A team-by-team look at the National League Central entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad:___St. Louis CardinalsManager: Mike Shildt (third season). 2019: 91-71, first place, lost to Nationals in NLCS.Training Town: Jupiter, Florida.Park: Roger Dean Stadium.First Workout: Feb. 12/17. He's Here: LHP Matthew Liberatore, C Matt Wieters, LHP Kwang-Hyun Kim.He's Outta Here: OF Marcell Ozuna, RF Jose Martinez, LF Randy Arozarena, RHP Dominic Leone.Going campin': The Cardinals return largely intact after getting swept in the NLCS by World Series champion Washington. The biggest competition throughout the spring will be in the outfield, where only Dexter Fowler has a position locked up — mostly because of his contract. Center fielder Harrison Bader probably has another spot under control, and that leaves Tyler O'Neill, Lane Thomas and top prospect Dylan Carlson competing for the last... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — New Brewers shortstop Luis Urías could miss the start of the season after he had surgery Tuesday to repair a broken bone in his left hand.Urías will be sidelined for about eight weeks. He is expected to make a full recovery with no lingering effects, but general manager David Stearns said he is questionable for opening day March 26 against the Chicago Cubs.The 22-year-old Urías was acquired in a multiplayer trade with San Diego on Nov. 27. Milwaukee sent right-hander Zach Davies and outfielder Trent Grisham to the Padres for left-hander Eric Lauer and Urías, who made his big league debut in 2018. The Brewers also were slated to receive a player to be named or cash in the swap.Urías got hurt while playing winter ball in Mexico. He was expected to compete with Orlando Arcia for the shortstop job during spring training.Urías split 2019 between the Padres and Triple-A El Paso. He had two stints with the Padres, batting .223 with four homers and 24 RBIs.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SAN DIEGO (AP) — All-Star closer Kirby Yates, who led the major leagues with 41 saves, agreed Friday to a one-year contract for $7,062,500 with the San Diego Padres.Yates was named to his first All-Star team in his first full season as closer. He had 101 strikeouts in 60 2/3 innings. He and the Padres have been discussing a long-term deal.San Diego agreed to deals with all of its arbitration-eligible players. New left fielder Tommy Pham got a $7.9 million deal, right-hander Zach Davies a $5,250,000 contract and catcher Austin Hedges got $3 million.The Padres agreed with right-hander Dinelson Lamet for $1.3 million, center fielder Manuel Margot for $2,475,000, right-hander Luis Perdomo for $950,000 and left-hander Matt Strahm for $1.4 millionPham was acquired from Tampa Bay in a deal that sent slugger Hunter Renfroe to the Rays. Pham batted .273 with 21 homers, 68 RBIs, 25 stolen bases and an .818 OPS.Davies was obtained from Milwaukee with outfielder Trent Grisham for popular young second baseman Luis Urías and left-hander Eric Lauer, who was San Diego’s opening day starter in 2019. Davies was 10-7 with a 3.55 ERA in 2019.Hedges is one of the top defensive catchers in the majors but struggled so badly at the plate that he began to lose playing time to Francisco Mejía and could be relegated to backup duty. He hit only .176 with 11 home runs and a .252 on-base percentage.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Josh Lindblom's journey to the Milwaukee Brewers included a detour or two through South Korea."I haven't taken the most direct route to sitting here," Lindblom said Monday after the Brewers finalized a three-year contract for $9,125,000.A 32-year-old right-hander, Lindbloom was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second round of the 2008 amateur draft, he made six starts and 108 relief appearances from 2011-14 for the Dodgers, Philadelphia, Texas and Oakland. He signed with South Korea's Lotte Giants ahead of the 2015 season, returned to the major leagues with Pittsburgh and had four relief outings in 2017, then signed with South Korea's Doosan Bears.He went 35-7 in two seasons with a 2.68 ERA, including 20-3 with a 2.50 ERA and 0.997 WHIP in 30 starts this year. "Over the last couple of years, Josh has been as dominant as any pitcher in the world," Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns said. "He has performed at an exceptionally high level and we... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Josh Lindblom's journey to the Milwaukee Brewers included a detour or two through South Korea."I haven't taken the most direct route to sitting here," Lindblom said Monday after the Brewers finalized a three-year contract for $9,125,000.A 32-year-old right-hander, Lindbloom was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second round of the 2008 amateur draft, he made six starts and 108 relief appearances from 2011-14 for the Dodgers, Philadelphia, Texas and Oakland. He signed with South Korea's Lotte Giants ahead of the 2015 season, returned to the major leagues with Pittsburgh and had four relief outings in 2017, then signed with South Korea's Doosan Bears.He went 35-7 in two seasons with a 2.68 ERA, including 20-3 with a 2.50 ERA and 0.997 WHIP in 30 starts this year. "Over the last couple of years, Josh has been as dominant as any pitcher in the world," Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns said. "He has performed at an exceptionally high level and we... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Left-hander Brett Anderson is the latest addition to the quickly transforming Milwaukee Brewers, agreeing Friday to a $5 million, one-year contract.The 31-year-old left-hander was 13-9 with a 3.89 ERA in 31 starts with Oakland last season, when he had a $1.5 million base salary and earned $1 million in performance bonuses based on starts.“We looked at Brett as a pitcher who has proven throughout his career that when he's able to stay healthy, he's been effective,” Brewers general manager David Stearns said. “He's someone who throws strikes consistently. He keeps the ball on the ground, and we like the additional left-handed presence he gives us in our rotation.”Milwaukee has just 12 players left from the 25 on its Division Series roster against Washington.Anderson's new deal includes $1 million in performance bonuses based on innings: $200,000 for 100, $400,000 for 125, $600,000 for 150 and $800.000 for 175.Anderson has been hurt throughout his 11-year big league career.... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Left-hander Brett Anderson is the latest addition to the quickly transforming Milwaukee Brewers, agreeing Friday to a $5 million, one-year contract.The 31-year-old left-hander was 13-9 with a 3.89 ERA in 31 starts with Oakland last season, when he had a $1.5 million base salary and earned $1 million in performance bonuses based on starts.“We looked at Brett as a pitcher who has proven throughout his career that when he's able to stay healthy, he's been effective,” Brewers general manager David Stearns said. “He's someone who throws strikes consistently. He keeps the ball on the ground, and we like the additional left-handed presence he gives us in our rotation.”Milwaukee has just 12 players left from the 25 on its Division Series roster against Washington.Anderson's new deal includes $1 million in performance bonuses based on innings: $200,000 for 100, $400,000 for 125, $600,000 for 150 and $800.000 for 175.Anderson has been hurt throughout his 11-year big league career.... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The rebuilding San Diego Padres rewarded free agent Drew Pomeranz for two strong months in Milwaukee’s bullpen and addressed two big needs by acquiring right-handed starter Zach Davies and lefty outfielder Trent Grisham from the Brewers on Wednesday.They were the first big moves of the offseason for the Padres, who have lost more than 90 games for four straight seasons and haven’t been to the playoffs since 2006.San Diego and Pomeranz — an All-Star during his brief stay with the Padres in 2016 — agreed to a $34 million, four-year contract.The left-hander had a strong final two months of the season with the Brewers after being traded to Milwaukee from San Francisco. He was 0-1 with a 2.39 ERA in 25 games, including one start.Pomeranz struck out 45 and walked only eight of the 100 batters he faced"We're banking that he's found a role that really fits for him and it was a chance to get an impact performer," Padres general manager A.J. Preller said."He shortened up his repertoire... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The rebuilding San Diego Padres rewarded free agent Drew Pomeranz for two strong months in Milwaukee’s bullpen and addressed two big needs by acquiring right-handed starter Zach Davies and lefty outfielder Trent Grisham from the Brewers on Wednesday.They were the first big moves of the offseason for the Padres, who have lost more than 90 games for four straight seasons and haven’t been to the playoffs since 2006.San Diego and Pomeranz — an All-Star during his brief stay with San Diego in 2016 — agreed to a $34 million, four-year contract.The left-hander had a strong final two months of the season with the Brewers after being traded to Milwaukee from San Francisco. He was 0-1 with a 2.39 ERA in 25 games, including one start.He’ll get an $8 million signing bonus and salaries of $4 million in 2020, $6 million 2021 and $8 million in 2022 and 2023.Pomeranz spent the first half of 2016 with the Padres, going 8-7 with a 2.47 ERA and earning an All-Star berth. He was traded to... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Padres have acquired right-hander Zach Davies and outfielder Trent Grisham from the Milwaukee Brewers for infielder Luis Urías and left-hander Eric Lauer.San Diego also will send cash or another player to the Brewers to complete Wednesday’s deal.Davies was 10-7 with a 3.55 ERA in 31 starts in 2019, his fifth big league season. He made $2.6 million and is eligible for salary arbitration.Grisham made his big league debut in 2019, hitting .231 with six home runs and 24 RBIs in 51 games. He made 36 starts, playing all three outfield positions. He committed a key error in Milwaukee’s loss to Washington in the NL wild card game.Lauer, San Diego’s opening-day starter, went 8-10 with a 4.45 ERA in his second big league season.Urías split 2019 between the Padres and Triple-A El Paso. He had two stints with the Padres, batting .223 with four homers and 24 RBIs. He made his big league debut in September 2018.