The San Francisco Giants made their reunion with third baseman Pablo Sandoval official on Saturday when he signed a minor league contract.The 30-year-old Sandoval spent his first seven major league seasons with San Francisco (2008-14), winning World Series titles with the Giants in 2010, 2012 and 2014. Sandoval will report to Class A San Jose.Sandoval was the 2012 World Series MVP with the Giants but struggled since leaving San Francisco for Boston as a free agent. He signed a five-year, $95 million contract after the 2014 season and was released by the Red Sox on Wednesday when he did not report after being designated for assignment.Injuries and poor performance plagued Sandoval in Boston. He hit .245 with 10 home runs and 47 RBIs in 2015, played in only three games in 2016, and batted only .212 with four homers and 12 RBIs in 32 games with the Red Sox this season. Sandoval left San Francisco on bad terms after the 2014 season, claiming the team disrespected him during contract negotiations... [More]

Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant, who missed Friday's game with a left finger injury, returned to the lineup for Saturday afternoon's game against the St. Louis Cardinals.Bryant sprained his little finger on his left hand in a headfirst slide in the first inning of Chicago's 8-2 victory against the Braves at Atlanta on Wednesday. X-rays were negative but the 25-year-old Bryant was experiencing soreness while gripping the bat.Cubs manager Joe Maddon on Friday expressed doubt about Bryant playing Saturday. Bryant is batting second and playing third base.Bryant is hitting .275 with 19 home runs and 40 RBIs in 88 games this season. He is coming off a National League MVP season when he helped the Cubs to their first World Series title since 1908.

3B Kris Bryant missed Friday's game, probably won't play Saturday and might also miss Sunday. He sprained his little finger on his left hand in a headfirst slide in the first inning of Chicago's 8-2 victory against the Braves at Atlanta on Wednesday. X-rays were negative but the 25-year-old Bryant is still experiencing soreness while gripping the bat. "We're going to do this as a day-by-day thing," manager Joe Maddon told reporters before Friday's game. "If I had to guess, probably not tomorrow too and possibly on Sunday." Javier Baez started at third in the series opener against the Cardinals.

3B Kris Bryant was not in the lineup with a finger injury for Friday afternoon's game and could miss this weekend's series against the St. Louis Cardinals.Bryant sprained his little finger on his left hand in a headfirst slide in the first inning of Chicago's 8-2 victory against the Braves at Atlanta on Wednesday.X-rays were negative but the 25-year-old Bryant is still experiencing soreness while gripping the bat. "We're going to do this as a day-by-day thing," manager Joe Maddon told reporters before Friday's game. "I really don't know. If I had to guess, probably not tomorrow too and possibly on Sunday. But I really don't know. Bryant is hitting .275 with 19 home runs and 40 RBIs in 88 games this season. He is coming off a National League MVP season when he helped the Cubs to their first World Series title since 1908.

Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant was not in the lineup with a finger injury for Friday afternoon's game and could miss this weekend's series against the St. Louis Cardinals.Bryant sprained his little finger on his left hand in a headfirst slide in the first inning of Chicago's 8-2 victory against the Braves at Atlanta on Wednesday.X-rays were negative but the 25-year-old Bryant is still experiencing soreness while gripping the bat."We're going to do this as a day-by-day thing," manager Joe Maddon told reporters before Friday's game. "I really don't know. If I had to guess, probably not tomorrow too and possibly on Sunday. But I really don't know. He healed well with the ankle, we did not expect that to come back very quickly and it did. So I'm just trying to not jump to conclusions right now. It's sore. It's just a soreness and he's got to grip the bat, and that's what it really comes down to."--The Cardinals activated left-handed reliever Zach Duke and outfielder Randal Grichuk from... [More]

Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant was not in the lineup with a finger injury for Friday afternoon's game and could miss this weekend's series against the St. Louis Cardinals.Bryant sprained his little finger on his left hand in a headfirst slide in the first inning of Chicago's 8-2 victory against the Braves at Atlanta on Wednesday.X-rays were negative but the 25-year-old Bryant is still experiencing soreness while gripping the bat."We're going to do this as a day-by-day thing," manager Joe Maddon told reporters before Friday's game. "I really don't know. If I had to guess, probably not tomorrow too and possibly on Sunday. But I really don't know."He healed well with the ankle, we did not expect that to come back very quickly and it did. So I'm just trying to not jump to conclusions right now. It's sore. It's just a soreness and he's got to grip the bat, and that's what it really comes down to."Bryant is hitting .275 with 19 home runs and 40 RBIs in 88 games this season. He is coming off a National League MVP season when he helped the Cubs to their first World Series title since 1908.Javier Baez started at third in the series opener against the Cardinals.

3B Kris Bryant left Wednesday's game against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning after spraining the little finger on his left hand in a head-first slide. X-rays were negative, ruling out a fracture, and Bryant was listed as day to day. "You slide into someone's foot and you obviously think the worse-case scenario," Bryant said. "I was kind of scared to even look at my finger." Bryant, the reigning National League MVP, hit the foot of Braves third baseman Johan Camargo with his hand as he tried to advance on a pitch in the dirt. He was thrown out by catcher Tyler Flowers to end the top of the first.

Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant left Wednesday's game against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning after spraining the little finger on his left hand in a head-first slide.X-rays were negative, ruling out a fracture, and Bryant was listed as day to day.Bryant, the reigning National League MVP, hit the foot of Braves third baseman Johan Camargo with his hand as he tried to advance on a pitch in the dirt. He was thrown out by catcher Tyler Flowers to end the top of the first.Bryant is hitting .275 with 19 home runs and 40 RBIs this season.--Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Steven Souza Jr. strained his left hip in the top of the first inning while sliding into second base in the game against the Oakland Athletics.X-rays were negative, and Souza will be evaluated further when the Rays return to Florida after the game.Souza led off the game with a walk, but he slid awkwardly into second base on a steal attempt as he was thrown out by A's catcher Bruce Maxwell.Souza is batting .271 with... [More]

ATLANTA -- Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant left Wednesday's game against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning after spraining the little finger on his left hand in a head-first slide.X-rays were negative, ruling out a fracture, and Bryant was listed as day to day.Bryant, the reigning National League MVP, hit the foot of Braves third baseman Johan Camargo with his hand as he tried to advance on a pitch in the dirt. He was thrown out by catcher Tyler Flowers to end the top of the first.Bryant, who had doubled in the first against knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, appeared to be in immediate pain after he caught his fingers. He stayed on the ground for a few seconds before leaving the field.Bryant was replaced by Tommy La Stella defensively to start the bottom of the inning.Bryant is hitting .275 with 19 home runs and 40 RBIs this season.

3B Kris Bryant continued to demonstrate his consistency at the plate with his 20th multi-hit game of the season Sunday. In an 8-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles, Bryant singled in the second inning and then belted his 19th home run of the season in the fourth, a two-run shot into the left-field stands. That marked Bryant's eighth multi-RBI game this season. On the road, he is batting .294 (45-for-153) with six homers and 17 RBIs.

3B Kris Bryant went 4-for-5 with two home runs, a triple and a single on Friday against the Pirates. It was his first Wrigley Field homers since June 8 against Colorado. He's now had 10 career multi-homer games and it was his fourth with at least four hits and two homers. Bryant is now batting .384 with 15 doubles, a triple, 10 homers and 34 RBIs in 44 career games against Pittsburgh. "You need a game like that to get back on track and hopefully it gets the team back on track, too," said Bryant, who now has 18 homers this year.

3B Kris Bryant returned to the lineup on Saturday after missing two games with a sprained right ankle and went 1-for-4 with no physical issues. Bryant tested the ankle in the outfield at Great American Ball Park before Friday night's series opener against the Reds and was available to play, but a situation for him to pinch-hit in the 5-0 loss never arose. Bryant sprained an ankle when he stepped awkwardly on the third-base bag catching a pop fly in Wednesday's game at Washington.

3B Kris Bryant tested his right ankle in the outfield at Great American Ball Park prior to Friday night's series opener against the Reds and felt well enough to play. Bryant sprained his ankle when he stepped awkwardly on the third-base bag catching a pop fly in Wednesday's game at Washington. Joe Maddon said Bryant was available to pinch-hit in the 5-0 loss at Cincinnati on Friday night but situations didn't arise.

3B/OF Kris Bryant (right ankle sprain) did not play Thursday after he left Wednesday's game after he turned his ankle on third-base bag after catching a foul pop. "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 better today." Bryant doesn't feel he will have to go on the disabled list. "It won't be long" until he returns, said the Las Vegas native. He didn't say if he would be available to pinch-hit Thursday. "I just got here," he said about two hours before the 4:05 ET first pitch. When could Bryant return? "We're not applying any kind of finish line to it," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "I saw him walk on the bus. Thought it was encouraging to see that. I honestly don't know. Just got to give us a couple of days to figure it out at that point." Since the Cubs are off Monday could Bryant play Tuesday against Tampa Bay? "I would think that's what it's going to be. When you sprain your ankle, it just doesn't get better over night," Maddon said. Bryant is hitting .264 with 16 homers and 32 RBIs and a .520 slugging average.

3B Kris Bryant was out of the lineup Thursday, one day after injuring his ankle in a freak play in Wednesday's game against the Washington Nationals. 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. "The ball started out pretty far from the bag but it was coming back. I can't believe that happened," he added of the popup injury. Bryant is hitting .264 with 16 homers and 32 RBIs and a .520 slugging average.

The Atlanta Braves designated right-hander Bartolo Colon for assignment, the team announced Thursday.The Braves called up left-hander Rex Brothers from Triple-A Gwinnett to fill the roster spot of Colon, who owns a 2-8 mark with a bloated 8.14 ERA this season.The decline has been swift for the 44-year-old Colon after he won 62 games over the previous four seasons. The four-time All-Star was a solid 15-8 with a 3.43 ERA for the New York Mets in 2016.Colon rejoined the Braves on Wednesday after being on the disabled list for a strained oblique and stiff back. The return wasn't a triumphant one, as Colon allowed six runs on eight hits with three walks in four innings of a 7-4 setback to the San Diego Padres.--The Milwaukee Brewers placed right-hander Chase Anderson on the 10-day disabled list with a left oblique strain.Anderson sustained the injury while swinging in his first at-bat of Milwaukee's 4-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night.Anderson has a 6-2 record with a 2.89 ERA... [More]

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.