The Arizona Diamondbacks are ready to open the season in familiar fashion: with Mad Bum on the mound. Madison Bumgarner was tabbed by manager Torey Lovullo to make his second straight opening day start for the Diamondbacks on Thursday at San Diego. The 31-year-old four-time All-Star struggled last season — his first in Arizona — going 1-4 with a 6.48 ERA. He was 2-1 with a 6.35 ERA in three spring starts, including allowing six earned runs against Cincinnati on Friday. But Bumgarner, who signed a five-year, $85 million contract before last season, will still lead off a Diamondbacks rotation that includes Merrill Kelly, Caleb Smith, Taylor Widener and Luke Weaver. This will be the seventh opening day start in Bumgarner's career after doing so five times with San Francisco. The Yankees also are setting their rotation, announcing Sunday that Corey Kluber will follow ace Gerrit Cole against Toronto. Kluber, who signed a one-year, $11 million contract with New York, has thrown one inning in... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Voting for the 2020 National League Most Valuable Player Award, with first-, second- and third-place votes and total points based on a 14-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis: Player1st2nd3rdTotalFreddie Freeman, Braves282-410Mookie Betts, Dodgers2215268Manny Machado, Padres-216221Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres-25201Juan Soto, Nationals-32172Marcell Ozuna, Braves--2167Trea Turner, Nationals---83Mike Yastrzemski, Giants---81Corey Seager, Dodgers---43Trevor Bauer, Reds---32Trevor Story, Rockies---23Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves---21Dominic Smith, Mets---16Yu Darvish, Cubs---14Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals---9Brandon Belt, Giants---2Wil Myers, Padres---2Max Fried, Braves---1Ian Happ, Cubs---1Dansby Swanson, Braves---1Ryan Tepera, Cubs---1Devin Williams, Brewers---1

