ATLANTA (AP) — Rookie star Ronald Acuna Jr. is back in the lineup for the Atlanta Braves, hitting leadoff one day after being plunked on the left arm by Miami's Jose Urena.Acuna sent a text to Brian Snitker before the Braves manager even got to SunTrust Park, saying he felt good and was ready to go Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series against the Colorado Rockies.The training staff signed off on Acuna returning to lineup after a CT scan on his elbow was normal. X-rays also were negative.Urena was ejected from Wednesday's game after hitting Acuna on the first pitch in what the Braves said was an intentional act . The Marlins pitcher denied any wrongdoing and said he was merely trying to throw inside.Acuna left the game in top of the second.Snitker says he has no doubt that Urena tried to hit Acuna. The 20-year-old went into the game having homered in five straight games, including four homers in the three games against Miami — three of them leading off.___Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 . His work can be found at https://apnews.com/search/paul%20newberry___For more AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre is still out of the lineup because of his troublesome left hamstring, but still on the active roster.Beltre said before the Rangers' game Thursday against the Los Angeles Angels that he is feeling better than he did when he strained the hamstring earlier this season. The 39-year-old third baseman was on the DL twice earlier this season, and aggravated the injury Monday night.The Rangers activated right fielder Nomar Mazara from the 10-day disabled list. He hadn't played since the All-Star break because of a sprained right thumb.Outfielder Willie Calhoun was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock. Calhoun hit .275 with nine RBIs in 22 games with the Rangers after being called up July 20 when Mazara was formally put on the DL.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo left Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Phillies after he injured his left index finger hitting a grounder to third base.Nimmo checked his swing and fell to the ground as the ball rolled all the way to third base with the bases loaded and two outs. Maikel Franco fielded the ball and was late tagging the bag but threw to first to easily retire Nimmo, who remained on the dirt for a couple of minutes.X-rays on Nimmo's finger were negative. Jose Bautista replaced him in right field.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ATLANTA (AP) — Braves rookie star Ronald Acuna Jr. is day to day after being plunked on the left arm by Miami's Jose Urena.The team announced Thursday that a CT scan on Acuna's elbow was normal. X-rays also were negative.Urena was ejected from Wednesday night's game after hitting Acuna on the first pitch in what the Braves said was an intentional act . The Marlins pitcher denied any wrongdoing and said he was merely trying to throw inside. Acuna left the game in top of the second.The 20-year-old went into the game having homered in five straight games, including four homers in the three games against Miami — three of them leading off.Braves manager Brian Snitker also was ejected for leading his team onto the field to confront Urena. No punches were thrown, and the Braves went on to a 5-2 victory that maintained their two-game lead in the NL East.Atlanta hosts Colorado on Thursday night.___Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 . His work can be found at https://apnews.com/search/paul%20newberry___For more AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

A look at what's happening around the majors today:HOT TEMPERSSuspensions could be on deck after Wednesday night's melee between the Braves and Marlins. Ronald Acuna's chance to extend his home run streak was put on hold when Miami pitcher Jose Urena hit the rookie slugger in the left elbow with his first pitch, a 97 mph fastball that left Acuna in obvious pain. The benches and bullpens for both teams emptied twice. Urena and Atlanta manager Brian Snitker were ejected, and Snitker had angry words for the pitcher. The 20-year-old Acuna exited in the second inning — the Braves said X-rays were negative and results of further tests would be announced Thursday. Atlanta won 5-2 to complete a four-game sweep.REDBIRDS SOARINGMarcell Ozuna and the Cardinals try to extend their season-best winning streak to nine games when they go for a four-game sweep of fading Washington. St. Louis, which is 18-9 since the All-Star break, hopes to have Matt Carpenter back in the lineup. On a major tear at the... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Slugging rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. was hit by a pitch before he could take the Marlins deep again, but Dansby Swanson filled the power void for Atlanta, hitting a two-run homer that led the Braves to a 5-2 win over Miami on Wednesday night.Acuna, who had hit leadoff homers in the last three games and homered in five straight overall, didn't get a chance to extend the streak. Jose Urena plunked him on the left elbow with a fastball on his first pitch of the day, triggering a melee. Benches and bullpens for both teams emptied onto the field twice after the pitch. No punches were thrown. Urena and Braves manager Brian Snitker were ejected.Acuna instead became the 11th batter to be hit by a pitch from Urena this season, tied for the most in the National League. Trainer George Poulis hovered over Acuna, who sat on the ground near the batter's box while players swarmed near the mound. Acuna left the game in the second inning. He took his position in left field and then walked off... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Thursday:HOT TEMPERSSuspensions could be on deck after Wednesday night's melee between the Braves and Marlins. Ronald Acuna's chance to extend his home run streak was put on hold when Miami pitcher Jose Urena hit the rookie slugger in the left elbow with his first pitch, a 97 mph fastball that left Acuna in obvious pain. The benches and bullpens for both teams emptied twice. Urena and Atlanta manager Brian Snitker were ejected, and Snitker had angry words for the pitcher. The 20-year-old Acuna exited in the second inning — the Braves said X-rays were negative and results of further tests would be announced Thursday. Atlanta won 5-2 to complete a four-game sweep.REDBIRDS SOARINGMarcell Ozuna and the Cardinals try to extend their season-best winning streak to nine games when they go for a four-game sweep of fading Washington. St. Louis, which is 18-9 since the All-Star break, hopes to have Matt Carpenter back in the lineup. On a major tear at the... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Slugging rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. was hit by a pitch before he could take the Marlins deep again, but Dansby Swanson filled the power void for Atlanta, hitting a two-run homer that led the Braves to a 5-2 win over Miami on Wednesday night.Acuna, who had hit leadoff homers in the last three games and homered in five straight overall, didn't get a chance to extend the streak. Jose Urena plunked him on the left elbow with a fastball on his first pitch of the day, triggering a melee. Benches and bullpens for both teams emptied onto the field twice after the pitch. No punches were thrown. Urena and Braves manager Brian Snitker were ejected.Acuna instead became the 11th batter to be hit by a pitch from Urena this season, tied for the most in the National League. Trainer George Poulis hovered over Acuna, who sat on the ground near the batter's box while players swarmed near the mound. Acuna left the game in the second inning. He took his position in left field and then walked off... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Ronald Acuna's chance to extend his three-game streak of leadoff homers was put on hold when the Marlins' Jose Urena hit him with his first pitch on Wednesday night, triggering a melee that led to benches and bullpens for Atlanta and Miami emptying twice.Urena and Braves manager Brian Snitker were ejected. Snitker had angry words for the pitcher as he led the first exodus from Atlanta's dugout toward the mound.Urena's fastball hit Acuna's left elbow, leaving Acuna in obvious pain. Trainer George Poulis hovered over Acuna, who sat on the ground near the batter's box while players swarmed near the mound.The Braves said X-rays on the elbow were negative and results of further tests would be announced on Thursday.The Braves won the game 5-2 to complete a four-game sweep.Snitker believed Urena intended to hit Acuna with the pitch."I'll be honest with you. I'm not sure I've ever felt like that in a baseball uniform," Snitker said. "That was just my emotion. That kid didn't deserve... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Slugging rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. was hit by a pitch before he could take the Marlins deep again, but Dansby Swanson filled the power void for Atlanta, hitting a two-run homer that led the Braves to a 5-2 win over Miami on Wednesday night.Acuna, who had hit leadoff homers in the last three games and homered in five straight overall, didn't get a chance to extend the streak. Jose Urena plunked him on the left elbow with a fastball on his first pitch of the day, triggering a melee. Benches and bullpens for both teams emptied onto the field twice after the pitch. No punches were thrown. Urena and Braves manager Brian Snitker were ejected.Acuna instead became the 11th batter to be hit by a pitch from Urena this season, tied for the most in the National League. Trainer George Poulis hovered over Acuna, who sat on the ground near the batter's box while players swarmed near the mound. Acuna left the game in the second inning. He took his position in left field and then walked off... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Slugging rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. was hit by a pitch before he could take the Marlins deep again, but Dansby Swanson filled the power void for Atlanta, hitting a two-run homer that led the Braves to a 5-2 win over Miami on Wednesday night.Acuna, who had hit leadoff homers in the last three games and homered in five straight overall, didn't get a chance to extend the streak. Jose Urena plunked him on the left elbow with a fastball on his first pitch of the day, triggering a melee. Benches and bullpens for both teams emptied onto the field twice after the pitch. No punches were thrown. Urena and Braves manager Brian Snitker were ejected.Acuna instead became the 11th batter to be hit by a pitch from Urena this season, tied for the most in the National League. Trainer George Poulis hovered over Acuna, who sat on the ground near the batter's box while players swarmed near the mound. Acuna left the game in the second inning. He took his position in left field and then walked off... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis infielder Matt Carpenter left the Cardinals' game Wednesday night against the Washington Nationals after being hit on the hand by a pitch from Matt Grace in the bottom of the seventh inning.Carpenter was removed as a precaution and X-rays were negative.Carpenter was replaced by Patrick Wisdom.Before leaving, Carpenter extended his on-base streak to 33 games. He has 17 homers and 30 RBIs during the run.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Washington Nationals right-hander Jeremy Hellickson was removed from Wednesday night's game in St. Louis in the fifth inning after colliding with Cardinals outfielder Harrison Bader at the plate.Hellickson was covering home after a wild pitch. He stumbled over Bader as Bader slid home safely.Hellickson was charged with three runs, two earned, on three hits in his 4 1/3 innings. He struck out two and walked two.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ATLANTA (AP) — Ronald Acuna's chance to extend his three-game streak of leadoff homers was put on hold when the Marlins' Jose Urena hit him with his first pitch on Wednesday night, triggering a melee that led to benches and bullpens for Atlanta and Miami emptying twice.Urena and Braves manager Brian Snitker were ejected. Snitker had angry words for the pitcher as he led the first exodus from Atlanta's dugout toward the mound.Urena's fastball hit Acuna's left elbow, leaving Acuna in obvious pain. Trainer George Poulis hovered over Acuna, who sat on the ground near the batter's box while players swarmed near the mound.Order appeared to be restored until Acuna walked near the mound on his path to first base, took off a shin guard and tossed it to the edge of the mound. That led to players again spilling out of both dugouts and bullpens. No punches were thrown.Snitker was ejected by third-base umpire Paul Nauert, the crew chief. After the melee calmed down, the umpires huddled and then home... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Ronald Acuna Jr.'s streak of leadoff homers in three straight games ended when the Marlins' Jose Urena hit him with his first pitch on Wednesday night, triggering a melee that led to benches and bullpens for Atlanta and Miami emptying twice.Urena and Braves manager Brian Snitker were ejected. Snitker had angry words for the pitcher as he led the first exodus from Atlanta's dugout toward the mound.Urena's fastball hit Acuna's left elbow, leaving Acuna in obvious pain. Trainer George Poulis hovered over Acuna, who sat on the ground near the batter's box while players swarmed near the mound.Order appeared to be restored until Acuna walked near the mound on his path to first base, took off a shin guard and tossed it to the edge of the mound. That led to players again spilling out of both dugouts and bullpens. No punches were thrown.Snitker was ejected by third-base umpire Paul Nauert, the crew chief. After the melee calmed down, the umpires huddled and then home plate umpire... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Ronald Acuna Jr.'s streak of leadoff homers in three straight games ended when the Marlins' Jose Urena hit him with his first pitch, triggering a melee that led to benches and bullpens for Atlanta and Miami emptying twice.Urena and Braves manager Brian Snitker were ejected. Snitker had angry words for the pitcher as he led the first exodus from Atlanta's dugout toward the mound.Urena's fastball hit Acuna's left elbow, leaving Acuna in obvious pain. Trainer George Poulis hovered over Acuna, who sat on the ground near the batter's box while players swarmed near the mound.Order appeared to be restored until Acuna walked near the mound on his path to first base, took off a protective wrap and tossed it toward the mound. That led to players again spilling out of both dugouts and bullpens. No punches were thrown.Acuna remained in the game to run the bases but left the game in the top of the second, walking off the field after taking his position in left field. There was no immediate word on his possible injury.Eileser Hernandez replaced Urena.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers are casting doubt on Jimmy Nelson's chances of returning this season.Nelson had shoulder surgery last September after he got hurt diving back to first after rounding the base on a single. It was a tough conclusion to a breakout year for the right-hander, who went 12-6 with a 3.49 ERA in 29 starts.The 29-year-old Nelson has been working out, but he is running out of time."Jimmy pitching for us this year is unlikely," manager Craig Counsell said before Wednesday's 8-4 loss to the Chicago Cubs. "And that's not due to a setback of any nature. That's just due to the pace of his rehab right now. So we're not ruling it 100 percent out, probably best goal is to just get him into a competitive situation before he shuts it down for the offseason. But I think at this point, pitching for us, the timetable to get there just doesn't seem likely."Even with Nelson out and a couple more pitching injuries, Milwaukee is in the thick of the playoff hunt in the National... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Light-hitting Dee Gordon homered off Yusmeiro Petit in the 12th inning to break a scoreless tie and the Seattle Mariners beat the Oakland Athletics 2-0 on Wednesday to avoid a three-game sweep.Jean Segura had four hits to help the Mariners closed within 2 1/2 games of the A's for the second AL wild-card spot.Seattle's Mike Leake pitched eight innings of two-hit ball with six strikeouts and one walk. Oakland's Brett Anderson went 7 2/3 without allowing a run in his longest outing since June 16, 2015.Nick Martini had three hits for the A's and Matt Olson added two. Oakland entered the day one game behind first-place Houston.Both teams squandered numerous scoring opportunities before Seattle scraped together two runs on one hit. After Petit (5-3) got leadoff man Denard Span to ground out, Mike Zunino walked. Gordon hit the next pitch over the right-field wall. Gordon's only other home run was a solo shot against Cleveland on April 1 in Seattle's third game of the season.James... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun has left their game against the Chicago Cubs with tightness on the right side of his rib cage.Braun was removed for a pinch hitter in the fifth inning Wednesday at Wrigley Field. He went 0 for 2 a day after he homered twice in Milwaukee's 7-0 victory.Hernan Perez batted for Braun and bounced into an inning-ending double play. Perez then stayed in the game in right field, and Christian Yelich moved from right to left to replace Braun.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers are casting doubt on Jimmy Nelson's chances of returning this season.Nelson had shoulder surgery in September after he got hurt diving back to first after rounding the base on a single. It was a tough conclusion to a breakout year for the right-hander, who went 12-6 with a 3.49 ERA in 29 starts.The 29-year-old Nelson has been working out, but he is running out of time."Jimmy pitching for us this year is unlikely," manager Craig Counsell said before Wednesday's game against the Chicago Cubs. "And that's not due to a setback of any nature. That's just due to the pace of his rehab right now. So we're not ruling it 100 percent out, probably best goal is to just get him into a competitive situation before he shuts it down for the offseason. But I think at this point, pitching for us, the timetable to get there just doesn't seem likely."Even with Nelson out and a couple more pitching injuries, Milwaukee is in the thick of the playoff hunt in the National League.... [More]