A look at what’s happening around the majors today:SLOW STARTSTwo-time defending NL batting champion Christian Yelich has a long way to go if he wants a three-peat. The Milwaukee star is 1 for 27 to start the season, an .037 average that’s worst among qualified hitters.Yelich also has struck out 12 times going into the series opener at home against Jack Flaherty and the Cardinals.A trio of top Houston hitters also has been slow out of the batter’s box this season. Former World Series MVP George Springer (.048), two-time batting champ Jose Altuve (.174) and former All-Star Game MVP Alex Bregman (.174) will look to break loose when the Astros visit the Angels.TORONTO’S TRAVELSVladimir Guerrero Jr. and the wandering Blue Jays will figure out where to spend this weekend after a three-game series in Philadelphia was called off because two Phillies staffers tested positive for the virus.Shut out of playing in Toronto this year because of health concerns by the Canadian government, the Blue Jays... [More]

A look at what’s happening around the majors on Friday:SLOW STARTSTwo-time defending NL batting champion Christian Yelich has a long way to go if he wants a three-peat. The Milwaukee star is 1 for 27 to start the season, an .037 average that’s worst among qualified hitters.Yelich also has struck out 12 times going into the series opener at home against Jack Flaherty and the Cardinals.A trio of top Houston hitters also has been slow out of the batter’s box this season. Former World Series MVP George Springer (.048), two-time batting champ Jose Altuve (.174) and former All-Star Game MVP Alex Bregman (.174) will look to break loose when the Astros visit the Angels.TORONTO’S TRAVELSVladimir Guerrero Jr. and the wandering Blue Jays will figure out where to spend this weekend after a three-game series in Philadelphia was called off because two Phillies staffers tested positive for the virus.Shut out of playing in Toronto this year because of health concerns by the Canadian government, the Blue... [More]

A look at what’s happening around the majors on Friday:SLOW STARTSTwo-time defending NL batting champion Christian Yelich has a long way to go if he wants a three-peat. The Milwaukee star is 1 for 27 to start the season, an .037 average that’s worst among qualified hitters.Yelich also has struck out 12 times going into the series opener at home against Jack Flaherty and the Cardinals.A trio of top Houston hitters also has been slow out of the batter’s box this season. Former World Series MVP George Springer (.048), two-time batting champ Jose Altuve (.174) and former All-Star Game MVP Alex Bregman (.174) will look to break loose when the Astros visit the Angels.TORONTO’S TRAVELSVladimir Guerrero Jr. and the wandering Blue Jays will figure out where to spend this weekend after a three-game series in Philadelphia was called off because two Phillies staffers tested positive for the virus.Shut out of playing in Toronto this year because of health concerns by the Canadian government, the Blue... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:ROBERTS RETURNSLos Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts will be back from a one-game suspension when the defending NL West champions visit Arizona for the Diamondbacks’ home opener.Major League Baseball suspended Roberts one game and Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly eight games on Wednesday, the day after benches cleared in the sixth inning of Los Angeles’ 5-2 victory at Houston.During that sixth inning, Kelly threw a 3-0 fastball behind Alex Bregman’s head and tossed a breaking ball over Carlos Correa’s head. After striking out the Astros star, Kelly made a mocking face toward him and the players exchanged words.Kelly is appealing his penalty and can play until the process is complete. Astros manager Dusty Baker drew an undisclosed fine.This marked the first time the Dodgers and Astros had faced each other since MLB penalized the Astros for stealing signs during the 2017 season, which ended with Houston beating the Dodgers in a seven-game World... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Adam Eaton’s bases-loaded chopper broke a scoreless tie in the 10th inning on a close play and Asdrúbal Cabrera followed with a three-run triple, helping the Nationals snap a three-game losing streak by beating the Toronto Blue Jays 4-0 Wednesday night.In a quirky game befitting this pandemic-altered, upside-down season, Toronto’s team played its “home opener” at Washington — batting in the bottom half of each inning, wearing its white uniforms, playing its players’ walk-up music and even blaring the song “OK Blue Jays,” the club’s traditional seventh-inning stretch staple.Toronto’s Nate Pearson, in his big league debut, and Washington’s Max Scherzer, in his 358th start in the majors, put up plenty of zeros. So did the relievers that followed. In the top of the 10th, though, Washington moved ahead on an odd-looking play. After starting with the automatic runner on second base Washington loaded the bags with two walks from Toronto’s sixth pitcher, Shun Yamaguchi (0-2).After... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly was suspended for eight games by Major League Baseball on Wednesday, a day after throwing a fastball near the head of Houston’s Alex Bregman and mockingly taunting Astros star Carlos Correa.Benches cleared after Kelly’s actions during the sixth inning of Los Angeles’ 5-2 win at Minute Maid Park. The game marked the first time the teams had met since it was revealed Houston stole signs en route to a 2017 World Series title that came at the Dodgers’ expense.Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was suspended one game and Astros manager Dusty Baker was fined an undisclosed amount.Baker said he was fined because his players came onto the field, breaking COVID-19 health and safety protocols. “It’s no big deal," he said of the fine. “I’ll just pay a fine. No problem." Kelly elected to appeal and can continue to play until the process is complete. Roberts served his penalty Wednesday night when the Dodgers beat Houston 4-2 in 13 innings.Kelly, a hard... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Adam Eaton’s bases-loaded chopper broke a scoreless tie in the 10th inning on a close play and Asdrúbal Cabrera followed with a three-run triple, helping the Nationals snap a three-game losing streak by beating the Toronto Blue Jays 4-0 Wednesday night.In a quirky game befitting this pandemic-altered, upside-down season, Toronto’s team played its “home opener” at Washington — batting in the bottom half of each inning, wearing its white uniforms, playing its players’ walk-up music and even blaring the song “OK Blue Jays,” the club’s traditional seventh-inning stretch staple.Toronto’s Nate Pearson, in his big league debut, and Washington’s Max Scherzer, in his 358th start in the majors, put up plenty of zeros. So did the relievers that followed. In the top of the 10th, though, Washington moved ahead on an odd-looking play. After starting with the automatic runner on second base Washington loaded the bags with two walks from Toronto’s sixth pitcher, Shun Yamaguchi (0-2).After... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors on Thursday:ROBERTS RETURNSLos Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts will be back from a one-game suspension when the defending NL West champions visit Arizona for the Diamondbacks’ home opener.Major League Baseball suspended Roberts one game and Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly eight games on Wednesday, the day after benches cleared in the sixth inning of Los Angeles’ 5-2 victory at Houston.During that sixth inning, Kelly threw a 3-0 fastball behind Alex Bregman’s head and tossed a breaking ball over Carlos Correa’s head. After striking out the Astros star, Kelly made a mocking face toward him and the players exchanged words.Kelly is appealing his penalty and can play until the process is complete. Astros manager Dusty Baker drew an undisclosed fine.This marked the first time the Dodgers and Astros had faced each other since MLB penalized the Astros for stealing signs during the 2017 season, which ended with Houston beating the Dodgers in a seven-game... [More]

The fake crowds and phony noise were tolerable, at least for a few games. Empty ballparks, too, because it was worth it to have baseball back in some form to provide a few hours of escape from a pandemic that seems increasingly hard to escape from.Still, it's been hard to completely enjoy this, a baseball season like no other. Reality keeps intruding, especially as the coronavirus ravages the Marlins and forces Major League Baseball to scramble even more what was a makeshift shortened season to begin with.Then Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly took the mound in Houston and gave everyone who cares about the integrity of the game a reason to cheer once again.A few errant pitches. A few choice words. Then an old-fashioned bench clearing where no punches were thrown but lots of droplets were probably sprayed.And just when we needed it most, a reminder that even during a pandemic cheaters need to pay.Of course, this is baseball and the one paying the worst price apparently will be Kelly... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly was suspended for eight games by Major League Baseball on Wednesday, a day after throwing a fastball near the head of Houston’s Alex Bregman and mockingly taunting Astros star Carlos Correa.Benches cleared after Kelly’s actions during the sixth inning of Los Angeles’ 5-2 win at Minute Maid Park. The game marked the first time the teams had met since it was revealed Houston stole signs en route to a 2017 World Series title that came at the Dodgers’ expense.Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was suspended one game and Astros manager Dusty Baker was fined an undisclosed amount.Kelly elected to appeal and can continue to play until the process is complete. Roberts was serving his penalty Wednesday night when the Dodgers played at Houston.Kelly, a hard thrower with a touch of wildness, has previously been suspended in his career for throwing at a batter. An eight-game penalty in this virus-shortened 60-game season is equivalent of 22 games in 162-game... [More]

