NEW YORK (AP) — Clayton Kershaw has been activated from the disabled list and was set to pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers despite a shaky forecast at Citi Field.The lefty ace was scheduled to make a rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City at Omaha, but Los Angeles decided Friday to have him pitch in New York on Saturday because of precarious weather in Nebraska. Kershaw has been sidelined since June 1 with a lower back strain.Skies were gray in New York throughout the day, and it might begin to rain before the game, per weather reports.Kershaw will oppose Mets ace Jacob deGrom, though Kershaw's outing will likely be short. Manager Dave Roberts said there won't be restrictions on Kershaw, though before the switch, he was expected to throw no more than four innings or 60 pitches for Oklahoma City.Rookie left-hander Caleb Ferguson (0-1, 7.59 ERA) will be ready in reserve. The 21-year-old left-hander had been slated to make his fourth major league start Saturday.Kershaw pleaded with Roberts... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:PHILLY SPECIALOdubel Herrera has homered in five straight games, tying a Philadelphia record. Chase Utley (twice in 2008), Bobby Abreu (2005), Mike Schmidt (1979) and Dick Allen (1969) also connected five in row for the Phillies. Ken Griffey, Jr. (1993), Don Mattingly (1987) and Dale Long (1956) share the major league record with homers in eight consecutive games.Herrera now takes aim against rookie right-hander Erick Fedde (0-2, 5.63 ERA) at Nationals Park.CITI SURPRISEClayton Kershaw is set to make an unexpected return from the disabled list, starting for the Dodgers in a marquee matchup against Mets ace Jacob deGrom. Kershaw has been sidelined since June 1 with a lower back strain. The three-time Cy Young Award winner and 2014 NL MVP originally was scheduled to make a rehab start Saturday with Triple-A Oklahoma City at Omaha, but heavy rain in the forecast caused the Dodgers to change plans. There's rain forecast at Citi Field, too,... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Saturday:PHILLY SPECIALOdubel Herrera has homered in five straight games, tying a Philadelphia record. Chase Utley (twice in 2008), Bobby Abreu (2005), Mike Schmidt (1979) and Dick Allen (1969) also connected five in row for the Phillies. Ken Griffey, Jr. (1993), Don Mattingly (1987) and Dale Long (1956) share the major league record with homers in eight consecutive games.Herrera now takes aim against rookie right-hander Erick Fedde (0-2, 5.63 ERA) at Nationals Park.CITI SURPRISEClayton Kershaw is set to make an unexpected return from the disabled list, starting for the Dodgers in a marquee matchup against Mets ace Jacob deGrom. Kershaw has been sidelined since June 1 with a lower back strain. The three-time Cy Young Award winner and 2014 NL MVP originally was scheduled to make a rehab start Saturday with Triple-A Oklahoma City at Omaha, but heavy rain in the forecast caused the Dodgers to change plans. There's rain forecast at Citi Field, too,... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Clayton Kershaw is set to make a surprise return from the disabled list Saturday night, starting for the Los Angeles Dodgers in a marquee matchup against New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom.Kershaw has been sidelined since June 1 with a lower back strain. The three-time Cy Young Award winner and 2014 NL MVP originally was scheduled to make a rehab start Saturday for Triple-A Oklahoma City at Omaha, but rain in the forecast caused the Dodgers to change plans.Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts says Friday that Kershaw will be limited against the Mets, with rookie left-hander Caleb Ferguson ready in reserve. The 21-year-old Ferguson had been slated to start Saturday.There's rain in the New York forecast Saturday as well, but Roberts says the Dodgers feel more comfortable keeping Kershaw with the big league club.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

CHICAGO (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw is scheduled make a minor league rehab start on Saturday as he continues his recovery from a strained lower back. The three-time NL Cy Young Award could be back pitching in the majors soon.According to manager Dave Roberts, Kershaw will be limited to four innings and 60 pitches when he returns to the mound with Triple-A Oklahoma City at Omaha. If the outing goes well, Roberts hoped the left-hander's next appearance would be with Los Angeles.Kershaw threw a three-inning simulated game before the Dodgers' postponed series opener against the Chicago Cubs on Monday night. Afterward, Kershaw said he felt really good.Roberts said Kershaw returning when the Dodgers play at the New York Mets this weekend was considered, but the team opted for the minor league start to give the lefty "the best chance for success and health."The 30-year-old Kershaw was sidelined for nearly a month with left biceps tendinitis before returning May 31 against Philadelphia. He pitched five effective innings in a no-decision against the Phillies, and then went back on the disabled list the next day with the back injury.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

CHICAGO (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw is scheduled make a minor-league rehab start on Saturday as he continues his recovery from a strained lower back. The three-time NL Cy Young Award could be back pitching in the majors soon.According to manager Dave Roberts, Kershaw will be limited to four innings and 60 pitches when he returns to the mound with Triple-A Oklahoma City at Omaha. If the outing goes well, Roberts hoped the left-hander's next appearance would be with Los Angeles.Kershaw threw a three-inning simulated game before the Dodgers' postponed series opener against the Chicago Cubs on Monday night. Afterward, Kershaw said he felt really good.Roberts said Kershaw returning when the Dodgers play at the New York Mets this weekend was considered, but the team opted for the minor-league start to give the lefty "the best chance for success and health."The 30-year-old Kershaw was sidelined for nearly a month with left biceps tendinitis before returning May 31 against Philadelphia. The left-hander pitched five effective innings in a no-decision against the Phillies, and then went back on the disabled list the next day with the back injury.

