LOS ANGELES (AP) — Wade Miley threw just five pitches in Game 5 of the NL Championship Series before Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell emerged from the Dodger Stadium dugout and abruptly removed his starter.Oddly enough, five innings after this extraordinary bit of subterfuge, Counsell probably waited a bit too long to go to his bullpen again.Brandon Woodruff pitched 5 1/3 innings of highly unusual relief against the Dodgers on Wednesday, but he also gave up Max Muncy's tiebreaking RBI single in the sixth inning of Los Angeles' 5-2 victory.Counsell has used his bullpen liberally and unconventionally throughout the Brewers' remarkable season, and this particular gambit yielded mixed results.All the results aren't in yet, either: After walking leadoff hitter Cody Bellinger and then leaving Game 5, Miley will start Game 6 in Milwaukee on Friday when the Brewers attempt to avoid elimination."Look, they're trying to get matchups, we're trying to get matchups," Counsell said. "They're a very tough... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Jose Altuve was denied a potential two-run homer for the Houston Astros in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series when umpires ruled at least one fan interfered with Mookie Betts' attempt at a leaping catch above the right-field wall Wednesday night.Crew chief Joe West, working the right-field line at Minute Maid Park, signaled fan interference after the Boston Red Sox outfielder was unable to make the grab and the ball ricocheted back onto the field.The call stood after a replay review that lasted 3 minutes, 13 seconds. Altuve was ruled out and teammate George Springer was sent back to first base.A fan wearing an orange Astros jersey, who identified himself as Troy Caldwell, insisted he wasn't reaching out over the yellow line atop the 7-foot-high fence when the ball hit his hand."That ball was gone no matter what," said Caldwell, a lifelong Astros fan from Houston who now lives in Atlanta.While Betts didn't say anything to the fans, Caldwell said he immediately started getting... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Jose Altuve has been denied a potential two-run homer for the Houston Astros in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series when umpires ruled at least one fan interfered with Mookie Betts' attempt at a leaping catch above the right-field fence.Crew chief Joe West, working the right-field line Wednesday night at Minute Maid Park, signaled fan interference after the Boston Red Sox outfielder was unable to make the grab and the ball ricocheted back onto the field.The call stood after a replay review that lasted 3 minutes, 13 seconds. Altuve was ruled out and teammate George Springer was sent back to first base.A home run by Altuve would have tied the score at 2 in the first inning. Boston leads 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.Betts jumped and it appeared that fans reaching for the ball made contact with his glove as he extended it above the wall . The ball then glanced off the side of Betts' glove and touched fans reaching to catch it.Boston took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a two-run single by Rafael Devers.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Wade Miley threw just five pitches in Game 5 of the NL Championship Series before Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell emerged from the dugout and abruptly removed his starter.Oddly enough, five innings after this extraordinary bit of subterfuge, Counsell probably waited a bit too long to go to his bullpen again.Brandon Woodruff pitched 5 1/3 innings of highly unusual relief against the Dodgers on Wednesday, but the right-hander gave up Max Muncy's tiebreaking RBI single in the sixth inning of Los Angeles' 5-2 victory to put the Brewers on the brink of playoff elimination.Counsell unveiled his latest creative usage of his bullpen at a pivotal point in the series, but it didn't stop the Brewers from losing for the third time in four games after a 12-game winning streak that propelled them deep into the postseason.A surprise bullpen game worked well, until it didn't.Woodruff escaped a first-inning jam and kept the Dodgers in check until the fifth, when he gave up Austin Barnes'... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Houston Astros didn't cheat. They didn't want to get cheated.That's their story, and Major League Baseball agrees.Following an investigation into two incidents this postseason, MLB said that the defending World Series champions were conducting surveillance — not spying — when a credentialed Astros employee was pointing his cellphone into the visitor's dugouts during playoff games in Cleveland and Boston.The Indians filed a complaint following Game 3 of the AL Division Series after the employee was observed aiming his phone into their dugout and taking pictures or video. A few days later, the same man was ejected from an area in Fenway Park during Game 1 of the ALCS.According to a person familiar with the situation, the Red Sox had been warned ahead of the series about the Astros employee, who was near Cleveland's dugout for several