WASHINGTON (AP) — World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg is scheduled to make his season debut for the Washington Nationals on Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles after being sidelined by a nerve problem in his pitching hand.Strasburg missed what would have been his first two appearances of 2020 after making all 33 starts last year and then becoming the first pitcher to finish a postseason with a 5-0 record. “The tingling in his thumb is gone, and that’s a good sign. We watched him and he’s throwing some really good bullpens. That was the big thing for me: Nothing in his mechanics has changed. Everything’s good,” manager Dave Martinez said Friday before Washington's series opener against visiting Baltimore. “So based on a conversation with him, he feels good,” Martinez added. “He wants to pitch. He’s ready to pitch on Sunday.”For how long is another question.“We’re going to watch him. If he gives us 75-80 pitches, that’d be awesome,” Martinez said. “But we’ll keep an eye on him.” The 32-year-old... [More]

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — A former Angels employee has been charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl in connection with last year's overdose death of Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs, prosecutors in Texas announced Friday.Eric Prescott Kay was arrested in Fort Worth, Texas, and made his first appearance Friday in federal court, according to Erin Nealy Cox, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas. Kay was communications director for the Angels. Skaggs was found dead in his hotel room in the Dallas area July 1, 2019, before the start of what was supposed to be a four-game series against the Texas Rangers. The first game was postponed before the teams played the final three games.Skaggs died after choking on his vomit with a toxic mix of alcohol and the powerful painkillers fentanyl and oxycodone in his system, a coroner's report said. Prosecutors accused Kay of providing the fentanyl to Skaggs and others, who were not named.“Tyler Skaggs’s overdose – coming, as it did, in the midst of an ascendant baseball career – should be a wake-up call: No one is immune from this deadly drug, whether sold as a powder or hidden inside an innocuous-looking tablet,” Nealy Cox said.If convicted, Kay faces up to 20 years in prison. Federal court records do not list an attorney representing him, and an attorney who previously spoke on his behalf did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Cardinals’ game Friday against the Chicago Cubs was postponed after another St. Louis player tested positive for COVID-19. Major League Baseball said the game was postponed to allow more time for additional testing and to complete the contact tracing process.The Cardinals have been off since last Friday, when two players returned positive coronavirus tests. Eight players in total have tested positive, including star catcher Yadier Molina. The Cardinals spent five days in quarantine in a Milwaukee hotel before finally being cleared to travel back to St. Louis late Tuesday, when they returned negative tests for the second straight day. They got workouts in at home and had been prepared to return to the field Friday. Among the players who confirmed they tested positive for COVID-19 were a pair of All-Stars in Molina and Paul DeJong. Before Friday's postponement, the Cardinals had already added three doubleheaders against the Brewers to a previously scheduled series to... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Cardinals’ game Friday against the Chicago Cubs was postponed after another St. Louis player tested positive for COVID-19. Major League Baseball said the game was postponed to allow more time for additional testing and to complete the contact tracing process.The Cardinals have been off since last Friday, when two players returned positive coronavirus tests. Eight players in total have tested positive, including star catcher Yadier Molina.

Aug. 81903 — A week after pitching his first doubleheader triumph, Joe “Iron Man” McGinnity of the New York Giants scored a double victory over the Brooklyn Dodgers 6-1 and 4-3. In the second game, he stole home.1915 — Philadelphia’s Gavvy Cravath hit four doubles and drove in eight runs in a 14-7 victory over the Reds at Cincinnati.1920 — Howard Ehmke of the Detroit Tigers pitched the fastest 1-0 game in American League history — 1 hour, 13 minutes, for a victory against the New York Yankees.1931 — Bob Burke of the Washington Senators pitched a 5-0 no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox.1954 — The Brooklyn Dodgers pounded the Cincinnati Reds 20-7 at Ebbets Field. The Dodgers scored 13 runs in the eighth inning after two were out.1973 — Designated hitter Orlando Cepeda hit four doubles as the Boston Red Sox posted a 9-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals.1982 — California’s Doug DeCinces hit three home runs in a game for the second time in less than a week. DeCinces hit solo homers in the... [More]

Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly was talking about this week’s doubleheader sweep at Baltimore that involved a parade of relievers, including several newcomers rescued from unemployment, and after naming three of them he drew a blank. “I’ve got to remember who all we used,” Mattingly said. “Who else pitched today? I don’t know.”For the Marlins, this season has been a bit of a blur. It was halted for eight days because of a coronavirus outbreak that sidelined more than half the team, and even now, four games into the resumption of play, there's cause for eye-rubbing.The Marlins are in first place in August, a first for the franchise. In fact, at 6-1 they have the best record in baseball, staging a one-year turnaround not seen since the 1899 St. Louis Perfectos.“I’m going to have to write a book after this,” Mattingly said. “You get tested, and you persevere.” Following a decade of sub-.500 seasons, the Marlins reported for spring training with something close to a swagger in Year 3 of... [More]

Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly was talking about this week’s doubleheader sweep at Baltimore that involved a parade of relievers, including several newcomers rescued from unemployment, and after naming three of them he drew a blank. “I’ve got to remember who all we used,” Mattingly said. “Who else pitched today? I don’t know.”For the Marlins, this season has been a bit of a blur. It was halted for eight days because of a coronavirus outbreak that sidelined more than half the team, and even now, five games into the resumption of play, there's cause for eye-rubbing.The Marlins are in first place in August, a first for the franchise. In fact, at 6-1 they have the best record in baseball, staging a one-year turnaround not seen since the 1899 St. Louis Perfectos.“I’m going to have to write a book after this,” Mattingly said. “You get tested, and you persevere.” Following a decade of sub-.500 seasons, the Marlins reported for spring training with something close to a swagger in Year 3 of... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — Jonathan Villar hit a first-pitch leadoff homer to spark a robust offensive performance by the Miami Marlins, who beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-7 Thursday night to complete a startling four-game sweep and make Don Mattingly the winningest manager in franchise history.Villar had three hits and Brian Anderson drove in three runs for the upstart Marlins, who emerged from a team-wide coronavirus outbreak to dominate the Orioles and forge the best winning percentage in the big leagues.Miami is 6-1 and in first place in the NL East despite putting 18 players on the injured list before the series opener Tuesday.The Marlins were the “home” team because this was a makeup of a July 28 game that was to be held in Miami but postponed in the wake of the Marlins’ COVID-19 outbreak.Batting in the bottom of the seventh, the Marlins broke a 6-6 tie with a sacrifice fly by Jesús Aguilar off Evan Phillips (1-1) and an RBI triple by Anderson.Mike Morin (1-0) pitched two shutout innings and... [More]

White sox second. Yasmani Grandal strikes out swinging. Eloy Jimenez called out on strikes. Nomar Mazara singles to right field. Leury Garcia homers to right field. Nomar Mazara scores. Zack Collins lines out to deep center field to Ben Gamel.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. White sox 2, Brewers 0.Brewers third. Keston Hiura grounds out to shallow infield, Leury Garcia to Jose Abreu. Christian Yelich walks. Avisail Garcia singles to right field. Christian Yelich to second. Jedd Gyorko singles to center field, advances to 2nd. Avisail Garcia to third. Christian Yelich scores. Justin Smoak grounds out to shallow infield to Jose Abreu. Omar Narvaez lines out to shallow center field to Danny Mendick.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. White sox 2, Brewers 1.Brewers fifth. Keston Hiura grounds out to second base, Danny Mendick to Jose Abreu. Christian Yelich homers to deep left field. Avisail Garcia walks. Jedd Gyorko homers to left field. Avisail Garcia scores. Justin Smoak reaches on error.... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Oakland Athletics bench coach Ryan Christenson has apologized for raising his arm during a postgame celebration in what looked like a Nazi salute.Christenson made the gesture while greeting closer Liam Hendriks following the A's 6-4 win over the Texas Rangers on Thursday.Hendriks immediately pushed Christenson's arm down and cameras then showed him laughing and briefly raising his arm a second time.Christenson faced criticism after video of the gesture circulated on social media. “I made a mistake and will not deny it,” Christenson said in a statement issued through the team. “Today in the dugout I greeted players with a gesture that was offensive. In the world today of COVID, I adapted our elbow bump, which we do after wins, to create some distance with the players. My gesture unintentionally resulted in a racist and horrible salute that I do not believe in. What I did is unacceptable and I deeply apologize.”The A's called the gesture “offensive” and apologized for... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — Jonathan Villar hit a first-pitch leadoff homer to spark a robust offensive performance by the Miami Marlins, who beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-7 Thursday night to complete a startling four-game sweep and make Don Mattingly the winningest manager in franchise history.Villar had three hits and Brian Anderson drove in three runs for the upstart Marlins, who emerged from a team-wide coronavirus outbreak to dominate the Orioles and forge the best winning percentage in the big leagues.Miami is 6-1 and in first place in the NL East despite putting 18 players on the injured list before the series opener Tuesday.The Marlins were the “home” team because this was a makeup of a July 28 game that was to be held in Miami but postponed in the wake of the Marlins’ COVID-19 outbreak.Batting in the bottom of the seventh, the Marlins broke a 6-6 tie with a sacrifice fly by Jesús Aguilar off Evan Phillips (1-1) and an RBI triple by Anderson.Mike Morin (1-0) pitched two shutout innings and... [More]

