ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Left-hander Alex Claudio agreed to a one-year, $1.125 million contract Wednesday with the Los Angeles Angels, adding the sidearm reliever to their bullpen makeover. Claudio has appeared in 239 games over the past four seasons with Texas and Milwaukee, third most by a pitcher in the majors during that stretch. He led the sport in 2019 with 83 appearances for the Brewers, tying their franchise record. “Having a quality lefty is important, especially in our ballpark with a shorter right field,” new Angels general manager Perry Minasian said. “He has the ability to keep the ball in the ballpark against the opposite side, which is really important. From a mentality and a makeup side, one of the things we’re looking for is competitive guys, and this is as competitive a guy as you’ll see.” Claudio is 15-8 with 13 saves and a 3.44 ERA in his major league career, which began with the Rangers in 2014. He is particularly effective against left-handed batters, who have a .202... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels acquired veteran shortstop José Iglesias from the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday in a trade for minor league right-handers Garrett Stallings and Jean Pinto. Iglesias batted .373 with three homers and 17 RBIs in 39 games with the Orioles last season. He struggled with injuries, but posted the highest average in the majors among players with at least 100 plate appearances. New Angels general manager Perry Minasian expects Iglesias to be an everyday player next season as the long-struggling Angels attempt to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2014. “We feel really confident that he’s a starting-caliber shortstop that’s going to bring a lot to the table both in the clubhouse and on the field,” Minasian said. “I think he’s really come into his own over the last couple of years. He had an outstanding season for Baltimore. He's an outstanding defender, and he puts the ball in play." The Angels picked the 23-year-old Stallings in the fifth... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels have acquired veteran shortstop José Iglesias from the Baltimore Orioles in a trade for minor league right-handers Garrett Stallings and Jean Pinto. The clubs announced the deal Wednesday. Iglesias batted .373 with three homers and 17 RBIs in 39 games with the Orioles last season. He struggled with injuries, but posted the highest average in the majors among players with at least 100 plate appearances. Baltimore exercised its $3.5 million option on Iglesias for 2021 last month. He is joining his fifth big league club after nine seasons spent with Boston, Detroit — where he made the All-Star team in 2015 — Cincinnati and Baltimore. Iglesias' arrival all but confirms the departure of Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons, who spent the past five seasons playing the position in Anaheim. Los Angeles also could move second baseman David Fletcher full-time to his original position at shortstop, although Iglesias has played only one career game at second... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Perry Minasian had never been interviewed for a general manager job before he joined the field of 40 candidates hoping to take over the Los Angeles Angels last month. The 40-year-old Braves assistant GM went through several rounds of lengthy Zoom interviews and emerged as a finalist. After more lengthy conversations with owner Arte Moreno and the Angels' top brass, Minasian landed the responsibility to build a big-budget roster that can finally get Mike Trout's first playoff victory. During his formal introduction at Angel Stadium on Tuesday, Minasian described the Halos' audition process as “grueling, to some extent.” That's not a negative to a baseball lifer who has been waiting for this chance since he was an 8-year-old batboy for the Texas Rangers. “You start asking me baseball questions, you’d better take a seat and get comfortable,” Minasian said. The Angels' 13th general manager already has strong opinions about the immediate prospects for the Angels, who are... [More]

Total points on a 7-4-3-2-1 basisPlayer1st2nd3rd4th5thTotShane Bieber, Indians30----210Kenta Maeda, Twins-1842492Hyun-Jin Ryu, Blue Jays-475451Gerrit Cole, Yankees-2610450Dallas Keuchel, White Sox-545446Lance Lynn, Rangers-134122Lucas Giolito, White Sox--32518Chris Bassitt, Athletics--21210Dylan Bundy, Angels--1-25Liam Hendriks, Athletics---135Framber Valdez, Astros----11

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Several weeks after stumbling out to another miserable start in another dismal season, the Los Angeles Angels finally clicked. They were among the majors' best teams in September, with a pitching staff that finally backed their star-studded offense. Products of a once-barren farm system supplemented their superstars during an impressive four-week surge that brought the Angels back into the playoff picture. The Halos (26-34) clicked about one week too late to save their fifth consecutive losing season. A team with a stacked lineup and a huge payroll missed the postseason for the sixth straight year, finishing in a tie for 10th in the AL. “You look at this team we have right now, it could have been a different story if we played a full season,” three-time AL MVP Mike Trout said. “We just got hot a little late, and we fell short.” It also seems the Angels got it together just barely too late to save the job of general manager Billy Eppler, who got a contract extension... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Carlos Santana’s two-run homer snapped a tie and José Ramírez homered again as the Cleveland Indians moved closer to clinching a playoff berth — and delayed Chicago’s likely AL Central title — with a 7-4 win over the White Sox on Monday night. The Indians cut their magic number to one and would lock up one of the eight postseason spots if Seattle loses to Houston later Monday. After the White Sox scored four times in the fifth inning against Aaron Civale (4-5), Santana came to the plate in the bottom half. With Ramirez on first after a one-out walk, Santana pulled a 2-1 sinker from Jace Fry (0-1) over the left-field wall and into the empty bleachers to make it 6-4. Nick Wittgren struck out the side in the seventh and James Karinchak worked the eighth before Brad Hand pitched the ninth for his 14th save in 14 tries. Eloy Jiménez hit his 14th homer of the season for the White Sox.. ANGELS 8, RANGERS 5 ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Jared Walsh hit his first career grand slam during... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers became the first team to clinch a playoff spot in the pandemic-shortened season, beating the San Diego Padres 7-5 Wednesday behind Dustin May’s gutty effort out of the bullpen and home runs from AJ Pollock and Chris Taylor. Will Smith drove in three runs for the seven-time defending NL West champion Dodgers, who opened a 3 1/2-game lead in the division by winning two of three in the matchup of the NL’s two best teams. Mookie Betts tied his career high with three stolen bases, had two hits and scored a run. At 35-15, the Dodgers breezed into the expanded 16-team postseason field. Los Angeles is seeking its first World Series title since 1988. San Diego has lost two straight for the first time since mid-August. Manny Machado hit a solo homer in the eighth, his 14th of the season. Starter Brusdar Gasterol allowed a hit and a run in 1 1/3 innings before Adam Kolarek (3-0) allowed a hit and two walks in two-thirds of an inning. Pedro Baez got the final... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers became the first team to clinch a playoff spot in the pandemic-shortened season, beating the San Diego Padres 7-5 Wednesday behind Dustin May’s gutty effort out of the bullpen and home runs from AJ Pollock and Chris Taylor.Will Smith drove in three runs for the seven-time defending NL West champion Dodgers, who opened a 3 1/2-game lead in the division by winning two of three in the matchup of the NL’s two best teams.Mookie Betts tied his career high with three stolen bases, had two hits and scored a run.At 35-15, the Dodgers breezed into the expanded 16-team postseason field. Los Angeles is seeking its first World Series title since 1988.San Diego has lost two straight for the first time since mid-August.Manny Machado hit a solo homer in the eighth, his 14th of the season.Starter Brusdar Gasterol allowed a hit and a run in 1 1/3 innings before Adam Kolarek (3-0) allowed a hit and two walks in two-thirds of an inning. Pedro Baez got the final two... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers became the first team to clinch a playoff spot in the pandemic-shortened season, beating the San Diego Padres 7-5 Wednesday behind Dustin May’s gutty effort out of the bullpen and home runs from AJ Pollock and Chris Taylor.Will Smith drove in three runs for the seven-time defending NL West champion Dodgers, who opened a 3 1/2-game lead in the division by winning two of three in the matchup of the NL’s two best teams.Mookie Betts tied his career high with three stolen bases, had two hits and scored a run.At 35-15, the Dodgers breezed into the expanded 16-team postseason field. Los Angeles is seeking its first World Series title since 1988.San Diego has lost two straight for the first time since mid-August.Manny Machado hit a solo homer in the eighth, his 14th of the season.Starter Brusdar Gasterol allowed a hit and a run in 1 1/3 innings before Adam Kolarek (3-0) allowed a hit and two walks in two-thirds of an inning. Pedro Baez got the final two... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers became the first team to clinch a playoff spot in the pandemic-shortened season, beating the San Diego Padres 7-5 Wednesday behind Dustin May’s gutty effort out of the bullpen and home runs from AJ Pollock and Chris Taylor.Will Smith drove in three runs for the seven-time defending NL West champion Dodgers, who opened a 3 1/2-game lead in the division by winning two of three in the matchup of the NL’s two best teams.Mookie Betts tied his career high with three stolen bases, had two hits and scored a run.At 35-15, the Dodgers breezed into the expanded 16-team postseason field. Los Angeles is seeking its first World Series title since 1988.San Diego has lost two straight for the first time since mid-August.Manny Machado hit a solo homer in the eighth, his 14th of the season.Starter Brusdar Gasterol allowed a hit and a run in 1 1/3 innings before Adam Kolarek (3-0) allowed a hit and two walks in two-thirds of an inning. Pedro Baez got the final two... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers became the first team to clinch a playoff spot in the pandemic-shortened season, beating the San Diego Padres 7-5 Wednesday behind Dustin May’s gutty effort out of the bullpen and home runs from AJ Pollock and Chris Taylor.Will Smith drove in three runs for the seven-time defending NL West champion Dodgers, who opened a 3 1/2-game lead in the division by winning two of three in the matchup of the NL’s two best teams.Mookie Betts tied his career high with three stolen bases, had two hits and scored a run.At 35-15, the Dodgers breezed into the expanded 16-team postseason field. Los Angeles is seeking its first World Series title since 1988.San Diego has lost two straight for the first time since mid-August.Manny Machado hit a solo homer in the eighth, his 14th of the season.Starter Brusdar Gasterol allowed a hit and a run in 1 1/3 innings before Adam Kolarek (3-0) allowed a hit and two walks in two-thirds of an inning. Pedro Baez got the final two... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Royals rookie Brady Singer allowed just one hit — a two-out single through an infield shift in the eighth inning — while pitching Kansas City to an 11-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Thursday night.Making his ninth career start, the 24-year-old Singer (2-4) was four outs from becoming the 36th rookie to throw a no-hitter when Cleveland catcher Austin Hedges, who came in batting .148, bounced a single through a wide-open right side. The hit came on a full count and Singer’s 116th pitch.Maikel Franco and Adalberto Mondesi each hit a three-run homer for the Royals. Edward Olivares added a solo shot off Aaron Civale (3-5). Kansas City has won three straight since a seven-game losing streak.Franco also had a two-run single, giving him five RBIs.BRAVES 7, NATIONALS 6WASHINGTON (AP) — Freddie Freeman homered twice, Dansby Swanson hit a go-ahead shot in the eighth inning and Atlanta rallied from a 5-0 deficit to beat Washington. Freeman tied the game at 6 in the seventh... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Royals rookie Brady Singer allowed just one hit — a two-out single through an infield shift in the eighth inning — while pitching Kansas City to an 11-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Thursday night.Making his ninth career start, the 24-year-old Singer (2-4) was four outs from becoming the 36th rookie to throw a no-hitter when Cleveland catcher Austin Hedges, who came in batting .148, bounced a single through a wide-open right side. The hit came on a full count and Singer’s 116th pitch.Maikel Franco and Adalberto Mondesi each hit a three-run homer for the Royals. Edward Olivares added a solo shot off Aaron Civale (3-5). Kansas City has won three straight since a seven-game losing streak.Franco also had a two-run single, giving him five RBIs.BRAVES 7, NATIONALS 6WASHINGTON (AP) — Freddie Freeman homered twice, Dansby Swanson hit a go-ahead shot in the eighth inning and Atlanta rallied from a 5-0 deficit to beat Washington. Freeman tied the game at 6 in the seventh... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Royals rookie Brady Singer allowed just one hit — a two-out single through an infield shift in the eighth inning — while pitching Kansas City to an 11-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Thursday night.Making his ninth career start, the 24-year-old Singer (2-4) was four outs from becoming the 36th rookie to throw a no-hitter when Cleveland catcher Austin Hedges, who came in batting .148, bounced a single through a wide-open right side. The hit came on a full count and Singer’s 116th pitch.Maikel Franco and Adalberto Mondesi each hit a three-run homer for the Royals. Edward Olivares added a solo shot off Aaron Civale (3-5). Kansas City has won three straight since a seven-game losing streak.Franco also had a two-run single, giving him five RBIs.BRAVES 7, NATIONALS 6WASHINGTON (AP) — Freddie Freeman homered twice, Dansby Swanson hit a go-ahead shot in the eighth inning and Atlanta rallied from a 5-0 deficit to beat Washington. Freeman tied the game at 6 in the seventh... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Freddie Freeman homered twice, Dansby Swanson hit a go-ahead shot in the eighth inning and the Atlanta Braves rallied from a 5-0 deficit to beat the Washington Nationals 7-6 on Thursday night. Freeman tied the game at 6 in the seventh with a 443-foot, two-run drive to right-center off Will Harris. Swanson’s solo shot off Tanner Rainey gave the Braves their first lead. After a scary bout with COVID-19 during the Braves’ summer camp, Freeman is among the major league leaders in OPS. He has five homers and 20 RBIs in his past seven games.Chris Martin got the win and Mark Melancon worked the ninth for his ninth save in 10 chances. Ronald Acuña Jr. also hit a two-run homer for the Braves, who weathered another ineffective outing from their makeshift rotation. Spot starter Robbie Erlin got five outs and allowed five extra-base hits.TIGERS 6, CARDINALS 3ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jeimer Candelario capped a two-homer day with a two-run, bases-loaded single in the seventh inning to help... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Freddie Freeman homered twice, Dansby Swanson hit a go-ahead shot in the eighth inning and the Atlanta Braves rallied from a 5-0 deficit to beat the Washington Nationals 7-6 on Thursday night. Freeman tied the game at 6 in the seventh with a 443-foot, two-run drive to right-center off Will Harris. Swanson’s solo shot off Tanner Rainey gave the Braves their first lead. After a scary bout with COVID-19 during the Braves’ summer camp, Freeman is among the major league leaders in OPS. He has five homers and 20 RBIs in his past seven games.Chris Martin got the win and Mark Melancon worked the ninth for his ninth save in 10 chances. Ronald Acuña Jr. also hit a two-run homer for the Braves, who weathered another ineffective outing from their makeshift rotation. Spot starter Robbie Erlin got five outs and allowed five extra-base hits.TIGERS 6, CARDINALS 3ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jeimer Candelario capped a two-homer day with a two-run, bases-loaded single in the seventh inning to help... [More]

Angels first. Andrelton Simmons singles to center field. Matt Thaiss grounds out to first base. Andrelton Simmons out at second. Mike Trout singles to deep left field. Anthony Rendon walks. Mike Trout to second. Jared Walsh homers to right field. Anthony Rendon scores. Mike Trout scores. Max Stassi grounds out to third base, Isiah Kiner-Falefa to Ronald Guzman.3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Angels 3, Rangers 0.Rangers first. Leody Taveras triples to right field. Rougned Odor grounds out to first base, Jared Walsh to Dylan Bundy. Leody Taveras scores. Isiah Kiner-Falefa grounds out to shallow infield, Jared Walsh to Dylan Bundy. Joey Gallo grounds out to second base, Luis Rengifo to Jared Walsh.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Angels 3, Rangers 1.Angels fifth. Andrelton Simmons pops out to shallow infield to Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Matt Thaiss grounds out to shallow center field, Rougned Odor to Ronald Guzman. Mike Trout homers to left field. Anthony Rendon singles to center field. Jared... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — San Diego acted boldly once again. Miami actually strengthened its roster. Mike Clevinger, Starling Marte, Archie Bradley and Todd Frazier were on the move. Lance Lynn and Dylan Bundy stayed put.Baseball's pandemic-delayed trade deadline was quite a day.The contending Padres got Clevinger in a multiplayer trade with Cleveland, bolstering their rotation Monday in a rare deadline deal between contenders. The surprising Marlins reeled in the dynamic Marte for their outfield. There was a lot of talk about pitchers Lynn and Bundy, but Lynn stayed in Texas and the Angels held onto Bundy.The trade deadline is normally July 31, but it was pushed back when the start of the season was delayed because of the coronavirus. With the shortened season and financial uncertainty brought on by the pandemic, there was talk that it might be an unusually quiet day. But there was plenty of activity instead, spurred in part by the expanded playoff format for this year.“It felt like a normal deadline... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — San Diego acted boldly once again. Miami actually strengthened its roster. Mike Clevinger, Starling Marte, Archie Bradley and Todd Frazier were on the move. Lance Lynn and Dylan Bundy stayed put.Baseball's pandemic-delayed trade deadline was quite a day.The contending Padres got Clevinger in a multiplayer trade with Cleveland, bolstering their rotation Monday in a rare deadline deal between contenders. The surprising Marlins reeled in the dynamic Marte for their outfield. There was a lot of talk about pitchers Lynn and Bundy, but Lynn stayed in Texas and the Angels held onto Bundy.The trade deadline is normally July 31, but it was pushed back when the start of the season was delayed because of the coronavirus. With the shortened season and financial uncertainty brought on by the pandemic, there was talk that it might be an unusually quiet day. But there was plenty of activity instead, spurred in part by the 16-team playoff format for this year.“It felt like a normal deadline... [More]