Capsules of National League East teams, listed in order of finish last year:___Washington Nationals2017: 97-65, first place, lost to Cubs in NLDS.Manager: Dave Martinez (first season).He's Here: 1B-OF Matt Adams, C Miguel Montero, RHP Jeremy Hellickson, RHP Joaquin Benoit, INF Matt Reynolds.He's Outta Here: Manager Dusty Baker, LF Jayson Werth, 1B-LF Adam Lind, C Jose Lobaton, RHP Matt Albers.Projected Lineup: SS Trea Turner (.284, 11 HRs, 45 RBIs, 46 SBs in 98 games), LF Adam Eaton (.297, 2, 13 in 23 games), RF Bryce Harper (.319, 29, 87), 3B Anthony Rendon (.301, 25, 100, 41 2Bs), 2B Daniel Murphy (.322, 23, 93, 43 2Bs; expected to begin season on DL recovering from knee surgery), 1B Ryan Zimmerman (.303, 36, 108, 33 2Bs), CF Michael A. Taylor (.271, 19, 53), C Matt Wieters (.225, 10, 52).Rotation: RH Max Scherzer (16-6, 2.51 ERA, NL-high 268 Ks, 200 2/3 IP, 3rd Cy Young Award), RH Stephen Strasburg (15-4, 2.52, 204 Ks), LH Gio Gonzalez (15-9, 2.96, 79 walks), RH Tanner Roark (13-11,... [More]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — For the second consecutive season, the San Francisco Giants will be without injured ace Madison Bumgarner for a while.Bumgarner broke a bone in his pitching hand Friday when it was hit by a line drive off the bat of Kansas City's Whit Merrifield during a spring training game.The Giants said X-rays showed the 28-year-old fractured the fifth metacarpal on the outside of his left hand. Bumgarner said the timeline for recovery is four to six weeks and he will have a pin inserted into his pinkie Saturday."It's tough. But I can handle it," Bumgarner said. "These guys can handle it. This obviously was not what I was expecting out of my last start. But it happened and I can deal with it."Bumgarner, the 2014 World Series MVP, missed nearly three months with a shoulder injury last season after a dirt bike accident on April 20 during an off day in Colorado.His latest setback is a huge blow to the Giants as they try to rebound from a surprising last-place finish in the NL West... [More]

Capsules of National League East teams, listed in order of finish last year:___Washington Nationals2017: 97-65, first place, lost to Cubs in NLDS.Manager: Dave Martinez (first season).He's Here: 1B-OF Matt Adams, C Miguel Montero, RHP Jeremy Hellickson, RHP Joaquin Benoit, INF Matt Reynolds.He's Outta Here: Manager Dusty Baker, LF Jayson Werth, 1B-LF Adam Lind, C Jose Lobaton, RHP Matt Albers.Projected Lineup: SS Trea Turner (.284, 11 HRs, 45 RBIs, 46 SBs in 98 games), LF Adam Eaton (.297, 2, 13 in 23 games), RF Bryce Harper (.319, 29, 87), 3B Anthony Rendon (.301, 25, 100, 41 2Bs), 2B Daniel Murphy (.322, 23, 93, 43 2Bs, expected to begin season on DL recovering from knee surgery), 1B Ryan Zimmerman (.303, 36, 108, 33 2Bs), CF Michael A. Taylor (.271, 19, 53), C Matt Wieters (.225, 10, 52).Rotation: RH Max Scherzer (16-6, 2.51 ERA, NL-high 268 Ks, 200 2/3 IP, 3rd Cy Young Award), RH Stephen Strasburg (15-4, 2.52, 204 Ks), LH Gio Gonzalez (15-9, 2.96, 79 walks), RH Tanner Roark (13-11,... [More]

