ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — New York Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius hopes to return from a wrist injury this week and start in the AL wild-card game on Oct. 3.Gregorius hurt his right wrist Saturday when he slid headfirst on Aaron Hicks' 11th-inning double to score the run that clinched a postseason berth. An MRI on Sunday revealed a small tear."It feels way better," Gregorius said before Monday night's game at Tampa Bay. "Feeling stronger. More movement. It's a big step to go forward."He is hitting .268 with a career-high 27 homers and 86 RBIs. The 28-year-old had a cortisone shot and will be examined by team doctors Wednesday."He felt significantly better with some of the range of motion things he's able to do," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "I would also temper it. The true indicator will come Wednesday when he's re-evaluated and we see how he does."Slick-fielding but weak-hitting Adeiny Hechavarria started at second in Monday's series opener. Rookie Gleyber Torres slide over from second and be replaced there by Neil Walker.Also, Boone said he is not close to deciding on his started for the wild-card game from among J.A Happ, Masahiro Tanaka and Luis Severino.Severino starts Tuesday followed by Tanaka and CC Sabathia. Happ started on Sunday.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ATLANTA (AP) — Steve Pearce had three hits and three RBIs, Rick Porcello allowed two hits in five innings and the Boston Red Sox beat the Atlanta Braves 5-1 on Tuesday night for their second straight win in a matchup of division leaders.Porcello (16-7) gave up one run and struck out five, improving to 10-3 on the road this year. He had been 0-2 in his previous three starts overall since an Aug. 14 win at Philadelphia.Atlanta pitchers walked nine, including five by starter Sean Newcomb (11-8), who matched his season high. He allowed three runs and four hits in 4 1/3 innings.The Braves' lead over second-place Philadelphia in the NL East was cut to three games.Kurt Suzuki homered for the Braves.BREWERS 11, CUBS 1MILWAUKEE (AP) — Lorenzo Cain reached base five times, Wade Miley pitched six stingy innings and Milwaukee romped past Chicago to climb within three games of the NL Central leaders.Miley (3-2) allowed one run and three hits, struck out five and walked none as Milwaukee won for the... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — It took a while, but 9-month-old Steel McCutchen seemed fine with Dad's new look.Andrew McCutchen liked his fit with the New York Yankees, too.A day after being traded from San Francisco, the former NL MVP stepped back into a playoff race Saturday. He drew a warm ovation at Yankee Stadium when he was introduced as the leadoff hitter and right fielder, then struck out in his first two-bats against Detroit.At least his grooming got off to a smooth start. Adhering to the Yankees' strict policy on facial hair, he shaved off his familiar beard before the debut.His son got a good, close view."I just cut it and held him. I was worried about his reaction," McCutchen said. "He stared at me for about five minutes and touched all on my face and he seemed to be OK with it."McCutchen spent his first nine seasons in Pittsburgh — the Steel City — and was traded to San Francisco in January. The five-time All-Star was hitting .255 with 15 home runs, 55 RBIs and 13 stolen bases when the Giants... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees have acquired Adeiny Hechavarria in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates, bringing in a veteran infielder to back up injured shortstop Didi Gregorius.New York is sending a player to be named or cash to Pittsburgh for the 29-year-old Hechavarria, who is batting .254 with four homers and 29 RBIs in 76 games with the Rays and Pirates this season. As part of the deal, the Pirates will send New York $863,709 to cover most of the $951,613 remaining in Hechavarria's $5.9 million salary.The trade was completed just before Friday's deadline for traded players to be eligible for the postseason. The Yankees are in position for the first AL wild card.Gregorius has been out since Aug. 20 with a bruised left heel. He could come off the disabled list this weekend.Hechavarria is a .255 career hitter over seven seasons with four teams. He has played mostly at shortstop with spot duty at second base and third base.To make room on the 40-man roster, the Yankees designated left-hander Ryan Bollinger for assignment.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees have acquired Adeiny Hechavarria in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates, bringing in a veteran infielder to back up injured shortstop Didi Gregorius.New York is sending a player to be named or cash to Pittsburgh for the 29-year-old Hechavarria, who is batting .254 with four homers and 29 RBIs in 76 games with the Rays and Pirates this season.The trade was completed just before Friday's deadline for traded players to be eligible for the postseason. The Yankees are in position for the first AL wild card.Gregorius has been out since Aug. 20 with a bruised left heel. He could come off the disabled list this weekend.Hechavarria is a .255 career hitter over seven seasons with four teams. He has played mostly at shortstop with spot duty at second base and third base.To make room on the 40-man roster, the Yankees designated left-hander Ryan Bollinger for assignment.