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Joey Wendle had a go-ahead two-run single in the eighth inning and the AL East champion Tampa Bay Rays rallied to hurt Philadelphia’s playoff hopes, beating the Phillies 6-4 on Friday night. The Rays would clinch the top seed in the American League with an Oakland loss later Friday night; the A’s were hosting Seattle. Tampa Bay is looking to finish with the AL’s best record for the second time, after topping the league in 2010. Bryce Harper had a triple and drove in two runs for Philadelphia, which started the day one game behind second-place Miami in the NL East and also trailed in the wide-open wild-card race. Yoshi Tsutsdugo had one-out single in the eighth before Adam Morgan (0-1) loaded the bases on consecutive walks to Hunter Renfroe and Brett Phillips. Héctor Neris replaced Morgan and retired pinch-hitter Brandon Lowe on a pop fly. Wendle followed with a liner to right that gave Tampa Bay a 5-3 advantage. Nick Anderson (2-1) worked a scoreless eighth and... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers became the first team to clinch a playoff spot in the pandemic-shortened season, beating the San Diego Padres 7-5 Wednesday behind Dustin May’s gutty effort out of the bullpen and home runs from AJ Pollock and Chris Taylor. Will Smith drove in three runs for the seven-time defending NL West champion Dodgers, who opened a 3 1/2-game lead in the division by winning two of three in the matchup of the NL’s two best teams. Mookie Betts tied his career high with three stolen bases, had two hits and scored a run. At 35-15, the Dodgers breezed into the expanded 16-team postseason field. Los Angeles is seeking its first World Series title since 1988. San Diego has lost two straight for the first time since mid-August. Manny Machado hit a solo homer in the eighth, his 14th of the season. Starter Brusdar Gasterol allowed a hit and a run in 1 1/3 innings before Adam Kolarek (3-0) allowed a hit and two walks in two-thirds of an inning. Pedro Baez got the final... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers became the first team to clinch a playoff spot in the pandemic-shortened season, beating the San Diego Padres 7-5 Wednesday behind Dustin May’s gutty effort out of the bullpen and home runs from AJ Pollock and Chris Taylor.Will Smith drove in three runs for the seven-time defending NL West champion Dodgers, who opened a 3 1/2-game lead in the division by winning two of three in the matchup of the NL’s two best teams.Mookie Betts tied his career high with three stolen bases, had two hits and scored a run.At 35-15, the Dodgers breezed into the expanded 16-team postseason field. Los Angeles is seeking its first World Series title since 1988.San Diego has lost two straight for the first time since mid-August.Manny Machado hit a solo homer in the eighth, his 14th of the season.Starter Brusdar Gasterol allowed a hit and a run in 1 1/3 innings before Adam Kolarek (3-0) allowed a hit and two walks in two-thirds of an inning. Pedro Baez got the final two... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers became the first team to clinch a playoff spot in the pandemic-shortened season, beating the San Diego Padres 7-5 Wednesday behind Dustin May’s gutty effort out of the bullpen and home runs from AJ Pollock and Chris Taylor.Will Smith drove in three runs for the seven-time defending NL West champion Dodgers, who opened a 3 1/2-game lead in the division by winning two of three in the matchup of the NL’s two best teams.Mookie Betts tied his career high with three stolen bases, had two hits and scored a run.At 35-15, the Dodgers breezed into the expanded 16-team postseason field. Los Angeles is seeking its first World Series title since 1988.San Diego has lost two straight for the first time since mid-August.Manny Machado hit a solo homer in the eighth, his 14th of the season.Starter Brusdar Gasterol allowed a hit and a run in 1 1/3 innings before Adam Kolarek (3-0) allowed a hit and two walks in two-thirds of an inning. Pedro Baez got the final two... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers became the first team to clinch a playoff spot in the pandemic-shortened season, beating the San Diego Padres 7-5 Wednesday behind Dustin May’s gutty effort out of the bullpen and home runs from AJ Pollock and Chris Taylor.Will Smith drove in three runs for the seven-time defending NL West champion Dodgers, who opened a 3 1/2-game lead in the division by winning two of three in the matchup of the NL’s two best teams.Mookie Betts tied his career high with three stolen bases, had two hits and scored a run.At 35-15, the Dodgers breezed into the expanded 16-team postseason field. Los Angeles is seeking its first World Series title since 1988.San Diego has lost two straight for the first time since mid-August.Manny Machado hit a solo homer in the eighth, his 14th of the season.Starter Brusdar Gasterol allowed a hit and a run in 1 1/3 innings before Adam Kolarek (3-0) allowed a hit and two walks in two-thirds of an inning. Pedro Baez got the final two... [More]

Giants first. Mike Yastrzemski walks. Alex Dickerson singles to third base. Mike Yastrzemski to second. Wilmer Flores reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow left field. Alex Dickerson out at second. Mike Yastrzemski to third. Brandon Belt pops out to Kyle Seager. Donovan Solano singles to shallow left field. Wilmer Flores to second. Mike Yastrzemski scores. Evan Longoria strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Giants 1, Mariners 0.Giants second. Brandon Crawford doubles to left field. Joey Bart pops out to shallow right field to Dylan Moore. Mauricio Dubon singles to deep left field, tagged out at second, Tim Lopes to Dylan Moore. Brandon Crawford scores. Mike Yastrzemski grounds out to shallow center field, J.P. Crawford to Evan White.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Giants 2, Mariners 0.Giants third. Alex Dickerson doubles. Wilmer Flores pops out to second base to Dylan Moore. Brandon Belt homers to center field. Alex Dickerson scores. Donovan Solano flies out to... [More]

Padres first. Trent Grisham singles to center field. Fernando Tatis Jr. singles to left field. Trent Grisham to second. Manny Machado pops out to shallow infield to Donovan Solano. Mitch Moreland doubles to deep center field. Fernando Tatis Jr. scores. Trent Grisham scores. Austin Nola doubles to deep left field. Mitch Moreland scores. Wil Myers lines out to deep left field to Alex Dickerson. Jake Cronenworth lines out to third base to Evan Longoria.3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Padres 3, Giants 0.Giants second. Brandon Belt grounds out to second base, Jake Cronenworth to Mitch Moreland. Wilmer Flores homers to left field. Evan Longoria strikes out swinging. Brandon Crawford strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Padres 3, Giants 1.Padres third. Fernando Tatis Jr. flies out to deep right center field to Mike Yastrzemski. Manny Machado homers to left field. Mitch Moreland grounds out to first base to Brandon Belt. Austin Nola strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors,... [More]

