NEW YORK (AP) — Madison Bumgarner was among 10 free agents who received $17.8 million qualifying offers from their former teams on Monday, a move that likely will decrease demand for the 30-year-old left-hander.Bumgarner, the 2014 World Series MVP, went 9-9 with a 3.90 ERA over 34 starts this year after two injury-shortened seasons. San Francisco also made a qualifying offer to left-handed reliever Will Smith.Six pitchers received the qualifying offers among the 168 free agents, including right-handers Gerrit Cole (Houston), Stephen Strasburg (Washington), Zack Wheeler (New York Mets) and Jake Odorizzi (Minnesota). The others given the offers were third basemen Anthony Rendon (Washington) and Josh Donaldson (Atlanta), first baseman José Abreu (Chicago White Sox) and outfielder Marcell Ozuna (St. Louis).On the day before free agents can start negotiating contracts with all teams, Red Sox designated hitter J.D. Martinez decided to stay in Boston instead of becoming a free agent, declining... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Madison Bumgarner was among 10 free agents who received $17.8 million qualifying offers from their former teams on Monday, a move that likely will decrease demand for the 30-year-old left-hander.Bumgarner, the 2014 World Series MVP, went 9-9 with a 3.90 ERA over 34 starts this year after two injury-shortened seasons. San Francisco also made a qualifying offer to left-handed reliever Will Smith.Six pitchers received the qualifying offers, including right-handers Gerrit Cole (Houston), Stephen Strasburg (Washington), Zack Wheeler (New York Mets) and Jake Odorizzi (Minnesota). The others given the offers were third basemen Anthony Rendon (Washington) and Josh Donaldson (Atlanta), first baseman José Abreu (Chicago White Sox) and outfielder Marcell Ozuna (St. Louis).On the day before free agents can start negotiating contracts with all teams, Red Sox designated hitter J.D. Martinez decided to stay in Boston instead of becoming a free agent, declining an option that would have... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Brewers cut $15 million in payroll for next season, trading right-hander Chase Anderson to the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday for prospect Chad Spanberger and declining a $7.5 million option on first baseman Eric Thames.Anderson was 8-4 with a 4.21 ERA in 27 starts and five relief appearances. Milwaukee had planned to decline his $8.5 million option, which would have made him eligible for salary arbitration.Thames, who turns 33 on Sunday, hit .247 with 25 homers and 61 RBIs in 149 games last season. He will receive a $1 million buyout.Signed to $16 million, three-year contract after establishing himself in the South Korean League, Thames hit 59 homers in three seasons with Milwaukee.While Thames does not have six years of major league service, his contract included a provision stating he would become a free agent when the deal ended."We'll continue to be in touch with Eric and his agent and we'll see if there's a fit at some point later in the offseason but at this point,... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Brewers cut $15 million in payroll for next season, trading right-hander Chase Anderson to the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday for prospect Chad Spanberger and declining a $7.5 million option on first baseman Eric Thames.Anderson was 8-4 with a 4.21 ERA in 27 starts and five relief appearances. Milwaukee had planned to decline his $8.5 million option, which would have made him eligible for salary arbitration.Thames, who turns 33 on Sunday, hit .247 with 25 homers and 61 RBIs in 149 games last season. He will receive a $1 million buyout.Signed to $16 million, three-year contract after establishing himself in the South Korean League, Thames hit 59 homers in three seasons with Milwaukee.While Thames does not have six years of major league service, his contract included a provision stating he would become a free agent when the deal ended."We'll continue to be in touch with Eric and his agent and we'll see if there's a fit at some point later in the offseason but at this point,... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Sunday:PROBABLE — BUT NOT DEFINITEWith Washington and the Los Angeles Dodgers tied 1-1 in their NL Division Series, Nationals ace Max Scherzer is scheduled to start Game 3 at home on Sunday.Scherzer threw 77 pitches over the first five innings of the NL wild card game against Milwaukee on Tuesday and allowed three runs and four hits — including Yasmani Grandal's two-run homer in the first and Eric Thames' solo drive in the second.He returned on two days' rest Friday to make his fourth career postseason relief appearance, striking out the side in the eighth inning to help Washington win 4-2."I felt I could really go one inning and recover from that," Scherzer said.In the event Scherzer can't start, manager Dave Martinez indicated right-hander Anibal Sánchez replace him.Left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu starts for the Dodgers.THE (WAINW)RIGHT STUFFAdam Wainwright starts for the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday against Atlanta, the team that selected him in... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Trent Grisham's eyes were still red, his cheeks stained by tears, as a group of Milwaukee Brewers teammates gathered near his locker in the visitors' clubhouse at Nationals Park to offer hugs and words of encouragement.Everything was going according to plan for manager Craig Counsell and the Brewers — get a lead, mix and match with the bullpen — until, suddenly, it wasn't. Milwaukee was undone by wildness from closer Josh Hader and an error by Grisham in right field that allowed the go-ahead run to score with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning.It added up to a gut-punch of a 4-3, season-ending loss to the Washington Nationals in the NL wild-card game Tuesday night."It's going to sting. It's going to sting for a long time. Essentially gifting the Nationals a Divisional (Series) berth," Grisham said. "It's going to hurt. I expect it to hurt."He is a 22-year-old rookie who debuted Aug. 1 and played in only 51 major league games this season, taking over in right primarily... [More]

