Altavilla (1-0) got the win. Taylor Williams yielded an RBI double to Michael Brantley before striking out Alex Bregman for his first career save.Martín Maldonado drove in two runs for Houston. Chris Devenski (0-1) got the loss.MARLINS 11, PHILLIES 6PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Miami scratched right-hander José Ureña from its victory at Philadelphia and delayed its postgame trip home amid concerns about a possible coronavirus outbreak within the team. No... [More]

Cardinals first. Kolten Wong grounds out to shallow infield, Kevin Newman to Josh Bell. Tommy Edman grounds out to second base, Adam Frazier to Josh Bell. Paul Goldschmidt homers to deep left field. Paul DeJong flies out to deep right field to Cole Tucker.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Cardinals 1, Pirates 0.Pirates second. Josh Bell singles to deep right field. Colin Moran singles to deep right field. Josh Bell to second. Phillip Evans hit by pitch. Colin Moran to second. Josh Bell to third. Guillermo Heredia called out on strikes. John Ryan Murphy walks. Phillip Evans to second. Colin Moran to third. Josh Bell scores. Cole Tucker pops out to shortstop to Paul DeJong. Kevin Newman grounds out to shortstop, Paul DeJong to Paul Goldschmidt.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 left on. Pirates 1, Cardinals 1.Cardinals fourth. Paul DeJong singles to deep center field. Matt Carpenter flies out to deep left field to Bryan Reynolds. Yadier Molina singles to shallow right field. Paul DeJong to third.... [More]

Cardinals third. Tyler O'Neill homers to left field. Harrison Bader called out on strikes. Kolten Wong grounds out to first base, Josh Bell to Joe Musgrove. Tommy Edman singles to shallow infield.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Cardinals 1, Pirates 0.Cardinals fifth. Dexter Fowler homers to right field. Tyler O'Neill flies out to center field to Jarrod Dyson. Harrison Bader called out on strikes. Kolten Wong triples to deep center field, tagged out at home, Joe Musgrove to Jacob Stallings.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Cardinals 2, Pirates 0.Cardinals sixth. Tommy Edman strikes out swinging. Paul Goldschmidt singles to shallow left field. Paul DeJong walks. Matt Carpenter reaches on a fielder's choice to second base. Paul DeJong out at second. Paul Goldschmidt to third. Yadier Molina singles to left center field. Matt Carpenter to second. Paul Goldschmidt scores. Dexter Fowler grounds out to first base, Josh Bell to Clay Holmes.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Cardinals 3, Pirates... [More]

With all the protocols in place, Stephen Strasburg got a good feel Monday night for what pitching on the road will entail this season during the coronavirus pandemic. Last year's World Series MVP threw five strong innings for Washington in a 4-2 exhibition win over the Baltimore Orioles. Nationals manager Dave Martinez said the team took five buses for the 45-minute ride to Baltimore so players and staff could space out, with 14 people on each bus. “It’s pretty intense,” Strasburg said. “You get on the bus and you have to wear a face mask the whole time. Then you get in, and basically they temperature screen you. It’s kind of tough to get a good temperature reading when it’s 100 degrees outside. "But if you pass that, then you come into the clubhouse and everybody’s kind of sectioned off. So it’s just kind of an adjustment that we have to make. But unfortunately it’s kind of challenging to build team chemistry in an environment like this right now.” Strasburg looked just fine on the mound,... [More]

Miami Marlins shortstop Miguel Rojas talked Monday about the ways the 2020 season will be different for players, with little clubhouse interaction, seats in the stands and postgame meals via hotel room service.Another change: Rojas believes the Marlins will be good.He joined Miami in 2015 and has since endured five consecutive losing seasons. But like the team’s management and some outside observers, Rojas says the Marlins are poised for a big leap forward in Year 3 of Derek Jeter’s rebuilding program.“I’m really excited about the starting pitching, and our offense is way better than the last couple of years,” Rojas said. “The whole organization has been doing a great job bringing the young prospects along. It doesn’t matter if they don’t make the club right now. We know we have those guys waiting.”Fans will get their first look — on TV only — when the Marlins play an exhibition game Tuesday at Atlanta. They begin the season Friday at Philadelphia.GETTING GOINGDr. Anthony Fauci, a Washington... [More]

A seventh-inning stretch without fans at Yankee Stadium was far from the oddest happening on the second day of summer exhibitions in the majors.The first inning ended at Dodger Stadium without Los Angeles making a single out Sunday night, a game went to the 10th inning in Philadelphia even with the Orioles leading the Phillies 4-1, and the Yankees hit in the bottom of the ninth with a 6-0 lead over the Mets.It’s not quite baseball like you’re used to seeing. Then again, we'd never seen baseball amid the COVID-19 pandemic.The most peculiar situation occurred during the first exhibition between Arizona and the Dodgers, with the game having an intrasquad feel.Diamondbacks starter Taylor Widener got off to rough opening when he walked the first two batters and then gave up a single to Justin Turner that loaded the bases. Cody Bellinger followed with a grand slam to make it 4-0. Corey Seager then walked and was heading to first base when he learned the inning was over. Widener had thrown 25... [More]

