CHICAGO (AP) — Cubs manager Joe Maddon hopes slugger Kris Bryant will return to Chicago's lineup for Saturday's game against Milwaukee.Bryant was beaned during a victory at Colorado last weekend and missed his fourth straight game on Friday."I'm not going to jump the gun, but talking to everybody, I want to give him a chance to come back," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said after a 3-2 win.Bryant wasn't available to reporters."I think he's feeling more like himself today," Maddon said.Bryant was hit by a pitch for the seventh time this season when German Marquez's 96 mph fastball struck the underside flap of his helmet at Denver on Sunday. Last year, the slugger was hit by a pitch 15 times. Bryant was plunked 18 times in 2016, when he was voted NL MVP."Probably the word on the street is to pitch him inside," Maddon said. "I'm not accusing anybody of throwing at us. I don't think there's anything sinister to this point."___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

CINCINNATI (AP) — Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies, the two youngest players in the major leagues, both homered and combined for five RBIs to lead Atlanta over the Cincinnati Reds 7-4 Thursday and give the Braves a split of the four-game series.A day after the 20-year-old Acuna made his big league debut, he homered into the left-field upper deck leading off the second inning, singled in the sixth and hit a tiebreaking double off Wandy Peralta (1-1) in the eighth following Freddie Freeman's third double.Albies, a 21-year-old who made his debut last August, hit a two-run homer in the fifth for a 4-0 lead and added an RBI double in the ninth.Sam Freeman (1-1) retired all four batters he faced, and Arodys Vizcaino pitched a one-hit ninth for his second save. Cincinnati dropped to 5-20 for the first time in franchise history.YANKEES 4, TWINS 3NEW YORK (AP) — Gary Sanchez hit a three-run homer in the ninth off Fernando Rodney (1-2), extending New York's winning streak to six and completing an... [More]

CINCINNATI (AP) — Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies, the two youngest players in the major leagues, both homered and combined for five RBIs to lead Atlanta over the Cincinnati Reds 7-4 Thursday and give the Braves a split of the four-game series.A day after the 20-year-old Acuna made his big league debut, he homered into the left-field upper deck leading off the second inning, singled in the sixth and hit a tiebreaking double off Wandy Peralta (1-1) in the eighth following Freddie Freeman's third double.Albies, a 21-year-old who made his debut last August, hit a two-run homer in the fifth for a 4-0 lead and added an RBI double in the ninth.Sam Freeman (1-1) retired all four batters he faced, and Arodys Vizcaino pitched a one-hit ninth for his second save. Cincinnati dropped to 5-20 for the first time in franchise history.YANKEES 4, TWINS 3NEW YORK (AP) — Gary Sanchez hit a three-run homer in the ninth off Fernando Rodney (1-2), extending New York's winning streak to six and completing an... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Friday:BOGAERTS IS BACKBoston shortstop Xander Bogaerts was expected to return to the Red Sox lineup on Friday for a homestand opener against Tampa Bay. Bogarts broke the talus bone in his left ankle on April 8 while sliding into the Rays dugout to grab an errant ball. He went 2 for 3 with a home run and a double while playing six innings at shortstop Tuesday night in a rehab appearance Triple-A Pawtucket.MILLER OUTCleveland reliever Andrew Miller has been placed on the 10-day disabled list because of his strained left hamstring but hopes it's a very short road back.Miller grabbed the back of his leg after throwing a pitch to the Chicago Cubs' Anthony Rizzo in the seventh inning Wednesday night and was removed from the game. Miller struck out 17 and walked four over 10 scoreless innings in 11 games this year.BRYANT STILL OUTChicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant was out of the starting lineup for the third straight game after he was beaned during... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant was out of the starting lineup for the third straight game after he was beaned during a victory at Colorado last weekend.Bryant visited with a team doctor on Thursday, and the Cubs said Bryant hasn't been diagnosed with a concussion. Manager Joe Maddon said the 2016 NL MVP might be available off the bench for Chicago's series opener against Milwaukee."I don't anticipate anything awful or bad. We're just waiting for everybody to be on board and once we do that he'll be back out there playing," Maddon said. "That's it. Really nothing complicated. I'm not concealing anything."Bryant popped into the clubhouse before the Cubs' matchup with the Brewers, but he was not made available to the media."He seems good," Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo said. "It's scary. It's a scary thing."Bryant was hit on the head by a 96 mph fastball from Colorado's German Marquez in the first inning of Chicago's 9-7 win Sunday. He stayed on his feet, but was helped off the field by a pair of trainers.The 26-year-old Bryant is batting .319 with two homers and 11 RBIs in 19 games.Maddon also said utlityman Ben Zobrist ran the bases before the game. Zobrist has been sidelined by back tightness, but could come off the disabled list when he is eligible to return on Saturday.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

