Ever since Terry Francona took over as manager, the Cleveland Indians have been playoff contenders. This year has been no different, so far — even after the Indians traded their star shortstop. Cleveland sent Francisco Lindor to the New York Mets during the offseason, yet as of Monday morning, the Indians (41-33) have actually been a half-game better than the Mets (40-33) on the year. Cleveland isn't in first place like Lindor's new team, but the Indians are just 2 1/2 games behind the AL Central-leading White Sox. Shane Bieber leads the American League in strikeouts, showing that last season's Cy Young Award wasn't some two-month fluke. Aaron Civale leads the league with 10 wins, and José Ramirez has 16 home runs. The question now is whether the Indians can stay close to the White Sox despite mounting injuries. Bieber, Civale and right-hander Zach Plesac are on the injured list, and in Sunday's game, outfielder Josh Naylor was taken off on a stretcher after a collision with second baseman... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Shane Bieber's season is suddenly on pause, leaving the Indians to survive for a while without their ace. The AL's reigning Cy Young winner won't throw for at least two weeks because of a right shoulder strain, an injury that will further test Cleveland's pitching depth and could send the Indians, who have been competitive for 2 1/2 months, into a tailspin. After allowing a season-high in hits — and throwing 107 pitches over five innings — in a loss to Seattle on Sunday that dropped him to 7-4, Bieber underwent an MRI. It showed he has a subscapularis muscle strain in his right shoulder. Manager Terry Francona said Bieber will be shelved for two weeks and then re-evaluated. “We’re still obviously reaching out for more information and sending the images to different doctors and things like that, trying to get the best information we can,” Francona said. "So, for right now we know it’s no-throw for a couple of weeks.” The Indians placed Bieber on the injured list for the... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Gavin Lux hit a grand slam, Julio Urías drove in three runs to help back his gem on the mound, and the Los Angeles Dodgers pounded the San Francisco Giants 11-5 on Sunday for their eighth straight win. Urías (7-1) struck out 10 over six stellar innings to beat San Francisco for the first time in 10 career starts and 16 appearances after three no-decisions in 2020. He hit a two-run double in the second and an RBI single in the Dodgers’ seven-run third that chased Anthony DeSclafani (4-2) after 54 pitches. Lux hit his second career slam after his first came Tuesday against Arizona. Max Muncy hit a full-count homer in the fourth, going deep for a second straight day. Austin Slater hit a two-run homer for San Francisco, which lost its third straight game following a five-game winning streak. PADRES 9, MARINERS 2 SAN DIEGO (AP) — Fernando Tatis Jr. homered twice, including a 447-foot grand slam, and San Diego beat Seattle to sweep a nine-game homestand. The 22-year-old Tatis... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Gavin Lux hit a grand slam, Julio Urías drove in three runs to help back his gem on the mound, and the Los Angeles Dodgers pounded the San Francisco Giants 11-5 on Sunday for their eighth straight win. Urías (7-1) struck out 10 over six stellar innings to beat San Francisco for the first time in 10 career starts and 16 appearances after three no-decisions in 2020. He hit a two-run double in the second and an RBI single in the Dodgers’ seven-run third that chased Anthony DeSclafani (4-2) after 54 pitches. Lux hit his second career slam after his first came Tuesday against Arizona. Max Muncy hit a full-count homer in the fourth, going deep for a second straight day. Austin Slater hit a two-run homer for San Francisco, which lost its third straight game following a five-game winning streak. PADRES 9, MARINERS 2 SAN DIEGO (AP) — Fernando Tatis Jr. homered twice, including a 447-foot grand slam, and San Diego beat Seattle to sweep a nine-game homestand. The 22-year-old Tatis... [More]

DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) — Austin Meadows, Manuel Margot and Mike Brosseau drew consecutive bases-loaded walks with two outs in the ninth inning and the Tampa Bay Rays rallied for their 10th straight win, beating the Toronto Blue Jays 6-4 on Sunday. The Rays trailed 4-2 going into the ninth, but took advantage of five walks by relievers Tyler Chatwood (0-1) and Travis Bergen to send Toronto to its fifth straight loss. After a leadoff walk and a single, Brett Phillips hit an RBI single with one out that made it 4-3. Chatwood retired Randy Arozarena before walking Yandy Díaz to load the bases. Bergen entered and Meadows worked a nine-pitch walk after fouling off three 3-2 pitches, tying the score. Margot walked on five pitches to put Tampa Bay ahead and Brosseau walked on four pitches. Josh Fleming (4-3) got the win, and recently acquired J.P. Feyereisen worked the ninth for his first save. YANKEES 5, WHITE SOX 4 NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge walked against Liam Hendriks with the bases loaded in... [More]

DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) — Austin Meadows, Manuel Margot and Mike Brosseau drew consecutive bases-loaded walks with two outs in the ninth inning and the Tampa Bay Rays rallied for their 10th straight win, beating the Toronto Blue Jays 6-4 on Sunday. The Rays trailed 4-2 going into the ninth, but took advantage of five walks by relievers Tyler Chatwood (0-1) and Travis Bergen to send Toronto to its fifth straight loss. After a leadoff walk and a single, Brett Phillips hit an RBI single with one out that made it 4-3. Chatwood retired Randy Arozarena before walking Yandy Díaz to load the bases. Bergen entered and Meadows worked a nine-pitch walk after fouling off three 3-2 pitches, tying the score. Margot walked on five pitches to put Tampa Bay ahead and Brosseau walked on four pitches. Josh Fleming (4-3) got the win, and recently acquired J.P. Feyereisen worked the ninth for his first save. YANKEES 5, WHITE SOX 4 NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge walked against Liam Hendriks with the bases loaded in... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Indians’ struggling offense will be without cleanup hitter Franmil Reyes for between five and seven weeks because of an internal oblique strain. Reyes, who leads the team in RBIs and is second in home runs, was placed on the 10-day injured list before Sunday's game against Minnesota. Cleveland's designated hitter left Saturday's game with the injury, which the team initially called a strained left abdominal muscle. “We knew he’d be an IL and miss some time,” manager Terry Francona said Sunday before the team issued the detailed medical update. Reyes was injured while fouling off a pitch in the sixth inning. He underwent an MRI on Sunday morning. Reyes’ absence will be a major setback for the Indians. He has 29 RBIs and 11 homers while batting .257 in 40 games. Reyes and third baseman José Ramírez have carried Cleveland’s offense for most of the season. Reyes hit a two-run homer in the first inning Saturday. He doubled over in pain after taking a swing in the... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Indians placed cleanup hitter Franmil Reyes on the 10-day injured list Sunday because of a strained left abdominal muscle. Reyes was injured while fouling off a pitch in the sixth inning Saturday against Minnesota. He underwent an MRI on Sunday morning. The team is expected to provide a more detailed medical update before Sunday’s game, but Reyes could miss a significant amount of time. Reyes’ absence will be a major setback for Cleveland’s offense, which has struggled most of the season. He leads the Indians with 29 RBIs and is second with 11 homers as the designated hitter. Reyes and third baseman José Ramírez have carried Cleveland’s offense for most of the season. Reyes is batting .257 in 40 games. He hit a two-run homer in the first inning Saturday. Reyes doubled over in pain after taking a swing in the sixth and was replaced during the at-bat by Jordan Luplow. Infielder Owen Miller, the top hitting prospect in Cleveland’s minor league system, was called... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Corey Kluber threw the the major leagues’ sixth no-hitter this season and second in two nights, leading the New York Yankees over the Texas Rangers 2-0 on Wednesday. The 35-year-old right-hander, a two-time American League Cy Young Award winner, came within a four-pitch walk to Charlie Culberson in the third inning of twirling a perfect game. Kluber pitched his gem a night after Detroit's Spencer Turnbull threw one against Seattle, marking the first no-hitters on consecutive days since 1969. Kluber (4-2) struck out nine and and threw 71 of 101 pitches for strikes in his ninth start for the Yankees. Kluber was pitching on the mound when he was hurt after one inning last season for the Rangers, when he tore a muscle in his right shoulder on July 26 in his Texas debut. It was the 12th no-hitter in Yankees history, the 11th in the regular season and the first since David Cone’s perfect game against Montreal on July 18, 1999. It was the fifth against the Rangers, who... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Corey Kluber threw the the major leagues’ sixth no-hitter this season and second in two nights, leading the New York Yankees over the Texas Rangers 2-0 on Wednesday night. The 35-year-old right-hander, a two-time American League Cy Young Award winner, came within a four-pitch walk to Charlie Culberson in the third inning of throwing a perfect game. Kluber pitched his gem a night after Detroit's Spencer Turnbull threw one against Seattle, marking the first no-hitters on consecutive days since 1969. Kluber (4-2) struck out nine and and threw 71 of 101 pitches for strikes in his ninth start for the Yankees. Kluber was pitching on the mound when he was hurt after one inning last season for the Rangers, when he tore a muscle in his right shoulder on July 26 in his Texas debut. It was the 12th no-hitter in Yankees history, the 11th in the regular season and the first since David Cone’s perfect game against Montreal on July 18, 1999. It was the fifth against the Rangers,... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit his major league-leading 13th home run and the Los Angeles Angels defeated the slumping Cleveland Indians 7-4 on Monday night after star outfielder Mike Trout was injured early. Trout strained his right calf in the first inning. The three-time AL MVP was limping after running to third on an inning-ending popup. Angels manager Joe Maddon said Trout was undergoing further evaluation, including an MRI, and the team would know more on Tuesday. Ohtani connected off Sam Hentges (1-1) during a five-run second to give the Angels a 6-1 lead. The Japanese superstar, who hit the go-ahead homer with two outs in the ninth inning Sunday at Boston, has gone deep in consecutive games twice this season. Tony Watson (2-1), the second of seven Los Angeles pitchers, earned the win and Raisel Iglesias picked up his seventh save. Cesar Hernandez, Franmil Reyes and Harold Ramirez homered for Cleveland, which has dropped four straight. DODGERS 3, DIAMONDBACKS 1 LOS ANGELES... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Cincinnati's Wade Miley is pitching a no-hitter through eight innings against the Cleveland Indians on Friday night. The left-hander has been in control of a Cleveland team that entered the series batting just .213 but has won five straight and nine of 11. But although he's shutting down the Indians, Zach Plesac is doing the same to the Reds, who haven't scored either. The Indians didn't get a baserunner until the sixth, when Amed Rosario reached on second baseman Nick Senzel's throwing error. Senzel was actually charged with two errors on the play. Miley has thrown 106 pitches. Franmil Reyes has come the closest to getting a hit for the Indians, but his hard smash in the fifth was right at shortstop Kyle Farmer, who knocked it down and had plenty of time to throw out the slow-footed slugger. Miley, who came in just 1-4 in eight career starts against the Indians, recorded four strikeouts the first time through Cleveland's lineup. The 34-year-old Miley is bidding to throw the fourth no-hitter in the majors this season. The Indians were no-hit last month by Chicago's Carlos Rodón. Miley is in his second season with Cincinnati. He's also pitched for Houston, Milwaukee, Baltimore, Seattle, Boston and Arizona. Cincinnati's last no-hitter was by Homer Bailey in 2013 — his second with the club. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CLEVELAND (AP) — Cincinnati's Wade Miley is pitching a no-hitter through seven innings against the Cleveland Indians on Friday night. The left-hander has been in control of a Cleveland team that entered the series batting just .213 but has won five straight and nine of 11. But although he's shutting down the Indians, Zach Plesac is doing the same to the Reds, who haven't scored either. The Indians didn't get a baserunner until the sixth, when Amed Rosario reached on second baseman Nick Senzel's throwing error. Senzel was actually charged with two errors on the play. Miley has thrown 95 pitches. Franmil Reyes has come the closest to getting a hit for the Indians, but his hard smash in the fifth was right at shortstop Kyle Farmer, who knocked it down and had plenty of time to throw out the slow-footed slugger. Miley, who came in just 1-4 in eight career starts against the Indians, recorded four strikeouts the first time through Cleveland's lineup. The 34-year-old Miley is bidding to throw the fourth no-hitter in the majors this season. The Indians were no-hit last month by Chicago's Carlos Rodón. Miley is in his second season with Cincinnati. He's also pitched for Houston, Milwaukee, Baltimore, Seattle, Boston and Arizona. Cincinnati's last no-hitter was by Homer Bailey in 2013 — his second with the club. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — José Altuve responded to jeering fans by marking his 31st birthday with a go-ahead, three-run homer off Chad Green in the eighth inning, and the Houston Astros beat the New York Yankees 7-4 on Thursday to avoid a three-game sweep. Booed throughout the series by fans getting to express their anger directly at the Astros since their cheating scandal en route to the 2017 World Series title was exposed, Altuve turned on a shoulder-high 96 mph 3-2 pitch and drove it over the left-field scoreboard for a 5-3 lead. Gleyber Torres made an incredible, daring dash for the Yankees, scoring from first base on an infield single, but New York’s five-game winning streak ended. Yordan Álvarez hit a pair of solo homers off Gerrit Cole, who turned a 3-2 lead over to Green (0-3) starting the eighth. After Torres pulled the Yankees within a run in the bottom half, Martín Maldonado hit a two-run homer off Justin Wilson in the ninth, ending a streak of of 75 plate appearances without an RBI. Cole... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — José Altuve responded to jeering fans by marking his 31st birthday with a go-ahead, three-run homer off Chad Green in the eighth inning, and the Houston Astros beat the New York Yankees 7-4 on Thursday to avoid a three-game sweep. Booed throughout the series by fans getting to express their anger directly at the Astros since their cheating scandal en route to the 2017 World Series title was exposed, Altuve turned on a shoulder-high 96 mph 3-2 pitch and drove it over the left-field scoreboard for a 5-3 lead. Gleyber Torres made an incredible, daring dash for the Yankees, scoring from first base on an infield single, but New York’s five-game winning streak ended. Yordan Álvarez hit a pair of solo homers off Gerrit Cole, who turned a 3-2 lead over to Green (0-3) starting the eighth. After Torres pulled the Yankees within a run in the bottom half, Martín Maldonado hit a two-run homer off Justin Wilson in the ninth, ending a streak of of 75 plate appearances without an RBI. Cole... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — José Altuve responded to jeering fans by marking his 31st birthday with a go-ahead, three-run homer off Chad Green in the eighth inning, and the Houston Astros beat the New York Yankees 7-4 on Thursday to avoid a three-game sweep. Booed throughout the series by fans getting to express their anger directly at the Astros since their cheating scandal en route to the 2017 World Series title was exposed, Altuve turned on a shoulder-high 96 mph 3-2 pitch and drove it over the left-field scoreboard for a 5-3 lead. Gleyber Torres made an incredible, daring dash for the Yankees, scoring from first base on an infield single, but New York’s five-game winning streak ended. Yordan Álvarez hit a pair of solo homers off Gerrit Cole, who turned a 3-2 lead over to Green (0-3) starting the eighth. After Torres pulled the Yankees within a run in the bottom half, Martín Maldonado hit a two-run homer off Justin Wilson in the ninth, ending a streak of of 75 plate appearances without an RBI. Cole... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — José Altuve responded to jeering fans by marking his 31st birthday with a go-ahead, three-run homer off Chad Green in the eighth inning, and the Houston Astros beat the New York Yankees 7-4 on Thursday to avoid a three-game sweep. Booed throughout the series by fans getting to express their anger directly at the Astros since their cheating scandal en route to the 2017 World Series title was exposed, Altuve turned on a shoulder-high 96 mph 3-2 pitch and drove it over the left-field scoreboard for a 5-3 lead. Gleyber Torres made an incredible, daring dash for the Yankees, scoring from first base on an infield single, but New York’s five-game winning streak ended. Yordan Álvarez hit a pair of solo homers off Gerrit Cole, who turned a 3-2 lead over to Green (0-3) starting the eighth. After Torres pulled the Yankees within a run in the bottom half, Martín Maldonado hit a two-run homer off Justin Wilson in the ninth, ending a streak of of 75 plate appearances without an RBI. Cole... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Huascar Ynoa (3-1) hit a grand slam and allowed an unearned run and four hits in seven innings, leading the Atlanta Braves to a 6-1 victory over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night. Ynoa drove a fastball from Tanner Rainey 427 feet to center field in the sixth inning for the first grand slam by a major league pitcher since Cincinnati’s Anthony DeSclafani on June 23, 2018. Ronald Acuña Jr. also homered for the Braves, breaking a scoreless tie in the fifth against Joe Ross (2-2). Atlanta stopped a four-game skid while ending Washington’s four-game winning streak. YANKEES 7, ASTROS 3 NEW YORK (AP) — Boos and bad words streamed loudly from the seats in Houston’s return to Yankee Stadium, and New York got a homer and four hits from Giancarlo Stanton to sate those spiteful fans. In Houston’s first visit to the Bronx since its sign-stealing scam was exposed, an error by Astros third baseman Alex Bregman in the sixth inning let New York blow the game open. A pandemic-limited,... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Huascar Ynoa (3-1) hit a grand slam and allowed an unearned run and four hits in seven innings, leading the Atlanta Braves to a 6-1 victory over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night. Ynoa drove a fastball from Tanner Rainey 427 feet to center field in the sixth inning for the first grand slam by a major league pitcher since Cincinnati’s Anthony DeSclafani on June 23, 2018. Ronald Acuña Jr. also homered for the Braves, breaking a scoreless tie in the fifth against Joe Ross (2-2). Atlanta stopped a four-game skid while ending Washington’s four-game winning streak. MARLINS 9, DIAMONDBACKS 3 MIAMI (AP) — NL RBIs leader Jesús Aguilar delivered a tiebreaking single in a six-run eighth against Kevin Ginkel (0-1) following Miguel Rojas' double, Corey Dickerson followed with an infield single, and catcher Stephen Vogt’s throwing error allowed Aguilar to score all the way from first. Lewis Brinson added a three-run homer off Alex Young. Richard Bleier (2-0) came out of the... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Huascar Ynoa (3-1) hit a grand slam and allowed an unearned run and four hits in seven innings, leading the Atlanta Braves to a 6-1 victory over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night. Ynoa drove a fastball from Tanner Rainey 427 feet to center field in the sixth inning for the first grand slam by a major league pitcher since Cincinnati’s Anthony DeSclafani on June 23, 2018. Ronald Acuña Jr. also homered for the Braves, breaking a scoreless tie in the fifth against Joe Ross (2-2). Atlanta stopped a four-game skid while ending Washington’s four-game winning streak. MARLINS 9, DIAMONDBACKS 3 MIAMI (AP) — NL RBIs leader Jesús Aguilar delivered a tiebreaking single in a six-run eighth against Kevin Ginkel (0-1) following Miguel Rojas' double, Corey Dickerson followed with an infield single, and catcher Stephen Vogt’s throwing error allowed Aguilar to score all the way from first. Lewis Brinson added a three-run homer off Alex Young. Richard Bleier (2-0) came out of the... [More]