A seventh-inning stretch without fans at Yankee Stadium was far from the oddest happening on the second day of summer exhibitions in the majors.The first inning ended at Dodger Stadium without Los Angeles making a single out Sunday night, a game went to the 10th inning in Philadelphia even with the Orioles leading the Phillies 4-1, and the Yankees hit in the bottom of the ninth with a 6-0 lead over the Mets.It’s not quite baseball like you’re used to seeing. Then again, we'd never seen baseball amid the COVID-19 pandemic.The most peculiar situation occurred during the first exhibition between Arizona and the Dodgers, with the game having an intrasquad feel.Diamondbacks starter Taylor Widener got off to rough opening when he walked the first two batters and then gave up a single to Justin Turner that loaded the bases. Cody Bellinger followed with a grand slam to make it 4-0. Corey Seager then walked and was heading to first base when he learned the inning was over. Widener had thrown 25... [More]

A seventh-inning stretch without fans at Yankee Stadium was far from the oddest happening on the second day of summer exhibitions in the majors.The first inning ended at Dodger Stadium without Los Angeles making a single out Sunday night, a game went to the 10th inning in Philadelphia even with the Orioles leading the Phillies 4-1, and the Yankees hit in the bottom of the ninth with a 6-0 lead over the Mets.It’s not quite baseball like you’re used to seeing. Then again, we'd never seen baseball amid the COVID-19 pandemic.The most peculiar situation occurred during the first exhibition between Arizona and the Dodgers, with the game having an intrasquad feel.Diamondbacks starter Taylor Widener got off to rough opening when he walked the first two batters and then gave up a single to Justin Turner that loaded the bases. Cody Bellinger followed with a grand slam to make it 4-0. Corey Seager then walked and was heading to first base when he learned the inning was over. Widener had thrown 25... [More]

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Ke'Bryan Hayes thought the call might come last September with the Pittsburgh Pirates in a free fall. It didn't and, yeah, it bothered the third base prospect more than a little.“I just used it as motivation for this offseason going back home," Hayes said recently. "They told me what they wanted me to work on so, just went home, prepared for this year.”Namely, fine-tuning his approach at the plate after his sprint through the minors stalled a bit last summer at Triple-A Indianapolis. His .263 batting average was the lowest of his still young professional career as he ran into pitchers who — like Hayes — were on the cusp. His strikeout total ticked up. His walks ticked down. His patience was tested.“It's just learning to hit hard/soft,” Hayes said. “To hit 95 mph fastballs and then hit breaking balls because they were throwing them in weird counts, because they were trying to get to the major leagues too.”The work Hayes put in over the offseason is showing promising... [More]

A team-by-team look at the National League Central 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:___St. Louis CardinalsManager: Mike Shildt (third season). 2019: 91-71, first place, lost to Nationals in NLCS.Training Town: Jupiter, Florida.Park: Roger Dean Stadium.First Workout: Feb. 12/17. He's Here: LHP Matthew Liberatore, C Matt Wieters, LHP Kwang-Hyun Kim.He's Outta Here: OF Marcell Ozuna, RF Jose Martinez, LF Randy Arozarena, RHP Dominic Leone.Going campin': The Cardinals return largely intact after getting swept in the NLCS by World Series champion Washington. The biggest competition throughout the spring will be in the outfield, where only Dexter Fowler has a position locked up — mostly because of his contract. Center fielder Harrison Bader probably has another spot under control, and that leaves Tyler O'Neill, Lane Thomas and top prospect Dylan Carlson competing for the last... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jameson Taillon has plenty of experience when it comes to rehabbing from injuries.The Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander has had two Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgeries during his professional career. He's also undergone surgeries to repair a sport hernia and remove cancerous tissue from his scrotum.“I guess rehab is in my blood now,” Taillon said.Yet Taillon continues to be upbeat while the midst of his latest rehab. He underwent his latest Tommy John procedure in August that will cause him to miss the 2020 season.“I’m not happy go lucky about this, just to be happy go lucky,” Taillon said Saturday during the Pirates’ annual fan festival at PNC Park. “I really believe I have more to give and more to accomplish in my career. That is why I stay upbeat. I know there are better things to come.”The 28-year-old Taillon began a throwing program Monday in his hometown of Houston, playing catch from 60 feet.He emerged as the Pirates’ ace in 2018 when he had a 14-10 record and... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — After losing 100 games in three straight seasons, the Houston Astros are in position to become the first team to win 100 in four consecutive years.A core of José Altuve, Carlos Correa, Alex Bregman and George Springer has been supplemented with stud starting pitchers Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole and Zack Greinke, the combination leading the Astros to their second World Series appearance in three seasons."The ability to recognize when you have a chance to win — and realistically when you have a chance to win and not — I think is one of our most important responsibilities," former Boston Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said ahead of Tuesday's Series opener against Washington. "You can fool yourself one way or the other. Making the wise decisions is extremely important for you to try to win a championship."Houston went 56-106 in 2011 after dealing stars Lance Berkman, Michael Bourn, Roy Oswalt and Hunter Pence. The team was sold from Drayton McLane... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:IT'S ALL ON THE LINEHouston Astros ace Gerrit Cole has won a franchise-record 17 straight decisions heading into the deciding Game 5 of their AL Division Series against visiting Tampa Bay. The winner meets the New York Yankees in the AL Championship Series starting Saturday.Cole is 17-0 in 23 starts since a May 22 loss to the Chicago White Sox. He has allowed 92 hits over 154 1/3 innings during that span, striking out 241 and walking 32. That includes an outstanding outing in a 3-1 Game 2 win over the Rays, when he struck out 15, didn't walk a batter until his final one, and allowed four hits over 7 2/3 scoreless innings.Tyler Glasnow starts for the Rays after taking a 6-2 loss in the opener, when he gave up two runs and four hits in 4 1/3 innings, including Jos� Altuve's go-ahead, two-run homer in the fifth.Both starters came up with the Pirates organization and were teammates in Pittsburgh from 2016-17.Cole was the top pick in the 2011... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Thursday:IT'S ALL ON THE LINEHouston Astros ace Gerrit Cole has won a franchise-record 17 straight decisions heading into the deciding Game 5 of their AL Division Series against visiting Tampa Bay. The winner meets the New York Yankees in the AL Championship Series starting Saturday.Cole is 17-0 in 23 starts since a May 22 loss to the Chicago White Sox. He has allowed 92 hits over 154 1/3 innings during that span, striking out 241 and walking 32. That includes an outstanding outing in a 3-1 Game 2 win over the Rays, when he struck out 15, didn't walk a batter until his final one, and allowed four hits over 7 2/3 scoreless innings.Tyler Glasnow starts for the Rays after taking a 6-2 loss in the opener, when he gave up two runs and four hits in 4 1/3 innings, including Jos� Altuve's go-ahead, two-run homer in the fifth.Both starters came up with the Pirates organization and were teammates in Pittsburgh from 2016-17.Cole was the top pick in the... [More]