innings on Oct. 8 before he was removed by security. That person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale was still feeling weak Wednesday and won't start Game 5 of the AL Championship Series.Sale threw in the outfield for 10-15 minutes before Game 4 in Houston, but manager Alex Cora said he didn't throw a bullpen session as planned.Cora said the lanky lefty ace was still feeling weak and had lost some weight because of a stomach illness that forced him to spend a night in a hospital after he started the ALCS opener against the Astros."He's feeling better compared to yesterday, but physically he's not there yet," Cora said before Game 4. "So I think if necessary he'll pitch Game 6. He feels that he'll be ready for that one. And we'll go from there."The Red Sox took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series into Wednesday night's game. Game 6, if necessary, would be Saturday night in Boston.Dave Dombrowski, the team's president of baseball operations, said Sale told him that "he's fine and he'll be ready to go on Saturday."Cora didn't announce a starter... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers have pulled starting pitcher Wade Miley after he faced just one batter in Game 5 of the NL Championship Series.Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell unveiled his latest creative use of his bullpen Wednesday at a pivotal point.The left-handed Miley faced only Cody Bellinger in the first inning, walking the young slugger on five pitches.Counsell surprisingly emerged from the dugout and called for right-hander Brandon Woodruff to face the rest of a Los Angeles lineup featuring six right-handed batters.Fox Sports reported during its broadcast that a short start for Miley was the plan all along for Counsell, who had used his bullpen liberally and unconventionally throughout the Brewers' remarkable season.Miley will start Game 6 in Milwaukee on Friday.Miley was pitching on three days' rest in Game 5 after he made it into the sixth inning of Game 2 on Saturday. Counsell decided to give him a short workday in preparation for a longer start Friday.Woodruff hasn't... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora says lefty ace Chris Sale is still feeling weak and won't start in Game 5 of the AL Championship Series against Houston.Cora said before Game 4 on Wednesday that the lanky left-hander lost weight because of the stomach illness that led to him spending a night in a hospital after starting the ALCS opener. Sale started feeling ill right after the game and went to a hospital early Sunday morning.Sale rejoined the team Tuesday in Houston but hasn't yet thrown a bullpen session. The club hasn't specified the ailment or treatment, though Cora has said it was nothing serious.The Red Sox haven't announced a starter for Game 5 on Thursday night, and Cora says that decision will be dictated by the outcome of Game 4.Cora says Sale is feeling better and like he'd be ready for Game 6 in Boston on Saturday night, if necessary.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CLEVELAND (AP) — Major League Baseball concluded the Houston Astros were not trying to steal signs when they had an employee monitor opposing dugouts during the postseason.The Cleveland Indians filed a complaint following Game 3 of the AL Division Series after the employee was observed aiming his cellphone into their dugout and taking pictures or video. Two people familiar with the situation said the Astros tried to get a second person next to the dugout after the employee was removed by security. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.The same employee was removed from an area near Boston's dugout before Game 1 of the ALCS.On Wednesday, MLB issued a statement saying its department of investigations determined "that an Astros employee was monitoring the field to ensure that the opposing club was not violating any rules."MLB has told all clubs still in the playoffs "to refrain from these types of efforts."Prior to the postseason,... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers have pulled starting pitcher Wade Miley after he faced just one batter in Game 5 of the NL Championship Series.Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell unveiled his latest creative use of his bullpen Wednesday at a pivotal point.The left-handed Miley faced only Cody Bellinger in the first inning, walking the young slugger on five pitches.Counsell surprisingly emerged from the dugout and called for right-hander Brandon Woodruff to face the rest of a Los Angeles lineup featuring six right-handed batters.Fox Sports reported during its broadcast that a short start for Miley was the plan all along. He will start Game 6 in Milwaukee on Friday.Woodruff escaped the first inning by getting Manny Machado to ground into a double play.