ATLANTA (AP) — Brian Snitker is hoping to face some tough decisions at the end of March.That would mean such top prospects as Ronald Acuna and Austin Riley have made such good impressions in Florida that it would be difficult to leave them off the Braves' opening day roster.For Snitker, the third-year manager, that'd be great news for Atlanta's future.Acuna, 20, an outfielder with power, speed and strong defense, is Atlanta's player to watch. He was the most valuable player of the Arizona Fall League, the youngest ever to earn that honor, and Baseball America's No. 1 prospect.The young native of Venezuela impressed the Braves last spring on his visits from the minor league camp. Even at 19, he looked ready for the major leagues."If you want to get right down to it, he probably made our club as a fence-jumper last year, really," Snitker said. "... It's going to be even more fun this year to have him in camp every day and see what the kid brings."The Braves would gain a seventh year of contractual... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Dodgers' bid to win their first World Series in 29 years came up short in a Game 7 loss to Houston. They seek to take the final step to an elusive championship this season with the roster mostly intact and an eye on the future.Certainly, Los Angeles has to be considered the favorite to win a sixth consecutive NL West title.The Dodgers' farm system remains deep and the team has the talent and depth to withstand injuries during a 162-game season. Their $243 million payroll was baseball's biggest last year and they made a move this winter to dump salary in preparation for 2019, when the free agent market will be loaded.___Some things to watch for as the Dodgers open spring training in Glendale, Arizona:NEW LOOKThe Dodgers sent 1B Adrian Gonzalez, pitchers Scott Kazmir and Brandon McCarthy, and utility man Charlie Culberson, along with $4.5 million, to Atlanta for OF Matt Kemp, a former Dodger who could be traded or released. The move freed up a huge amount of salary,... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves haven't closed the door on adding a free agent, preferably on a short-term deal.General manager Alex Anthopoulos said Saturday he's still considering free-agent options at third base, the outfield and in the bullpen. He said he's not looking to add a long-term contract that would block the path of outfielder Ronald Acuna or third baseman Austin Riley."I would say our focus, unless it's somebody we really believe in, would be on a shorter term deal because we don't want to block a Riley, we don't want to block an Acuna," Anthopoulos said.Acuna and Riley will be closely watched in spring training as non-roster invitees.Anthopoulos helped to clear Acuna's path to the major leagues by trading outfielder Matt Kemp to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Dec. 16.Acuna, 20, is the star of a rebuilding process otherwise built around pitching. He was the most valuable player of the Arizona Fall League and Baseball America's minor league player of the year.The Braves had interest... [More]

The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired outfielder Matt Kemp from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for four players and cash considerations, the Dodgers announced Saturday.Heading east to Atlanta are first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, pitchers Scott Kazmir and Brandon McCarthy and infielder Charlie Culberson.MLB.com reported the Braves have already designated Gonzalez for assignment.Kemp, 33, is reunited with the Dodgers. He played for them from 2006-14, hitting 182 home runs, which is fourth in Dodgers' history. Last season, he hit .276 with 19 homers, 64 RBIs and 23 doubles in 115 games for the Braves.Gonzalez, 35, was acquired by the Dodgers from the Boston Red Sox in August 2012 and was instrumental in helping Los Angeles win five straight National League West Division titles. In 14 big league seasons, the five-time All-Star has hit .288 with 2,010 hits, 311 homers and 1,176 RBI while playing in 1,875 games.Kazmir, 33, was signed to a three-year contract with Los Angeles before the 2016 season and... [More]

The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired OF Matt Kemp from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for four players and cash considerations, according to a release from the Dodgers Saturday. Heading east to Atlanta are 1B Adrian Gonzalez, LHP Scott Kazmir, RHP Brandon McCarthy IF Charlie Culberson. MLB.com reported the Braves have already designated Gonzalez for assignment. Culberson, 28, appeared in 49 regular season games over the last two seasons with the Dodgers and made postseason rosters following each campaign.

SS Charlie Culberson was one of six Dodgers hitters to hit better than .300 for the NLCS. Culberson, who moved into a starting role after Corey Seager was forced to miss the series with a back injury, hit .455 in the five games with two doubles and a triple and finished 2-for-4 in Thursday night's 11-1 victory.