A look at what’s happening around the majors today:___FRIGHTENING SCENEWildfires in Northern California have darkened the daytime skies over the Bay Area, leaving an orange-glowing haze above Oracle Park and the Coliseum. The smell of the fires wafted over the stadium as San Francisco hosted Seattle on Wednesday night and ash fell inside the ballpark this week when Oakland played.The Athletics are set to close out a homestand with a series against Houston.Astros manager Dusty Baker still owns homes in Northern California.“There are fires all over the West Coast here and I was actually playing Jimi Hendrix today, ‘The Sky is Crying.’ The sky was crying today. I thought I was going to go outside and see Marlon Brando in ‘Apocalypse Now.’ It’s just a strange and eerie feeling,” he said.NOT SO HOTYankees star Gerrit Cole tries to end his three-game losing streak when he starts at home against Baltimore. He had won 20 straight regular-season decisions before this week.Cole (4-3, 3.63 ERA) turned... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Adam Duvall drove in nine runs with three homers, including a grand slam, and the Atlanta Braves set a National League scoring record while obliterating their franchise mark in a 29-9 romp over the Miami Marlins on Wednesday night.Atlanta broke loose for 11 runs in the second inning and nearly matched the modern scoring mark since 1900, set by the Texas Rangers in a 30-3 rout of Baltimore in 2007.The Braves had 23 hits, including seven homers, to score the most runs in their history in Boston, Milwaukee and Atlanta. They topped their old record by six runs.The outburst came a day after the Braves were shut out by the Marlins on four hits. Freddie Freeman drove in six runs with three hits, including a two-run homer.Duvall hit one of the team’s three homers during an 11-run second inning, knocking Pablo López (3-4) out of the game. Duvall hit another homer, his 12th, in a six-run fifth and added the slam in the seventh off Josh Smith.Grant Dayton (2-0) won in relief.YANKEES... [More]

Giants third. Joey Bart singles to shortstop. Brandon Crawford singles to left field. Joey Bart to second. Mauricio Dubon called out on strikes. Mike Yastrzemski homers to right field. Brandon Crawford scores. Joey Bart scores. Donovan Solano flies out to center field to Kyle Lewis. Darin Ruf pops out to shortstop to J.P. Crawford.3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Giants 3, Mariners 0.Giants fourth. Wilmer Flores doubles to right field. Brandon Belt grounds out to shallow right field, Ty France to Evan White. Wilmer Flores to third. Evan Longoria singles to center field. Wilmer Flores scores. Joey Bart flies out to right field to Phillip Ervin. Brandon Crawford walks. Evan Longoria to second. Mauricio Dubon lines out to shortstop to J.P. Crawford.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Giants 4, Mariners 0.Giants fifth. Mike Yastrzemski grounds out to shortstop, Kyle Seager to Evan White. Donovan Solano flies out to deep right field to Phillip Ervin. Darin Ruf doubles to deep right field.... [More]

Mariners first. J.P. Crawford walks. Dylan Moore hit by pitch. J.P. Crawford to second. Kyle Lewis grounds out to shallow infield, Logan Webb to Brandon Belt. Dylan Moore to second. J.P. Crawford to third. Kyle Seager grounds out to shallow center field, Brandon Crawford to Brandon Belt. Dylan Moore to third. J.P. Crawford scores. Ty France strikes out swinging.1 run, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Mariners 1, Giants 0.Giants first. Mike Yastrzemski strikes out swinging. Alex Dickerson flies out to deep right field to Jose Marmolejos. Donovan Solano triples to deep right center field. Brandon Belt singles to right field. Donovan Solano scores. Wilmer Flores strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Mariners 1, Giants 1.Mariners second. Jose Marmolejos grounds out to shallow right field, Donovan Solano to Brandon Belt. Evan White singles to left center field. Luis Torrens singles to center field. Evan White to third. Shed Long Jr. walks. Luis Torrens to second. J.P. Crawford... [More]

