A look at what's happening around the majors Sunday:BIG-N-LITTLETodd Frazier, Michael Conforto and Scott Kingery will be back in familiar territory when the Mets and Phillies play under the lights in the Little League Classic at Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The game will be held at Bowman Field, which seats about 2,500 fans as the home of the Williamsport Crosscutters, a Philadelphia affiliate in the Class A New York-Penn League. Nearby is the field where Frazier, Conforto and Kingery all played in the Little League World Series.GONNA START SOMETHING?Jose Urena is set to start for the Marlins vs. Washington at Nationals Park. Urena's previous outing lasted only one pitch — he hit dynamic rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. with a fastball, setting off a bench-clearing incident in Atlanta, and was ejected. Major League Baseball suspended Urena six games, but the right-hander has appealed and can continue to play. There's speculation Urena will drop his appeal after this game, meaning he would miss the... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Nationals have put Jeremy Hellickson on the 10-day disabled list with a right wrist sprain and recalled pitcher Jefry Rodriguez to start against the Miami Marlins.Washington made the moves before Saturday night's game. The Nationals also recalled pitcher Jimmy Cordero from Syracuse and optioned reliever Trevor Gott to Triple-A.Hellickson's DL stint, retroactive to Aug. 16, occurs as Washington remains without Stephen Strasburg, who's sidelined with a cervical nerve impingement. The 31-year-old Hellickson is 5-3 with a 3.57 ERA in 18 starts.Strasburg threw 40 pitches in a bullpen session Saturday. He is expected to either start Tuesday's game against the Phillies or make a rehab start in the minors.Strasburg was put on the DL retroactive to July 22."We'll talk to him (Sunday)," manager Dave Martinez said. "We don't know if it's Tuesday here, or Tuesday in a rehab stint. We don't know that. We'll figure that out tomorrow."Rodriguez, set for his fifth start with the Nationals, has a 5.84 ERA in six prior appearances.Gott is 0-2 with a 5.68 ERA in 20 games.

BOSTON (AP) — Chris Sale understands it's a perfect time for the Boston Red Sox to be cautious with his troublesome shoulder.He's just frustrated that he's back on the disabled list.Boston returned the ace lefty to the 10-day disabled list Saturday after just one healthy start. He was already on the DL earlier this month with what the team called mild shoulder inflammation.Last Sunday, he was activated against the Baltimore Orioles and struck out 12 in five shutout innings, which extended his scoreless innings streak to 28. He is 12-4 with an AL-leading 1.97 ERA and 6-0 with a 0.20 ERA in his last seven starts."It's definitely less than it was last time," he said, standing in the middle of the clubhouse before Boston's scheduled game against Tampa Bay. "It didn't bounce back, wasn't really responding the way we wanted it to. Given kind of where we are, it was kind of right call to give it some rest and stay on top of it. You don't want to be playing catch up during a time like this."With... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Tigers have acquired minor league right-hander Nolan Blackwood from Oakland as a player to be named in the deal that sent pitcher Mike Fiers to the A's.Fiers was dealt to Oakland earlier this month for two players to be named or cash.The 23-year-old Blackwood has gone 6-3 with a 4.08 ERA in 39 relief appearances this year with Double-A Midland. He is 9-10 with a 3.56 ERA in 101 career minor league appearances.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BOSTON (AP) — Chris Sale understands it's a perfect time for the Boston Red Sox to be cautious with his troublesome shoulder.He's just frustrated that he's back on the disabled list.Boston returned the ace lefty to the 10-day disabled list Saturday after just one healthy start. He was already on the DL earlier this month with what the team called mild shoulder inflammation.Last Sunday, he was activated against the Baltimore Orioles and struck out 12 in five shutout innings, which extended his scoreless innings streak to 28. He is 12-4 with an AL-leading 1.97 ERA and 6-0 with a 0.20 ERA in his last seven starts."It's definitely less than it was last time," he said, standing in the middle of the clubhouse before Boston's scheduled game against Tampa Bay. "It didn't bounce back, wasn't really responding the way we wanted it to. Given kind of where we are, it was kind of right call to give it some rest and stay on top of it. You don't want to be playing catch up during a time like this."With... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox have returned ace Chris Sale to the 10-day disabled list after just one healthy start.The left-hander was already on the DL with left shoulder inflammation once this month. He was activated against the Orioles on Sunday and struck out 12 batters in five innings. He is 12-4 with a 1.97 ERA.But with Boston cruising to a big lead in the AL East, Sale will get some rest for what the team hopes will be a long playoff run.The move Saturday was retroactive to Wednesday. To fill his roster spot, the Red Sox recalled righty Brandon Workman from Triple-A Pawtucket.

