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]

CINCINNATI (AP) — Javier Báez homered twice, doubled and scored on a deft dive to the plate, Alec Mills went six solid innings, and the Chicago Cubs extended their opening surge, beating the Cincinnati Reds 8-5 on Tuesday night.Chicago has won four of its first five games, scoring first in each one. Jason Kipnis’ triple — Shogo Akiyama lost it in the sun — got the Cubs going again.Mills (1-0) added to Chicago’s stretch of impressive starts, holding the Reds to two hits in six innings. Chicago’s starters have a 1.80 ERA and a .131 opponent batting average this season.The Reds got two-run homers by Nick Castellanos — his first since signing a $64 million deal — and Freddy Galvis but fell to 1-4, tied for the worst start in the majors.Cody Reed (0-1) allowed two runs in the fifth after relieving starter Tyler Mahle.DIAMONDBACKS 4, RANGERS 1ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Merrill Kelly took a no-hitter into the seventh inning before giving up a home run as Arizona beat Texas. Rougned Odor’s one-out... [More]

CINCINNATI (AP) — Javier Báez homered twice, doubled and scored on a deft dive to the plate, Alec Mills went six solid innings, and the Chicago Cubs extended their opening surge, beating the Cincinnati Reds 8-5 on Tuesday night.Chicago has won four of its first five games, scoring first in each one. Jason Kipnis’ triple — Shogo Akiyama lost it in the sun — got the Cubs going again.Mills (1-0) added to Chicago’s stretch of impressive starts, holding the Reds to two hits in six innings. Chicago’s starters have a 1.80 ERA and a .131 opponent batting average this season.The Reds got two-run homers by Nick Castellanos — his first since signing a $64 million deal — and Freddy Galvis but fell to 1-4, tied for the worst start in the majors.Cody Reed (0-1) allowed two runs in the fifth after relieving starter Tyler Mahle.BLUE JAYS 5, NATIONALS 1WASHINGTON (AP) — The reigning World Series champions dropped to 1-4 in the pandemic-shortened season with a 5-1 loss to Toronto that included two outfielders... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay Rays ace Blake Snell reported for work, after all.The 27-year-old Snell made headlines in May when he said he opposed the idea of players taking further pay reductions to start the season during a pandemic — that it was not worth the health risk. But he said Friday it wasn't difficult to start playing again after the players' agreement with Major League Baseball included their full pro-rated salaries.“I would say it wasn’t tough when it came down to what the (union) agreed on," he said. "I like to follow through to what I say. So for that to be the case, definitely happy about that. ... With all the precautions MLB’s taking, it makes it easy to play. Everyone here is just super on their toes about it, so I feel very comfortable about it.”Snell is looking to bounce back after he was hampered by injuries last year. The left-hander was 21-5 with an American League-best 1.86 ERA in 2018, winning the Cy Young Award. But he went 6-8 with a career-high 4.29... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Starter Wade Miley made Houston's roster for the AL Division Series despite struggling for the last month.Miley's status for Houston's series against the Tampa Bay Rays was up in the air after the veteran left-hander had a 16.68 ERA in five starts in September. The Astros also included rookie José Urquidy, who along with Miley could be an option to start Game 4, on the roster. The Astros left veteran Brad Peacock off after he made just three appearances in September and missed almost a month dealing with shoulder soreness.For Tampa Bay, infielder Eric Sogard made the roster after being left off the wild-card roster because of a bruised foot. Sogard hasn't played since Sept. 15 because of the injury, but he said he was feeling good on Thursday and ready to return. Manager Kevin Cash said Sogard isn't 100 percent, but he's healthy enough to help them in this series.The Rays' roster also included relievers Yonny Chirinos and Brendan McKay. Houston included rookie outfielder Kyle Tucker and speedy utility man Myles Straw.The Astros will carry 11 pitchers and 14 position players in the best-of-five series that begins on Friday. Tampa Bay's roster has 12 pitchers and 13 position players.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

