WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the All-Star Game (all times local):2:50 p.m.The AL and NL All-Star managers have revealed the pitchers they'll be using immediately after starters Chris Sale and Max Scherzer.Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says New York Mets right-hander Jacob deGrom will follow Scherzer for the NL. Roberts says he picked Scherzer to start over deGrom because the game is at Scherzer's home ballpark in Washington.Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch says the New York Yankees' Luis Severino will come in after Sale, followed by the Tampa Bay Rays' Blake Snell.___2:20 p.m.Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper will bat sixth for the National League in the All-Star Game in his home ballpark.Harper is hitting .214 with a .365 on-base percentage, .468 slugging percentage, 23 home runs and 54 RBIs. Despite his hitting struggles, Harper is an All-Star — voted in by fans — for the sixth time in his seven-year major league career.Nationals teammate Max Scherzer will take the mound... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper will bat sixth for the National League in the All-Star Game in his home ballpark.Harper is hitting .214 with a .365 on-base percentage, .468 slugging percentage, 23 home runs and 54 RBIs. Despite his hitting struggles, Harper is an All-Star — voted in by fans — for the sixth time in his seven-year major league career.Nationals teammate Max Scherzer will take the mound for the NL as expected with Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts saying it's good for baseball and for the country to give him the ball. Scherzer (12-5) has a 2.41 ERA and a league-high 182 strikeouts.Sale and Scherzer are both making their third All-Star starts, joining 13 other pitchers with that distinction. Sale is starting for the third consecutive time and is the third player to do that, following Lefty Gomez and Robin Roberts. Both made their first All-Star starts with different teams — Sale for the White Sox and Scherzer for the Tigers.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper will bat sixth for the National League in the All-Star Game in his home ballpark.Harper is hitting .214 with a .365 on-base percentage, .468 slugging percentage, 23 home runs and 54 RBIs. Despite his hitting struggles, Harper is an All-Star — voted in by fans — for the sixth time in his seven-year major league career.Nationals teammate Max Scherzer will take the mound for the NL as expected with Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts saying it's good for baseball and for the country to give him the ball. Scherzer (12-5) has a 2.41 ERA and a league-high 182 strikeouts.Scherzer is the 14th player in Major League Baseball history to start the All-Star Game for three different teams after doing so previously with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Detroit Tigers.Boston Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale opens for the American League, his third consecutive All-Star Game start. He's the third player to do that, following Lefty Gomez and Robin Roberts.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

WASHINGTON (AP) — David Ortiz can now laugh, sort of, at the shifting culture of baseball. For J.D. Martinez, Nolan Arenado, Aaron Judge and every other All-Star hitter, dealing with different defensive alignments is just part of the game.Tune in Tuesday night and no telling where fans will see fielders. Especially in what's become merely an exhibition — why not try a five-man outfield?To Big Papi, these overloaded infields are reshaping the sport. Not in a good way, either."It seems crazy, it seems like it's taking some fun part of the game away," the retired Red Sox slugger said Sunday at Nationals Park, site of this week's All-Star action."It seems like there are 20 guys playing defense against you," Ortiz said, playfully estimating shifts took away "like 500 hits away from me."His idea: "So I would take my chances, if MLB wanted to. Just saying to play normal, like the game is supposed to be played since Day One, just to see how that plays out."Of course, Max Scherzer, Jacob deGrom,... [More]

The Oakland Athletics have played their way into contention by beating up on teams that are far from it.Oakland enters the All-Star break having won 21 of its last 27, and the A's are only three games behind the second wild card. At 55-42, manager Bob Melvin's Athletics would have the second-best record in the National League if they were in it. Instead, they play in the AL West, where their impressive mark still leaves them eight games behind division-leading Houston.Nevertheless, there have been some encouraging signs for an Oakland team that hasn't finished above .500 since 2014. The A's are 31-21 on the road and during one stretch homered in 27 straight games away from home. Oakland has seven players with at least 10 homers, led by Khris Davis with 21 and Matt Olson with 19.On the mound, Sean Manaea has rebounded from a poor May, and Blake Treinen and Lou Trivino have been excellent out of the bullpen.The question for the A's is whether they can win enough games against the other playoff... [More]

