Jharel Cotton had planned to build off a promising rookie campaign for the Oakland Athletics.He'll have to wait another year.The 26-year-old righty will undergo elbow surgery and not pitch in 2018, a setback for a young club trying to improve on a last-place finish."It's tough. I'm missing the 2018 season with my boys, so it's kind of hard to take. I'm trying to take it as best as I can and just get ready for the long process, the long road that's ahead," Cotton said Saturday.Cotton had been diagnosed with a sprain and had a second scan Friday, then was told he would need Tommy John surgery.Cotton was 9-10 with a 5.58 ERA average in 24 starts. This spring, he had a 3.75 ERA in four exhibitions, striking out 16 in 12 innings."Unfortunate. Just of him having to go through what a lot of guys have to go through," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "But we felt like he was on the cusp of really coming into his own and it's going to be delayed a year, unfortunately."The A's figure to go into the 2018... [More]

Jharel Cotton had planned to build off a promising rookie campaign for the Oakland Athletics.He'll have to wait another year.The 26-year-old righty will undergo elbow surgery and not pitch in 2018, a setback for a young club trying to improve on a last-place finish."It's tough. I'm missing the 2018 season with my boys, so it's kind of hard to take. I'm trying to take it as best as I can and just get ready for the long process, the long road that's ahead," Cotton said Saturday.Cotton had been diagnosed with a sprain and had a second scan Friday, then was told he would need Tommy John surgery.Cotton was 9-10 with a 5.58 ERA average in 24 starts. This spring, he had a 3.75 ERA in four exhibitions, striking out 16 in 12 innings."Unfortunate. Just of him having to go through what a lot of guys have to go through," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "But we felt like he was on the cusp of really coming into his own and it's going to be delayed a year, unfortunately."The A's figure to go into the 2018... [More]

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen needed 13 pitches to throw a perfect inning in his first game appearance since the World Series, an exhibition against Kansas City on Thursday.Jansen entered in the third inning with an 8-3 lead. He struck out Ramon Torres, retired Jon Jay on a popup and got Alex Gordon to make weak contact on a cutter, producing a flyout."To get back in front of 8,000 people out there, it gets your adrenalin going a little bit more," the two-time National League Reliever of the Year said. "I feel great."The Royals beat the Dodgers 14-8.Jansen was to have pitched last Friday but was held out after feeling hamstring tightness. He said he is to pitch Saturday against the Chicago White Sox."Just stick with the process. Stay with running and the weight room. Building my arm strength outside, playing catch. Don't rush it," Jansen said. "You just have to have that confidence and go out there and trust it. I felt really good today."A two-time All-Star,... [More]

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen needed 13 pitches to throw a perfect inning in his first game appearance since the World Series, an exhibition against Kansas City on Thursday.Jansen entered in the third inning with an 8-3 lead. He struck out Ramon Torres, retired Jon Jay on a popup and got Alex Gordon to make weak contact on a cutter, producing a flyout."To get back in front of 8,000 people out there, it gets your adrenalin going a little bit more," the two-time National League Reliever of the Year said. "I feel great."Jansen was to have pitched last Friday but was held out after feeling hamstring tightness. He is to pitch Saturday against the Chicago White Sox."Just stick with the process. Stay with running and the weight room. Building my arm strength outside, playing catch. Don't rush it," Jansen said. "You just have to have that confidence and go out there and trust it. I felt really good today."A two-time All-Star, Jansen threw 85 innings over 78 games... [More]

Never pay for saves. That mantra has been a constant in fantasy baseball circles almost as long as it has been played.Top relievers dominated the saves category, but their dearth of wins and strikeouts limited their value in comparison to starting pitchers. Despite posting elite ratios, relievers just didn't pitch enough innings to hang with even a mid-level starting pitcher. Add all that onto the relative ease of acquiring saves in-season and it's easy to see why many people bypassed the top relievers and scavenged the lower rungs of closers for value.Not anymore. Changes in real baseball mean values in fantasy are changing as a result.As MLB managers lean more on their bullpens, the statistical landscape has changed for pitchers. Managers are quicker with the hook and more starters are limited to five or six innings a start. This means once you get past the top few elite starters, the gap in strikeouts and wins is shrinking. As relievers grab an increasing percentage of innings, their... [More]

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Chicago White Sox prospect Luis Robert will miss about 10 weeks with a sprained left thumb, general manager Rick Hahn said Saturday.The 20-year-old outfielder was hurt sliding into second base on a steal this week.Hahn said Robert's thumb will be immobilized for six weeks. It's hoped he'll play extended spring training games in early May.Robert, a native of Cuba, is ranked as high as third among White Sox prospects. This spring, he's shown flashes of why the White Sox gave him a $26 million signing bonus last year.Robert's injury happened against the Cincinnati Reds before he hit a grand slam. He also doubled off Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen in a minor league game."Pretty impressive pain tolerance by this young man, and perhaps also speaks to the speed of the potential recovery here," Hahn said.Robert likely will be sent to the minor leagues when he's ready to leave extended spring training."We didn't see a ton but what we did see was very impressive,"... [More]

