BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Jung Ho Kang and Erik Gonzalez have won starting jobs in the infield with the Pittsburgh Pirates.General manager Neal Huntington said Monday that Kang has beaten out Colin Moran at third base and Erik Gonzalez has won the shortstop competition over Kevin Newman."It was not an easy decision because all four guys, in their own way, had legitimate claims to be the regular," Huntington said.Kang is just 5 for 28 (.185) with 13 strikeouts this spring but all five hits have been solo home runs. Moran was 6 for 28 (.214) with a double and a homer through the weekend.Moran, however, had committed four errors while Kang had two."The power has been real," manager Clint Hurdle said of Kang. "It's spring training, but it's five homers. We don't have anybody else that's hit five homers."Kang missed the entire 2017 season and the beginning of 2018 because he was unable to secure a work visa to travel from his native South Korea following a third DUI arrest. He then underwent wrist... [More]

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Jung Ho Kang and Erik Gonzalez have won starting jobs in the infield with the Pittsburgh Pirates.General manager Neal Huntington said Monday that Kang has beaten out Colin Moran at third base and Erik Gonzalez has won the shortstop competition over Kevin Newman."It was not an easy decision because all four guys, in their own way, had legitimate claims to be the regular," Huntington said.Kang is just 5 for 28 (.185) with 13 strikeouts this spring but all five hits have been solo home runs. Moran was 6 for 28 (.214) with a double and a homer through the weekend.Moran, however, had committed four errors while Kang had two."The power has been real," manager Clint Hurdle said of Kang. "It's spring training, but it's five homers. We don't have anybody else that's hit five homers."Kang missed the entire 2017 season and the beginning of 2018 because he was unable to secure a work visa to travel from his native South Korea following a third DUI arrest. He then underwent wrist... [More]

A weekly look at some of the standout players during spring training and how they might help their teams this season (through Wednesday):JACK FLAHERTY, ST. LOUIS CARDINALS, RHPThe 23-year-old struck out nine over four scoreless innings in his most recent start, including seven in a row. He was among the National League's top rookies last season, going 8-9 with a 3.34 ERA in 28 starts with 182 strikeouts in 151 innings.ALBERT PUJOLS, LOS ANGELES ANGELS, DH/1BThe three-time Most Valuable Player started with seven hits in 12 at-bats, including a double and a home run. The 39-year-old's production has declined over the past several seasons and he hit .245 with 19 homers in 117 games last year, a season cut short by knee surgery in August.FERNANDO TATIS JR., SAN DIEGO PADRES, INFThe 20-year-old is batting .318 with seven hits in 22 at-bats, including two homers, one double and one triple.CHRIS ARCHER, PITTSBURGH PIRATES, RHPHe pitched hitless innings while striking out four in his first outing... [More]

Kansas City Royals All-Star catcher Salvador Perez damaged the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, raising the possibility the 2015 World Series MVP may need Tommy John surgery and miss the season.Perez was hurt during a workout Wednesday, and the team said an MRI on Thursday revealed the damage. Perez will travel next week to California for a second opinion from Los Angeles Dodgers head team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache.The 28-year-old has been an All-Star for six straight seasons and won Gold Gloves in five of the last six years. He hit .235 last year and had 27 home runs and 80 RBIs for the second straight season. He has a $10 million salary this year and is owed $13 million in each of the following two seasons.Cam Gallagher and Meibrys Viloria are the other catchers on Kansas City's 40-man roster. Gallagher, who appeared in 35 games during the past two years, has a .218 career average with two home runs and 12 RBIs.Viloria, 22, was a September call-up last season and has... [More]

Kansas City Royals All-Star catcher Salvador Perez damaged the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, raising the possibility the 2015 World Series MVP may need Tommy John surgery and miss the season.Perez was hurt during a workout Wednesday, and the team said a MRI on Thursday revealed the damage. Perez will travel next week to California for a second opinion from Los Angeles Dodgers head team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache.The 28-year-old has been an All-Star for six straight seasons and won Gold Gloves in five of the last six years. He hit .235 last year and had 27 home runs and 80 RBIs for the second straight season. He has a $10 million salary this year and is owed $13 million in each of the following two seasons.Cam Gallagher and Meibrys Viloria are the other catchers on Kansas City's 40-man roster. Gallagher, who appeared in 35 games during the past two years, has a .218 career average with two home runs and 12 RBIs.Viloria, 22, was a September callup last season and has appeared... [More]

