CHICAGO (AP) — Kyle Hendricks convinced new manager David Ross to let him finish a three-hitter, Anthony Rizzo homered and dished out hand sanitizer, and the Chicago Cubs started the season by beating the Milwaukee Brewers 3-0 on Friday night.Ian Happ also had a two-run drive and Ross got his first victory as a big league manager as the Cubs opened this pandemic-shortened 60-game season without fans at Wrigley Field. Hendricks struck out nine and walked none in his first career opening-day start and fourth career shutout.Orlando Arcia had each of Milwaukee’s hits off Hendricks (1-0). After he singled with two out in the third for the Brewers’ first baserunner, he accepted a splash of sanitizer from a smiling Rizzo at first and cleaned off his hands.Ross came out to check on Hendricks with two out and a runner on first in the ninth. He decided to leave him in, and Keston Hiura bounced into a game-ending fielder’s choice on Hendricks’ 103rd pitch.Milwaukee right-hander Brandon Woodruff allowed... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Kyle Hendricks convinced new manager David Ross to let him finish a three-hitter, Anthony Rizzo homered and dished out hand sanitizer, and the Chicago Cubs started the season by beating the Milwaukee Brewers 3-0 on Friday night.Ian Happ also had a two-run drive and Ross got his first victory as a big league manager as the Cubs opened this pandemic-shortened 60-game season without fans at Wrigley Field. Hendricks struck out nine and walked none in his first career opening-day start and fourth career shutout.Orlando Arcia had each of Milwaukee’s hits off Hendricks (1-0). After he singled with two out in the third for the Brewers’ first baserunner, he accepted a splash of sanitizer from a smiling Rizzo at first and cleaned off his hands.Ross came out to check on Hendricks with two out and a runner on first in the ninth. He decided to leave him in, and Keston Hiura bounced into a game-ending fielder’s choice on Hendricks’ 103rd pitch.Milwaukee right-hander Brandon Woodruff allowed... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Kyle Hendricks convinced new manager David Ross to let him finish a three-hitter, Anthony Rizzo homered and dished out hand sanitizer, and the Chicago Cubs started the season by beating the Milwaukee Brewers 3-0 on Friday night.Ian Happ also had a two-run drive and Ross got his first victory as a big league manager as the Cubs opened this pandemic-shortened 60-game season without fans at Wrigley Field. Hendricks struck out nine and walked none in his first career opening-day start and fourth career shutout.Orlando Arcia had each of Milwaukee’s hits off Hendricks (1-0). After he singled with two out in the third for the Brewers’ first baserunner, he accepted a splash of sanitizer from a smiling Rizzo at first and cleaned off his hands.Ross came out to check on Hendricks with two out and a runner on first in the ninth. He decided to leave him in, and Keston Hiura bounced into a game-ending fielder’s choice on Hendricks’ 103rd pitch.Milwaukee right-hander Brandon Woodruff allowed... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Kyle Hendricks convinced new manager David Ross to let him finish a three-hitter, Anthony Rizzo homered and dished out hand sanitizer, and the Chicago Cubs started the season by beating the Milwaukee Brewers 3-0 on Friday night.Ian Happ also had a two-run drive and Ross got his first victory as a big league manager as the Cubs opened this pandemic-shortened 60-game season without fans at Wrigley Field. Hendricks struck out nine and walked none in his first career opening-day start and fourth career shutout.Orlando Arcia had each of Milwaukee’s hits off Hendricks (1-0). After he singled with two out in the third for the Brewers’ first baserunner, he accepted a splash of sanitizer from a smiling Rizzo at first and cleaned off his hands.Ross came out to check on Hendricks with two out and a runner on first in the ninth. He decided to leave him in, and Keston Hiura bounced into a game-ending fielder’s choice on Hendricks’ 103rd pitch.Milwaukee right-hander Brandon Woodruff allowed... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Now the New York Mets are down a second front-line starter.Marcus Stroman has a torn muscle in his left calf, the team announced Wednesday evening — a major blow to the Mets just two days before their season opener.The All-Star pitcher was expected to follow two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom in a rotation already minus No. 2 starter Noah Syndergaard all year because of Tommy John surgery.Mets manager Luis Rojas said the club doesn't anticipate Stroman needing surgery and he will be evaluated on a week-to-week basis. But with the coronavirus-delayed season shortened to 60 games, it could be difficult for the right-hander to return in time to provide much help. “He’s good to throw, it’s just moving where the challenge is. You know, getting off the mound and different things like that,” Rojas said. "But it’s just really unfortunate. This guy, he’s a fighter, he wants to go, and it’s unfortunate that he’s not going to start in that rotation for us.”New York opens up... [More]

A seventh-inning stretch without fans at Yankee Stadium was far from the oddest happening on the second day of summer exhibitions in the majors.The first inning ended at Dodger Stadium without Los Angeles making a single out Sunday night, a game went to the 10th inning in Philadelphia even with the Orioles leading the Phillies 4-1, and the Yankees hit in the bottom of the ninth with a 6-0 lead over the Mets.It’s not quite baseball like you’re used to seeing. Then again, we'd never seen baseball amid the COVID-19 pandemic.The most peculiar situation occurred during the first exhibition between Arizona and the Dodgers, with the game having an intrasquad feel.Diamondbacks starter Taylor Widener got off to rough opening when he walked the first two batters and then gave up a single to Justin Turner that loaded the bases. Cody Bellinger followed with a grand slam to make it 4-0. Corey Seager then walked and was heading to first base when he learned the inning was over. Widener had thrown 25... [More]

A seventh-inning stretch without fans at Yankee Stadium was far from the oddest happening on the second day of summer exhibitions in the majors.The first inning ended at Dodger Stadium without Los Angeles making a single out Sunday night, a game went to the 10th inning in Philadelphia even with the Orioles leading the Phillies 4-1, and the Yankees hit in the bottom of the ninth with a 6-0 lead over the Mets.It’s not quite baseball like you’re used to seeing. Then again, we'd never seen baseball amid the COVID-19 pandemic.The most peculiar situation occurred during the first exhibition between Arizona and the Dodgers, with the game having an intrasquad feel.Diamondbacks starter Taylor Widener got off to rough opening when he walked the first two batters and then gave up a single to Justin Turner that loaded the bases. Cody Bellinger followed with a grand slam to make it 4-0. Corey Seager then walked and was heading to first base when he learned the inning was over. Widener had thrown 25... [More]

A seventh-inning stretch without fans at Yankee Stadium was far from the oddest happening on the second day of summer exhibitions in the majors.The first inning ended at Dodger Stadium without Los Angeles making a single out Sunday night, a game went to the 10th inning in Philadelphia even with the Orioles leading the Phillies 4-1, and the Yankees hit in the bottom of the ninth with a 6-0 lead over the Mets.It’s not quite baseball like you’re used to seeing. Then again, we'd never seen baseball amid the COVID-19 pandemic.The most peculiar situation occurred during the first exhibition between Arizona and the Dodgers, with the game having an intrasquad feel.Diamondbacks starter Taylor Widener got off to rough opening when he walked the first two batters and then gave up a single to Justin Turner that loaded the bases. Cody Bellinger followed with a grand slam to make it 4-0. Corey Seager then walked and was heading to first base when he learned the inning was over. Widener had thrown 25... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Jacob deGrom and the New York Mets averted a serious scare Wednesday when an MRI showed nothing to be concerned about, according to a person familiar with the situation.The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no immediate announcement on deGrom's medical condition was planned. The two-time Cy Young Award winner was sent for tests after exiting an intrasquad game early with tightness in his back.Mets manager Luis Rojas said a frustrated deGrom left Tuesday night's camp outing after only one inning at Citi Field. He is day to day. Any significant injury to deGrom would be an enormous blow to New York during a season shortened to 60 games due to the coronavirus pandemic. The right-hander had been scheduled to pitch in an exhibition tuneup this weekend against the Yankees and then start on opening day July 24 versus Atlanta — but all that could change now.“It’s a little bit too early still to make those decisions," Rojas said Wednesday afternoon. “We’ll have to see... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Jacob deGrom and the New York Mets anxiously awaited MRI results Wednesday after the two-time Cy Young Award winner exited an intrasquad game because of tightness in his back.Mets manager Luis Rojas said a frustrated deGrom left Tuesday night's camp outing after only one inning at Citi Field. He had an MRI scheduled Wednesday and was day to day. Any significant injury to deGrom would be an enormous blow to New York during a season shortened to 60 games due to the coronavirus pandemic. The right-hander had been scheduled to pitch in an exhibition tuneup this weekend against the Yankees and then start on opening day July 24 versus Atlanta — but that now appears in jeopardy.“It’s a little bit too early still to make those decisions," Rojas said. “We’ll have to see what comes out of the MRI.” The Mets already are minus No. 2 starter Noah Syndergaard, who will miss the entire season following Tommy John surgery.Last year, deGrom won his second consecutive NL Cy Young Award after... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Jacob deGrom and the New York Mets anxiously awaited MRI results Wednesday after the two-time Cy Young Award winner exited an intrasquad game because of tightness in his back.Mets manager Luis Rojas said a frustrated deGrom left Tuesday night's camp outing after only one inning at Citi Field. He had an MRI scheduled Wednesday and was day to day. Any significant injury to deGrom would be an enormous blow to New York during a season shortened to 60 games due to the coronavirus pandemic. The right-hander had been scheduled to pitch in an exhibition tuneup this weekend against the Yankees and then start on opening day July 24 versus Atlanta — but that now appears in serious jeopardy.“It’s a little bit too early still to make those decisions," Rojas said. “We’ll have to see what comes out of the MRI.” The Mets already are minus No. 2 starter Noah Syndergaard, who will miss the entire season following Tommy John surgery.Last year, deGrom won his second consecutive NL Cy Young... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Yoenis Céspedes is sure he'll be ready to start the pandemic-delayed season with the New York Mets.Out of the lineup for almost two years, the 34-year-old slugger said Saturday he finally is close to fully recovered from a string of injuries to his feet and legs. “I don't have an exact percentage on how I feel, but I feel way better than I did back in March,” Céspedes said through a translator on a video conference call. When the coronavirus outbreak halted spring training March 12 and pushed back opening day about four months, that gave Céspedes more time to rehab and heal up. He said he woke at 5 a.m. for workouts seven days a week during the hiatus, which helped him a lot.“I think possibly in the beginning in March I felt like I probably wouldn't have been ready for the season, I wouldn't have been ready in time. But I know for certain now that I will be ready and I'm very excited for the season to start in two weeks,” he said. The Mets open at home July 24 against Atlanta.... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Yoenis Céspedes is sure he'll be ready to start the pandemic-delayed season with the New York Mets.Out of the lineup for almost two years, the 34-year-old slugger said Saturday he finally is close to fully recovered from a string of injuries to his feet and legs. “I don't have an exact percentage on how I feel, but I feel way better than I did back in March,” Céspedes said through a translator on a video conference call. When the coronavirus outbreak halted spring training March 12 and pushed back opening day about four months, that gave Céspedes more time to rehab and heal up. He said he woke up at 5 a.m. for workouts seven days a week during the hiatus. “I think possibly in the beginning in March I felt like I probably wouldn't have been ready for the season, I wouldn't have been ready in time. But I know for certain now that I will be ready and I'm very excited for the season to start in two weeks,” he said. The Mets open at home July 24 against Atlanta. And with the... [More]

Baseball players got a sense of what the game will be like without fans in the stands upon returning for workouts last week.They're getting a more realistic glimpse this week as teams begin holding scrimmages.Yes, it's very strange.“It was surreal. ... just sitting behind the dish at a major league stadium with major league players on the field and no one else there and playing in competition,” Milwaukee Brewers general manager David Stearns said Thursday. “Occasionally, you’ll see that for a small BP when media isn’t around or cameras aren’t around, but it was really weird to see Christian Yelich in the batter’s box in a major league stadium in competition in an empty ballpark."Baseball returned for workouts last week after the season was interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic during spring training. Teams have started ramping up their workouts in preparation for a 60-game season set to begin on July 23.The season will start without fans in the stands and will likely remain that way for... [More]

Baseball players got a sense of what the game will be like without fans in the stands upon returning for workouts last week.They're getting a more realistic glimpse this week as teams begin holding scrimmages.Yes, it's very strange.“It was surreal. ... just sitting behind the dish at a major league stadium with major league players on the field and no one else there and playing in competition,” Milwaukee Brewers general manager David Stearns said Thursday. “Occasionally, you’ll see that for a small BP when media isn’t around or cameras aren’t around, but it was really weird to see Christian Yelich in the batter’s box in a major league stadium in competition in an empty ballpark."Baseball returned for workouts last week after the season was interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic during spring training. Teams have started ramping up their workouts in preparation for a 60-game season set to begin on July 23.The season will start without fans in the stands and will likely remain that way for... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Jacob deGrom spent the past two seasons separating himself from almost everyone out there. This was something entirely different, though. As the New York Mets opened a most unusual summer camp Friday, the back-to-back Cy Young Award winner ran sprints by himself in shallow right field and then grabbed his personal bag of baseballs to throw off a bullpen mound.No hugs or handshakes, and little good-natured ribbing with teammates close by ... because there weren’t many. Home run champ Pete Alonso, the reigning NL Rookie of the Year, wore a bandanna on his forehead and a mask over his mouth at first base. Most players kept a safe distance even while simply walking across the diamond at Citi Field, adapted from home ballpark to spring training site as the Mets prepare for opening day in three weeks. Welcome to Major League Baseball in the age of the coronavirus.“It’s hard right now to be here,” catcher Wilson Ramos said, thinking of his wife and children in Florida. "But at... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Jacob deGrom spent the past two seasons separating himself from almost everyone out there. This was something entirely different, though. As the New York Mets opened a most unusual summer camp Friday, the back-to-back Cy Young Award winner ran sprints by himself in shallow right field and then grabbed his personal bag of baseballs to throw off a bullpen mound.No hugs or handshakes, and little good-natured ribbing with teammates close by ... because there weren’t many. Home run champ Pete Alonso, the reigning NL Rookie of the Year, wore a bandanna on his forehead and a mask over his mouth at first base. Most players kept a safe distance even while simply walking across the diamond at Citi Field, adapted from home ballpark to spring training site as the Mets prepare for opening day in three weeks. Welcome to Major League Baseball in the age of the coronavirus.“It’s hard right now to be here,” catcher Wilson Ramos said, thinking of his wife and children in Florida. “But at... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom took on two nemeses in his first outing of spring training — a bout of nerves, and the Washington Nationals. The two-time reigning NL Cy Young winner got the best of both. “Any time I take the mound, I’m nervous,” deGrom said after throwing three scoreless innings in a 3-1 win Sunday. “It felt good to get out there in a real game feel, people in the stands, another team. (The jitters) go away when I start warming up."DeGrom cruised on just 33 pitches, striking out two and allowing one hit against the defending World Series champs. The 31-year-old showed no signs of rust against his familiar NL East foe, looking just as sharp as when he became the 11th pitcher to win consecutive Cy Young Awards — despite the Mets going 28-36 in his starts since beginning the 2018 season.He breezed through an easy first against regulars Trea Turner, Ryan Zimmerman and Starlin Castro, getting three outs on seven pitchers — all strikes. The right-hander... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — New York Mets pitcher Rick Porcello made his first pitch to be part of the club’s starting rotation Saturday, but the Miami Marlins stole a bit of his thunder.Porcello pitched one inning and allowed two hits in the Mets’ spring training opener, allowing one run when Miami’s Monte Harrison swiped a pair of bases and scored on a bloop single. The Mets lost 5-3, dropping their first game in newly-renovated Clover Park, which has undergone a $57 million facelift that began last year. Porcello pitched 11 seasons in the American League for the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox before inking a $10 million, one-year deal with the Mets. He's never pitched in the National League and expects a learning curve — something the Marlins gave him with aggressive baserunning during his 17-pitch outing.“Get out there first pitch with a runner on first (base), and he’s gone," Porcello said. "I’ll start paying attention to that more and be prepared more for a change in style of play.”After... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Noah Syndergaard agreed to a $9.7 million, one-year contract Friday as the New York Mets reached deals with all nine of their players who were eligible for arbitration.Syndergaard is coming off a fairly disappointing 2019 season. He went 10-8 with a 4.28 ERA and 202 strikeouts in 197 2/3 innings while earning $6 million.He is projected to slot in again behind Mets ace Jacob deGrom, winner of the past two NL Cy Young Awards, in a rotation that also includes righty Marcus Stroman and lefty Steven Matz, both of whom agreed to terms Friday as well. Stroman received a $4.6 million raise to $12 million, and Matz got a bump from $2,625,000 to $5 million.Outfielders Michael Conforto ($8 million), Brandon Nimmo ($2,175,000) and Jake Marisnick ($3,312,500) also settled, as did relievers Edwin Díaz ($5.1 million), Seth Lugo ($2 million) and Robert Gsellman ($1,225,000).Syndergaard bristled at pitching to No. 1 catcher Wilson Ramos last season and has had a rocky relationship with the... [More]