Capsules of American League East teams, listed in order of finish last year:___Boston Red Sox2017: 93-69, first place, lost to Houston in ALDS.Manager: Alex Cora (first season).He's Here: DH J.D. Martinez.He's Outta Here: Manager John Farrell, RHP Doug Fister, OF Chris Young, RHP Addison Reed, OF Rajai Davis, LHP Henry Owens, LHP Fernando Abad.Projected Lineup: RF Mookie Betts (.264, 24 HRs, 102 RBIs), LF Andrew Benintendi (.271, 20, 90), 1B Hanley Ramirez (.242, 23, 62) or Mitch Moreland (.246, 22, 79), DH J.D. Martinez (.303, 45, 104 with Tigers and Diamondbacks), 3B Rafael Devers (.284, 10, 30 in 58 games), SS Xander Bogaerts (.273, 10, 62), CF Jackie Bradley Jr. (.245, 17, 63), C Christian Vazquez (.290, 5, 32) or Sandy Leon (.225, 7, 39), 2B Eduardo Nunez (.313, 12, 58, 24 SBs with Giants and Red Sox) or Dustin Pedroia (.293, 7, 62, .369 OBP in 105 games, expected to be out until late May following knee surgery).Rotation: LH Chris Sale (17-8, 2.90 ERA, MLB-best 308 Ks, MLB-high 214... [More]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The Washington Nationals' competition for the fifth starter spot could run beyond opening day.The Nationals signed eight-year veteran Jeremy Hellickson to a minor league contract over the weekend, adding him to the mix that already included A.J. Cole and Erick Fedde. He would get a $2 million, one-year deal if added to the 40-man roster and the chance to earn $4 million in performance bonuses."We like the rotation we have," Washington general manager Mike Rizzo said. "This just adds another layer of depth for us."The 30-year-old Hellickson is scheduled to make his first Grapefruit League appearance in one of Friday's split squad games. Cole will start the other game.Depending on how that outing goes, the NL East champions might leave Hellickson behind at the spring training facility when they break camp on Sunday, allowing the right-hander to continue to build arm strength in the minor league camp.Rizzo cited past experiences rushing Joe Blanton and Matt Wieters... [More]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The Washington Nationals' competition for the fifth starter spot could run beyond opening day.The Nationals signed eight-year veteran Jeremy Hellickson to a minor league contract over the weekend, adding him to the mix that already included A.J. Cole and Erick Fedde."We like the rotation we have," Washington general manager Mike Rizzo said. "This just adds another layer of depth for us."The 30-year-old Hellickson is scheduled to make his first Grapefruit League appearance in one of Friday's split squad games. Cole will start the other game.Depending on how that outing goes, the NL East champions might leave Hellickson behind at the spring training facility when they break camp on Sunday, allowing the right-hander to continue to build arm strength in the minor league camp.Rizzo cited past experiences rushing Joe Blanton and Matt Wieters through camp as reasoning for not pushing Hellickson, who says he's ready, to join the rotation sooner. With that in mind, the... [More]

A person familiar with the deal says right-hander Jeremy Hellickson and the Washington Nationals have agreed to a minor league contract.The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not yet been announced.Hellickson, who turns 31 on April 8, would get a $2 million, one-year contract if added to the 40-man roster and would have a chance to make an additional $4 million in performance bonuses.He was 8-11 with a 5.43 ERA last year in 30 starts for Philadelphia and Baltimore, which acquired him July 28. Hellickson was 2-6 with a 6.97 ERA in 10 starts with the Orioles.Washington's fifth-starter slot is uncertain in a rotation that includes Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and Tanner Roark.___More MLB baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles are looking for stronger pitching this year after last season's rocky performance.The starters last season combined for an ERA of 5.70.Three starting pitchers from last year's staff are gone: right-handers Jeremy Hellickson and Ubaldo Jimenez and left-hander Wade Miley. Remaining are right-handers Dylan Bundy, Kevin Gausman and Chris Tillman, who re-signed with the team Wednesday.Joining Bundy, Gausman and Tillman in the rotation is another right-hander, Andrew Cashner, who signed Feb. 15. Who gets the fifth spot will be the most pressing question in spring training."We were looking for a couple of veteran starting pitchers, and with the signing of Andrew Cashner and Chris Tillman, there's a couple of proven starters in the American League," said Dan Duquette, the Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations.The Orioles would like a left-hander to join the group, but they missed out on several free agents who have signed in the days... [More]

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles began spring training on Wednesday with 35 pitchers and much uncertainty. Since last season ended, Baltimore shed four of its starters from the 2017 rotation: right-handers Jeremy Hellickson, Ubaldo Jimenez and Chris Tillman and left-hander Wade Miley.Who'll replace them and slot in behind right-handers Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman in 2018 is a mystery.Manager Buck Showalter said that eight pitchers could work in Grapefruit League games as starters. They include Bundy, Gausman, right-handers Miguel Castro, Hunter Harvey, Mike Wright and Gabriel Ynoa. Two Rule 5 draftees left-hander Nestor Cortes and right-hander Jose Mesa are also under consideration.Harvey, who was Baltimore's top draft pick in 2013, but had Tommy John surgery in 2016, won't start the season in the major leagues, though he could pitch for the Orioles later in the season.Castro was impressive in long relief last year and got a start on the next-to-last day of the 2017 season.Wright,... [More]

