WASHINGTON (AP) — Manny Machado walked the red carpet shirtless in a double-breasted suit, took a selfie on the field and smiled through six innings of carefree baseball.When he was done playing in his fourth All-Star Game on Tuesday night, Machado peeled off his Orioles uniform for perhaps the final time.Then he walked out of Nationals Stadium with his family, not bothering to stick around after the game to answer another round of questions about a potential trade that would end his stay in Baltimore.The 26-year-old shortstop is expected to be dealt any day now, possibly before Baltimore returns from the break to play in Toronto on Friday night.In the meantime, Machado was the center of attention before and during the first All-Star Game in Washington since 1969.A huge media throng buzzed around his locker prior to batting practice. During BP, Machado joked with Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp outside the cage.Then came the game. Machado went 0 for 2 — a fly ball and a popup —... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Manny Machado walked the red carpet shirtless in a double-breasted suit, took a selfie on the field and smiled through six innings of carefree baseball.When he was done playing in his fourth All-Star Game on Tuesday night, Machado peeled off his Orioles uniform for perhaps the final time.The 26-year-old shortstop is expected to be traded any day now, possibly before Baltimore returns from the break to play in Toronto on Friday night.In the meantime, Machado was the center of attention before and during the first All-Star Game in Washington since 1969.A huge media throng buzzed around his locker prior to batting practice. During BP, Machado joked with Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp outside the cage.Then came the game. Machado went 0 for 2 — a fly ball and a popup — before exiting for a pinch hitter in the sixth inning."I'm just trying to enjoy this moment with the American League guys," Machado told FOX in the dugout. "If this is the last time (in a Baltimore... [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) — Mike Trout would be an even bigger star if he would spend some more time marketing himself, baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred maintains.At 26, the Los Angeles Angels outfielder is a two-time AL MVP and a seven-time All-Star. In 2015, he became the first player in 38 years to homer leading off an All-Star Game, then became the first player to take home the Midsummer Classic's MVP award two years in row. He homered off the Mets' Jacob deGrom in the third inning of this year's game on Tuesday night."Player marketing requires one thing for sure — the player," Manfred said earlier in the day. "You cannot market a player passively. You can't market anything passively. You need people to engage with those to whom you are trying to market in order to have effective marketing. We are very interested in having our players more engaged and having higher profile players and helping our players develop their individual brand. But that involves the player being actively engaged."Manfred... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Major League Baseball is willing to loosen the regulations for the color of players' spikes.Ben Zobrist, Kyle Schwarber and Steve Cishek wore black spikes in May despite a warning from Major League Baseball of violating a regulation requiring that at least 51 percent of the exterior of a player's shoes be the club's designated primary shoe color. For the Cubs, that color is blue."We recognize the need to allow players to be more demonstrative on the field," baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said Tuesday at the All-Star Game.Manfred said Deputy Commissioner Dan Halem had given the union "a proposed agreement that would substantially alter the rules respecting cleat colors and what could be on cleats."Baseball, however, does want to maintain some sort of dress rules."What you don't want to do is get into a situation where the field becomes a billboard for any and all political messages," Manfred said. "The politicization of sport can be a very problematic thing."___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

WASHINGTON (AP) — Baseball does not have a problem with Toronto Blue Jays closer Roberto Osuna returning from a domestic violence suspension while a legal charge could remain pending.Osuna agreed to a suspension through Aug. 4 under baseball's domestic violence policy. He has not pitched since May 6, two days before he was put on administrative leave when he was charged with one count of assault in Toronto."If in fact the application of that policy results in Roberto coming back to work after a very long suspension while there are still unresolved criminal proceedings, I can live with that result, because that's the policy we negotiated," baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said at the All-Star Game on Tuesday. "You can't take all the benefits of the policy and then turn around and say, gee, I don't like the outcome in this case and therefore I'm going to do something else."Osuna will wind up missing 89 days, which will cost him about $2.54 million of his $5.3 million salary. He will participate... [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) — Stephen Strasburg will come off the disabled list and start for the Washington Nationals in their first game after the All-Star break.Manager Dave Martinez says Tuesday the team also hopes to get back first baseman Ryan Zimmerman and closer Sean Doolittle against NL East rival Atlanta.The Nationals host the Braves for a three-game series beginning Friday.Strasburg is 6-6 this season with a 3.46 ERA in only 13 starts. He has struck out 95 and walked 19 in 80 2/3 innings.The right-hander has been on the disabled list since June 10 with inflammation in his throwing shoulder.Zimmerman has been sidelined since May 10 with a strained side muscle.Doolittle had to give up his spot in the All-Star Game after hurting his left foot by tripping over a mound. He hasn't pitched since July 6. The lefty has a 1.45 ERA and has converted 22 of 23 save opportunities this season.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

WASHINGTON (AP) — Baseball players are open to extending the designated hitter to the National League and to expanding the winner-take-all wild-card playoff to a multi-game series. Management has little interest.The American League has used the DH since 1972, and there has been more discussion among fans and media of expanding it to the NL."It's gaining momentum, I'll offer you that," players' union head Tony Clark told the Baseball Writers' Association of America on Tuesday. "Players are talking more about it now than they have in the past."DHs often are high-priced sluggers, a reason players are interested in having the rule cover both leagues."Fans like to see offense," said Boston's J.D. Martinez, who has DHed in 54 of his 92 games this year.Not all players agree."I lightly lean toward no, just because I'm used to the National League style of play," Cincinnati's Joey Votto said. "I find that the American League is a little more basic and the games are longer. That doesn't excite me.... [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) — Manny Machado could very well be wearing an Orioles uniform for the final time Tuesday night at the All-Star Game.The pending trade of the Baltimore shortstop is expected to happen soon, probably before the Orioles return following the break to play in Toronto on Friday night.In the meantime, Machado was the center of attention hours before the first All-Star Game in Washington since 1969.All the speculation, the endless questions and the buzzing around his locker couldn't put a damper on the All-Star experience for the 26-year-old."It's awesome," Machado said. "Every time you put on the Oriole uniform it's always a great blessing, and you always want the opportunity to put that on. Just put it on, go play shortstop when I get my name announced. I know there's going to be some Baltimore fans out there, so I'm really looking forward to it."The trade is going to happen. And soon. (The non-waiver trade deadline is July 31.) But to which team?The Dodgers? Phillies? Brewers?... [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]