Royals first. Whit Merrifield called out on strikes. Jorge Soler singles to center field. Salvador Perez singles to right center field. Jorge Soler to third. Ryan O'Hearn singles to second base. Salvador Perez to second. Jorge Soler scores. Adalberto Mondesi strikes out swinging. Alex Gordon flies out to shallow center field to Javier Baez.1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Royals 1, Cubs 0.Royals second. Maikel Franco doubles to deep left center field. Nicky Lopez called out on strikes. Nick Heath called out on strikes. Whit Merrifield homers. Maikel Franco scores. Jorge Soler singles to shallow infield. Salvador Perez grounds out to shallow infield, Nico Hoerner to Anthony Rizzo.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Royals 3, Cubs 0.Royals third. Ryan O'Hearn flies out to deep center field to Ian Happ. Adalberto Mondesi doubles to shallow center field. Alex Gordon doubles to deep center field. Adalberto Mondesi scores. Maikel Franco homers to left field. Alex Gordon scores. Nicky Lopez... [More]

Astros fourth. Jose Altuve singles to deep right field. Alex Bregman strikes out swinging. Michael Brantley grounds out to first base to Christian Walker. Jose Altuve to third. Yuli Gurriel singles to shallow left field. Jose Altuve scores. Carlos Correa strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Astros 1, Diamondbacks 0.Astros sixth. George Springer lines out to deep center field to Starling Marte. Jose Altuve homers to left field. Alex Bregman doubles to shallow left field. Michael Brantley grounds out to shallow right field, Ketel Marte to Christian Walker. Alex Bregman to third. Yuli Gurriel lines out to deep left field to David Peralta.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Astros 2, Diamondbacks 0.Diamondbacks sixth. Kole Calhoun flies out to deep center field to George Springer. Starling Marte doubles to right field. Christian Walker doubles to deep center field. Starling Marte scores. Eduardo Escobar singles to right field. Christian Walker to third. David Peralta singles... [More]

Marlins first. Jonathan Villar homers to left field. Jon Berti lines out to deep left field to Dwight Smith Jr.. Francisco Cervelli strikes out swinging. Jesus Aguilar lines out to deep right field to Anthony Santander.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Marlins 1, Orioles 0.Orioles second. Renato Nunez homers to center field. Chance Sisco doubles to deep left field. Austin Hays lines out to deep center field to Monte Harrison. Chance Sisco to third. Chris Davis strikes out swinging. Pat Valaika flies out to deep right field to Lewis Brinson.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Orioles 1, Marlins 1.Marlins second. Brian Anderson lines out to shortstop to Hanser Alberto. Lewis Brinson walks. Logan Forsythe doubles to deep left field. Lewis Brinson to third. Magneuris Sierra out on a sacrifice fly to deep right field to Anthony Santander. Logan Forsythe to third. Lewis Brinson scores. Monte Harrison grounds out to shallow infield, Wade LeBlanc to Chris Davis.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on.... [More]

A look at what’s happening around the majors Friday:___BACK IN THE SHUFFLEThe Cardinals are set to resume their season by hosting the Cubs. St. Louis has been off since last Friday, when two players returned positive coronavirus tests. Seven players in total have tested positive, including star catcher Yadier Molina. Ace Jack Flaherty (1-0, 2.57), who said he kept his arm fresh this week by throwing baseballs into a hotel mattress, is set to pitch against Chicago veteran Jon Lester (1-0, 0.82) PULLING AWAYThe season is only two weeks old, but the New York Yankees could have a commanding lead on AL East-rival Tampa Bay by the end of the weekend. The reigning AL East champions Yankees are 9-3 to start this 60-game season and four games ahead of the Rays entering their four-game weekend series. Tampa Bay was supposed to be New York’s biggest obstacle to a repeat but already has work to do. Yankees righty Masahiro Tanaka (0-0, 3.38) faces Rays lefty Blake Snell (0-0, 5.40).RED-HOT RAMIREZIndians... [More]

