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The Cubs head to interleague play again Jose Iglesias Jersey , this time at home."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Chicago Cubs recapsChicago Cubs minor leaguesChicago Cubs essaysChicago Cubs game threadsWrigley Field renovationsFull archiveLibrary Bleed Cubbie Blue Community GuidelinesCurrent time in ChicagoBCB Specials & Site InfoWinter 2019 music threadsCubs StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Cubs newsYahoo Cubs team pageYahoo Cubs reportYahoo Cubs depth chartYahoo Cubs transactionsYahoo Cubs photosOdds Shop About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub 鉁旵hicago Cubs game previewsChicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Angels preview, Friday 4/12, 1:20 CTNew,86commentsThe Cubs head to interleague play again, this time at home.CDTShareTweetShareShareChicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Angels preview, Friday 4/12, 1:20 CTQuinn Harris-USA TODAY SportsNotes:With Thursday night’s performance, the Cubs bullpen is now on a streak of 17鈪?scoreless innings dating back to Saturday. The bullpen ERA is still over six (6.07), but dropping rapidly!After this weekend series against the Angels, the Cubs’ next interleague series will be two games against the Mariners in Seattle, April 30 and May 1. That will make eight of their 20 interleague games among the season’s first 29 scheduled games.A brief note on the weather, which looks good for Friday and Saturday: Sunday’s forecast is pretty bad, with rain/snow expected almost all day. Making up a game against a West Coast interleague opponent is problematic Denny McLain Jersey , as the Cubs and Angels have few mutual off days, and travel is a factor. What they’ll do if Sunday’s game can’t be played is anyone’s guess at this point.Weird stat of the day:Here are today’s particulars.Cubs lineup:Angels lineup:Cole Hamels, LHP vs. Tyler Skaggs, LHPJoe Camporeale-USA TODAY SportsMark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY SportsCole Hamels has one good start and one mediocre one for the Cubs so far this year. Last year, despite spending much of the year in the A.L. West, he faced the Angels only once, June 2, 2018 at Anaheim, and that outing was a good one: seven innings, two runs, eight strikeouts. I’d take another one of those today.Historically, he’s got a lot of experience against current Angels hitters. They are hitting .231 against him (58-for-251) with nine home runs, three of those by Albert Pujols. Of course http://www.tigersfanproshop.com/authentic-joe-jimenez-jersey , Pujols isn’t the hitter he once was.Hamels pitched particularly well at Wrigley last year, with a 1.55 ERA and 1.008 WHIP in six starts. Let’s hope that continues.Tyler Skaggs has one good start and one mediocre one this year... hmm, that sounds familiar. He has faced the Cubs just once in his career, back in 2013, and I pass the boxscore along for amusement value only. Only one current Cubs hitter has ever faced him: Anthony Rizzo, 0-for-3 in that 2013 game, so that doesn’t mean much either.Here’s what Brooks Baseball says about him:Today’s game is on NBC Sports Chicago. It’s also on MLB Network (outside the Cubs and Angels market territories).Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.MLB.com GamedayBaseball-reference.com game previewSB Nation game previewPlease visit our SB Nation Angels site Halos Heaven. If you do go there to interact with Angels fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.The 2019 Game Thread procedure will be the same as the one used in previous years. Here’s how it works.You’ll find the game preview posted separately on the front page, two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page. The First Pitch Thread and all the overflow threads will be published in that stream, as well as the recap. The recap will also live on the front page as a separate post, and at the time I write the recap I will rename the stream “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of Week) Game Threads” so you can go back and find every thread related to that particular game.You will also be able to find the preview Kirk Gibson Jersey , First Pitch Thread, all the overflow threads and recap in the box marked “Chicago Cubs Game Threads” at the bottom of the front page (you can also find them in this section link). They will also appear in the game’s StoryStream as noted above.The First Pitch thread will post at five minutes before game time, then an overflow thread at one hour, two hours and 2:45 after the scheduled game time.Discuss amongst yourselves. SAN DIEGO (AP) — In an almost annual exercise, the San Diego Padres are searching for a new hitting coach after Matt Stairs was fired Tuesday following just one year on the job.The rebuilding Padres continued to rank at or near the bottom of the majors in key offensive stats under Stairs.His replacement will be the Padres’ 10th hitting coach since Petco Park opened in 2004.While saying that he felt Stairs did a good job with mostly younger players, general manager A.J. Preller said he and manager Andy Green decided that the team needed a different approach. The team is expected to promote someone from within the organization.“We’re wanting a different message, a different voice,” Preller said. “We have some other guys in mind who have real upside. I’m pretty realistic that it was a younger roster, with developing players. From a performance standpoint we didn’t have tons of guys who improved. It’s not like the entire team overachieved. We did have some improvement, but at the end of the day, sitting down with Andy and talking about it, we thought maybe a different voice, a different connection point will hopefully lead to better performance.”Stairs was hired last offseason to replace Alan Zinter http://www.tigersfanproshop.com/authentic-joe-jimenez-jersey , who was fired on Sept. 1, 2017. Green said then that the team needed “a different voice” to tutor the batters.Possible replacements include assistant hitting coach Johnny Washington and Morgan Burkhart, the hitting coach at Triple-A El Paso.The Padres also fired infield coach Josh Johnson on Tuesday.The Padres were last in the majors in on-base percentage at .297, tied for second-to-last with a .235 batting average and tied for third-to-last with a .380 slugging percentage. They had the second-most strikeouts, 1,523, or 9.4 per game.Stairs spent the 2017 season as the hitting coach for the Philadelphia Phillies, his first professional coaching position. He played parts of 19 seasons in the major leagues with 12 different franchises, including the Padres in 2010.The Padres expected to be better this year than their 71-91 finish in 2017 but were last in the NL West at 66-96.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash is excited about how his team is playing. The only thing missing for the Rays: a clear path to the playoffs.Rookie Brandon Lowe homered and drove in three runs Bill Melton Jersey , and the Rays hung on in the ninth inning to defeat the Cleveland Indians 6-4 on Sunday, taking two of three from the AL Central leaders.The Rays have won 11 of 13 and are a season-high 10 games over .500 (73-63). The stretch includes a three-game sweep over Boston and splitting two games with Atlanta.“Right now I don’t think you could ask for much more,” Cash said. “The guys, we talk about how they come to the ballpark prepared every single day. The effort’s there every single day.”Although moving into postseason contention is a long shot — Tampa Bay trails Oakland by eight games for the second wild card spot in the AL — Cash is pleased with how his team is progressing.“We gotta have a lot of things go our way,” he said. “I couldn’t be more impressed and excited about how this team has played here recently and looking forward to how they’ll continue to play for the month of September.”The Rays have pioneered the use of a reliever to open games before moving to a more conventional starting pitcher in the early innings.“The guys they pitch are really good,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “Cashie is doing a really good job with their pitching. You can tell he’s having fun with it.”Ryan Yarbrough, another rookie, allowed one run in five-plus innings of relief for opener Diego Castillo, who was removed after Yandy Diaz’s leadoff single in the second.Yarbrough (13-5), who earned his major league-leading 11th relief win, was pulled after Jose Ramirez’s RBI single in the seventh.“I know they’re a really aggressive team and for me it’s been lately, just a matter of attacking the strike zone and mixing speeds,” Yarbrough said.Adam Kolarek pitched two scoreless innings before Cleveland made it closer in the ninth.Francisco Lindor singled off Hunter Wood to lead off the ninth. Jose Ramirez drew a one-out walk and Diaz had an RBI single. Jose Alvarado replaced Wood and struck out Yonder Alonso http://www.whitesoxfanproshop.com/authentic-paul-konerko-jersey , but Melky Cabrera’s two-run double cut the lead to two.Alvarado struck out Jason Kipnis for his seventh save in 10 opportunities.Lowe homered to lead off the second and added a two-run double in the seventh for his first-ever three-hit game.Carlos Carrasco (16-7) allowed five runs in 6 1/3 innings and lost for the third time in his last 11 decisions.Carrasco appeared to wince after throwing a pitch to Jake Bauers in the fourth. Several infielders talked with him on the mound and were soon joined by Francona and a team trainer. Carrasco remained in the game and said that he was taking extra time between pitches.C.J. Cron began the fourth with his team-leading 26th homer. Joey Wendle, who made two outstanding plays at third base in the sixth, had an RBI double in the seventh that was followed by Tommy Pham’s run-scoring triple.Wendle charged Greg Allen’s slow roller and threw the speedy center fielder out at first. Lindor followed with a grounder, and Wendle made a diving stop and threw him out to end the inning.SCOOTER UNDER FIREFrancona and