TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — New York Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius played five innings of defense and went 2 for 4 with a walk Monday at extended spring training in his first game action since Tommy John surgery on Oct. 17."It was good," Gregorius said.Playing against Detroit Tigers minor leaguers and in front of Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner, Gregorius singled twice and cleanly fielded three grounders but had an error for an errant throw to first base.Gregorius is coming back from surgery to a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He appears on track to start a minor league injury rehabilitation assignment in a week or two and rejoin the Yankees in late June.Gregorius had an eventful first inning.He charged to field a one-hopper and then make an accurate throw to first to retire the second batterAfter fouling a ball off his foot and breaking a bat on a pop foul, Gregorius drew a walk in the bottom half. He slid feet first into second base on grounder, then slid headfirst into third... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — New York Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius played five innings of defense and went 2 for 4 with a walk at extended spring training in his first game action since Tommy John surgery on Oct. 17.Playing against Detroit Tigers minor leaguers and in front of Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner, Gregorius singled twice and cleanly fielded three grounders Monday but had an error for an errant throw to first base.Gregorius is coming back from surgery to a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He appears on track to start a minor league injury rehabilitation assignment in a week or two and rejoin the Yankees in late June.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Take away George Springer and Jose Altuve, and maybe the Houston Astros start to look a little more beatable.Maybe.The Boston Red Sox finally snapped Houston's 10-game winning streak Sunday with a 4-3 victory after Springer left the game with lower back stiffness. The Astros were already playing without Altuve, on the injured list with a strained left hamstring, but that injury did little to slow Houston. Even after Sunday's loss, the Astros have the best record and best run differential in the major leagues. They lead the AL West by 8 ½ games.Altuve hasn't played since May 10, so Houston's recent torrid stretch took place largely without him. That's a scary thought for the rest of the American League. In their first four games without their star second baseman, the Astros scored 45 runs against the Rangers and Tigers."Our guys are seeing the ball really well and making it tough on them," Houston manager AJ Hinch said while the Astros were in Detroit. "Driving the pitch counts through the... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Sunday:ALL A'SThe Athletics try to beat Detroit for the 16th time when Mike Fiers starts at Comerica Park.A win by the A's would equal the franchise record for the longest winning streak against one team. Oakland took 16 in a row from the Yankees from 1989-91.Rookie Gregory Soto goes for his first major league win when he pitches for the Tigers. The Athletics are aiming for a four-game sweep — they host Detroit in a three-game series in early September.RE-SALERed Sox ace Chris Sale starts for the first time since striking out 17 in just seven innings against Colorado. He'll face the hard-hitting Houston Astros, who have won 10 in a row, at Fenway Park.Sale (1-5, 4.24 ERA) looks to continue his stellar revival after a rough start this year. After opening the season 0-5 with a 6.30 ERA in six starts, he has a 1.29 ERA in three starts in May.The lefty is now the only pitcher in major league history to allow no more than three hits, strike out at... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Sunday:ALL A'SThe Athletics try to beat Detroit for the 16th time when Mike Fiers starts at Comerica Park.A win by the A's would equal the franchise record for the longest winning streak against one team. Oakland took 16 in a row from the Yankees from 1989-91.Rookie Gregory Soto goes for his first major league win when he pitches for the Tigers. The Athletics are aiming for a four-game sweep — they host Detroit in a three-game series in early September.RE-SALERed Sox ace Chris Sale starts for the first time since striking out 17 in just seven innings against Colorado. He'll face hard-hitting Houston at Fenway Park.Sale (1-5, 4.24 ERA) looks to continue his stellar revival after a rough start this year. After opening the season 0-5 with a 6.30 ERA in six starts, he has a 1.29 ERA in three starts in May.The lefty is now the only pitcher in major league history to allow no more than three hits, strike out at least 14 and walk nobody in consecutive... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — San Francisco Giants right-hander Johnny Cueto threw a bullpen session Saturday, and the team was encouraged enough for manager Bruce Bochy to say the club hopes Cueto can return toward the end of this season.Cueto, who had major elbow surgery last August, was 18-5 in 2016 and selected to the All-Star game, but has since gone 11-10 in the last two years combined."I think he surprised a lot of us with where he's at," Bochy said before Saturday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. "It's all fastballs, but he's gotten himself in great shape, too. I think it's the best shape I've seen Johnny in, to be honest."From what you saw today, you've got to believe he's going to be pitching before the season's over. I'm not going to be surprised if he pitches in September."Cueto threw off flat ground Saturday, and the hope is that next week he will throw breaking balls and changeups.If Cueto comes back in September, it will be as a starting pitcher, Bochy said. Cueto, 33, has been... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Didi Gregorius is projected to return to the New York Yankees next month, a faster recovery from Tommy John surgery than expected.Gregorius is scheduled to play shortstop on Monday at extended spring training in Tampa, Florida, his first game action since surgery on Oct. 17 to replace a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow."It's a good step. We're getting there. Everything feels really good," Gregorius said Saturday after eight plate appearances during a simulated game in Tampa. "You've got to trust the whole thing, even though I'm impatient because I want to work. But it is what it is. Got to go with what they're saying and go with their schedule."Manager Aaron Boone does not expect Gregorius will need the equivalent of a full spring training, which is about six weeks."I think it will be shorter," Boone said Saturday. "He's been doing so much already as far as getting live ABs (at-bats), doing all this work. So he's a little further down the road than he would... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Didi Gregorius is projected to return to the New York Yankees next month, a faster recovery from Tommy John surgery than expected.Gregorius is scheduled to play shortstop on Monday at extended spring training in Tampa, Florida, his first game action since surgery on Oct. 17 to replace a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.Manager Aaron Boone does not expect Gregorius will need the equivalent of a full spring training, which is about six weeks."I think it will be shorter," Boone said Saturday. "He's been doing so much already as far as getting live ABs (at-bats), doing all this work. So he's a little further down the road than he would be at the start of spring training."Gregorius hit .268 with a career-high 27 homers and 86 RBIs last season. He injured the elbow while making a throw from left field after a ball bounced off Fenway Park's Green Monster during Game 2 of the AL Division Series at Boston last Oct. 6. When the Yankees revealed the injury six days... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — The San Francisco Giants have activated catcher Buster Posey from the seven-day concussion list.Posey was behind the plate and batted third Friday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks.He was hit on the helmet by a foul tip against Cincinnati on May 8 and placed on the injured list after playing against Colorado two days later.The Giants took a cautious approach with Posey after he went on the concussion list for the second time in two years. He missed seven games due to a concussion in 2017.Posey has played 32 games this season, hitting .245 with two homers and 13 RBIs.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals have activated Carlos Martínez from the injured list after the right-hander missed the first 44 games of the season because of a strained right shoulder cuff.The club also designated veteran right-hander Luke Gregerson for assignment before Friday's interleague game at the Texas Rangers while recalling rookie reliever Ryan Helsley from Triple-A Memphis and sending down right-hander Dominic Leone.Martínez was a two-time All-Star as a starter for St. Louis before making 18 of his 33 appearances out of the bullpen last season. The 27-year-old is expected to be used as a reliever.It is the second time Helsley has been brought up from the minors this season. The 24-year-old right-hander gave up two runs in 6 1/3 innings over three appearances in his first stint.Gregerson, a 35-year-old who hadn't pitched since last July when he was activated May 4 coming off right shoulder impingement, allowed five runs and 11 hits over 5 2/3 innings in six relief appearances. Leone has an 8.02 ERA in 20 games out of the bullpen.