Braves first. Ronald Acuna Jr. grounds out to shallow infield, Nate Pearson to Rowdy Tellez. Dansby Swanson walks. Freddie Freeman homers to center field. Dansby Swanson scores. Marcell Ozuna strikes out swinging. Nick Markakis lines out to deep center field to Randal Grichuk.2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Braves 2, Blue jays 0.Blue jays fourth. Bo Bichette homers to center field. Cavan Biggio pops out to shallow infield to Johan Camargo. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. doubles. Rowdy Tellez pops out to shallow left field to Dansby Swanson. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. pops out to shallow right field to Freddie Freeman.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Braves 2, Blue jays 1.Braves fourth. Marcell Ozuna singles to deep left field. Nick Markakis grounds out to first base to Rowdy Tellez. Marcell Ozuna to third. Adam Duvall out on a sacrifice fly to deep left field to Lourdes Gurriel Jr.. Marcell Ozuna scores. Johan Camargo pops out to shallow center field to Bo Bichette.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left... [More]

Phillies first. Andrew McCutchen lines out to shallow left field to Gleyber Torres. Rhys Hoskins walks. Bryce Harper singles to shallow right field. Rhys Hoskins to second. J.T. Realmuto homers to left field. Bryce Harper scores. Rhys Hoskins scores. Phil Gosselin strikes out swinging. Didi Gregorius grounds out to shallow infield, Jordan Montgomery to Luke Voit.3 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Phillies 3, Yankees 0.Yankees second. Gleyber Torres flies out to right center field to Bryce Harper. Brett Gardner singles to shallow infield. Gio Urshela reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow infield. Brett Gardner to second. Fielding error by Scott Kingery. Gary Sanchez called out on strikes. Tyler Wade walks. Gio Urshela to second. Brett Gardner to third. Mike Tauchman singles to shallow center field. Tyler Wade to second. Gio Urshela scores. Brett Gardner scores. Luke Voit pops out to second base to Scott Kingery.2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 2 left on. Phillies 3, Yankees 2.Phillies third.... [More]

Indians first. Cesar Hernandez strikes out swinging. Jose Ramirez homers to right field. Francisco Lindor grounds out to second base, Kyle Farmer to Joey Votto. Carlos Santana walks. Franmil Reyes strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Indians 1, Reds 0.Indians fifth. Beau Taylor grounds out to shallow infield, Kyle Farmer to Joey Votto. Delino DeShields strikes out swinging. Cesar Hernandez walks. Jose Ramirez triples to deep right field. Cesar Hernandez scores. Francisco Lindor singles to shallow right field. Jose Ramirez scores. Carlos Santana walks. Francisco Lindor to second. Franmil Reyes grounds out to shallow right field to Joey Votto.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Indians 3, Reds 0.Indians seventh. Delino DeShields singles to right field. Cesar Hernandez singles to right field. Delino DeShields to third. Jose Ramirez reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow infield, advances to 2nd. Cesar Hernandez to third. Delino DeShields out at home. Francisco Lindor... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Shohei Ohtani homered in his first plate appearance since being shut down as a pitcher, Dylan Bundy struck out 10 in the third complete game of his career and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Seattle Mariners 6-1 on Thursday. Ohtani drove a 1-0 pitch from Seattle starter Taijuan Walker (1-2) to the opposite field just beyond the leap of left fielder Dee Gordon leading off the second inning.Max Stassi added a two-run homer in the eighth inning, his fourth of the season.Bundy (2-1) has been superb since his offseason arrival from Baltimore via trade. The right-hander has pitched at least six innings in all three of his starts, with 25 strikeouts and two walks in 21 2/3 innings.Bundy allowed four hits and picked up his 10th strikeout getting Kyle Seager leading off the ninth. His only mistake was an elevated changeup that Daniel Vogelbach lined into the right field seats for a solo home run in the fourth inning.PIRATES 6, TWINS 5PITTSBURGH (AP) — Kevin Newman’s two-run pinch-single... [More]

Rockies sixth. David Dahl strikes out swinging. Trevor Story homers to center field. Charlie Blackmon walks. Nolan Arenado lines out to deep center field to Mauricio Dubon. Matt Kemp singles to center field. Charlie Blackmon to second. Ryan McMahon lines out to deep left field to Austin Slater.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Rockies 1, Giants 0.Giants seventh. Hunter Pence grounds out to shortstop, Nolan Arenado to Ryan McMahon. Darin Ruf strikes out swinging. Pablo Sandoval singles to center field. Chadwick Tromp singles to shallow center field. Pablo Sandoval to second. Mauricio Dubon homers to center field. Chadwick Tromp scores. Pablo Sandoval scores. Austin Slater strikes out swinging.3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Giants 3, Rockies 1.Rockies seventh. Garrett Hampson doubles to deep left field. Chris Owings doubles. Garrett Hampson scores. Daniel Murphy pinch-hitting for Drew Butera. Daniel Murphy homers to center field. Chris Owings scores. David Dahl singles to second base.... [More]