PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — On the morning of his spring debut Saturday, Alex Bregman woke up early because of a nightmare about being hit by a pitch.Hours later, as Houston's third baseman prepared to take the field against the New York Mets following his recovering from surgery on his right elbow, he was still thinking about his dream. He asked a teammate to borrow a guard to cover his other elbow.The move proved fortuitous: On his third and final plate appearance, Bregman was plunked by Jeurys Familia on the protected elbow. Infield prospect Alex De Goti, who provided the guard, became Bregman's hero."De Goti saved my life today or else I would have been on the shelf for a minute with the other elbow," Bregman said laughing.Bregman was limited early this spring after having arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow in January. He said after the game that both elbows were OK, but that the surgically-repaired one felt better than the other, which was bruised from the pitch."I'm fine," he... [More]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Jose Altuve struck out three times in his second game since offseason knee surgery and will return to second base for the Houston Astros on Saturday.Altuve had surgery just after last season ended to repair a broken right kneecap and had two plate appearances in his spring training debut on Monday. Despite Altuve's 0-for-3 afternoon, Astros manager AJ Hinch was encouraged by Altuve's performance in Houston's 7-5 win over the Miami Marlins on Thursday."He wasn't too far off," Hinch said. "It's very rare for him to swing and miss on the strike threes. But he's in a really good place physically and even timing-wise, right on time."The 2017 American League MVP and six-time All-Star will play the field for the first time this year when the Astros visit the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie."I have no concerns with him, it's just a matter of repetition," Hinch said. "It's the first time post-surgery but I'm not apprehensive about putting him out there ... based on how... [More]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Marwin Gonzalez was Houston's do-everything utility player for the last few years.Replacing him is probably going to be a team effort.Gonzalez signed a $21 million, two-year deal with Minnesota on Monday, making official what the Astros seemed to know all offseason: they're going to need new depth around the diamond. Gonzalez played every position except pitcher and catcher during his seven seasons with Houston.The player most likely to mimic Gonzalez is 2016 All-Star Aledmys Diaz, who was acquired from Toronto in November. Houston is also hoping first baseman Yuli Gurriel can bounce around the infield a bit more."I want to see Diaz play all four infield positions and potentially two outfield positions on the corner," manager AJ Hinch said. "We may not have enough time to do that as much as we want. As fun as it sounds, that's lot to ask out of one guy, but I would like to move him around a little bit."Diaz has experience at most of those positions. The 28-year-old... [More]

A team-by-team look at the American League West entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad:___Houston AstrosManager: AJ Hinch (fifth season).2018: 103-59, first place, lost to Boston in ALCS.Training Town: West Palm Beach, Florida.Park: Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.First Workout: Feb. 14/18.He's Here: OF Michael Brantley, C Robinson Chirinos, LHP Wade Miley, INF Aledmys Diaz.He's Outta Here: INF-OF Marwin Gonzalez, LHP Dallas Keuchel, RHP Charlie Morton, DH Evan Gattis, LHP Tony Sipp, C Brian McCann, C Martin Maldonado.Going campin': The Astros won a franchise-record 103 games last season and reached the ALCS. But mounting injuries and inconsistent play led to their elimination by Boston in five games and kept them from repeating as champions after winning their first World Series title in 2017. Houston returns aces Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole, who are both coming off great... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Astros third baseman Alex Bregman will be limited at the start of spring training after arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies from his right elbow.The team says Dr. Thomas Mehlhoff operated Friday in Houston and that it expects the 24-year-old will be ready to play before the season opener on March 28 at Tampa Bay.Bregman was a first-time All-Star last year, homered in the game and was selected MVP of the American League's win.He set career highs with a .286 average, a major league-leading 51 doubles, 31 homers and 103 RBIs.The second overall pick in the 2015 amateur draft, he has hit .282 with 58 homers and 208 RBIs in 2½ seasons with the Astros.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