Brewers first. Trent Grisham walks. Yasmani Grandal homers to right field. Trent Grisham scores. Mike Moustakas lines out to deep left field to Juan Soto. Keston Hiura strikes out swinging. Ryan Braun grounds out to third base, Anthony Rendon to Howie Kendrick.2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Brewers 2, Nationals 0.Brewers second. Eric Thames homers to center field. Lorenzo Cain grounds out to third base, Anthony Rendon to Howie Kendrick. Orlando Arcia singles to right field. Brandon Woodruff out on a sacrifice bunt to shallow infield, Howie Kendrick to Asdrubal Cabrera. Orlando Arcia to second. Trent Grisham strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Brewers 3, Nationals 0.Nationals third. Victor Robles called out on strikes. Max Scherzer grounds out to shortstop, Orlando Arcia to Eric Thames. Trea Turner homers to center field. Adam Eaton pops out to shortstop to Orlando Arcia.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Brewers 3, Nationals 1.Nationals eighth. Victor Robles strikes... [More]

A look at the National League wild-card game between the Milwaukee Brewers and Washington Nationals:___Schedule: Tuesday, at Washington, 8:08 p.m. EDT (TBS).___Season Series: Brewers won 4-2.___Projected Lineups:Brewers: RF Trent Grisham (.231, 6 HRs, 24 RBIs), C Yasmani Grandal (.246, 28, 77, 109 walks), 3B Mike Moustakas (.254, 35, 87), LF Ryan Braun (.285, 22, 75), 2B Keston Hiura (.303, 19, 49), 1B Eric Thames (.247, 25, 61), CF Lorenzo Cain (.260, 11, 48) or Ben Gamel (.248, 7, 33), SS Orlando Arcia (.223, 15, 59).Nationals: SS Trea Turner (.298, 19, 57, 37 2Bs, 35 SBs, 96 runs), RF Adam Eaton (.279, 15, 49, 15 SBs, 103 runs), 3B Anthony Rendon (.319, 34, 126, 44 2Bs, 117 runs, 1.010 OPS), LF Juan Soto (.282, 34, 110, 110 runs, .949 OPS), 1B Howie Kendrick (.344, 17, 62), 2B Asdrúbal Cabrera (.235, 12, 51 in 93 games with Texas; .323, 6, 40 in 38 games with Washington), CF Victor Robles (.255, 17, 65, 28 SBs), C Kurt Suzuki (.264, 17, 63).___Starting Pitchers:Brewers: RH Brandon Woodruff... [More]

Brewers first. Trent Grisham walks. Yasmani Grandal homers to center field. Trent Grisham scores. Mike Moustakas grounds out to first base to Josh Fuentes. Keston Hiura strikes out swinging. Eric Thames grounds out to first base to Josh Fuentes.2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Brewers 2, Rockies 0.Brewers sixth. Hernan Perez pinch-hitting for Mike Moustakas. Hernan Perez homers to center field. Keston Hiura called out on strikes. Tyler Austin pinch-hitting for Eric Thames. Tyler Austin doubles to deep right field. Cory Spangenberg grounds out to shallow infield, Sam Howard to Josh Fuentes. Orlando Arcia hit by pitch. Ben Gamel strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Brewers 3, Rockies 0.Rockies seventh. Ryan McMahon grounds out to shallow infield, Corbin Burnes to Tyler Austin. Raimel Tapia singles to left center field. Josh Fuentes singles to left center field. Raimel Tapia scores. Pat Valaika singles to right field. Josh Fuentes to third. Tony Wolters grounds out to... [More]

Brewers fifth. Eric Thames homers to right field. Lorenzo Cain strikes out swinging. Ben Gamel strikes out swinging. Orlando Arcia singles to center field. Gio Gonzalez reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Orlando Arcia out at second.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Brewers 1, Rockies 0.Brewers seventh. Eric Thames grounds out to first base to Josh Fuentes. Lorenzo Cain doubles to deep left field. Ben Gamel singles to center field. Orlando Arcia doubles to deep right field. Ben Gamel scores. Travis Shaw pinch-hitting for Brent Suter. Travis Shaw called out on strikes.1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Brewers 2, Rockies 0.Rockies eighth. Trevor Story strikes out swinging. Ian Desmond homers to center field. Ryan McMahon strikes out swinging. Josh Fuentes strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Brewers 2, Rockies 1.Rockies ninth. Yonathan Daza lines out to third base to Mike Moustakas. Pat Valaika pinch-hitting for DJ Johnson. Pat Valaika strikes out swinging. Sam Hilliard pinch-hitting for Tony Wolters. Sam Hilliard homers to left field. Garrett Hampson singles to right field. Charlie Blackmon strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Brewers 2, Rockies 2.Rockies tenth. Trevor Story homers to right field.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Rockies 3, Brewers 2.