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired journeyman catcher Erik Kratz in a trade with the San Francisco Giants.The 38-year-old Kratz hit .125 (4 for 32) in 15 games for San Francisco. He was designated for assignment on Tuesday.As part of the trade announced Thursday, the Giants agreed to send the Rays $471,613 to cover a majority of the $877,419 remaining in Kratz's $1.2 million, one-year contract. San Francisco will receive a player to be named or cash.The Giants acquired Kratz in a March 24 trade with Milwaukee for minor league infielder C.J. Hinojosa. Kratz helped the Brewers make it to the NL Championship Series last year, batting .292 with three RBIs in nine playoff games.Kratz broke into the majors with Pittsburgh in 2010. He is a .208 hitter with 31 homers and 101 RBIs in 310 career games.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Christian Yelich hit his major league-leading 17th and 18th homers to help Zach Davies and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Philadelphia Phillies 11-3 Thursday.Yasmani Grandal and Mike Moustakas also went deep as the Brewers won their third in a row.Davies (5-0) allowed three runs — one earned — and four hits in six innings.Yelich homered in the first for a 1-0 lead off Zach Eflin (5-4) and added a solo drive off Edgar Garcia in the eighth to make it 8-3.ATHLETICS 17, TIGERS 3DETROIT (AP) — Jurickson Profar hit his first career grand slam, and Oakland won its 13th straight over Detroit and its eighth in a row at Comerica ParkJosh Phegley had four hits, including one of Oakland's five home runs. Matt Olson and Marcus Semien also homered for Oakland.Detroit has been outscored 41-9 while losing the first four games of a 10-game homestand.Ohio native Chris Bassitt (2-1) pitched eight shutout innings in front of a large group of friends and family.Spencer Turnbull (2-3) allowed... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Christian Yelich hit his major league-leading 17th and 18th homers to help Zach Davies and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Philadelphia Phillies 11-3 Thursday.Yasmani Grandal and Mike Moustakas also went deep as the Brewers won their third in a row.Davies (5-0) allowed three runs — one earned — and four hits in six innings.Yelich homered in the first for a 1-0 lead off Zach Eflin (5-4) and added a solo drive off Edgar Garcia in the eighth to make it 8-3.ATHLETICS 17, TIGERS 3DETROIT (AP) — Jurickson Profar hit his first career grand slam, and Oakland won its 13th straight over Detroit and its eighth in a row at Comerica ParkJosh Phegley had four hits, including one of Oakland's five home runs. Matt Olson and Marcus Semien also homered for Oakland.Detroit has been outscored 41-9 while losing the first four games of a 10-game homestand.Ohio native Chris Bassitt (2-1) pitched eight shutout innings in front of a large group of friends and family.Spencer Turnbull (2-3) allowed... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired journeyman catcher Erik Kratz in a trade with the San Francisco Giants.The 38-year-old Kratz hit .125 (4 for 32) in 15 games for San Francisco. He was designated for assignment on Tuesday.The Giants acquired Kratz in a March 24 trade with Milwaukee for minor league infielder C.J. Hinojosa. He helped the Brewers make it to the NL Championship Series last year, batting .292 with three RBIs in nine playoff games.The Rays got Kratz and cash considerations from the Giants for a player to be named or cash considerations. The deal was announced on Thursday.Kratz broke into the majors with Pittsburgh in 2010. He is a .208 hitter with 31 homers and 101 RBIs in 310 career games.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Christian Yelich hit his major league-leading 17th and 18th homers to help Zach Davies and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Philadelphia Phillies 11-3 Thursday.Yasmani Grandal and Mike Moustakas also went deep as the Brewers won their third in a row.Davies (5-0) allowed three runs — one earned — and four hits in six innings.Yelich homered in the first for a 1-0 lead off Zach Eflin (5-4) and added a solo drive off Edgar Garcia in the eighth to make it 8-3.ATHLETICS 17, TIGERS 3DETROIT (AP) — Jurickson Profar hit his first career grand slam, and Oakland won its 13th straight over Detroit and its ninth in a row at Comerica ParkJosh Phegley had four hits, including one of Oakland's five home runs. Matt Olson and Marcus Semien also homered for Oakland.Detroit has been outscored 41-9 while losing the first four games of a 10-game homestand.Ohio native Chris Bassitt (2-1) pitched eight shutout innings in front of a large group of friends and family.Spencer Turnbull (2-3) allowed... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Bryce Harper was in the starting lineup Wednesday a day after he banged his left knee into the wall on a sliding catch.Harper, who signed a $330 million, 13-year contract with the Phillies as a free agent, has been slumping and was down to .219 with 56 strikeouts, seven homers and 25 RBI in 41 games.Harper told manager Gabe Kapler there was "minimal swelling" in the knee."There was nothing that causes any of us any concern about putting him out there today," Kapler said.Harper came up limping against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night on a sliding catch on a foul ball to right field in the sixth inning. Harper made an almost identical catch to end the inning. He received a standing ovation only to get booed after striking out again in the eighth.Harper struck out twice and walked twice. He's hitless in his last 14 at-bats headed into Wednesday's game against the Brewers."I'm not sure a day off is going to work for me mentally or... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dodgers pitcher Julio Urías was placed on administrative leave Tuesday by Major League Baseball following his arrest for investigation of misdemeanor domestic battery.Urías was taken into custody Monday night in the parking lot of a shopping mall, Los Angeles police spokeswoman Norma Eisenman said. No details were released.MLB subsequently placed the left-hander on administrative leave while it looks into his arrest. The leave was effective Tuesday and can last up to seven days. In previous MLB investigations, the length of the administrative leave has frequently been extended while the probe continues.Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before Los Angeles' game against the San Diego Padres that the team will let the process run its course and that they hope to know more information in the coming days. "Obviously it's not ideal in any sense of the word. It doesn't behoove me to make any further comments until I know more," Roberts said.Roberts said he didn't know how long... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his first major league home run, becoming the youngest player in Toronto Blue Jays history to touch 'em all.Guerrero homered in the first inning Tuesday night at San Francisco. It took the touted 20-year-old 14 games to get his first big fly. His drive to straightaway center against Giants opener Nick Vincent was measured at 111.3 mph and traveled an estimated 438 feet.Two-sport star Danny Ainge was the youngest Blue Jay to homer, doing so on June 2, 1979 at 20 years, 77 days old. Guerrero is younger by 18 days.The son of Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero entered the day batting .191 with one RBI. The family already had long-ball history at Oracle Park — the elder Guerrero won the 2007 Home Run Derby at the waterfront stadium.__More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias was placed on administrative leave Tuesday by Major League Baseball following his arrest for investigation of misdemeanor domestic battery.Urias was taken into custody Monday night in the parking lot of a shopping mall, Los Angeles police spokeswoman Norma Eisenman said Tuesday. No details were released.MLB subsequently placed the left-hander on administrative leave while it looks into his arrest. The leave was effective Tuesday and can last up to seven days. In previous MLB investigations, the length of the administrative leave has frequently been extended while the probe continues.MLB and the players' association agreed to a domestic violence policy in 2015, giving the commissioner the right to investigate and impose discipline. If discipline is warranted, a paid leave can be converted to a suspension without pay. Players cited previously under the policy include Jose Reyes, Aroldis Chapman, Yasiel Puig, Hector Olivera, Jeurys Familia, Steven... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Infielder Jed Lowrie's debut for the New York Mets is being delayed because he strained his hamstring while in the minors to work his way back from an injured left knee.Mets manager Mickey Callaway said before Tuesday night's game at the Washington Nationals that Lowrie will head back to Florida and be reassessed in a couple of weeks.Lowrie signed a $20 million, two-year contract as a free agent this offseason but felt pain in his left knee early in spring training and began the season on the injured list.He's been playing at Triple-A Syracuse and the Mets were hoping to call him up this week. But the 35-year-old Lowrie had a setback with the hamstring over the weekend, and was seen by a doctor Monday."He's down about it. He's frustrated. He wants to come up here and help the team," Callaway said.Lowrie was a first-time All-Star last season with a career-high 99 RBIs for Oakland.In other injury news, Callaway said left-handed pitcher Jason Vargas was scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday as he comes back from left hamstring tightness, while lefty Steven Matz planned to play catch to test his left forearm irritation. Matz went on the IL on May 5, and Vargas a day earlier.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports