WASHINGTON -- The Chicago Cubs' infield had a new look in its starting lineup Thursday, as Addison Russell returned to a starting spot while Kris Bryant was out the day after injuring his ankle in a freak play in Wednesday's game against the Washington Nationals.Russell was in the lineup at shortstop and batting fifth for the series finale in Washington on Thursday for the defending champions. He left the game Sunday in Miami against the Marlins with a sore shoulder, and was only used as a pinch-hitter in games Monday and Tuesday in Washington.Bryant was playing third base when he got a foul pop Wednesday and then stepped on the third base bag after making the catch and turning his ankle. He left the game in the fifth inning with a mid-to mild right ankle sprain."It feels a ton better," said Bryant, standing in front of his locker before Thursday's game. "It is just one of those nagging things. After the game we did a bunch of stuff that didn't feel good (for his foot) but made me feel... [More]

WASHINGTON -- Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant left Chicago's game against the Washington Nationals in the fifth inning Wednesday due to a moderate right ankle sprain.X-rays were negative, according to a team spokesman.The injury to last year's National League MVP occurred in a rather bizarre fashion. Bryant caught a foul ball off the bat of Matt Wieters just a few feet from the third base bag.Bryant then accidentally stepped on the bag and appeared to turn his right ankle after he caught the ball. He was helped off the field by the Cubs' training staff and did not put any weight on his right foot.Chicago manager Joe Maddon said Bryant will not play in the series finale Thursday, and that he "obviously" will stay off his feet a few days."I was watching closely. It was more painful than you would think," Maddon said. "I wanted to get him off the field quickly and get it iced as quickly as possible."Bryant singled in the first inning, doubled and scored in the fourth and struck out in the fifth. He left with the Cubs trailing 7-3, and Washington went on to win 8-4.In 74 games this season, Bryant is hitting .264 with a .395 on-base percentage, a .520 slugging percentage, 16 homers and 32 RBIs.

WASHINGTON -- Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant left Chicago's game against the Washington Nationals in the fifth inning Wednesday due to a moderate right ankle sprain.X-rays were negative, according to a team spokesman.The injury to last year's National League MVP occurred in a rather bizarre fashion. Bryant caught a foul ball off the bat of Matt Wieters just a few feet from the third base bag.Bryant then accidentally stepped on the bag and appeared to turn his right ankle after he caught the ball. He was helped off the field by the Cubs' training staff and did not put any weight on his right foot.Chicago manager Joe Maddon said Bryant will not play in the series finale Thursday, and that he "obviously" will stay off his feet a few days."I was watching closely. It was more painful than you would think," Maddon said. "I wanted to get him off the field quickly and get it iced as quickly as possible."Bryant singled in the first inning, doubled and scored in the fourth and struck out in the fifth. He left with the Cubs trailing 7-3, and Washington went on to win 8-4.In 74 games this season, Bryant is hitting .264 with a .395 on-base percentage, a .520 slugging percentage, 16 homers and 32 RBIs.

3B/OF Kris Bryant left the game in the fifth when he stepped on third while catching a foul pop. Bryant has a mid-to moderate right ankle sprain. X-rays were negative, according to a team spokesman. Manager Joe Maddon said Bryant will not play in the series finale Thursday and "obviously" will stay off his feet a few days. "I was watching closely. It was more painful than you would think," Maddon said. "I wanted to get him off the field quickly and get it iced as quickly as possible." Bryant was 2-for-3 off Stephen Strasburg before he left the game.

LOS ANGELES -- The homer-happy Los Angeles Dodgers blasted three more Thursday night and ran their winning streak to a season-high seven games as they finished a four-game sweep of the New York Mets, 6-3. Justin Turner, Enrique Hernandez and Joc Pederson all homered for Los Angeles. It was the 14th straight game that the Dodgers have hit a home run, tying a franchise record set last season. Los Angeles hit 15 home runs and scored 36 runs in the series against the injury-depleted New York pitching staff. The Dodgers moved 1 1/2 games ahead of Colorado and Arizona in the National League West.Los Angeles' Hyun-Jin Ryu went five innings, allowing home runs to Curtis Granderson and Travis d'Arnaud. The Dodgers needed five relievers to close it out. Kenley Jansen got four outs for his 16th save of the season.Cubs 11, Marlins 1MIAMI -- Former Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta turned in a vintage all-around performance and Kris Bryant crushed a three-run homer to lead Chicago over Miami.It was Bryant's... [More]

LOS ANGELES -- The homer-happy Los Angeles Dodgers blasted three more Thursday night and ran their winning streak to a season-high seven games as they finished a four-game sweep of the New York Mets, 6-3. Justin Turner, Enrique Hernandez and Joc Pederson all homered for Los Angeles. It was the 14th straight game that the Dodgers have hit a home run, tying a franchise record set last season. Los Angeles hit 15 home runs and scored 36 runs in the series against the injury-depleted New York pitching staff. The Dodgers moved 1 1/2 games ahead of Colorado and Arizona in the National League West.Los Angeles' Hyun-Jin Ryu went five innings, allowing home runs to Curtis Granderson and Travis d'Arnaud. The Dodgers needed five relievers to close it out. Kenley Jansen got four outs for his 16th save of the season.Cubs 11, Marlins 1MIAMI -- Former Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta turned in a vintage all-around performance and Kris Bryant crushed a three-run homer to lead Chicago over Miami.It was Bryant's... [More]

MIAMI -- Former Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta turned in a vintage all-around performance and Kris Bryant crushed a three-run homer to lead the Chicago Cubs to an 11-1 victory over the Miami Marlins on Thursday night at Marlins Park.It was Bryant's 16th homer of the season, and it propelled Chicago to its fourth win in their past five games. Arrieta (7-5) allowed one run and six hits in seven innings and was 2-for-4 with a run scored and RBI, helping spark two rallies.Wilson Contreras hit a two-run homer, and Addison Russell and Ian Happ each went 4-for-5 with two RBIs for the Cubs. Chicago's Mark Zagunis made his major-league debut and got an RBI in his first at-bat, grounding out to shortstop. He finished 0-for-5.Marcell Ozuna hit his 20th homer of the season, a solo shot, to lead Miami. Marlins starter Jeff Locke (0-3) has yet to win during his brief career in Miami, allowing five runs, seven hits and three walks in four innings.Indians 6, Orioles 3BALTIMORE -- Austin Jackson had three... [More]

3B Kris Bryant returned to the lineup after sitting out Friday's game. Bryant was 0-for-3 with one walk and three strikeouts.

NEW YORK -- The defending World Series champion Chicago Cubs are underwater.They suffered a 9-4 loss to the Mets at Citi Field on Wednesday night to fall to 32-33. At this point a year ago, they were 45-20.This defeat was particularly stinging. The Cubs held a 4-1 lead on Kyle Shwarber's two-run home run in the top of the fourth inning, and their relief pitchers, to date the best-functioning part of the organization, gave up six runs in four innings.Chicago is fortunate to be playing in the NL Central. They go into play on Thursday in second place, just two games behind the Milwaukee Brewers. They are eight games off the pace for the second wild card."We've earned the right to be in this position. We've played well enough to be a .500 club," manager Joe Maddon said. "We have a nice group and I believe in our group, but we have to prove it on the field."Anthony Rizzo said, "We're battling, grinding and that's what it is until we take off. ... I don't think it's too late. "Go back to 2015... [More]

3B Kris Bryant (2-for-3, double) reached base four times and scored twice Tuesday. It marked the 25th time in his career he has reached base at least four times and the sixth time this season.

3B Kris Bryant hit his team-leading 13th homer of the season in the opening inning. It was just his second this season with runners on base. Ten of his 27 hits at Wrigley Field this season have been home runs. He's now gone 5-for-10 with three homers and eight RBIs against Marlins starter Dan Straily.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Mike Fiers remained unbeaten on the road, and the Houston Astros keep on winning, topping the Kansas City Royals 7-3 Monday night for their 11th consecutive victory.Houston's winning streak is the longest in the majors this year.Yuli Gurriel and Brian McCann homered for Houston.Fiers (3-2) has not lost on the road since Aug. 20, 2016, a span of 10 away starts. He yielded two runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out four in five-plus innings. He won back-to-back starts for the first time this season.Cubs 3, Marlins 1CHICAGO -- Kris Bryant and Albert Almora Jr. homered, and Eddie Butler allowed just one run in a 5 2/3 innings as Chicago beat Miami in the opener of a three-game series.The Cubs won their fourth straight while Miami saw a three-game winning streak snapped.Bryant's homer gave Chicago a 2-0 lead two batters into the bottom of the first. Almora was 2-for-3 with a fourth-inning blast.Giants 7, Brewers 2MILWAUKEE -- Jeff Samardzija struck out 10, and Aaron... [More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Mike Fiers remained unbeaten on the road, and the Houston Astros keep on winning, topping the Kansas City Royals 7-3 Monday night for their 11th consecutive victory.Houston's winning streak is the longest in the majors this year.Yuli Gurriel and Brian McCann homered for Houston.Fiers (3-2) has not lost on the road since Aug. 20, 2016, a span of 10 away starts. He yielded two runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out four in five-plus innings. He won back-to-back starts for the first time this season.Cubs 3, Marlins 1CHICAGO -- Kris Bryant and Albert Almora Jr. homered, and Eddie Butler allowed just one run in a 5 2/3 innings as Chicago beat Miami in the opener of a three-game series.The Cubs won their fourth straight while Miami saw a three-game winning streak snapped.Bryant's homer gave Chicago a 2-0 lead two batters into the bottom of the first. Almora was 2-for-3 with a fourth-inning blast.Giants 7, Brewers 2MILWAUKEE -- Jeff Samardzija struck out 10, and Aaron... [More]

3B Kris Bryant was 1-for-4 with his 12th homer of the season, a solo shot in the third inning on Friday. He's tied for the team lead with Anthony Rizzo and for third place in the National League. Bryant had been 0-for-13 against the Cardinals this season. His 11 solo home runs are tied for second most in the major leagues.

3B Kris Bryant (1-for-4) hit a game-tying solo homer in the first and is tied with Anthony Rizzo for the team lead with 11. Bryant hit .258 with a double, four homers, five RBIs, 10 runs scored and five walks during the nine-game homestand.

3B Kris Bryant clubbed a pair of home runs Sunday against the Brewers to mark his ninth and 10th home runs of the season. Bryant has two multiple-home runs games this season and nine in his career. The reigning National League Most Valuable Player has hit three home runs in his past three games and eight home runs in his past 18 contests.

3B Kris Bryant (1-for-4) slugged a solo home run in the fourth inning and now has hit safely in 16 of his 19 home games against the Reds. Overall, he has hit .356 with seven homers, seven doubles, 17 RBIs and 10 walks against Cincinnati. His 12 career homers against the Reds are the most against any one opponent.

3B Kris Bryant (stomach bug) didn't start for the third straight game, although he was available for pinch-hitting duty if needed. Bryant fell ill before the series opener Friday night and was scratched just before manager Joe Maddon handed the lineup card to the umpires, then sat out again Saturday. Bryant is one of the few Cubs to get off to a good start, batting .299 with seven homers and 18 RBIs.

3B/OF Kris Bryant (stomach bug) was scratched just before the first pitch Friday night. Bryant was announced in the starting lineup by the stadium's PA announcer at 7 p.m., although he apparently didn't feel well during batting practice. After Chicago's 3-2 win, manager Joe Maddon said Bryant won't start Saturday, which means the team will have to do without their most consistent hitter in the season's first six weeks.

3B Kris Bryant, who broke up German Marquez's no-hitter with a leadoff double in the seventh, has reached base in 19 of his past 20 games. During that span, he is hitting .350 with a .448 on-base percentage.