NEW YORK (AP) — Over five seasons as ace of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Gerrit Cole threw one of the game's hardest, heaviest fastballs, and he threw it often. The pitch helped him make millions of dollars. It put him in contention for major awards. Hitters swung through it again and again, and Cole seemed content not to mess with a good thing.But when Cole was traded to the Houston Astros this offseason, a funny thing happened. He became more frugal with his fastball and ended up more overpowering than ever.Cole has joined some of the game's best pitchers — including Cleveland's Corey Kluber and the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw — in benefiting from a puzzling baseball paradox: In an era when pitchers are throwing harder than ever, they're maximizing success by using fewer fastballs.Pitchers — even ones with blazing fastballs like Luis Severino and Chris Archer — are using more offspeed than ever recorded, and while many aces think the downturn is a trend, some believe baseball could be entering... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:VERLANDER DAYHouston tries for its 13th straight win with AL ERA leader Justin Verlander on the mound against Tampa Bay. The Astros' ace is 9-2 with a 1.61 ERA, though he's posted a 3.79 ERA over his past three starts and matched a season high with two homers allowed last time out in a 7-3 win over Oakland. Rays lefty Blake Snell (8-4, 2.58) will try to slow down Houston after the Astros beat Tampa Bay 5-4 on Alex Bregman's game-ending two-run double Monday.ON THE MENDThe defending NL champions are beginning to get healthier. Rich Hill comes off the DL to start for the Dodgers in the nightcap of a doubleheader against the Cubs in a rematch of last year's NL Championship Series. Hill (1-2, 6.20 ERA) went on the disabled list May 20 with a blister on his left middle finger, a recurring problem for the veteran left-hander. He will be opposed by fellow lefty Mike Montgomery (2-2, 3.31), who is 2-1 with a 1.14 ERA in four starts since moving... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The last time Clayton Kershaw pitched at Wrigley Field, the ace left-hander helped lead the Los Angeles Dodgers into the World Series.It was a much different situation Monday. But still important for the Dodgers.Kershaw threw a three-inning simulated game before Los Angeles' series opener against the Chicago Cubs was postponed, taking another step forward in his recovery from a strained lower back. The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner said he felt really good and plans to pitch somewhere in four or five days, either in a minor league rehab start or for the Dodgers."It was good, very encouraged," manager Dave Roberts said. "Just the way that the ball was coming out today, the command of the fastball as good as it's been for me — and obviously this setting is not a major league game — but for me the best it's been in a month, for sure."The 30-year-old Kershaw was sidelined for nearly a month with left biceps tendinitis before returning May 31 against Philadelphia. He tossed... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Tuesday:VERLANDER DAYHouston tries for its 13th straight win with AL ERA leader Justin Verlander on the mound against Tampa Bay. The Astros' ace is 9-2 with a 1.61 ERA, though he's posted a 3.79 ERA over his past three starts and matched a season high with two homers allowed last time out in a 7-3 win over Oakland. Rays lefty Blake Snell (8-4, 2.58) will try to slow down Houston after the Astros beat Tampa Bay 5-4 on Alex Bregman's game-ending two-run double Monday.ON THE MENDThe defending NL champions are beginning to get healthier. Rich Hill comes off the DL to start for the Dodgers in the nightcap of a doubleheader against the Cubs in a rematch of last year's NL Championship Series. Hill (1-2, 6.20 ERA) went on the disabled list May 20 with a blister on his left middle finger, a recurring problem for the veteran left-hander. He will be opposed by fellow lefty Mike Montgomery (2-2, 3.31), who is 2-1 with a 1.14 ERA in four starts since moving... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Tuesday:VERLANDER DAYHouston tries for its 13th straight win with AL ERA leader Justin Verlander on the mound against Tampa Bay. The Astros' ace is 9-2 with a 1.61 ERA, though he's posted a 3.79 ERA over his past three starts and matched a season high with two homers allowed last time out in a 7-3 win over Oakland. Rays lefty Blake Snell (8-4, 2.58) will try to slow down Houston after the Astros beat Tampa Bay 5-4 on Alex Bregman's game-ending two-run double Monday.ON THE MENDThe defending NL champions are beginning to get healthier. Rich Hill comes off the DL to start for the Dodgers against the Cubs in a rematch of last year's NL Championship Series. Hill (1-2, 6.20 ERA) went on the disabled list May 20 with a blister on his left middle finger, a recurring problem for the veteran left-hander. He will be opposed by fellow lefty Mike Montgomery (2-2, 3.31), who is 2-1 with a 1.14 ERA in four starts since moving into the rotation after Yu Darvish... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Tuesday:VERLANDER DAYAmerican League ERA leader Justin Verlander takes the mound against Tampa Bay. Houston's ace is 9-2 with a 1.61 ERA, though he's posted a 3.79 ERA over his past three starts and matched a season high with two homers allowed last time out in a 7-3 win over Oakland. Rays lefty Blake Snell (8-4, 2.58) will try to slow down the rolling Astros, who entered Monday night with 12 consecutive wins.ON THE MENDThe defending NL champions are beginning to get healthier. Rich Hill comes off the DL to start for the Dodgers against the Cubs in a rematch of last year's NL Championship Series. Hill (1-2, 6.20 ERA) went on the disabled list May 20 with a blister on his left middle finger, a recurring problem for the veteran left-hander. He will be opposed by fellow lefty Mike Montgomery (2-2, 3.31), who is 2-1 with a 1.14 ERA in four starts since moving into the rotation after Yu Darvish was sidelined by right triceps tendinitis.Hill's return... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The last time Clayton Kershaw pitched at Wrigley Field, the ace left-hander helped lead the Los Angeles Dodgers into the World Series.It was a much different situation Monday. But still important for the Dodgers.Kershaw threw a three-inning simulated game before Los Angeles' series opener against the Chicago Cubs, taking another step forward in his recovery from a strained lower back. The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner said he felt really good and plans to pitch somewhere in four or five days, either in a minor league rehab start or for the Dodgers."It was good, very encouraged," manager Dave Roberts said. "Just the way that the ball was coming out today, the command of the fastball as good as it's been for me — and obviously this setting is not a major league game — but for me the best it's been in a month, for sure."The 30-year-old Kershaw was sidelined for nearly a month with left biceps tendinitis before returning May 31 against Philadelphia. He tossed five effective... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The last time Clayton Kershaw pitched at Wrigley Field, the ace left-hander helped lead the Los Angeles Dodgers into the World Series.It was a much different situation Monday. But still important for the Dodgers.Kershaw threw a three-inning simulated game before Los Angeles' series opener against the Chicago Cubs, taking another step forward in his recovery from a strained lower back. The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner said he felt really good and plans to pitch somewhere in four or five days, either in a minor league rehab start or for the Dodgers."It was good, very encouraged," manager Dave Roberts said. "Just the way that the ball was coming out today, the command of the fastball as good as it's been for me — and obviously this setting is not a major league game — but for me the best it's been in a month, for sure."The 30-year-old Kershaw was sidelined for nearly a month with left biceps tendinitis before returning May 31 against Philadelphia. He tossed five effective... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The last time Clayton Kershaw pitched at Wrigley Field, the ace left-hander helped lead the Los Angeles Dodgers into the World Series.It was a much different situation Monday. But still important for the Dodgers.Kershaw threw a three-inning simulated game before Los Angeles' series opener against the Chicago Cubs, taking another step forward in his recovery from a strained lower back. The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner said he felt really good and plans to pitch somewhere in four or five days, either in a minor league rehab start or for the Dodgers."It was good, very encouraged," manager Dave Roberts said. "Just the way that the ball was coming out today, the command of the fastball as good as it's been for me — and obviously this setting is not a major league game — but for me the best it's been in a month, for sure."The 30-year-old Kershaw was sidelined for nearly a month with left biceps tendinitis before returning May 31 against Philadelphia. He tossed five effective... [More]