Sept. 291913 — Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators finished the season with 36 victories by virtue of a 1-0 decision over the Philadelphia A's.1915 — The Philadelphia Phillies clinched their first NL pennant, beating the Boston Braves, 5-0, behind Grover Alexander's one-hitter.1954 — Willie Mays made his famous over-the-shoulder catch of Vic Wertz's long drive to center field and pinch-hitter Dusty Rhodes homered off Bob Lemon in the 10th inning to lead the New York Giants to a 5-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians in Game 1 of the World Series.1963 — John Paciorek of the Houston Colt .45s, in his only major league appearance, went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and four runs scored against the New York Mets. A back injury ended his baseball career the next season.1976 — John Montefusco of the San Francisco Giants pitched a 9-0 no-hitter over the Braves in Atlanta.1983 — Mike Warren of the Oakland A's pitched a no-hitter to beat the Chicago White Sox, 3-0.1986 — Minnesota's Bert Blyleven... [More]

Cubs fourth. Ian Happ singles to right center field. Jason Heyward reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow right field. Ian Happ out at second. Nico Hoerner doubles to deep right center field. Jason Heyward scores. Kyle Hendricks strikes out swinging. Anthony Rizzo grounds out to first base to Jose Osuna.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Cubs 1, Pirates 0.Pirates seventh. Adam Frazier doubles to center field. Jose Osuna singles to shallow center field. Adam Frazier to third. Colin Moran singles to left field. Jose Osuna to second. Adam Frazier scores. Jacob Stallings singles to right center field. Colin Moran to second. Jose Osuna to third. Kevin Kramer doubles to deep right field. Jacob Stallings to third. Colin Moran scores. Jose Osuna scores. Erik Gonzalez reaches on error. Kevin Kramer scores. Jacob Stallings scores. Fielding error by Ben Zobrist. Pablo Reyes pinch-hitting for Francisco Liriano. Pablo Reyes singles to right field. Erik Gonzalez to second. Kevin Newman reaches on... [More]

Pirates first. Kevin Newman flies out to center field to Lorenzo Cain. Bryan Reynolds grounds out to shallow infield, Zach Davies to Eric Thames. Adam Frazier singles to deep right field. Jose Osuna singles to center field. Adam Frazier to second. Colin Moran reaches on error. Jose Osuna to second. Adam Frazier scores. Fielding error by Keston Hiura. Elias Diaz flies out to deep left field to Ryan Braun.1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 2 left on. Pirates 1, Brewers 0.Brewers first. Trent Grisham grounds out to first base to Jose Osuna. Yasmani Grandal singles to center field. Mike Moustakas lines out to deep right field to Kevin Kramer. Keston Hiura homers to center field. Yasmani Grandal scores. Ryan Braun grounds out to third base, Colin Moran to Jose Osuna.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Brewers 2, Pirates 1.Brewers fourth. Ryan Braun singles to left field. Eric Thames hit by pitch. Ryan Braun to second. Lorenzo Cain singles to center field. Eric Thames to second. Ryan Braun scores. Orlando... [More]