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Chad Green and Adam Ottavino were routed during a 10-run sixth inning that included Danny Jansen’s grand slam, and the Toronto Blue Jays rallied to beat the Yankees 12-7 Monday night and send skidding New York to its sixth loss in seven games.New York has lost four straight and 14 of 19, dropping into third place in the AL East, two games behind second-place Toronto and 6 1/2 back of Tampa Bay. At 21-20 overall following a 16-6 start, the Yankees have dropped into the AL’s eighth and final playoff position.With general manager Brian Cashman making a rare road trip, New York led 6-2 when Green replaced Jonathan Holder going to the bottom of the sixth. Green, Ottavino (2-3) and Luis Cessa needed 67 pitches and 43 minutes to get three outs. New York had not allowed 10 runs in an inning since CC Sabathia and Esmil Rogers were hit hard in the third inning of a 15-4 loss to Texas on May 23, 2015.Sean Reid-Foley (1-0) won despite a bases-loaded walk to Aaron Hicks in the sixth... [More]

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Chad Green and Adam Ottavino were routed during a 10-run sixth inning that included Danny Jansen’s grand slam, and the Toronto Blue Jays rallied to beat the Yankees 12-7 Monday night and send skidding New York to its sixth loss in seven games.New York has lost four straight and 14 of 19, dropping into third place in the AL East, two games behind second-place Toronto and 6 1/2 back of Tampa Bay. At 21-20 overall following a 16-6 start, the Yankees have dropped into the AL’s eighth and final playoff position.With general manager Brian Cashman making a rare road trip, New York led 6-2 when Green replaced Jonathan Holder going to the bottom of the sixth. Green, Ottavino (2-3) and Luis Cessa needed 67 pitches and 43 minutes to get three outs. New York had not allowed 10 runs in an inning since CC Sabathia and Esmil Rogers were hit hard in the third inning of a 15-4 loss to Texas on May 23, 2015.Sean Reid-Foley (1-0) won despite a bases-loaded walk to Aaron Hicks in the sixth... [More]

Diamondbacks third. Nick Ahmed strikes out swinging. Daulton Varsho walks. Carson Kelly singles to right field. Daulton Varsho to second. Josh Rojas walks. Carson Kelly to second. Daulton Varsho to third. Ketel Marte reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow infield. Josh Rojas out at second. Carson Kelly to third. Daulton Varsho scores. Christian Walker strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 left on. Diamondbacks 1, Giants 0.Giants sixth. Pablo Sandoval walks. Joey Bart singles to center field. Pablo Sandoval to second. Mauricio Dubon walks. Mike Yastrzemski singles to right field. Mauricio Dubon to second. Joey Bart to third. Daniel Robertson scores. Darin Ruf singles to center field. Mike Yastrzemski to second. Mauricio Dubon scores. Joey Bart scores. Donovan Solano singles to left field. Darin Ruf to second. Mike Yastrzemski to third. Brandon Belt walks. Donovan Solano to second. Darin Ruf to third. Mike Yastrzemski scores. Wilmer Flores grounds out to third base. Brandon Belt to second. Donovan Solano to third. Darin Ruf out at home. Brandon Crawford flies out to left field to Daulton Varsho.4 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Giants 4, Diamondbacks 1.Diamondbacks ninth. David Peralta homers to right field. Nick Ahmed grounds out to shallow infield, Brandon Crawford to Brandon Belt. Daulton Varsho strikes out swinging. Carson Kelly grounds out to third base, Daniel Robertson to Brandon Belt.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Giants 4, Diamondbacks 2.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Chad Green and Adam Ottavino were routed during a 10-run sixth inning that included Danny Jansen’s grand slam, and the Toronto Blue Jays rallied to beat the Yankees 12-7 Monday night and send skidding New York to its sixth loss in seven games.New York has lost four straight and 14 of 19, dropping into third place in the AL East, two games behind second-place Toronto and 6 1/2 back of Tampa Bay. At 21-20 overall following a 16-6 start, the Yankees have dropped into the AL’s eighth and final playoff position.With general manager Brian Cashman making a rare road trip, New York led 6-2 when Green replaced Jonathan Holder going to the bottom of the sixth. Green, Ottavino (2-3) and Luis Cessa needed 67 pitches and 43 minutes to get three outs. New York had not allowed 10 runs in an inning since CC Sabathia and Esmil Rogers were hit hard in the third inning of a 15-4 loss to Texas on May 23, 2015.Sean Reid-Foley (1-0) won despite a bases-loaded walk to Aaron Hicks in the sixth... [More]