A look at the best-of-five American League Division Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and Houston Astros:___Schedule: (All times EDT) Game 1, Friday, at Houston, 2:05 p.m. (FS1); Game 2, Saturday, at Houston, 9:07 p.m. (FS1); Game 3, Monday, Oct. 7, at Tampa Bay, TBA (MLB); x-Game 4, Tuesday, Oct. 8, at Tampa Bay, TBA (FS1); x-Game 5, Thursday, Oct. 10, at Houston, TBA (FS1).x-if necessary.___Season Series: Rays won 4-3.___Projected Lineups:Rays: 2B Joey Wendle (.231, 3 HRs, 19 RBIs in 75 games), LF Tommy Pham (.273, 21, 68, 33 2Bs), RF Austin Meadows (.291, 33, 89 in 138 games), C Travis d'Arnaud (.263, 16, 67 in 92 games with Rays; .087, 0, 2 in 10 games with Mets, and 1 at-bat in only game with Dodgers), 1B Ji-Man Choi (.261, 19, 63) or Yandy D�az (.267, 14, 38, .816 OPS in 79 games), DH Brandon Lowe (.270, 17, 51 in 82 games) or Avisail Garcia (.282, 20, 72, 25 2Bs in 125 games), 3B Matt Duffy (.252, 1, 12 in 46 games), CF Kevin Kiermaier (.228, 14, 55, 19 SBs in 129 games), SS Willy... [More]

A look at the American League wild-card game between the Tampa Bay Rays and Oakland Athletics:___Schedule: Wednesday, at Oakland, California, 8:09 p.m. EDT (ESPN).___Season Series: Athletics won 4-3.___Projected Lineups:Rays: 2B Joey Wendle (.231, 3 HRs, 19 RBIs in 75 games), LF Tommy Pham (.273, 21, 68, 33 2Bs), RF Austin Meadows (.291, 33, 89 in 138 games), C Travis d'Arnaud (.263, 16, 67 in 92 games with Rays; .087, 0, 2 in 10 games with Mets, and 1 at-bat in only game with Dodgers), 1B Ji-Man Choi (.261, 19, 63), DH Brandon Lowe (.270, 17, 51 in 82 games) or Avisail Garcia (.282, 20, 72, 25 2Bs in 125 games), 3B Matt Duffy (.252, 1, 12 in 46 games), CF Kevin Kiermaier (.228, 14, 55, 19 SBs in 129 games), SS Willy Adames (.254, 20, 52).Athletics: SS Marcus Semien (.285, 33, 92, 123 runs, 43 2Bs), RF Ramon Laureano (.288, 24, 67, 10 assists), 3B Matt Chapman (.249, 36, 91, 102 runs, 36 2Bs), 1B Matt Olson (.267, 36, 91), CF Mark Canha (.273, 26, 58), DH Khris Davis (.220, 23, 73), LF... [More]

A look at the American League wild-card game between the Tampa Bay Rays and Oakland Athletics:___Schedule: Wednesday, at Oakland, California, 8:09 p.m. EDT (ESPN).___Season Series: Athletics won 4-3.___Projected Lineups:Rays: 2B Joey Wendle (.231, 3 HRs, 19 RBIs in 75 games), LF Tommy Pham (.273, 21, 68, 33 2Bs), RF Austin Meadows (.291, 33, 89 in 138 games), C Travis d'Arnaud (.263, 16, 67 in 92 games with Rays; .087, 0, 2 in 10 games with Mets, and 1 at-bat in only game with Dodgers), 1B Ji-Man Choi (.261, 19, 63), DH Brandon Lowe (.270, 17, 51 in 82 games) or Avisail Garcia (.282, 20, 72, 25 2Bs in 125 games), 3B Matt Duffy (.252, 1, 12 in 46 games), CF Kevin Kiermaier (.228, 14, 55, 19 SBs in 129 games), SS Willy Adames (.254, 20, 52).Athletics: SS Marcus Semien (.285, 33, 92, 123 runs, 43 2Bs), RF Ramon Laureano (.288, 24, 67, 10 assists), 3B Matt Chapman (.249, 36, 91, 102 runs, 36 2Bs), 1B Matt Olson (.267, 36, 91), CF Mark Canha (.273, 26, 58), DH Khris Davis (.220, 23, 73), LF... [More]

It's been three years since Andrew Miller led the Cleveland Indians to the brink of a World Series championship by coming out of the bullpen early and often, and bulk work from relievers has been an October staple since. Whether it's Brewers All-Star Josh Hader stretching out for three innings or Astros ace Justin Verlander moonlighting in middle relief, aggressive bullpen management has become standard postseason practice.As the calendar flips, a look at the best relief options — for the biggest outs, and for a bunch of them — for each of the 10 playoff clubs.NEW YORK YANKEESFor The Big Out: In baseball's deepest bullpen, the difference maker is Aroldis Chapman. The 31-year-old left-hander has lost some steam — he averaged about 98 mph on his fastball this year, down from 101 at his peak in 2016 — but he's made up for it with an improved slider that he's throwing more than ever. Although he famously blew a lead for the Cubs in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, Chapman has been fantastic... [More]