SS Charlie Culberson, who replaced an injured Corey Seager (back) in the Dodgers' starting lineup Saturday, had only 13 major league at-bats this season, all in September after he was called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City. In his second plate appearance Saturday, he tied the game with a sacrifice fly. He added a double and a run scored in the seventh. Culberson clinched the division title for the Dodgers in 2016 with a game-ending home run.

INF Charlie Culberson had his contract selected by the Dodgers from Triple-A Oklahoma City. He started at shortstop for the injured Seager on Monday.

INF Charlie Culberson was left off the Dodgers' NLCS 25-man roster after being part of the NLDS lineup. He went 0-for-7 in four games in the NLDS series against the Washington Nationals.

INF Charlie Culberson received a gift from legendary Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully before Saturday's game. Scully signed the bat Culberson used on his walk-off hit in last Sunday's division-clinching win and personally delivered it to the Dodgers utility man in the clubhouse. Culberson never left the bench in the 3-0 loss to the San Francisco Giants.

2B Charlie Culberson hit a solo home run in the bottom of the 10th inning Sunday to give the Los Angeles Dodgers their fourth consecutive National League West championship with a 4-3 win over the Colorado Rockies. With two out, Culberson hit a 91-mph fastball from LHP Boone Logan into the stands down the left-field line for his first home run of the season and the sixth of his career. Culberson, who was invited to spring training as a non-roster player, also tied his career best with three hits. The infielder went 3-for-5, struck out once and reached base four times, once on an error.

INF/OF Charlie Culberson was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City and started at second base Tuesday against San Francisco. Culberson, a former Giant, went 0-for-2 before being lifted for Chase Utley, who pinch-hit for him in the sixth. He batted .260/.310/.385 with four homers and 33 RBIs in 70 games for Oklahoma City.

INF/OF Charlie Culberson was recalled from Oklahoma City on Tuesday.

INF Charlie Culberson was sent back to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday, one day after he was called up. Culberson started at shortstop on Wednesday in Washington and went 1-for-3 with an RBI. He began the season on the Dodgers' roster.

Right-handed pitcher Julio Urias was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City and started Thursday's series finale for the Dodgers against the Nationals. Urias, who gave up one run in four innings Thursday and was expected to be sent back down after the game, made eight starts before the All-Star break for the Dodgers and is considered the organization's top pitching prospect. Urias faced the Nationals on June 22 at home and gave up two runs on six hits in five innings.Infielder Charlie Culberson was optioned to Oklahoma City after being recalled Wednesday and starting at shortstop in place of Corey Seager, who missed his third consecutive game Thursday with a stomach virus. Culberson is hitting .289 with 13 doubles and two home runs in 46 games with Oklahoma City this season, and went 1-for-3 with an RBI single Wednesday for the Dodgers.The Dodgers also called up Grant Dayton and sent down Zach Walters, leaving the team with a four-man bench and 13 pitchers for the series finale. Dayton, 28, has a 2.44 ERA in 35 appearances between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A this season. Walters was 0-for-5 in three games with the Dodgers after being acquired from Cleveland for cash considerations on April 10.Chris Hatcher (strained left oblique) was transfered to the 60-day disabled list, and the earliest he could be activated is Sept. 18. He is 5-4 with a 5.53 ERA in 37 games out of the bullpen this year.

INF Charlie Culberson was optioned to Oklahoma City after being recalled Wednesday and starting at shortstop in place of Corey Seager, who missed his third consecutive game Thursday with a stomach virus. Culberson is hitting .289 with 13 doubles and two home runs in 46 games with Oklahoma City this season, and went 1-for-3 with an RBI single Wednesday for the Dodgers.

INF Charlie Culberson was called up from Triple-A and then started at shortstop Wednesday. He made the Opening Day roster before going back to the minors. He was 1-for-3 Wednesday and is hitting .267.

INF Charlie Culberson was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City Wednesday to make room on the roster for RHP Mike Bolsinger, who started Wednesday's game against the Angels. Culberson was hitting .259 with four RBIs in 15 games with the Dodgers. Culberson had been backing up starting SS Corey Seager, but that job will go to INF Enrique Hernandez for now.

SS Charlie Culberson made his seventh start of the season Monday and went 2-for-2. It was his third multi-hit game of the season.

SS Charlie Culberson tied a career high with three RBIs, matching his effort Aug. 14, 2004 against Cincinnati. He also has two multi-hit games this season -- both against Giants LHP Madison Bumgarner.