HOUSTON (AP) — Charlie Morton pitched six scoreless innings, Marwin Gonzalez homered and the Houston Astros unveiled their World Series banner before defeating the Baltimore Orioles 6-1 on Monday night in their home opener.Morton (1-0) allowed three hits and struck out six. The right-hander picked up where he left off after getting the final 12 outs in Game 7 against the Dodgers to help secure Houston's first championship.Brad Peacock pitched a perfect seventh and Will Harris allowed one hit in the eighth before Collin McHugh took over. The starter-turned-reliever allowed a homer to Trey Mancini and a double to Colby Rasmus before retiring the last three batters.Baltimore has dropped three straight after winning its opener. Orioles starter Chris Tillman (0-1) was tagged for seven hits and four runs in four-plus innings.RED SOX 7, MARLINS 3MIAMI (AP) — Brian Johnson gave the Red Sox their fifth solid start in five games, allowing one run in six innings.All five Boston starters have allowed... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Charlie Morton pitched six scoreless innings, Marwin Gonzalez homered and the Houston Astros unveiled their World Series banner before defeating the Baltimore Orioles 6-1 on Monday night in their home opener.Morton (1-0) allowed three hits and struck out six. The right-hander picked up where he left off after getting the final 12 outs in Game 7 against the Dodgers to help secure Houston's first championship.Brad Peacock pitched a perfect seventh and Will Harris allowed one hit in the eighth before Collin McHugh took over. The starter-turned-reliever allowed a homer to Trey Mancini and a double to Colby Rasmus before retiring the last three batters.Baltimore has dropped three straight after winning its opener. Orioles starter Chris Tillman (0-1) was tagged for seven hits and four runs in four-plus innings.RED SOX 7, MARLINS 3MIAMI (AP) — Brian Johnson gave the Red Sox their fifth solid start in five games, allowing one run in six innings.All five Boston starters have allowed... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Not long after the Houston Astros won the World Series, third baseman Alex Bregman got another big reason to smile.Justin Verlander wasn't simply a late-season rental. He was under contract with the team for two more seasons. Bregman's reaction, caught on a teammate's Instagram Live account, was one of pure joy, filled with shrieks and yelling.The Astros could have more grins in store this season: Manager A.J. Hinch will not only have the ace right-hander for the whole year, he will have a loaded rotation and pretty much every key player who helped Houston win it all last fall, from American League MVP Jose Altuve to World Series MVP George Springer and All-Star Carlos Correa.Acquired in an Aug. 31 trade from Detroit, Verlander was 5-0 with a 1.06 ERA and 43 strikeouts in five regular-season starts for Houston before going 4-1 with a 2.20 ERA and making his first career relief appearance in the postseason to help the Astros to their first title.The 2011 American League MVP... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Matt Harvey thinks he is on the right track as he tries to regain the form that made him an All-Star in 2013.The oft-injured New York Mets pitcher allowed two hits over three scoreless innings against Detroit on Monday in his second spring training appearance."I was pleased with putting up zeroes but also to be able to throw my pitches and keep guys guessing," the 28-year-old right-hander said. "I didn't go late into the game because we're only going three innings, but I finished the outing strong and came out with zeroes."An All-Star who started the 2013 game at the Mets' Citi Field, Harvey has struggled since tearing the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow that August. He was 13-8 with a 2.71 ERA over 29 starts when he returned in 2015 following Tommy John surgery, then slumped to 4-10 with a 4.86 ERA, when he didn't start after July 4 because of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, which required another operation.He wound up 5-7 with a 6.70 ERA last year,... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Matt Harvey thinks he is on the right track as he tries to regain the form that made him an All-Star in 2013.The oft-injured New York Mets pitcher allowed two hits over a pair of scoreless innings against Detroit on Monday in his second spring training appearance."I was pleased with putting up zeroes but also to be able to throw my pitches and keep guys guessing," the 28-year-old right-hander said. "I didn't go late into the game because we're only going three innings, but I finished the outing strong and came out with zeroes."An All-Star who started the 2013 game at the Mets' Citi Field, Harvey has struggled since tearing the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow that August. He was 13-8 with a 2.71 ERA over 29 starts when he returned in 2015 following Tommy John surgery, then slumped to 4-10 with a 4.86 ERA, when he didn't start after July 4 because of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, which required another operation.He wound up 5-7 with a 6.70 ERA last... [More]

