ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Matt Thaiss scored on Michael Hermosillo’s bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the 10th inning, and the Los Angeles Angels snapped their three-game skid with a 5-4 victory over the Houston Astros on Saturday night.Jason Castro delivered a tying RBI double in the ninth for the Angels, who improved the majors’ worst record to 3-6 despite blowing a two-run lead in the ninth.David Fletcher hit a leadoff single in the 10th off Nivaldo Rodriguez (0-1), sending Thaiss to third. After the Astros walked Anthony Rendon to load the bases, Thaiss scored on Josh Reddick’s inaccurate throw from medium right field.Angels reliever Noé Ramirez got two outs in the 10th, and Ryan Buchter (2-0) struck out Abraham Toro with the bases loaded in a rare bright moment for the Halos’ struggling relievers.YANKEES 5, RED SOX 2NEW YORK (AP) — Gio Urshela hit his first big league grand slam, Aaron Judge homered for a career-high fourth straight game and New York won its fifth straight.Nick Nelson (1-0)... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Cleveland’s Shane Bieber tied the major league record for strikeouts in a pitcher’s first two starts of the season, punching out 13 Minnesota Twins over eight innings in the Indians’ 2-0 victory on Thursday night.Bieber (2-0) fanned 14 over six scoreless innings on Friday against Kansas City. His 27 strikeouts in the two games matched the record set by Karl Spooner of the Brooklyn Dodgers in September 1954 during the first two starts of his short career.Facing a Twins team that came in with the second-best run differential in baseball, Bieber allowed three singles in his eight innings.Francisco Lindor supplied all the offense Cleveland needed with a two-run homer in the third inning off Jose Berríos (0-1). After Jose Ramirez singled with two outs, Berrios left an 0-2 pitch up over the plate, and Lindor drove it over the fence in right for his second homer of the season.YANKEES 8, ORIOLES 6BALTIMORE (AP) — Aaron Judge hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning after New York... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Cleveland’s Shane Bieber tied the major league record for strikeouts in a pitcher’s first two starts of the season, punching out 13 Minnesota Twins over eight innings in the Indians’ 2-0 victory on Thursday night.Bieber (2-0) fanned 14 over six scoreless innings on Friday against Kansas City. His 27 strikeouts in the two games matched the record set by Karl Spooner of the Brooklyn Dodgers in September 1954 during the first two starts of his short career.Facing a Twins team that came in with the second-best run differential in baseball, Bieber allowed three singles in his eight innings.Francisco Lindor supplied all the offense Cleveland needed with a two-run homer in the third inning off Jose Berríos (0-1). After Jose Ramirez singled with two outs, Berrios left an 0-2 pitch up over the plate, and Lindor drove it over the fence in right for his second homer of the season.YANKEES 8, ORIOLES 6BALTIMORE (AP) — Aaron Judge hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning after New York... [More]

The minute word leaked that the designated hitter was coming to the National League this season, fans and front offices alike began pinpointing the perfect candidates.Kyle Schwarber ... Ryan Braun ... Jay Bruce. And several others.Whether it be an aging slugger returning from injury or a younger hitter who’s not so good with the glove, nearly every NL team has a player who fits the profile: dangerous stick, suspect defense. A natural choice to bat for the pitcher and not play the field. Suddenly there’s an ideal spot in the starting lineup available to those guys, now that the DH has spread beyond the American League under new rules adopted for a postponed season shortened to 60 games because of the coronavirus.It all starts without fans on hand Thursday night in Washington, where the World Series champion Nationals host the New York Yankees. Probably with Eric Thames or Howie Kendrick becoming the first designated hitter for an NL squad playing a regular-season game in its home ballpark.“I... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers were eager to show off $100 million worth of stadium renovations to fans and a national audience at the All-Star Game this summer. Turns out, it appears only players are going to see the changes up close this season because of the coronavirus pandemic, which will keep the public out of the ballpark for at least the early portion of a 60-game schedule that begins July 23. The Dodgers won't host the All-Star festivities until 2022.The black tarp that served as the backdrop in center field is gone, replaced by a new center field plaza that may take some getting used to for hitters.First baseman Max Muncy was hit by a pitch on his left ring finger during the team's intrasquad game Tuesday. “I couldn’t really see the ball,” he said Wednesday on a video conference call. “I’m trying to adjust to some of the changes out there.”Muncy said he’ll stop swinging a bat while his finger heals, but he expects to be ready for opening day.The new batter's eye has... [More]