At the All-Star break last year, Chris Sale looked as if he might pull away in the American League Cy Young race. He already had 178 strikeouts with only 22 walks.By the end of the season, of course, Sale had to settle for second place — and not a particularly close second — after Corey Kluber took the award away with a torrid second half.That's all just a roundabout way of saying that the following midseason awards aren't meant as predictions of who will actually win these in 2018. It's just a quick attempt to honor the players who have stood out so far.___AL MVPTop Contenders: Mookie Betts, Red Sox; Aaron Judge, Yankees; Francisco Lindor, Indians; Jose Ramirez, Indians; Mike Trout, AngelsThe Pick: TroutTrout leads the AL in on-base percentage, and although he's second to Betts in OPS, he's played in 19 more games than the Boston outfielder. Trout also has the lead in wins above replacement — both the Baseball-Reference and FanGraphs versions. You could put together an entire 10-man MVP... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — Manny Machado homered before making an early exit, Adam Jones hit a three-run double and the Baltimore Orioles rallied past the Texas Rangers 6-5 Sunday.Machado was removed in the fifth inning by manager Buck Showalter after a 26-minute rain delay, taking the All-Star shortstop off a sloppy field. The last-place Orioles are entertaining offers for Machado, who is expected to be dealt before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.After being replaced by Jace Peterson, Machado sat in the dugout, wearing a sweatshirt and joking with his teammates.In a matchup between two teams staggering into the All-Star break, Texas got a first-inning grand slam from rookie Ronald Guzman but quickly gave the lead away in losing for the seventh time in nine games.Machado ignited the comeback with his 24th homer, and Jones' bases-clearing double in the third off Mike Minor (6-6) put Baltimore ahead to stay.Tanner Scott (1-1) earned his first big league win. Zach Britton worked the ninth for... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — Manny Machado homered before making an early exit, Adam Jones hit a three-run double and the Baltimore Orioles rallied past the Texas Rangers 6-5 Sunday.Machado was removed in the fifth inning by manager Buck Showalter after a 26-minute rain delay, taking the All-Star shortstop off a sloppy field. The last-place Orioles are entertaining offers for Machado, who is expected to be dealt before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.After being replaced by Jace Peterson, Machado sat in the dugout, wearing a sweatshirt and joking with his teammates.In a matchup between two teams staggering into the All-Star break, Texas got a first-inning grand slam from rookie Ronald Guzman but quickly gave the lead away in losing for the seventh time in nine games.Machado ignited the comeback with his 24th homer, and Jones' bases-clearing double in the third off Mike Minor (6-6) put Baltimore ahead to stay.Tanner Scott (1-1) earned his first big league win. Zach Britton worked the ninth for... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — Manny Machado homered before making an early exit, Adam Jones hit a three-run double and the Baltimore Orioles rallied past the Texas Rangers 6-5 Sunday.Machado was removed in the fifth inning by manager Buck Showalter after a 26-minute rain delay, taking the All-Star shortstop off a sloppy field. The last-place Orioles are entertaining offers for Machado, who is expected to be dealt before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.After being replaced by Jace Peterson, Machado sat in the dugout, wearing a sweatshirt and joking with his teammates.In a matchup between two teams staggering into the All-Star break, Texas got a first-inning grand slam from rookie Ronald Guzman but quickly gave the lead away in losing for the seventh time in nine games.Machado ignited the comeback with his 24th homer, and Jones' bases-clearing double in the third off Mike Minor (6-6) put Baltimore ahead to stay.Tanner Scot (1-1) earned his first big league win. Zach Britton worked the ninth for... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs have placed outfielder Albert Almora Jr. on the family medical emergency list and recalled infielder David Bote from Triple-A Iowa.The Cubs made the moves prior to Sunday's series finale against the San Diego Padres.Bote returns to the majors for his fourth stint this season. He hit .300 with one homer and nine RBIs in his first 19 games with the Cubs.Almora is hitting .319, third in the NL going into Sunday, with four homers and 28 RBIs.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

