ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Latest on Game 4 of the World Series (all times local): 5:55 p.m. The Los Angeles Dodgers announced a tweak to their starting lineup just before they completed batting practice ahead of the start of Game 4. Just more than an hour before playing the Tampa Bay Rays, the Dodgers said Cody Bellinger would be the designated hitter and AJ Pollock would be in center field. There was no immediate word from the Dodgers on why the switch was made. Bellinger had started the first three games of the series in center field, and was there in the original lineup. He homered and had a leaping catch that robbed the Rays of a possible homer in Game 1 on Tuesday night, two days after he popped his right shoulder out of whack during an emphatic celebration of his go-ahead homer in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series. ___ 4:05 p.m. The Tampa Bay Rays started four right-handed hitters at the top of their batting order and seven in all against Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Latest on Game 2 of the World Series (all times local): 10:50 p.m. Brandon Lowe hit two home runs to break out of an extended postseason slump and the Tampa Bay Rays held off the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-4, tying the World Series at one game apiece. Down 5-0, the Dodgers closed within 6-4 on Corey Seager’s solo homer in the eighth. Aaron Loup relieved and struck out Cody Bellinger with a runner on base to prevent further damage. Joey Wendle also drove in three runs for Tampa Bay. Will Smith and Chris Taylor homered to help the Dodgers rally. After a day off, Game 3 will be Friday night at neutral site Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers. Charlie Morton starts for the Rays against Walker Buehler in a matchup of pitchers who have both excelled in October outings. ___ 10:33 p.m. Corey Seager hit a leadoff drive in the eighth inning for his seventh homer this postseason, and the Los Angeles Dodgers trimmed Tampa Bay’s lead to 6-4 heading to the ninth in Game... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — After winning the Division Series and AL Championship Series in San Diego, the Tampa Bay Rays played before fans in the World Series opener for the first time since spring training. “Playing a playoff game with zero fans in it has got to be one of the weirdest, most bizarre things I’ve ever experienced in baseball,” Rays pitcher Charlie Morton, scheduled to start Game 3, said Wednesday. “But at the same time, one of the most memorable things I’ve ever experienced in baseball. I’ll appreciate everyone that made this possible for as long as I live.” He appreciated the atmosphere at Globe Life Field, where the opener Tuesday drew a crowd of 11,388. That was about 28% of the 40,518 capacity at the new $1.2 billion retractable-roof stadium of the Texas Rangers. “This stadium, even though it’s not filled to capacity, there’s something about this place,” Morton said. “It’s very robust. It’s big -- it feels big. They have the big screen right above the field. It’s feels... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Clayton Kershaw, Cody Bellinger, Mookie Betts and the Los Angeles Dodgers left the Tampa Bay Rays stuck in neutral to start a most strange World Series played amid the pandemic. Kershaw dominated for six innings, Bellinger and Betts homered and the Dodgers chased a wild Tyler Glasnow in the fifth inning for an 8-3 win Tuesday night in the first Series held at a neutral site. A crowd limited by the coronavirus to 11,388 at Globe Life Field, the new $1.2 billion home of the Texas Rangers, marked the smallest for baseball’s top event in 111 years. Kershaw, a regular season star with an erratic postseason history, looked like the ace who so often stars on midsummer evenings with the San Gabriel Mountains behind him at Dodger Stadium. With these games shifted, the 32-year-old left-hander wound up pitching not far from his offseason home in Dallas. The three-time Cy Young Award winner allowed one run and two hits, struck out eight and walked one. He induced 19 swings and... [More]