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — NL MVP Cody Bellinger was scratched from the Los Angeles Dodgers' starting lineup on Monday for a spring training game against the Cincinnati Reds.The outfielder took part in a charity event on Sunday night at a Topgolf facility in Scottsdale, and a video showed him hitting a long drive off a tee.Golf swings aren’t believed to be the reason for his injury, according to manager Dave Roberts.With the Dodgers off Tuesday and playing a night game Wednesday, Roberts isn't rushing to get Bellinger back to action. “We'll see how he responds. But it's not imperative that he plays in that night game, either,” Roberts said after the Dodgers lost 6-2 to the Reds.Bellinger is 4 for 13 with two doubles.He had been scheduled to play center field and bat fourth. Instead the Dodgers moved A.J. Pollock from left to center field and inserted Matt Beaty in left field for the spring training debut of left-hander David Price, who was acquired from Boston along with outfielder Mookie Betts.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — NL MVP Cody Bellinger was scratched from the Los Angeles Dodgers' starting lineup on Monday for a spring training game against the Cincinnati Reds.The outfielder took part in a charity event on Sunday night at a Topgolf facility in Scottsdale, and a video showed him hitting a long drive off a tee.Golf swings aren’t believed to be the reason for his injury, according to manager Dave Roberts.With the Dodgers on an off-day Tuesday and playing a night game Wednesday, Roberts isn't rushing to get Bellinger back to action. “We'll see how he responds. But it's not imperative that he plays in that night game, either,” Roberts said after the Dodgers played the Reds 6-2Bellinger is 4 for 13 with two doubles.He had been scheduled to play center field and bat fourth. Instead the Dodgers moved A.J. Pollock from left to center field and inserted Matt Beaty in left field for the spring training debut of left-hander David Price, who was acquired from Boston along with outfielder Mookie Betts.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — NL MVP Cody Bellinger was scratched from the Los Angeles Dodgers' starting lineup on Monday for a spring training game against the Cincinnati Reds.The outfielder took part in a charity event on Sunday night at a Topgolf facility in Scottsdale, and a video showed him hitting a long drive off a tee.Golf swings aren’t believed to be the reason for his injury, according to manager Dave Roberts.Bellinger is 4 for 13 with two doubles.He had been scheduled to play center field and bat fourth. Instead the Dodgers moved A.J. Pollock from left to center field and inserted Matt Beaty in left field for the spring training debut of left-hander David Price, who was acquired from Boston along with outfielder Mookie Betts.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Joc Pederson was back in a familiar clubhouse. He had the same dressing stall and many of the same teammates.Not much had changed, except for him.He felt awkward — and with good reason.Pederson put his Dodgers uniform back on at Camelback Ranch over the weekend for the start of spring training. Just a week earlier, it looked like he would be performing these February rituals across town in Tempe.For five days, Pederson appeared to be headed to the Los Angeles Angels along with pitcher Ross Stripling as part of several multi-player trades surrounding Mookie Betts' move to the Dodgers. The Angels-Dodgers trade was eventually scrapped, but only after an uncomfortable amount of uncertainty for the players involved.“I thought for sure I was going to the Angels,” Pederson said. “It seemed pretty official. I was talking with my wife about what we were going to do living-wise, spring training-wise, talking about changing my cleats, everything.’’Stripling thought the same... [More]

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts opened spring training Thursday with his confidence boosted by the acquisition of Mookie Betts, who could prove crucial to the franchise’s quest to win its first World Series title since 1988.Betts, acquired from the Boston Red Sox this week in a multi-player deal, gives the Dodgers two recent MVPs in the outfield -- Betts, the 2018 AL MVP, in right and Cody Bellinger, the 2019 NL MVP, in center.Betts’ potent hitting could provide scoring opportunities that weren’t there during the Dodgers' run to the World Series in 2017 and 2018, Roberts said. Betts played for the Red Sox during Boston’s 2018 Series victory over the Dodgers.“Mostly, we just have to play better,’’ Roberts said. “Looking back, we haven’t played our best baseball in postseason. Betts makes us a lot better.’’The Dodgers also tried to trade Joc Pederson, pitcher Ross Stripling and prospect Andy Pages to the Angels. But the deal fell apart. For now, Roberts expects... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Boston will pay a Red Sox record $13.4 million luxury tax after failing to make the playoffs and the New York Yankees finished with a $6.7 million bill, likely a fraction of what they will pay next year.Three teams owe tax, according to end-of-year figures sent to clubs Wednesday and obtained by The Associated Press. The Chicago Cubs must pay $7.6 million following a season that ended with a September fade and no postseason berth.New York has run up a total of $348 million in tax since the payroll restraint system began in 2003, owing money in each year except 2018. The Los Angeles Dodgers are second at $150 million, followed by the Red Sox at $50 million and the Cubs at $11 million.This year's initial tax threshold was $206 million, counting payrolls by average annual values and including earned bonuses, adjustments for cash transactions, option buyouts and just over $14 million per team in benefits.Among regular payrolls, which include salaries, prorated shares of signing... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Boston will pay a Red Sox record $13.4 million luxury tax after failing to make the playoffs and the New York Yankees finished with a $6.7 million bill, likely a fraction of what they will pay next year.Three teams owe tax, according to end of year figures sent to clubs on Wednesday and obtained by The Associated Press. The Chicago Cubs must pay $7.6 million following a season that ended with September fade and no postseason berth.New York has run up a total of $348 million in tax since the payroll restraint system began in 2003, owing money in each year except 2018. The Los Angeles Dodgers are second at $150 million, followed by the Red Sox at $50 million and the Cubs at $11 million.This year's initial tax threshold was $206 million, counting payrolls by average annual values and including earned bonuses, adjustments for cash transactions, option buyouts and just over $14 million per team in benefits.Among regular payrolls, which include salaries, prorated shares of signing... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rich Hill isn't sure how the course of history could have differed for the Los Angeles Dodgers if he recorded one more out."If I could've finished off that third inning, it might've maybe changed things," Hill said.When manager Dave Roberts took the ball out of Hill's hands, he turned it over to a bullpen full of question marks. After starter Kenta Maeda got through a strong inning-plus, a revolving assortment of relievers allowed five runs in a 6-1 loss to the Washington Nationals on Monday that tied the NL Division Series at 2."The result certainly wasn't what we would have hoped for, but as far as kind of the process, I loved it," Roberts said.Pedro Báez gave up a three-run home run to Ryan Zimmerman in the fifth that busted open the game, and his teammates couldn't crack Nationals ace Max Scherzer to close out the series.Instead, the Dodgers will turn to Walker Buehler in a winner-take-all Game 5 on Wednesday back in Los Angeles and hope the young right-hander can... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — When Dave Roberts took the ball out of Rich Hill's hands, he turned it over to a bullpen full of question marks.The Los Angeles manager turned to starter Kenta Maeda for a successful inning-plus of relief. Then Dodgers came apart.Hill couldn't make it out of the third inning, and a revolving assortment of relievers allowed five runs in a 6-1 loss to the Washington Nationals in Game 4 Monday that tied the NL Division Series at 2.Pedro Báez gave up a three-run home run to Ryan Zimmerman in the fifth that busted open the game, and his teammates couldn't crack Nationals ace Max Scherzer to close out the series.Instead, the Dodgers will turn to Walker Buehler in a winner-take-all Game 5 on Wednesday back in Los Angeles and hope the young right-hander can continue his yearlong success in the biggest of pressure situations thus far. Buehler tossed six scoreless innings to beat the Nationals in Game 1.With Los Angeles up 2-1 in the series, all options potentially were available... [More]

Nationals first. Trea Turner grounds out to third base, Justin Turner to Max Muncy. Adam Eaton walks. Anthony Rendon flies out to center field to Cody Bellinger. Juan Soto homers to center field. Adam Eaton scores. Howie Kendrick grounds out to shortstop, Corey Seager to Max Muncy.2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Nationals 2, Dodgers 0.Dodgers fifth. Hyun-Jin Ryu called out on strikes. Joc Pederson pops out to third base to Anthony Rendon. Max Muncy homers to center field. Justin Turner grounds out to third base, Anthony Rendon to Howie Kendrick.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Nationals 2, Dodgers 1.Dodgers sixth. Cody Bellinger singles to right field. Corey Seager called out on strikes. A.J. Pollock strikes out swinging. David Freese pinch-hitting for Gavin Lux. David Freese singles to right field. Cody Bellinger to third. Russell Martin doubles to deep left center field. David Freese scores. Cody Bellinger scores. Chris Taylor pinch-hitting for Hyun-Jin Ryu. Chris Taylor walks.... [More]

Nationals first. Trea Turner doubles to left field. Adam Eaton pops out to third base to Justin Turner. Anthony Rendon walks. Juan Soto hit by pitch. Anthony Rendon to second. Trea Turner to third. Howie Kendrick singles to left field. Juan Soto to second. Anthony Rendon to third. Trea Turner scores. Ryan Zimmerman pops out to Max Muncy. Kurt Suzuki strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 left on. Nationals 1, Dodgers 0.Nationals second. Victor Robles hit by pitch. Stephen Strasburg out on a sacrifice bunt to shallow infield, Max Muncy to Gavin Lux. Victor Robles to second. Trea Turner grounds out to third base, Justin Turner to Max Muncy. Adam Eaton singles to center field. Victor Robles scores. Anthony Rendon doubles to deep center field. Adam Eaton scores. Juan Soto strikes out swinging.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Nationals 3, Dodgers 0.Dodgers sixth. Gavin Lux strikes out on a foul tip. Matt Beaty pinch-hitting for Clayton Kershaw. Matt Beaty singles to right field.... [More]

Dodgers first. A.J. Pollock walks. David Freese strikes out swinging. Justin Turner strikes out swinging. Cody Bellinger walks. A.J. Pollock to second. Chris Taylor walks. Max Muncy walks. Chris Taylor to second. Cody Bellinger to third. A.J. Pollock scores. Corey Seager grounds out to first base to Howie Kendrick.1 run, 0 hits, 0 errors, 3 left on. Dodgers 1, Nationals 0.Dodgers fifth. David Freese called out on strikes. Justin Turner strikes out swinging. Cody Bellinger walks. Chris Taylor singles to third base. Cody Bellinger to third. Max Muncy reaches on error. Chris Taylor out at home. Cody Bellinger scores. Fielding error by Howie Kendrick.1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 left on. Dodgers 2, Nationals 0.Dodgers seventh. A.J. Pollock strikes out swinging. Joc Pederson pinch-hitting for David Freese. Joc Pederson walks. Justin Turner singles to shallow right field. Joc Pederson to third. Cody Bellinger called out on strikes. Chris Taylor walks. Max Muncy singles to right field. Chris Taylor... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers included four rookies on their NL Division Series roster.First baseman Matt Beaty, second baseman Gavin Lux, catcher Will Smith and reliever Dustin May each made impacts during the regular season when the Dodgers won a franchise-record 106 games.“They don’t act like rookies, they don’t play the game like rookies, and we’re going to need them in the postseason,” Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw said Thursday. “We don’t expect their performance to be any different.”Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts added, “We just believe in those guys.”The Dodgers and Washington Nationals announced their rosters for the best-of-five series hours before the start of Game 1.Smith was tabbed to catch starter Walker Buehler on Thursday in a Kentucky-bred battery. Smith is from Louisville and Buehler is from Lexington.Roberts often jokes about Smith’s youthful looks.“Don’t let that fool you because this guy is as tough as they come,” he said.Beaty is the oldest of the quartet... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers are starting just one of their four rookies in Game 1 of the National League Division Series.Will Smith is catching right-handed starter Walker Buehler on Thursday night against the Washington Nationals.Their other rookies _ first baseman Matt Beaty and second baseman Gavin Lux _ weren’t in the lineup, while reliever Dustin May could be used out of the bullpen.The Dodgers batting order is: Left fielder A.J. Pollock leading off, first baseman David Freese, third baseman Justin Turner, center fielder Cody Bellinger, right fielder Chris Taylor, second baseman Max Muncy, shortstop Corey Seager, Smith and Buehler.The Nationals lineup is: Shortstop Trea Turner leading off, right fielder Adam Eaton, third baseman Anthony Rendon, left fielder Juan Soto, second baseman Asdrúbal Cabrera, first baseman Matt Adams, center fielder Victor Robles, catcher Yan Gomes and left-handed starter Patrick Corbin.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers have included four rookies on their NL Division Series roster.First baseman Matt Beaty, second baseman Gavin Lux, catcher Will Smith and reliever Dustin May each made impacts during the regular season when the Dodgers won a franchise-record 106 games.The Dodgers announced their roster for the best-of-five series Thursday, hours before the start of Game 1 against Washington.The Nationals tweaked their roster after their NL wild-card victory over Milwaukee. Catcher Raudy Read and outfielder Andrew Stevenson were dropped in favor of added pitching depth with right-handers Wander Suero and Austin Voth.Washington is going with 11 pitchers and 14 position players.Beaty and Lux are among six left-handed hitters on the Dodgers’ roster. Lux was called up in September after starting the season at Double-A.Another rookie, outfielder Alex Verdugo, was ruled out of the NLDS because of a back injury.Los Angeles is carrying 12 pitchers and 13 position players.The... [More]