CINCINNATI (AP) — The San Francisco Giants have activated reliever Hunter Strickland from the 60-day disabled list.Strickland broke his pinkie finger on his right hand when he punched a door in frustration after a blown save against Miami on June 18. He is 3-3 with a 2.84 ERA and 13 saves in 34 games.Strickland takes the roster spot of rookie right-hander Dereck Rodriguez, who was placed on the 10-day disabled list Thursday after he strained his right hamstring during a brawl with the Dodgers on Tuesday. Infielder Pablo Sandoval, who is out with a strained right hamstring, was transferred to the 60-day disabled list on Saturday to open a 40-man roster spot.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — The Chicago Cubs tied a major league record by turning seven double plays Friday night, including a game-ending effort by rookie third baseman David Bote on a grounder by David Freese to finish off a 1-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.The Cubs got six double plays on grounders — five with Cole Hamels pitching — and one on a line drive. The Elias Sports Bureau said the Cubs became the third team in big league history to turn seven DPs in a nine-inning game.Pittsburgh put runners on first and second in the ninth before Jesse Chavez got Freese to ground to Bote. Having hit a game-ending grand slam last Sunday night to beat Washington 4-3, Bote again was in the right place to cap off a win. Bote stepped on third and threw to first base to end it.Hamels (8-9) pitched seven solid innings. Kyle Schwarber hit a home run in the second off Trevor Williams (10-9). Chavez got his second save as the Pirates lost their fifth in a row.The Cubs beat the Pirates by a 1-0 score for the second... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:JUST A MINUTERecently suspended players Jose Urena and Yasiel Puig are both appealing their punishments and should remain in action this weekend. Urena, the Marlins right-hander who plunked breakout Braves rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. with the first pitch of a game Wednesday, was suspended six games by Major League Baseball but was in uniform Friday and could pitch this weekend while the appeal process is completed. Puig also figures to play this weekend for the Dodgers in Seattle as he appeals his two-game ban for fighting and inciting a benches-clearing scrap against San Francisco.CY PAST VS. CY POTENTIALMets ace Jacob deGrom tries to enhance his NL Cy Young credentials when he starts vs. Jake Arrieta and the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. DeGrom leads the majors with a 1.81 ERA — he's evened his record at 7-7 after New York recently gave him some long-overdue run support. Arrieta (9-7, 3.33) won the 2015 NL Cy Young Award with the Cubs.BARTOLO'S... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The Chicago Cubs tied a major league record by turning seven double plays Friday night, including a game-ending effort by rookie third baseman David Bote on a grounder by David Freese to finish off a 1-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.The Cubs got six double plays on grounders — five with Cole Hamels pitching — and one on a line drive. The Elias Sports Bureau said the Cubs became the third team in big league history to turn seven DPs in a nine-inning game.Pittsburgh put runners on first and second in the ninth before Jesse Chavez got Freese to ground to Bote. Having hit a game-ending grand slam last Sunday night to beat Washington 4-3, Bote again was in the right place to cap off a win. Bote stepped on third and threw to first base to end it.Hamels (8-9) pitched seven solid innings. Kyle Schwarber hit a home run in the second off Trevor Williams (10-9). Chavez got his second save as the Pirates lost their fifth in a row.The Cubs beat the Pirates by a 1-0 score for the second... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The Chicago Cubs tied a major league record by turning seven double plays Friday night, including a game-ending effort by rookie third baseman David Bote on a grounder by David Freese to finish off a 1-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.The Cubs got six double plays on grounders — five with Cole Hamels pitching — and one on a line drive. The Elias Sports Bureau said the Cubs became the third team in big league history to turn seven DPs in a nine-inning game.Pittsburgh put runners on first and second in the ninth before Jesse Chavez got Freese to ground to Bote. Having hit a game-ending grand slam last Sunday night to beat Washington 4-3, Bote again was in the right place to cap off a win. Bote stepped on third and threw to first base to end it.Hamels (8-9) pitched seven solid innings. Kyle Schwarber hit a home run in the second off Trevor Williams (10-9). Chavez got his second save as the Pirates lost their fifth in a row.The Cubs beat the Pirates by a 1-0 score for the second... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Saturday:JUST A MINUTERecently suspended players Jose Urena and Yasiel Puig are both appealing their punishments and should remain in action this weekend. Urena, the Marlins right-hander who plunked breakout Braves rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. with the first pitch of a game Wednesday, was suspended six games by Major League Baseball but was in uniform Friday and could pitch this weekend while the appeal process is completed. Puig also figures to play this weekend for the Dodgers in Seattle as he appeals his two-game ban for fighting and inciting a benches-clearing scrap against San Francisco.CY PAST VS. CY POTENTIALMets ace Jacob deGrom tries to enhance his NL Cy Young credentials when he starts vs. Jake Arrieta and the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. DeGrom leads the majors with a 1.81 ERA — he's evened his record at 7-7 after New York recently gave him some long-overdue run support. Arrieta (9-7, 3.33) won the 2015 NL Cy Young Award with the Cubs.BARTOLO'S... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig is appealing his two-game suspension for fighting and inciting a benches-clearing incident against San Francisco.Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed Friday that Puig was in the process of appealing. Puig was suspended Thursday by Major League Baseball after he took a swing at Giants catch Nick Hundley in the seventh inning of the Dodgers' 2-1 home loss Tuesday. Hundley was fined.Puig will be eligible to play during the appeal. He was not in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener in Seattle, but Roberts said he would have Puig in the lineup in the next few games.The fracas started when Puig swatted his bat in frustration after fouling off a pitch from Tony Watson, and Hundley said something to the slugger while still in his crouch. Puig turned around and walked toward Hundley, the catcher stood up, and they argued face to face before Puig shoved Hundley twice.That brought players out of the benches and bullpens. Puig and Hundley were momentarily separated, but Puig ducked around teammates, coaches and Roberts before reaching back to hit Hundley. He smacked Hundley with an open hand across the front of his catcher's mask.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Milwaukee Brewers right fielder Eric Thames collided with center fielder Lorenzo Cain while making a catch in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals and was later removed from the game.Thames exited before the bottom of the third inning Friday night with a sore left knee.Matt Carpenter drove a ball into the right-field gap in the first that Thames caught before running into Cain.Both players fell to the ground and remained still for a few seconds before getting up on their own. A Brewers trainer checked with Thames and Cain before the game resumed.Thames struck out swinging in the second in his only at-bat. He is hitting .229 with 16 homers and 37 RBIs in 68 games this season.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SEATTLE (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen hopes doctors will clear him to return to pitching sometime next week.Jansen threw about 20 pitches during a bullpen session Friday, continuing his light workload after being placed on the disabled list last week with an irregular heartbeat. Jansen said he feels good and is hopeful his physicians will clear him to return to the Dodgers bullpen when they meet Monday.The 30-year-old Jansen said earlier this week it's likely he'll need another ablation procedure on his heart after the season — the right-hander had a similar operation in 2012. When he was placed on the disabled list last week, it was projected Jansen would miss four to six weeks. Jansen said he's had no symptoms or reactions to medication in the past week."I hope they say (I'm) ready to go. I've got my fingers crossed about Monday," Jansen said. "We'll see if that happens. That would be great so I can come back and help us get back in the race and go where we want to go."Jansen... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen hopes doctors will clear him to return to pitching sometime next week.Jansen threw about 20 pitches during a bullpen session Friday, continuing his light workload after being placed on the disabled list last week with an irregular heartbeat. Jansen says he feels good and is hopeful his physicians will clear him to return to the Dodgers bullpen when they meet Monday.The 30-year-old Jansen said earlier this week it's likely he'll need another ablation procedure on his heart after the season — the right-hander had a similar operation in 2012. When he was placed on the disabled list last week, it was projected Jansen would miss four to six weeks. Jansen says he's had no symptoms or reactions to medication in the past week.