A look at what's happening around the majors today:AILINGCleveland reliever Andrew Miller could miss a few days because of a hamstring injury. The left-hander grabbed the back of his leg after throwing two pitches to the Cubs' Anthony Rizzo on Wednesday night. The Indians said he had tightness in the hamstring and would have an MRI."He's had it before," manager Terry Francona said. "The hope is, I think last time he said it was 3-4 days. That would really be the hope. We'll know a lot more tomorrow. And hopefully, that's all it is."BRYANT RECOVERSCubs third baseman Kris Bryant has been out of the lineup two straight games, the result of being hit in the helmet by a pitch over the weekend in Colorado. Manager Joe Maddon said the 2016 NL MVP has been checked by doctors and could return for the opener of a four-game series against Milwaukee at Wrigley Field."He's fine," Maddon said. "I'd be surprised if it took a turn in the other direction."WELCOME BACKJonny Venters did well in his return... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Thursday:AILINGCleveland reliever Andrew Miller could miss a few days because of a hamstring injury. The left-hander grabbed the back of his leg after throwing two pitches to the Cubs' Anthony Rizzo on Wednesday night. The Indians said he had tightness in the hamstring and would have an MRI."He's had it before," manager Terry Francona said. "The hope is, I think last time he said it was 3-4 days. That would really be the hope. We'll know a lot more tomorrow. And hopefully, that's all it is."BRYANT RECOVERSCubs third baseman Kris Bryant has been out of the lineup two straight games, the result of being hit in the helmet by a pitch over the weekend in Colorado. Manager Joe Maddon said the 2016 NL MVP has been checked by doctors and could return for the opener of a four-game series against Milwaukee at Wrigley Field."He's fine," Maddon said. "I'd be surprised if it took a turn in the other direction."WELCOME BACKJonny Venters did well in his return... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant is out of the lineup for the second straight game after being hit in the helmet by a pitch.Cubs manager Joe Maddon made the decision to hold Bryant out of the series finale against the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday night. The 2016 National League MVP didn't play in the Cubs' 10-3 win Tuesday.Maddon said Bryant has been checked by doctors and could return Thursday night when the Cubs begin a four-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field.Bryant is batting .319 with two homers and 11 RBIs this season. He had a cut above his left eye after being hit Sunday by Colorado's German Marquez.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant is out of the lineup against the Cleveland Indians two days after being hit on the head by a pitch.Cubs manager Joe Maddon said before Tuesday night's game that the 2016 National League MVP has a cut above his left eye but no concussion after being hit Sunday by Colorado's German Marquez."I think he's fine, but getting hit in the head is a pretty traumatic experience," Maddon said. "Fortunately, it never happened to me, but it happened to him."The pitch hit the underside of the flap on Bryant's helmet, and he was helped off the field. Bryant is batting .319 with two homers and 11 RBIs this season.Tommy La Stella started at third base and batted fifth Tuesday. Second baseman Javier Baez batted second, in Byrant's usual spot in the lineup.Shortstop Addison Russell was in the lineup after experiencing an allergic reaction to a postgame meal Sunday in the Cubs' clubhouse. Russell, who is allergic to shellfish, began eating what he thought... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant is out of the lineup against the Cleveland Indians two days after being hit on the head by a pitch.Cubs manager Joe Maddon said before Tuesday night's game that the 2016 National League MVP has a cut above his left eye but no concussion after being hit Sunday by Colorado's German Marquez.The pitch hit the underside of the flap on Bryant's helmet, and he was helped off the field. Bryant is batting .319 with two homers and 11 RBIs this season.Shortstop Addison Russell was in the lineup after experiencing an allergic reaction to a postgame meal Sunday. He spent the night in Denver after being hospitalized briefly and rejoined the team Monday.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

A look at what's happening around the majors today:___START HIM UPPrized Dodgers prospect Walker Buehler makes his first big league start, taking on visiting Miami. The 23-year-old righty reached the majors last September and had a 7.71 ERA in eight relief appearances. Buehler was a first-round draft pick in 2015. He's getting this chance because starter Rich Hill is on the disabled list with a cracked fingernail.REST HELPSThe Cubs are off, meaning slugger Kris Bryant gets to heal from a beaning. He had a cut above his eye, caused by his sunglasses, after a fastball from Colorado's German Marquez hit off helmet Sunday. The team said Bryant passed tests and had no sign of a concussion. The 2016 NL MVP is hitting .319 with two home runs and 11 RBIs. The Cubs next play on Tuesday night at Cleveland."As good as can be expected," manager Joe Maddon said after Chicago's 9-7 win. "I haven't heard the word concussion yet, so hopefully good."ASCENDING ASTROSFresh off sweeping a three-game series... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Khris Davis hit a tiebreaking, three-run homer off David Price with two outs in the eighth inning and the Oakland Athletics beat Boston 4-1 on Sunday, to deal the Red Sox consecutive losses for the first time under new manager Alex Cora.Boston had won its first six series before losing two of three at the Coliseum, where they were no-hit Saturday by Sean Manaea. They still have the best record in the majors at 17-4.Davis drove in all four runs for the A's, and Blake Treinen (1-1) retired five batters to win. Price (2-2) allowed four runs and nine hits in 7 2/3 innings.YANKEES 5, BLUE JAYS 1Gleyber Torres went 0 for 4 with a strikeout, double-play grounder, popup and flyout in his big league debut, and the youthful Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-1 on Sunday when New York used a starting lineup that didn't include a player 30 or older for the first time since Sept. 29, 1989.Luis Severino (4-1) allowed three hits and struck out six in seven innings, and David Robertson... [More]

DENVER (AP) — Chicago Cubs star Kris Bryant was hit on the head with a 96 mph pitch from Colorado's German Marquez on Sunday but appeared to have escaped serious injury.Cubs spokesman Peter Chase said Bryant passed tests and had no sign of a concussion. Chase said Bryant had a cut above his left eye and will be on the team charter flight to Cleveland."As good as can be expected," manager Joe Maddon said after Chicago's 9-7 win. "I haven't heard the word concussion yet, so hopefully good."Bryant appeared stunned as manager Maddon and the Cubs' training staff attended to him. Bryant walked off the field very slowly, with one arm around head athletic trainer PJ Mainville and the other around assistant athletic trainer Matt Johnson."Matty was asking him questions, and he was answering them correctly," Maddon said. "That's just a bad moment. I didn't know where KB was at when I got there, but I just knew he needed to be held onto."You get hit in the head, you get wobbly. You get punched in the... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Monday:___START HIM UPPrized Dodgers prospect Walker Buehler makes his first big league start, taking on visiting Miami. The 23-year-old righty reached the majors last September and had a 7.71 ERA in eight relief appearances. Buehler was a first-round draft pick in 2015. He's getting this chance because starter Rich Hill is on the disabled list with a cracked fingernail.REST HELPSThe Cubs are off, meaning slugger Kris Bryant gets to heal from a beaning. He had a cut above his eye, caused by his sunglasses, after a fastball from Colorado's German Marquez hit off helmet Sunday. The team said Bryant passed tests and had no sign of a concussion. The 2016 NL MVP is hitting .319 with two home runs and 11 RBIs. The Cubs next play on Tuesday night at Cleveland."As good as can be expected," manager Joe Maddon said after Chicago's 9-7 win. "I haven't heard the word concussion yet, so hopefully good."ASCENDING ASTROSFresh off sweeping a three-game series... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Khris Davis hit a tiebreaking, three-run homer off David Price with two outs in the eighth inning and the Oakland Athletics beat Boston 4-1 on Sunday, to deal the Red Sox consecutive losses for the first time under new manager Alex Cora.Boston had won its first six series before losing two of three at the Coliseum, where they were no-hit Saturday by Sean Manaea. They still have the best record in the majors at 17-4.Davis drove in all four runs for the A's, and Blake Treinen (1-1) retired five batters to win. Price (2-2) allowed four runs and nine hits in 7 2/3 innings.YANKEES 5, BLUE JAYS 1Gleyber Torres went 0 for 4 with a strikeout, double-play grounder, popup and flyout in his big league debut, and the youthful Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-1 on Sunday when New York used a starting lineup that didn't include a player 30 or older for the first time since Sept. 29, 1989.Luis Severino (4-1) allowed three hits and struck out six in seven innings, and David Robertson... [More]

