NEW YORK (AP) — The San Francisco Giants have placed All-Star catcher Buster Posey on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain.The team announced the move before a game Wednesday night against the New York Mets.Posey injured his hamstring running out a grounder Saturday, and his IL stint is retroactive to then. San Francisco called up catcher Aramis Garcia to back up Stephen Vogt on Sunday and had carried three catchers this week hoping Posey could return soon.Right-hander Trevor Gott was activated from the 10-day injured list after dealing with a forearm strain.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — Kyle Hendricks needed just 81 pitches for a four-hitter, Anthony Rizzo homered for his third straight game and the Chicago Cubs beat the NL Central-leading St. Louis Cardinals 4-0 on Friday.The second-place Cubs won their season-high fifth in a row while cutting St. Louis' lead to 1½ games. The Cardinals have back-to-back losses after five consecutive victories.Hendricks (2-4) pitched his third career shutout and fourth complete game, his first since he shut out Miami on Aug. 1, 2016. The right-hander struck out three and did not walk a batter, after getting pounded in a loss at Arizona last week. Hendricks improved to 6-2 in 15 starts against St. Louis.Rizzo made it 3-0 with a three-run drive against Jack Flaherty (3-2) in the third and finished with three hits. Javier Baez added an RBI single in the seventh, and the Cubs opened a 10-game homestand with a win.Flaherty allowed three runs and four hits in 5 2/3 innings.BRAVES 7, MARLINS 2MIAMI (AP) — Freddie Freeman and Brian... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Kyle Hendricks needed just 81 pitches for a four-hitter, Anthony Rizzo homered for his third straight game and the Chicago Cubs beat the NL Central-leading St. Louis Cardinals 4-0 on Friday.The second-place Cubs won their season-high fifth in a row while cutting St. Louis' lead to 1½ games. The Cardinals have back-to-back losses after five consecutive victories.Hendricks (2-4) pitched his third career shutout and fourth complete game, his first since he shut out Miami on Aug. 1, 2016. The right-hander struck out three and did not walk a batter, after getting pounded in a loss at Arizona last week. Hendricks improved to 6-2 in 15 starts against St. Louis.Rizzo made it 3-0 with a three-run drive against Jack Flaherty (3-2) in the third and finished with three hits. Javier Baez added an RBI single in the seventh, and the Cubs opened a 10-game homestand with a win.Flaherty allowed three runs and four hits in 5 2/3 innings.BRAVES 7, MARLINS 2MIAMI (AP) — Freddie Freeman and Brian... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco Giants acquired veteran catcher Erik Kratz from the Brewers on Sunday, sending minor league infielder C.J. Hinojosa to Milwaukee.Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi had wanted an experienced catcher to provide depth behind Buster Posey, who is back from right hip surgery that ended his 2018 season in late August.The 38-year-old Kratz batted .236 with six home runs and 23 RBIs in 67 games for the Brewers last season, hitting .292 in nine playoff games. He joins his eighth team over 10 major league seasons.The Giants reassigned catcher Stephen Vogt to minor league camp. He is working his way back from surgery on his troublesome right shoulder last May and didn't play for Milwaukee last year.Vogt reached a minor league deal before spring training along with Rene Rivera, just released by the Giants.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — On Saturday, San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey played in his fifth spring training game and made his fourth start behind the plate.Told that it seems as if he's catching more than expected coming off hip surgery, Posey agreed."Which is a good thing," Posey said. "I didn't really have expectations coming in. I would say so, too. That's a positive."Posey will be in the Giants' lineup on Sunday as well, but as the designated hitter. It will be the second time he's played in back to back games this spring. Last August, he had surgery to address a hip impingement and repair a torn labrum.Is there anything he can't do because of his hip?"I'd say the best way to describe how I feel is just more free," Posey said. "I don't feel stuck. Like any rehab, it's a little bit like this and for the most part, mine has been a gradual incline. At the same time, I'm aware there might be some soreness and inflammation along the way. I'm hoping to leave here in a couple weeks... [More]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — One day in early November, Buster Posey felt his body respond more normally again as he rehabilitated from season-ending hip surgery. Working out his lower half with a 15-pound dumbbell in his left hand he leaned forward for a one-legged Russian Dead Lift. Posey felt the muscles in his right buttocks being used exactly the way they should."This might be TMI," San Francisco's star catcher noted of perhaps providing too much information. "I could really feel the right side of my gluteus maximus engage — hadn't really felt that in a while. With all leg exercises I feel like things have been more symmetrical, so hopefully that's a good sign."San Francisco pitchers and catchers report this week and Posey plans to be a full participant from Day 1 of spring training Wednesday, pulling on the catcher's gear and squatting behind the plate for his part in pitchers' bullpens early in camp. He understands there likely will be some modifications to his workload at the beginning... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stephen Vogt is ready to do whatever he can to take pressure off Buster Posey as both catchers work to bounce back from surgeries that cut their 2018 seasons short.Vogt is returning to the Bay Area after agreeing to a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants.He shared the news in a text message Monday, when he arrived in the Arizona desert from his home in snowy Washington state — "14 inches," he noted saying Arizona felt great already — and headed to the club's spring training complex in Scottsdale, where pitchers and catchers report Tuesday.San Francisco also agreed to a minor league deal last week with catcher Rene Rivera."I definitely believe it presents a good opportunity. Obviously Buster, he's the guy. If he's not going to be 100 percent then hopefully we can pick up the slack and hold the fort down until he's ready to go 100 percent," Vogt said by phone from Phoenix. "For me, too, I have to get healthy first as well. I know Rene Rivera is going to... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stephen Vogt is ready to do whatever he can to take pressure off Buster Posey as both players work to bounce back from surgeries that cut their 2018 seasons short.Vogt is returning to the Bay Area after agreeing to a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants.The catcher shared the news in a text message Monday, when he arrived in the Arizona desert from his home in snowy Washington state — "14 inches," he noted saying Arizona felt great already — and headed to the club's spring training complex in Scottsdale, where pitchers and catchers report Wednesday.San Francisco also agreed to a minor league deal last week with catcher Rene Rivera."I definitely believe it presents a good opportunity. Obviously Buster, he's the guy. If he's not going to be 100 percent then hopefully we can pick up the slack and hold the fort down until he's ready to go 100 percent," Vogt said by phone from Phoenix. "For me, too, I have to get healthy first as well. I know Rene Rivera is... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stephen Vogt is ready to do whatever he can to take pressure off Buster Posey as both players work to bounce back from surgeries that cut their 2018 seasons short.Vogt is returning to the Bay Area, agreeing to a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants.The catcher shared the news in a text message Monday, when he arrived in the Arizona desert from home in snowy Washington state — "14 inches," he noted saying Arizona felt great already — and was headed to the club's spring training complex in Scottsdale, where pitchers and catchers report Wednesday.San Francisco also agree to a minor league deal last week with catcher Rene Rivera."I definitely believe it presents a good opportunity. Obviously Buster, he's the guy. If he's not going to be 100 percent then hopefully we can pick up the slack and hold the fort down until he's ready to go 100 percent," Vogt said by phone from Phoenix. "For me, too, I have to get healthy first as well. I know Rene Rivera is going... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Free agent catcher Stephen Vogt is returning to the Bay Area, agreeing to a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants.Vogt shared the news in a text message Monday, when he was en route to the club's spring training complex in Scottsdale, Arizona. Pitchers and catchers report Wednesday.New Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi said Friday he was still seeking depth at the catcher position behind Buster Posey, who is recovering from season-ending right hip surgery.The 34-year-old had surgery on his troublesome right shoulder last May and didn't play for Milwaukee last year. He says he feels great now and is throwing, but throwing from the catcher's crouch remains a step he must complete.A career .251 hitter with 57 homers and 218 RBIs through parts of six major league seasons, Vogt played for Oakland from 2013 through part of '17.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers have selected the contract of utility player Nick Franklin from Double-A Biloxi, sending infielder Eric Sogard to Triple-A Colorado Springs.Milwaukee also transferred Stephen Vogt to the 60-day disabled list after the catcher suffered a setback in his comeback from a right shoulder injury.But the bullpen could get All-Star closer Corey Knebel back from a left hamstring injury. He has been sidelined since early April.Manager Craig Counsell said that Knebel could be activated in the next few days, strengthening what is already one of the league's best bullpens. The Brewers are second in the majors with a 2.59 bullpen ERA."He passed everything at a pretty good rate and did everything in a timely manner, and really probably a little ahead of schedule," Counsell said about Knebel's rehab. "So it's good to go and it'll be great to get him back."Franklin was in the starting lineup at second base on Tuesday against the Cleveland Indians. The switch-hitter... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers have selected the contract of utility player Nick Franklin from Double-A Biloxi, sending infielder Eric Sogard to Triple-A Colorado Springs.Milwaukee also transferred Stephen Vogt to the 60-day disabled list after the catcher suffered a setback in his comeback from a right shoulder injury.But the Brewers bullpen could get All-Star closer Corey Knebel back from a left hamstring injury. Manager Craig Counsell said that Knebel could be activated in the next few days.Franklin was in the starting lineup at second base on Tuesday against the Cleveland Indians. The switch-hitter was hitting .288 in the minors.Production at second base has been a problem for the Brewers. Sogard was hitting .100 in 28 games in splitting time with Jonathan Villar and Hernan Perez.