Kansas City Royals All-Star catcher Salvador Perez damaged the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, raising the possibility the 2015 World Series MVP may need Tommy John surgery and miss the season.Perez was hurt during a workout Wednesday, and the team said a MRI on Thursday revealed the damage. Perez will travel next week to California for a second opinion from Los Angeles Dodgers head team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache.The 28-year-old has been an All-Star for six straight seasons and won Gold Gloves in five of the last six years. He hit .235 last year and had 27 home runs and 80 RBIs for the second straight season. He has a $10 million salary this year and is owed $13 million in each of the following two seasons.Cam Gallagher and Meibrys Viloria are the other catchers on Kansas City's 40-man roster. Gallagher, who appeared in 35 games during the past two years, has a .218 career average with two home runs and 12 RBIs.Viloria, 22, was a September callup last season and has appeared... [More]

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — The sun wasn't shining on Brandon Hyde's first workout as Baltimore Orioles' manager.Rain delayed the start of workouts Wednesday for about an hour. But eventually, 15 pitchers threw bullpens and the Orioles rolled out some new cameras to help the team evaluate them.Baltimore has three confirmed starters: Dylan Bundy, Andrew Cashner and Alex Cobb. Last week, the Orioles signed Nate Karns, who didn't pitch in 2018. They hope he can be their fourth starter, and there's spirited competition for the fifth spot."I think it's pretty open," Hyde said. "It's a great opportunity for everybody in camp. A lot of jobs to be won."Few spots on a team attempting to rebound from a franchise-worst 115 loss season are accounted for."It's just going to be a ton of evaluating," the 45-year-old Hyde said.Besides Karns, David Hess and Yefry Ramirez, who finished last year in Baltimore's rotation, will be in the mix. Josh Rogers, a left-hander obtained from the New York Yankees in the trade... [More]

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — The sun wasn't shining on Brandon Hyde's first workout as Baltimore Orioles' manager.Rain delayed the start of workouts Wednesday for about an hour. But eventually, 15 pitchers threw bullpens and the Orioles rolled out some new cameras to help the team evaluate them.Baltimore has three confirmed starters: Dylan Bundy, Andrew Cashner and Alex Cobb. Last week, the Orioles signed Nate Karns, who didn't pitch in 2018. They hope he can be their fourth starter, and there's spirited competition for the fifth spot."I think it's pretty open," Hyde said. "It's a great opportunity for everybody in camp. A lot of jobs to be won."Few spots on a team attempting to rebound from a franchise-worst 115 loss season are accounted for."It's just going to be a ton of evaluating," the 45-year-old Hyde said.Besides Karns, David Hess and Yefry Ramirez, who finished last year in Baltimore's rotation, will be in the mix. Josh Rogers, a left-hander obtained from the New York Yankees in the trade... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Charlie Morton remained unbeaten this season with six solid innings, Alex Bregman and Jake Marisnick hit three-run homers and the Houston Astros defeated the Cleveland Indians 8-2 on Thursday night.Morton (7-0) allowed two runs and five hits while extending his career-best winning streak to 10 games. The right-hander, who moved into a tie for the AL lead in wins, hasn't lost since Sept. 9, 2017, against Oakland. He walked three and struck out five.Morton fell behind after Michael Brantley's two-run single in the third, but his offense gave him plenty of support. Houston scored three runs in the fifth and added five in the sixth to put the game away.Mike Clevinger (3-2) opened with four scoreless innings, but couldn't hold a 2-0 lead in the fifth. Bregman capped the inning with his fifth homer over the 19-foot high wall in left field that put Houston ahead. He added an RBI double in the sixth.ORIOLES 9, WHITE SOX 3CHICAGO (AP) — Dylan Bundy struck out a career-high 14 and... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Charlie Morton remained unbeaten this season with six solid innings, Alex Bregman and Jake Marisnick hit three-run homers and the Houston Astros defeated the Cleveland Indians 8-2 on Thursday night.Morton (7-0) allowed two runs and five hits while extending his career-best winning streak to 10 games. The right-hander, who moved into a tie for the AL lead in wins, hasn't lost since Sept. 9, 2017, against Oakland. He walked three and struck out five.Morton fell behind after Michael Brantley's two-run single in the third, but his offense gave him plenty of support. Houston scored three runs in the fifth and added five in the sixth to put the game away.Mike Clevinger (3-2) opened with four scoreless innings, but couldn't hold a 2-0 lead in the fifth. Bregman capped the inning with his fifth homer over the 19-foot high wall in left field that put Houston ahead. He added an RBI double in the sixth.ORIOLES 9, WHITE SOX 3CHICAGO (AP) — Dylan Bundy struck out a career-high 14 and... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Dylan Bundy struck out a career-high 14 and pitched a two-hitter for his second complete game in the majors, helping the Baltimore Orioles beat the Chicago White Sox 9-3 on Thursday.Adam Jones and Trey Mancini hit solo home runs as Baltimore took a 9-0 lead after three innings. Jones and Manny Machado each had three hits, and Chance Sisco drove in three runs for the last-place Orioles. They won for just the third time in nine games and improved to 6-21 on the road.Jose Rondon hit a three-run homer with two outs in the fourth for the first hit off Bundy. It was Rondon's second career homer and second in two days.Earlier in the day, White Sox catcher Welington Castillo was suspended for 80 games by Major League Baseball following a positive test for a performance-enhancing substance. The commissioner's office cited use of Erythropoietin (EPO).Bundy (3-6) had been roughed up in losing four of five previous starts, but sparkled once again in an afternoon contest. The 25-year-old... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Baltimore Orioles catcher Chance Sisco appeared to get knocked unconscious when teammate Pedro Alvarez's elbow hit him in the head while they chased a foul ball.Sisco was hurt Tuesday night during the seventh inning of the Orioles' game against the Angels.Alvarez and Sisco pursued Ian Kinsler's foul popup near the Angels' dugout. Alvarez reached out his glove and caught it, but Sisco slid into Alvarez's outstretched elbow.Sisco went down motionless, and Mike Trout immediately waved for the Orioles' training staff from the on-deck circle while the Angels' staff assisted.Sisco stayed down for several moments, but eventually sat up and then left the field to applause. He was replaced by Caleb Joseph.Sisco was born and raised in nearby Corona, California.___More AP baseball: www.apnews.com/tags/MLBbaseball