DENVER (AP) — Chicago Cubs star Kris Bryant has left Sunday's game after being hit on the head with a 96 mph pitch from Colorado's German Marquez.The ball made a loud sound as it hit off the underside of the flap of his helmet, and it was not immediately clear how much direct contact it made his Bryant's head.Cubs spokesman Peter Chase said Bryant passed tests and had no sign of a concussion. Chase said Bryant had a cut under an eye.Bryant appeared stunned as manager Joe Maddon and the Cubs' training staff attended to him. Bryant walked off the field very slowly, with one arm around head athletic trainer PJ Mainville and the other around assistant athletic trainer Matt Johnson.Bryant, the 2016 NL MVP, is hitting .319 with two home runs and 11 RBIs.Chicago hitting coach Chili Davis and assistant hitting coach Andy Haines were ejected by plate umpire Cory Blaser as Cubs trainers attended to Bryant.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

SEATTLE (AP) — Charlie Morton pitched seven innings of three-hit ball, Jose Altuve hit a three-run double and the Houston Astros beat the Seattle Mariners 9-2 on Thursday after Evan Gattis hit into a 5-4-3 triple play in the fourth inning.Morton (3-0) retired 15 straight at one stretch and didn't allow a runner to reach second base.Marco Gonzales (1-2) allowed three runs — all unearned because of a throwing error by third baseman Kyle Seager — and four hits in 4 2/3 innings.CUBS 8, CARDINALS 5CHICAGO (AP) — Jon Lester (2-0) was dominant through six innings of two-hit ball in his 100th start as Cub, and Jason Heyward hit a two-run homer.Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber each had two RBIs as Chicago took a 6-1 lead after two innings. Every Cubs starter had a hit, including three by Anthony Rizzo and two each by Heyward, Schwarber and Javier Baez.Brandon Morrow pitched a perfect ninth to complete a five-hitter and remain perfect in three save chances.Ten of Chicago's first 16 batters reached... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Charlie Morton pitched seven innings of three-hit ball, Jose Altuve hit a three-run double and the Houston Astros beat the Seattle Mariners 9-2 on Thursday after Evan Gattis hit into a 5-4-3 triple play in the fourth inning.Morton (3-0) retired 15 straight at one stretch and didn't allow a runner to reach second base.Marco Gonzales (1-2) allowed three runs — all unearned because of a throwing error by third baseman Kyle Seager — and four hits in 4 2/3 innings.CUBS 8, CARDINALS 5CHICAGO (AP) — Jon Lester (2-0) was dominant through six innings of two-hit ball in his 100th start as Cub, and Jason Heyward hit a two-run homer.Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber each had two RBIs as Chicago took a 6-1 lead after two innings. Every Cubs starter had a hit, including three by Anthony Rizzo and two each by Heyward, Schwarber and Javier Baez.Brandon Morrow pitched a perfect ninth to complete a five-hitter and remain perfect in three save chances.Ten of Chicago's first 16 batters reached... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Charlie Morton pitched seven innings of three-hit ball, Jose Altuve hit a three-run double and the Houston Astros beat the Seattle Mariners 9-2 on Thursday after Evan Gattis hit into a 5-4-3 triple play in the fourth inning.Morton (3-0) retired 15 straight at one stretch and didn't allow a runner to reach second base.Marco Gonzales (1-2) allowed three runs — all unearned because of a throwing error by third baseman Kyle Seager — and four hits in 4 2/3 innings.CUBS 8, CARDINALS 5CHICAGO (AP) — Jon Lester (2-0) was dominant through six innings of two-hit ball in his 100th start as Cub, and Jason Heyward hit a two-run homer.Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber each had two RBIs as Chicago took a 6-1 lead after two innings. Every Cubs starter had a hit, including three by Anthony Rizzo and two each by Heyward, Schwarber and Javier Baez.Brandon Morrow pitched a perfect ninth to complete a five-hitter and remain perfect in three save chances.Ten of Chicago's first 16 batters reached... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Charlie Morton pitched seven innings of three-hit ball, Jose Altuve hit a three-run double and the Houston Astros beat the Seattle Mariners 9-2 on Thursday after Evan Gattis hit into a 5-4-3 triple play in the fourth inning.Morton (3-0) retired 15 straight at one stretch and didn't allow a runner to reach second base.Marco Gonzales (1-2) allowed three runs — all unearned because of a throwing error by third baseman Kyle Seager — and four hits in 4 2/3 innings.CUBS 8, CARDINALS 5CHICAGO (AP) — Jon Lester (2-0) was dominant through six innings of two-hit ball in his 100th start as Cub, and Jason Heyward hit a two-run homer.Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber each had two RBIs as Chicago took a 6-1 lead after two innings. Every Cubs starter had a hit, including three by Anthony Rizzo and two each by Heyward, Schwarber and Javier Baez.Brandon Morrow pitched a perfect ninth to complete a five-hitter and remain perfect in three save chances.Ten of Chicago's first 16 batters reached... [More]