KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday because of a strained groin. Rendon was hurt while making a throw late in a 15-1 loss to Toronto on Saturday. The Angels made the roster move retroactive to Sunday. Angels manager Joe Maddon said he hopes Rendon will be sidelined for the minimum 10 days. Rendon, 30, is starting his second season with the Angels after signing a $245 million, seven-year contract. He hit his first home run of the season on Saturday and is batting .290 with three RBIs. Los Angeles selected the contract of right-hander Ben Rowen from its alternate training site and recalled infielder Jack Mayfield from its alternate training site. Right-hander Jaime Barria was optioned to the alternate training site. Jose Rojas was at third base in the opener of a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals on Monday night, batting sixth. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Kyle Schwarber doubled in a run in his delayed Washington debut, Andrew Stevenson had a pinch-hit homer and the Nationals beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-2 on Monday night. Schwarber, Josh Bell and Josh Harrison were in the starting lineup after being sidelined for Washington’s first six games by a coronavirus outbreak that prompted the postponement of the team’s season-opening series and left the club short-handed. The Nats ended a five-game skid, while the Cardinals have lost three straight. Stevenson hit his first homer of the season into St. Louis’ bullpen in right field to lead off the seventh, putting Washington ahead 4-2. Kyle Finnegan (1-0) pitched 1 1/3 innings for the win. Brad Hand got three outs for his first save. Yadier Molina homered for St. Louis. John Gant (0-1) allowed three runs in five-plus innings. BREWERS 6, CUBS 3 MILWAUKEE (AP) — Pinch-hitter Luis Urías drove in three runs with a go-ahead double, part of a six-run sixth inning for the Brewers. Freddy... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Francisco Lindor gets a $21 million signing bonus as part of his $341 million, 10-year contract with the New York Mets that starts next year. The All-Star shortstop was acquired from Cleveland in a Jan. 7 trade and agreed Jan. 15 to a $22.3 million, one-year contract. His new deal, announced April 5, calls for the signing bonus to be paid with 15 days of the deal's approval by the commissioner’s office. He gets salaries of $32 million annually starting in 2021, of which $5 million each year is deferred without interest. The deferred money is payable each July 1 from 2032-41. Lindor would get $50,000 bonuses each time he’s an All-Star or wins a Gold Glove, Silver Slugger or the League Championship Series MVP. He would get $50,000 for winning an MVP award, $25,000 for finishing second and $10,000 for finishing third, and $100,000 for World Series MVP. He has a limited no-trade provision starting this Dec. 2 allowing him to block trades to 15 teams. However, if he stays with... [More]

A look at what’s happening around the majors Tuesday: ___ POSTPONED The Red Sox and Twins were scheduled to begin their series in Minnesota a day late. Monday's opener of a four-game set at Target Field was postponed because of safety concerns following the fatal police shooting of a Black man in Minnesota and the potential for unrest in the area. The NBA's Timberwolves and NHL's Wild also postponed their games a day after the shooting of 20-year-old Daunte Wright following a traffic stop in a nearby suburb of Minneapolis. The Twins said their decision was made in consultation with Major League Baseball and state and local officials. DOUBLE DIP Wet weather took a game away from Marcus Stroman and gave it right back. Stroman (1-0) will start the second game of a doubleheader for the New York Mets against Philadelphia on Tuesday night, a twinbill scheduled to make up Monday night's rainout. Stroman's outing Sunday versus Miami was suspended after nine pitches because of rain and the game... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Chicago Cubs are concerned about a possible COVID-19 outbreak after two coaches tested positive for the virus and three relievers were placed on the COVID-19-related injured list. The team announced the positive test for bullpen coach Chris Young on Monday, with first base coach Craig Driver already away from the team following his positive test. Relievers Brandon Workman, Jason Adam and Dan Winkler were placed on the COVID-19-related injured list. There was no word on whether their designation was the result of a positive test or contact tracing. Despite the issues, manager David Ross said Monday night's series opener at Milwaukee isn’t in jeopardy of being postponed. “Everyone has tested today that is here and is negative,” he said. Left-handers Justin Steele and Brad Wieck were recalled from the team's alternate site in South Bend, Indiana. Veteran reliever Pedro Strop was selected as a replacement player from the alternate site. All three players were expected to... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Chicago Cubs are concerned about a possible COVID-19 outbreak after two coaches tested positive for the virus and three relievers were placed on the COVID-19-related injured list. The team announced the positive test for bullpen coach Chris Young on Monday, with first base coach Craig Driver already away from the team following his positive test. Relievers Brandon Workman, Jason Adam and Dan Winkler were placed on the COVID-19-related injured list. There was no word on whether their designation was the result of a positive test or contact tracing. Despite the issues, manager David Ross said Monday night's series opener at Milwaukee isn’t in jeopardy of being postponed. “Everyone has tested today that is here and is negative,” he said. Left-handers Justin Steele and Brad Wieck were recalled from the team's alternate site in South Bend, Indiana. Veteran reliever Pedro Strop was selected as a replacement player from the alternate site. All three players were expected to... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Josh Bell swung at golf-ball-sized Wiffle balls darting about at what he estimates was 75 to 95 mph. Kyle Schwarber used virtual reality goggles to study major league pitching and took some real-world hacks with the help of a tee and net delivered to his home. Whatever it took to try to get ready for their debuts with the Washington Nationals — 11 days after the MLB season actually began. Bell, Schwarber and Josh Harrison were reinstated from the injured list Monday by the Nationals, making the team's roster nearly whole again after a coronavirus outbreak sidelined nine players and caused postponements of four games. “Our lineup’s intact,” manager Dave Martinez said before Washington's series opener at the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night, when Schwarber started in left field, Bell at first base and Harrison at second — just as they had been expected to be for Game 1 of 2021. “I talked to them this morning when they landed and asked how they were doing," said Martinez,... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Carlos Rodón was scratched by the Chicago White Sox from Monday's start against the Cleveland Indians because of an upset stomach and replaced by Dallas Keuchel. Rodón was impressive in his first outing, striking out nine while pitching two-hit ball over five innings in a 6-0 victory at Seattle last week. Keuchel was to start Wednesday against the Indians. Instead, he's pitching on four days' rest after going five innings against the Mariners on April 7. The White Sox had a scheduled off day Friday following their home opener against Kansas City, and their game Saturday was postponed because of rain. Ace Lucas Giolito starts Tuesday for Chicago, with AL Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber pitching for Cleveland. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PHOENIX (AP) — Right-hander Zac Gallen is set to return for the Arizona Diamondbacks after missing the season's first few weeks with a hairline fracture in his right forearm. Manager Torey Lovullo said Monday that Gallen is scheduled to start on Tuesday against the Oakland Athletics. The 25-year-old was the Diamondbacks' best pitcher last season and finished ninth in the National League Cy Young voting after finishing the abbreviated 2020 season with a 2.75 ERA and 82 strikeouts over 72 innings. Gallen was hurt during spring training while taking batting practice, saying he got jammed by an inside pitch. Lovullo also confirmed on Monday that the D-backs had signed veteran Josh Reddick to a minor league deal and that the veteran would report to the team's alternate site in Scottsdale, Arizona. The 34-year-old Reddick has 144 career homers over with the Astros, A's, Red Sox and Dodgers. Reddick hit .245 last season with four homers and 23 RBIs. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — The 150 free agents who have signed, with name, position, former club if different, and contract. The contract information was obtained by The Associated Press from player and management sources. For players with minor league contracts, terms for major league contract base salaries are in parentheses: AMERICAN LEAGUEBALTIMORE (3) — Signed Freddy Galvis, ss, Cincinnati, to a $1.5 million, one-year contract; re-signed Wade LeBlanc, lhp, to a $700,000, one-year contract; signed Matt Harvey, rhp, Kansas City, to a $1 million, one-year contract. BOSTON (4) — Signed Kiké Hernández, of-inf, Los Angeles Dodgers to a $14 million, two-year contract; signed Garrett Richards, rhp, San Diego, to a $10 million, one-year contract; re-signed Martin Pérez, lhp, to a $5 million, one-year contract; signed Marwin Gonzalez, inf, Minnesota, to a $3 million, one-year contract. CHICAGO (2) — Signed Adam Eaton, of, Washington, to an $8 million, one-year contract; signed Liam Hendriks, rhp, Oakland,... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch reflected on the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal that cost him his job as the team’s manager in his return to Houston on Monday, saying it put a “cloud over the sport.” Hinch was suspended by baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred for a year in January 2020 and subsequently fired by owner Jim Crane for his role in the scheme that violated rules by using a video camera to steal catchers’ signs during Houston’s run to the 2017 World Series title and again in the 2018 season. He was hired by the Tigers this off-season and discussed the scandal prior to Monday night’s opener of a three-game series against the Astros. Asked whether he still takes pride in leading the Astros to their first title in a season tainted by cheating, he gave a long and frank answer acknowledging the team’s wrongdoing. “I do believe that we did some good things in Houston,” Hinch said. “I do believe we were wrong in the behavior and the decisions that we made in 2017,... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Texas Rangers right-hander Jonathan Hernandez had ligament reconstruction surgery on his right elbow Monday, just less than two weeks after fellow reliever José Leclerc had the same procedure, and their bullpen will also be without hard-throwing Matt Bush until at least July. Rangers president of baseball operations Jon Daniels said the Tommy John surgery on Hernandez was performed by team physician Dr. Keith Meister and went as expected. Both Hernandez and Leclerc will be sidelined until at least early in the 2022 season. Meister did Leclerc's surgery on March 31. Bush has a flexor strain in his right arm and will get an injection Tuesday, then wait six weeks before a follow-up MRI to determine if the right-hander is ready to start throwing again. Daniels said Bush would then need about six weeks — or about the same length of time he is unable to throw — before being able to pitch again in a game. After missing 2 1/2 seasons because of a pair of elbow operations,... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Francisco Lindor gets a $21 million signing bonus as part of his $341 million, 10-year contract with the New York Mets that starts next year. The All-Star shortstop was acquired from Cleveland in a Jan. 7 trade and agreed Jan. 15 to a $22.3 million, one-year contract. His new deal, announced April 5, calls for the signing bonus to be paid upon the deal's approval by the commissioner’s office. He gets salaries of $32 million annually starting in 2021, of which $5 million each year is deferred without interest. Lindor would get $50,000 bonuses each time he’s an All-Star or wins a Gold Glove, Silver Slugger or the League Championship Series MVP. He would get $50,000 for winning an MVP award, $25,000 for finishing second and $10,000 for finishing third, and $100,000 for World Series MVP. He has a limited no-trade provision allowing him to block trades to certain teams. However, if he stays with the Mets he would gain the right to block all trades starting after the 2025 season as a 10-year veteran who has spent five or more seasons with his current team. Lindor also gets a hotel suite on road trips. His deal also gives him the right to buy four premium tickets and a luxury suite for all regular season and postseason home games. If he had not reached the new agreement, Lindor would have been eligible for free agency at the end of this year’s World Series. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) — Kyle Schwarber, Josh Bell and Josh Harrison were reinstated from the injured list Monday by the Washington Nationals, making the team's roster nearly whole again after a coronavirus outbreak sidelined nine players and caused postponement of four games. That trio had been expected to be in Washington's opening day lineup — with Schwarber in left field, Bell at first base, Harrison at second — but they were part of the group kept away from the rest of the club because of COVID-19 protocols. Major League Baseball wound up rescheduling the Nationals' first four games of 2021. Four players tested positive for the illness, while five others were put under quarantine after contact tracing determined they might have been exposed. The Nationals never announced which players fell into which category. Now eight of the nine are back with the manager Dave Martinez's club, which took a 1-5 record and five-game losing streak into Monday night's opener of a three-game series at the St.... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today: ___ HOUSTON HOMECOMING First-year Tigers manager A.J. Hinch returns to Houston for the first time since being suspended by Major League Baseball for his role in the sign-stealing scandal that rocked the sport. With Hinch as their manager, the Astros were found to have used cameras and banged on trash cans to get an unfair advantage en route to winning the World Series in 2017. Hinch was fired following a lengthy investigation and was prohibited from managing last season before being hired by the Tigers. He’s expecting a warm reception in his first game back at Minute Maid Park. “Houston fans have been tremendously supportive to me and my family,” he said. “It’s home for me. That city matters to me. The fans have been tremendous and obviously it will be very emotional when I see them.” Detroit will be without slugger Miguel Cabrera, who was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday with soreness in his left biceps. RAIN GAMES The Mets' meteorological... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Seconds after the ball leaves Emmanuel Clase's hand and streaks toward home plate, the eyes of everyone in Progressive Field quickly turn to the ballpark's video scoreboard to see what pitch he threw and how fast it went. 101 mph cutter. 100 mph fastball. 91 mph slider. “It's unfair,” Indians starter Logan Allen said after watching Clase mow down the Detroit Tigers on Sunday. “It definitely makes you think: How do people hit him?” Eight games into a new season, the Indians, who began 2021 with uncertainty in the back end of their bullpen, may have something special in Clase, a harder-than-hard-throwing right-hander from the Dominican Republic who arrived in a 2019 trade from Texas and missed last season due to a drug suspension. Clase (pronounced clas-AY') announced his arrival last week when his first pitch for the Indians registered at 101.3 mph — the fastest thrown by a Cleveland pitcher since the speed began being tracked regularly in 2008. Since then, he has unleased... [More]

April 13 1914 — The first Federal League game was played in Baltimore and the Terrapins defeated Buffalo, 3-2, behind Jack Quinn. A crowd estimated at 27,000 stood 15 rows deep in the outfield to witness the return of big league baseball to Baltimore. 1933 — Sammy West of St. Louis went 6-for-6 in an 11-inning win over the Chicago White Sox. He had five singles and a double off Ted Lyons. 1953 — For the first time in half a century, a new city was represented in the American or National leagues. The Braves moved from Boston to Milwaukee and opened in Cincinnati, where Max Surkont set down the Reds, 2-0. 1954 — Henry Aaron made his major league debut in left field for the Milwaukee Braves and went 0-for-5 in a 9-8 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. Cincinnati’s Jim Greengrass hit four doubles in his first major league game. 1963 — Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds tripled off Pittsburgh’s Bob Friend for his first major league hit. 1972 — The first player strike in baseball history ended. 1984 —... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today: ___ HOUSTON HOMECOMING First-year Tigers manager A.J. Hinch returns to Houston for the first time since being suspended by Major League Baseball for his role in the sign-stealing scandal that rocked the sport. With Hinch as their manager, the Astros were found to have used cameras and banged on trash cans to get an unfair advantage en route to winning the World Series in 2017. Hinch was fired following a lengthy investigation and was prohibited from managing last season before being hired by the Tigers. He’s expecting a warm reception in his first game back at Minute Maid Park. “Houston fans have been tremendously supportive to me and my family,” he said. “It’s home for me. That city matters to me. The fans have been tremendous and obviously it will be very emotional when I see them.” Detroit will be without slugger Miguel Cabrera, who was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday with soreness in his left biceps. RAIN GAMES The Mets' meteorological... [More]

The new-look Mets have a familiar problem so far: Even when Jacob deGrom is on the mound, they're surprisingly beatable. DeGrom struck out 14 on Saturday, but New York lost 3-0 to the Miami Marlins. In his other start this season, deGrom held Philadelphia scoreless for six innings, but the Mets gave up five runs in the eighth and lost 5-3. Whether it's blamed on poor run support or shaky relief pitching, New York hasn't taken advantage of deGrom's brilliance the last few years. The right-hander won the Cy Young Award in both 2018 and 2019, but since the start of the 2018 season, he's just 25-20 despite posting a stellar 2.06 ERA. He has 33 no-decisions in that span, and the Mets have lost 22 of those games. Among the pitchers who have more wins than deGrom since the start of 2018: Marco Gonzales (36-25 with a 4.00 ERA), Jon Lester (34-19, 4.06), Rick Porcello (32-26, 4.98) and J.A. Happ (31-16, 4.13). What's remarkable is that over the past three-plus seasons, the Mets have been mediocre,... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — J.D. Martinez came off the COVID-19 list and hit three home runs, powering the Boston Red Sox past the Baltimore Orioles 14-9 Sunday for their sixth straight win. Martinez got a chance at a record-tying fourth homer in the ninth inning and struck out swinging. He is the last of 18 major leaguers to homer four times in a game, doing it in September 2017 for Arizona. The 33-year-old Martinez went 4 for 6 with four RBIs and four runs, one day after being placed on the COVID-19 injured list because of cold symptoms. Rafael Devers homered twice and Alex Verdugo added a three-run shot to finish the three-game sweep. Nick Pivetta (2-0) allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings. Jorge López (0-2) allowed eight runs and seven hits over four innings. DODGERS 3, NATIONALS 0 LOS ANGELES (AP) — Clayton Kershaw pitched six innings of five-hit ball to win an outstanding duel with Max Scherzer as the Dodgers finished a three-game sweep over Washington. Rookie Zach McKinstry homered... [More]