The fake crowds and phony noise were tolerable, at least for a few games. Empty ballparks, too, because it was worth it to have baseball back in some form to provide a few hours of escape from a pandemic that seems increasingly hard to escape from.Still, it's been hard to completely enjoy this, a baseball season like no other. Reality keeps intruding, especially as the coronavirus ravages the Marlins and forces Major League Baseball to scramble even more what was a makeshift shortened season to begin with.Then Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly took the mound in Houston and gave everyone who cares about the integrity of the game a reason to cheer once again.A few errant pitches. A few choice words. Then an old-fashioned bench clearing where no punches were thrown but lots of droplets were probably sprayed.And just when we needed it most, a reminder that even during a pandemic cheaters need to pay.Of course, this is baseball and the one paying the worst price apparently will be Kelly... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly was suspended for eight games by Major League Baseball on Wednesday, a day after throwing a fastball near the head of Houston’s Alex Bregman and mockingly taunting Astros star Carlos Correa.Benches cleared after Kelly’s actions during the sixth inning of Los Angeles’ 5-2 win at Minute Maid Park. The game marked the first time the teams had met since it was revealed Houston stole signs en route to a 2017 World Series title that came at the Dodgers’ expense.Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was suspended one game and Astros manager Dusty Baker was fined an undisclosed amount.Kelly elected to appeal and can continue to play until the process is complete. Roberts was serving his penalty Wednesday night when the Dodgers played at Houston.Kelly, a hard thrower with a touch of wildness, has previously been suspended in his career for throwing at a batter.The lingering animosity the Dodgers felt toward the Astros — who were penalized by MLB in the... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Benches cleared Tuesday night during the Dodgers’ 5-2 victory over the Astros in the first game between the teams since it was revealed that Houston illegally stole signs en route to a 2017 championship that came at Los Angeles’ expense in the World Series.The fracas occurred after Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly threw high-and-tight pitches to Astros stars Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa in the sixth inning. Kelly threw an errant breaking ball over Correa’s head. Correa, who homered and finished with three hits, took off his batting helmet and stared Kelly down before continuing the at-bat. Kelly struck out Correa, then stuck out his tongue and made a face in his direction. Correa started walking toward him and the players exchanged words, prompting the benches to clear in the first such incident of this pandemic-delayed season. There was plenty of yelling and crowding — outlawed as MLB tries to play a 60-game season amid the pandemic — but no pushing or punches thrown.Order was... [More]

Astros second. Michael Brantley lines out to shallow right field to Kike Hernandez. Yuli Gurriel called out on strikes. Carlos Correa homers to left field. Josh Reddick strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Astros 1, Dodgers 0.Astros fourth. Jose Altuve grounds out to third base, Justin Turner to Max Muncy. Alex Bregman grounds out to shallow infield, Max Muncy to Walker Buehler. Michael Brantley singles to left field. Yuli Gurriel walks. Michael Brantley to second. Carlos Correa singles to center field. Yuli Gurriel to second. Michael Brantley scores. Josh Reddick lines out to shallow infield to Corey Seager.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Astros 2, Dodgers 0.Dodgers fifth. Corey Seager singles to left center field. AJ Pollock singles to shortstop. Corey Seager to second. Kike Hernandez singles to shallow left field. AJ Pollock to second. Corey Seager to third. Will Smith lines out to right field to Josh Reddick. Mookie Betts walks. Kike Hernandez to second. AJ Pollock... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:PANDEMIC PANICMajor League Baseball has already postponed a second scheduled game between Miami and Baltimore after more than a dozen Marlins players and staff tested positive for the coronavirus, prompting the club to lock down in Philadelphia. Commissioner Rob Manfred said the soonest the Marlins could resume their schedule is Wednesday, when they are set to play in Baltimore.“I don’t see it as a nightmare,” Manfred told MLB Network on Monday night. “We built the protocols to allow us to continue to play. That’s why we have the expanded rosters, that’s why we have the pool of additional players. And we think we can keep people safe and continue to play.”The Yankees and Phillies also postponed their game Monday after the Marlins played in Philadelphia over the weekend. As of Monday night, the teams planned to begin their series Tuesday instead.Word of multiple positive tests among players on the Marlins and Reds rosters shook many around... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Hunter Renfroe homered twice and Tampa Bay pitchers set a team nine-inning record with 19 strikeouts in the Rays’ 14-5 romp over the Atlanta Braves on Monday night.Atlanta starter Mike Foltynewicz (0-1) gave up six runs, four hits and four walks in 3 1/3 innings. The 2018 All-Star was designated for assignment after the game.Tyler Glasnow struck out nine and allowed one hit over four innings in first start after missing part of summer camp with the Rays after testing positive for the coronavirus. Diego Castillo (1-0) struck out two in a 10-pitch fifth and Jalen Beeks fanned seven over his three innings.Dansby Swanson and Matt Adams homered for the Braves. Swanson tied a career-high with five RBIs and stopped a 41-game homerless streak in Atlanta’s 14-1 win Sunday night over the New York Mets.CUBS 8, REDS 7CINCINNATI (AP) — Anthony Rizzo homered for the third time and Chicago let most of a seven-run lead slip away before Jeremy Jeffress closed out a victory over... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Hunter Renfroe homered twice and Tampa Bay pitchers set a team nine-inning record with 19 strikeouts in the Rays’ 14-5 romp over the Atlanta Braves on Monday night.Atlanta starter Mike Foltynewicz (0-1) gave up six runs, four hits and four walks in 3 1/3 innings. The 2018 All-Star was designated for assignment after the game.Tyler Glasnow struck out nine and allowed one hit over four innings in first start after missing part of summer camp with the Rays after testing positive for the coronavirus. Diego Castillo (1-0) struck out two in a 10-pitch fifth and Jalen Beeks fanned seven over his three innings.Dansby Swanson and Matt Adams homered for the Braves. Swanson tied a career-high with five RBIs and stopped a 41-game homerless streak in Atlanta’s 14-1 win Sunday night over the New York Mets.ATHLETICS 3, ANGELS 0OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Mark Canha homered for the first time this season, Chris Bassitt (1-0) escaped a big jam and Oakland beat Los Angeles as the teams... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Hunter Renfroe homered twice and Tampa Bay pitchers set a team nine-inning record with 19 strikeouts in the Rays’ 14-5 romp over the Atlanta Braves on Monday night.Atlanta starter Mike Foltynewicz (0-1) gave up six runs, four hits and four walks in 3 1/3 innings. The 2018 All-Star was designated for assignment after the game.Tyler Glasnow struck out nine and allowed one hit over four innings in first start after missing part of summer camp with the Rays after testing positive for the coronavirus. Diego Castillo (1-0) struck out two in a 10-pitch fifth and Jalen Beeks fanned seven over his three innings.Dansby Swanson and Matt Adams homered for the Braves. Swanson tied a career-high with five RBIs and stopped a 41-game homerless streak in Atlanta’s 14-1 win Sunday night over the New York Mets.ATHLETICS 3, ANGELS 0OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Mark Canha homered for the first time this season, Chris Bassitt (1-0) escaped a big jam and Oakland beat Los Angeles as the teams... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Tuesday:PANDEMIC PANICMajor League Baseball has already postponed a second scheduled game between Miami and Baltimore after more than a dozen Marlins players and staff tested positive for the coronavirus, prompting the club to lock down in Philadelphia. Commissioner Rob Manfred said the soonest the Marlins could resume their schedule is Wednesday, when they are set to play in Baltimore.“I don’t see it as a nightmare,” Manfred told MLB Network on Monday night. “We built the protocols to allow us to continue to play. That’s why we have the expanded rosters, that’s why we have the pool of additional players. And we think we can keep people safe and continue to play.”The Yankees and Phillies also postponed their game Monday after the Marlins played in Philadelphia over the weekend. As of Monday night, the teams planned to begin their series Tuesday instead.Word of multiple positive tests among players on the Marlins and Reds rosters shook many around... [More]

Mariners third. Shed Long Jr. walks. J.P. Crawford walks. Kyle Lewis walks. J.P. Crawford to second. Shed Long Jr. to third. Kyle Seager grounds out to shallow infield. Kyle Lewis out at second. J.P. Crawford to third. Shed Long Jr. scores. Evan White homers to center field. J.P. Crawford scores. Jose Marmolejos singles to center field. Austin Nola walks. Jose Marmolejos to second. Tim Lopes pops out to second base to Jose Altuve.3 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Mariners 3, Astros 0.Astros third. Kyle Tucker reaches on error. Fielding error by Kyle Seager. Dustin Garneau walks. George Springer strikes out swinging. Jose Altuve doubles. Dustin Garneau to third. Kyle Tucker scores. Alex Bregman homers to left field. Jose Altuve scores. Dustin Garneau scores. Michael Brantley strikes out swinging. Yuli Gurriel grounds out to shallow infield, Shed Long Jr. to Evan White.4 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 0 left on. Astros 4, Mariners 3.Astros fourth. Carlos Correa flies out to deep center field to... [More]