Blue jays first. Teoscar Hernandez singles to left field. Cavan Biggio singles to shallow center field. Teoscar Hernandez to second. Randal Grichuk flies out to right field to Avisail Garcia. Rowdy Tellez pops out to shortstop to Willy Adames. Justin Smoak doubles to deep left field. Cavan Biggio scores. Teoscar Hernandez scores. Breyvic Valera strikes out swinging.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Blue jays 2, Rays 0.Rays fourth. Ji-Man Choi homers to right field. Avisail Garcia doubles to deep left field. Mike Brosseau grounds out to shallow infield, Breyvic Valera to Justin Smoak. Daniel Robertson grounds out to shortstop, Richard Urena to Justin Smoak. Matt Duffy walks. Mike Zunino flies out to deep left field to Teoscar Hernandez.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Blue jays 2, Rays 1.Blue jays fourth. Breyvic Valera singles to shallow infield. Richard Urena pops out to shallow infield to Yonny Chirinos. Jonathan Davis singles to center field. Breyvic Valera to second. Luke Maile... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Yonny Chirinos has become the third Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher on the injured list.The right-hander was placed on the 10-day IL Monday with right middle finger inflammation and is expected to miss at least a month.AL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell has been out since July 22 with bone chips in his left elbow that required surgery.Tyler Glasnow started the season 6-1 before being sidelined May 10 due to a right forearm strain.The Rays have not ruled out all three returning in September.Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said the team "is processing" how to handle the injuries."Certainly, when we've got three guys that we count on for 180-plus innings and they're all sitting and watching games, not ideal," Cash said. "But bet on these guys to pick each other and find a way to figure it out."Tampa Bay currently has Charlie Morton and two-way rookie Brendan McKay in its rotation. Ryan Yarbrough and Jalen Beeks have thrown multiple innings out of the bullpen when... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Shane Bieber became the first pitcher this season to throw three complete games, leading the Cleveland Indians over the Los Angeles Angels 6-2 Sunday for a three-game sweep.Bieber (11-4) allowed five hits, struck out eight and walked none. Bieber, the All-Star Game MVP, is 9-2 in his last 15 starts.Cleveland is 37-15 since June 4, the best record in the major leagues in that span. After trailing by as many as 11½ games in early June, the Indians started Sunday three games back of AL Central-leading Minnesota.Jason Kipnis, Francisco Lindor and rookie Oscar Mercado homered off Jaime Barria (4-5), who gave up three runs in 3 2/3 innings. Barria is 2-4 with a 10.13 ERA on the road.Kole Calhoun homered and Albert Pujols had an RBI single for Los Angeles, which lost its fourth straight.YANKEES 7, RED SOX 4NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge homered early and a makeshift New York Yankees lineup pounded David Price in a victory that sent the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Shane Bieber became the first pitcher this season to throw three complete games, leading the Cleveland Indians over the Los Angeles Angels 6-2 Sunday for a three-game sweep.Bieber (11-4) allowed five hits, struck out eight and walked none. Bieber, the All-Star Game MVP, is 9-2 in his last 15 starts.Cleveland is 37-15 since