A capsule look at the best-of-seven World Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Dodgers in Arlington, Texas, beginning Tuesday night: ___ Season Series: Did not play. ___ TAMPA BAY RAYS Record: 40-20. Playoff Entry: AL East champions. Playoff Seed: No. 1. Manager: Kevin Cash (sixth season). Projected Rotation: RHP Tyler Glasnow (5-1, 4.08 ERA, 91 Ks in 57 1/3 IP), LHP Blake Snell (4-2, 3.24, 63 Ks in 50 IP), RHP Charlie Morton (2-2, 4.74, 42 Ks in 38 IP), LHP Ryan Yarbrough (1-4, 3.56). Top Hitters: 2B Brandon Lowe (.269, 14 HRs, 37 RBIs, 36 runs, .916 OPS), LF Randy Arozarena (.281, 7, 11, 1.022 OPS in 23 games), SS Willy Adames (.259, 8, 23, .813 OPS). Top Relievers: RHP Nick Anderson (2-1, 0.55 ERA, 6 saves), RHP Diego Castillo (3-0, 1.66, 4 saves), RHP Pete Fairbanks (6-3, 2.70). Series Summary: It's the second American League pennant for the Rays, who began play as an expansion team in 1998. They lost the 2008 World Series to Philadelphia in five games. ... Tampa Bay opened... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Although Randy Arozarena is having an undeniably incredible postseason, he can’t always carry the Tampa Bay Rays’ offense all by himself In fact, it's a bit wild that the Rays have reached the brink of the World Series with an unheralded rookie doing so much of their offensive work. When nobody stepped up to help Tampa Bay's surprising slugger until the ninth inning of Game 4 of the AL Championship Series on Wednesday night, the Rays were forced to extend their stay in San Diego by at least a day. Arozarena hit a two-run shot in the fourth inning for his fifth homer of the postseason, but the Rays didn't score again until Willy Adames' two-out double in the ninth. Adames was stranded on third when Yoshi Tsutsugo's liner was caught in right field to end Tampa Bay's 4-3 loss. The foundation of Tampa Bay's success this fall is not offense: After batting .238 in the regular season to rank 21st in the majors, the Rays entered Game 4 of the ALCS hitting a meager .209 in the postseason... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Whether they're in the field or at the plate, the Houston Astros are finding it tough to summon their usual postseason proficiency so far in the AL Championship Series. Almost as tough as José Altuve is finding it to throw to first base from shallow right field. Altuve's two throwing errors were the lowlight of Houston's 4-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 2 on Monday, with his first error prolonging the first inning and leading directly to Manuel Margot's decisive three-run homer. “We’re very surprised,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “That’s his first throwing error all year, and he hit two of them today." Altuve's mistakes and another quiet day at the plate have put the defending AL champion Astros in a 2-0 series hole in less than 24 hours in San Diego. Houston is facing an 0-2 series deficit for only the second time during its current run of four consecutive playoff appearances with two AL pennants. The Astros lost the first two games of last year's World Series... [More]

A look at what’s happening around the majors today: ___ HELLO AGAIN Houston and Tampa Bay are set to open their AL Championship Series in San Diego, with Astros left-hander Framber Valdez opposing 2018 AL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell. The Rays are seeking revenge after Houston beat them in five games in the AL Division Series last year. The Astros are in the ALCS for the fourth straight year, looking for a third trip to the World Series in that span. After going 29-31 during the regular season, Houston is 5-1 in the playoffs after eliminating AL West champion Oakland in four games in the ALDS at Dodger Stadium. The Rays are trying to get to their second World Series after losing to the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008. They went the distance in their ALDS against the Yankees, advancing with a 2-1 victory Friday night on Mike Brosseau’s dramatic eighth-inning home run off Aroldis Chapman. CLOSED OUT In a season that’s gone exceedingly well for the Los Angeles Dodgers, a late problem that... [More]

