Now, this is an impressive opening for the Tampa Bay Rays.Last year, the Rays pioneered the idea of an "opener" — a pitcher who would work an inning or two at the beginning of the game, facing some of the toughest hitters instead of having a traditional starter do it. Tampa Bay has still used that strategy on occasion in 2019, but that's just part of the Rays' strong start to the season.Tampa Bay (12-4) has baseball's best record and best run differential. The Rays lead the AL East by 5 ½ games, and if the gap stays that big for a few more days, a home series next weekend against defending champion Boston could start to feel a little more significant than a normal April meeting.The Rays have baseball's best ERA at 2.44 — and the starters are even better at 1.47. Tampa Bay has used the opener a bit — Ryan Stanek has made three starts that totaled five scoreless innings — but it's the other four starters who have really shined.Tyler Glasnow, acquired from Pittsburgh last year in a trade for... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — German Marquez pitched a one-hitter, nicked only by Evan Longoria's single with one out in the eighth inning, and the Colorado Rockies ended an eight-game losing streak by beating the San Francisco Giants 4-0 Sunday.Marquez (2-1) struck out nine and walked none while throwing 105 pitches in the first complete game in the majors this season. It was the first-ever complete game for Marquez in 156 pro starts, including 69 in the big leagues.Marquez had allowed just one runner, hitting Kevin Pillar with a pitch to begin the sixth inning, and was in complete control heading into the eighth. Brandon Crawford opened the eighth with a hard, one-hopper that deflected off third baseman Nolan Arenado's glove. Arenado quickly grabbed the ball out of the air and zipped a throw to retire Crawford.Longoria followed with a grounder in the hole, just beyond Arenado's dive. The Gold Glover took off his mitt and slammed it to the ground, shouting in frustration that the no-hit bid had... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Monday:JACKIE ROBINSON DAYMajor League Baseball observes Jackie Robinson Day at ballparks all over the country. Robinson broke baseball's color barrier when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947. All players, managers, coaches, umpires and other on-field personnel will wear Robinson's retired No. 42. Members of Robinson's family are expected to be at Dodger Stadium for the opener of a three-game series between the Reds and Dodgers.HE'S BACKSpeaking of Los Angeles, Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw makes his first start of the season after being sidelined by left shoulder inflammation. Kershaw is 3-2 with a 2.54 ERA in 10 career starts versus Cincinnati. He likely will face former teammate Yasiel Puig in his return to L.A. after he was traded to the Reds in December. Puig spent his first six major league seasons with the Dodgers. Kershaw will be opposed by Luis Castillo, who has a sparkling 0.92 ERA over his first three starts this... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — German Marquez pitched a one-hitter, nicked only by Evan Longoria's single with one out in the eighth inning, and the Colorado Rockies ended an eight-game losing streak by beating the San Francisco Giants 4-0 Sunday.Marquez (2-1) struck out nine and walked none while throwing 105 pitches in the first complete game in the majors this season. It was the first-ever complete game for Marquez in 156 pro starts, including 69 in the big leagues.Marquez had allowed just one runner, hitting Kevin Pillar with a pitch to begin the sixth inning, and was in complete control heading into the eighth. Brandon Crawford opened the eighth with a hard, one-hopper that deflected off third baseman Nolan Arenado's glove. Arenado quickly grabbed the ball out of the air and zipped a throw to retire Crawford.Longoria followed with a grounder in the hole, just beyond Arenado's dive. The Gold Glover took off his mitt and slammed it to the ground, shouting in frustration that the no-hit bid had... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Jason Vargas will keep his spot in the New York Mets' rotation for at least one more start.Manager Mickey Callaway said he spoke Sunday with the struggling left-hander and told him he would not have a diminished role after lasting just six batters and 36 pitches while getting one out at Atlanta.Vargas will skip one day before making his next start Friday at St. Louis. Callaway said the Mets did not contemplate skipping or demoting Vargas despite his enduring the shortest start of his career not affected by rain."I think we have to get Vargas on a roll," Callaway said. "We've talked about this in the past. Vargas needs to pitch well. We need to try to give him every opportunity to do that."Reliever Corey Oswalt, who replaced Vargas and took Saturday's loss, was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. Paul Sewald was called up to take Oswalt's spot.Vargas signed a $16 million, two-year contract in February 2018, but is 8-9 with a 6.32 ERA in his second stint with the club.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — German Marquez of the Colorado Rockies has lost his no-hit bid on Evan Longoria's one-out single in the eighth inning at San Francisco.After Gold Glove third baseman Nolan Arenado made a nifty play on a hard one-hopper by Brandon Crawford to begin the eighth Sunday, Longoria followed by grounding a single past Arenado's dive.The Giants had only one runner until Longoria's hit.The 24-year-old Marquez is making his second start since signing a $43 million, five-year contract.Colorado leads 4-0.