Brewers first. Trent Grisham singles to right field. Keston Hiura hit by pitch. Trent Grisham to second. Yasmani Grandal lines out to shortstop to Trevor Story. Keston Hiura doubled off first. Ryan Braun singles to shallow center field. Trent Grisham scores. Eric Thames lines out to first base to Daniel Murphy.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Brewers 1, Rockies 0.Rockies third. Sam Hilliard doubles to deep center field. Tony Wolters singles to center field, advances to 2nd. Sam Hilliard scores. Antonio Senzatela out on a sacrifice bunt to shallow infield, Zach Davies to Keston Hiura. Tony Wolters to third. Garrett Hampson flies out to right field to Trent Grisham. Charlie Blackmon lines out to left field to Ben Gamel.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Brewers 1, Rockies 1.Brewers fourth. Eric Thames flies out to deep left center field to Sam Hilliard. Lorenzo Cain homers to left field. Cory Spangenberg grounds out to first base to Daniel Murphy. Orlando Arcia grounds out to shortstop,... [More]

Reds first. Jose Peraza pops out to Eric Thames. Joey Votto called out on strikes. Aristides Aquino homers to left field. Josh VanMeter walks. Phillip Ervin strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Reds 1, Brewers 0.Brewers fourth. Yasmani Grandal walks. Keston Hiura walks. Yasmani Grandal to second. Manny Pina called out on strikes. Cory Spangenberg reaches on a fielder's choice to first base. Keston Hiura out at second. Yasmani Grandal to third. Travis Shaw walks. Orlando Arcia doubles to left center field. Travis Shaw scores. Cory Spangenberg scores. Yasmani Grandal scores. Ben Gamel doubles to deep left field. Orlando Arcia scores. Chase Anderson strikes out swinging.4 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Brewers 4, Reds 1.Brewers fifth. Trent Grisham flies out to right center field to Aristides Aquino. Yasmani Grandal walks. Keston Hiura singles to center field. Yasmani Grandal to second. Manny Pina doubles to deep left field. Keston Hiura out at home. Yasmani Grandal... [More]

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers wrapped up their second straight postseason appearance Wednesday night, with Ryan Braun's grand slam sparking a 9-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds that also tightened the NL Central race.The Brewers have won six in a row and 17 of 19 despite losing MVP Christian Yelich to a broken kneecap, vaulting from also-ran to at least a wild card. There's more at their fingertips — the division-leading Cardinals lost again, slicing their lead over the Brewers to 1 1/2 games.Milwaukee trails Washington by one game for the wild card lead.The Brewers jogged onto the field and formed a scrum by second base after when Junior Guerra got Christian Colon on a grounder for the final out.Braun had a solo shot in a 4-2 win in the series opener, and got the celebration started early Wednesday with his eighth career grand slam in the first inning. Teammates were on their feet, leaning against the dugout railing in anticipation of a big night, when he connected off Tyler... [More]

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers wrapped up their second straight postseason appearance Wednesday night, with Ryan Braun's grand slam sparking a 9-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds that also tightened the NL Central race.The Brewers have won six in a row and 17 of 19 despite losing MVP Christian Yelich to a broken kneecap, vaulting from also-ran to at least a wild card. There's more at their fingertips — the division-leading Cardinals lost again, slicing their lead over the Brewers to 1 1/2 games.Milwaukee trails Washington by one game for the wild card lead.The Brewers jogged onto the field and formed a scrum by second base after when Junior Guerra got Christian Colon on a grounder for the final out.Braun had a solo shot in a 4-2 win in the series opener, and got the celebration started early Wednesday with his eighth career grand slam in the first inning. Teammates were on their feet, leaning against the dugout railing in anticipation of a big night, when he connected off Tyler... [More]

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers wrapped up their second straight postseason appearance Wednesday night, with Ryan Braun's grand slam sparking a 9-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds that also tightened the NL Central race.The Brewers have won six in a row and 17 of 19 despite losing MVP Christian Yelich to a broken kneecap, vaulting from also-ran to at least a wild card. There's more at their fingertips — the division-leading Cardinals lost again, slicing their lead over the Brewers to 1 1/2 games.Milwaukee trails Washington by one game for the wild card lead.The Brewers jogged onto the field and formed a scrum by second base after when Junior Guerra got Christian Colon on a grounder for the final out.Braun had a solo shot in a 4-2 win in the series opener, and got the celebration started early Wednesday with his eighth career grand slam in the first inning. Teammates were on their feet, leaning against the dugout railing in anticipation of a big night, when he connected off Tyler... [More]