BALTIMORE (AP) — Orioles shortstop Manny Machado was removed from Baltimore's game against Texas in the fifth inning, setting off speculation the All-Star had been traded.The exit came shortly after a 26-minute rain delay Sunday left the field at Camden Yards in poor, sloppy condition.Because Machado is expected to be dealt by the last-place Orioles before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, his departure from the game was seemingly notable.But Machado was later seen in the dugout, wearing a sweatshirt and joking with his teammates.Machado hit his 24th home run and walked before his exit.__More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

ST. LOUIS (AP) — As the St. Louis Cardinals took stock of their situation a day after the firing of manager Mike Matheny, some players said they bear some responsibility for Matheny's sudden dismissal.Matheny was fired Saturday night after an 8-2 loss to the last-place Cincinnati Reds. The Cardinals entered Sunday's game one game over .500 and 7½ games behind the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs and are in danger of missing the playoffs for a third straight season for the first time since 1999."We all feel bad for Mike and ultimately it comes down on us," veteran infielder Jedd Gyorko said Sunday. "We're the guys that go out there and play and perform. I feel like we haven't done that good enough."Bench coach Mike Shildt will serve as interim manager, starting with Sunday's final game before the All-Star break."As a player, for me, it's like, 'What could I have done better to keep this from happening?'" reliever Greg Holland said. "I don't know if it's necessarily fair. It's just the way... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates demoted outfielder Austin Meadows to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday and recalled right-handed reliever Tanner Anderson.The 23-year-old Meadows was the team's first-round pick in the 2013 draft. He hit .298 in 48 games with Pittsburgh, but he has lost playing time to Corey Dickerson and Gregory Polanco. In July, Meadows hit .233 as his playing opportunities declined."I'm really excited about what he did, especially that first week," Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said. "The last month hasn't been as productive, and it's tough to ask a young player to not play. It's in his best interests and our best interests to let him grow and develop."Huntington rebuffed the suggestion that Meadows' demotion was related to the possibility that he could qualify for salary arbitration early by gaining Super Two status. The general manager called such projetions "inexact."The 25-year-old Anderson had a 2.17 ERA in 27 games with Indianapolis and will provide bullpen depth after Saturday's doubleheader against the Brewers.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers placed infielder Jonathan Villar on the 10-day disabled list Sunday with a right thumb strain.Villar injured his thumb sliding into third base in Milwaukee's 6-3 loss in the second game of a doubleheader against the Pirates on Saturday.He will have an MRI later Sunday. There is not a timeframe for his return. Villar hit .261 with six home runs and 22 RBIs over 87 games.The Brewers recalled outfielder Brett Phillips from Triple-A Colorado Springs. He has a .257 average, four homers and 12 RBIs in 46 major league games.Villar is the 10th Brewers player on the disabled list, with five of them suffering injuries in the final 10 days before the All-Star break."That's a lot. We're fortunate that we have a lot of depth," assistant general manager Matt Arnold said. "We're looking at hopefully getting a lot of those guys back here shortly after the break."Milwaukee is 2-7 in that stretch, including five straight losses, and ceded first place in the NL Central to the Chicago Cubs.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

July 161897 — Chicago's Cap Anson became the first major leaguer to reach 3,000 hits when he singled off Baltimore's George Blackburn.1902 — John McGraw was named manager of the New York Giants, a post he would hold for 30 years.1909 — Ed Summers of the Detroit Tigers allowed only seven hits and pitched all 18 innings of a 0-0 tie with the Washington Senators, the longest scoreless game in AL history.1920 — Babe Ruth broke his own season record of 29 homers with his 30th as the New York Yankees beat the St. Louis Browns, 5-2. Ruth would finish the season with 54.1933 — Red Lucas of the Cincinnati Reds pitched a 15-inning 1-0 win over Roy Parmelee and the New York Giants in the opener of a doubleheader.1941 — Joe DiMaggio extended his hitting streak to 56 games with a 3-for-4 day as the New York Yankees beat the Cleveland Indians 10-3.1948 — After 8½ years as Brooklyn manager, Leo Durocher stunned baseball by taking the helm of the archrival Giants in midseason.1958 - In the nightcap of... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals aren't accustomed to stretches of mediocrity, and certainly not to reports of clubhouse unrest.The prospect of a third straight year without a postseason berth has spelled the end for manager Mike Matheny.Matheny was stunningly fired Saturday night following an 8-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds, a defeat that dropped St. Louis to 47-46 and 7 1/2 games back of the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs.Bench coach Mike Shildt was named the team's interim manager. Hitting coach John Mabry and assistant hitting coach Bill Mueller were also fired.The Cardinals haven't missed three straight postseasons since 1997-99."These decisions are never easy, but we felt that a change in leadership was necessary as the team prepares to enter into the second half of the season," Cardinals President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak said. "I would like to thank Mike for his exceptional commitment and devotion to the Cardinals organization, including many fond memories of... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:ST. LOUIS STUNNERThe Cardinals will play their first game under interim manager Mike Shildt after firing Mike Matheny late Saturday night. Matheny's stunning dismissal comes with the team 47-46 and 7 1/2 games back of the NL Central-leading Cubs. The prospect of a third straight year without a postseason berth, paired with reports of clubhouse unrest, spelled the end for Matheny, who was 591-473 and made four postseasons in 6 1/2 years on the job. St. Louis will send All-Star Miles Mikolas (10-3, 2.65 ERA) to the mound against Cincinnati.STAR-STUDDED SLIDEDespite boasting an NL-best four All-Stars, the Braves are freefalling going into the midsummer break. Atlanta has lost 8 of 10, including the first two games of its series against Arizona, to drop out of first place in the NL East. Julio Teheran (6-6, 4.26) tries to get the Braves a victory to close out the unofficial first half against the Diamondbacks' Patrick Corbin (6-3, 3.09).AILING... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Xander Bogaerts hit a game-ending grand slam with one out in the 10th inning, and J.D. Martinez hit his major league-leading 29th homer to carry the Boston Red Sox to a 6-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday.Martinez increased his major league-leading RBI total to 80 with a solo shot and red-hot Mookie Betts extended his hitting streak to 12 games with three singles to raise his majors' best average to .362 for Boston.The AL East-leading Red Sox had their 10-game winning streak halted Friday. They haven't lost two straight since June 19 and 20.Betts reached on error against Chris Rowley (0-1) when shortstop Gurriel, who moved there in the top of the inning, had his grounder go right through his legs. Brock Holt had a hit-and-run single and Martinez was intentionally walked before Bogaerts hit his shot to left-center.Craig Kimbrel (2-1) pitched a hitless 10th for the victory.ANGELS 5, DODGERS 4, 10 INNINGSLOS ANGELES (AP) — Kole Calhoun homered on his first pitch... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals aren't accustomed to stretches of mediocrity, and certainly not to reports of clubhouse unrest.The prospect of a third straight year without a postseason berth has spelled the end for manager Mike Matheny.Matheny was stunningly fired Saturday night following an 8-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds, a defeat that dropped St. Louis to 47-46 and seven games back of the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs.Bench coach Mike Shildt was named the team's interim manager. Hitting coach John Mabry and assistant hitting coach Bill Mueller were also fired.The Cardinals haven't missed three straight postseasons since 1997-99."These decisions are never easy, but we felt that a change in leadership was necessary as the team prepares to enter into the second half of the season," Cardinals President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak said. "I would like to thank Mike for his exceptional commitment and devotion to the Cardinals organization, including many fond memories of... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals aren't accustomed to stretches of mediocrity, and certainly not to reports of clubhouse unrest.The prospect of a third straight year without a postseason berth has spelled the end for manager Mike Matheny.Matheny was stunningly fired Saturday night following an 8-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds, a defeat that dropped St. Louis to 47-46 and seven games back of the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs.Bench coach Mike Shildt was named the team's interim manager. Hitting coach John Mabry and assistant hitting coach Bill Mueller were also fired.The Cardinals haven't missed three straight postseasons since 1997-99."These decisions are never easy, but we felt that a change in leadership was necessary as the team prepares to enter into the second half of the season," Cardinals President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak said. "I would like to thank Mike for his exceptional commitment and devotion to the Cardinals organization, including many fond memories of... [More]