Shohei Ohtani went only one way in his spring training debut for the Los Angeles Angels and got pulled early.The Japanese star pitcher and hitter was scheduled to throw two innings in his start Saturday, but was taken out after giving up two hits and two walks in 1 1/3 innings during a 6-5 win over Milwaukee.Angels manager Mike Scioscia didn't put Ohtani in the batting order.The 23-year-old righty struck out two and his fastball reached 97 mph. He allowed one run, on a homer by Keon Broxton. Ohtani threw 31 pitches, 17 for strikes."Besides the results, I mean, I had a lot of fun out there, so I think it went all well," Ohtani said through a translator.Ohtani has been hitting some long home runs in batting practice."I had a lot of fun out there today and obviously I'm excited to hit and pitch again, and I just want to keep on getting better and have good results from here on out," he said.Scioscia said Ohtani will hit early in the week, as the designated hitter."It was great to see him,"... [More]

Shohei Ohtani went only one way in his spring training debut for the Los Angeles Angels and got pulled early.The Japanese star pitcher and hitter was scheduled to throw two innings in his start Saturday, but was taken out after giving up two hits and two walks in 1 1/3 innings during a 6-5 win over Milwaukee.Angels manager Mike Scioscia didn't put Ohtani in the batting order.The 23-year-old righty struck out two and his fastball reached 97 mph. He allowed one run, on a homer by Keon Broxton. Ohtani threw 31 pitches, 17 for strikes."Besides the results, I mean, I had a lot of fun out there, so I think it went all well," Ohtani said through a translator.Ohtani has been hitting some long home runs in batting practice."I had a lot of fun out there today and obviously I'm excited to hit and pitch again, and I just want to keep on getting better and have good results from here on out," he said.Scioscia said Ohtani will hit early in the week, as the designated hitter."It was great to see him,"... [More]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — With virtually every position already a lock for the Houston Astros at the beginning of spring training, the toughest decision manager A.J. Hinch might have to make this spring is which of his talented pitchers won't make the rotation.On a championship team with Cy Young winners Justin Verlander and Dallas Keuchel, newcomer Gerrit Cole and Lance McCullers, Hinch will likely have to send one or more of his other starters into the bullpen to open the season."Poor me to have too many starters that need to be in the rotation," Hinch joked.Hinch's "problem" is one that many managers would love to have. The addition of Verlander late last season combined with the offseason trade for Cole, made Houston's already solid rotation arguably one of baseball's best.Keuchel, who won the Cy Young in 2015, bounced back from a tough 2016 by going 14-5 with a 2.90 ERA last season. The 30-year-old lefty started five games and collected two wins in the playoffs to help Houston to... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — Collin McHugh became the second pitcher on the World Series champion Houston Astros to go to salary arbitration, and Chicago White Sox outfielder Avisail Garcia also went to a hearing.McHugh asked for a raise from $3.85 million to $5 million during Tuesday's hearing before arbitrators Mark Burstein, Jeanne Wood and Allen Ponak. Houston argued for a $4.55 million salary.Garcia requested a hike from $3 million to $6.7 million rather than Chicago's $5.85 million offer. His case was heard by Phillip LaPorte, Steven Wolf and John Kagel, who are likely to issue a decision Wednesday.Players lead 7-6 with decisions to be announced Thursday for McHugh and pitchers Marcus Stroman, Jake Odorizzi and Trevor Bauer. Four more hearings are scheduled, and 22 decisions would be the most since players won 14 of 24 cases in 1990.Baltimore and pitcher Kevin Gausman agreed Tuesday to a $5.6 million, one-year deal, avoiding a hearing scheduled for Wednesday.McHugh heads to spring training projected... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — Collin McHugh became the second pitcher on the World Series champion Houston Astros to go to salary arbitration, and Chicago White Sox outfielder Avisail Garcia also went to a hearing.McHugh asked for a raise from $3.85 million to $5 million during Tuesday's hearing before arbitrators Mark Burstein, Jeanne Wood and Allen Ponak. Houston argued for a $4.55 million salary.Garcia requested a hike from $3 million to $6.7 million rather than Chicago's $5.85 million offer. His case was heard by Phillip LaPorte, Steven Wolf and John Kagel, who are likely to issue a decision Wednesday.Players lead 7-6 with decisions to be announced Thursday for McHugh and pitchers Marcus Stroman, Jake Odorizzi and Trevor Bauer. Four more hearings are scheduled, and 22 decisions would be the most since players won 14 of 24 cases in 1990.Baltimore and pitcher Kevin Gausman agreed Tuesday to a $5.6 million, one-year deal, avoiding a hearing scheduled for Wednesday.McHugh heads to spring training projected... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — Collin McHugh became the second pitcher on the World Series champion Houston Astros to go to salary arbitration, asking for a raise from $3.85 million to $5 million.Houston argued for a $4.55 million salary in Tuesday's hearing before arbitrators Mark Burstein, Jeanne Wood and Allen Ponak.Players lead 7-6 with decisions pending for McHugh and pitchers Marcus Stroman, Jake Odorizzi and Trevor Bauer. Six more hearings are scheduled, and 22 decisions would be the most since players won 14 of 24 cases in 1990.Baltimore and pitcher Kevin Gausman agreed Tuesday to a $5.6 million, one-year deal, avoiding a hearing scheduled for Wednesday.McHugh heads to spring training projected as a sixth starter behind a rotation with Justin Verlander, Dallas Keuchel, Gerrit Cole, Lance McCullers Jr. and Charlie Morton. The Astros could decide to trade McHugh.The 30-year-old right-hander was 5-2 with a 3.55 ERA in 12 starts last season. He was on the disabled list with tendinitis in his pitching... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The celebration is over for the Houston Astros after winning their first World Series last season.They don't want to think or talk about 2017. And they certainly aren't dwelling on their big win.The Astros believe the only way to build on their success is by winning again in 2018."These guys are not satisfied with what happened and they want to ... take a great team and make it legendary," general manager Jeff Luhnow said. "We're a great team, with great accomplishments. We're not legendary yet. And I think they all desire to be legendary."That sentiment was on display on Wednesday when the team's marketing department unveiled the theme for the season of: "Never Settle," words that will adorn their website, Twitter account and ballpark."The plan that Jim Crane had in 2011 when he hired me and bought this team was to get the Astros relevant as soon as possible and then win multiple championships," Luhnow said of the Astros' owner. "So we're on our way to our goal. We certainly... [More]