June 4, the best record in the major leagues in that span. After trailing by as many as 11½ games in early June, the Indians started Sunday three games back of AL Central-leading Minnesota.Jason Kipnis, Francisco Lindor and rookie Oscar Mercado homered off Jaime Barria (4-5), who gave up three runs in 3 2/3 innings. Barria is 2-4 with a 10.13 ERA on the road.Kole Calhoun homered and Albert Pujols had an RBI single for Los Angeles, which lost its fourth straight.ASTROS 3, MARINERS 1HOUSTON (AP) — Justin Verlander struck out 10 in another dominant Houston pitching performance, and the Astros completed a three-game sweep.A day after Astros newcomer Aaron... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Shane Bieber became the first pitcher this season to throw three complete games, leading the Cleveland Indians over the Los Angeles Angels 6-2 Sunday for a three-game sweep.Bieber (11-4) allowed five hits, struck out eight and walked none. Bieber, the All-Star Game MVP, is 9-2 in his last 15 starts.Cleveland is 37-15 since June 4, the best record in the major leagues in that span. After trailing by as many as 11½ games in early June, the Indians started Sunday three games back of AL Central-leading Minnesota.Jason Kipnis, Francisco Lindor and rookie Oscar Mercado homered off Jaime Barria (4-5), who gave up three runs in 3 2/3 innings. Barria is 2-4 with a 10.13 ERA on the road.Kole Calhoun homered and Albert Pujols had an RBI single for Los Angeles, which lost its fourth straight.ASTROS 3, MARINERS 1HOUSTON (AP) — Justin Verlander struck out 10 in another dominant Houston pitching performance, and the Astros completed a three-game sweep.A day after Astros newcomer Aaron... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Shane Bieber became the first pitcher this season to throw three complete games, leading the Cleveland Indians over the Los Angeles Angels 6-2 Sunday for a three-game sweep.Bieber (11-4) allowed five hits, struck out eight and walked none. Bieber, the All-Star Game MVP, is 9-2 in his last 15 starts.Cleveland is 37-15 since June 4, the best record in the major leagues in that span. After trailing by as many as 11½ games in early June, the Indians started Sunday three games back of AL Central-leading Minnesota.Jason Kipnis, Francisco Lindor and rookie Oscar Mercado homered off Jaime Barria (4-5), who gave up three runs in 3 2/3 innings. Barria is 2-4 with a 10.13 ERA on the road.Kole Calhoun homered and Albert Pujols had an RBI single for Los Angeles, which lost its fourth straight.ASTROS 3, MARINERS 1HOUSTON (AP) — Justin Verlander struck out 10 in another dominant Houston pitching performance, and the Astros completed a three-game sweep.A day after Astros newcomer Aaron... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Shane Bieber became the first pitcher this season to throw three complete games, leading the Cleveland Indians over the Los Angeles Angels 6-2 Sunday for a three-game sweep.Bieber (11-4) allowed five hits, struck out eight and walked none. Bieber, the All-Star Game MVP, is 9-2 in his last 15 starts.Cleveland is 37-15 since June 4, the best record in the major leagues in that span. After trailing by as many as 11½ games in early June, the Indians started Sunday three games back of AL Central-leading Minnesota.Jason Kipnis, Francisco Lindor and rookie Oscar Mercado homered off Jaime Barria (4-5), who gave up three runs in 3 2/3 innings. Barria is 2-4 with a 10.13 ERA on the road.Kole Calhoun homered and Albert Pujols had an RBI single for Los Angeles, which lost its fourth straight.RAYS 7, MARLINS 2ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Yonny Chirinos allowed one run in five innings before leaving with a hand injury, and Tampa Bay matched its longest winning streak this season at six... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — The Toronto Blue Jays traded veteran utilityman Eric Sogard across the diamond Sunday, sending him to the visiting Tampa Bay Rays.Toronto is expected to receive a minor leaguer for the 33-year-old Sogard, who is having a career season.Sogard was due to start in right field against Rays right-hander Yonny Chirinos, but was scratched shortly before first pitch and replaced by Billy McKinney.The trade was confirmed while the Blue Jays batted in the second inning, although Sogard remained in Toronto's dugout while the Rays reviewed his medical files. He later exchanged hugs and handshakes with teammates on the bench heading to the clubhouse.Sogard is batting .300 with 10 home runs and 30 RBIs in 73 games. He began the year with 11 career homers in 584 games over eight seasons with Oakland and Milwaukee.The Rays place a high value on versatility, and Sogard provides that. He can play second, third, shortstop and both corner outfield positions.Tampa Bay began the day a half-game... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — The Toronto Blue Jays traded veteran utilityman Eric Sogard across the diamond Sunday, sending him to the visiting Tampa Bay Rays.Toronto is expected to receive a minor leaguer for the 33-year-old Sogard, who is having a career season.Sogard was due to start in right field against Rays right-hander Yonny Chirinos, but was scratched shortly before first pitch and replaced by Billy McKinney.The trade was confirmed while the Blue Jays batted in the second inning, although Sogard remained in Toronto's dugout while the Rays reviewed his medical files. He later exchanged hugs and handshakes with teammates on the bench heading to the clubhouse.Sogard is batting .300 with 10 home runs and 30 RBIs in 73 games. He began the year with 11 career homers in 584 games over eight seasons with Oakland and Milwaukee.The Rays place a high value on versatility, and Sogard provides that. He can play second, third, shortstop and both corner outfield positions.Tampa Bay began the day a half-game behind Boston and Oakland for the second AL wild-card spot.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees manager Aaron Boone got fired up at a rookie umpire in a profane rant, and New York awoke from a sleepy start to rally past the Tampa Bay Rays 6-2 in a doubleheader opener Thursday.New York rallied to win the second game 5-1 and reopen an eight-game AL East lead over the second-place Rays. Luke Voit tied the score in the fifth with his first home run since June 14, and catcher Mike Zunino caused Charlie Morton to balk home the tiebreaking run in a four-run sixth that included Didi Gregorius' two-run single. The Yankees won three straight after wasting a ninth-inning lead in the series opener and improved to 34-11 against the AL East, including 12-5 against Tampa Bay.After Domingo Germán (12-2) gave up solo homers to his first two batters in the first game, Gio Urshela hit a tying home run in the second off Yonny Chirinos (9-5), and Gary Sánchez smashed a go-ahead 110 mph single off the glove of third baseman Yandy Díaz during a three-run fifth. Díaz had helped the... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees manager Aaron Boone got fired up at a rookie umpire in a profane rant, and New York awoke from a sleepy start to rally past the Tampa Bay Rays 6-2 in a doubleheader opener Thursday.After Domingo Germán (12-2) gave up solo homers to his first two batters, Gio Urshela hit a tying home run in the second off Yonny Chirinos (9-5), and Gary Sánchez smashed a go-ahead 110 mph single off the glove of third baseman Yandy Díaz during a three-run fifth. Díaz had helped the Yankees come alive when he dropped Didi Gregorius' leadoff popup in the second for a two-base error.Boone fumed after rookie umpire Brennan Miller called Brett Gardner out on strikes in the second inning. Miller, umpiring behind the plate for the fifth time in the major leagues, had punched out Aaron Judge in the first. Gardner batted in the second after Urshela's tying, two-run homer and struck out on a 1-2 pitch.Gardner returned to the dugout, slammed his bat into the bat rack nine times, then eight times... [More]