A look at the best-of-five American League Division Series between the Minnesota Twins and New York Yankees:___Schedule: (All times EDT) Game 1, Friday, at New York, 7:07 p.m. (MLB); Game 2, Saturday, at New York, 5:07 p.m. (FS1); Game 3, Monday, Oct. 7, at Minnesota, TBA (FS1 or MLB); x-Game 4, Tuesday, Oct. 8, at Minnesota, TBA (FS1); x-Game 5, Thursday, Oct. 10, at New York, TBA (FS1).x-if necessary.___Season Series: Yankees won 4-2.___Projected Lineups:Twins: C Mitch Garver (.273, 31 HRs, 67 RBIs, .630 slugging percentage in 93 games), SS Jorge Polanco (.295, 22, 79, 40 2Bs), DH Nelson Cruz (.311, 41, 108, .639 slugging percentage in 120 games), 3B Miguel Sanó (.247, 34, 79, 159 Ks in 105 games), LF Eddie Rosario (.276, 32, 109), CF Max Kepler (.252, 36, 90), 1B C.J. Cron (.253, 25, 78), RF Marwin Gonzalez (.264, 15, 55) or Jake Cave (.258, 8, 25 in 72 games) or LaMonte Wade Jr. (.196, 2, 5, 11 walks in 69 PAs), 2B Jonathan Schoop (.256, 23, 59) or Luis Arraez (.334, 4, 28 in 92 games).Yankees:... [More]

A look at the best-of-five American League Division Series between the Minnesota Twins and New York Yankees:___Schedule: (All times EDT) Game 1, Friday, at New York, 7:07 p.m. (MLB); Game 2, Saturday, at New York, 5:07 p.m. (FS1); Game 3, Monday, Oct. 7, at Minnesota, TBA (FS1 or MLB); x-Game 4, Tuesday, Oct. 8, at Minnesota, TBA (FS1); x-Game 5, Thursday, Oct. 10, at New York, TBA (FS1).x-if necessary.___Season Series: Yankees won 4-2.___Projected Lineups:Twins: C Mitch Garver (.273, 31 HRs, 67 RBIs, .630 slugging percentage in 93 games), SS Jorge Polanco (.295, 22, 79, 40 2Bs), DH Nelson Cruz (.311, 41, 108, .639 slugging percentage in 120 games), 3B Miguel Sanó (.247, 34, 79, 159 Ks in 105 games), LF Eddie Rosario (.276, 32, 109), CF Max Kepler (.252, 36, 90), 1B C.J. Cron (.253, 25, 78), RF Marwin Gonzalez (.264, 15, 55) or Jake Cave (.258, 8, 25 in 72 games) or LaMonte Wade Jr. (.196, 2, 5, 11 walks in 69 PAs), 2B Jonathan Schoop (.256, 23, 59) or Luis Arraez (.334, 4, 28 in 92 games).Yankees:... [More]

A look at the best-of-five American League Division Series between the Minnesota Twins and New York Yankees:___Schedule: (All times EDT) Game 1, Friday, at New York, 7:07 p.m. (MLB); Game 2, Saturday, at New York, 5:07 p.m. (FS1); Game 3, Monday, Oct. 7, at Minnesota, TBA (FS1 or MLB); x-Game 4, Tuesday, Oct. 8, at Minnesota, TBA (FS1); x-Game 5, Thursday, Oct. 10, at New York, TBA (FS1).x-if necessary.___Season Series: Yankees won 4-2.___Projected Lineups:Twins: C Mitch Garver (.273, 31 HRs, 67 RBIs, .630 slugging percentage in 93 games), SS Jorge Polanco (.295, 22, 79, 40 2Bs), DH Nelson Cruz (.311, 41, 108, .639 slugging percentage in 120 games), 3B Miguel Sanó (.247, 34, 79, 159 Ks in 105 games), LF Eddie Rosario (.276, 32, 109), CF Max Kepler (.252, 36, 90), 1B C.J. Cron (.253, 25, 78), RF Marwin Gonzalez (.264, 15, 55) or Jake Cave (.258, 8, 25 in 72 games) or LaMonte Wade Jr. (.196, 2, 5, 11 walks in 69 PAs), 2B Jonathan Schoop (.256, 23, 59) or Luis Arraez (.334, 4, 28 in 92 games).Yankees:... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — New nameplates greeted Yankees players in their clubhouse ahead of the Division Series against Minnesota: "OCTOBER SAVAGES" is spelled out under each number, a reference to manager Aaron Boone's famous tirade at an umpire in July.As players worked out at Yankee Stadium on a summer-like Wednesday, Boone maintained many roster decisions have yet to be made."First, we'll go through the 13th pitcher and then what makes the most sense as far as what gives us the best option off the bench," Boone said before the workout. "We'll meet as a staff after the workout and hopefully finalize whether it's 12 or 13."Edwin Encarnación, who hasn't played since Sept. 12 because of a strained left oblique, appears set to return. The 36-year-old hit in a simulated game for the second straight day and homered off left-hander Jordan Montgomery."I think yesterday was a little confidence-builder for him as far as the ability to let it go and then coming in today feeling like he's ready," Boone said.Encarnación... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — New nameplates greeted Yankees players in their clubhouse ahead of the Division Series against Minnesota: "OCTOBER SAVAGES" is spelled out under each number, a reference to manager Aaron Boone's famous tirade at an umpire in July.As players worked out at Yankee Stadium on a summer-like Wednesday, Boone maintained many roster decisions have yet to be made."First, we'll go through the 13th pitcher and then what makes the most sense as far as what gives us the best option off the bench," Boone said before the workout. "We'll meet as a staff after the workout and hopefully finalize whether it's 12 or 13."Edwin Encarnación, who hasn't played since Sept. 12 because of a strained left oblique, appears set to return. The 36-year-old hit in a simulated game for the second straight day and homered off left-hander Jordan Montgomery."I think yesterday was a little confidence-builder for him as far as the ability to let it go and then coming in today feeling like he's ready," Boone said.Encarnación... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner thinks manager Aaron Boone has New York ready for the postseason after an unprecedented run of injuries.New York won the AL East for the first time since 2012 and will open the playoffs in the Division Series at home on Oct. 4, likely against Minnesota."We faced a significant amount of adversity this year," Steinbrenner said Thursday after watching a Florida instructional league game. "Boone and the coaching staff, and especially the players, they stayed positive throughout. They had each others' backs and never gave up. It's a winning mentality in that clubhouse. A long way to go but we're going in strong."New York has had 30 players make 39 stints on the injured list, losing Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, Didi Gregorius, Aaron Hicks, Gary Sánchez, Miguel Andújar, Edwin Encarnación, Luis Severino and Dellin Betances for extended periods. All but Betances and Hicks are expected to be available for the postseason."There never was a season... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees reliever Dellin Betances has been told surgery is not recommended for the partially torn Achilles tendon that ended his season after eight pitches.Betances received a second opinion from Dr. Martin O'Malley of the Hospital for Special Surgery, who concurred with Dr. Justin Greisberg of New York-Presbyterian Hospital."He'll be in a walking boot for another four weeks, and then they'll kind of re-evaluate where he is, but the belief is that he will not need surgery," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Thursday. "I guess that could possibly change, but they feel pretty confident that this is something that will not need surgery."Betances hurt his left foot when he hopped on the mound Sunday at Toronto after striking out Brandon Drury, his second and final batter.Betances appeared to think it was the third out of the inning and landed awkwardly on the artificial turf at Rogers Centre . His foot was sore when he arrived at Yankee Stadium before Tuesday's game .A four-time... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton has returned to the Yankees lineup with New York on the cusp of clinching a division title.Stanton will bat fifth and play left field Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Angels. He has been out since June 25 after straining the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. He's played just nine games this season due to biceps, shoulder, calf and knee injuries and is returning with 12 days remaining in the regular season.Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Stanton would probably get two at-bats and play four or five innings in the field Wednesday. If all goes well, he could be the designated hitter for a full game Thursday.Boone plans to play Stanton regularly down the stretch to progress his timing and durability as October approaches."Just building him up," Boone said.New York can lock up the AL East championship by beating the Angels or with a loss by Tampa Bay.Stanton, the 2017 NL MVP with Miami, is hitting .290 with one home run and seven RBIs. The... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Mike Yastrzemski, grandson of former Red Sox great and Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski, homered in his first game in Fenway Park, and Alex Dickerson had a pinch-hit sacrifice fly in the 15th inning to lift the San Francisco Giants to a 7-6 victory over Boston on Tuesday night.The game featured a major league record-tying 24 pitchers — including a team-record 13 by the Giants — and had 50 players overall, lasting 5 hours, 54 minutes. "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" was played in the middle of the 14th inning.San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy, who is retiring at the end of the season, moved one win away from becoming the 11th big-league manager to reach 2,000 victories.Donovan Solano opened the 15th with a ground-rule double against Trevor Kelley (0-2) and advanced on a wild pitch before the Dickerson's sac fly.Dereck Rodriguez (6-9) worked two innings for the victory.BLUE JAYS 8, ORIOLES 5BALTIMORE (AP) — Rookie Cavan Biggio hit for the cycle, leading Toronto to the victory.Biggio... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Mike Yastrzemski, grandson of former Red Sox great and Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski, homered in his first game in Fenway Park, and Alex Dickerson had a pinch-hit sacrifice fly in the 15th inning to lift the San Francisco Giants to a 7-6 victory over Boston on Tuesday night.The game featured a major league record-tying 24 pitchers — including a team-record 13 by the Giants — and had 50 players overall, lasting 5 hours, 54 minutes. "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" was played in the middle of the 14th inning.San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy, who is retiring at the end of the season, moved one win away from becoming the 11th big-league manager to reach 2,000 victories.Donovan Solano opened the 15th with a ground-rule double against Trevor Kelley (0-2) and advanced on a wild pitch before the Dickerson's sac fly.Dereck Rodriguez (6-9) worked two innings for the victory.BLUE JAYS 8, ORIOLES 5BALTIMORE (AP) — Rookie Cavan Biggio hit for the cycle, leading Toronto to the victory.Biggio... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — Rookie Cavan Biggio hit for the cycle, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-5 on Tuesday night.Biggio homered in the third inning, singled in the sixth, doubled in the eighth and tripled in the ninth. He drove in four runs and scored three times.Biggio and his father, Craig, a Hall of Famer with the Houston Astros, are the second father-son duo in major league history to hit for the cycle, joining Daryle and Gary Ward.It was also the first time an opponent hit for the cycle in the 27-year history of Camden Yards.Trey Mancini and Jonathan Villar homered for last-place Baltimore, which lost for the third time in four games. Mychal Givens (2-6) got the loss.Derek Law (1-2) earned the win by throwing a scoreless eighth inning.YANKEES 8, ANGELS 0NEW YORK (AP) — Luis Severino pitched four dominant innings in his injury-delayed season debut for the Yankees.A two-time All-Star and the ace of the Yankees staff, Severino got hurt while warming up before his first... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — Rookie Cavan Biggio hit for the cycle, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-5 on Tuesday night.Biggio homered in the third inning, singled in the sixth, doubled in the eighth and tripled in the ninth. He drove in four runs and scored three times.Biggio and his father, Craig, a Hall of Famer with the Houston Astros, are the second father-son duo in major league history to hit for the cycle, joining Daryle and Gary Ward.It was also the first time an opponent hit for the cycle in the 27-year history of Camden Yards.Trey Mancini and Jonathan Villar homered for last-place Baltimore, which lost for the third time in four games. Mychal Givens (2-6) got the loss.Derek Law (1-2) earned the win by throwing a scoreless eighth inning.YANKEES 8, ANGELS 0NEW YORK (AP) — Luis Severino pitched four dominant innings in his injury-delayed season debut for the Yankees.A two-time All-Star and the ace of the Yankees staff, Severino got hurt while warming up before his first... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Dellin Betances' season appears to be over after just eight pitches.The New York Yankees reliever partially tore the Achilles tendon in his left foot when he hopped on the mound after striking out Brandon Drury, the second and final batter he faced in his season debut Sunday at Toronto.Betances appeared to think it was the third out of the inning and landed awkwardly on the artificial turf at Rogers Centre . He had a smile on his face and wasn't aware of the injury."It's about as freak as it can be," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.Betances was sore when he arrived at Yankee Stadium before Tuesday's game , and the team was concerned when he was unable to get on his toes.Betances was sent for a scan and examined by Dr. Justin Greisberg at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, and he will get a second opinion from Dr. Martin O'Malley at the Hospital for Special Surgery. At this point, the Yankees said the recommendation is to treat the injury conservatively, but the team said the... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton will be back with the New York Yankees on Wednesday or Thursday, hoping to salvage an injury-decimated season.Stanton has been limited to nine games this year and will see time at designated hitter and left field, an unsettled position for much of the season. The four-time All-Star strained his left biceps on March 31 in his third game, strained a shoulder and calf during his rehabilitation and returned June 18. Then in his sixth game back on, Stanton strained the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during an awkward headfirst slide into third base on June 25.Stanton is hitting .290 with one home run and seven RBIs. The 29-year-old, in his second season with the Yankees, had been working out at the team's minor league complex in Tampa, Florida."I may build him up a little bit, so he could play a handful of innings and I might pull him," manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday before the AL East-leading Yankees opened their final homestand of the regular... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — Rookie Cavan Biggio hit for the cycle, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-5 on Tuesday night.Biggio homered in the third inning, singled in the sixth, doubled in the eighth and tripled in the ninth. He drove in four runs and scored three times.Biggio and his father, Craig, a Hall of Famer with the Houston Astros, are the second father-son duo in major league history to hit for the cycle, joining Daryle and Gary Ward.It was also the first time an opponent hit for the cycle in the 27-year history of Camden Yards.Trey Mancini and Jonathan Villar homered for last-place Baltimore, which lost for the third time in four games. Mychal Givens (2-6) got the loss.Derek Law (1-2) earned the win by throwing a scoreless eighth inning.YANKEES 8, ANGELS 0NEW YORK (AP) — Luis Severino pitched four dominant innings in his injury-delayed season debut for the Yankees.A two-time All-Star and the ace of the Yankees staff, Severino got hurt while warming up before his first... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Dellin Betances' season appears to be over after just eight pitches.The New York Yankees say the reliever partially tore the Achilles tendon in his left foot when he hopped on the mound after striking out Brandon Drury, the second and final batter he faced in his season debut Sunday at Toronto.New York manager Aaron Boone said Betances "came down a little awkwardly" and "didn't think anything of it," but was sore when he arrived at Yankee Stadium before Tuesday's game.Betances was sent for a scan and examined by Dr. Justin Greisberg at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, and he will get a second opinion from Dr. Martin O'Malley at the Hospital for Special Surgery. At this point, the Yankees said the recommendation is to treat the injury conservatively, but the team said the possibility of surgery has not been ruled out."It's about as freak as it can be," Boone said.Betances, a 31-year-old right-hander, was diagnosed with an impingement in his pitching shoulder after his fourth spring training appearance on March 17. His rehabilitation stopped when the team said June 11 that he had strained his right latissimus dorsi muscle, and Betances did not start a minor league injury rehabilitation assignment until September.He is eligible for free agency after the World Series.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton will be back with the New York Yankees on Wednesday or Thursday, hoping to salvage an injury-decimated season.Stanton has been limited to nine games this year and will see time at designated hitter and left field, an unsettled position for much of the season. The four-time All-Star strained his left biceps on March 31 in his third game, strained a shoulder and calf during his rehabilitation and returned June 18. Then in his sixth game back on, Stanton strained the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during an awkward headfirst slide into third base on June 25.Stanton is hitting .290 with one home run and seven RBIs. The 29-year-old, in his second season with the Yankees, had been working out at the team's minor league complex in Tampa, Florida."I may build him up a little bit, so he could play a handful of innings and I might pull him," manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday before the AL East-leading Yankees opened their final homestand of the regular... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton will be back with the New York Yankees on Wednesday or Thursday, hoping to salvage an injury-decimated season.Stanton has been limited to nine games this year and will see time at designated hitter and left field, an unsettled position for much of the season. The four-time All-Star strained his left biceps on March 31 in his third game, strained a shoulder and calf during his rehabilitation and returned June 18. Then in his sixth game back on, Stanton strained the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during an awkward headfirst slide into third base on June 25.Stanton is hitting .290 with one home run and seven RBIs. The 29-year-old, in his second season with the Yankees, had been working out at the team's minor league complex in Tampa, Florida."I may build him up a little bit, so he could play a handful of innings and I might pull him," manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday before the AL East-leading Yankees opener their final homestand of the regular... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Star first baseman Anthony Rizzo was pulled from a game Sunday with a sprained right ankle, putting a damper on the Chicago Cubs' 16-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates that completed a three-game sweep.Rizzo was injured fielding a bunt at first base, had to be helped off the field and could not put pressure on the leg. X-rays taken at Wrigley Field showed no fractures. He'll get an MRI on Monday.Chicago's postseason pursuit has already been hindered by an injury to shortstop Javier Báez, who is out for the rest of the regular season with a hairline fracture of his left thumb.The Cubs maintained their one-game lead over Milwaukee for the second NL wild card.Kris Bryant homered twice, and Ian Happ, Kyle Schwarber and Jonathan Lucroy also connected for the Cubs, who outscored the Pirates 47-15 in the series.Brad Wieck (1-1) struck out both batters he faced. Trevor Williams (7-7) allowed seven runs in 2 1/3 innings.DODGERS 3, METS 2NEW YORK (AP) — Jedd Gyorko came off the... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Star first baseman Anthony Rizzo was pulled from a game Sunday with a sprained right ankle, putting a damper on the Chicago Cubs' 16-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates that completed a three-game sweep.Rizzo was injured fielding a bunt at first base, had to be helped off the field and could not put pressure on the leg. X-rays taken at Wrigley Field showed no fractures. He'll get an MRI on Monday.Chicago's postseason pursuit has already been hindered by an injury to shortstop Javier Báez, who is out for the rest of the regular season with a hairline fracture of his left thumb.The Cubs maintained their one-game lead over Milwaukee for the second NL wild card.Kris Bryant homered twice, and Ian Happ, Kyle Schwarber and Jonathan Lucroy also connected for the Cubs, who outscored the Pirates 47-15 in the series.Brad Wieck (1-1) struck out both batters he faced. Trevor Williams (7-7) allowed seven runs in 2 1/3 innings.BREWERS 7, CARDINALS 6ST. LOUIS (AP) — Ryan Braun overcame... [More]