CHICAGO (AP) — Mookie Betts and the major league-leading Red Sox are on pace for 100-plus wins. Same for Aaron Judge and the Yankees, and the World Series champion Astros, too.The Orioles, White Sox and Royals are on track to lose more than 100.It's the haves and the have-nots as baseball returns after the All-Star break."There's a few good teams out there that they're going to make it interesting in the second half," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "That's why you got to show up every day and keep playing. We had a great first part of the season, but that doesn't guarantee us anything in October, going to October."The Dodgers know all about October, and they are a World Series contender once again. Especially with the addition of Manny Machado.The NL West leaders got a head start on the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline by sending five prospects to Baltimore on Wednesday for Machado, an All-Star shortstop capable of powering Los Angeles to its first title in 30 years."Any time you have... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — For Max Scherzer, Bryce Harper and any Nationals Park regulars in attendance, this home All-Star Game probably felt rather familiar. A lot of hype, some so-so performances and, at times, a nearly silent ballpark.Washington righty Scherzer became the first reigning Cy Young Award winner to start a Midsummer Classic at home, and delighted the fans singing his name with four strikeouts in two innings for the National League on Tuesday night — but he also gave up a homer to Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge in what became an 8-6 victory in 10 innings for the American League."I threw a fastball up, and I hit my spot. ... I was like, 'Man, I really thought I threw that high.' And you've got to go higher than higher than high against him," said Scherzer, who was making his third All-Star start and second in a row. "He's 6-foot-7. It's incredible. He put a good swing on it. ... I realize now, pitching against tall guys, you've got to go high."Nationals outfielder Harper's encore... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on baseball's All-Star Game (all times local):12:08 a.m.Alex Bregman has been named the All-Star Game MVP for his go-ahead homer in the 10th inning that sent the American League to an 8-6 victory.Bregman's homer was one of a record-breaking 10 in the game, but it put the AL ahead for good as baseball's best put on a power exhibition in the late innings. His Astros teammate George Springer hit one out immediately after Bregman.The 24-year-old Bregman is a first-time All-Star in his third major league season. He hit 19 homers last year and has 20 so far this year.___11:59 p.m.Alex Bregman and George Springer hit back-to-back homers in the 10th inning, and the American League beat the National League 8-6 in a power-crazy All-Star Game.There were 10 homers on the night at Nationals Park, shattering the previous All-Star Game record of six. Seven came in the seventh inning or later.While the power display entertained the fans who stuck around for the end of the 3... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on baseball's All-Star Game (all times local):11:59 p.m.Alex Bregman and George Springer hit back-to-back homers in the 10th inning, and the American League beat the National League 8-6 in a power-crazy All-Star Game.There were 10 homers on the night at Nationals Park, shattering the previous All-Star Game record of six. Seven came in the seventh inning or later.While the power display entertained the fans who stuck around for the end of the 3 hour, 34-minute game, the one-dimensional exhibition won't allay any concerns about a sport that's becoming defined by home runs, strikeouts and walks.Thirteen of the 14 runs came in on homers. All but two of them were solo shots. Jean Segura's three-run homer in the eighth was the only hit with a man in scoring position.Scooter Gennett tied it for the National League in the ninth with a two-run homer. Then Astros teammates Bregman and Springer took Ross Stripling deep.___11:45 p.m.Astros teammates Alex Bregman and George... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — For Max Scherzer, Bryce Harper and any Nationals Park regulars in attendance, this home All-Star Game probably felt rather familiar. A lot of hype, some so-so performances and, at times, a nearly silent ballpark.Washington righty Scherzer became the first reigning Cy Young Award winner to start a Midsummer Classic at home, and delighted the fans singing his name with four strikeouts in two innings for the NL on Tuesday night — but also gave up a homer to Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge.Harper's encore to his Home Run Derby triumph was to go 0 for 2, striking out in both of his at-bats for the NL — once looking, once swinging. And while his theatrics a night earlier got the Washington crowd roaring during the slugging contest, the place was quiet as can be for stretches of the game.Sort of the way things have been at times in 2018 for the Nationals, who were coming off two consecutive NL East titles and were a popular pick to make it three in a row. Instead, it's been a... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on baseball's All-Star Game (all times local):11:05 p.m.Jean Segura hit a 3-run homer after first baseman Joey Votto's error gave him another chance, and the American League took a 5-2 eighth-inning lead over the National League in the All-Star Game.Votto dropped a foul popup along the NL dugout railing with runners on first and second and a 3-2 count on Segura, who launched the next pitch over the left-field wall.It was the first hit with a runner in scoring position in the game. All seven runs were scored via home runs, the first four coming on solo shots.Segura went deep off Josh Hader. He became the third player in the game to homer in his first career All-Star at-bat, following Willson Contreras and Trevor Story.___10:45 p.m.Trevor Story has homered in the seventh inning to draw the National League even 2-2 in the All-Star Game.Story pulled his hands in and ripped an inside fastball from Charlie Morton down the left-field line and into the first row of... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on baseball's All-Star Game (all times local):10:20 p.m.Light rain has begun falling at the All-Star Game as a small band of showers moves through Washington.The rain caused some fans to head for the concourses but appeared unlikely to delay the game.Earlier Tuesday, strong thunderstorms led to standing water in the National League dugout. But the field was in good shape by the time the game started after 8 p.m.The American League leads the National League 2-1 in the top of the seventh inning.___9:10 p.m.Willson Contreras put the National League on the board in the All-Star Game by homering off Blake Snell in the third inning.Contreras hit the first pitch from Snell just over the wall in left field to cut the American League lead to 2-1.All three runs have scored on solo homers.In the top of the third, Mike Trout homered off Jacob deGrom.Trout went deep on a 1-2 fastball, sending it into the AL bullpen in left field.It was Trout's second homer in five All-Star... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on baseball's All-Star Game (all times local):9:10 p.m.Willson Contreras put the National League on the board in the All-Star Game by homering off Blake Snell in the third inning.Contreras hit the first pitch from Snell just over the wall in left field to cut the American League lead to 2-1.All three runs have scored on solo homers.In the top of the third, Mike Trout homered off Jacob deGrom.Trout went deep on a 1-2 fastball, sending it into the AL bullpen in left field.It was Trout's second homer in five All-Star Game appearances and improved him to 7-for-14 in his All-Star career. He later popped out to foul territory in the fifth. He was named MVP of the game in 2014 and 2015.___8:45 p.m.Aaron Judge has given the American League a 1-0 lead in the All-Star Game with a homer off Max Scherzer.Leading off the second inning, the Yankees slugger got ahold of a belt-high 0-1 fastball from Scherzer and sent it into the bullpen beyond the left field fence.It was Judge's... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Major League Baseball wants a broad discussion with players about rule changes to combat decreased offense and longer games, an initiative likely to be met by a testy union stung by declining free-agent prices and already raising the possibility of a work stoppage after the 2021 season.Commissioner Rob Manfred and players' association head Tony Clark outlined their differing agendas during separate sessions with the Baseball Writers' Association of America before Tuesday night's All-Star Game."There is a growing consensus or maybe even better an existing consensus among ownership that we need to have a really serious conversation about making some changes to the way the game is being played," Manfred said. "We are not at the point where I can articulate for you what particular rule changes might get serious consideration. I can tell you the issues that concern people: I think that the period of time between putting balls in play, the number of strikeouts, to a lesser extent... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on baseball's All-Star Game (all times local):9:10 p.m.Willson Contreras put the National League on the board in the All-Star Game by homering off Blake Snell in the third inning.Contreras hit the first pitch from Snell just over the wall in left field to cut the American League lead to 2-1.All three runs have scored on solo homers.In the top of the third, Mike Trout homered off Jacob deGrom.Trout went deep on a 1-2 fastball, sending it into the AL bullpen in left field.It was Trout's second homer in five All-Star Game appearances and improved him to 7-for-15 (.467) in his All-Star career. He was named MVP of the game in 2014 and 2015.___8:45 p.m.Aaron Judge has given the American League a 1-0 lead in the All-Star Game with a homer off Max Scherzer.Leading off the second inning, the Yankees slugger got ahold of a belt-high 0-1 fastball from Scherzer and sent it into the bullpen beyond the left field fence.It was Judge's first All-Star Game hit in his second... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on baseball's All-Star Game (all times local):8:45 p.m.Aaron Judge has given the American League a 1-0 lead in the All-Star Game with a homer off Max Scherzer.Leading off the second inning, the Yankees slugger got ahold of a belt-high 0-1 fastball from Scherzer and sent it into the bullpen beyond the left field fence.It was Judge's first All-Star Game hit in his second appearance. He went 0-for-3 last year.National League manager Dave Roberts tapped Scherzer to start the game in part because it's being played at his home ballpark. The Nationals right-hander made his third All-Star start.___8:10 p.m.A combat medic who received the Medal of Honor for his service in Vietnam has thrown out the ceremonial first pitch for the All-Star Game at Nationals Park.James McCloughan was one of 30 Medal of Honor recipients to be honored before the game. After serving in Vietnam, McCloughan spent 38 years as a high school baseball coach in Michigan.In choosing McCloughan, Major... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on baseball's All-Star Game (all times local):8:10 p.m.A combat medic who received the Medal of Honor for his service in Vietnam has thrown out the ceremonial first pitch for the All-Star Game at Nationals Park.James McCloughan was one of 30 Medal of Honor recipients to be honored before the game. After serving in Vietnam, McCloughan spent 38 years as a high school baseball coach in Michigan.In choosing McCloughan, Major League Baseball stayed away from political controversy during the first All-Star game in 49 years in Washington. President Donald Trump did not attend the game a day after he drew bipartisan criticism for siding with Russian President Vladimir Putin over Russian meddling in the 2016 election.Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy threw out the first pitch at All-Star games in Washington during their terms. Dwight D. Eisenhower declined because he was recovering from surgery, while Richard M. Nixon had to delegate the responsibility to Vice... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on baseball's All-Star Game (all times local):7:20 p.m.Some Cubs fans — and gamblers — are claiming on social media that Bryce Harper "cheated" during the Home Run Derby to beat Chicago's Kyle Schwarber.Harper hit 19 homers in the final round of Monday night's competition at Nationals Park to beat Schwarber by one. Hitting in front his hometown fans with his father pitching, Harper appeared to be running out of time to catch the Cubs slugger before he hit nine homers in his final 10 swings to tie him. Because he hit two homers over 440 feet in the round, Harper earned 30 seconds of extra time that he used to hit the decisive long ball.The competition rules state that the pitcher has to wait until the previous ball has landed before throwing another one. Video from the event shows Harper's father, Ron, apparently breaking that rule. Umpires on the field did not intervene.But that didn't stop Cubs fans from complaining that Harper cheated or that the event was... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Major League Baseball wants a broad discussion with players about rule changes to combat decreased offense and longer games, an initiative likely to be met by a testy union stung by declining free-agent prices and already raising the possibility of a work stoppage after the 2021 season.Commissioner Rob Manfred and players' association head Tony Clark outlined their differing agendas during separate sessions with the Baseball Writers' Association of America before Tuesday night's All-Star Game."There is a growing consensus or maybe even better an existing consensus among ownership that we need to have a really serious conversation about making some changes to the way the game is being played," Manfred said. "We are not at the point where I can articulate for you what particular rule changes might get serious consideration. I can tell you the issues that concern people: I think that the period of time between putting balls in play, the number of strikeouts, to a lesser extent... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sean Doolittle was just trying to snuff the fires of a Twitter fight between his Oakland Athletics and the band Smash Mouth.Members of the band from the Bay Area called the A's a joke for trading Coco Crisp in 2016, and a heated argument ensued that the then-Oakland reliever got in the middle of."I was trying to calm the situation down by tweeting sentences using titles of their songs," Doolittle said. "It didn't really work. They were at each other's throats."After tweeting : "Hey hey guys cmon. Why Can't We Be Friends? last year was rough but I'm A Believer," Doolittle figured what's the use in trying. But he picked up support from lead singer Steve Harwell and bass player Paul De Lisle strong enough that Doolittle and his wife developed an online connection with Smash Mouth over the past two years."Sean chimed in something positive and supportive," Harwell said.Yep, what a concept. Since then, Smash Mouth has had a role in Doolittle and wife Eireann Dolan getting engaged,... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on baseball's All-Star Game (all times local):6:30 p.m.Severe thunderstorms that blew through Washington in the afternoon soaked the field at Nationals Park, but players hope the conditions are safe and playable for the All-Star Game.The rain stopped in time for the NL and AL to take abbreviated batting practice"You have to deal with elements," NL starter Max Scherzer of the host Nationals said. "You have to pitch when it's cold, you have to pitch when it's hot, when it's windy, when it's rainy. This is just another element of baseball that a pitcher just has to deal with."With the storms over, there was not much concern about delaying or postponing the game as much as how the water on the field could affect play. Nearby Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport took more than 2 inches of rain, and there was standing water in the NL dugout."Hopefully it's dry and everybody's safe and nobody gets injury," Mariners designated hitter Nelson Cruz said. "That's the... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on baseball's All-Star Game (all times local):6:30 p.m.Severe thunderstorms that blew through Washington in the afternoon soaked the field at Nationals Park, but players hope the conditions are safe and playable for the All-Star Game.The rain stopped in time for the NL and AL to take abbreviated batting practice"You have to deal with elements," NL starter Max Scherzer of the host Nationals said. "You have to pitch when it's cold, you have to pitch when it's hot, when it's windy, when it's rainy. This is just another element of baseball that a pitcher just has to deal with."With the storms over, there was not much concern about delaying or postponing the game as much as how the water on the field could affect play. Nearby Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport took more than 2 inches of rain, and there was standing water in the NL dugout."Hopefully it's dry and everybody's safe and nobody gets injury," Mariners designated hitter Nelson Cruz said. "That's the... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on baseball's All-Star Game (all times local):6 p.m.If Manny Machado is heading to Los Angeles, the Dodgers would be thrilled to have him.USA Today reported Tuesday that the Orioles were expected to trade their All-Star shortstop to the Dodgers on Wednesday, barring a last-minute snag. Machado says he hasn't heard anything from his agent and he refused to answer a hypothetical question about going to the Dodgers.Dodgers right-hander Ross Stripling says: "Things are getting serious now. That's the kind of bat and the kind of player that you want in your lineup."Stripling says it's good to be on a team that's buying instead of selling at the trade deadline. He also credited the Dodgers for making midseason moves while hanging onto big league-ready prospects.Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp says he's good friends with Machado but hasn't heard anything. He says Machado would bring excitement to LA.___5:20 p.m.Cubs pitcher Jon Lester and Reds first baseman Joey Votto... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on baseball's All-Star Game (all times local):5:20 p.m.Cubs pitcher Jon Lester and Reds first baseman Joey Votto believe this offseason will be a test of whether last year's free agent situation was a one-off or cause for concern.Tony Clark, the head of the baseball players' union, said earlier Tuesday he'd like to talk to the league about free agency after so many players were left unsigned for months last winter.Lester said that with the free agent class that could be available — including Bryce Harper and Manny Machado — if the same situation occurs, it would present a problem.With Clark broaching the possibility of a 2021 labor struggle, Votto told The Associated Press that previous generations of players set up the current tug of war between the sides, which he thinks is healthy for the game.___5:05 p.m.With trade rumors swirling, Manny Machado made a fashion statement as he arrived at Nationals Park for the All-Star Game.Machado wore a gray double-breasted... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — By the time Bryce Harper gets to the plate at the All-Star Game, Max Scherzer could already be done.Harper is batting sixth in his fifth All-Star start, the lowest he has been in the National League lineup since the No. 9 spot in 2013. Scherzer getting the start against Boston's Chris Sale is no surprise as the hometown ace, but Harper faces a much different dynamic knowing this could be the final time he's honored on a big stage by Nationals fans when he trots out to center field on Tuesday night.In a contract year that could be his last with Washington, Harper is hitting .214 with a .365 on-base percentage, .468 slugging percentage, 23 home runs and 54 RBIs. That batting average is 60 points lower than the next-closest NL All-Star hitter, while his HR total is one shy of the league lead."I look up there and see my average as well, and I look up there and go, 'Aw man, well that sucks,'" Harper said Monday. "But I look over a little bit to the right side of that and see... [More]