Cash have been close friends for several years, which has led to a series of pranks between the two. Prior to Friday’s series opener, Francona had the scoreboard operators at Progressive Field post Cash’s career batting numbers, including a .183 average, under the headline, “How Bad is Kevin Cash at the Plate?”Cash got his revenge before Sunday’s game by stealing the scooter Francona rides from his downtown apartment to the ballpark every day. Cash rode the scooter on the field and it was placed between second and third base as the Rays took batting practice. The scooter was hit by a couple of line drives before an Indians clubhouse worker drove it to safety.The chair Francona sits on in the dugout mysteriously showed up in the Rays dugout before Friday’s game. Cash was a suspect, but it appears an Indians pitcher was responsible.Cash played for Boston when Francona managed the Red Sox and was on Cleveland’s coaching staff for two seasons before taking the job in Tampa Bay. The practical jokes will surely continue when the Indians are in Tampa next week.TRAINER’S ROOMRays: CF Kevin Kiermaier (back spasms) was out of the lineup after leaving Saturday’s game in the seventh.Indians: LHP Andrew Miller (sore shoulder) threw up to 75 feet off flat ground Sunday. Miller, who has also dealt with hamstring and knee injuries, is on the disabled list for the third time this season.UP NEXTRays: Tampa Bay opens a three-game series at Toronto on Monday. Cash didn’t announce the starting pitcher, but RHP Ryne Stanek (2-3 Early Wynn Jersey , 2.77 ERA) appears to be the leading candidate.Indians: RHP Adam Plutko (4-4, 4.94 ERA) will pitch the opener of a three-game series Monday against Kansas City. RHP Jakob Junis (7-12, 4.53) will start for the Royals. Watch Patriot. RIP Harris. Baseball, too."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Royals Trade Rumors & Hot StoveRoyals Minor Leagues & ProspectsRoyals Review ClassicRoyals Review Users GuideThe 100 Greatest Royals Of All TimeRoyals RumblingsRoyals Rumblings - News for February 21, 2019New,186commentsWatch Patriot. RIP Harris. Baseball, too.ESTShareTweetShareShareRoyals Rumblings - News for February 21, 2019Denny Medley-USA TODAY SportsLet’s start with this: Watch Patriot. It’s on Amazon. Yeah, they make shows, too. There are two seasons. Two brilliant seasons. It’s a clear, unique vision not often seen on television. If you watch it, maybe there will be a third. You could be the person who puts it over the edge. Be. Critical. Mass. The show, created by Steven Conrad Avisail Garcia Jersey , is so good that I would move to Chicago if I could only be in the writers’ room on it. The MLB Pipeline top 30 prospects for the Royals dropped yesterday.Jeffrey Flanagan reports that Danny Duffy is fine with the Royals weighing their options for their Opening Day starter:Ol’ Jeff also notes that Nedgar S. Yost, Esq., is keeping an open mind with regards to the bullpen’s configuration.At Prospect Digest, Joseph Werner gives us his Royals top ten prospects list (h/t to Newkirk). Regarding Daniel Lynch, he wrote:At FanGraphs, Dan Laurila profiles pitchers who took steps forward with developing their sliders, including former Royals farmhand Matt Strahm:At RFR, Alex Duvall susses out what we can expect from the core hitters at Wilmington.Whit Merrifield probably wants you all to watch Patriot.In Kiley McDaniel’s chat at FanGraphs yesterday, he spake thusly of Alcides Escobar:So which one is Brady Fiegl and which one is Brady Fiegl?Jay Jaffe remembers Don Newcombe.Watch Patriot.Stop. Stealing. Cacti.Amy Poehler is set to direct a film for Netflix set in high school, featuring a feminist revolution.Read how a 14th Century nun faked her own death.Watch Patriot. Yesterday was the anniversary of Harris Wittels’s passing. Here’s a link to all the Harris’s Phone/Foam Corners. Here are the four parts of the Jack Sjunior/Bryan Pieces saga.RIP Harris.Oh, watch Patriot.The songs of the day are “The Three Great Alabama Icons” by The Drive-By Truckers:And a song inspired by a bar—La La’s—that I used to frequent, “Jesus and Elvis” by Hayes Carll:And “LOVE.” by Kendrick Lamar featuring Zacari:

A look at what’s happening around the majors today:ACES ABOUNDJustin Verlander and the World Series champion Houston Astros face Red Sox lefty Chris Sale in a marquee matchup to start the AL Championship Series at Fenway Park.The All-Stars met twice last year in AL Division Series. They started opposite each other in the opener http://www.marinersfanproshop.com/authentic-edgar-martinez-jersey , then both worked in relief during the middle innings of Game 4.Verlander (16-9, 2.52 ERA) led the AL with 290 strikeouts and beat Cleveland in the ALDS last week. Sale (12-4, 2.11) started and relieved vs. the Yankees in the ALDS.Also familiar with each other: Red Sox manager Alex Cora and the Astros. He was Houston’s bench coach last year during the team’s run to its first title.MILES AND MILESWade Miley was a journeyman left-hander when he signed a minor league contract with the Brewers at the start of spring training. He injured his oblique early in the season, spent a lot of time in Double-A and hoped he’d have a chance to contribute.Miley came back, delivered and now gets to start Game 2 of the NL Championship Series as the Brewers try to take a 2-0 lead over the Dodgers at Miller Park. Hyun-Jin Ryu pitches for Los Angeles.REMEMBER ME?J.D. Martinez wants to thank the Astros — not get back at them — for releasing him when he was struggling. The Red Sox slugger says his growing pains in Houston taught him “how to fail,” a lesson he credits with transforming him into an MVP candidate who helped Boston win a team-record 108 games.Martinez made his big league debut for Houston in 2011, driving in 28 runs during his first full month in the majors. After playing part time the next two years, he was 26 and batting .167 in the spring of 2014 when the Astros released him, preferring to give the at-bats to top prospect George Springer.Martinez landed with Detroit that season and by 2015 he was an All-Star. He totaled 45 home runs last year with the Tigers and Arizona, then hit .330 with 43 homers and a major league-high 130 RBIs this season. LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Dodgers head to Atlanta full of confidence after consecutive shutouts gave them a commanding 2-0 lead over the Braves in their National League Division Series.Now the Braves must win the first postseason game in their new ballpark to extend their season. And they face some daunting history: only three times have teams that trailed 2-0 rallied to win a best-of-five playoff series under the 2-2-1 format.Atlanta was outscored 9-0 and outhit 10-9 in losing the first two games at Dodger Stadium http://www.marinersfanproshop.com/authentic-edgar-martinez-jersey , where Los Angeles slugged five homers.Game 3 is Sunday night at SunTrust Park, with left-hander Sean Newcomb chosen to start for the Braves instead of Kevin Gausman. Manager Brian Snitker announced the change Saturday.The 25-year-old Newcomb came within one strike of throwing a no-hitter against the Dodgers at home July 29. He pitched two scoreless innings in relief of starter Mike Foltynewicz in Thursday’s opener.“We need to win,” Snitker said. “Not that Gausman doesn’t give us that opportunity, we like how Newcomb matches up with them and the success that he’s had against the Dodgers this year.”The Baby Braves ran into back-to-back dominant pitchers in Hyun-Jin Ryu and Clayton Kershaw in Los Angeles. Atlanta didn’t advance a runner past second base in Game 1 and twice got runners to third in Game 2 but couldn’t score.“We need to go out there and string some hits together, a couple big innings,” shortstop Charlie Culberson said.They might be hard-pressed to do that against rookie Walker Buehler, who starts Game 3 for the Dodgers having drawn comparisons to ace Kershaw.“Obviously, it’s a big spot,” Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said, “but he continues to kind of surpass all expectations.”Buehler Felix Hernandez Jersey , a 24-year-old right-hander, last pitched on Monday, allowing one hit in 6 2/3 innings and striking out three in the NL West tiebreaker victory over the Rockies.“I kind of look at it as like a baby step,” Buehler said about having pitched in a crucial regular-season Game 163. “Obviously, this will be my first playoff game. But 163 has got to be somewhere between a regular game and a playoff game. I’m just kind of going with the same game plan and try and stay under control.”Snitker acknowledged he can’t do much more than juggle his lineup because the Braves’ bench is thin.“I don’t know that moving guys around, giving them different looks in the lineup when you’re swinging the bats like we are is even the answer,” he said, “but we’ll try something a little different.”The Braves closed the regular season with three losses in their last five games, managing just one run in those defeats.“We’ve got to start scoring some runs and hopefully we can do that in front of our home crowd,” said first baseman Freddie Freeman Hisashi Iwakuma Jersey , who was 1 for 8 with two strikeouts in the first two games.Braves leadoff hitter Ronald Acuna Jr. fared only slightly better, going 2 for 8 with two strikeouts. Center fielder Ender Inciarte went 2 for 6 with two strikeouts, while cleanup hitter Nick Markakis was 1 for 7 with two strikeouts in the two losses.“This team’s better when we’ve had our backs against the wall,” Inciarte said. “We’ve shocked a lot of people already — we can do it again.”The Braves are back in the postseason for the first time since 2013, having won 90 games in earning the NL East title earlier in their rebuild than most projected.However, the Braves are 1-8 in playoff series when they lose Game 2. Their lone victory came in the 1996 NLCS when they lost to St. Louis and came back to take the series in seven games.“We’ve still got chances,” Culberson said. “We just need to take a deep breath and go out there and try to have fun.”

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr knows something about winning championships in the Bay Area Dellin Betances Jersey , and he made his pitch to MLB free-agent outfielder Bryce Harper."That would be fun," he told reporters when asked about the possibility Harper could sign with the San Francisco Giants. "I would love it if Bryce Harper came here. Does my opinion count here? Bryce, come to the Giants. Let's go."Even MLB got in on the fun, joking it fined the NBA coach:MLB MLBWe have fined SteveKerr $50k for tampering.  Kerr's comments come after Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi confirmed the team met with Harper in his hometown of Las Vegas, perMaria Guardadoof MLB.com:"There is obviously mutual interest on both sides.We thought it made sense to get together. We had a good conversation over a few hours. He's obviously got a lot of suitors and a lot of interest. He's going to have some decisions to make. I think it's fair to say that was an expression of our interest level, to make the trip out there to meet with him."Harper has a National League MVP and six All-Star Game nods on his resume and would be an ideal addition for a team that has trended in the wrong direction of late.While the Giants won the World Series in 2010 Matt Holliday Jersey , 2012 and 2014, they have made the playoffs just once since and finished with a 73-89 record last year. They were also 29th in the league in total runs in 2018 and could use a bat like Harper's in the order to rectify those numbers.Kerr clearly saw the fit. WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Nationals avoided arbitration with two star infielders, reaching an $18.8 million deal with Anthony Rendon and a $3,725,000 agreement with Trea Turner.The one-year deals Friday with Rendon and Turner left only two Washington players still eligible for arbitration. Outfielder Michael A. Taylor asked for $3.5 million, and the team offered $3.25 million. Reliever Kyle Barraclough asked for $2 million Austin Romine Jersey , and the team offered $1,725,000.Rendon and the Nationals have indicated an interest in trying to reach agreement on a long-term contract for the third baseman, who made $12.3 million in 2018. He’s been one of Washington’s top players the past few years, a key member of the lineup and a top-flight infielder, and last season Rendon hit .308 with an NL-high 44 doubles http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-giancarlo-stanton-jersey , 24 homers and 92 RBIs.Turner continued his progression as a key top-of-the-order member of the Nationals in 2018, when the shortstop played in all 162 games and led the NL with 43 stolen bases while batting .271 with 19 homers and 73 RBIs. Turner made $577,200 last season.The Nationals acquired Barraclough from the Miami Marlins in a trade earlier this offseason.

NEW YORK (AP) — Get ready for strikes by robots.No Nathan Eovaldi Jersey , overworked machines aren’t walking out in a labor protest.Computers will be used for ball/strike calls starting April 25 in the independent Atlantic League, where the distance between home and first will be shortened by 3 inches. The ground between the mound and home plate will lengthen by 2 feet for the second half of the season beginning July 12.The 60-foot-6-inch distance between the front of the pitching rubber and the back point of home plate has been standard since 1893, but Major League Baseball reached a three-year deal to experiment in the Atlantic League, an eight-team circuit that occasionally produces big leaguers. Infield defensive shifts will be limited. Pitchers there will have to get used to 62 feet, 2 inches this summer.“That’ll make a bigger difference than the 3 inches at first,” New York Yankees first baseman Greg Bird said.Plate umpires will wear earpieces and be informed of ball/strike calls by a TrackMan computer system that uses Doppler radar. Umps will have the ability to override the computer, which considers a pitch a strike when the ball bounces and then crosses the zone. TrackMan also does not evaluate check swings.“The beauty of baseball is that it’s not foolproof. You’ve got to hit a round ball with a cylindrical bat square, and then you’ve got to get it past people,” said Joe West, who umpired his first big league game in 1976. “The game is typically American. It’s always somebody else’s fault when they lose — and usually it’s us.”MLB has evaluated its umpires since first starting to install a QuesTec system in 2001 that umpires initially criticized as being inaccurate. Questec was used at a maximum of 11 ballparks in 2008 http://www.raysfanproshop.com/authentic-evan-longoria-jersey , its final year.A PitchF/x system, a partnership of MLB Advanced Media and Sportvision, was the basis of evaluations from 2009-16, and the TrackMan system was tested during the final year of that span. TrackMan has been used to evaluate umpires since 2017.West, who has umpired more than 5,000 big league games and is on track to break Bill Klem’s record in 2020, said the 2016 test was far from perfect.“It missed 500 pitches in April, and when I say it missed 500 pitches, that didn’t mean they called them wrong. They didn’t call them at all,” he said.In addition Matt Andriese Jersey , bases will become 18-inch squares in the Atlantic League, up from the 15-inch squares that have been standard since 1877. That will in effect cut the distance from the front of home plate to the front of first base from 87 feet, 9 inches to 87 feet 6 inches. The 90-foot measurement between bases is from the back of the plate to the back corner of first and third along the foul line.While the distance between the mound and the plate will be lengthened, the height will remain 10 inches — its level since 1969.“Changing the distance, that seems a little odd to me,” Yankees manager Aaron Boon said. “I know lowering the mound is an interesting one, obviously, something that would favor offense and maybe in some level help with some pitching injuries.”Other changes for the season:— Infield shifts will be restricted by requiring two infielders to be on each side of second base when a pitcher releases his pitch. Infielders also will be prohibited from setting up on the outfield grass.— Each pitcher must face at least three batters or complete the half-inning, unless injured.— Between inning breaks will be cut from 2 minutes, 5 seconds to 1:45.— Mound visits are banned C. J. Cron Jersey , except for pitching changes or medical issues.Atlantic League teams are in Bridgewater, New Jersey; Central Islip, New York; High Point, North Carolina; Lancaster, Pennsylvania; New Britain, Connecticut; Sugar Land, Texas; Waldorf, Maryland; and York, Pennsylvania.Southern Maryland is at Sugar Land in the opener. Boston Red Sox outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. took a stand against people criticizing him for skipping the team's visit to the White House to celebrate winning the 2018 World Series.Bradley issued a statement on Twitter, noting he has attended previous ceremonies and wouldn't have gone this time around if Hillary Clinton was President of the United States:Jackie Bradley Jr. JackieBradleyJrRiddle me... 7ZSIJ2iVJ7Per Chris Mason of the Eagle Tribune http://www.raysfanproshop.com/authentic-evan-longoria-jersey ,a "few" Red Sox players told the front office they are going to skip thetrip to Washington D.C. later this month.In addition to Bradley not going, reigning American League MVP Mookie Betts has said he won't be in attendance.

NEW YORK (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton hit the hardest homer ever measured by Major League Baseball’s Statcast system David Ross Jersey , Neil Walker hit two more home runs and the New York Yankees beat the Texas Rangers 7-3 on Thursday night.Stanton’s 28th homer was measured at 121.7 mph, the fastest long ball tracked by Statcast since the system was introduced in 2015. Miguel Andujar and Aaron Hicks also went deep, helping the Yankees win their fourth straight since a five-game skid that included a four-game sweep at AL East-leading Boston.J.A. Happ (12-6) pitched six effective innings in his return from hand, foot and mouth disease. Happ was acquired from Toronto last month and has won both his starts with New York. He allowed three runs, four hits, a walk and struck out nine Thursday.Rookie Ariel Jurado (2-2) got Stanton to hit into a double play in the first inning, then intentionally walked Didi Gregorius before Hicks homered to make it 2-0.All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman walked two in the ninth before getting a fielder’s choice from pinch-hitter Isiah Kiner-Falefa and striking out Choo and Odor.BLUE JAYS 8, RED SOX 5TORONTO (AP) — Mookie Betts homered for Boston in the ninth inning to complete his first career cycle, and Toronto held on to beat the Red Sox.Betts is the 21st Red Sox player to hit for the cycle and the first in the major leagues this season. He singled and scored in the first inning, tripled in the second and doubled in the fourth against starter Ryan Borucki (2-2). After walking in the sixth, Betts hit his 27th homer in the ninth off Ken Giles.The AL MVP candidate was 4 for 4 to raise his average to .347 with 59 RBIs and a 1.102 OPS.Boston (81-35) lost for the first time in seven games but still has the best record in baseball.Randal Grichuk hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the fifth inning and Teoscar Hernandez added a solo shot to help Toronto avoid a three-game sweep. Red Sox slugger J.D. Martinez hit his major league-leading 35th home run, a solo drive in the fifth. Rick Porcello (14-5) was the winner.DODGERS 8, ROCKIES 5DENVER (AP) — Chris Taylor and Brian Dozier homered off closer Wade Davis in the ninth inning and Los Angeles exploited Colorado’s shaky bullpen to beat the Rockies.Taylor lined the first pitch he saw from Davis (1-6) — a knuckle-curve — into the left-center bleachers to make it 6-5. Two batters later, Dozier followed with a two-run shot to cap off another late-inning, flip-flopping game at Coors Field.Caleb Ferguson (3-1) threw 1 2/3 innings for the win, and Scott Alexander got his second save.The Rockies bullpen surrendered five homers and seven runs as the Dodgers pulled into a first-place tie with idle Arizona in the NL West. It was Los Angeles’ sixth straight win at Coors Field.Chris Iannetta gave the Rockies a 5-3 lead with a three-run homer in the seventh. It didn’t last, as Cody Bellinger connected on a two-run shot off reliever Seunghwan Oh to tie it with two outs in the eighth. Rockies eliever Scott Oberg allowed solo homers to pinch-hitters Joc Pederson and Max Muncy in the seventh to give the Dodgers a 3-1 lead.MARINERS 8, ASTROS 6HOUSTON (AP) — Mitch Haniger homered while Seattle jumped on Justin Verlander for six runs in two innings, and the Mariners beat Houston.Haniger http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-david-ross-jersey , Denard Span and Jean Segura combined for 10 hits and seven RBIs with a homer each off Verlander. Verlander (11-7) was ejected for arguing a balk call after setting a season high for runs allowed and missing a chance for his 200th career victory.James Paxton (10-5) continued his success against the Astros, yielding seven hits and four runs in 5 2/3 innings to improve to 4-0 against them this season. Edwin Diaz allowed a home run to Tyler White with two outs in the ninth before striking out Josh Reddick for his 43rd save.Haniger had a season-high four hits with two RBIs, Span had three RBIs and finished a double shy of the cycle, and Segura added three hits and drove in two runs.INDIANS 5, MINNESOTA 4CLEVELAND (AP) — Michael Brantley’s ninth-inning single gave Cleveland its second straight walk-off victory over Minnesota.Brantley grounded a 2-1 pitch off Addison Reed (1-6) past the diving Miguel Sano at first base to score Greg Allen. Francisco Lindor’s three-run homer in the ninth inning Wednesday gave Cleveland a 5-2 victory. Brantley’s hit set off another celebration as he was mobbed by his teammates.Allen started the rally with a single off Reed and stole second with Lindor batting. Lindor’s groundout to first moved Allen to third.Andrew Miller (2-3) struck out a batter in the ninth. The left-hander made his fourth appearance since missing two months because of an inflamed right knee.Minnesota rallied from a 4-0 deficit against reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber. Jake Cave’s fifth-inning sacrifice fly scored a run before Jorge Polanco hit first home run of the season — a three-run shot in the sixth — to tie the game. Polanco missed the first 80 games of the season because of a suspension for violating baseball’s drug program.PADRES 8, BREWERS 4MILWAUKEE (AP) — Hunter Renfroe hit a go-ahead grand slam in the ninth inning, his fourth straight game with a home run, and San Diego rallied to beat Milwaukee.Down 4-2 entering the ninth, San Diego came back against relievers Corey Knebel and Joakim Soria.Knebel (2-3) walked the bases loaded and allowed a run-scoring infield single to Travis Jankowski before Soria entered to try to escape the jam. Soria retired Eric Hosmer before Renfroe hammered a 1-2 pitch deep into the left-field bleachers for his grand slam. Renfroe became the first Padres player to hit home runs and have multiple RBI games in four consecutive games.Franmil Reyes added a solo homer to right off Jacob Barnes to cap the Padres’ six-run rally. Kirby Yates (4-0) pitched a scoreless eighth for the victory and Craig Stammen closed it with a scoreless ninth.NATIONALS 6, BRAVES 3WASHINGTON (AP) — Gio Gonzalez pitched seven strong innings for his first victory since May 28 to help Washington split a four-game series with Atlanta.Gonzalez (7-8) snapped a personal seven-game losing streak and had gone 11 consecutive starts without a victory. He allowed three hits and one walk while striking out three. Nick Markakis’ solo homer to lead off the second was the lone run he allowed.Ronald Acuna Jr. homered for Atlanta. Wes Parsons (0-1) was the loser.Washington outfielder Bryce Harper was scratched from the lineup with right knee soreness. Atlanta reliever Dan Winkler hit Harper just below the right knee in the seventh inning Wednesday night.RAYS 5, ORIOLES 4ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Jake Bauers drove in two of his three runs with a go-ahead two-run single in the seventh inning and Tampa Bay beat Baltimore.Bauers’ decisive hit off Cody Carroll (0-1) came in the Rays’ franchise record-tying sixth consecutive one-run game. Baltimore took a 4-3 lead earlier in the seventh when Renato Nunez hit a solo homer off Yonny Chirinos (1-4). Sergio Romo worked the ninth to get his 14th save.PIRATES 10, GIANTS 5SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — David Freese hit his 100th career home run, Elias Diaz and Josh Bell went deep on consecutive pitches and the Pirates beat the Giants.Ivan Nova (7-6) allowed two runs in six innings to continue a stellar stretch on the road for Pittsburgh’s starters. Adam Frazier added three singles and two RBIs, his fourth multi-hit game in the last six.The Pirates have won three straight overall and improved to 8-2 in their last 10 at AT&T Park.Joe Panik and Steven Duggar drove in two runs apiece for San Francisco.Diaz and Bell homered off starter Andrew Suarez (4-8) in the second. DETROIT (AP) — For the Detroit Tigers, success isn’t really measured in wins and losses these days.That’s what happens when a franchise knows it is rebuilding and has almost no expectation of contending.“I don’t think anybody likes a rebuild. I think everybody would rather have a team that’s prepared to win a hundred games and get into the playoffs — as we would,” general manager Al Avila said. “But it is a painful process.”The Tigers lost 98 games in each of the past two seasons, and it may be a while before the top prospects make any significant impact at the major league level. The Tigers actually managed to finish third in the AL Central last season, since the White Sox and Royals both lost at least 100 games. But Detroit is probably behind Chicago Drew Smyly Jersey , at least, in terms of which franchise is better positioned for quick improvement.This will be an important season for Detroit’s minor league prospects, and a year from now, Tigers fans might have a better sense of how soon they might be able to watch winning baseball again. In the meantime, Detroit will hope for a healthier season for slugger Miguel Cabrera, who played just 38 games last year before having biceps surgery.“If he feels as good as he’s talking right now — because it sounds like he’s really happy, really excited — that’s important for this baseball team because we need him,” manager Ron Gardenhire said.The 35-year-old Cabrera is the most prominent link remaining to the Detroit teams that won four straight division titles from 2011-14. The focus now is on the future. The Tigers do have a few young players who have already contributed in the majors, such as right-hander Michael Fulmer, reliever Joe Jimenez and third baseman Jeimer Candelario. But Fulmer and Candelario are already 25, and neither was all that great last year.NEW LOOKIt may still be a while before the Tigers are in the mix for top free agents, but they made a few modest moves early this offseason. Detroit added pitchers Matt Moore and Tyson Ross, both of whom could help the rotation if healthy, and the Tigers also signed shortstop Jordy Mercer. Detroit also made an interesting move when it claimed Kaleb Cowart off waivers from Seattle. The Tigers have listed Cowart as an infielder and a right-handed pitcher. He hasn’t pitched in the majors, but he was a prep star on the mound and at the plate.“They say he has a great arm,” Gardenhire said. “Now, you just take it out there and let it fly and see what happens.”ROOKIES TO WATCHOutfielder Christin Stewart, a first-round draft pick in 2015, made his big league debut in September and played 17 games. Outfielder Daz Cameron Brandon Morrow Jersey , who came to the Tigers in the trade for Justin Verlander in 2017, could arrive in the majors at some point this year after reaching Triple-A in 2018. Most of the team’s top prospects are pitchers, though. Casey Mize, the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft, hasn’t pitched above Class A, and Franklin Perez, who was also acquired in the trade for Verlander, had an injury-plagued 2018. But Beau Burrows and Alex Faedo — first-rounders in 2015 and 2017 — got significant work at Double-A last year.THEY’RE SETThe Tigers have questions throughout their roster, especially since almost any veteran who plays well could become a trade candidate. Mercer could be a solid pickup at shortstop, and the versatile Niko Goodrum — who played every infield position and both corner outfield spots in 2018 — gives Gardenhire a good bit of lineup flexibility.THEY’RE NOTJames McCann played regularly behind the plate for Detroit for the past four years, but although he hit for some power, the Tigers let him leave via free agency after he posted a .267 on-base percentage last year. That leaves Grayson Greiner, who hit .219 in his debut season, at catcher along with John Hicks.ON DECKMize received an invitation to spring training, so even if he’s unlikely to make the team, he should receive plenty of attention from Detroit fans hoping for better days ahead. The Tigers open the regular season at Toronto on March 28.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies got their offense jump-started. Aaron Nola took care of the rest.Nola pitched six scoreless innings [link=http://www.bravesfanproshop.com/authentic-ronald-acuna-jr.-jersey]Ronald Acuna Jr. Jersey[/link] , Maikel Franco and Cesar Hernandez homered, and the Phillies beat the San Diego Padres 5-1 on Saturday night.The Phillies had been shut out in their previous two games and went 18 consecutive innings without scoring at Petco Park, dating back to last season, before they put two on the board in the first inning.“Anytime you are able to jump on the opposition early with a guy like Aaron Nola on the mound it gives you a lot of confidence,” manager Gabe Kapler said.Nola (13-3) struck out five, gave up four hits and lowered his ERA to 2.28 as the Phillies moved one game ahead of second-place Atlanta in the NL East.Franco blasted a 2-0 fastball from Walker Lockett (0-3) into the second balcony of the Western Metal Supply Co. building in left field in the fourth inning to put the Phillies up 3-0.Hernandez hit his career-high 10th homer in the fifth, and Carlos Santana followed with an RBI groundout to score Rhys Hoskins, making it 5-0 and chasing Lockett. The rookie allowed five runs in 4 1/3 innings.“I think the story of the game for him is when he was ahead in the count, he won the at-bat,” Padres manager Andy Green said of Lockett. “When he was behind in the count, they won the at-bat.”The Phillies went ahead in the first on Nick Williams’ RBI triple and Asdrubal Cabrera’s run-scoring double.“We’re playing as a team, we’re playing as a whole [link=http://www.bravesfanproshop.com/authentic-sean-newcomb-jersey]Sean Newcomb Jersey[/link] ,” Nola said. “Guys are coming up clutch throughout the whole team.”The Padres got their only run in the seventh after reliever Austin Davis surrendered a triple to Cory Spangenberg and a walk. Victor Arano came in and allowed Manuel Margot’s sacrifice fly before retiring the next two batters.Tommy Hunter and Seranthony Dominguez blanked the Padres the rest of the way.“I think our starting pitching has taken real steps forward from where they were at the beginning of the season, and maybe the bullpen has been even better than we thought it was going to be,” Kapler said.Robert Stock, Phil Maton and Trey Wingenter combined to pitch 4 2/3 innings of scoreless relief for San Diego.TRAINER’S ROOMPadres: Wil Myers, on the 10-day disabled with a left foot contusion, will play third base Sunday during a rehab assignment at Single-A Lake Elsinore. Myers was an All-Star first baseman in 2015 and began this season as an outfielder.“I don’t think we’d ask him to play third base in the minors if we had absolutely no intention of him ever manning that position in the big leagues,” Green said.UP NEXTPhillies: RHP Jake Arrieta (9-6, 3.11 ERA) starts Sunday’s series finale. He pitched eight scoreless innings in his previous start, a no-decision.Padres: Rookie LHP Joey Lucchesi (5-6, 3.70) will make his first career start against the Phillies. WASHINGTON — The Washington Nationals to a man insisted Tuesday night their season is not over despite the trades of Daniel Murphy and Matt Adams.They walked the walk in the opener against the Phillies and look to keep it going Wednesday night.Andrew Stevenson and Wilmer Difo hit back-to-back home runs in a five-run sixth inning and Washington (63-63) rallied past the Phillies 10-4 in a game that was delayed 1:42 by rain in the third inning. Article continues below ...Stevenson, who was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse earlier in the day, drove to Washington and [link=http://www.bravesfanproshop.com/authentic-preston-tucker-jersey]Preston Tucker Jersey[/link] , thanks to the delay, was there to tie the game with his first career homer, a two-run pinch-hit shot to center. Difo, Murphy’s replacement at second base, followed with a go-ahead shot.Ryan Zimmerman also homered and Matt Wieters drove in three runs.“That was a long day, but it ended well,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said following a game that ended after midnight.“That shows the character of these guys, it really does. They haven’t given up all year. I said before, these guys could have folded a long time ago and they’re not. … I’m proud to see the way they came out, we fell behind, and they kept battling.”The Phillies (68-57) had taken a 4-1 lead in their half of the sixth, but their bullpen couldn’t hold it as the Nationals pounded out 14 hits.“I would say that the Nationals have been dangerous since opening day and they will be a dangerous team until the last game of the season [link=http://www.diamondbacksfanproshop.com/authentic-zack-greinke-jersey]Zack Greinke Jersey[/link] ,” Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said.Right-hander Zach Eflin (9-4, 3.70 ERA) opposes Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg (6-7, 3.90) in the middle game on Wednesday.Eflin was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley following his Aug. 10 start and recalled as the 26th man to pitch the second game of a doubleheader Aug. 16 against the Mets. He allowed four runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings to earn the win and was optioned back to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, losing major league service time and salary.“We trust that our players are strong-minded,” Kapler told mlb.com, “and we trust that they can put things like what happened with the option behind them and focus on the step right in front of them.”Eflin is 1-0 against the Nationals for his career. He beat them on June 22 when he allowed two runs in five innings.Strasburg (cervical nerve impingement) made his last start on July 20, when he returned from a six-week disabled list stint due to shoulder inflammation. He went back on the DL five days later. He’s thrown several bullpens and a simulated game in recent weeks but did not make a rehab start.“Credit to Stras that he got himself ready to pitch for us and have that opportunity to go up against a team we’re trying to catch,” Martinez said. “He’s been working diligently and he feels good.”This will be his first start against the Phillies this season. He’s 10-2 with a 2.22 ERA in 21 career starts against them, his lowest ERA versus an NL East foe.The Nationals need Strasburg to hit the ground running if they want to climb back into the NL East race.“We’ve still got a great lineup and a great staff — getting Stephen Strasburg back here awfully soon — and a couple of our bullpen pieces back as well,” Bryce Harper said Tuesday. “Just gotta battle. Keep going and keep playing ball.”

SCOTTSDALE Jake Marisnick Jersey , Ariz. (AP) — When the regular season begins, Ian Desmond will be the oldest center fielders in the majors at 33. He’s OK with that and so are his teammates on the Colorado Rockies.“He’s blessed,” Rockies left fielder David Dahl said Tuesday. “He’s a freak athlete. It’s a ‘getting better with age’ kind of thing. He’s a great athlete and takes care of his body and can run and in ’16, he was an All-Star there. We’re excited to have him out there.”For the first time this spring, the Rockies’ outfield was aligned the way it’s projected for the regular season with Desmond in center, Charlie Blackmon in right field and David Dahl in left on Tuesday against the Milwaukee Brewers.Desmond was an All-Star outfielder while with the Texas Rangers in 2016. He also was an All-Star shortstop in 2012 with the Washington Nationals. After playing primarily left field in 2017 and first base last year, Desmond will be in his third position in the last three years.“I’m excited for the challenge,” Desmond said. “I embrace the challenge of it. I’m glad they have confidence in me to do it.”“He’s motivated to play center Joe Jimenez Jersey ,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “He sees himself as a middle of the diamond defender — this guy grew up a shortstop and he sees the game from the center of the diamond.”Desmond worked on his perspective on Sunday. After playing two days in a row this spring, he spent batting practice in center just watching balls off the bats to track them. It gave him a chance to not only rest his legs a little while working on his reads.Desmond’s arm hasn’t been tested this spring but Black is confident the veteran will do fine.“He has a powerful arm,” Black said. “When he was at shortstop, he was voted to have the best arm in the National League. He’s got a cannon.”Desmond had to deal with injuries in 2017 and was limited to 95 games. He played in 160 games last season and Black says they’ll keep an eye on him as well as Blackmon, 32, who is moving from center to right.“We think with Charlie, Ian, David http://www.tigersfanproshop.com/authentic-joe-jimenez-jersey , (Raimel) Tapia, (Noel) Cuevas, we feel we have a very solid defensive outfield,” Black said. “We’ll see. I’m extremely confident in Ian’s ability to play a very solid center field.”Dahl, 24, doesn’t doubt Desmond’s ability to handle the move.“I think Ian will be able to cover the ground in center and I’ll cover the ground in left and Charlie will do a good job in right so it’ll work out,” Dahl said.Desmond knows he’ll have to be conscientious regarding the altitude in Denver and staying healthy.“I’m not getting any younger,” he said. “I just have to make sure I’m in tip-top shape.”“You’re as young as you feel Alan Trammell Jersey ,” Black said. “With Ian, he’s running as well as he’s run the last number of years so physically he’s fine. He’s moving well and the range factor I think will be just fine.”NOTES: The Rockies play the Arizona Diamondbacks in Monterrey, Mexico, on Saturday and Sunday. “The international part of MLB is growing,” Black said, noting there have been games in Japan, Australia and London. “I don’t know what the future holds but I’m thinking we’ll see more of this and someday maybe a team in Mexico.” The Rockies have yet to announce the travel squad but did say Blackmon, Cuevas and Tyler Anderson were among the players who will make the trip. NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees have acquired outfielder Mike Tauchman from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for left-hander Phillip Diehl.The 28-year-old Tauchman made his major league debut in 2017 and hit just .153 in 59 at-bats in 52 career games with Colorado. Tauchman spent the majority of the 2018 season with Triple-A Albuquerque and hit .323 with 20 homers and 81 RBIs in 112 games.Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Tauchman is an option to make the opening day roster.“Can play multiple positions out in the outfield http://www.tigersfanproshop.com/authentic-joe-jimenez-jersey ,” Boone said. “A guy that does have options, so we’ll kind of talk through it and see which way we want to go.”The 24-year-old Diehl, a 27th-round pick by the Yankees in 2016, attended spring training as a non-roster invitee and posted a 4.50 ERA with 17 strikeouts in nine relief appearances.“A lot of emotions going through my mind,” Diehl said. “Got another opportunity to potentially pitch in the big leagues with the Rockies and I’m looking forward to it.”To make room on the 40-man roster Saturday, the Yankees placed left-hander Jordan Montgomery on the 60-day injured list.New York also re-assigned left-hander Nestor Cortes Jr., outfielder Estevan Florial and right-hander David Hale to the minor league camp.

A federal grand jury has launched an investigation into Major League Baseball's international dealings http://www.indiansfanproshop.com/authentic-b.j.-upton-jersey , according to Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan.A full list of those being investigated has not been made public, although Passan reports at least one ex-Atlanta Braves official and people involved in the signing of Cuban phenomHector Olivera have beensubpoenaed.Olivera initially signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers on asix-year, $62.5 million dealin May 2015 before being traded to the Atlanta Braves two months later. He made 30 total appearances across the 2015 and 2016 seasons for Atlanta, but didn't appear again for the team after April 2016, when he was arrested following allegations of domestic violence.He was subsequentlysuspendedfor 82 games by MLB and served 10 days in jail after being found guilty on a domestic assault charge in September 2016.Olivera is not currently on an MLB roster.MLB teams have expanded their international presence over the years, with all 30 clubs possessing academies in Latin America. The Dominican Republic Jason Kipnis Jersey , Cuba and Venezuela are among the countries in which organizations scout and look to acquire talent from.Although the international players are not subject to the amateur draft, there are rules and limitations teams must adhere to when pursuing a player:Teams are allotted an international signing bonus pool each year and are allowed trade that money. Overspending, however, can result in penalties, such as being limited to a lower amount of international spending money.In November 2017, Major League Baseball came down hard on the Braves for their dealings with international signings. Atlanta lost 13 international prospects and a third-round pick and will have strict limitations on its international spending for a three-year period.Former Braves general manager John Coppolella was placed on MLB's permanently ineligible list http://www.indiansfanproshop.com/authentic-b.j.-upton-jersey , andformer special assistant Gordon Blakeley received a one-year suspension.The league found the Braves to have "circumvented the international signing rules during each of the past three signing periods," perMark Bowman of MLB.com, including reporting lowersigning bonuses than had been agreed with players.Passan noted that FBI agents andDepartment of Justice lawyers are involved in the grand jury investigation. So far, multiple people have reportedly agreed to cooperate with authorities. NEW YORK (AP) — Zach Britton is staying with the New York Yankees, agreeing to a $39 million, three-year contract Larry Doby Jersey , a deal that could be worth $53 million over four seasons, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.The person spoke on condition of anonymity Saturday night because the agreement was subject to a successful physical.Britton gets $13 million in each of the next three seasons. The Yankees have a $14 million option for 2022 and must decide on it after the 2020 season. If they decline the option, Britton can opt out of the deal following the 2020 season and become a free agent again.He gets a $1 million assignment bonus the first time he is traded.A 31-year-old left-hander, Britton was acquired by the Yankees from Baltimore on July 24 and had a 2.88 ERA and three saves in 25 appearances for New York,He serves as setup man for closer Aroldis Chapman along with Dellin Betances, Chasen Shreve Bob Feller Jersey , Chad Green and Jonathan Holder. New York’s bullpen was weakened by the departure of right-hander David Robertson, who agreed to a $23 million, two-year contract with Philadelphia.Britton began the season on the disabled list after tearing his right Achilles tendon in December. He made his season debut on June 12 and was 1-0 with a 3.45 ERA and four saves in 16 games with the Orioles.His average fastball velocity with the Yankees was in the 95-96 mph range.Britton was drafted by the Orioles in 2006 and worked his way up the team’s minor league system before landing in the big leagues in 2011. He is a two-time All-Star and led the AL with 47 saves in 2016,

Los Angeles Dodgers third base coach Chris Woodward was hired as manager of the Texas Rangers on Saturday Glen Perkins Jersey , six weeks after Jeff Banister was fired.He received a three-year contract with a club option for 2022. He will be introduced at a news conference Monday.Woodward inherits a team that went 67-95 and finished last in the AL West, with the focus turning to the development of younger players. Texas had its first consecutive losing seasons since 2005-08.The hiring ended a process during which general manager Jon Daniels and the Rangers interviewed more than 10 candidates, including bench coach Don Wakamatsu after he served as interim coach the final 10 games of the season.Woodward was interviewed this week after the Dodgers finished their second straight season in which they advanced to the World Series, losing both times. The last team before Los Angeles that appeared in consecutive World Series without winning the title was Texas in 2010 and 2011.“We interviewed a number of strong candidates during an extensive interview process for our managerial role and believe we have found the right fit in Chris Woodward,” Daniels said in a statement released by the team. “We look forward to working with him and everyone on the baseball staff to develop and grow a culture that will lead to success for many years to come.”Daniels has hired three managers in his 13 seasons as the Rangers GM, and all were first-time MLB managers. Texas won its only American League pennants during Ron Washington’s eight seasons before Banister won two AL West titles in his four seasons.Two candidates Texas interviewed were hired last month as managers by other teams, David Bell in Cincinnati and Rocco Baldelli in Minnesota. The hiring of Woodward left the Baltimore Orioles, who fired Buck Showalter after the season, as the only MLB team with a managerial vacancy.The 42-year-old Woodward spent the past three years on the staff of manager Dave Roberts, after working for Seattle the previous three years. He started his coaching career as minor league infield coordinator for the Mariners in 2013 http://www.twinsfanproshop.com/authentic-max-kepler-jersey , then joined their big league staff later that year. He was Seattle’s infield coach in 2014 and the first base coach in 2015.“Chris brings high energy, outstanding leadership and communication skills, a strong knowledge of the game and its evolving strategies, and great integrity — attributes that we feel are vital for our next manager,” Daniels said. “We believe these traits will resonate with our players, our staff, and our fans. He has also been a big part of a very successful stretch in Los Angeles.”As a player, Woodward spent 12 seasons (1999-2011) with five teams — Toronto, the New York Mets, Seattle Paul Molitor Jersey , Atlanta and Boston. He hit .239 with 33 home runs and 191 RBIs while playing every position except pitcher and catcher.Woodward was teammates with Adrian Beltre for a short period during the 2009 season with the Mariners. Beltre, who has 3,166 career hits, just completed his 21st big league season and hasn’t said yet if he will return to play for the Rangers again next year.When Beltre went on the disabled list during the 2009 season, Woodward started 13 games at third base in his place. Soon after Beltre’s return that August, Woodward was selected off waivers by the Boston Red Sox.The Rangers went 87-75 in 2009 before their two World Series seasons, then lost in the AL’s first one-and-done wild-card game in 2012. They ended the 2013 regular season with a loss to Tampa Bay in a wild-card tiebreaker.When Banister was fired Sept. 21 with 10 games left in this season, Daniels acknowledged that the decision wasn’t based on the record and said instead that it was time for a new voice in leadership. Banister was under contract through next season.Woodward is a native of Covina, California, as is Michael Young Tony Oliva Jersey , the Rangers career leader in hits and games played who is now a special assistant to the general manager. They are the same age but played at different high schools. The Colorado Rockies are in a much different place than the last time they visited Angel Stadium.When the Rockies open a two-game interleague series against the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night, they’ll be one game behind the Arizona Diamondbacks for first place in National League West and a game behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the second NL wild card.Colorado (71-59) had moved into a tie for first in the NL West with a 9-1 win over visiting St. Louis on Saturday night but lost 12-3 to the Cardinals on Sunday.Article continues below ...Arizona, meanwhile, bounced back from losses to Seattle on Friday and Saturday to beat the Mariners on Sunday and regain their one-game lead. The Los Angeles Dodgers are 2 1/2 games behind Arizona.“Once we start the game, we’re just trying to win and not worry about anybody else, but it’s hard not to look at the scoreboard,” Colorado second baseman DJ LeMahieu told reporters after Sunday’s loss.The last time the Rockies visited Anaheim was May 12-13, 2015. They lost both games to extend their losing streak to 11 games, which would match their longest since a 13-game skid in 1993.It’s a different story this time around.The Angels (63-68) are trying to avoid losing a season-high seven straight games, and they’ve dropped eight of their past nine overall to fall a season-low five games below .500.Colorado shortstop Trevor Story told reporters on Sunday that the Rockies won’t be taking anyone lightly.“Every game matters http://www.twinsfanproshop.com/authentic-max-kepler-jersey ,” he said. “That’s fun. That’s exciting. That’s why we play, so we want to be the last team standing.”Colorado third baseman Nolan Arenado is an Orange County native who grew up about 18 miles south of Angel Stadium. He made his only two appearances in Anaheim three years ago, going 2-for-8 in the series with a double.Arenado is hitting .333 in August with three home runs and 11 RBIs, raising his season totals to .311 with 31 home runs and 90 RBIs. By comparison, Angels center fielder Mike Trout, who has played 11 less games than Arenado, is hitting .311 with 30 home runs and 60 RBIs.Colorado right-hander Jon Gray is scheduled to start the series opener.Since his last loss on June 12 against the Philadelphia Phillies, Gray is 4-0 in 10 starts with a 3.48 ERA. Colorado’s offense has averaged 6.6 runs in those 10 starts.Gray (10-7, 4.67 ERA) made his only career appearance against the Angels on May 8 in Denver, shutting them out for seven innings and allowing four hits in the 4-2 win.The Angels are scheduled to start Odrisamer Despaigne (2-2 Kennys Vargas Jersey , 6.35), a journeyman right-hander who has mostly pitched out of the bullpen in his career. Los Angeles was able to get six innings out of converted reliever Felix Pena in Sunday’s 3-1 loss to the Astros, allowing manager Mike Scioscia to rest some of his taxed relievers.“We’ve got nine (relievers) down there now, so you’ve kind of got depth in numbers,” he said. “We’re going to need all of them.”Despaigne is 3-0 with a 2.01 ERA in seven career appearances against Colorado, including three starts. He last faced the Rockies on Sept. 25 as a member of the Miami Marlins, allowing two runs in six innings of a 5-4 victory.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Travis Shaw and Christian Yelich homered to help the Milwaukee Brewers overcome an early deficit http://www.marinersfanproshop.com/authe … ome-jersey , and Chase Anderson kept the ball in the ballpark when it mattered.Anderson settled in after giving up two early solo homers and the Brewers rallied for a 5-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night.“This is the big leagues, guys are going to make you pay for mistakes and they really did for those two pitches,” said Anderson, who allowed multiple homers for the ninth time this season. “Homers have been kind of a big thing for me, a lot of solo homers. The first inning has been a big thing for me this year, but today I felt like I kind of found something as the game went on.”Shaw’s two-run homer off Homer Bailey put the Brewers up 3-2 in the sixth. Jesus Aguilar singled to open the inning and Shaw followed with his 25th homer, lining an 0-2 pitch into the right-field seats.“I was trying to throw a fastball up and in (on the homer), the same pitch he broke his bat on two pitches before that,” Bailey said.Anderson, pitching on seven days’ rest, entered tied for the National League lead with 24 homers allowed and gave up second-inning solo shots to Eugenio Suarez and Phillip Ervin as the Reds took a 2-0 lead. Anderson then retired the final 14 hitters he faced.Anderson (8-7) allowed two hits in six innings, with six strikeouts and no walks. Josh Hader retired six straight, striking out three, and Jeremy Jeffress pitched the ninth for his fifth save.“When Chase is leaving some balls in the middle James Paxton Jersey , he’s getting hurt on them, for sure,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “But, I thought he made some really quality pitches after that. He had better fastball command today, curve ball was better today. He put it together after that really well.”Bailey (1-11) kept the Brewers off the scoreboard until Yelich’s 20th homer, a one-out solo shot in the fifth that made it 2-1. Bailey, who has not won since May 12, allowed three runs on five hits in six innings, striking out five and walking one.“He has not been fortunate, that’s for sure,” Reds manager Jim Riggleman said. “The main thing is he is throwing the ball well and getting us deep in the game and not wearing out the bullpen. He’s doing his part there.”The Brewers added two runs in the eighth off Jared Hughes on a pinch-hit RBI triple by Keon Broxton and Manny Pina’s sacrifice fly.Suarez opened the second with his 28th homer, sending a 1-1 pitch over the wall in left-center. One out later, Ervin drove a 1-0 pitch to left for his fourth.Anderson now has allowed 26 homers in 135 1/3 innings, after giving up just 14 in 141 1/3 innings last season.“He gave up those two homers in the second http://www.stlouiscardinalsteamshop.com … una-jersey , but outside of that, he pitched really well,” Shaw said. “His curveball was really good today.”UPON FURTHER REVIEWLorenzo Cain beat out an infield single to short with one out in the seventh The Reds challenged, but the call was upheld after a review estimated at 1 minute, 40 seconds.TRAINER’S ROOMReds: OF Scott Schebler (right shoulder), who just completed a seven-game rehab stint at Triple-A Louisville, including six as DH, began another rehab assignment Monday at Double-A Pensacola.Brewers: RHP Matt Albers, on the 10-day DL (left hamstring strain), is back with team and could be activated soon. He pitched three scoreless rehab outings with Double-A Biloxi, including one Saturday. “He’s ready. We weren’t planning on activating him today unless there was a need,” manager Craig Counsell said. “We’ll kind of go with that for the next couple of days, depending on need. … RHP Joakim Soria, also on the DL (right groin) Miles Mikolas Jersey , will pitch off the mound on Tuesday and face hitters.UP NEXTReds: RHP Sal Romano (7-10, 5.31 ERA) is 0-5 in five career starts against the Brewers, including 0-3 at Miller Park. Romano lasted just 1 2/3 innings in his last start, allowing six runs on seven hits in an 8-1 loss to Cleveland.Brewers: RHP Junior Guerra (6-8, 3.73) makes his 24th start. In his last outing, allowed seven runs – six earned — on nine hits in 3 2/3 innings in an 8-4 loss to the Cubs. He is 0-1 with a 5.60 ERA in three starts in August. CLEVELAND (AP) — Josh Donaldson hit a grand slam in Triple-A on Monday, soon after the Cleveland Indians put the new arrival on the disabled list to give him more time to rehab a calf injury in the minor leagues.Donaldson connected for Columbus. He walked and lined out before homering against Toledo.The AL Central-leading Indians acquired the 2015 AL MVP from Toronto on Friday. Donaldson has been limited to just 36 games in the majors this year — none since late May — and the Indians are hoping he can get healthy enough to help them in the postseason.Donaldson played third base and batted second in Columbus’ final game of the season. Cleveland manager Terry said Donaldson will work out with the Indians on Tuesday and then join Double-A Akron for the Eastern League playoffs.Francona said multiple meetings took place with Donaldson and the team’s baseball and medical staffs before the decision was made for him to get playing time in the minors before returning to the majors.“When you try to not get over-excited about him being here and getting on the field, we felt like him playing a handful of games would put him in the best position to be healthy where he could come back and play maybe back to back and play multiple games,” Francona said.Donaldson can be activated on Sept. 11. Once he’s been cleared and ready to play for them, the Indians intend to have him at third and slide All-Star Jose Ramirez to second. Jason Kipnis will be moving to the outfield.Francona said both players will begin working out at their new positions this week.“We’ll make that move when they’re ready even if it’s before Donaldson is back with us,” Francona said.The 32-year-old Donaldson hasn’t played in a major league game since May 28.Donaldson took batting practice and did drills at Progressive Field on Sunday. Afterward, he said he was close to being 100 percent.Donaldson won’t be with the Indians when they visit Toronto for a four-game series that begins Thursday.

Texas left-hander Martin Perez won’t be on the mound to start any of the Rangers‘ three games this weekend against the Minnesota Twins.If fact Jonathan Villar Jersey , Perez is likely to have started his last game in a Rangers uniform after the team told him he will pitch out of the bullpen for the final month of the season and that it did not plan to pick up his option for 2019.The Twins will send left-hander Stephen Gonsalves (0-2, 11.37 ERA) to the mound for the series opener on Friday at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers will counter with right-hander Drew Hutchinson (2-2, 6.52).Article continues below ...The Rangers were looking for an improved season from Perez after he finished strong in 2017, when he won a career-high 13 games. But he suffered a right elbow injury in an offseason accident at his ranch in Venezuela and was 2-3 with a 9.67 ERA in five starts in April.Perez was then placed on the disabled list with more problems in the right arm. Since being activated on July 14, he is 0-3 with a 5.68 ERA in eight starts.The Rangers told Perez of their decision in a meeting after a 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night, Texas’ fourth straight setback.“It surprised me,” Perez said. “I understand, you know, the way I’ve been pitching. I can’t get mad. But 100 percent I wasn’t waiting for that. That surprised me.“Tough year for me — surgery, the ups and downs — and that’s when you need to have your mind strong and fight with the bad result that you have after the games and during the game. It’s just part of the game, man.”Minnesota heads to Texas after a 5-3 loss in Cleveland on Thursday afternoon, in the process dropping a three-game series to the Indians.The Twins have now lost three straight series and head to Texas a season-high-tying 14 games behind Cleveland in the American League Central standings.Twins left fielder Eddie Rosario left Thursday’s game in the fifth inning with a right quad strain he sustained while running to first base in the fourth.“We’ll probably find out tomorrow what we’re looking at,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said. “I would imagine he’s not going to play in Texas. He said it was on the last step.”The 26-year-old Rosario has been Minnesota’s best all-around player this year http://www.brewersfanproshop.com/authen … ain-jersey , hitting .292 with 22 homers, 31 doubles and 74 RBIs in 130 games.Rosario told MLB.com that he’d never experienced a similar injury.“I feel in pain,” Rosario said. “It just felt like I pulled my muscle. I was trying to play through it, but the pain is there.”Gonsalves is making his third career start and first against Texas. He suffered the loss in his last start on Aug. 25 at home against Oakland after allowing four runs, seven hits and four walks with two strikeouts in five innings.Gonsalves began the season in Double-A Chattanooga, where he went 3-0 in four starts with a 1.77 ERA. At Triple-A Rochester, was 9-3 with a 2.96 ERA with 55 walks and 95 strikeouts.Hutchison will make his fifth start for Texas. He is 1-1 with an 8.83 ERA in four starts and opponents are hitting .329 in that span. He is 2-0 with a 4.41 ERA in three starts against the Twins, but will be facing them for the first time since 2015. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Trevor Bauer, Gerrit Cole and Alex Wood won their salary arbitration cases Wednesday, giving players a 6-3 advantage over teams to ensure a winning record in consecutive years for the first time since 1989-90.Bauer won his hearing for the second straight year and was awarded $13 million by James Darby, James Oldham and Sylvia Skratek instead of the Cleveland Indians‘ $11 million offer.Cole was given a $13.5 million salary by Gil Vernon, Steven Wolf and Walt De Treux rather than the Houston Astros‘ offer of $11,425 Jhoulys Chacin Jersey ,000.Wood will get $9.65 million instead of the Cincinnati Reds‘ $8.7 million offer, Dan Brent, Andrew Strongin and Phillip LaPorte decided.Bauer and Cole topped the previous high for a salary awarded in an arbitration hearing, $10.5 million won last year by Boston outfielder Mookie Betts.Bauer, a 28-year-old right-hander, was a first-time All-Star last year and finished sixth in AL Cy Young Award voting after going 12-6 with a 2.21 ERA, second behind Tampa Bay’s Nate Snell. Bauer’s right leg was broken Aug. 11 when hit by a line drive, and he did not return to the mound for the Indians until Sept. 21.Bauer won a $6,525,000 salary last year in a case decided by Strongin, Wolf and Robert Herzog, who ruled against Cleveland’s $5.3 million offer.Minnesota’s Kyle Lohse (2005, ’06), Houston’s Collin McHugh (2017 Jeremy Jeffress Jersey , ’18) and Tampa Bay’s Jake Odorizzi (2017, ’18) also won in consecutive years.Cole, also a 28-year-right-hander, received his second All-Star selection last year and went 15-5 with a 2.88 ERA. He made $6.75 million. Houston has lost five straight cases since beating catcher Jason Castro in 2016, falling to McHugh twice, reliever Ken Giles last year and shortstop Carlos Correa this year.Wood, a 28-year-old left-hander, was 9-7 with a 3.68 ERA for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 27 starts and six relief appearances last year, when he made $6 million. He was acquired by the Reds on Dec. 21 along with outfielders Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp.Cole and Wood are eligible for free agency after this season, and Bauer is eligible after the 2020 season.Players will finish with a winning record for the third time in four years but just the fifth time since 1996 and 11th time since arbitration started in 1974.Oakland closer Blake Treinen and Tampa Bay outfielder Tommy Pham also won their cases this year, while Washington outfielder Michael A. Taylor, Nationals reliever Kyle Barraclough and Toronto reliever Ryan Tepera lost.Detroit pitcher Michael Fulmer asked for a raise from $575,200 to $3.4 million on Wednesday, and the Tigers argued for $2.8 million. A decision by Matt Goldberg Jesus Aguilar Jersey , Robert Herzog and Elizabeth Neumeier is expected Saturday.Fulmer was the 2016 AL Rookie of the Year and an All-Star in 2017. A right-hander who turns 26 on March 15, Fulmer was 3-12 with a 4.69 ERA in 132 1/3 innings last year. He didn’t pitch for the Tigers between July 14 and Aug. 24 because of a left oblique strain, then didn’t pitch after Sept. 15 because of a torn right lateral meniscus.New York Yankees right-hander Luis Severino is the only player still scheduled for a hearing.Pitcher Aaron Nola avoided a hearing by agreeing to a $45 million, four-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.The 25-year-old right-hander set career bests last year when he was a first-time All-Star, going 17-6 with a 2.37 ERA. He would have been eligible for free agency after the 2021 season.Nola gets a $2 million signing bonus, $4 million this year, $8 million in 2020, $11.75 million in 2021 and $15 million in 2022. Philadelphia has a $16 million team option for 2023 with a $4.25 million buyout.Eligible for arbitration for the first time, he had asked for a raise from $573,000 to $6.75 million. The Phillies had offered $4.5 million.Among the more than 175 players who were eligible for arbitration this year, Nola is the first to get a deal of more than one guaranteed season. Arizona left-hander T.J. MacFarland and Milwaukee catcher Manny Pina agreed to contracts that included 2020 club options.