__More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves' pitching staff has taken a couple of hits with starter Sean Newcomb sent down to Triple-A Gwinnett and closer Arodys Vizcaino put on the injured list.Newcomb, a fixture in the rotation since June 2017, couldn't hold a 4-0 lead in the Braves' win Saturday over the New York Mets and was pulled after allowing five hits, four runs and two walks in 1 1/3 innings.Vizcaino is sidelined with right shoulder inflammation. He has been injured several times in his career and felt pain while warming up Saturday night.Relievers Dan Winkler and Jacob Webb were recalled from Gwinnett in corresponding moves.Newcomb, a former first-round draft pick who came within one strike of a no-hitter last July, struggled badly in spring training, allowing 17 hits, 12 runs and 15 walks in 21 innings. He has struggled to consistently attack the strike zone even though the Braves are confident in his stuff."I told him last night when I sent him down, it's up to him," manager Brian Snitker... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — German Marquez of the Colorado Rockies is pitching a no-hitter through six innings against the San Francisco Giants.Marquez has thrown 67 pitches Sunday in San Francisco.Marquez retired the first 15 batters. He hit Kevin Pillar to lead off the sixth inning, then set down the next three hitters in order. He has struck out seven.The 24-year-old right-hander is making his second start since signing a $43 million, five-year contract.Colorado leads 4-0.__More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BOSTON (AP) — Andrew Benintendi of the Boston Red Sox has left the game against Baltimore after fouling a ball off his right foot.Benintendi went to the ground in pain after the foul in the third inning Sunday. He had trouble putting weight on his foot when he got up and lightly jogged down the first baseline.The outfielder then got back in the batter's box and doubled into the left-fielder corner. He had a noticeable limp heading into second and again when he ran the bases on Mookie Betts' inning-ending flyout.Blake Swihart came into the game in left to replace Benintendi in the top of the fourth.Benintendi originally had the day off, but was inserted into the lineup when center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. was scratched with the flu.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BOSTON (AP) — Andrew Benintendi of the Boston Red Sox has left the game against Baltimore after fouling a ball off his right foot.Benintendi went to the ground in pain after the foul in the third inning Sunday. He had trouble putting weight on his foot when he got up and lightly jogged down the first baseline.The outfielder then got back in the batter's box and doubled into the left-fielder corner. He had a noticeable limp heading into second and again when he ran the bases on Mookie Betts' inning-ending flyout.Blake Swihart came into the game in left to replace Benintendi in the top of the fourth.Benintendi originally had the day off, but was inserted into the lineup when center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. was scratched with the flu.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Detroit left-hander Matt Moore will undergo surgery this week to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.The Tigers said Sunday they won't have a definite timetable for Moore's return until after Wednesday's scheduled procedure in Dallas, although Moore said he's hoping for a recovery time of four to six weeks.Moore hurt the knee on April 6 when he left in the third inning of his start against Kansas City. Since then, he said, he's had two setbacks."I know I have a tear in my meniscus, it's just the severity of it I think is a little bit unknown right now," Moore said before Sunday's game at Minnesota. "It's when he gets in there, and that's when I guess they make those decisions. He can only fix what he can see and right now they can't really tell enough through the MRI to tell me exactly which type of repair they're going to have to do."Moore was off to a promising start after signing a one-year deal with the Tigers in the offseason. He hasn't allowed an earned run in 10 innings, with nine strikeouts and a single walk.Moore said the surgery will be performed by Dr. Keith Meister."It wasn't like this sharp pain or nothing like that, but the instability kind of told me that it might not be in our control to let this heal up on its own during the season," he said.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — Snow and rain led to the postponement of Sunday's finale of a three-game series between the Los Angeles Angels and Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.A makeup date was not immediately announced.A steady snow fell throughout the morning and a mix of snow and rain was forecast to continue throughout the afternoon.Right-hander Tyler Chatwood (0-0, 6.00 ERA) was scheduled to make his first start of the season on Sunday for Chicago. He will pitch Monday night when the Cubs open a three-game series at Miami.Right-hander Trevor Cahill (1-1, 3.50 ERA) will start for the Angels in the opener of a three-game series at Texas on Monday night.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BOSTON (AP) — Chris Davis ended his record slump at 0 for 54 and drew applause from rival fans at Fenway Park, getting three hits and driving in four runs as the Baltimore Orioles beat the Boston Red Sox 9-5 on Saturday to end a four-game losing streak.Davis walked to the plate in the first inning to what mostly appeared to be mock cheers when he was announced. But many of those quickly changed when he lined a bases-loaded, two-run single over the head of second baseman Dustin Pedroia, ending the longest hitless streak ever by a position player. Once he safely reached first, Davis tipped his cap to the Orioles dugout and many of his teammates raised their arms and hollered in support. He smiled and made a motion that he wanted to ball, which he got.Davis, a former two-time major league home run champion, later hit two doubles. He had been 0 for 33 this season. The all-time record for a hitless streak by any player is an 0-for-85 drought by pitcher Bob Buhl in 1962-63.Christian Vázquez hit... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Chris Davis ended his record slump at 0 for 54 and drew applause from rival fans at Fenway Park, getting three hits and driving in four runs as the Baltimore Orioles beat the Boston Red Sox 9-5 on Saturday to end a four-game losing streak.Davis walked to the plate in the first inning to what mostly appeared to be mock cheers when he was announced. But many of those quickly changed when he lined a bases-loaded, two-run single over the head of second baseman Dustin Pedroia, ending the longest hitless streak ever by a position player. Once he safely reached first, Davis tipped his cap to the Orioles dugout and many of his teammates raised their arms and hollered in support. He smiled and made a motion that he wanted to ball, which he got.Davis, a former two-time major league home run champion, later hit two doubles. He had been 0 for 33 this season. The all-time record for a hitless streak by any player is an 0-for-85 drought by pitcher Bob Buhl in 1962-63.Christian Vázquez hit... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Chris Davis ended his record slump at 0 for 54 and drew applause from rival fans at Fenway Park, getting three hits and driving in four runs as the Baltimore Orioles beat the Boston Red Sox 9-5 on Saturday to end a four-game losing streak.Davis walked to the plate in the first inning to what mostly appeared to be mock cheers when he was announced. But many of those quickly changed when he lined a bases-loaded, two-run single over the head of second baseman Dustin Pedroia, ending the longest hitless streak ever by a position player. Once he safely reached first, Davis tipped his cap to the Orioles dugout and many of his teammates raised their arms and hollered in support. He smiled and made a motion that he wanted to ball, which he got.Davis, a former two-time major league home run champion, later hit two doubles. He had been 0 for 33 this season. The all-time record for a hitless streak by any player was an 0-for-85 drought by pitcher Bob Buhl in 1962-63.Christian Vázquez... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Sunday:BACK IN THE SWING?Chris Davis looked like the star slugger he once was, ending his record 0-for-54 slump with a single and two doubles in Baltimore's 9-5 win at Boston. The two-time major league homer champ drove in four runs.Davis had been hitless in 33 at-bats this season, extending a skid that began last September. He kept the souvenir ball from the drought-breaking hit."I don't know what I'm going to do with it, but obviously something special," he said.TOASTYTemperatures are supposed to be in the mid-40s at Target Field when the Minnesota Twins finish up their series against Detroit.After the teams were snowed out Friday, it was 37 degrees at gametime Saturday when the Twins topped the Tigers 4-3 on Saturday.Meanwhile, there is a mixture of snow and rain in the forecast at Wrigley Field for the game between the Cubs and Angels.BOUNCING BACKJacob deGrom hopes for a return to his NL Cy Young Award form when he starts for the Mets at... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Texas Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor has been put on the 10-day injured list with a sprained right knee.Texas announced the move Saturday, a day after Odor was a last-minute scratch from the starting lineup for the series opener against Oakland. Odor is expected to be re-evaluated in about two weeks.The Rangers selected the contract of infielder/outfielder Danny Santana from Triple-A Nashville. Right-handed pitcher Edinson Volquez was transferred from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list to create a spot on their 40-man roster.Odor batted .167 with no homers and two RBIs in his 12 games this season.Santana has appeared in the big leagues each of the past five seasons, hitting .256 with 13 home runs and 100 RBIs over 364 games with Minnesota and Atlanta.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Giants first baseman Brandon Belt has been scratched from Saturday's lineup with a stiff neck, less than 12 hours after scoring the winning run in the 18th inning of San Francisco's 3-2 win over the Colorado Rockies.Pablo Sandoval replaced Belt at first base and batted sixth.On Friday night, Sandoval doubled as a pinch-hitter and scored in the sixth inning. Belt doubled leading off the eighth against DJ Johnson and moved to third after the Rockies walked two batters to load the bases.Belt slid into home for the win against the Rockies. A replay confirmed he was safe, ending the game after 5 hours, 35 minutes. It's the second-longest game in Oracle Park's 20-year history.

BOSTON (AP) — Baltimore's Chris Davis ended his streak of futility in his first at-bat on Saturday when he lined a bases-loaded, two-run single to right in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox.Davis had gone hitless a record 54 straight at-bats, starting this season 0 for 33 before he lined a 1-0 pitch from Rick Porcello to push the Orioles ahead 2-0.It's the longest hitless streak for a position player.The crowd gave what seemed mostly like a mock cheer when he approached the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. Soon some of those turned into real cheers when he got the hit.After grounding out in his second at-bat, Davis lined the first pitch of his third into the right-center gap for a double, driving in a run to push Baltimore in front 3-2.

BOSTON (AP) — Baltimore Orioles' Chris Davis ended his streak of futility in his first at-bat on Saturday when he lined a bases-loaded, two-run single to right in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox.Davis had gone hitless a record 54 straight at-bats, starting this season 0 for 33 before he lined a 1-0 pitch from Rick Porcello to push Baltimore ahead 2-0.It's the longest hitless streak for a position player.The crowd gave what seemed mostly like a mock cheer when he approached the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. Soon some of those turned into real cheers when he got the hit.