June 191927 — Jack Scott of the Philadelphia Phillies pitched two complete games in a doubleheader. Scott beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-1 and lost 3-0 in the second game. Scott was the last pitcher in major league history to complete two games on the same day.1938 - Cincinnati pitcher Johnny Vander Meer coming off two straight no-hitters, extended his string of hitless innings to 21 2/3 against the Boston Bees. Vander Meer gave up a single to Debs Garms in the fourth inning. The Red won 14-1 behind Vander Meer's four-hitter.1941 — En route to 56, Joe DiMaggio hit in his 32nd consecutive game, going 3-for-3, including a home run, against the Chicago White Sox.1942 — Paul Waner got hit number 3,000 — a single off Rip Sewell — but the Boston Braves lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-6.1952 — Brooklyn Dodger Carl Erskine pitched a 5-0 no-hitter against the Chicago Cubs at Ebbets Field.1961 — Roger Maris' ninth-inning homer off Kansas City's Jim Archer was his 25th of the year, putting him seven... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:MIGGY'S DONEMiguel Cabrera's season is over, leaving Detroit without its biggest star at a time when there wasn't much else for Tigers fans to latch onto. Cabrera ruptured his left biceps tendon on a swing Tuesday night, ending the two-time MVP's year just a couple of weeks after he returned from a DL stint due to a right hamstring strain. The 35-year-old Cabrera will have surgery this week. He batted .301 with three homers and 22 RBIs for a team that wasn't expected to compete in the AL Central.POWER PLAYMike Trout leads the majors with 23 home runs and he's gone deep twice each of the last two nights, becoming the first player with consecutive multihomer games at Safeco Field in Seattle. But that hasn't been enough for the Angels, who lost both times. Trout tries to keep it going at the plate when Los Angeles faces left-hander Marco Gonzales (7-3, 3.28 ERA) and the first-place Mariners again. Gonzales has allowed only three earned runs... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:CABRERA DONEMiguel Cabrera's season is over, leaving Detroit without its biggest star during a season when there wasn't much else for Tigers fans to latch onto. Cabrera ruptured his left biceps tendon on a swing Tuesday night, ending the two-time MVP's year just a couple of weeks after he returned from a DL stint due to a right hamstring strain. The 35-year-old Cabrera batted .301 with an .848 OPS, three homers and 22 RBIs for a team that wasn't expected to compete in the AL Central.JAKE-BITTENThe Mets try to snap a most puzzling skid when Jacob deGrom pitches against Atlanta. DeGrom has a 1.24 ERA in his past four starts, and yet New York has lost each of those outings. Only the Marlins and Reds have worse records in the NL than the Mets, and general manager Sandy Alderson is shouldering the blame. "When you're scoring runs at the anemic rate that we have, something hasn't worked. So from that standpoint, I take full responsibility for... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Wednesday:CABRERA DONEMiguel Cabrera's season is over, leaving Detroit without its biggest star during a season when there wasn't much else for Tigers fans to latch onto. Cabrera ruptured his left biceps tendon on a swing Tuesday night, ending the two-time MVP's year just a couple of weeks after he returned from a DL stint due to a right hamstring strain. The 35-year-old Cabrera batted .301 with an .848 OPS, three homers and 22 RBIs for a team that wasn't expected to compete in the AL Central.JAKE-BITTENThe Mets try to snap a most puzzling skid when Jacob deGrom pitches against Atlanta. DeGrom has a 1.24 ERA in his past four starts, and yet New York has lost each of those outings. Only the Marlins and Reds have worse records in the NL than the Mets, and general manager Sandy Alderson is shouldering the blame. "When you're scoring runs at the anemic rate that we have, something hasn't worked. So from that standpoint, I take full responsibility... [More]

Yes, the baseball draft can feel like a bit of a crapshoot, but it does help to be picking near the top.This year's draft took place Monday night, with the Detroit Tigers selecting Auburn right-hander Casey Mize with the top pick . San Francisco followed by picking Georgia Tech catcher Joey Bart. It could be a while before either of those players makes an impact in the majors, but if the past two decades are any indication, the top two picks are as likely as anybody to provide major value.From 1998-2017, the 20 players picked No. 1 overall have been worth a total of 313.5 wins above replacement, according to Baseball-Reference.com. That's more value than any other slot in the first round. The 20 players drafted at No. 2 have been worth 261.3 WAR, which is the second-most value.After the top two picks, the draft has been more hit-or-miss. For example, the No. 7 pick (222.4 WAR) has yielded significantly more value than the No. 4 pick (82.1). That's not to say that a team should rather pick... [More]