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ronald Acuña Jr. ignited a four-run rally with the go-ahead, two-run double, and the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves clinched a playoff berth with a 10-1 victory over the Washington Nationals on Saturday.Acuña's double down the left-field line off reliever Fernando Rodney added fuel to a dramatic seventh inning for the Braves (93-57), who reduced their magic number to four to clinch their 19th division title.Earlier in the seventh, Charlie Culberson was struck directly on the right cheekbone by a 91-mph fastball on Rodney's first pitch of the game.Culberson remained on his back for several minutes as trainers pressed a towel to his face. He was eventually helped to his feet and onto the back of a cart.The Braves have won the last 11 games started by Mike Foltynewicz (7-5), who pitched six solid innings.Wander Suero (5-8) was charged with the loss as the Washington bullpen gave up nine runs over the final four innings. The Nationals saw their lead in the NL wild card race... [More]

Padres first. Greg Garcia walks. Nick Martini lines out to second base to Pat Valaika. Manny Machado flies out to deep right field to Charlie Blackmon. Greg Garcia to third. Throwing error by Charlie Blackmon. Eric Hosmer walks. Wil Myers doubles to deep left center field. Eric Hosmer scores. Greg Garcia scores. Josh Naylor grounds out to first base, Daniel Murphy to Peter Lambert.2 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 left on. Padres 2, Rockies 0.Rockies second. Ian Desmond pops out to shallow center field to Greg Garcia. Garrett Hampson pops out to shallow infield to Eric Hosmer. Pat Valaika doubles to deep left center field. Tony Wolters doubles to deep left center field. Pat Valaika scores. Peter Lambert walks. Trevor Story singles to center field. Peter Lambert to third. Tony Wolters scores. Daniel Murphy singles to left field. Trevor Story to second. Peter Lambert scores. Nolan Arenado strikes out swinging.3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Rockies 3, Padres 2.Rockies third. Charlie Blackmon... [More]

Padres first. Greg Garcia homers to right field. Nick Martini doubles to deep right field. Manny Machado grounds out to shortstop, Brandon Crawford to Aramis Garcia. Eric Hosmer doubles to deep right field. Nick Martini scores. Josh Naylor singles to shortstop. Eric Hosmer to third. Wil Myers grounds out to shortstop. Josh Naylor out at second.2 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Padres 2, Giants 0.Giants first. Donovan Solano singles to right field. Austin Slater strikes out swinging. Kevin Pillar homers to left field. Donovan Solano scores. Evan Longoria flies out to right field to Josh Naylor. Joey Rickard flies out to center field to Wil Myers.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Padres 2, Giants 2.Padres second. Austin Allen strikes out swinging. Ty France homers to left field. Eric Lauer grounds out to third base, Evan Longoria to Aramis Garcia. Greg Garcia grounds out to first base to Aramis Garcia.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Padres 3, Giants 2.Padres sixth. Eric Hosmer triples... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Sean Rodriguez lined a home run leading off the bottom of the 11th inning to give the Philadelphia Phillies a 6-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night.Josh Bell hit a solo homer off Philadelphia closer Hector Neris to tie it at 5 in the ninth after Corey Dickerson hit a two-run shot against his former team in the eighth to give the Phillies a one-run lead.But after stranding five runners in the ninth and 10th, the Phillies won it when Rodriguez went deep against Michael Feliz (2-4) for his fourth career walk-off homer. Rodriguez was in a 1-for-21 slump before he connected.Philadelphia moved within a game of the idle Cubs for the second NL wild card.Bryce Harper homered with two outs in the eighth in his first game back from paternity leave to cut it to 4-3. After J.T. Realmuto's infield single, Dickerson ripped one out to put the Phillies ahead 5-4.Dickerson, acquired from the Pirates before the July 31 trade deadline, has 21 RBIs in 19 games for the Phillies.Brad... [More]