HOUSTON (AP) — Houston third baseman Alex Bregman will be limited to start spring training after having minor surgery on his right elbow on Friday.The Astros say Bregman is expected to be healthy for the start of the regular season after having arthroscopic surgery.The 24-year-old was named to his first All-Star game in 2018 and was selected MVP after his home run lifted the American League to a win.He set career highs in almost every category last season by hitting .286 with an AL-leading 51 doubles, 31 homers and 103 RBIs in 157 games.The second overall pick in the 2015 draft has hit .282 with 58 homers and 208 RBIs in 2 ½ seasons with the Astros.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Rodney Linares is joining the Tampa Bay Rays as third base coach.The team announced the move Wednesday. The 41-year-old replaces Matt Quatraro, promoted to bench coach after Charlie Montoyo left last month to become Toronto's manager.Linares has his first job at the major league level after 21 seasons in the Houston Astros organization. He spent last season as manager at Triple-A Fresno, which he led to an 82-57 record and the Pacific Coast League North Division championship.Rays manager Kevin Cash said Linares impacted a number of players while working with the Astros, including José Altuve, Carlos Correa, Alex Bregman and J.D. Martínez.In addition to serving as third base coach, Linares will also work with Tampa Bay's infielders.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BOSTON (AP) — Games averaged 3 hours, 35½ minutes during the playoffs, up 6 minutes from the 2017 postseason and more than a half-hour longer than this year's regular season.Strikeouts have topped hits in seven of eight postseason matchups. Starting pitchers usually don't finish the fifth inning and use of relievers is up markedly in an era when "bullpenning" has become a verb.Have the changes brought about by analytics made baseball less appealing to casual fans?"There's certainly something to be said for that, because ball in play, double plays, defense, that's always exciting," Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said ahead of Tuesday night's World Series opener against Boston. "I know our series there was a lot of strikeouts, but there was the strategy part of it — I think that that's very exciting for a baseball purist that loves to see what managers think and how you can kind of match up against the opposition."Boston's 8-4 win in Game 1 took 3:52, ended at 12:03 a.m. and included... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Games have averaged 3 hours, 35½ minutes, up six minutes from the 2017 postseason and more than a half-hour over the regular season.Strikeouts have topped hits in seven of eight postseason matchups. Starting pitchers usually don't finish the fifth inning and use of relievers is up markedly in an era when "bullpenning" has become a verb.Have the changes brought about by analytics made baseball less appealing to casual fans?"There's certainly something to be said for that, because ball in play, double plays, defense, that's always exciting," Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said ahead of Tuesday night's World Series opener against Boston. "I know our series there was a lot of strikeouts, but there was the strategy part of it — I think that that's very exciting for a baseball purist that loves to see what managers think and how you can kind of match up against the opposition."Postseason games this year have averaged a record 18.8 strikeouts, according to the Elias Sports... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Astros entered the AL Championship Series aching.Jose Altuve was playing on just one good knee, Carlos Correa's back was never right and Lance McCullers was pitching through an injury that will likely require surgery.Now the Astros are hurting even worse, done after losing four straight to the Red Sox to end their bid to repeat as champions."The heart of this team really (is) unparalleled," said ace Justin Verlander, whose big season helped the Astros go deep in the playoffs. "We had guys playing through so much. I'm not going to name anyone specifically, but I think you could see some of it on the field and how hard guys were grinding trying to help us win."It was a disappointing end for the Astros to a stellar year in which they won a franchise-record 103 games to capture the AL West for a second straight season. The Astros had no trouble in the division series, sweeping the Cleveland Indians to set up a meeting with the 108-win Red Sox.The Astros won Game 1,... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Justin Verlander and the Houston Astros couldn't soar into another World Series.A year after Houston won the first title in the team's 56 seasons, Verlander had a rare off night in an elimination game and the Astros lost the AL Championship Series to the Boston Red Sox in five games."This year's team is better than last year's team," third baseman Alex Bregman said. "Everyone in here will have a little bit of an edge to play with, a chip on their shoulder knowing that we believe we should have been back-to-back champions."Houston boosted its rotation with Gerrit Cole last winter and its bullpen with Roberto Osuna ahead of the July trade deadline. The Astros won a club-record 103 games, led the majors with a plus-263 run difference and swept Cleveland 3-0 in the Division Series.But after beating Boston in the opener, the banged-up Astros were outscored 27-14 in losing four in a row — one short of their season high. The major leagues remain without a repeat champion since the... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Justin Verlander and the Houston Astros couldn't soar into another World Series.A year after Houston won the first title in the team's 56 seasons, Verlander had a rare off night in an elimination game and the Astros lost the AL Championship Series to the Boston Red Sox in five games."This year's team is better than last year's team," third baseman Alex Bregman said. "Everyone in here will have a little bit of an edge to play with, a chip on their shoulder knowing that we believe we should have been back-to-back champions."Houston boosted its rotation with Gerrit Cole last winter and its bullpen with Roberto Osuna ahead of the July trade deadline. The Astros won a club-record 103 games, led the majors with a plus-263 run difference and swept Cleveland 3-0 in the Division Series.But after beating Boston in the opener, the banged-up Astros were outscored 27-14 in losing four in a row. The major leagues remain without a repeat champion since the New York Yankees won three straight... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Carlos Correa has been moved from seventh to fourth in the Houston Astros' batting order for Game 5 of the AL Championship Series against the Boston Red Sox.Astros manager AJ Hinch made the switch for his team's must-win game Thursday night after Correa had three hits and drove in two runs in Game 4. It was the first multi-hit game this postseason for Correa, the shortstop who has struggled with back problems for months."At the end of the day he's a middle-of-the-order bat. I've been wanting to get him back in the middle of the order," Hinch said. "Why not now? There may be no tomorrow, literally."Red Sox first baseman Mitch Moreland, who injured his right hamstring in Game 2 of the AL Division Series, gets his first start in the ALCS.Alex Bregman was still in the leadoff spot for Houston and Jose Altuve was the designated hitter for the third game in a row because of his bruised right knee."He's playing on one leg. If this was the regular season there's no way he could play,"... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Jose Altuve was denied a potential two-run homer in the first inning for the Houston Astros in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series after fans reaching for the ball interfered with Mookie Betts' attempt to make a leaping catch.Now Houston's chances to repeat as World Series champion are nearly out of reach.The Astros recovered from that early gut punch to take the lead — including homers by George Springer and Tony Kemp well over that same right field wall. But Jackie Bradley Jr. homered for the second night in a row for the Boston Red Sox in an 8-6 victory Wednesday, putting them up 3-1 in the best-of-seven series.Houston has lost three in a row since winning the series opener 7-2 at Fenway Park on Saturday night.Justin Verlander, 6-1 in eight postseason games for Houston, including a win in Game 1 of this ALCS, starts Thursday night with the season on the line.After Boston scored twice in the first inning for the second night in a row, it appeared the Astros might have... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Jose Altuve was denied a potential two-run homer in the first inning for the Houston Astros in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series after fans reaching for the ball interfered with Mookie Betts' attempt to make a leaping catch.Now Houston's chances to repeat as World Series champion are nearly out of reach.The Astros recovered from that early gut punch to take the lead — including homers by George Springer and Tony Kemp well over that same right field wall. But Jackie Bradley Jr. homered for the second night in a row for the Boston Red Sox in an 8-6 victory Wednesday, putting them up 3-1 in the best-of-seven series.Houston has lost three in a row since winning the series opener 7-2 at Fenway Park on Saturday night.Justin Verlander, 6-1 in eight postseason games for Houston, including a win in Game 1 of this ALCS, starts Thursday night with the season on the line.After Boston scored twice in the first inning for the second night in a row, it appeared the Astros might have... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Alex Bregman is in the leadoff spot for the Houston Astros in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series against the Boston Red Sox after batting third in the team's first six playoff games.Houston manager AJ Hinch made the change after the Red Sox walked Bregman seven times combined in the first three games of this series. Hinch made the change with the Astros trailing 2-1 going into Wednesday's matchup."I've never seen someone pitch any of our players the way that they're pitching Bregman. And that's a credit to their game plan but also they'll have a whole lineup behind him to deal with now," Hinch said.Bregman hit leadoff 12 times in the regular season but mostly batted second with 96 games in that spot. The change leaves former leadoff hitter George Springer in the second spot in the order, Jose Altuve hitting third and Marwin Gonzalez batting cleanup.Hinch says he likes the idea of speedy No. 9 hitter Tony Kemp batting before Bregman later in the game.Hinch says: "We'll give... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:NO BOTHERRed Sox manager Alex Cora is brushing off the notion that Boston might be motivated for Game 3 of the AL Championship Series by a brazen social media post Monday from Astros star Alex Bregman. Houston's third baseman shared a video on Instagram of his club hitting back-to-back-to-back home runs off Red Sox starter Nathan Eovaldi during a game in June captioned "lil pregame video work." Eovaldi was with Tampa Bay at the time and allowed a career-high four homers in a 5-1 loss. Eovaldi will oppose Dallas Keuchel as the series shifts to Houston.Astros manager AJ Hinch had no issue with the online barb but implored Bregman to "go out and back it up." Eovaldi didn't seem bothered by the video, saying he doesn't have social media, and Cora dismissed the idea that the post will give the Red Sox any added push."If you need motivation in Game 3 of the ALCS, you better check yourself," he said. "Because you win three more games, you go to... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Tuesday:NO BOTHERRed Sox manager Alex Cora is brushing off the notion that Boston might be motivated for Game 3 of the AL Championship Series by a brazen social media post Monday from Astros star Alex Bregman. Houston's third baseman shared a video on Instagram of his club hitting back-to-back-to-back home runs off Red Sox starter Nathan Eovaldi during a game in June captioned "lil pregame video work." Eovaldi was with Tampa Bay at the time and allowed a career-high four homers in a 5-1 loss. Eovaldi will oppose Dallas Keuchel as the series shifts to Houston.Astros manager AJ Hinch had no issue with the online barb but implored Bregman to "go out and back it up." Eovaldi didn't seem bothered by the video, saying he doesn't have social media, and Cora dismissed the idea that the post will give the Red Sox any added push."If you need motivation in Game 3 of the ALCS, you better check yourself," he said. "Because you win three more games, you go... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Alex Bregman and the Houston Astros are brimming with confidence, even after a Game 2 AL Championship Series defeat to the Boston Red Sox.For proof, just see Bregman's social media feed.Hours after Boston beat Houston 7-5 to even the best-of-seven series at a game each, Bregman shared video Monday on Instagram of the Astros hitting back-to-back-to-back home runs against Game 3 Red Sox starter Nathan Eovaldi from a game in June."Lil pregame video work," he wrote.Eovaldi will oppose Dallas Keuchel in Houston on Tuesday after Rick Porcello was used in relief during Game 2, when the Astros took their first loss of the postseason. Eovaldi's previous start against the Astros didn't go well. The right-hander allowed seven hits and four runs in a 5-1 loss June 20 while with Tampa Bay, including a season-high four homers.Three of those were hit in succession by George Springer, Bregman and Jose Altuve in the sixth inning.The Astros didn't work out Monday, so the brazen 24-year-old... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Red Sox ace Chris Sale and manager Alex Cora both made early exits in Boston's 7-2 loss to Houston in Game 1 of AL Championship Series on Saturday night.Sale lasted just four innings, giving up two runs, one hit, four walks and a hit batter.Cora wasn't far behind the lanky left-hander going back to the clubhouse. The rookie manager was ejected in the bottom of the fifth inning with the game tied 2-2 after arguing a called third strike on Andrew Benintendi that ended Boston's first rally of the game."You can't argue balls and strikes, and I did," Cora said. "It's kind of like embarrassing that it happens in the playoffs. That wasn't cool watching the game in the clubhouse. ... But sometimes you got to do what you got to do, and you've got to defend your players."Sale opened the game with an eight-pitch walk to George Springer and struggled through the first three innings with subpar stuff and location."I just went out there and lost it for a little bit," Sale said.Houston took... [More]