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Los Angeles Angels rookie Shohei Ohtani allowed six runs while pitching three innings in an exhibition game against the Mexican League's Tijuana Toros on Friday.The 23-year-old Ohtani struck out six and walked one.Ohtani spent five seasons with the Nippon Ham Fighters before signing with the Angels as an international free agent on Dec. 10. He is trying to become the first player in nearly 100 years to play regularly as a pitcher and hitter, but he has had mixed results so far this spring.AROUND THE GRAPEFRUIT AND CACTUS LEAGUESDODGERS 6, ROYALS (SS) 4Los Angeles closer Kenley Jansen was held out of what was supposed to be his first big league spring training game this year due to an injured upper right hamstring."When he was getting ready today, his pregame stuff and kind of getting his legs loose, it tightened up on him," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "We had the trainers look at him and it just made sense to just not throw him out there."Roberts said he expects... [More]

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Los Angeles Angels rookie Shohei Ohtani allowed six runs while pitching three innings in an exhibition game against the Mexican League's Tijuana Toros on Friday.The 23-year-old Ohtani struck out six and walked one.Ohtani spent five seasons with the Nippon Ham Fighters before signing with the Angels as an international free agent on Dec. 10. He is trying to become the first player in nearly 100 years to play regularly as a pitcher and hitter, but he has had mixed results so far this spring.AROUND THE GRAPEFRUIT AND CACTUS LEAGUESDODGERS 6, ROYALS (SS) 4Los Angeles closer Kenley Jansen was held out of what was supposed to be his first big league spring training game this year due to an injured upper right hamstring."When he was getting ready today, his pregame stuff and kind of getting his legs loose, it tightened up on him," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "We had the trainers look at him and it just made sense to just not throw him out there."Roberts said he expects... [More]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Marwin Gonzalez memorizes his position one day at a time.The Houston Astros' versatile veteran needs to consult a schedule given to him by manager A.J. Hinch and taped to his locker to be sure where he's playing the following day."In spring training he gave me my own schedule," Gonzalez said.Gonzalez played 47 games in left field last season, 38 at shortstop, 31 at first, 22 at second, 19 at third and two in right field. On a team that features AL MVP Jose Altuve, World Series MVP George Springer and Carlos Correa, Gonzalez led the World Series champions with 90 RBIs. He hit .303 with 138 hits, 67 runs and 23 homers, all career bests."I think he should have been an All-Star," Hinch said.The 28-year-old Gonzalez hit a tying ninth-inning homer off Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen in Game 2 of the World Series, helping Houston to a 7-6, 11-inning win."I knew he would be impactful," Hinch said. "He's one of the most valuable players on our team because of... [More]

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Justin Turner heard about it for weeks. He couldn't get away from talk about the Dodgers' seven-game loss to the Houston Astros in the 2017 World Series.Waiters asked Turner about it when he tried to order a meal. The Los Angeles third baseman even heard about it at a wedding. Of course, the wedding also happened to be in Houston about a week after a 5-1 loss in Game 7.Nevertheless, Turner began to think there was just no escape from the noise. Or the disappointment.Turner remembered that he just wanted the season to continue as he watched the Astros pour onto the field at Dodger Stadium to celebrate their dramatic victory on Nov. 1."I didn't want to stop playing," Turner said. "It's so disappointing. That never really goes away."But the game always resumes. For Turner and his teammates, there was relief in that as they began to play again Monday in their first full-squad practice at Camelback Ranch."Everybody has been talking about the World Series and that's OK,"... [More]

Justin Verlander is looking forward to a full season with the Houston Astros, while the New York Mets are hoping for a healthier year for their starting staff.The New York Yankees? Well, this season may not be about their pitchers and catchers, but they can still send some pretty impressive arms to the mound.In many ways, Wednesday was the first real day of spring training, with over 20 teams scheduled for their first workouts with pitchers and catchers. The Astros, Mets and Yankees were among that group, and so were the Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs. In both Florida and Arizona, some of the game's biggest stars were back on the field."I'm excited to be here for the whole season," Verlander said. "I'm excited to be here for spring training and to be part of this whole thing from start to finish."Verlander reached the summit last year but missed much of the journey. He was traded to Houston at the end of August and became a key part of the Astros' run to the World... [More]