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Eric Thames earned a reputation as a workout warrior during his days playing professionally in South Korea, where he cultivated the prodigious power that served him so well last season with the Brewers.Well, his leg muscles are going to be pretty strong in a couple months.Thames joked Wednesday that he won't be able to exercise much else after an MRI exam revealed that he had torn the ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb. The first baseman will head back to Milwaukee after his team wraps up its two-game set in Kansas City and be examined by team doctors, then likely schedule surgery in the hopes of returning for the second half of the season."Personally I feel like I let everybody down, but it's nothing I can control," said Thames, who was hitting .250 and second in the National League with seven homers. "I saw on (television) that I'll be out six to eight weeks, so I guess that's what it is. It all depends on when the surgery is."The Royals recalled right-hander... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — Even before the start of the season, the Milwaukee Brewers have their first hit.Milwaukee released a 2-minute, 35-second video celebrating the 25th anniversary of the movie "The Sandlot" last weekend, featuring Brewers players dressed as characters from the film reciting the movie's lines.Hank, the dog who is Milwaukee's mascot, played The Beast — a ferocious dog in the movie that the kids were frightened of when they went to retrieve home run balls. Hank is a cuddly white mixed-breed whom the Brewers adopted as a pup during spring training in 2014."It's probably my all-time favorite baseball movie," said infielder Eric Sogard, who with the spectacles he often wears was asked to play the role of Michael "Squints" Palledorous. "Anytime that movie's on, I love watching it. Squints, man, I play wearing glasses, so I feel like that nickname has been thrown around at me every once in a while.""The Sandlot" is about an adult reminiscing on his younger days playing ball with his... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — Even before the start of the season, the Milwaukee Brewers have their first hit.Milwaukee released a 2-minute, 35-second video celebrating the 25th anniversary of the movie "The Sandlot" last weekend, featuring Brewers players dressed as characters from the film reciting the movie's lines.Hank, the dog who is Milwaukee's mascot, played The Beast — a ferocious dog in the movie that the kids were frightened of when they went to retrieve home run balls. Hank is a cuddly white mixed-breed whom the Brewers adopted as a pup during spring training in 2014."It's probably my all-time favorite baseball movie," said infielder Eric Sogard, who with the spectacles he often wears was asked to play the role of Michael "Squints" Palledorous. "Anytime that movie's on, I love watching it. Squints, man, I play wearing glasses, so I feel like that nickname has been thrown around at me every once in a while.""The Sandlot" is about an adult reminiscing on his younger days playing ball with his... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — Milwaukee Brewers catcher Stephen Vogt is expected to miss two to three weeks because of a strained right shoulder.The injury occured last week during a spring training workout. Vogt said he felt something awkward during a drill, but attributed it to getting back into game shape.Vogt caught Milwaukee's spring training opener on Friday. He got an MRI after discomfort lingered through the weekend, and the test revealed a strain."The soreness kind of crept up and it got to a point where I had to stop throwing," Vogt said Wednesday. "I'm thankful that it's not something more serious than just a strain."The 27-year-old hit .254 with eight home runs and 20 RBIs in 45 games after he was claimed off waivers from Oakland. He missed nearly a month during the season with a sprained left knee and had surgery in the offseason on his right elbow.Vogt agreed to a $3,065,000, one-year contract that is not guaranteed and arrived at camp prepared to compete with Jett Bandy for a roster spot... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — Milwaukee Brewers catcher Stephen Vogt is expected to miss two to three weeks because of a strained right shoulder.The injury occured last week during a spring training workout. Vogt said he felt something awkward during a drill, but attributed it to getting back into game shape.Vogt caught Milwaukee's spring training opener on Friday. He got an MRI after discomfort lingered through the weekend, and the test revealed a strain."The soreness kind of crept up and it got to a point where I had to stop throwing," Vogt said Wednesday. "I'm thankful that it's not something more serious than just a strain."The 27-year-old hit .254 with eight home runs and 20 RBIs in 45 games after he was claimed off waivers from Oakland. He missed nearly a month during the season with a sprained left knee and had surgery in the offseason on his right elbow.Vogt agreed to a $3,065,000, one-year contract that is not guaranteed and arrived at camp prepared to compete with Jett Bandy for a roster spot... [More]

C Stephen Vogt agreed to a $3.065 million contract with the Brewers to avoid arbitration on Friday. The 33-year-old catcher and two-time All-Star as a member of the Athletics joined the Brewers via waivers last June. In 122 at-bats with the Brewers, Vogt hit .254 with eight home runs and 20 RBIs. Vogt made $2.965 million last season between the Brewers and A's.

C Stephen Vogt's three RBIs tied his season high set June 11 at Tampa Bay and June 30 against Miami. Vogt drove in runs in his first three at-bats with a single in the second, a solo shot in the fourth and an infield out in the sixth. Vogt has gotten most of the action with an injury to Manny Pina and is holding up nicely, collecting seven hits in the last 16 at-bats.

C Stepgen Vogt is likely to be the Brewers' regular starter down the stretch as they try to chase down the last National League wild-card spot. Vogt had settled into a backup role behind Manny Pina after returning from a knee injury but has started four straight games since Pina sprained his left thumb and is expected to start Milwaukee's final five games. He came up big Tuesday, collecting a career-best three doubles and scoring twice in a 7-6 victory over the Reds.