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Andrew McCutchen is shaving his beard for a possible World Series run. Ryan Madson is switching bullpens, trying to help another team win a title. And Josh Donaldson is hoping he's healthy enough to contribute.The Milwaukee Brewers? They were a busy bunch, swinging trades to get starter Gio Gonzalez, outfielder Curtis Granderson and reliever Xavier Cedeno.Several contending teams swung into action Friday, making trades to bolster potential playoff rosters. A player must be on a club by Aug. 31 to be eligible for the postseason."I think what happens in September is that the whole calculus of this thing changes," Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said.Counsell spoke after the Brewers acquired Cedeno, and before they beat Washington 4-1 at Nationals Park. After the win, Milwaukee said it had gotten Gonzalez from the Nats and Granderson from Toronto.All three of the Milwaukee trades were for minor leaguers. So, too, were the swaps that sent Donaldson from Toronto to Cleveland, Madson from Washington... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Justin Verlander pitched just well enough to earn his 200th career win and the Houston Astros hit five home runs, beating the Oakland Athletics 9-4 Sunday to avoid a sweep and retake sole possession of the AL West lead.The surging A's had won the first two games at the Coliseum to tie shaky Houston atop the division. But Yuli Gurriel hit a three-run homer in the third inning and Evan Gattis, Alex Bergman, Marwin Gonzalez and Martin Maldonado later homered for the defending World Series champions. Maldonado also tripled and doubled.Verlander (12-8) gave up four runs in 5 1/3 innings while becoming the 114th pitcher with at least 200 career wins.Oakland's Sean Manaea (11-9) was charged with six runs and nine hits in four-plus innings.DODGERS 12, MARINERS 1SEATTLE (AP) — Clayton Kershaw pitched seven sharp innings for his 150th career win, Justin Turner homered and drove in five runs, and Los Angeles routed Seattle.Kershaw (6-5) gave up four hits, struck out seven and... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Justin Verlander pitched just well enough to earn his 200th career win and the Houston Astros hit five home runs, beating the Oakland Athletics 9-4 Sunday to avoid a sweep and retake sole possession of the AL West lead.The surging A's had won the first two games at the Coliseum to tie shaky Houston atop the division. But Yuli Gurriel hit a three-run homer in the third inning and Evan Gattis, Alex Bergman, Marwin Gonzalez and Martin Maldonado later homered for the defending World Series champions. Maldonado also tripled and doubled.Verlander (12-8) gave up four runs in 5 1/3 innings while becoming the 114th pitcher with at least 200 career wins.Oakland's Sean Manaea (11-9) was charged with six runs and nine hits in four-plus innings.DODGERS 12, MARINERS 1SEATTLE (AP) — Clayton Kershaw pitched seven sharp innings for his 150th career win, Justin Turner homered and drove in five runs, and Los Angeles routed Seattle.Kershaw (6-5) gave up four hits, struck out seven and... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays have traded shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for a minor league pitching prospect.Hechavarria was hitting .258 with three homers and 26 RBIs in 61 games before the Rays designated him for assignment last Wednesday. His .990 fielding percentage is fourth-best in the majors this season among shortstops with at least 200 innings.Tampa Bay receives right-hander Matt Seelinger in the deal Monday. He will be assigned to Class A Bowling Green.The Rays will pay Pittsburgh $1,583,468 to offset most of the remaining $1,744,624 Hechavarria is owed from his $5.9 million salary. The Pirates pay him $161,156, which is a 55-day prorated share of the $545,000 minimum.Hechavarria, 29, batted .257 over parts of two seasons with Tampa Bay, which acquired him from the Miami Marlins in June 2017.Seelinger, 23, is 1-3 with a 3.03 ERA and seven saves for Class A West Virginia.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

