KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals are sending Homer Bailey to the Oakland Athletics after scratching the veteran right-hander about 45 minutes before his scheduled start Sunday against Detroit.In return, Kansas City is getting minor league infielder Kevin Merrell. He's been playing at Double-A Midland and will report to the Royals' affiliate at Northwest Arkansas.The 33-year-old Bailey has rebounded this season with the Royals after signing a minor league deal in February. He is 7-6 with a 4.80 ERA, but he's been especially good over his past seven starts, giving the A's some additional help as they seek a playoff run in the second half.They began the day six games back in the AL West, but a half-game ahead of Cleveland for the second wild-card berth.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

TOKYO (AP) — Former Cleveland Indians outfielder Leonys Martin has signed a one-year deal with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan's Pacific League.Martín, who overcame a life-threatening bacterial infection last summer, was designated for assignment last month by the Indians. He was batting .199 with nine home runs and 19 RBIs in 65 games.Cleveland acquired Martín from the Detroit Tigers at the trade deadline last season, but he played only six games before becoming ill and being hospitalized."It's an honor to be given this chance by the Marines," Martin said in a statement issued by the team. "I'll do everything I can in order to be the best player and teammate that I can become."The 31-year-old Cuban player made his MLB debut with the Texas Rangers in 2011 and also played for the Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs and Detroit.Martin recorded more than 30 steals in the 2013 and 2014 seasons with the Rangers, and hit a career-high 15 home runs with the Mariners in 2016.In 770 major league games over nine seasons, he had a .244 batting average with 58 home runs, 228 RBIs and 126 stolen bases.____More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

A look at what's happening around the majors today:PINSTRIPE AUDITION?All-Star pitcher Marcus Stroman (5-9, 3.18 ERA) takes the mound for Toronto at Yankee Stadium. Last month, the Long Island native strongly hinted that he wouldn't mind a trade to the Yankees.Stroman has been sidelined with a left pectoral cramp since June 29, but threw a bullpen session Friday and was cleared to return to the rotation against the AL East leaders.TRADE TIMEThe Boston Red Sox made the first significant trade since the All-Star break, getting pitcher Andrew Cashner from Baltimore. The 32-year-old righty was 9-3 with a 3.83 ERA in 17 starts for the team with the worst record in the majors.The Red Sox got Cashner and nearly $1.78 million in cash to help with his salary for a pair of 17-year-old prospects.This year's trade deadline is July 31 — no more swaps can be made after that to have a player eligible for the postseason.ALL-STAR ACTIONAL All-Star teammates Shane Bieber and Jose Berrios pitch against each... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — Locked in a desperate push to get back into the playoffs, the Boston Red Sox had no intention of waiting until the end of the month to upgrade their starting rotation.Getting a jump on the July 31 trade deadline, the Red Sox obtained burly right-hander Andrew Cashner from the Baltimore Orioles for two 17-year-old prospects."He's been throwing the ball well. He's a veteran," Boston manager Alex Cora said after the Red Sox lost 11-2 to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday night. "He's been pitching well against some tough competition and we won't change too much."The deal was announced after Baltimore beat Tampa Bay 2-1 in the first game of a day-night doubleheader.Cashner is 9-3 with a 3.83 ERA in 17 starts for the team with the worst record in the majors. He has gone at least six innings in his last five starts and has a 1.41 ERA since the beginning of June."He'll be here (Sunday) and start on Tuesday," Red Sox general manager Dave Dombrowski said.Better sooner than later."We... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The shrine that has become Tyler Skaggs' locker in the Los Angeles clubhouse had a new addition Saturday — the ball from the final out of the no-hitter the Angels pitched while wearing their late teammate's jersey.As they prepared to face Seattle on what would have been Skaggs' 28th birthday, the Angels were still trying to take in everything that transpired a day earlier in a remarkable 13-0 victory.Taylor Cole started with two perfect innings and Félix Peña held the Mariners hitless the rest of the way in the Angels' first home game since Skaggs was found unresponsive in his hotel room in Texas on July 1.Cole was wearing a T-shirt with Skaggs' catchphrase — "We're Nasty" — in the clubhouse before the game. He said he was still hyped up after the win."I feel great to have been a part of history and helping this city cope a little bit," he said. "When you can comfort and help people heal, and help people realize that there is something more to this than baseball,... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Sunday:PINSTRIPE AUDITION?All-Star pitcher Marcus Stroman (5-9, 3.18 ERA) takes the mound for Toronto at Yankee Stadium. Last month, the Long Island native strongly hinted that he wouldn't mind a trade to the Yankees.Stroman has been sidelined with a left pectoral cramp since June 29, but threw a bullpen session Friday and was cleared to return to the rotation against the AL East leaders.TRADE TIMEThe Boston Red Sox made the first significant trade since the All-Star break, getting pitcher Andrew Cashner from Baltimore. The 32-year-old righty was 9-3 with a 3.83 ERA in 17 starts for the team with the worst record in the majors.The Red Sox got Cashner and nearly $1.78 million in cash to help with his salary for a pair of 17-year-old prospects.This year's trade deadline is July 31 — no more swaps can be made after that to have a player eligible for the postseason.ALL-STAR ACTIONAL All-Star teammates Shane Bieber and Jose Berrios pitch against each... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Max Kepler has Trevor Bauer's number.Kepler connected for home runs his first two times up Saturday night against Cleveland's hard-throwing starter, giving the Minnesota outfielder five homers in his last five at-bats against the right-hander.Kepler homered three times off Bauer in Minnesota's win on June 6 while also drawing a walk.He made it four homers in four straight at-bats with a leadoff shot, then connected in the second inning, one batter after rookie Jake Cave homered off Bauer.Bauer finally got the best of Kepler in the fourth, striking him out but only after he hit a deep foul ball into the upper deck in right.According to Elias, Kepler matched the longest streak in the expansion era for homers in consecutive at-bats against one pitcher. Carlos Delgado did it against Jorge Sosa (2003-04) and Frank Howard connected against Bob Hendley (1963-64).Kepler has 13 career homers against the Indians, 11 at Progressive Field.He also had three-homer game in Cleveland as a rookie in 2016.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BALTIMORE (AP) — Locked in a desperate push to get back into the playoffs, the Boston Red Sox had no intention of waiting until the end of the month to upgrade their starting rotation.Getting a jump on the July 31 trade deadline, the Red Sox obtained burly right-hander Andrew Cashner from the Baltimore Orioles for two 17-year-old prospects.The deal was announced Saturday after Baltimore beat Tampa Bay 2-1 in the first game of a day-night doubleheader.Cashner is 9-3 with a 3.83 ERA in 17 starts for the team with the worst record in the majors. He has gone at least six innings in his last five starts and has a 1.41 ERA since the beginning of June."He'll be here (Sunday) and start on Tuesday," Red Sox general manager Dave Dombrowski said.Better sooner than later."We just felt that this makes sense for us, to get him right into the rotation," Dombrowski said. "He's excited to be here, excited to pitch, excited to join the club and be part of the pennant race."The 32-year-old Cashner goes from... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Washington Nationals have put Max Scherzer on the 10-day injury list because the ace right-hander has a mid-back strain.An MRI on Scherzer's back came back negative, and the three-time Cy Young Award winner had his start pushed back from Sunday to Tuesday. But he was placed on the injury list retroactive to July 10 after throwing a bullpen session before Saturday's game.Catcher Spencer Kieboom was recalled from Double-A Harrisburg to take Scherzer's roster spot.Scherzer was 7-0 with a 0.84 ERA in his last nine starts before the All-Star break. He is 9-5 with a 2.30 ERA overall.