A capsule look at the best-of-seven playoff series between the Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays in San Diego beginning Sunday: ___ Season Series: Did not meet. ___ HOUSTON ASTROS Record: 29-31. Playoff Entry: second place, AL West. Playoff Seed: No. 6. Manager: Dusty Baker (first season). Projected Rotation: LHP Framber Valdez (5-3, 3.57 ERA, 76 Ks), RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (3-3, 3.93, 56 Ks), RHP Jose Urquidy (1-1, 2.73, 17 Ks), RHP Zack Greinke (3-3, 4.03, 67 Ks), RHP Cristian Javier (5-2, 3.48, 54 Ks). Top Hitters: DH Michael Brantley (.300, 5 HRs, 22 RBIs, 15 doubles), CF George Springer (.265, 14, 32), LF Kyle Tucker (.268, 9, 42). Top Relievers: RHP Ryan Pressly (1-3, 3.43 ERA, 12 saves), RHP Enoli Paredes (3-3, 3.05), LHP Blake Taylor (2-1, 2.18, 1 save), LHP Brooks Raley (0-1, 3.94, 1 save). Series Summary: Last year’s American League champions limped into the playoffs as the only AL team to make it with a losing record after dropping three straight and four of their final five... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Luke Voit, backwards cap atop his head, was disgusted and dismayed. Eyes downcast, he summed up the New York Yankees’ 11th straight season without a title, the team’s widest expanse of failure since the desert between the Reggie Jackson era and the Derek Jeter renaissance. “I hate this feeling. It sucks, the third year in a row going through it,” the major league home run champion said. “So I’m going to use it in every workout, every BP session, cage session I have and be ready for spring training this year.” The 2020 season was so different, with the novel coronavirus pandemic cutting the schedule from 162 games to 60, sparking a summer camp of training part two and causing Yankee Stadium’s stands to fill with echoes on game nights rather than the usual boisterous fans. But the denouement was similar to 2019's. Aroldis Chapman gave up a home run that eliminated New York from the playoffs, this time Mike Brosseau’s eighth-inning drive in Division Series Game 5 against Tampa... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today: ___ REVENGE RAYS The Tampa Bay Rays have more revenge in mind heading to the AL Championship Series. Mike Brosseau hit a tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning off All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman on Friday night, propelling Tampa Bay past the rival Yankees in their AL Division Series. It was a sweet piece of vengeance for Brosseau after Chapman buzzed a 101 mph fastball over his head during the regular season, escalating tensions in an already bitter rivalry. Brosseau downplayed their past drama. “No revenge,” he said. “We put that the past. We came here to win the series.” The Rays' reward: a rematch with the Astros, the team that knocked them out of the 2019 postseason. “They’ve been the team to beat the last few years,” Brosseau said. “They knocked us out last year, so it will be fun to face them again.” Game 1 will be Sunday night in San Diego. Houston will have a fully rested rotation, with Lance McCullers Jr. or Framber Valdez most... [More]

A capsule look at the best-of-five playoff series between the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays in San Diego beginning Monday: ___ Season Series: Rays won 8-2. ___ NEW YORK YANKEES Record: 33-27. Playoff Entry: second place, AL East. Playoff Seed: No. 5. Manager: Aaron Boone (third season). Projected Rotation: RHP Gerrit Cole (7-3, 2.84 ERA, 94 Ks), RHP Masahiro Tanaka (3-3, 3.56, 44 Ks), LHP J.A. Happ (2-2, 3.47, 42 Ks), RHP Deivi Garc�a (3-2, 4.98, 33 Ks in 34 1/3 IP as rookie). Top Hitters: 1B Luke Voit (.277, major league-leading 22 HRs, 52 RBIs), 2B DJ LeMahieu (major league-leading .364, 10, 27, 41 runs, 10 doubles, 1.011 OPS). Top Relievers: LHP Aroldis Chapman (1-1, 3.09 ERA, 3 saves), LHP Zack Britton (1-2, 1.89, 8 saves). RHP Chad Green (3-3, 3.51, 1 save, 32 K in 25 2/3 IP). Series Summary: The Yankees are in the playoffs for the fourth straight year but still looking for their first pennant since winning the 2009 World Series. ... Favored to win the AL East, the Yankees alternated... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The Stable vs. The Savages. Just another way to say top-seeded Tampa Bay and the No. 5 Yankees meet in the best-of-five AL Division Series starting Monday at neutral site San Diego. Tampa Bay players wear blue T-shirts with four horses lined up behind a fence, a reference to Rays manager Kevin Cash declaring “I’ve got a whole damn stable full of guys that throw 98 miles an hour” in response to Aroldis Chapman throwing a 101 mph pitch near Mike Brosseau’s head on Sept. 1. New York sold “Savages in the Box” shirts for $29.99 each last year, memorializing manager Aaron Boone’s infamous comment on his batters during a profane rant at rookie umpire Brennan Miller in a July 18 doubleheader opener against the Rays. “That’s the entertainment business of it. At the end of the day, it’s series like this that make the statement, not anything else,” Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton said Thursday. Tampa Bay swept two games from Toronto in the first round for its first postseason series... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Rookie left-hander Shane McClanahan was a surprise addition to the 28-man roster the Tampa Bay Rays announced for the AL first-round series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday. McClanahan was a first-round pick in the amateur draft two years ago who pitched at Class A and Double-A in 2019. He joined first baseman Ji-Man Choi and infielder Yandy Diaz, who have been on the injured list, in being added to the active roster before Game 1 of the best-of-three series. To make room on the 40-man roster for McClanahan, lefty reliever Sean Gilmartin was designated for assignment. Gilmartin is the husband of White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany. Three players who were on the regular season-ending roster — catcher Kevan Smith, left-handed starter Josh Fleming and lefty reliever Ryan Sherriff — were not included on the roster against Toronto. They remain in the 60-man postseason eligible player pool and can be added in future rounds. Tampa Bay’s 28-man roster... [More]

Rays first. Austin Meadows pops out to shallow left field to Trea Turner. Brandon Lowe flies out to deep left center field to Juan Soto. Randy Arozarena hit by pitch. Nate Lowe doubles to deep right field. Randy Arozarena scores. Manuel Margot strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Rays 1, Nationals 0.Nationals sixth. Trea Turner flies out to deep right field to Manuel Margot. Juan Soto walks. Asdrubal Cabrera homers to right field. Juan Soto scores. Yan Gomes strikes out swinging. Carter Kieboom flies out to right center field to Kevin Kiermaier.2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Nationals 2, Rays 1.Rays ninth. Mike Brosseau pinch-hitting for Michael Perez. Mike Brosseau strikes out on a foul tip. Austin Meadows flies out to right center field to Michael A. Taylor. Brandon Lowe homers to right field. Yoshi Tsutsugo strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Nationals 2, Rays 2.Nationals tenth. Luis Garcia homers to center field. Carter Kieboom scores. Victor Robles called out on strikes. Michael A. Taylor strikes out swinging. Jake Noll strikes out swinging.2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Nationals 4, Rays 2.

Rays second. Manuel Margot flies out to deep right field to Adam Eaton. Nate Lowe homers to right field. Willy Adames called out on strikes. Kevin Kiermaier singles to center field. Kevan Smith singles to left center field. Kevin Kiermaier scores. Austin Meadows strikes out swinging.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Rays 2, Nationals 0.Rays fifth. Austin Meadows singles to center field. Brandon Lowe lines out to third base to Trea Turner. Mike Brosseau hit by pitch. Yoshi Tsutsugo walks. Mike Brosseau to second. Austin Meadows to third. Manuel Margot singles to shallow right field. Yoshi Tsutsugo to second. Mike Brosseau to third. Austin Meadows scores. Nate Lowe walks. Manuel Margot to second. Yoshi Tsutsugo to third. Mike Brosseau scores. Willy Adames strikes out swinging. Kevin Kiermaier singles to left field. Nate Lowe to second. Manuel Margot scores. Yoshi Tsutsugo scores. Kevan Smith strikes out swinging.4 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Rays 6, Nationals 0.Nationals sixth. Juan Soto doubles to deep center field. Asdrubal Cabrera grounds out to shortstop, Willy Adames to Nate Lowe. Juan Soto to third. Kurt Suzuki grounds out to third base, Mike Brosseau to Nate Lowe. Juan Soto scores. Eric Thames called out on strikes.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Rays 6, Nationals 1.