A look at what's happening around the majors today:DEPLETED RIVALRYThe Yankees and Red Sox open a four-game series at Fenway Park with the two best records in the majors, but minus key players.Chris Sale, who tops the big leagues in strikeouts and leads the AL in ERA, had been scheduled to start for Boston. He went on the disabled list this week because of left shoulder inflammation, so Brian Johnson will pitch in his place. Johnson will face a lineup that's missing Aaron Judge — the New York slugger has a broken wrist after being hit by a pitch last week.The Red Sox lead the Yankees by 5 1/2 games in the AL East.HIS TURN-ERDodgers sparkplug Justin Turner could come off the disabled list for the series finale at home against Milwaukee. He's been out with a groin injury, and is batting .259 with five home runs and 20 RBIs in an injury-interrupted season.With Turner at third base, recently acquired Manny Machado would move over to shortstop and settle in with newcomer Brian Dozier at second... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Thursday:DEPLETED RIVALRYThe Yankees and Red Sox open a four-game series at Fenway Park with the two best records in the majors, but minus key players.Chris Sale, who tops the big leagues in strikeouts and leads the AL in ERA, had been scheduled to start for Boston. He went on the disabled list this week because of left shoulder inflammation, so Brian Johnson will pitch in his place. Johnson will face a lineup that's missing Aaron Judge — the New York slugger has a broken wrist after being hit by a pitch last week.The Red Sox lead the Yankees by 5 1/2 games in the AL East.HIS TURN-ERDodgers sparkplug Justin Turner could come off the disabled list for the series finale at home against Milwaukee. He's been out with a groin injury, and is batting .259 with five home runs and 20 RBIs in an injury-interrupted season.With Turner at third base, recently acquired Manny Machado would move over to shortstop and settle in with newcomer Brian Dozier at second... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Slick fielding shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria was designated for assignment by the Tampa Bay Rays to open a roster spot for outfielder Tommy Pham.The 29-year-old infielder was hitting .258 with three homers and 26 RBIs, and he had lost his starting role to rookie Willy Adames.Tampa Bay made the move Wednesday and has seven days to trade or release Hechavarria, who had beaten the Rays in salary arbitration last winter. If Hechavarria is released, the Rays would be responsible for the remainder of his $5.9 million salary.Hechavarria said he didn't want to talk about the decision, team spokesman Dave Haller said.Pham was obtained from St. Louis for three minor leaguers.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks have acquired right-hander Matt Andriese from the Tampa Bay Rays for minor league catcher Michael Perez and minor league righty Brian Shaffer.Andriese went 3-4 with a 4.07 ERA in 23 relief appearances and four starts for the Rays this year. He has gone at least two innings 16 times and three or more innings five times in his 23 relief appearances.Andriese is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time next winter.Tampa Bay dealt starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi earlier Wednesday to Boston for minor left-hander Jalen Beeks."I think trades will be made with more of an eye on what we have presently and how to enhance this group further," Tampa Bay general manager Erik Neander said.Tampa Bay also is thought to be mulling offers for pitcher Chris Archer, catcher Wilson Ramos and shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria.Perez has thrown out 34.8 percent of attempted base stealers. He hit .284 with six homers and 29 RBIs in 58 games at Triple-A Reno.Shaffer is 7-5 with a 2.70 ERA and 109 strikeouts over 19 starts for Class A Kane County.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

In 1964, Boston reliever Dick Radatz struck out 181 batters in 79 relief appearances, setting a mark that still stands.According to Baseball-Reference.com, it's the most strikeouts in one year for a pitcher with zero starts.Relievers were used differently back then — Radatz threw 157 innings while setting his record — but even in today's more specialized environment, Milwaukee's Josh Hader has a chance to finish the season with a staggering strikeout total. He already has 80 in 39 2/3 innings. The 24-year-old left-hander also has six saves and a 1.13 ERA in 25 games, part of a bullpen that has led the Brewers to the National League's best record.The Brewers won 86 games last season and fell a game short of the second wild card. Now they have a two-game lead over the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. Milwaukee's offense is just seventh in the league in OPS, and its starters have an ordinary ERA of 3.98. It's the relievers who have led this charge.Closer Corey Knebel missed time with a hamstring... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays have activated slick-fielding shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria from the 10-day disabled list.The 29-year-old Hechavarria had been sidelined since May 17 with a right hamstring strain. Hechavarria grabbed his leg after running out a single against the Angels.Hechavarria was in Tampa Bay's lineup Sunday against the New York Yankees. Prized prospect Willy Adames, who played nine games at shortstop while filling in for Hechavarria over two stints with the team, slid over to second.Hechavarria went 2 for 10 with an RBI during a three-game rehab stint. To make room on the roster, infielder Christian Arroyo was placed on the 10-day DL with a left oblique strain following Tampa Bay's 4-1 loss to the Yankees on Saturday.