ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Houston Astros acquired catcher Martin Maldonado from the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday for left-hander Patrick Sandoval and $250,000 in international signing bonus pool allocation.Maldonado's contributions behind the plate helped the Angels' starters post a 3.77 ERA, which ranked fifth in the American League despite numerous injuries and significant inexperience in their rotation. A Gold Glove winner last season, Maldonado is also hitting .223 with 32 RBIs in 78 games."Martin has been a huge part of what we know has been a terrific year on the mound," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "There's no doubt that Martin had the respect of everybody, not only the coaching staff but the players, and contributed greatly to where we needed to be on the defensive side."Houston's Brian McCann hasn't played since June 30 and is recovering from right knee surgery. Max Stassi has been starting at catcher for the Astros in most games this month.Maldonado, who is owed $1,362,903... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Houston Astros catcher Brian McCann finally got to a point that something had to be done to try to fix his troublesome right knee.McCann had arthroscopic surgery Tuesday after going on the disabled list for the second time this season, and the third time in less than a year, because of knee discomfort.Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow told MLB.com and the Houston Chronicle during a 5-3 win at Texas that the team was optimistic that the surgery would resolve the issue that kept recurring. While not specific about the procedure or a timetable, the GM said he'd expect McCann back in September to get ready for October.Manager A.J. Hinch said before the Astros' 5-3 win at Texas that he and McCann had a long conversation about the knee problems when the team played in Tampa last weekend."It's just continually the same issue over and over with his right knee," Hinch said. "One of the options is surgery, and he went back to Houston to take care of it."Catcher Tim Federowicz,... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Houston Astros catcher Brian McCann finally got to a point that something had to be done to try to fix his troublesome right knee.McCann will have surgery after going on the disabled list Tuesday for the second time this season, and the third time in less than a year, because of knee discomfort.Manager A.J. Hinch said he and McCann had a long conversation about the recurring knee problems when the team played in Tampa last weekend."It's just continually the same issue over and over with his right knee," Hinch said. "One of the options is surgery, and he went back to Houston to take care of it."McCann was home in Houston when the Astros opened a two-game set at Texas on Tuesday night.Hinch didn't say when the surgery would be done. He didn't know how long McCann would be out, other than "for the foreseeable future."Catcher Tim Federowicz, who made two starts earlier this season when McCann was on the DL, was promoted from Triple-A Fresno.Max Stassi was the Astros'... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Alex Bregman hit a game-ending two-run double with one out in the ninth inning and the Houston Astros beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-4 Monday night to match a franchise record with their 12th straight win.Houston trailed 4-0 after three innings but cut the lead to one entering the ninth.Sergio Romo (1-2) walked Marwin Gonzalez to start the ninth, then allowed a single to Max Stassi. Tony Kemp's sacrifice bunt moved both runners up, and Houston loaded the bases when George Springer reached on interference by catcher Wilson Ramos.Bregman then drove a ball that bounced off the wall in left-center. He lifted both arms as he trotted into second base, and teammates mobbed him in the infield.Collin McHugh (2-0) struck out two in a scoreless ninth for the win on a night Gerrit Cole walked a career-high five to help the Rays build the early lead.Houston also won 12 straight in 2004 and 1999. The Astros will go for No. 13 on Tuesday with ace Justin Verlander on the mound.NATIONALS 5, YANKEES... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Alex Bregman hit a game-ending two-run double with one out in the ninth inning and the Houston Astros beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-4 Monday night to match a franchise record with their 12th straight win.Houston trailed 4-0 after three innings but cut the lead to one entering the ninth.Sergio Romo (1-2) walked Marwin Gonzalez to start the ninth, then allowed a single to Max Stassi. Tony Kemp's sacrifice bunt moved both runners up, and Houston loaded the bases when George Springer reached on interference by catcher Wilson Ramos.Bregman then drove a ball that bounced off the wall in left-center. He lifted both arms as he trotted into second base, and teammates mobbed him in the infield.Collin McHugh (2-0) struck out two in a scoreless ninth for the win on a night Gerrit Cole walked a career-high five to help the Rays build the early lead.Houston also won 12 straight in 2004 and 1999. The Astros will go for No. 13 on Tuesday with ace Justin Verlander on the mound.NATIONALS 5, YANKEES... [More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Houston Astros won their 10th straight game, with Dallas