A team-by-team look at the American League West 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:___Houston AstrosManager: A.J. Hinch (fourth season).2017: 101-61, first place, won World Series.Training Town: West Palm Beach, Florida.Park: The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.First Workout: Feb. 14/19.He's Here: RHP Gerrit Cole, RHP Joe Smith, RHP Hector Rondon.He's Outta Here: DH Carlos Beltran, RHP Luke Gregerson, RHP Joe Musgrove, RHP Mike Fiers, RHP Michael Feliz, INF Colin Moran.Going campin': This team is basically set after retaining almost every key player from last season's championship squad. The two strongest areas are the middle infield, where shortstop Carlos Correa and second baseman Jose Altuve, last year's AL MVP, return to anchor the middle of the order. Correa hit .315 with 24 homers — both career highs — and Altuve had his finest season, hitting a career-best and major... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — World Series MVP George Springer and the Houston Astros avoided salary arbitration by agreeing Monday to a $24 million, two-year contract.Springer gets $12 million annually under the deal and will be eligible for arbitration again after the 2019 season. The hearing had been scheduled for Tuesday.He asked for a raise from $4,075,000 to $10.5 million and was offered $8.5 million. His case was bolstered when Mookie Betts defeated Boston in the first hearing last week and was awarded $10.5 million rather than the team's $7.5 million offer.Springer tied the World Series record with five runs homers, homering in each of the final four games, as Houston won its first title. Springer batted .379 (11 for 29) with five walks in the seven games against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He set career bests during the season with a .283 average, 34 home runs and 85 RBIs.Houston lost to closer Ken Giles in a case decided Saturday and remains scheduled with a hearing for pitcher Collin McHugh.Players are 5-2 in cases decided thus far and 17 remain scheduled for hearings through Feb. 16. Twenty-four would be the most hearings since 1990.___More MLB baseball: https://apnews.com/tags/MLBbaseball