Red sox first. Yairo Munoz doubles. Christian Vazquez homers to center field. Yairo Munoz scores. Rafael Devers grounds out to second base, Willy Adames to Nate Lowe. J.D. Martinez grounds out to second base, Nate Lowe to Charlie Morton. Jackie Bradley Jr. strikes out swinging.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Red sox 2, Rays 0.Rays first. Manuel Margot reaches on error. Fielding error by Bobby Dalbec. Randy Arozarena grounds out to shortstop. Manuel Margot out at second. Joey Wendle singles to shallow infield. Mike Brosseau doubles to deep right field. Joey Wendle scores. Hunter Renfroe pops out to shallow center field to Christian Arroyo.1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 left on. Red sox 2, Rays 1.Rays fourth. Willy Adames reaches on error. Throwing error by Tzu-Wei Lin. Yoshi Tsutsugo lines out to deep center field to Jackie Bradley Jr.. Kevan Smith homers to left field. Willy Adames scores. Manuel Margot pops out to shallow center field to Christian Arroyo. Randy Arozarena strikes out swinging.2... [More]

Red sox third. Bobby Dalbec strikes out swinging. Christian Arroyo flies out to deep left field to Austin Meadows. Alex Verdugo singles to left field. Rafael Devers homers to right field. Alex Verdugo scores. Xander Bogaerts walks. J.D. Martinez reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Xander Bogaerts out at second.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Red sox 2, Rays 0.Rays fourth. Hunter Renfroe homers to center field. Brandon Lowe homers to center field. Willy Adames strikes out swinging. Kevan Smith strikes out swinging. Joey Wendle grounds out to second base, Christian Arroyo to Bobby Dalbec.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Red sox 2, Rays 2.Red sox fifth. Bobby Dalbec homers to right field. Christian Arroyo singles to right field. Alex Verdugo reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Christian Arroyo out at second. Rafael Devers singles to right center field. Alex Verdugo to second. Xander Bogaerts pops out to shallow center field to Brandon Lowe. J.D. Martinez strikes out... [More]

Marlins first. Corey Dickerson walks. Starling Marte homers to center field. Corey Dickerson scores. Jesus Aguilar flies out to deep center field to Manuel Margot. Matt Joyce walks. Brian Anderson strikes out swinging. Lewin Diaz called out on strikes.2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Marlins 2, Rays 0.Rays first. Manuel Margot grounds out to shortstop, Jazz Chisholm to Lewin Diaz. Randy Arozarena homers to right field. Austin Meadows strikes out swinging. Mike Brosseau singles to center field. Willy Adames called out on strikes.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Marlins 2, Rays 1.Marlins third. Corey Dickerson triples. Starling Marte strikes out swinging. Jesus Aguilar singles to right field. Corey Dickerson scores. Matt Joyce strikes out swinging. Brian Anderson singles to center field. Jesus Aguilar to second. Lewin Diaz called out on strikes.1 run, 3 hits, 1 error, 2 left on. Marlins 3, Rays 1.Rays fifth. Hunter Renfroe homers. Kevan Smith called out on strikes. Nate Lowe called... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Adam Duvall hit three home runs a night after teammate Marcell Ozuna become the first NL player ever to hit three homers in Fenway Park, and the East-leading Atlanta Braves beat the stumbling Boston Red Sox 7-5 Wednesday night to complete a three-game sweep. Duvall hit a pair of two-run shots over the Green Monster and a solo blast to center for his five RBIs. Ozuna added a long, tiebreaking solo drive for the Braves, who entered the three-game set 0-12-3 in their last 15 series against the Red Sox.It was Atlanta’s first sweep in Boston since capturing a three-game set in 2002. Freddie Freeman had two hits to extend his hitting streak to 16 games.Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a solo homer and J.D. Martinez had two hits and two RBIs for the Red Sox.Ozuna’s drive also cleared the Monster, sailing over a billboard and completely out of Fenway against Andrew Triggs (0-2) in the seventh. Duvall’s third homer hit off a back wall near the bleachers after his second homer had tied it at... [More]