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — All-Star closer Kenley Jansen likes the way the defending National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers are getting started again — with a very familiar rotation.Even with Yu Darvish already in a different NL blue after his short stint as a midseason acquisition, the Dodgers return five pitchers who made at least 24 starts last season. That quintet combined to start 126 of the 162 regular-season games."Sometimes people say, 'Oh, the Dodgers didn't make no moves.' That's why, because we don't need to make moves," Jansen said. "You see the rotation that we have, it's going to help us tremendously again."Three-time NL Cy Young Award winner and seven-time All-Star Clayton Kershaw had a team-high 27 starts plus five more in the postseason. Rich Hill, Alex Wood and Kenta Maeda each had 25 starts, and Hyun-Jin Ryu 24.Exactly 15 weeks after the Game 7 loss to Houston in the World Series, Dodgers pitchers and catchers held their first spring training workout in Arizona on Wednesday."I'm... [More]

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — All-Star closer Kenley Jansen likes the way the defending National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers are getting started again — with a very familiar rotation.Even with Yu Darvish already in a different NL blue after his short stint as a midseason acquisition, the Dodgers return five starters who made at least 24 starts last season. That quintet combined to start 126 of the 162 regular-season games."Sometimes people say, 'Oh, the Dodgers didn't make no moves.' That's why, because we don't need to make moves," Jansen said. "You see the rotation that we have, it's going to help us tremendously again."Three-time NL Cy Young Award winner and seven-time All-Star Clayton Kershaw had a team-high 27 starts plus five more in the postseason. Rich Hill, Alex Wood and Kenta Maeda each had 25 starts, and Hyun-Jin Ryu 24.Exactly 15 weeks after the Game 7 loss to Houston in the World Series, Dodgers pitchers and catchers held their first spring training workout in Arizona on Wednesday."I'm... [More]

A team-by-team look at the National League West entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad:___Los Angeles DodgersManager: Dave Roberts (third season).2017: 104-58, first place, lost to Houston in World Series.Training Town: Glendale, Arizona.Park: Camelback Ranch.First Workout: Feb. 14/19.He's Here: OF Matt Kemp, RHP Tom Koehler.He's Outta Here: 1B Adrian Gonzalez, RHP Yu Darvish, LHP Scott Kazmir, RHP Brandon McCarthy, INF Charlie Culberson, OF Curtis Granderson, 2B Chase Utley, OF Andre Ethier.Going campin': The Dodgers returned to the World Series for the first time since winning it in 1988, only to lose to Houston in seven games. They topped 100 wins while earning a fifth straight NL West title. Clayton Kershaw is one of the elite pitchers in the game, a seven-time All-Star and three-time Cy Young Award winner. He begins the season with 144 career victories, 21 shy of Sandy... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Dodgers' bid to win their first World Series in 29 years came up short in a Game 7 loss to Houston. They seek to take the final step to an elusive championship this season with the roster mostly intact and an eye on the future.Certainly, Los Angeles has to be considered the favorite to win a sixth consecutive NL West title.The Dodgers' farm system remains deep and the team has the talent and depth to withstand injuries during a 162-game season. Their $243 million payroll was baseball's biggest last year and they made a move this winter to dump salary in preparation for 2019, when the free agent market will be loaded.___Some things to watch for as the Dodgers open spring training in Glendale, Arizona:NEW LOOKThe Dodgers sent 1B Adrian Gonzalez, pitchers Scott Kazmir and Brandon McCarthy, and utility man Charlie Culberson, along with $4.5 million, to Atlanta for OF Matt Kemp, a former Dodger who could be traded or released. The move freed up a huge amount of salary,... [More]

RHP Kenley Jansen retired all six batters he faced to save the Dodgers' 3-1 victory over the Astros in Game 6, recovering quite nicely from earlier World Series struggles. Jansen was scored upon in his previous three Series appearances, the first time in 2 1/2 seasons that he allowed runs in three consecutive outings. He had not been scored upon in even two consecutive appearances in the 2016 and 2017 regular seasons. "I didn't feel tired out there at all," he said. "I want to go out there and compete, try to help my teammates and pick them up and force a Game 7."

RHP Kenley Jansen escaped the ninth inning Sunday but gave up the winning run in the 10th inning of World Series Game 5. He has a blown save and a loss in the World Series, compiling a 4.76 ERA.

RHP Kenley Jansen had converted al 12 of his previous postseason save attempts, before blowing one in Game 2 against the Astros. The next best consecutive save streak in the postseason is eight by five players. The Dodgers' bullpen saw its streak of 28 consecutive scoreless innings come to an end.

RHP Kenley Jansen recorded the save in Game 1, delivering a perfect ninth inning with a strikeout. Jansen has now started his postseason career with 12 consecutive save conversions, the most ever since saves became official in 1969. The next longest streak is eight, by five different players.

RHP Kenley Jansen has three saves and a victory in five appearances this postseason, throwing six scoreless innings, including a save in Game 1 and a win in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series against the Cubs. Jansen said recently he would like to meet with former Yankees closer Mariano Rivera during the offseason so he can learn from him. "I heard about that meeting and I think Kenley wanting to do that, that's fantastic," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "It's a credit to him that he's a superstar player and just wants to get better. And Mariano, (he's) probably the best off all-time."