A look at what's happening around the majors Wednesday:ON THE BLOCKWith the trade deadline set for 4 p.m. ET, the hot stove is brimming with big arms that have long been mentioned in rumors. Madison Bumgarner, Noah Syndergaard, Mike Minor, Zack Wheeler and Robbie Ray are the biggest names that might move. Of those pitchers, Minor is the only one set to start on deadline day, with the Rangers left-hander slated to face Seattle four hours after the deadline.NEW GUYSTrevor Bauer, Yasiel Puig and Franmil Reyes are headed to new clubhouses after a stunning three-team deal Tuesday night. The Reds acquired Bauer from Cleveland, which got Puig and a prospect from the Reds, plus Reyes, top lefty pitching prospect Logan Allen and a minor league infielder from San Diego. The Padres acquired Reds outfield prospect Taylor Trammell in the deal, which a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade had not been announced.Bauer was moved hours... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Wednesday:ON THE BLOCKWith the trade deadline set for 4 p.m. ET, the hot stove is brimming with big arms that have long been mentioned in rumors. Madison Bumgarner, Noah Syndergaard, Trevor Bauer, Mike Minor, Zack Wheeler and Robbie Ray are the biggest names that might move, and that would provide a spark for what's otherwise been a quiet trade season, with Marcus Stroman's deal from Toronto to the Mets by far the biggest one completed. Of those pitchers, Minor is the only one set to start on deadline day, with the Rangers left-hander slated to face Seattle four hours after the deadline.DEADLINE DRAMAIf Trevor Bauer is traded away from Cleveland, he'll leave with slightly lighter pockets. The right-hander was fined by Major League Baseball for heaving a ball from the pitcher's mound over the center field wall at Kansas City last weekend, a person familiar with the discipline told The Associated Press. An All-Star last year, Bauer made the toss... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Xander Bogaerts hit a three-run homer in Boston's seven-run first inning, and the Red Sox pounded the AL East-leading New York Yankees 19-3 on Thursday night in the opener of their four-game series.The 19 runs were the most scored by the Red Sox against the Yankees in the 117-year history of the rivalry.Bogaerts finished with four hits, including a solo shot in the eighth. Andrew Benintendi and Jackie Bradley Jr. had three hits apiece.New York right-hander Masahiro Tanaka (7-6) allowed 12 runs and 12 hits in 3 1/3 innings. It was the most earned runs ever allowed by a Yankees pitcher against Boston since the earned run became an official stat in 1913.Rick Porcello (9-7) pitched six innings of three-run ball for Boston.TWINS 10, WHITE SOX 3CHICAGO (AP) — Nelson Cruz hit three of Minnesota's five homers and finished with five RBIs, powering the Twins to the rout.It was the first three-homer game for the six-time All-Star, who has 385 home runs in his career. He became the 10th... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:THREE FOR FOURWho will be the next player to hit three home runs in a game? Twins slugger Nelson Cruz did it for the first time in his career Thursday night during a 10-3 victory at the Chicago White Sox. His outburst followed three-homer games by Mets second baseman Robinson Canó on Tuesday night and Cardinals shortstop Paul DeJong on Wednesday. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it's the first time in major league history there's been a three-homer game on three consecutive days.The 39-year-old Cruz, a six-time All-Star with 385 career homers, has six long balls in his last four games. Max Kepler and Miguel Sanó also connected as Minnesota totaled at least five homers for a major league-record ninth time this season, according to STATS.GOLDY LICKSPaul Goldschmidt looks to homer in his fifth straight game when the surging Cardinals host AL West-leading Houston in the opener of an interleague series. Astros shortstop Carlos Correa (broken... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:THREE FOR FOURWho will be the next player to hit three home runs in a game? Twins slugger Nelson Cruz did it for the first time in his career Thursday night during a 10-3 victory at the Chicago White Sox. His outburst followed three-homer games by Mets second baseman Robinson Canó on Tuesday night and Cardinals shortstop Paul DeJong on Wednesday. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it's the first time in major league history there's been a three-homer game on three consecutive days.The 39-year-old Cruz, a six-time All-Star with 385 career homers, has six long balls in his last four games. Max Kepler and Miguel Sanó also connected as Minnesota totaled at least five homers for a major league-record ninth time this season, according to STATS.GOLDY LICKSPaul Goldschmidt looks to homer in his fifth straight game when the surging Cardinals host AL West-leading Houston in the opener of an interleague series. St. Louis has won five in a row and... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Xander Bogaerts hit a three-run homer in Boston's seven-run first inning, and the Red Sox pounded the AL East-leading New York Yankees 19-3 on Thursday night in the opener of their four-game series.The 19 runs were the most scored by the Red Sox against the Yankees in the 117-year history of the rivalry.Bogaerts finished with four hits, including a solo shot in the eighth. Andrew Benintendi and Jackie Bradley Jr. had three hits apiece.New York right-hander Masahiro Tanaka (7-6) allowed 12 runs and 12 hits in 3 1/3 innings. It was the most earned runs ever allowed by a Yankees pitcher against Boston since the earned run became an official stat in 1913.Rick Porcello (9-7) pitched six innings of three-run ball for Boston.TWINS 10, WHITE SOX 3CHICAGO (AP) — Nelson Cruz hit three of Minnesota's five homers and finished with five RBIs, powering the Twins to the rout.It was the first three-homer game for the six-time All-Star, who has 385 home runs in his career. He became the 10th... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Friday:THREE FOR FOURWho will be the next player to hit three home runs in a game? Twins slugger Nelson Cruz did it for the first time in his career Thursday night during a 10-3 victory at the Chicago White Sox. His outburst followed three-homer games by Mets second baseman Robinson Canó on Tuesday night and Cardinals shortstop Paul DeJong on Wednesday. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it's the first time in major league history there's been a three-homer game on three consecutive days.The 39-year-old Cruz, a six-time All-Star with 385 career homers, has six long balls in his last four games. Max Kepler and Miguel Sanó also connected as Minnesota totaled at least five homers for a major league-record ninth time this season, according to STATS.GOLDY LICKSPaul Goldschmidt looks to homer in his fifth straight game when the surging Cardinals host AL West-leading Houston in the opener of an interleague series. St. Louis has won five in a row... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Xander Bogaerts hit a three-run homer in Boston's seven-run first inning, and the Red Sox pounded the AL East-leading New York Yankees 19-3 on Thursday night in the opener of their four-game series.The 19 runs were the most scored by the Red Sox against the Yankees in the 117-year history of the rivalry.Bogaerts finished with four hits, including a solo shot in the eighth. Andrew Benintendi and Jackie Bradley Jr. had three hits apiece.New York right-hander Masahiro Tanaka (7-6) allowed 12 runs and 12 hits in 3 1/3 innings. It was the most earned runs ever allowed by a Yankees pitcher against Boston since the earned run became an official stat in 1913.Rick Porcello (9-7) pitched six innings of three-run ball for Boston.TWINS 10, WHITE SOX 3CHICAGO (AP) — Nelson Cruz hit three of Minnesota's five homers and finished with five RBIs, powering the Twins to the rout.It was the first three-homer game for the six-time All-Star, who has 385 home runs in his career. He became the 10th... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Xander Bogaerts hit a three-run homer in Boston's seven-run first inning, and the Red Sox pounded the AL East-leading New York Yankees 19-3 on Thursday night in the opener of their four-game series.The 19 runs were the most scored by the Red Sox against the Yankees in the 117-year history of the rivalry.Bogaerts finished with four hits, including a solo shot in the eighth. Andrew Benintendi and Jackie Bradley Jr. had three hits apiece.New York right-hander Masahiro Tanaka (7-6) allowed 12 runs and 12 hits in 3 1/3 innings. It was the most earned runs ever allowed by a Yankees pitcher against Boston since the earned run became an official stat in 1913.Rick Porcello (9-7) pitched six innings of three-run ball for Boston.CARDINALS 6, PIRATES 3PITTSBURGH (AP) — Paul Goldschmidt homered in his career-high fourth straight game, helping the Cardinals finish a four-game sweep of the Pirates.St. Louis (55-47) won for the eighth time in nine games to move into a tie with the idle Chicago... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Boston Red Sox second baseman Brock Holt was ejected from Thursday night's game against the New York Yankees for arguing a called third strike with home plate umpire D.J. Reyburn.Holt was leading off the third when he was caught looking on three pitches from Masahiro Tanaka. He was walking back to the Boston dugout when he looked over his shoulder and said something. Reyburn immediately threw him out of the game.Red Sox manager Alex Cora came out to argue, unsuccessfully.Michael Chavis replaced Holt in the field in the top of the fourth.The Red Sox led 7-2 after scoring seven runs in the first.J.D. Martinez also took issue with Reyburn's work after striking out in the fourth. But Cora and third base coach Carlos Febles sprinted to the plate to get between him and the umpire and avoid losing another player from the lineup.___More AP MLB coverage: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

