DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit three home runs, including a grand slam and solo shot off Washington ace Max Scherzer, and had seven RBIs as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Nationals 9-5 on Tuesday night. Guerrero’s slam in the third put the Blue Jays ahead 4-3 and ended Scherzer’s scoreless streak at 19 innings. Guerrero made it 7-3 with his drive in the fifth and added a two-run, seventh-inning shot off Kyle Finnegan to complete his first three-homer game. Scherzer (1-2) joined Ivan Nova as the only pitchers to have allowed a homer to both Guerrero Jr. and his father, Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero. Scherzer allowed seven runs — five earned — and eight hits over five innings. Tommy Milone (1-0) was the winner. RAYS 4, ATHLETICS 3 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Brett Phillips hit a two-run homer in the sixth, helping send Oakland to its second loss in 16 games. Joey Wendle’s two-out single in the seventh tacked on another run for the Rays and ended Tampa Bay’s 0-for-26 stretch... [More]

DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit three home runs, including a grand slam and solo shot off Washington ace Max Scherzer, and had seven RBIs as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Nationals 9-5 on Tuesday night. Guerrero’s slam in the third put the Blue Jays ahead 4-3 and ended Scherzer’s scoreless streak at 19 innings. Guerrero made it 7-3 with his drive in the fifth and added a two-run, seventh-inning shot off Kyle Finnegan to complete his first three-homer game. Scherzer (1-2) joined Ivan Nova as the only pitchers to have allowed a homer to both Guerrero Jr. and his father, Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero. Scherzer allowed seven runs — five earned — and eight hits over five innings. Tommy Milone (1-0) was the winner. RAYS 4, ATHLETICS 3 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Brett Phillips hit a two-run homer in the sixth, helping send Oakland to its second loss in 16 games. Joey Wendle’s two-out single in the seventh tacked on another run for the Rays and ended Tampa Bay’s 0-for-26 stretch... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Chad Kuhl's long road back from Tommy John surgery is over. More than two years removed from wondering where his career was heading after doctors reconfigured his mangled right elbow, Kuhl will be Pittsburgh's opening day starter in Chicago on Thursday when the Pirates face the Cubs. The 28-year-old is the longest-tenured starter on a staff that is largely inexperienced and largely anonymous. The void left by the offseason departures of Jameson Taillon, Joe Musgrove, Trevor Williams and Chris Archer is palpable. Kuhl knows he will play a major role in trying to fill it. “We talk about the guys that have left and there’s a lot of leadership, a lot of innings to take up, a lot of youth on this team,” he said. “So it adds to the leadership role that me and (Steven) Brault and those guys are trying to take over. It’s just trying to lead by example, do the right things.” Kuhl underwent reconstructive elbow surgery in September 2018. He missed all of 2019 and was handled largely... [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: ___ Atlanta Braves Manager: Brian Snitker (sixth season). 2020: 35-25, first place, lost to Dodgers in NL Championship Series. Training Town: North Port, Florida. Park: CoolToday Park. First Workout: Feb. 18/23. He’s Here: RHP Charlie Morton, LHP Drew Smyly, RHP Carl Edwards, SS Ehire Adrianza, RHP Victor Arano. He’s Outta Here: OF Nick Markakis, OF Adam Duvall, INF Charlie Culberson, RHP Mike Foltynewicz, RHP Mark Melancon, C Tyler Flowers, RHP Shane Greene, RHP Darren O’Day, RHP Jhoulys Chacin, INF Adeiny Hechavarria, LHP Cole Hamels. Going campin’: The key offseason move was re-signing left fielder Marcell Ozuna to a four-year, $65 million deal. Morton and Smyly add experience to the rotation. The team can take a cautious approach with 2020 opening day starter Mike Soroka’s return from... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pirates avoided arbitration with right-handed pitcher Joe Musgrove and eight others on Friday as the club tries to bounce back after finishing with the worst record in the majors in 2020. Musgrove, the team’s opening day starter in 2020, will make $4.45 million after going 1-5 with a 3.86 ERA last season while making a pro-rated $1,037,037 of a $2.8 million salary. The 28-year-old could help anchor the top of the rotation along with Jameson Taillon, the emphasis on “could.” With the Pirates in full rebuild mode, Musgrove is one of their few major-league ready trade chips as they look to restock their prospect pool. Catcher Jacob Stallings, a Gold Glove finalist while dealing with a pitching staff ravaged by injuries, earned a significant raise. The 31-year-old's pay jumped from $586,500 ($217,222 pro-rated) to $1.3 million. Stallings hit .248 with three home runs and 18 RBIs in his first full season as a starter. Infielder Colin Moran, now the de facto starting first... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — The Washington Nationals and general manager Mike Rizzo finalized a multiyear contract extension Saturday.Manager Dave Martinez hopes he is next up.The 59-year-old Rizzo, who also holds the title of president of baseball operations, built the team that won the 2019 World Series championship. The Nationals have won four NL East titles, most recently in 2017. They won the last season's World Series after making the playoffs as a wild card.Rizzo's contract was set to expire at the end of this season. Martinez said his boss earned his new deal.“He deserves it,” Martinez said. "He built this organization and good for him.“He gets more years to build this up again and do it again.”This year, the Nationals are in last place in the division in the pandemic-shortened season, but the 2020 struggles have not affected Nationals owner Mark Lerner's confidence in Rizzo. “We are thrilled that Mike will continue to lead our club,” Lerner said in a statement released by the team."He guided... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — The Washington Nationals and general manager Mike Rizzo finalized a multiyear contract extension Saturday.Manager Dave Martinez hopes he is next up.The 59-year-old Rizzo, who also holds the title of president of baseball operations, built the team that won the 2019 World Series championship. The Nationals have won four NL East titles, most recently in 2017. They won the last season's World Series after making the playoffs as a wild card.Rizzo's contract was set to expire at the end of this season. Martinez said his boss earned his new deal.“He deserves it,” Martinez said. "He built this organization and good for him.“He gets more years to build this up again and do it again.”This year, the Nationals are in last place in the division in the pandemic-shortened season, but the 2020 struggles have not affected Nationals owner Mark Lerner's confidence in Rizzo. “We are thrilled that Mike will continue to lead our club,” Lerner said in a statement released by the team."He guided... [More]

Nationals first. Victor Robles hit by pitch. Trea Turner grounds out to shortstop, Dansby Swanson to Freddie Freeman. Victor Robles to third. Asdrubal Cabrera out on a sacrifice fly to deep center field to Ronald Acuna Jr.. Victor Robles scores. Kurt Suzuki strikes out swinging.1 run, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Nationals 1, Braves 0.Braves first. Ronald Acuna Jr. strikes out swinging. Dansby Swanson pops out to shallow center field to Luis Garcia. Freddie Freeman walks. Marcell Ozuna doubles. Freddie Freeman scores. Travis d'Arnaud walks. Nick Markakis pops out to shallow left field to Trea Turner.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 left on. Nationals 1, Braves 1.Nationals second. Eric Thames strikes out on a foul tip. Josh Harrison hit by pitch. Luis Garcia singles to center field. Josh Harrison to second. Michael A. Taylor reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow infield. Luis Garcia out at second. Josh Harrison to third. Brock Holt singles to left field. Michael A. Taylor to second. Josh Harrison... [More]

Braves first. Ronald Acuna Jr. homers to center field. Dansby Swanson grounds out to shortstop, Trea Turner to Asdrubal Cabrera. Freddie Freeman singles to center field. Marcell Ozuna walks. Freddie Freeman to second. Nick Markakis lines out to left field to Josh Harrison. Austin Riley flies out to left field to Josh Harrison.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Braves 1, Nationals 0.Braves third. Ronald Acuna Jr. walks. Dansby Swanson homers to center field. Ronald Acuna Jr. scores. Freddie Freeman strikes out swinging. Marcell Ozuna singles to shallow right field. Nick Markakis lines out to deep left field to Josh Harrison. Austin Riley reaches on a fielder's choice to third base. Marcell Ozuna out at second.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Braves 3, Nationals 0.Nationals fourth. Asdrubal Cabrera triples to deep right field. Yan Gomes out on a sacrifice fly to deep left field to Adam Duvall. Asdrubal Cabrera scores. Josh Harrison doubles. Michael A. Taylor called out on strikes. Luis... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — The Washington Nationals removed left fielder Juan Soto from the lineup for Friday's first game of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves because of a sore left elbow.Soto's exit takes away one of baseball's top hitters and comes one day after another Washington outfielder, Adam Eaton, was forced out of Thursday night's game with a jammed knee.The 21-year-old Soto is hitting .354 with 11 homers and 26 RBIs. He missed the Nationals' first eight games because of a positive test for the coronavirus, although he never had symptoms.Soto was listed as the No. 2 hitter in the original lineup announced by the team. In the adjusted lineup, Josh Harrison moved from third base to left field and Wilmer Difo played third.Earlier Friday, manager Dave Martinez said he hoped Eaton would be available for Friday night's second game. Eaton did not start in the first game after jamming his knee in Thursday's loss to Philadelphia.The starting outfield against the Braves included Harrison, Victor Robles in center field and Michael A. Taylor in right field.