Capsules of National League Central teams, listed in order of finish last year:___Chicago Cubs2017: 92-70, first place, lost to Dodgers in NLCS.Manager: Joe Maddon (fourth season).He's Here: RHP Yu Darvish, RHP Brandon Morrow, RHP Tyler Chatwood, RHP Steve Cishek, LHP Drew Smyly, C Chris Gimenez.He's Outta Here: RHP Wade Davis, C Alex Avila, C Rene Rivera.Projected Lineup: CF Ian Happ (.253, 24 HRs, 68 RBIs, .842 OPS) or Albert Almora Jr. (.298, 8, 46), 3B Kris Bryant (.295, 29, 73, 38 2Bs, 111 runs), 1B Anthony Rizzo (.273, 32, 109, 91 BBs), C Willson Contreras (.276, 21, 74), LF Kyle Schwarber (.211, 30, 59), SS Addison Russell (.239, 12, 43), RF Jason Heyward (.259, 11, 59), 2B Javier Baez (.273, 23, 75, .796 OPS).Rotation: LH Jon Lester (13-8, 4.33 ERA, 180 Ks), RH Kyle Hendricks (7-5, 3.03), RH Yu Darvish (10-12, 3.86, 209 Ks with Rangers and Dodgers), LH Jose Quintana (11-11, 4.15, 207 Ks with White Sox and Cubs), RH Tyler Chatwood (8-15, 4.69 with Rockies).Key Relievers: RH Brandon... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers' pitching could improve this year better because of two new bats in the lineup: Outfielders Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich are just as capable of changing games with their gloves, too.Think fewer bloopers dropping in for hits, or a hard liner into the gap cut off in time to prevent extra bases. Any edge will help the Brewers in what should be a competitive race in the NL Central."We had a great outfield before; I know I benefited from it, too," starter Zach Davies said. "But it's shoring up spots that the front office wanted to. Both guys are great defensively."The offseason acquisitions are each Gold Glove-winning outfielders, in fact. Yelich arrived in a deal with the Miami Marlins on Jan. 25, one day before the Brewers signed former farmhand Cain as a free agent from the Kansas City Royals.The additions led to speculation that Milwaukee might deal one of their quality outfielders to bring in another starter, especially with Jimmy Nelson expected... [More]

A team-by-team look at the National League Central 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:___Chicago CubsManager: Joe Maddon (fourth season).2017: 92-70, first place, lost to Dodgers in NLCS.Training Town: Mesa, Arizona.Park: Sloan Park.First Workout: Feb. 14/19.He's Here: RHP Brandon Morrow, RHP Tyler Chatwood, RHP Steve Cishek, LHP Drew Smyly.He's Outta Here: RHP Wade Davis, C Alex Avila, C Rene Rivera.Going campin': Chicago is coming off three consecutive NLCS appearances, and it looked a little tired when its title defense came to an end with a lopsided playoff loss to Los Angeles last year. The bullpen was hit hard by the Dodgers in the NLCS, and the Cubs batted just .168 in 10 postseason games. The roster returns mostly intact, but the bullpen and coaching staff each has a new look. Morrow replaces Davis at closer after agreeing to a $21 million, two-year contract. Jim... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The rebuilding plan for the Milwaukee Brewers is a smashing success, so much so that they're not really rebuilding anymore.Bold moves to trade for Christian Yelich and sign free agent Lorenzo Cain sent a message."We decided winning in 2018 was as important as to win in 2020," owner Mark Attanasio said.A surprising 2017 season that left Milwaukee a win short of the playoffs raised hopes in what was supposed to be just the second full season of a rebuild. Rising expectations accompanied the acquisitions of Yelich and Cain.Those NL Central meetings with the two-time division champion Chicago Cubs should be fun this year."Last year, I got asked where we were and if we were ahead of schedule," Attanasio said at the team's winter fan event in downtown Milwaukee. "I think we can say now we're ahead of schedule."Some things to watch ahead of the start of spring training:NEW LOOK: The slick-fielding Cain and Yelich improve the outfield defense, which should help the pitching staff... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The rebuilding plan for the Milwaukee Brewers is a smashing success, so much so that they're not really rebuilding anymore.Bold moves to trade for Christian Yelich and sign free agent Lorenzo Cain sent a message."We decided winning in 2018 was as important as to win in 2020," owner Mark Attanasio said.A surprising 2017 season that left Milwaukee a win short of the playoffs raised hopes in what was supposed to be just the second full season of a rebuild. Rising expectations accompanied the acquisitions of Yelich and Cain.Those NL Central meetings with the two-time division champion Chicago Cubs should be fun this year."Last year, I got asked where we were and if we were ahead of schedule," Attanasio said at the team's winter fan event in downtown Milwaukee. "I think we can say now we're ahead of schedule."Some things to watch ahead of the start of spring training:NEW LOOK: The slick-fielding Cain and Yelich improve the outfield defense, which should help the pitching staff... [More]

RHP Matt Albers has a 1.68 ERA in 55 games this year for the Nationals. He was with the Chicago White Sox last season. "I didn't know too much about him," manager Dusty Baker said Friday. "I'm glad we got him. You have to give credit to our scouting department. They did a heck of a job. He has been the find of the year. He's got to be the find of the year in both leagues. He's at the top of my list."