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers wrapped up their second straight postseason appearance Wednesday night, with Ryan Braun's grand slam sparking a 9-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds that also tightened the NL Central race.The Brewers have won six in a row and 17 of 19 despite losing MVP Christian Yelich to a broken kneecap, vaulting from also-ran to at least a wild card. There's more at their fingertips — the division-leading Cardinals lost again, slicing their lead over the Brewers to 1 1/2 games.Milwaukee trails Washington by one game for the wild card lead.The Brewers jogged onto the field and formed a scrum by second base after when Junior Guerra got Christian Colon on a grounder for the final out.Braun had a solo shot in a 4-2 win in the series opener, and got the celebration started early Wednesday with his eighth career grand slam in the first inning. Teammates were on their feet, leaning against the dugout railing in anticipation of a big night, when he connected off Tyler... [More]

Brewers first. Trent Grisham lines out to third base to Eugenio Suarez. Yasmani Grandal walks. Mike Moustakas walks. Yasmani Grandal to second. Keston Hiura singles to right field. Mike Moustakas to second. Yasmani Grandal to third. Ryan Braun homers to center field. Keston Hiura scores. Mike Moustakas scores. Yasmani Grandal scores. Eric Thames homers to center field. Lorenzo Cain singles to center field. Cory Spangenberg singles to left field. Lorenzo Cain to second. Jordan Lyles singles to shortstop. Cory Spangenberg to second. Lorenzo Cain to third. Trent Grisham reaches on a fielder's choice to first base. Jordan Lyles out at second. Cory Spangenberg to third. Lorenzo Cain scores. Yasmani Grandal strikes out swinging.6 runs, 6 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Brewers 6, Reds 0.Reds first. Josh VanMeter flies out to deep center field to Lorenzo Cain. Joey Votto strikes out swinging. Eugenio Suarez homers to left field. Aristides Aquino strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on.... [More]

Reds first. Phillip Ervin grounds out to shortstop, Orlando Arcia to Eric Thames. Joey Votto doubles to deep right field. Eugenio Suarez called out on strikes. Aristides Aquino doubles to left center field. Joey Votto scores. Tucker Barnhart singles to left field. Aristides Aquino scores. Jose Iglesias reaches on a fielder's choice to third base. Tucker Barnhart out at second.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Reds 2, Brewers 0.Brewers second. Keston Hiura strikes out swinging. Ryan Braun homers to center field. Eric Thames strikes out swinging. Lorenzo Cain flies out to center field to Phillip Ervin.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Reds 2, Brewers 1.Brewers third. Orlando Arcia singles to right center field. Adrian Houser out on a sacrifice bunt to shallow infield, Eugenio Suarez to Jose Peraza. Orlando Arcia to second. Trent Grisham walks. Yasmani Grandal doubles to deep right field. Trent Grisham to third. Orlando Arcia scores. Mike Moustakas walks. Keston Hiura out on a sacrifice... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — George Springer hit a career-high three homers, Justin Verlander posted his MLB-leading 20th win and the Houston Astros clinched their third straight AL West title in grand fashion, routing the Los Angeles Angels 13-5 on Sunday.A crowd at Minute Maid Park that was cheering from Verlander's first pitch got even louder as Springer homered three times in the first four innings. The Astros kept breaking away and improved to 102-54, a half-game ahead of the New York Yankees for the best record in the majors.After the final out, the Astros held a bouncing group hug in the middle of the diamond and posed for a team picture. It hasn't been determined who they will face in the playoffs as they try for their second World Series championship in three years.Springer, the MVP of the 2017 World Series, had two chances to tie the big league record for home runs in a game. He popped up with the bases loaded in the fifth and grounded out in the seventh.Verlander (20-6) yielded six hits and... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — George Springer hit a career-high three homers, Justin Verlander posted his MLB-leading 20th win and the Houston Astros clinched their third straight AL West title in grand fashion, routing the Los Angeles Angels 13-5 on Sunday.A crowd at Minute Maid Park that was cheering from Verlander's first pitch got even louder as Springer homered three times in the first four innings. The Astros kept breaking away and improved to 102-54, a half-game ahead of the New York Yankees for the best record in the majors.After the final out, the Astros held a bouncing group hug in the middle of the diamond and posed for a team picture. It hasn't been determined who they will face in the playoffs as they try for their second World Series championship in three years.Springer, the MVP of the 2017 World Series, had two chances to tie the big league record for home runs in a game. He popped up with the bases loaded in the fifth and grounded out in the seventh.Verlander (20-6) yielded six hits and... [More]