___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Nationals third. Josh Harrison singles to center field. Michael A. Taylor reaches on a fielder's choice to third base. Josh Harrison out at second. Victor Robles doubles to deep left field. Michael A. Taylor to third. Trea Turner doubles to deep left field. Victor Robles scores. Michael A. Taylor scores. Juan Soto homers to right field. Trea Turner scores. Howie Kendrick homers to left field. Asdrubal Cabrera grounds out to shallow center field, Xander Bogaerts to Mitch Moreland. Kurt Suzuki doubles to deep left field. Adam Eaton lines out to left field to Alex Verdugo.5 runs, 6 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Nationals 5, Red sox 0.Red sox third. Jackie Bradley Jr. strikes out swinging. Jose Peraza strikes out on a foul tip. Alex Verdugo singles to center field. Rafael Devers doubles to deep right center field. Alex Verdugo scores. J.D. Martinez strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Nationals 5, Red sox 1.Nationals fourth. Josh Harrison lines out to center field to Jackie... [More]

Orioles first. Hanser Alberto pops out to shallow right field to Asdrubal Cabrera. Anthony Santander homers to right field. Jose Iglesias grounds out to shallow center field, Luis Garcia to Asdrubal Cabrera. Rio Ruiz grounds out to shortstop, Trea Turner to Asdrubal Cabrera.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Orioles 1, Nationals 0.Nationals second. Juan Soto singles to center field. Howie Kendrick pops out to shallow left field to Jose Iglesias. Luis Garcia reaches on a fielder's choice to second base. Juan Soto out at second. Carter Kieboom singles to left center field. Luis Garcia to third. Yan Gomes triples to deep right field. Carter Kieboom scores. Luis Garcia scores. Victor Robles grounds out to shallow infield, Jose Iglesias to Chris Davis.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Nationals 2, Orioles 1.Nationals third. Trea Turner singles to shortstop. Adam Eaton flies out to deep left field to Dwight Smith Jr.. Asdrubal Cabrera reaches on a fielder's choice to second base. Trea Turner... [More]

Nationals second. Juan Soto grounds out to shallow infield, Steven Matz to Pete Alonso. Howie Kendrick grounds out to shortstop, J.D. Davis to Pete Alonso. Asdrubal Cabrera homers to center field. Carter Kieboom strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Nationals 1, Mets 0.Nationals third. Yan Gomes singles to right field. Victor Robles strikes out swinging. Trea Turner homers to left field. Yan Gomes scores. Josh Harrison grounds out to shallow infield, J.D. Davis to Pete Alonso. Starlin Castro reaches on third strike. Juan Soto homers to center field. Starlin Castro scores. Howie Kendrick flies out to right center field to Michael Conforto.4 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Nationals 5, Mets 0.Nationals fifth. Trea Turner singles to shallow center field. Josh Harrison singles to shallow center field. Trea Turner to second. Starlin Castro reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow left field. Josh Harrison out at second. Trea Turner to third. Juan Soto doubles to deep center... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Shortstop Trea Turner and the Washington Nationals agreed to a $7.45 million, one-year contract Friday, as the World Series champions avoided arbitration by settling with all of their eligible players.Turner joined lefty reliever Roenis Elías, who got a $1,975,000 deal, and right-handed starter Joe Ross ($1.5 million) in agreeing to 2020 contracts on the day of the deadline for teams and players to exchange arbitration figures. Outfielder Michael A. Taylor and Washington settled Thursday on a $3,325,000 salary for next season.The 26-year-old Turner was a key part of Washington’s success last season, despite being hampered by a broken right index finger. Often batting leadoff, Turner hit .298 with 19 homers, 57 RBIs, 96 runs, 37 doubles and 35 steals in 122 games. He’s heading into his sixth major league season, all with Washington; he was a first-round draft pick of the San Diego Padres, then acquired by the Nationals in a trade. A year ago, Turner and the Nationals avoided... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Shortstop Trea Turner and the Washington Nationals agreed to a $7.45 million, one-year contract Friday, as the World Series champions avoided arbitration by settling with all of their eligible players.Turner joined lefty reliever Roenis Elías, who got a $1,975,000 deal, and right-handed starter Joe Ross in agreeing to 2020 contracts on the day of the deadline for teams and players to exchange arbitration figures. Outfielder Michael A. Taylor and Washington settled Thursday on a $3,325,000 salary for next season.The 26-year-old Turner was a key part of Washington’s success last season, despite being hampered by a broken right index finger. Often batting leadoff, Turner hit .298 with 19 homers, 57 RBIs, 96 runs, 37 doubles and 35 steals in 122 games. He’s heading into his sixth major league season, all with Washington; he was a first-round draft pick of the San Diego Padres, then acquired by the Nationals in a trade. A year ago, Turner and the Nationals avoided arbitration... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Eric Thames still thinks about the eighth inning of the NL wild card game, when Milwaukee held a two-run lead against Washington and was four outs from advancing.“I'll never forget that feeling of being heartbroken, seeing Juan Soto's base hit over my head," Thames said. “”I thought we had this game."Three months after the Nationals scored three runs on Soto's hit for a 4-3 win over the Brewers and went on to the franchise's first World Series title, Thames joined the team that knocked him out. Washington finalized a $4 million, one-year contract with the first baseman, a deal that includes a $3 million salary this year and a $4 million mutual option for 2021 with a $1 million buyout.“Everybody, the whole media was against them throughout the world, everybody counted them out and they still fought back,” Thames said. “That definitely shows how the team model, how their team atmosphere was."Washington also completed a $2.5 million, one-year deal to keep infielder Asdrúbal... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Add Asdrúbal Cabrera to the group of players the Washington Nationals are bringing back — and using to create flexibility in their infield.Cabrera and the Nationals finalized a one-year deal Wednesday that includes a $2.5 million salary and the chance to earn performance bonuses. The team also completed its $4 million, one-year contract with first baseman Eric Thames, which includes a mutual option for 2021. The 34-year-old Cabrera was a big part of Washington's surge to the World Series, hitting .323 with six homers and 40 RBIs in just 38 games after signing with the Nationals in August. He played primarily second base for the club, but also appeared at third base and first.That was the switch-hitter's second stint with the club. He joins postseason star Howie Kendrick, free agent Starlin Castro and Wilmer Difo as players who could be used at second or third base.The 33-year-old Thames had 25 homers and 61 RBIs with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2019, his third season with that team.The lefty batter averaged 24 homers per season with the Brewers after returning to the majors from playing in South Korea.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman figures he’ll either find himself back with the World Series champions next season — or out of baseball.“I think I’ve made my intentions pretty clear,” Zimmerman said Monday night, when he attended the premiere of a documentary about last season’s title. “It’s either play some more here or play more golf.”The 35-year-old Zimmerman is the only player who has appeared for the Nationals in all 15 of their seasons since the franchise moved to the nation’s capital from Montreal in 2005. He was the team’s first pick in the amateur draft that year.The club declined its $18 million option for next season on Zimmerman, who received a $2 million buyout and became a free agent. But he expects to return to Washington.“Both sides want something to happen. So it’s just a matter of getting something done,” he said. “We’ll see what happens, but I’m not too worried about it.”Zimmerman, who has earned more than $125 million in his big league... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman figures he’ll either find himself back with the World Series champions next season — or out of baseball.“I think I’ve made my intentions pretty clear,” Zimmerman said Monday night, when he attended the premiere of a documentary about last season’s title. “It’s either play some more here or play more golf.”The 35-year-old Zimmerman is the only player who has appeared for the Nationals in all 15 of their seasons since the franchise moved to the nation’s capital from Montreal in 2005. He was the team’s first pick in the amateur draft that year.The club declined its $18 million option for next season on Zimmerman, who received a $2 million buyout and became a free agent. But he expects to return to Washington.“Both sides want something to happen. So it’s just a matter of getting something done,” he said. “We’ll see what happens, but I’m not too worried about it.”Zimmerman, who has earned more than $125 million in his big league... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman figures he’ll either find himself back with the World Series champions next season — or out of baseball.“I think I’ve made my intentions pretty clear,” Zimmerman said Monday night, when he attended the premiere of a documentary about last season’s title. “It’s either play some more here or play more golf.”The 35-year-old Zimmerman is the only player who has appeared for the Nationals in all 15 of their seasons since the franchise moved to the nation’s capital from Montreal in 2005. He was the team’s first pick in the amateur draft that year.The club declined its $18 million option for next season on Zimmerman, who received a $2 million buyout and became a free agent. But he expects to return to Washington.“Both sides want something to happen. So it’s just a matter of getting something done,” he said. “We’ll see what happens, but I’m not too worried about it.”Zimmerman, who has earned more than $125 million in his big league... [More]