A team-by-team look at the American League East entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad:___Boston Red SoxManager: Alex Cora (first season).2017: 93-69, first place, lost to Houston in ALDS.Training Town: Fort Myers, Florida.Park: JetBlue Park.First Workout: Feb. 14/19.He's Here: Manager Alex Cora.He's Outta Here: Manager John Farrell, RHP Doug Fister, INF Eduardo Nunez, OF Chris Young, RHP Addison Reed, OF Rajai Davis, LHP Henry Owens, LHP Fernando Abad, RHP Blaine Boyer.Going campin': The Red Sox won 93 games for the second straight season and claimed the franchise's first back-to-back AL East titles. But Farrell was fired after they failed to advance in the playoffs for the fourth year in a row. They are virtually the same team as last year; boss Dave Dombrowski said he was looking for a bat with power and still might add one of the free agents remaining on the market, including... [More]

RHP Jeremy Hellickson suffered his 11th loss of the season Saturday, including his sixth since being traded to the Orioles at the non-waiver trade deadline at the end of July. Hellickson allowed three earned runs on four hits over six innings in a 9-6 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. He has allowed a career-high 35 home runs this season and has lost each of his last three starts and six of nine overall.

RHP Jeremy Hellickson allowed four hits but two were three-run homers as he allowed six runs in three-plus innings. Hellickson also experienced some back stiffness throwing a pitch to LF Brett Gardner stayed in the game. Hellickson is winless in his last four starts and 2-5 for the Orioles.

RHP Jeremy Hellickson probably pitched well enough to win -- if he hadn't been facing a team that has about to win its 18th game in a row. Hellickson gave up three runs in six innings, two coming on back-to-back solo home runs by C Roberto Perez and SS Francisco Lindor in the sixth inning, and the Indians made the three runs stand up. "Eighteen in a row is hard to fathom," Hellickson said.

RHP Jeremy Hellickson struggled in three of his past four starts, and that trend continued in his Tuesday start versus the Yankees. Hellickson couldn't find his control, walking four with just one strikeout in 2 1/3 innings, a big reason he allowed five runs on just two hits in that short start. "He just never got in that sequence where he had a feel for two pitches, let alone one," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said.

RHP Jeremy Hellickson tied a season high by allowing seven runs and seven hits with four strikeouts and two walks over only 4 2/3 innings Thursday against Toronto. All seven runs came with two outs.

RHP Jeremy Hellickson, backed by huge support and helped by dreadful Boston defense, rode the wave to his eighth win of the season, his second in four decisions with the Orioles Friday night. He pitched seven innings, allowing three runs, two earned. "It's big, especially against these guys and, you know, the first game of the series," he said. "It was nice to get this one."

Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Albert Pujols hit a two-run homer in Friday's 9-7 loss at the Baltmore Orioles, tying Sammy Sosa for eighth place on the career list with 609.Pujols clubbed his milestone shot in the top of the first inning, a two-run shot off Orioles right-hander Jeremy Hellickson.It was the 18th blast of the season for the 37-year-old Pujols and moved him three behind Jim Thome for No. 7 on baseball's all-time list.Pujols, a native of the Dominican Republic, also tied Sosa for the most career homers by a foreign-born player.In his 17th major league season, Pujols hit 445 homers in 11 years with the St. Louis Cardinals, eclipsing the 40 mark six times during his tenure there.Friday's blast was Pujols' 164th with Los Angeles. He had 40 with Los Angeles in 2015 and swatted 31 last year.

RHP Jeremy Hellickson had given up 23 homers heading into Friday's game versus the Angels, but just one in his three starts with the Orioles. That changed quickly when the right-hander allowed four homers the first time through the Angels' lineup and five in the 4 2/3 innings he pitched in Friday's game. He came away with a no-decision as the Orioles rallied from an early 5-0 deficit to pull out a 9-7 victory.

RHP Jeremy Hellickson (7-7) made his third start since coming to the Orioles from Philadelphia in a trade on July 28 and failed to have a quality start for the first time Sunday afternoon in a 9-3 loss to Oakland. Hellickson, who is 1-2 as an Oriole, gave up six runs and five hits, including 3B Matt Chapman's three-run homer, in five innings. He had five strikeouts and two walks. "When you give up three or four hard-hit balls and you give up six runs, it's just frustrating," Hellickson said.

RHP Jeremy Hellickson was acquired by the Orioles to give a struggling starting rotation more depth. He did just that in his first start, throwing seven shutout innings in a 6-0 victory that helped Baltimore complete a sweep of a three-game series against Kansas City. Hellickson breezed through his first game as an Oriole, working well with C Caleb Joseph. "You just have to be confident in yourself and go out there -- and me and Caleb had a good game plan, so (I) really didn't deviate from that at all," the pitcher said. "Just threw what he put down where he put the glove, and it felt good tonight."