RHP Matt Albers has been thinking about family and friends in the Houston area due to Hurricane Harvey. "Yeah, it's been pretty hectic obviously the last few days," Albers said. "We were just leaving Houston and my wife is eight months pregnant, so she is a little nervous about leaving town. Obviously, the first few days, she stayed there. Last night, right before the game, we get a text that Woodlands township thing saying if you're in these subdivisions there's a creek pretty close to my house flooding could happen. She got out of there and went to Dallas this morning. It's been pretty crazy seeing Houston, the devastation."

RHP Matt Albers notched his first career save Friday in Washington's 4-2 win over Philadelphia. With Shawn Kelley (back) sent to the 10-day disabled list before the game, the Nationals sent Albers to the hill in the ninth inning. He struck out two batters. Remarkably, it took Albers 461 appearances to pick up his first save. Albers had the second-most games finished in major league history without a save (102).

RHP Matt Albers pitched a scoreless inning and now has not allowed a run in eight games and 10 1/3 innings. "He's done about everything. He throws strikes and keeps the ball down," manager Dusty Baker said.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Adrian Beltre and Nomar Mazara hit home runs and drove in three runs as the Texas Rangers beat the Kansas City Royals 7-4 on Saturday night for only their third win in the last 13 games.Beltre homered in a four-run seventh with Mazara and Ian Desmond aboard to put the game away. It was his career 427th home run, which ranks 49th on the all-time list.Mazara hit a two-run homer in the fourth and doubled in another run in the fifth.Left-hander Cole Hamels (11-2) picked up the victory, allowing one unearned run and five hits over 5 2/3 innings.Astros 7, Angels 2HOUSTON -- Collin McHugh produced his seventh consecutive run-suppressing start and was backed by a pair of home runs from Evan Gattis.The Astros notched their 10th consecutive win over the Angels behind McHugh and Gattis, who socked his 14th and 15th homer.Shortstop Carlos Correa added his 15th homer leading off the fifth as Houston set the table for a third consecutive series sweep of the Angels on Sunday.Dodgers... [More]

RHP Matt Albers allowed an unearned run in two innings Saturday against the Tigers in his first start since June 25, 2008, when he was with Baltimore. It was his longest outing of 2016. He is 4-15 with a 5.97 ERA in 24 career starts.

RHP Matt Albers had an afternoon to remember Wednesday, when he earned the win with two scoreless innings and scored the tie-breaking run after doubling to lead off the 13th inning in the White Sox's 2-1 victory over the New York Mets. The White Sox were down to one position player -- backup C Dioner Navarro -- when Albers entered and threw a scoreless 12th inning. Albers then stepped to the plate for the first time since 2009 and doubled for his first hit since 2007. He went to third on a wild pitch and scored his first run as a big leaguer on a sacrifice fly by 1B Jose Abreu. Albers is the first White Sox reliever to record a hit since RHP Cliff Politte singled on June 8, 2005 and the first White Sox reliever to lace an extra-base hit since LHP Neal Cotts on June 18, 2004. He is now 3-for-35 at the plate as a big leaguer. Albers worked around a two-out walk int he bottom of the inning to earn the win and ended up allowing a hit and two walks while striking out one in improving to 2-4 and lowering his ERA to 3.80 in 25 games.

RHP Matt Albers owns a nine-appearance scoreless streak against the Royals dating to Sept. 18, 2013. That is over 9 1/3 innings. Albers, however, has allowed four homers over his past 7 1/3 innings, including a three-run shot Monday to Jose Ramirez.

RHP Matt Albers gave up three runs in the eighth for his first blown save of the season. He has 13 other scoreless outings. Prior to the three-run homer he gave up Tuesday, Albers had tied for the third-fewest homers allowed since 2013 (six) among AL relievers with 100 innings.

RHP Matt Albers had gone 35 innings without giving up an earned run, the longest active streak in the majors. However, that disappeared when Albers gave up a solo home run to Boston CF Jackie Bradley Jr. in the sixth inning, snapping the reliever's scoreless streak that dated back to July 2015.

RHP Matt Albers saw his scoreless streak end in this game. Albers had gone a franchise-record 30 games (and 33 innings) without allowing a run before giving up two unearned runs against his former team in Saturday's 8-7 victory.

RHP Matt Albers walked one in a scoreless inning to pick up his first victory on Saturday against Texas. He has thrown 32 consecutive scoreless innings in 29 appearances dating to Aug. 5, 2015.

--RHP Matt Albers has thrown 30 consecutive scoreless innings over his last 27 appearances dating back to Aug. 15, 2015. That's tied with Britt Burns for the ninth-longest streak in White Sox history and is longest active in the majors.

RHP Matt Albers ran his scoreless inning streak to 30 over his last 27 appearances on Tuesday night in 0.2 innings of work. Both of his streaks are the longest active in baseball and his innings pitched streak is the longest by a White Sox pitcher since Wilson Alvarez threw 31 straight scoreless innings in 1993.

RHP Matt Albers threw two scoreless innings of relief on Saturday against the Indians. Albers has made not allowed a run in 26 1/3 innings dating to Aug. 4, 2015, which marks the longest active streak in baseball among relief pitchers.