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SEATTLE (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig is appealing his two-game suspension for fighting and inciting a fight during a benches-clearing incident against San Francisco.Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed Friday that Puig was in the process of appealing. Puig was suspended Thursday by Major League Baseball after he took a swing at Giants catch Nick Hundley in the seventh inning of the Dodgers' 2-1 home loss Tuesday. Hundley was fined.Puig will be eligible to play during the appeal. He was not in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener in Seattle, but Roberts said he would have Puig in the lineup in the next few games.The fracas started when Puig swatted his bat in frustration after fouling off a pitch from Tony Watson, and Hundley said something to the slugger while still in his crouch. Puig turned around and walked toward Hundley, the catcher stood up, and they argued face to face before Puig shoved Hundley twice.That brought players out of the benches and bullpens. Puig and Hundley were momentarily separated, but Puig ducked around teammates, coaches and Roberts before reaching back to hit Hundley. He smacked Hundley with an open hand across the front of his catcher's mask.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox have activated second baseman Ian Kinsler from the disabled list and put him in the starting lineup.The AL East leaders made the move Friday. He was batting sixth and playing second at Fenway Park against Tampa Bay. The Red Sox also put third baseman Rafael Devers on the 10-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring, retroactive to Thursday.Kinsler missed 11 games with a strained left hamstring. He was acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Angels on July 30 and played in just three games before straining his hamstring Aug. 3 while scoring a run in the first inning of win over the New York Yankees.The 36-year-old Kinsler went 4 for 10, drove in two runs and stole two bases with Boston before getting hurt.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Texas Rangers center fielder Delino DeShields has been placed on the 10-day disabled list with a fracture on the tip of his right middle finger.The move was made before Friday's game against the Los Angeles Angels.DeShields got hurt in the series opener Thursday night when he got hit by a pitch on an attempted bunt.Infielder/outfielder Drew Robinson was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock for his third stint with Texas this year.It is the second time this season that DeShields has gone on the DL. He missed 20 games after a hamate bone fracture in his left hand the first week of the season. He is hitting .204 with 22 RBIs and 18 stolen bases in 85 games.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) — Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Urena is appealing his six-game suspension for intentionally hitting Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Braves with a pitch.Urena was in uniform Friday and Marlins manager Don Mattingly didn't rule out using him this weekend against the Washington Nationals.Major League Baseball announced the suspension and undisclosed fine Thursday, a day after Urena hit Acuna on the left arm with his first pitch in the Marlins' 5-2 loss in Atlanta. Urena is eligible to play until the appeal process is complete."When I saw I hit a guy, I feel bad," Urena said Friday. "I said something: 'Hey, you'll be OK.' I said it in Spanish."The 20-year-old Acuna went into the game having homered in five straight games, including four homers in the three games against Miami — three of them leading off."I talked to him right after the game," Mattingly said of Urena. "He said he was trying to run the ball close to him and that's exactly what he told me. I just relay what he told me because we talked about it."The 25-year-old Urena, from the Dominican Republic, is 3-12 with a 4.74 ERA in 24 starts.Acuna was back in the lineup for the Braves on Thursday night against Colorado. He went 1 for 4 with a stolen base."One thing I was happy about is that the kid's all right," Mattingly said.If Urena pitched this weekend and then dropped his appeal on Monday, he would miss Miami's series at home against the Braves on Aug. 23-26.