Keuchel getting three-run homers from Max Stassi and Alex Bregman to rout the Kansas City Royals 10-2 on Saturday.Jose Altuve hit a two-run double in the first inning to send the World Series champions on their way. The Astros had an 11-game win streak last season that ended in Kansas City.The Royals have lost five in a row and are just 2-12 in June.Keuchel (4-8) began to emerge from a monthlong funk, allowing two unearned runs and six hits in six innings. The 2015 Cy Young winner had surrendered a combined 17 runs over his last three outings, and had not won since tossing seven scoreless innings against Texas on May 13.Danny Duffy (3-7) had been pitching well of late, but the Royals left-hander allowed seven runs on seven hits and three walks in six innings.YANKEES 4, RAYS 1NEW YORK (AP) — Luis Severino pitched eight sharp innings and also jumped to steal away a popup from catcher Gary Sanchez as New York... [More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Houston Astros won their 10th straight game, with Dallas Keuchel getting three-run homers from Max Stassi and Alex Bregman to rout the Kansas City Royals 10-2 on Saturday.Jose Altuve hit a two-run double in the first inning to send the World Series champions on their way. The Astros had an 11-game win streak last season that ended in Kansas City.The Royals have lost five in a row and are just 2-12 in June.Keuchel (4-8) began to emerge from a monthlong funk, allowing two unearned runs and six hits in six innings. The 2015 Cy Young winner had surrendered a combined 17 runs over his last three outings, and had not won since tossing seven scoreless innings against Texas on May 13.Danny Duffy (3-7) had been pitching well of late, but the Royals left-hander allowed seven runs on seven hits and three walks in six innings.YANKEES 4, RAYS 1NEW YORK (AP) — Luis Severino pitched eight sharp innings and also jumped to steal away a popup from catcher Gary Sanchez as New York... [More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Houston Astros won their 10th straight game, with Dallas Keuchel getting three-run homers from Max Stassi and Alex Bregman to rout the Kansas City Royals 10-2 on Saturday.Jose Altuve hit a two-run double in the first inning to send the World Series champions on their way. The Astros had an 11-game win streak last season that ended in Kansas City.The Royals have lost five in a row and are just 2-12 in June.Keuchel (4-8) began to emerge from a monthlong funk, allowing two unearned runs and six hits in six innings. The 2015 Cy Young winner had surrendered a combined 17 runs over his last three outings, and had not won since tossing seven scoreless innings against Texas on May 13.Danny Duffy (3-7) had been pitching well of late, but the Royals left-hander allowed seven runs on seven hits and three walks in six innings.YANKEES 4, RAYS 1NEW YORK (AP) — Luis Severino pitched eight sharp innings and also jumped to steal away a popup from catcher Gary Sanchez as New York... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Houston Astros have activated catcher Brian McCann from the disabled after he was sidelined because of right knee soreness.McCann was in a 1-for-26 slide that dropped his batting average to .219 before going on the 10-day DL on May 29. He was activated on the first day he was eligible and was in the lineup batting eighth against the Texas Rangers on Friday night.The Astros designated catcher Tim Federowicz for assignment to make room for McCann. Federowicz backed up Max Stassi and appeared in two games during McCann's absence.McCann has four homers and 14 RBIs in 37 games.Shortstop Carlos Correa was out of the lineup for a second straight day because of soreness in his right side. Correa said Thursday an MRI didn't show anything abnormal.___More AP baseball: www.apnews.com/tags/MLBbaseball

Some fantasy baseball owners often compare catchers to kickers in fantasy football. Really, they're more like tight ends, since kickers are unpredictable from week to week.Still, it's hard to get excited about anyone at the position between the top few catchers. Even worse if you're in two-catcher leagues.Let's take a look at a catcher who has more than just a pulse, as well as other players to help you in the short and long term.PLAYERS TO PICK UPMax Stassi, C, Houston (12 percent owned in Yahoo leagues) - With Brian McCann on the disabled list, enter Stassi. In 98 plate appearances this year, Stassi is hitting over .300, with five home runs and 17 RBIs. McCann is on the disabled list with sore knees, but it's his performance that has been the eyesore this year so far. If you don't own one of the top 5 catchers, Stassi should be slotted in your lineup right away.Max Muncy, 1B/3B/OF, Los Angeles Dodgers (7 percent) - Speaking of Maxes, there's one out west who is catching the eyes of fantasy... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Astros catcher Brian McCann, in a 1-for-26 slide that has dropped his batting average to .219, was put on the 10-day disabled list on Tuesday because of right knee soreness and returned to Houston."Halfway or two-thirds through the game yesterday, he reported some knee soreness," manager A.J. Hinch said."It's something that he's battled before, and it's something that he's had to deal with. And as we talked to him after the game and evaluated him, we felt like we needed to send him back to Houston to get evaluated further. We won't know the extent of any sort of issue until he gets to Houston."Tim Federowicz's contract was selected from Triple-A Fresno before Tuesday night's game at the New York Yankees. Max Stassi was in the starting lineup and will see most of the time behind the plate while McCann is sidelined. The 27-year-old Stassi began the night batting .300 with four homers and 14 RBIs in 80 at-bats."I would say it's just preparing your body a little bit more, maybe getting a little more sleep," Stassi said. "It's also nice, too, to catch consecutively. Your body kind of adapts."The 34-year-old McCann was a seven-time All-Star while with Atlanta from 2005-13.Federowicz, 30, is a six-year big league veteran who spent last year with San Francisco. He was at spring training with the Astros this year and hit .337 with five homers and 18 RBIs in the Pacific Coast League.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

NEW YORK (AP) — Astros catcher Brian McCann, in a 1-for-26 slide that has dropped his batting average to .219, was put on the 10-day disabled list on Tuesday because of right knee soreness and returned to Houston."Halfway or two-thirds through the game yesterday, he reported some knee soreness," manager A.J. Hinch said."It's something that he's battled before, and it's something that he's had to deal with. And as we talked to him after the game and evaluated him, we felt like we needed to send him back to Houston to get evaluated further. We won't know the extent of any sort of issue until he gets to Houston."Tim Federowicz's contract was selected from Triple-A Fresno before Tuesday night's game at the New York Yankees. Max Stassi was in the starting lineup and will see most of the time behind the plate while McCann is sidelined. The 27-year-old Stassi began the night batting .300 with four homers and 14 RBIs in 80 at-bats."I would say it's just preparing your body a little bit more, maybe getting a little more sleep," Stassi said. "It's also nice, too, to catch consecutively. Your body kind of adapts."The 34-year-old McCann was a seven-time All-Star while with Atlanta from 2005-13.Federowicz, 30, is a six-year big league veteran who spent last year with San Francisco. He was at spring training with the Astros this year and hit .337 with five homers and 18 RBIs in the Pacific Coast League.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

NEW YORK (AP) — Astros catcher Brian McCann, in a 1-for-26 slide that has dropped his batting average to .219, was put on the 10-day disabled list on Tuesday because of right knee soreness and returned to Houston."Halfway or two-thirds through the game yesterday, he reported some knee soreness," manager A.J. Hinch said."It's something that he's battled before, and it's something that he's had to deal with. And as we talked to him after the game and evaluated him, we felt like we needed to send him back to Houston to get evaluated further. We won't know the extent of any sort of issue until he gets to Houston."Tim Federowicz's contract was selected from Triple-A Fresno before Tuesday night's game at the New York Yankees. Max Stassi was in the starting lineup and will see most of the time behind the plate while McCann is sidelined. The 27-year-old Stassi began the night batting .300 with four homers and 14 RBIs in 80 at-bats."I would say it's just preparing your body a little bit more, maybe getting a little more sleep," Stassi said. "It's also nice, too, to catch consecutively. Your body kind of adapts."The 34-year-old McCann was a seven-time All-Star while with Atlanta from 2005-13.Federowicz, 30, is a six-year big league veteran who spent last year with San Francisco. He was at spring training with the Astros this year and hit .337 with five homers and 18 RBIs in the Pacific Coast League.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

NEW YORK (AP) — Astros catcher Brian McCann, in a 1-for-26 slide that has dropped his batting average to .219, has been put on the 10-day disabled list because of right knee soreness and returned to Houston to be examined.McCann has been dealing with the issue and felt it more during Monday's game, manager A.J. Hinch said. The 34-year-old McCann was a seven-time All-Star while with Atlanta from 2005-13.Tim Federowicz's contract was selected from Triple-A Fresno before Tuesday night's game at the New York Yankees.Max Stassi was in the starting lineup and will see most of the time behind the plate while McCann is sidelined. Stassi is batting .300 with four homers and 14 RBIs in 80 at-bats.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

NEW YORK (AP) — Brett Gardner capped a slump-busting performance with a go-ahead, two-run triple off Craig Kimbrel in the eighth inning, Aaron Judge followed with a homer and the New York Yankees rallied to beat the Boston Red Sox 9-6 Wednesday night for their 17th victory in 18 games.Kimbrel entered with two on and one out to face Gardner seeking the first five-out save of his career. Gardner drilled a full-count pitch into left-center field, well over the head of center fielder Mookie Betts, who was playing shallow. Neil Walker scored easily from third and rookie Gleyber Torres raced from first and slid past a lunging tag attempted by catcher Christian Vazquez.Judge followed with a line drive to center measured at 117 mph off the bat, his ninth homer of the season. He had three hits and three RBIs as New York won its eighth straight overall and 11th in a row at home.Kimbrel replaced Matt Barnes (0-1) after a double by Walker and a one-out walk to Torres.Yankees reliever Jonathan Holder... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Brett Gardner capped a slump-busting performance with a go-ahead, two-run triple off Craig Kimbrel in the eighth inning, Aaron Judge followed with a homer and the New York Yankees rallied to beat the Boston Red Sox 9-6 Wednesday night for their 17th victory in 18 games.Kimbrel entered with two on and one out to face Gardner seeking the first five-out save of his career. Gardner drilled a full-count pitch into left-center field, well over the head of center fielder Mookie Betts, who was playing shallow. Neil Walker scored easily from third and rookie Gleyber Torres raced from first and slid past a lunging tag attempted by catcher Christian Vazquez.Judge followed with a line drive to center measured at 117 mph off the bat, his ninth homer of the season. He had three hits and three RBIs as New York won its eighth straight overall and 11th in a row at home.Kimbrel replaced Matt Barnes (0-1) after a double by Walker and a one-out walk to Torres.Yankees reliever Jonathan Holder... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Brett Gardner capped a slump-busting performance with a go-ahead, two-run triple off Craig Kimbrel in the eighth inning, Aaron Judge followed with a homer and the New York Yankees rallied to beat the Boston Red Sox 9-6 Wednesday night for their 17th victory in 18 games.Kimbrel entered with two on and one out to face Gardner seeking the first five-out save of his career. Gardner drilled a full-count pitch into left-center field, well over the head of center fielder Mookie Betts, who was playing shallow. Neil Walker scored easily from third and rookie Gleyber Torres raced from first and slid past a lunging tag attempted by catcher Christian Vazquez.Judge followed with a line drive to center measured at 117 mph off the bat, his ninth homer of the season. He had three hits and three RBIs as New York won its eighth straight overall and 11th in a row at home.Kimbrel replaced Matt Barnes (0-1) after a double by Walker and a one-out walk to Torres.Yankees reliever Jonathan Holder... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Brett Gardner capped a slump-busting performance with a go-ahead, two-run triple off Craig Kimbrel in the eighth inning, Aaron Judge followed with a homer and the New York Yankees rallied to beat the Boston Red Sox 9-6 Wednesday night for their 17th victory in 18 games.Kimbrel (1-2) entered with two on and one out to face Gardner seeking the first five-out save of his career. Gardner drilled a full-count pitch into left-center field, well over the head of center fielder Mookie Betts, who was playing shallow. Neil Walker scored easily from third and rookie Gleyber Torres raced from first and slid past a lunging tag attempted by catcher Christian Vazquez.Judge followed with a line drive to center measured at 117 mph off the bat, his ninth homer of the season. He had three hits and three RBIs as New York won its eighth straight.Yankees reliever Jonathan Holder (1-1) cleaned up a mess left by Chasen Shreve in the eighth, getting Benintendi to ground out with the bases loaded.Aroldis... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Gerrit Cole struck out nine to raise his major league-leading total to 86, and the Houston Astros beat the Oakland Athletics 4-1 Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep.Max Stassi and Derek Fisher hit consecutive home runs with two outs in the seventh off Daniel Mengden (2-4) for a 2-1 lead. Yuli Gurriel added a two-run double against Yusmiero Petit that extended his hitting streak to 11 games.Cole (4-1) allowed one run, four hits and three walks in six innings. His 1.43 ERA is second in the major leagues behind the 1.17 of teammate Justin Verlander.Ken Giles pitched a perfect ninth for his fifth save and second in two days. Before Tuesday, he had not pitched since allowing four runs in the ninth inning of a May 1 loss to the New York Yankees.REDS 2, METS 1, 10 INNINGSCINCINNATI (AP) — The New York Mets wasted a first-inning rally by batting out of turn, and Adam Duvall led off the 10th with a homer to win it for Cincinnati.Duvall connected for his first career game-ending... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — Gregory Polanco hit a three-run homer in the 13th inning to lift the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 13-10 victory over Detroit on Friday — about an hour after the Tigers spilled onto the field to celebrate what they thought was a game-winning hit of their own.Nicholas Castellanos was initially called safe at home in the bottom of the 10th for the Tigers, but a replay review took the run away and the teams played on. Polanco's drive to right-center on a 3-0 pitch from Alex Wilson (0-1) finally gave the Pirates a comfortable lead — or as comfortable as could be on a wacky day in which both teams scored four runs in the ninth.Detroit put two men on base in the 13th, but Steven Brault (1-0) was able to hold on and finish his third scoreless inning of relief.By the time the 5-hour, 27-minute game was over, there were only three umpires and one manager left. Plate umpire Mike Everitt exited in the eighth with a concussion after being hit in the mask by a pitch. And Ron Gardenhire — in... [More]