CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Jerad Eickhoff is expected to miss six to eight weeks with a strained lat muscle.Eickhoff was 4-8 with a 4.71 ERA last season and spent time on the disabled list with back and hand injuries. He was slated to be part of Philadelphia's rotation.Manager Gabe Kapler said Friday that Eickhoff got hurt during his previous outing against Pittsburgh on March 9. The Phillies signed 2015 NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta earlier in the week and general manager Matt Klentak said he plans to fill Eickhoff's void from within.Zach Eflin, Ben Lively, Mark Leiter Jr. and Tom Eshelman are candidates to replace Eickhoff in the starting rotation.

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani was rocked for seven runs and seven hits over 1 1/3 innings in his second major league spring training start for the Los Angeles Angels, allowing long home runs to Colorado's Ian Desmond and Nolan Arenado that went over the left-field berm on Friday in an 18-6 loss.The 23-year-old Japanese two-way star made his first big league exhibition appearance since Feb. 24, when he pitched 1 1/3 innings against Milwaukee and gave up Keon Broxton's home run leading off the second.Desmond hit a solo homer and Arrenado had a three-run shot. Charlie Blackmon had a two-run single, and DJ LeMahieu a run-scoring infield single.Desmond also hit a solo homer off Tyler Warmoth. Kole Calhoun homered for the Angels and Justin Upton went deep for the third time.ELSEHWERE AROUND THE GRAPEFRUIT AND CACTUS LEAGUESROYALS 12, PADRES 4Mike Moustakas hit a two-run single in his first spring training appearance for Kansas City after rejoining the Royals. Salvador Perez homered twice,... [More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Tommy Hunter's biggest pitch for the Philadelphia Phillies came before he even took the mound for his new team.Since he signed a two-year deal in December, the reliever had been pushing Jake Arrieta to follow him to Philadelphia.Done deal.Arrieta and the Phillies finalized a $75 million, three-year contract on Monday, a deal that could be worth up to $135 million over five seasons. Arrieta was to be introduced at spring training during a news conference on Tuesday."I've been on the phone with him this whole entire offseason to see if it can work out," Hunter said Monday. "I was coming hard. It's not up to you as a player or a friend. Ultimately it's up to the people in charge to get this done and they did it."General manager Matt Klentak called it an "exciting day for the Phillies organization and our fans.""Jake is among the best pitchers in baseball and his list of accomplishments is exceptional," Klentak said in a press release. "He is an elite competitor, a tireless... [More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Tommy Hunter's biggest pitch for the Philadelphia Phillies came before he even took the mound for his new team.Since he signed a two-year deal in December, the reliever has been pushing Jake Arrieta to follow him to Philadelphia. Mission accomplished.Arrieta and the Phillies agreed Sunday to a $75 million, three-year contract, a deal that could be worth up to $135 million over five seasons, three people familiar with the decision told The Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a successful physical."I've been on the phone with him this whole entire offseason to see if it can work out," Hunter said Monday. "I was coming hard. It's not up to you as a player or a friend. Ultimately it's up to the people in charge to get this done and they did it."Hunter and Arrieta have been friends since their college days. They spent four years together in Baltimore and have remained close. Hunter said their wives have been texting each... [More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Tommy Hunter's biggest pitch for the Philadelphia Phillies came before he even took the mound for his new team.Since he signed a two-year deal in December, the reliever has been pushing Jake Arrieta to follow him to Philadelphia. Mission accomplished.Arrieta and the Phillies agreed Sunday to a $75 million, three-year contract, a deal that could be worth up to $135 million over five seasons, three people familiar with the decision told The Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a successful physical."I've been on the phone with him this whole entire offseason to see if it can work out," Hunter said Monday. "I was coming hard. It's not up to you as a player or a friend. Ultimately it's up to the people in charge to get this done and they did it."Hunter and Arrieta have been friends since their college days. They spent four years together in Baltimore and have remained close. Hunter said their wives have been texting each... [More]