HOUSTON (AP) — World Series MVP George Springer and the Houston Astros avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a $24 million, two-year contract.Springer gets $12 million annually under the deal announced Monday and will be eligible for arbitration again after the 2019 season. The hearing had been scheduled for Tuesday.He asked for a raise from $4,075,000 to $10.5 million and was offered $8.5 million. His case was bolstered when Mookie Betts defeated Boston in the first hearing last week and was awarded $10.5 million rather than the team's $7.5 million offer.Springer tied the World Series record with five runs homers, homering in each of the final four games, as Houston won its first title. Springer batted .379 (11 for 29) with five walks in the seven games against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He set career bests during the season with a .283 average, 34 home runs and 85 RBIs.Houston lost to closer Ken Giles in a case decided Saturday and remains scheduled with a hearing for pitcher Collin McHugh.___More MLB baseball: https://apnews.com/tags/MLBbaseball

PHOENIX (AP) — Mookie Betts and the Boston Red Sox have argued the first salary arbitration case of the year, with the All-Star outfielder asking for a raise from $950,000 to $10.5 million and the team offering $7.5 million.Arbitrators Daniel Brent, Mark Burstein, Phillip LaPorte heard arguments Tuesday, and a decision is expected Wednesday.The 25-year-old, eligible for arbitration for the first time, hit .264 with 24 homers and 102 RBIs last year, when he made his second straight AL All-Star team. He batted .318 with 31 homers and 113 RBIs in 2016.His gap was the largest among the 27 players who swapped figures with their teams on Jan. 12. Just two of them reached agreements, leaving the rest headed toward hearings, which are scheduled through Feb. 16. Among those are three members of the World Series champion Houston Astros: outfielder George Springer, closer Ken Giles and pitcher Collin McHugh.Teams won eight of 15 decisions last winter, the most hearings since clubs went 10-6 in 2004. Several clubs refused to negotiate after the exchange of proposed arbitration salaries, a so-called "file and trial" strategy.Teams have a 302-224 edge since arbitration started in 1974.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

HOUSTON (AP) — Astros starter Dallas Keuchel agreed to a $13.2 million, one-year contract after helping lead Houston to its first World Series title, and designated hitter/catcher Evan Gattis got a $6.7 million deal.Pitchers Lance McCullers Jr. ($2.45 million) and Brad Peacock ($2.44 million) also agreed, when players and teams were set to swap proposed salaries in arbitration.World Series MVP George Springer, reliever Ken Giles and pitcher Collin McHugh swapped figures with Houston and remain headed to hearings.Springer asked for a raise from $4,075,000 to $10.5 million and was offered $8.5 million. Giles, who stumbled in the World Series, is eligible for arbitration for the first time and asked for a raise from $555,100 to $4.6 million. The Astros countered at $4.2 million.McHugh requested a raise from $3.85 million to $5 million and was offered $4.55 million.Keuchel, the 2015 AL Young Award winner, went 14-5 with a 2.90 ERA and 125 strikeouts in the regular season and was 2-2 with a... [More]

RHP Collin McHugh pitched four scoreless innings in Game 3 of the AL Championship Series on Monday, marking the longest relief appearance in a postseason game in Houston's history. The previous longest was by Wandy Rodriguez, who pitched 3 1/3 in Game 1 of the 2005 World Series against the Chicago White Sox.

RHP Collin McHugh got the win on Sunday, improving his record to 5-2 with a 3.55 ERA. He allowed three runs on five hits over six innings. He improved 16-0 in September and October of the regular season since 2014.

RHP Collin McHugh gets the start in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Red Sox. McHugh (4-2, 3.45 ERA) has allowed only three runs in his last 10 innings. The veteran is 2-2 with a 4.76 ERA in five career starts against the Red Sox. Xander Bogaerts (7-for-14, 5 RBIs) and Mookie Betts (6-for-8, 4 RBIs) have hit him well.