BALTIMORE (AP) — The last time the Baltimore Orioles began a season this poorly, Buck Showalter was brought in to restore order to the floundering franchise.Now, Showalter finds himself in a similar mess.Back in 2010, the Orioles stumbled to a 1-11 start and were 5-18 at the end of April. They fired manager Dave Trembley in June and continued to slide under interim manager Juan Samuel before Showalter came aboard and guided Baltimore to 34 wins in its final 57 games.Showalter has since taken the Orioles to the postseason on three occasions.This year, however, he's had to deal with a team plagued by injuries, lackluster hitting and inconsistent pitching.With guys like Anthony Santander, Danny Valencia, Chance Sisco and Craig Gentry getting significant playing time, it's no wonder Baltimore (8-20) has a minus-54 run differential and is deep in last place in the AL East.That would be acceptable if the Orioles were tanking, but they fully expected to compete for a playoff spot this season.Vice... [More]

A look at what's happening all around the majors Sunday:OHTANI UPShohei Ohtani makes his third major league start on the mound for the Los Angeles Angels, who have won seven in a row. The two-way sensation from Japan pitches at Kansas City, where the forecast calls for temperatures in the 30s and winds of 20 mph. "Playing a game like that, I don't know if I've ever experienced that cold," Ohtani said through a translator.Ohtani has twice faced the A's, going 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA in 13 innings, allowing just four hits and striking out 18. He's not expected to bat — he's hitting .367 with three home runs and 11 RBIs in 30 at-bats, mostly starting as a designated hitter.WICKED WEATHERSnow is possible at Fenway Park, rain is likely at Citi Field and cold conditions are in the forecast at Wrigley Field, raising the possibility of more postponements in a season already beset by wintry weather. The White Sox-Twins game at Target Field has already been called off — for the third straight day — with... [More]

A look at what's happening all around the majors Sunday:OHTANI UPShohei Ohtani makes his third major league start on the mound for the Los Angeles Angels, who have won seven in a row. The two-way sensation from Japan pitches at Kansas City, where the forecast calls for temperatures in the 30s and winds of 20 mph. "Playing a game like that, I don't know if I've ever experienced that cold," Ohtani said through a translator.Ohtani has twice faced the A's, going 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA in 13 innings, allowing just four hits and striking out 18. He's not expected to bat — he's hitting .367 with three home runs and 11 RBIs in 30 at-bats, mostly starting as a designated hitter.WICKED WEATHERSnow is possible at Fenway Park, rain is likely at Citi Field and cold conditions are in the forecast at Wrigley Field, raising the possibility of more postponements in a season already beset by wintry weather. The White Sox-Twins game at Target Field has already been called off — for the third straight day — with... [More]

A look at what's happening all around the majors Sunday:OHTANI UPShohei Ohtani makes his third major league start on the mound for the Los Angeles Angels, who have won seven in a row. The two-way sensation from Japan pitches at Kansas City, where the forecast calls for temperatures in the 30s and winds of 20 mph. Ohtani has twice faced the A's, going 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA in 13 innings, allowing just four hits and striking out 18. He's not expected to bat — he's hitting .367 with three home runs and 11 RBIs in 30 at-bats, mostly starting as a designated hitter.WICKED WEATHERSnow is possible at Fenway Park, rain is likely at Citi Field and cold conditions are in the forecast at Wrigley Field, raising the possibility of more postponements in a season already beset by wintry weather. The White Sox-Twins game at Target Field has already been called off — for the third straight day — with snow piling up. Rain is predicted in Detroit, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Washington, putting those matchups... [More]

A look at what's happening all around the majors Sunday:WICKED WEATHERSnow is possible at Fenway Park, rain is likely at Citi Field and cold conditions are in the forecast at Wrigley Field, raising the possibility of more postponements in a season already beset by wintry weather. The White Sox-Twins game at Target Field has already been called off — for the third straight day — with snow piling up. Rain is predicted in Detroit, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Washington, putting those matchups in jeopardy.The Cubs beat the Braves 14-10 on Saturday at Wrigley, where it was 38 degrees with a 24 mph wind and steady mist at the start. The conditions worsened as the game went on, but this was Atlanta's only visit to Chicago this season, so they finished."Baseball is not necessarily designed for this," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "I don't know to what extent in the future, maybe, they can talk about when even if it's not actually physically snowing or raining, there might be elements that are not... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts has left Saturday's game against Baltimore with a bruised left foot a couple of innings after he collided with Orioles catcher Chance Sisco on a close play.The team announced that X-rays were negative and he's day to day.Betts came around to score on Andrew Benintendi's first-inning double off the Green Monster, sliding hard into the plate and banging left legs with Sisco's shin guard as he reached across the plate to grab a relay throw.Betts stayed on his knees in apparent pain for a few seconds before getting up slowly and hobbling to the dugout. He stayed in the game and fouled out in his next at-bat in the third before being replaced by Blake Swihart at the beginning of the following inning.The 25-year-old Betts was off to a fast start for the surging Red Sox, hitting .353 in the leadoff spot with two homers and 10 RBIs.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani won his major league pitching debut, throwing three-hit ball over six innings and leading the Los Angeles Angels past the Oakland Athletics 7-4 on Sunday.The two-way star from Japan took the mound three days after he was the designated hitter in the opener. Reaching the upper-90s (mph) with his fastball and showing a nifty splitter, Ohtani struck out six and retired 14 of his final 15 batters.Ohtani didn't hit while pitching. Albert Pujols was the DH and went 0 for 5.Ohtani (1-0) pounded his glove following a 1-2-3 shutdown fifth. He walked one, and the only damage against him came on Matt Chapman's three-run homer in the second.Mike Trout hit a tying double in the fifth and Justin Upton followed with a go-ahead sacrifice fly. Keynan Middleton earned his first save.Daniel Gossett (0-1) allowed four runs in four innings for Oakland.ASTROS 8, RANGERS 2ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Gerrit Cole struck out 11 over seven innings in his Houston debut, and the defending... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — Justin Smoak hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning and a go-ahead grand slam in the eighth to rally the Toronto Blue Jays past the New York Yankees 7-4 on Sunday.After connecting off reliever Tommy Kahnle in the seventh, Smoak brought the crowd of 29,091 to its feet with his second career slam, a drive against David Robertson (0-1).Smoak went 3 for 4 with a walk and six RBIs as Toronto gained a series split, winning the final two games.Smoak's other grand slam also came against the Yankees, in 2015.Tyler Clippard (1-0) pitched a scoreless inning, and Seung Hwan Oh finished for his first save.TWINS 7, ORIOLES 0BALTIMORE (AP) — Jose Berrios pitched a three-hitter for his first career complete game, and Minnesota got two home runs from Brian Dozier in a rout of Baltimore.Only one batter reached against Berrios over the first eight innings — No. 9 hitter Chance Sisco, whose third-inning double whisked by the raised glove of left fielder Eddie Rosario at the wall.Berrios then... [More]