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BALTIMORE (AP) — The Boston Red Sox have upgraded their starting rotation by obtaining right-hander Andrew Cashner in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles.The deal was announced Saturday after Baltimore beat Tampa Bay 2-1 in the first game of a day-night doubleheader. The Red Sox also got cash while sending a pair of 17-year-old prospects to the Orioles.Cashner is 9-3 with a 3.83 ERA in 17 starts for the team with the worst record in the majors. He has gone at least six innings in his last five starts and has a 1.41 ERA since the beginning of June.The 32-year-old Cashner goes from the rebuilding Orioles to the defending World Series champion Red Sox, who are striving to get back into the postseason after getting off to a poor start. Boston began the day far back of AL East-leading New York but in the thick of the wild-card race.The trade came less than three weeks before the July 31 trade deadlineCashner is in the final season of a two-year, $16 million contract. He has a lifetime record of 55-82 with a 4.00 ERA.Baltimore agreed to send Boston $1,777,839 to cover all but $1,577,000 of the $3,354,839 Cashner is due from his $8 million salary this year. Baltimore also agreed to make contingent payments on some of Cashner's performance bonuses if he should achieve them.The Orioles received infielder Noelberth Romero and outfielder Elio Prado.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MIAMI (AP) — Former three-time All-Star outfielder Matt Kemp has been released by the New York Mets.Kemp signed a minor league contract with the Mets on May 24 and played in eight games for Triple-A Syracuse, hitting .235 with one home run and three RBIs."We're going to exhaust every effort we can to find the best players we can and we've got a couple of veteran guys we have tried out, some work, some don't," Mets manager Mickey Callaway said.The 34-year-old Kemp made the NL All-Star team last season in his second stint with the Los Angeles Dodgers, finishing with a .290 batting average, 21 home runs and 85 RBIs.He was traded to Cincinnati in the offseason as part of a deal with Yasiel Puig and appeared in 20 games for the Reds this season, hitting .200 with one home run and five RBIs before sustaining a broken rib after colliding into the outfield wall during a game in San Diego on April 21."I like Matt," said Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly, who was Kemp's manager for four seasons... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees have activated first baseman Luke Voit from the 10-day injured list Saturday prior to their game against the Toronto Blue Jays.Voit missed seven games after being sidelined with an abdominal strain on June 29 during the first of New York's two games against the Boston Red Sox in London.The move returns one of New York's steadiest sluggers to its already formidable lineup. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Voit is hitting .270 with 17 homers, 50 RBIs and a .901 OPS. Voit was batting third for the Yankees, who boast the best record in the American League.In a corresponding move, infielder Breyvic Valera was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre following Friday's game.

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees have activated first baseman Luke Voit from the 10-day injured list Saturday prior to their game against the Toronto Blue Jays.Voit missed seven games after being sidelined with an abdominal strain on June 29 during the first of New York's two games against the Boston Red Sox in London.The move returns one of New York's steadiest sluggers to its already formidable lineup. The 6-foot-3, 225-point Voit is hitting .270 with 17 homers, 50 RBIs and a .901 OPS. Voit was batting third for the Yankees, who boast the best record in the American League.In a corresponding move, infielder Breyvic Valera was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre following Friday's game.

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — When the Los Angeles Angels think about Tyler Skaggs in the months and years ahead, Andrew Heaney is grateful they'll have the memory of one incredible night to assuage their sadness.With Skaggs' name and No. 45 on all of their jerseys Friday night, the Angels played practically perfect baseball throughout their first home game since their 27-year-old teammate's death.After they completed a combined no-hitter and a 13-0 victory over Seattle, the Angels gathered on the field and placed those No. 45 jerseys on the mound until it was more red than brown.The Angels then stood reverently in a circle to pay one more tribute to the ebullient, lanky left-hander who definitely would have called them nasty."For us, it's emotionally therapeutic," said Heaney, Skaggs' best friend and fellow starting pitcher. "After the game, we ran out on the field and everybody was celebrating. Like three hours earlier, I don't know about everybody else, (but) I had tears in my eyes. You're... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:REMEMBER WHENRed Sox left-hander Chris Sale faces the Dodgers for the first time since he came out of the bullpen to finish last year's World Series, striking out the side in the ninth inning of Boston's 5-1 victory in Game 5. Sale struggled in his final two starts before the All-Star break, allowing 10 runs and 15 hits in 11 2/3 innings. Ross Stripling pitches for NL-leading Los Angeles.ON THE MENDAll-Star infielder Alex Bregman could return to Houston's starting lineup after he took a groundball off his chin during the Astros' 5-0 loss at Texas on Thursday night. Manager AJ Hinch says Bregman, who needed four stitches, has been evaluated a couple of times since getting hit and is doing OK. He says Bregman "has not been diagnosed with a concussion at all." Bregman was playing shortstop in the series opener when a grounder by Shin-Soo Choo popped up and hit him below his mouth in the third inning. Bregman, the team's primary third baseman,... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels all wore Tyler Skaggs' No. 45 jerseys as they stood solemnly on the field while his mother, Debbie, delivered a heartbreakingly perfect strike with her first pitch.Three incredible hours later, the Angels walked back onto the Angel Stadium field, some with tears in their eyes. One by one, they removed those No. 45 jerseys and spread them over the mound until nearly all of the dirt was covered in red.In between those two melancholy, magical moments, the Angels played their heavy hearts out in their first home game since their beloved pitcher's death.Their 13-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Friday was a combined no-hitter by Taylor Cole and Félix Peña. Mike Trout contributed six RBIs, including a 454-foot homer on the first pitch he saw.On the day before what would have been Skaggs' 28th birthday, these astonishing Angels played a practically perfect game with his memory in their minds."Tonight was in honor of him," Trout said. "He was... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels all put on Tyler Skaggs' No. 45 jerseys and stood solemnly on the field while his mother, Debbie, delivered a heartbreakingly perfect strike on the first pitch.The Angels then proceeded to play their heavy hearts out in their first home game since their beloved pitcher's death.Two Angels pitchers combined to throw the 11th no-hitter in franchise history, and Mike Trout drove in six runs in a stunning 13-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Friday night.On the day before what would have been Skaggs' 28th birthday, these astonishing Angels played a practically perfect game with his memory in their minds."Tonight was in honor of him," Trout said. "He was definitely looking over us tonight. He's probably up there saying we're nasty. What an unbelievable game to be a part of. I'm speechless. This is the best way possible to honor him tonight. It was pretty crazy."This tribute ended up exceeding all logic and expectation. Still reeling from the... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels put on Tyler Skaggs' No. 45 jerseys and stood solemnly on the field while his mother, Debbie, delivered a heartbreakingly perfect strike on the first pitch.The Angels then proceeded to play their heavy hearts out in their first home game since their beloved pitcher's death.Two Angels pitchers combined to throw the 11th no-hitter in franchise history, and Mike Trout drove in six runs in a stunning 13-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Friday night.On the day before what would have been Skaggs' 28th birthday, these astonishing Angels played a practically perfect game with his memory in their minds."Tonight is about him," injured Angels infielder Zack Cozart said before the game. "We're going to do what we can to honor him and keep his legacy going."This tribute ended up exceeding all logic and expectation, however.Still reeling from the loss of their left-handed starter early last week in Texas, the Angels somehow excelled in every aspect... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels put on Tyler Skaggs' No. 45 jerseys and stood solemnly on the field while his mother, Debbie, delivered a heartbreakingly perfect strike on the first pitch.The Angels then proceeded to play their heavy hearts out in their first home game since their beloved pitcher's death.Two Angels pitchers combined to throw the 11th no-hitter in franchise history, and Mike Trout drove in six runs in a stunning 13-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Friday night.On the day before what would have been Skaggs' 28th birthday, these astonishing Angels played a practically perfect game with his memory in their minds."Tonight is about him," injured Angels infielder Zack Cozart said before the game. "We're going to do what we can to honor him and keep his legacy going."This tribute ended up exceeding all logic and expectation, however.Still reeling from the loss of their left-handed starter early last week in Texas, the Angels somehow excelled in every aspect... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles Angels throw a combined no-hitter in first home game since death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs.