NEW YORK (AP) — Cody Bellinger and Christian Yelich have been elected starters for one of the youngest All-Star Game lineups ever, leading the millennial-heavy National League for the Midsummer Classic in Cleveland.Major League Baseball revealed the results from fan balloting for its All-Star starters Thursday. The All-Star Game is July 9.The Dodgers' Bellinger, Brewers' Yelich and Braves' Ronald Acuña Jr. are set to play outfield for the NL, leading a lineup averaging just 25.8 years old. Depending on who is chosen as the club's designated hitter, the starting position players could be younger than the 1967 NL and 2017 AL clubs, which averaged 26.0 years old."I've never seen this much young talent in the game," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who will lead the NL. "There's a lot of fun players to watch — talented and the personalities from some of these young players."Angels star Mike Trout was the leading vote getter in the final round. He'll be joined on the AL squad by three Astros... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Looking to spice up the All-Star Game election, Major League Baseball essentially introduced a primary this year.Candidates were narrowed down in fan voting to three finalists per position, including nine outfielders for three starting spots in each league. Fans then had 28 hours beginning Wednesday at noon EDT to go online and choose from those finalists the starters for the July 9 showcase in Cleveland.Results will be announced Thursday night, with pitchers and reserves revealed Sunday.So, with that in mind, let's take a look at who belongs.Each roster has 32 slots, with 12 going to pitchers. Perhaps the most difficult part is that every club must be represented — although Miami is really the only team without a worthy All-Star this season.Alex Cora of the World Series champion Boston Red Sox will manage the American League, which has won six times in a row and is 18-3-1 in the last 22 years.After capturing consecutive pennants, Dave Roberts from the Los Angeles Dodgers... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Looking to spice up the All-Star Game election, Major League Baseball essentially introduced a primary this year.Candidates were narrowed down in fan voting to three finalists per position, including nine outfielders for three starting spots in each league. Fans then had 28 hours beginning Wednesday at noon EDT to go online and choose from those finalists the starters for the July 9 showcase in Cleveland.Results will be announced Thursday night, with pitchers and reserves revealed Sunday.So, with that in mind, let's take a look at who belongs.Each roster has 32 slots, with 12 going to pitchers. Perhaps the most difficult part is every club must be represented — although Miami is really the only team without a worthy All-Star this season.Alex Cora of the World Series champion Boston Red Sox will manage the American League, which has won six times in a row and is 18-3-1 in the last 22 years.After capturing consecutive pennants, Dave Roberts from the Los Angeles Dodgers pilots... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Gleyber Torres lined a game-winning single in the ninth inning and the New York Yankees hit two more homers to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-7 Wednesday.Didi Gregorius and DJ LeMahieu connected as the Yankees extended their major league record to 29 straight games with a home run. The AL East leaders overcame two homers and a double by Lourdes Gurriel Jr., plus an early 5-0 deficit, to finish a power-packed 9-1 homestand.Now, they'll head straight from Yankee Stadium to England, where they'll enjoy two days off before playing the Boston Red Sox at London Stadium on Saturday and Sunday in the first major league games in Europe.Zack Britton wasn't so great in giving up Cavan Biggio's RBI single in the ninth that made it 7-all. But Britton (3-1) wound up with the win to close out a three-game sweep.Gregorius got an infield hit off Nick Kingham (3-2) with one out in the ninth, Aaron Hicks walked and Torres followed with his hit.ATHLETICS 2, CARDINALS 0ST. LOUIS (AP) — Beau Taylor... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Gleyber Torres lined a game-winning single in the ninth inning and the New York Yankees hit two more homers to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-7 Wednesday.Didi Gregorius and DJ LeMahieu connected as the Yankees extended their major league record to 29 straight games with a home run. The AL East leaders overcame two homers and a double by Lourdes Gurriel Jr., plus an early 5-0 deficit, to finish a power-packed 9-1 homestand.Now, they'll head straight from Yankee Stadium to England, where they'll enjoy two days off before playing the Boston Red Sox at London Stadium on Saturday and Sunday in the first major league games in Europe.Zack Britton wasn't so great in giving up Cavan Biggio's RBI single in the ninth that made it 7-all. But Britton (3-1) wound up with the win to close out a three-game sweep.Gregorius got an infield hit off Nick Kingham (3-2) with one out in the ninth, Aaron Hicks walked and Torres followed with his hit.ATHLETICS 2, CARDINALS 0ST. LOUIS (AP) — Beau Taylor... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger was the top vote-getter in the major leagues and Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout led the AL in the first stage of Major League Baseball's new two-phase fan balloting to determine All-Star Game starters.Bellinger got 3.69 million votes and finished about 39,000 ahead of Milwaukee outfielder Christian Yelich, the commissioner's office said Friday. Trout received 3.37 million, well ahead of Houston outfielder George Springer at 2.57 million,Candidates to start for the July 9 game at Cleveland were narrowed to three at infield positions in each league and AL designated hitter, and nine in the outfield. The remaining contenders will start from zero for phase two, which begins at noon EDT Wednesday and ends at 4 p.m. EDT Thursday.Texas' Joey Gallo beat Minnesota's Max Kepler by 138 votes for the ninth AL outfield spot, and the Yankees' Gleyber Torres edged Cleveland's Francisco Lindor by fewer than 14,000 votes for the third... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball and its fans are on the same page — they want to see more of the kids.With millennial mashers Cody Bellinger and Christian Yelich leading the way, this year's All-Star starting lineups have a chance to be the youngest ever, based on an Associated Press analysis of the latest ballot results released by the league this week.The AP studied the average age for starting All-Star position players since the first Midsummer Classic in 1933, and this year's group is almost certain to be historic, especially in the National League. The average age of the eight NL ballot leaders is just 25, a full year less than the previous youngest starting lineup, the 2017 American League roster.When combined with the AL, this year's projected starters average 26.6 years old — 0.2 older than the 2017 squads, which are the youngest ever. If 24-year-old Rays outfielder Austin Meadows edges 32-year-old Astros outfielder Michael Brantley, the average would fall to 26.3."For the... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Gary Sánchez hit a three-run homer to help chase Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell in the first inning, CC Sabathia got his 250th career win and the New York Yankees thumped the Tampa Bay Rays 12-1 Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep.Gleyber Torres added a grand slam during a six-run seventh inning, and New York three-hit Tampa Bay to win its fifth in a row and extend its lead the AL East over the second-place Rays to 3½ games. Tampa Bay was swept for the second time this season — the other came against Boston in April.Snell (4-6) walked four, gave up two hits and was charged with six runs while getting one out on 39 pitches in the shortest start of his career.Sabathia (4-4) pitched one-run ball over six innings. He struck out seven and allowed three hits and three walks.ANGELS 11, BLUE JAYS 6TORONTO (AP) — Mike Trout hit two home runs, including his sixth career grand slam, and had a career-best seven RBIs as Los Angeles beat Toronto.Justin Upton also homered for the... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Gary Sánchez hit a three-run homer to help chase Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell in the first inning, CC Sabathia got his 250th career win and the New York Yankees thumped the Tampa Bay Rays 12-1 Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep.Gleyber Torres added a grand slam during a six-run seventh inning, and New York three-hit Tampa Bay to win its fifth in a row and extend its lead the AL East over the second-place Rays to 3½ games. Tampa Bay was swept for the second time this season — the other came against Boston in April.Snell (4-6) walked four, gave up two hits and was charged with six runs while getting one out on 39 pitches in the shortest start of his career.Sabathia (4-4) pitched one-run ball over six innings. He struck out seven and allowed three hits and three walks.ANGELS 11, BLUE JAYS 6TORONTO (AP) — Mike Trout hit two home runs, including his sixth career grand slam, and had a career-best seven RBIs as Los Angeles beat Toronto.Justin Upton also homered for the... [More]

DENVER (AP) — The Padres and Rockies set a modern-era record by combining for 92 runs in a four-game series, with San Diego pitcher Matt Strahm drawing a pinch-hit, bases-loaded walk in the ninth inning to rally past Colorado 14-13 Sunday.It was just another wacky day at Coors Field, especially in this split series where the Rockies outscored the Padres 48-44 while the teams combined for 131 hits. Colorado's Charlie Blackmon became the first player since at least 1900 with 15 hits in a four-game series, according to STATS. Adding to the zaniness: the finale was delayed once to clean up a big puddle in foul territory despite sunny skies, and again later because of weather.Trailing 13-10 in the ninth, Wil Myers had an RBI single and Greg Garcia promptly tied it with a two-out, two-run triple off closer Wade Davis (1-2). The Rockies brought in starter Jon Gray, who intentionally walked two batters to face Strahm. Gray fell behind 3-1 before throwing a strike. Taking all the way, Strahm watched... [More]

DENVER (AP) — The Padres and Rockies set a modern-era record by combining for 92 runs in a four-game series, with San Diego pitcher Matt Strahm drawing a pinch-hit, bases-loaded walk in the ninth inning to rally past Colorado 14-13 Sunday.It was just another wacky day at Coors Field, especially in this split series where the Rockies outscored the Padres 48-44 while the teams combined for 131 hits. Colorado's Charlie Blackmon became the first player since at least 1900 with 15 hits in a four-game series, according to STATS. Adding to the zaniness: the finale was delayed once to clean up a big puddle in foul territory despite sunny skies, and again later because of weather.Trailing 13-10 in the ninth, Wil Myers had an RBI single and Greg Garcia promptly tied it with a two-out, two-run triple off closer Wade Davis (1-2). The Rockies brought in starter Jon Gray, who intentionally walked two batters to face Strahm. Gray fell behind 3-1 before throwing a strike. Taking all the way, Strahm watched... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:YU AGAIN?Yu Darvish says he expects to hear some boos when he takes the mound for the Cubs at Dodger Stadium. It will be his first outing at the ballpark since he got roughed up in Game 7 of the 2017 World Series, chased early as the Houston Astros beat Los Angeles to win their first championship. Darvish got hit hard in both of his starts in that Series, and some fans blamed him for the Dodgers' defeat.This year, Darvish is 2-3 with a 4.98 ERA in 14 starts for Chicago.NEED NOLAPhillies righty Aaron Nola (6-1, 4.58) starts at Atlanta — the NL East-leading Braves have won eight in a row. Nola has done well against Atlanta in his career, going 8-3 with a 2.05 ERA in 13 starts.OH THAT ODORIZZIComing into this season, Jake Odorizzi was 47-48 lifetime with a 3.95 ERA. But this year, he's a major reason why the Minnesota Twins have the best record in the big leagues.Odorizzi (9-2, 1.92 ERA) has excelled through 13 starts — he hasn't permitted... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Saturday:YU AGAIN?Yu Darvish says he expects to hear some boos when he takes the mound for the Cubs at Dodger Stadium. It will be his first outing at the ballpark since he got roughed up in Game 7 of the 2017 World Series, chased early as the Houston Astros beat Los Angeles to win their first championship. Darvish got hit hard in both of his starts in that Series, and some fans blamed him for the Dodgers' defeat.This year, Darvish is 2-3 with a 4.98 ERA in 14 starts for Chicago.NEED NOLAPhillies righty Aaron Nola (6-1, 4.58) starts at Atlanta — the NL East-leading Braves have won eight in a row. Nola has done well against Atlanta in his career, going 8-3 with a 2.05 ERA in 13 starts.OH THAT ODORIZZIComing into this season, Jake Odorizzi was 47-48 lifetime with a 3.95 ERA. But this year, he's a major reason why the Minnesota Twins have the best record in the big leagues.Odorizzi (9-2, 1.92 ERA) has excelled through 13 starts — he hasn't permitted... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Saturday:OH THAT ODORIZZIComing into this season, Jake Odorizzi was 47-48 lifetime with a 3.95 ERA. But this year, he's a major reason why the Minnesota Twins went into the weekend with the best record in the big leagues.Odorizzi (9-2, 1.92 ERA) has excelled through 13 starts — he hasn't permitted a run in six of his last eight outings, and now faces Kansas City at Target Field.MORTON MOMENTUMRays right-hander Charlie Morton (8-0, 2.10 ERA) pitches against the Angels at Tropicana Field, looking to extend his 21-start unbeaten streak that began last Aug. 17 when he played for Houston.The 35-year-old has made 14 starts this season in his first year with Tampa Bay. He's done well in his career vs. Angels stars Mike Trout (3 for 12, 1 HR) and Albert Pujols (7 for 30, no HRs).NEED NOLAPhillies righty Aaron Nola (6-1, 4.58) starts at Atlanta as the teams compete atop the NL East. Nola has done well against the Braves, going 8-3 with a 2.05 ERA in 13... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:SHO GOES ONShohei Ohtani returns to Tropicana Field a night after becoming the first Japanese-born player to hit for the cycle. Ohtani hit a three-run homer in the first inning — his sixth in 11 games — and completed the feat with a single in the seventh as the Angels beat the Rays 5-3. Ohtani is the eighth Angels player to hit for the cycle and first since Mike Trout on May 21, 2013. That wasn't the only good news Thursday for Ohtani — the two-way sensation might be on a mound in a rehab setting before the All-Star break as he recovers from Tommy John surgery last October. "I won't say it's probable, but it's possible," manager Brad Ausmus said. Ohtani still won't pitch in a major league game until 2020.ROLLINGWhite Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito looks to continue his breakout season when he faces CC Sabathia and the New York Yankees. Giolito is 7-0 with a sparkling 0.88 ERA in his last seven starts. He has 59 strikeouts and only 10 walks... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani became the first Japanese-born player to hit for the cycle, helping the Los Angeles Angels beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 Thursday night after a delay caused by a power outage.Ohtani hit a three-run homer in the first inning and completed the feat with a single in the seventh. He is the eighth Angels player to hit for the cycle and the first since Mike Trout on May 21, 2013.Albert Pujols also homered for the Angels, becoming the sixth player ever with 200 home runs in each league. He hit 445 in 11 seasons with St. Louis and has 200 in eight years with the Angels, including 12 this season.He led off the third with a double and tripled in the fifth before Pujols' home run. A two-out single in the seventh completed the cycle in just four plate appearances, and fans at Tropicana Field gave him a standing ovation.The game was held up 36 minutes by a power delay in the fourth with the Angels leading 3-0.Yarbrough (5-3) gave up five runs and five hits (all... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani became the first Japanese-born player to hit for the cycle, helping the Los Angeles Angels beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 Thursday night after a delay caused by a power outage.Ohtani hit a three-run homer in the first inning and completed the feat with a single in the seventh. He is the eighth Angels player to hit for the cycle and the first since Mike Trout on May 21, 2013.Albert Pujols also homered for the Angels, becoming the sixth player ever with 200 home runs in each league. He hit 445 in 11 seasons with St. Louis and has 200 in eight years with the Angels, including 12 this season.He led off the third with a double and tripled in the fifth before Pujols' home run. A two-out single in the seventh completed the cycle in just four plate appearances, and fans at Tropicana Field gave him a standing ovation.The game was held up 36 minutes by a power delay in the fourth with the Angels leading 3-0.Yarbrough (5-3) gave up five runs and five hits (all... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Friday:SHO GOES ONShohei Ohtani returns to Tropicana Field a night after becoming the first Japanese-born player to hit for the cycle. Ohtani hit a three-run homer in the first inning — his sixth in 11 games — and completed the feat with a single in the seventh as the Angels beat the Rays 5-3. Ohtani is the eighth Angels player to hit for the cycle and first since Mike Trout on May 21, 2013. That wasn't the only good news Thursday for Ohtani — the two-way sensation might be on a mound in a rehab setting before the All-Star break as he recovers from Tommy John surgery last October. "I won't say it's probable, but it's possible," manager Brad Ausmus said. Ohtani still won't pitch in a major league game until 2020.ROLLINGWhite Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito looks to continue his breakout season when he faces CC Sabathia and the New York Yankees. Giolito is 7-0 with a sparkling 0.88 ERA in his last seven starts. He has 59 strikeouts and only 10 walks... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani has become the first Japanese player to hit for the cycle in the majors.Ohtani completed his cycle with a single in the seventh inning of a game Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Rays. He is the first Angels player to accomplish the feat since Mike Trout on May 21, 2013 against the Seattle Mariners.It's the eighth cycle in team history.Ohtani hit a three-run homer in the first inning, doubled in the third and tripled during the fifth. He flared a 3-2 pitch into right-center field against right-hander Hunter Wood in the seventh and received a standing ovation from the fans at Tropicana Field.A two-way sensation as a rookie last season, Ohtani is staying off the mound this year as he recovers from Tommy John surgery.Ohtani's first three hits came off left-hander Ryan Yarbrough.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CLEVELAND (AP) — Max Kepler homered three times and José Berríos (8-2) locked up Cleveland's lineup into the seventh inning as the Minnesota Twins avoided a sweep — and their first three-game losing streak — by beating the Indians 5-4 on Thursday night.Kepler, who entered hitless in his previous 21 at-bats, connected in the first, third and seventh innings off Indians starter Trevor Bauer (4-6). Kepler also walked in the fifth.The 26-year-old outfielder came up in the ninth with a chance to become the 19th player in history to hit four homers in one game — a feat rarer than a perfect game. But left-hander Josh Smith kept the left-handed swinging Kepler in the park, getting him to hit a hard grounder to the right side that he beat out for a single.It was Kepler's second career three-homer game. The other one also came against the Indians on Aug. 1, 2016.The AL-Central leading Twins took the series finale and again moved 10½ games ahead of Cleveland, whose run of three straight division titles... [More]