A look at what's happening around the majors today:BACK TO MAXNationals ace Max Scherzer is set to start against Colorado after recovering from inflammation under his right shoulder. The 34-year-old right-hander threw a bullpen Monday and felt ready to go.An All-Star for the seventh straight season, Scherzer is 9-5 with a 2.30 ERA but has not pitched since July 6. He was 7-0 with a 0.87 ERA in his last seven starts.REVIEW CREWPerhaps there might be a ruling from Major League Baseball on Boston's protest during a 3-2 loss to Tampa Bay on Thursday.There was plenty of confusion, plus a delay of about 15 minutes in the eighth inning at Tropicana Field after a series of defensive changes by the Rays.Reliever Adam Kolarek moved to first base for a batter and Red Sox manager Alex Cora discussed the placement of subs in the batting order with plate umpire Angel Hernandez."The pitcher moved to a position and we felt there were some illegal substitutions," Cora said. "It was a mess, and I wasn't... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Thursday:BACK TO MAXNationals ace Max Scherzer is set to start against Colorado after recovering from inflammation under his right shoulder. The 34-year-old right-hander threw a bullpen Monday and felt ready to go.An All-Star for the seventh straight season, Scherzer is 9-5 with a 2.30 ERA but has not pitched since July 6. He was 7-0 with a 0.87 ERA in his last seven starts.REVIEW CREWPerhaps there might be a ruling from Major League Baseball on Boston's protest during a 3-2 loss to Tampa Bay on Thursday.There was plenty of confusion, plus a delay of about 15 minutes in the eighth inning at Tropicana Field after a series of defensive changes by the Rays.Reliever Adam Kolarek moved to first base for a batter and Red Sox manager Alex Cora discussed the placement of subs in the batting order with plate umpire Angel Hernandez."The pitcher moved to a position and we felt there were some illegal substitutions," Cora said. "It was a mess, and I wasn't... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Sitting next to Justin Verlander, American League manager Alex Cora cheekily declared "we've got the opener" as he described his pitching plans.Touché!Houston's ace has been among the players most critical of some teams' practice of using relief pitchers as ersatz starters for an inning or two.Verlander will be making his second All-Star start on Tuesday night. Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts selected Hyun-Jin Ryu from his own staff to make his first start for the National League.A 36-year-old right-hander, Verlander is 10-4 with a 2.98 ERA this year for the Houston Astros, striking out 153 in 126 2/3 innings.He allowed five runs in the first inning during the 2012 All-Star Game at Kansas City, including the first bases-loaded triple in All-Star history, to Pablo Sandoval."I kind of halfway blame it on Prince Fielder," Verlander said. "He was at first base, and he kept whispering at me, 'Ver, Ver, Ver, throw 100.' OK, Prince, here we go. So that was back then."Verlander,... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — New York Yankees right-hander Masahiro Tanaka, Pittsburgh closer Felipe Vázquez, Cincinnati right-hander Sonny Gray and Milwaukee right-hander Brandon Woodruff have been added to the rosters for Tuesday's All-Star Game.They replace Toronto's Marcus Stroman, who has a strained pectoral muscle; Arizona pitcher Zack Greinke, who will be attending to a personal matter; Washington ace Max Scherzer, who pitched Saturday; and Brewers closer Josh Hader, who has back stiffness.Tanaka was selected for the 2014 AL team but didn't pitch because of a right elbow injury."It will be a great thing if I can actually pitch in the game," Tanaka said through a translator. "When you look at your baseball career, it would be something that I can be proud of."A smiling Tanaka said he was surprised by the announcement."Everything happened so fast," Tanaka said. "Obviously I'm very happy. This time around I get to actually go there and be part of the celebration."Tanaka is 5-5 with a... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — New York Yankees right-hander Masahiro Tanaka, Pittsburgh closer Felipe Vázquez and Milwaukee right-hander Brandon Woodruff have been added to the rosters for Tuesday's All-Star Game.They replace Toronto's Marcus Stroman, who has a strained pectoral muscle; Arizona pitcher Zack Greinke, who will be attending to a personal matter; and Brewers closer Josh Hader, who has back stiffness.Tanaka was selected for the 2014 AL team but didn't pitch because of a right elbow injury."It will be a great thing if I can actually pitch in the game," Tanaka said through a translator. "When you look at your baseball career, it would be something that I can be proud of."A smiling Tanaka said he was surprised by the announcement."Everything happened so fast," Tanaka said. "Obviously I'm very happy. This time around I get to actually go there and be part of the celebration."Tanaka is 5-5 with a 3.86 ERA in 18 starts.Stroman, mentioned in trade speculation, was scratched from his... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:ROLLINGThe Washington Nationals go for their ninth win in 10 games when they host the Kansas City Royals in the opener of a weekend series. Washington has gone 26-10 since May 24 to move a season-high four games above .500 at 45-41. Anthony Rendon hit his 20th homer to lead the Nationals to a 5-2 victory over the last-place Marlins on Thursday, completing a three-game series sweep. Kansas City, another last-place club, has dropped four in a row and seven of eight overall. Brad Keller pitches for the Royals after he went 1-3 with a 4.76 ERA in six starts in June. Rookie right-hander Austin Voth gets the ball for the Nationals.AT THE TROPBrendan McKay makes his second career start when the Tampa Bay Rays host the New York Yankees in the second of a four-game series between the AL East's top two teams. McKay, one of baseball's top prospects, pitched six scoreless innings in a 5-2 victory over Texas in his major league debut Saturday. McKay,... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Friday:ROLLINGThe Washington Nationals go for their ninth win in 10 games when they host the Kansas City Royals in the opener of a weekend series. Washington has gone 26-10 since May 24 to move a season-high four games above .500 at 45-41. Anthony Rendon hit his 20th homer to lead the Nationals to a 5-2 victory over the last-place Marlins on Thursday, completing a three-game series sweep. Kansas City, another last-place club, has dropped four in a row and seven of eight overall. Brad Keller pitches for the Royals after he went 1-3 with a 4.76 ERA in six starts in June. Rookie right-hander Austin Voth gets the ball for the Nationals.AT THE TROPBrendan McKay makes his second career start when the Tampa Bay Rays host the New York Yankees in the second of a four-game series between the AL East's top two teams. McKay, one of baseball's top prospects, pitched six scoreless innings in a 5-2 victory over Texas in his major league debut Saturday. McKay,... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:THE REPLACEMENTSJosé Berríos will fill in for fellow Minnesota right-hander Jake Odorizzi in the All-Star Game. Odorizzi left Tuesday's game in Oakland with a blister on his right middle finger and was headed for the injured list. Hunter Pence was replaced by Boston's Xander Bogaerts.Pence has been out since June 16 with a right groin strain and was pulled off his rehab assignment Tuesday after aggravating the injury during a minor league game. Brandon Lowe was set to replace Tommy La Stella on the AL squad. But Lowe's status also is questionable because of a right leg injury. Lowe also fouled a ball off his leg and left a game Tuesday night.TRADITIONAL STARTERSThe AL East-leading New York Yankees and second-place Tampa Bay start a four-game series in Florida on Thursday night and neither team is scheduled to use an opener.The Rays have done it 28 times, while Yankees right-hander Chad Green has filled the role seven times and left-hander... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Thursday:THE REPLACEMENTSJosé Berríos will fill in for fellow Minnesota right-hander Jake Odorizzi in the All-Star Game. Odorizzi left Tuesday's game in Oakland with a blister on his right middle finger and was headed for the injured list. Hunter Pence was replaced by Boston's Xander Bogaerts.Pence has been out since June 16 with a right groin strain and was pulled off his rehab assignment Tuesday after aggravating the injury during a minor league game. Brandon Lowe was set to replace Tommy La Stella on the AL squad. But Lowe's status also is questionable because of a right leg injury. Lowe also fouled a ball off his leg and left a game Tuesday night.TRADITIONAL STARTERSThe AL East-leading New York Yankees and second-place Tampa Bay start a four-game series in Florida on Thursday night and neither team is scheduled to use an opener.The Rays have done it 28 times, while Yankees right-hander Chad Green has filled the role seven times and left-hander... [More]

LONDON (AP) — The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox treated fans to one of the most unusual first innings in their century-plus rivalry when they played Saturday night in the first Major League Baseball game in Europe.In the 2,200th regular-season meeting between the teams, New York scored six runs in the top of the first and Boston came back with six in the bottom half in an inning that lasted 58 minutes, 20 batters and 94 pitches.Boston's Rick Porcello got just one out in the shortest of his 324 career starts. New York's Masahiro Tanaka got two outs and failed to finish the first inning for the first time in 149 major league starts. It was the first time in the rivalry that both teams scored six or more runs in the first and the first big league game involving any teams in which that occurred since visiting Toronto led Oakland 7-6 on June 23, 1989.The last time neither pitcher recorded three outs was Sept. 21, 1989, when San Diego's Dennis Rasmussen and Cincinnati's Jack Armstrong both... [More]