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Los Angeles Angels rookie Shohei Ohtani allowed six runs while pitching three innings in an exhibition game against the Mexican League's Tijuana Toros on Friday.The 23-year-old Ohtani struck out six and walked one.Ohtani spent five seasons with the Nippon Ham Fighters before signing with the Angels as an international free agent on Dec. 10. He is trying to become the first player in nearly 100 years to play regularly as a pitcher and hitter, but he has had mixed results so far this spring.AROUND THE GRAPEFRUIT AND CACTUS LEAGUESDODGERS 6, ROYALS (SS) 4Los Angeles closer Kenley Jansen was held out of what was supposed to be his first big league spring training game this year due to an injured upper right hamstring."When he was getting ready today, his pregame stuff and kind of getting his legs loose, it tightened up on him," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "We had the trainers look at him and it just made sense to just not throw him out there."Roberts said he expects... [More]

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Los Angeles Angels rookie Shohei Ohtani allowed six runs while pitching three innings in an exhibition game against the Mexican League's Tijuana Toros on Friday.The 23-year-old Ohtani struck out six and walked one.Ohtani spent five seasons with the Nippon Ham Fighters before signing with the Angels as an international free agent on Dec. 10. He is trying to become the first player in nearly 100 years to play regularly as a pitcher and hitter, but he has had mixed results so far this spring.AROUND THE GRAPEFRUIT AND CACTUS LEAGUESDODGERS 6, ROYALS (SS) 4Los Angeles closer Kenley Jansen was held out of what was supposed to be his first big league spring training game this year due to an injured upper right hamstring."When he was getting ready today, his pregame stuff and kind of getting his legs loose, it tightened up on him," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "We had the trainers look at him and it just made sense to just not throw him out there."Roberts said he expects... [More]

Giancarlo Stanton got off to a sunny start at a new position for the New York Yankees.Making his first start in left field for his new team, the NL MVP lost two flyballs in the sun and both fell for hits Sunday in a 9-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.Stanton never played left field in his eight seasons with the Marlins, instead spending his time in right.Asked how someone should work on catching balls in the glare, the smiling slugger said: "Get sun vision gloves, see right through the sun."AROUND THE GRAPEFRUIT AND CACTUS LEAGUES:ORIOLES 10, RED SOX 8Adam Jones hit a pair of RBI doubles and a single and Manny Machado added a two-run double for Baltimore. Andrew Benintendi and Rafael Devers hit back-to-back homers for Boston off Gabriel Ynoa, who allowed six runs in two innings.The Orioles announced first baseman Chris Davis had an MRI on his sore right elbow and no structural damage was found. Manager Buck Showalter estimated Davis would be out another three to five days. Showalter also noted... [More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Gabe Kapler figured why wait? Aaron Nola will be his first opening-day starter as Philadelphia Phillies manager."Barring anything crazy happening, he's our guy. He is the man," Kapler said after Nola pitched two innings in his spring-training debut Sunday, an 8-3 loss to the New York Yankees.Still, the 24-year-old right-hander wouldn't mind deferring to a more accomplished option should the Phillies sign one of the big-name free agents still available, such as Jake Arrieta or Lance Lynn."It would definitely be good to get another veteran," Nola said before Kapler's postgame announcement. "It's always good to have veterans on your team, because for us younger guys it's good to learn from them, because they've been in our shoes before."Nola is from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, not far from NOLA — New Orleans, as it happens. He's the ace of a young rotation that also could include Jerad Eickhoff, Vince Velasquez, Nick Pivetta and Ben Lively. Kapler said the decision on his... [More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Williams has set his sights on gaining a full-time role coming out of spring.He's already made quite an impression on Gabe Kapler — and on the new manager's ride, too.Williams dented Kapler's rental SUV with a home run during batting practice Tuesday and tried to ding his favorite target again Wednesday."The breeze coming in from right field did not stop Nick Williams from destroying the baseball and almost hitting my car for the second straight day," Kapler said.Insurance will surely cover the light damage and Kapler is more than happy to see the 24-year-old hitting with power."If he is destroying cars and it happens to be mine, no problem," Kapler added. "We're going to make it a bull's-eye for him."Williams, a former second-round pick for the Texas Rangers in 2012, showed some signs of what the future holds when he hit .288 with 12 home runs and 55 RBIs in 313 at-bats as a rookie last season.Williams spent the offseason working... [More]