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays have recalled 22-year-old shortstop prospect Willy Adames from Triple-A Durham after placing infielder Daniel Robertson on the 10-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring.The Rays also announced Monday that pitcher Chris Archer, who has been on the 10-day disabled list with a left abdominal strain, will not pitch in a simulated game on Tuesday, as planned. Archer threw a bullpen session Saturday and had hoped to rejoin the rotation next weekend."He woke up today feeling not that great," manager Kevin Cash said, "so we're going to take a little bit more of a conservative approach."Adames played three games last month with Tampa Bay while infielder Joey Wendle was on paternity leave, and hit his first major league homer off Boston ace Chris Sale in his debut on May 22.Robertson was hurt in the first inning of Sunday's game against Seattle.Adames joins 22-year-old first baseman Jake Bauers on the big league roster. Bauers was called up... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays have recalled 22-year-old shortstop prospect Willy Adames from Triple-A Durham after placing infielder Daniel Robertson on the 10-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring.Adames played three games last month with Tampa Bay while infielder Joey Wendle was on paternity leave, and hit his first major league homer off Boston ace Chris Sale in his debut on May 22.Robertson was hurt in the first inning of Sunday's game against Seattle.Adames joins 22-year-old first baseman Jake Bauers on the big league roster. Bauers was called up last week when infielder Brad Miller was designated for assignment.Miller, dealt to Milwaukee on Sunday, joined outfield Denard Span and closer Alex Colome as veteran players traded this season by Tampa Bay.Shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria, scheduled Monday to start a minor league rehab assignment for a hamstring injury with Class A Charlotte, catcher Wilson Ramos, and pitchers Chris Archer and Nathan Eovaldi are among other veterans that might be moved before the trade deadline.Tampa Bay has dropped nine of 10 after losing to Seattle 5-4 on Sunday.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay Rays opening day starter Chris Archer, Gold Glove center fielder Kevin Kiermaier and shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria are all nearing a return from the disabled list.Archer, out since June 3 due to a left abdominal strain, is scheduled for a bullpen session Saturday and face hitters Tuesday. If all goes well, Rays manager Kevin Cash said the right-hander could be then be inserted back into the rotation.Kiermaier, sidelined since mid-April by a torn ligament in his right thumb, is lined up to start a minor league rehab assignment Tuesday with Class A Charlotte. He hopes to be around June 20."It's getting close, baby," Kiermaier said.Hechavarria, who missed 19 games with a right hamstring strain, could join Charlotte Monday.

SEATTLE (AP) — Bartolo Colon laughed off having Jean Segura's line drive hit him in the stomach, allowing four hits in 7 2/3 shutout innings and giving the Texas Rangers a 5-1 win over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday.Colon (2-1), who turns 45 on May 24, struck out two, walked none and threw 71 of 96 pitches for strikes.Delino DeShields gave Texas the lead with a two-out RBI double in the eighth inning that scored Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who had singled off James Pazos (1-1). The Rangers added four more in the ninth, all after Ryon Healy's two-out error.ASTROS 2, ANGELS 0ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Justin Verlander pitched a five-hitter for his first shutout in three years and Evan Gattis hit a two-run homer as Houston beat Los Angeles.Verlander (5-2) was superb in ending his two-game skid, finishing with seven strikeouts to reach 2,500 for his career. He walked one and lowered his ERA from 1.21 to 1.05.The right-hander threw 118 pitches in his 24th career complete game and first since 2016 with... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Bartolo Colon laughed off having Jean Segura's line drive hit him in the stomach, allowing four hits in 7 2/3 shutout innings and giving the Texas Rangers a 5-1 win over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday.Colon (2-1), who turns 45 on May 24, struck out two, walked none and threw 71 of 96 pitches for strikes.Delino DeShields gave Texas the lead with a two-out RBI double in the eighth inning that scored Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who had singled off James Pazos (1-1). The Rangers added four more in the ninth, all after Ryon Healy's two-out error.PHILLIES 4, ORIOLES 1BALTIMORE (AP) — Nick Pivetta (3-2) tied a career-high with 11 strikeouts, and Cesar Hernandez homered as Philadelphia (24-16) climbed eight games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 2011 season.Odubel Herrera singled in the first and extended his on-base streak to 42 games for the Phillies, who have won six of seven.Andrew Cashner (1-5) allowed three runs, five hits and three walks over 5 2/3 innings. He... [More]