Diamondbacks first. Tim Locastro homers to center field. Kole Calhoun singles to right field. David Peralta singles to center field. Kole Calhoun to third. Eduardo Escobar strikes out swinging. Josh Rojas out on a sacrifice fly to deep center field to Mauricio Dubon. David Peralta to second. Kole Calhoun scores. Stephen Vogt strikes out swinging.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Diamondbacks 2, Giants 0.Giants third. Chadwick Tromp homers to center field. Austin Slater flies out to deep right center field to Jon Jay. Donovan Solano singles to center field. Mike Yastrzemski grounds out to shortstop. Donovan Solano out at second.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Diamondbacks 2, Giants 1.Giants sixth. Austin Slater singles to left field. Donovan Solano homers to left field. Austin Slater scores. Mike Yastrzemski grounds out to shallow right field, Josh Rojas to Jake Lamb. Evan Longoria flies out to deep center field to Tim Locastro. Wilmer Flores doubles. Alex Dickerson pinch-hitting... [More]

Diamondbacks first. Kole Calhoun walks. Ketel Marte grounds out to shallow infield, Brandon Belt to Trevor Cahill. Kole Calhoun to third. Christian Walker out on a sacrifice fly to deep right field to Mike Yastrzemski. Kole Calhoun scores. David Peralta grounds out to shallow infield, Trevor Cahill to Brandon Belt.1 run, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Diamondbacks 1, Giants 0.Giants second. Evan Longoria homers to left field. Darin Ruf homers to center field. Brandon Belt grounds out to shallow infield, Carson Kelly to Christian Walker. Daniel Robertson flies out to deep right center field to Kole Calhoun. Joey Bart strikes out swinging.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Giants 2, Diamondbacks 1.Giants sixth. Alex Dickerson pinch-hitting for Darin Ruf. Alex Dickerson strikes out swinging. Brandon Belt walks. Daniel Robertson grounds out to shallow infield to Christian Walker. Brandon Belt to second. Joey Bart triples to deep left center field. Brandon Belt scores. Mauricio Dubon triples... [More]

Diamondbacks first. Tim Locastro lines out to deep right field to Mike Yastrzemski. Ketel Marte homers to left field. Christian Walker flies out to right center field to Mike Yastrzemski. Eduardo Escobar strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Diamondbacks 1, Giants 0.Giants first. Mike Yastrzemski called out on strikes. Alex Dickerson singles to right field. Evan Longoria flies out to deep right field to Kole Calhoun. Brandon Belt doubles to right field. Alex Dickerson scores. Wilmer Flores walks. Donovan Solano walks. Wilmer Flores to second. Brandon Belt to third. Brandon Crawford lines out to deep right field to Kole Calhoun.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 left on. Diamondbacks 1, Giants 1.Diamondbacks third. Daulton Varsho singles to center field. Tim Locastro out on a sacrifice bunt to shallow infield to Brandon Belt. Daulton Varsho to second. Ketel Marte doubles to shallow left field. Daulton Varsho scores. Christian Walker walks. Eduardo Escobar flies out to right field... [More]