A team-by-team look at the National 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:___Washington NationalsManager: Dave Martinez (first season).2017: 97-65, first place, lost to Chicago Cubs in NLDS.Training Town: West Palm Beach, Florida.Park: The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.First Workout: Feb. 16/21.He's Here: 1B-OF Matt Adams, C Miguel Montero.He's Outta Here: Manager Dusty Baker, LF Jayson Werth, C Jose Lobaton, 1B-LF Adam Lind, RHP Matt Albers.Going campin': It's become an all-too-familiar story for the Nationals and their fans: terrific regular season, followed by quick playoff exit, followed by a managerial change. Martinez will be the latest skipper to try to lead the club to postseason success — and GM Mike Rizzo has made it clear that ownership expects nothing less than a World Series championship. Martinez has been Joe Maddon's right-hand man with the Chicago... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Playing meaningful games in September seems attainable for the Philadelphia Phillies.That's a big step forward for a team with five straight losing seasons. Philadelphia won only 66 games in 2017 and finished last in the NL East for a third time in four years.A decade after winning the franchise's second World Series title, the Phillies have a solid group of young players ready to make summers at the ballpark fun again the way Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins did from 2007-11.Slugger Rhys Hoskins, shortstop J.P. Crawford, outfielder Nick Williams and catcher Jorge Alfaro proved they belonged in the majors and will get a chance to showcase their talent over a full season.Outfielders Odubel Herrera and Aaron Altherr and second baseman Cesar Hernandez have been productive for a few years. Veteran first baseman Carlos Santana got big money in free agency to complete a lineup that has a chance to be dynamic.It will be up to new manager Gabe Kapler to maximize their... [More]

RHP Jerad Eickhoff (nerve irritation, right hand) was placed on the 60-day disabled list, ending his season. After going 11-14 with a 3.65 ERA last year, 2017 was a major disappointment for Eickhoff. He went 4-8 with a 4.71 ERA. The 27-year-old will be a candidate for next year's rotation but not a lock, according to manager Pete Mackanin.

RHP Jerad Eickhoff (nerve irritation, right hand) was placed on the 10-day disabled list. Eickhoff, 27, is 4-8 with a 4.71 ERA this season. His average fastball was 91.5 mph last year, but it's down to 90.4 this season and 89.4 in August.

RHP Jerad Eickhoff struggled in his start against the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday afternoon, going two batters into the third inning before being removed because of nerve irritation in his right hand. He's going to be monitored in the next few days. In going two-plus innings, Eickhoff gave up six runs (all earned) and six hits as his ERA rose to 4.71 during the 9-1 loss. It's also the third straight start for Eickhoff where he has failed to get to the sixth inning. He has only gone more than six innings three times all year and just once since April 16. "When you can't feel the baseball, that's not a good thing," he said. "I'll keep pushing through it."

RHP Jerad Eickhoff will start game one of a doubleheader Wednesday after the Phillies and Braves had their Tuesday night game postponed because of rain. Eickhoff, after a shaky start to 2017, has been much better of late, including a win over the Braves on Aug. 9. In that start, Eickhoff allowed two runs on nine hits in 6 2/3 innings while striking out six and walking none in a 3-2 Phillies win. Wednesday will be the fifth time Eickhoff starts against the Braves this season. He owns a 2.91 ERA in 21 2/3 innings and a 2.06 ERA in 56 2/3 career innings against Atlanta, the best career ERA Eickhoff has against a team he's pitched at least 24 innings against.

RHP Jerad Eickhoff improved his record to 4-7 with five innings of one-run baseball Friday in a 7-1 Philadelphia win over the visiting Chicago Cubs. Eickhoff struck out eight and allowed five hits while walking three.

RHP Jerad Eickhoff takes the mound Friday to open up a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs. Eickhoff, who's 3-7 with a 4.46 ERA this season, will be facing the Cubs for the second time this season. He took a loss against the team May 3, giving up four runs (earned) on five hits in 5 2/3 innings. For his career, Eickhoff is 1-2 with a 3.51 ERA in four starts against the Cubs, giving up 10 runs (all earned) in 25 2/3 innings.

RHP Jerad Eickhoff couldn't finish the fifth inning Saturday night, and thus didn't benefit from the Phillies' seven-run sixth that produced a 12-9 win over the San Francisco Giants. By failing to get through the fifth, the right-hander got his fourth no-decision in his last five starts. Eickhoff allowed eight hits and four runs in his 4 2/3 innings.

RHP Jerad Eickhoff will be out to avenge an earlier drubbing at the hands of the San Francisco Giants when he pitches the third game of a four-game series Saturday night. Eichhoff allowed six hits and five walks, producing five runs (four earned), when the Phillies lost 10-0 to the Giants at home in June. It's the only time he's faced the Giants in his career.