Dodgers third. A.J. Pollock lines out to left center field to Wil Myers. Max Muncy grounds out to shallow right field, Eric Hosmer to Eric Lauer. Justin Turner homers to center field. Cody Bellinger pops out to shallow right field to Greg Garcia.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Dodgers 1, Padres 0.Padres fourth. Greg Garcia walks. Josh Naylor grounds out to shallow infield, Dustin May to Cody Bellinger. Greg Garcia to second. Manny Machado flies out to center field to A.J. Pollock. Eric Hosmer singles to center field. Greg Garcia scores. Francisco Mejia strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Dodgers 1, Padres 1.Dodgers fifth. Max Muncy walks. Justin Turner doubles to left field. Max Muncy scores. Cody Bellinger strikes out swinging. Corey Seager flies out to left field to Wil Myers. Will Smith strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Dodgers 2, Padres 1.Dodgers sixth. Chris Taylor lines out to center field to Manuel Margot. Kike Hernandez homers to left... [More]

Padres first. Greg Garcia singles to first base. Josh Naylor walks. Greg Garcia to second. Manny Machado singles to center field. Josh Naylor to second. Greg Garcia scores. Eric Hosmer strikes out swinging. Hunter Renfroe pops out to Kyle Farmer. Francisco Mejia called out on strikes.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Padres 1, Reds 0.Reds second. Jose Peraza lines out to center field to Wil Myers. Kyle Farmer flies out to deep center field to Wil Myers. Freddy Galvis homers to center field. Tucker Barnhart singles to shallow right field. Trevor Bauer called out on strikes.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Padres 1, Reds 1.Padres fourth. Eric Hosmer grounds out to second base, Jose Iglesias to Kyle Farmer. Hunter Renfroe strikes out swinging. Francisco Mejia homers to right field. Wil Myers called out on strikes.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Padres 2, Reds 1.Padres fifth. Luis Urias called out on strikes. Travis Jankowski pinch-hitting for Eric Lauer. Travis Jankowski called out... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres have placed catcher Austin Hedges and left-hander Eric Lauer on the bereavement list.The Padres also traded reliever Phil Maton to Cleveland on Friday for international bonus pool money. Maton had been optioned to Triple-A El Paso on July 2.San Diego recalled catcher Austin Allen from Triple-A El Paso and selected the contract of right-handed reliever Andres Muñoz from Double-A Amarillo.The team announced the moves before the opener of a three-game series against the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

LOS ANGELES (AP) — An earthquake rattled Dodger Stadium in the fourth inning of the team's game against the San Diego Padres.The quake on Friday night happened when Dodgers second baseman Enriquè Hernàndez was batting. It didn't appear to affect him or Padres pitcher Eric Lauer.However, it was obvious to viewers of the SportsNet LA broadcast when the TV picture bounced up and down.The quake registered an initial magnitude of 7.1, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.There was no announcement by the stadium's public address announcer.Some fans in the upper deck appeared to leave their seats and move to a concourse at the top of the stadium.The press box lurched for about 20 seconds.The quake occurred a day after a magnitude 6.4 quake hit in the Mojave Desert about 150 miles from Los Angeles.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

A look at what's happening around the majors today:ROLLINGThe Washington Nationals go for their ninth win in 10 games when they host the Kansas City Royals in the opener of a weekend series. Washington has gone 26-10 since May 24 to move a season-high four games above .500 at 45-41. Anthony Rendon hit his 20th homer to lead the Nationals to a 5-2 victory over the last-place Marlins on Thursday, completing a three-game series sweep. Kansas City, another last-place club, has dropped four in a row and seven of eight overall. Brad Keller pitches for the Royals after he went 1-3 with a 4.76 ERA in six starts in June. Rookie right-hander Austin Voth gets the ball for the Nationals.AT THE TROPBrendan McKay makes his second career start when the Tampa Bay Rays host the New York Yankees in the second of a four-game series between the AL East's top two teams. McKay, one of baseball's top prospects, pitched six scoreless innings in a 5-2 victory over Texas in his major league debut Saturday. McKay,... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Friday:ROLLINGThe Washington Nationals go for their ninth win in 10 games when they host the Kansas City Royals in the opener of a weekend series. Washington has gone 26-10 since May 24 to move a season-high four games above .500 at 45-41. Anthony Rendon hit his 20th homer to lead the Nationals to a 5-2 victory over the last-place Marlins on Thursday, completing a three-game series sweep. Kansas City, another last-place club, has dropped four in a row and seven of eight overall. Brad Keller pitches for the Royals after he went 1-3 with a 4.76 ERA in six starts in June. Rookie right-hander Austin Voth gets the ball for the Nationals.AT THE TROPBrendan McKay makes his second career start when the Tampa Bay Rays host the New York Yankees in the second of a four-game series between the AL East's top two teams. McKay, one of baseball's top prospects, pitched six scoreless innings in a 5-2 victory over Texas in his major league debut Saturday. McKay,... [More]