___More AP MLB: www.apnews.com/tag/mlb and www.twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius has undergone Tommy John surgery on his right elbow that is expected to keep him out of action for much of next season.The Yankees said the surgery went as expected Wednesday. It was done by Dr. David Altchek at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.The team didn't provide a timetable for Gregorius to return. Last week, when the injury was announced, general manager Brian Cashman said Gregorius will be sidelined "until sometime next summer."Gregorius broke his own club record for home runs by a shortstop by hitting 27 this year. He batted .268 with 86 RBIs.Cashman has said second baseman Gleyber Torres is the Yankees' top internal solution at shortstop.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dodgers star Manny Machado has been fined by Major League Baseball for kicking Milwaukee first baseman Jesus Aguilar in the NL Championship Series.MLB fined Machado an undisclosed amount Wednesday, a day after the baserunning incident caused the benches to clear at Dodger Stadium and prompted Brewers MVP candidate Christian Yelich to call Machado a "dirty player.""I don't think we're too concerned about any other teams' comments about our players," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday before Game 5. "I know speaking for Manny, he's preparing to help us win. It's really not at the forefront of our mind."Machado was running to first on a grounder in the 10th inning of Game 4, and Aguilar left his right foot partly across the base for a moment after catching the ball. Already out, Machado brought his left foot forward and kicked Aguilar in the back of the leg."He's a player that has a history of those types of incidents," Yelich said. "One time is an accident. Repeated... [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]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dodgers star Manny Machado has been fined by Major League Baseball for kicking Milwaukee first baseman Jesus Aguilar in the NL Championship Series.MLB fined Machado an undisclosed amount on Wednesday, a day after the baserunning incident caused the benches to clear at Dodger Stadium and prompted Brewers MVP candidate Christian Yelich to call Machado a "dirty player."Machado was running to first on a grounder in the 10th inning of Game 4 and Aguilar left his foot partly across the base for a moment after catching the ball. Already out, Machado brought his back foot forward and kicked Aguilar in the back of the leg.Machado, whose late slide last year injured Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia, has been checked a couple times in this NLCS because of close slides into second.Machado gave Aguilar a brief hug after hitting a single in the 13th inning. The Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop later scored the winning run, sliding home to give Los Angeles a 2-1 win that evened the NLCS at two games each.Game 5 in the best-of-seven series was Wednesday.The players' union declined comment on Machado's fine.___More AP MLB: www.apnews.com/tag/MLB and www.twitter.com/AP_Sports

CLEVELAND (AP) — Major League Baseball has concluded that a Houston Astros employee was only monitoring opposing dugouts during the postseason to make sure other teams weren't breaking rules.The Cleveland Indians filed a complaint following Game 3 of the AL Division Series after an Astros employee was observed aiming his cellphone into their dugout and taking pictures or video. Two people familiar with the situation said the Astros tried to get a second person next to the Indians' dugout after the employee was removed by security. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.The same employee was removed from an area near Boston's dugout before Game 1 of the ALCS.On Wednesday, MLB issued a statement saying its department of investigations determined "that an Astros employee was monitoring the field to ensure that the opposing club was not violating any rules."MLB has told all clubs still in the playoffs "to refrain from these... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Cody Bellinger is leading off for the Dodgers in Game 5 of the NL Championship Series on Wednesday, hours after his game-winning single pulled Los Angeles into a 2-all tie with Milwaukee in the best-of-seven series.Bellinger singled home the winning run with two outs in the 13th inning of a 2-1 victory Tuesday night that lasted more than five hours. The Dodgers primarily have been using Chris Taylor in the leadoff spot.Manager Dave Roberts said he made the change to "shake things up" and because he likes Bellinger's at-bats against Brewers left-handed starter Wade Miley.Bellinger started Games 1 and 3 and entered as a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning of Game 4.Max Muncy is starting at second base and hitting fifth for the Dodgers. Austin Barnes is starting at catcher for the second straight game while Yasmani Grandal continues to struggle.The Brewers are starting Hernan Perez at second base, his first start since Game 1 of the series. He will hit fifth.Erik Kratz is back... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Cody Bellinger is leading off for the Dodgers in Game 5 of the NL Championship Series, hours after his game-winning single pulled Los Angeles into a 2-all tie with Milwaukee in the best-of-seven series.Bellinger singled home the winning run with two outs in the 13th inning of a 2-1 victory Tuesday night. The Dodgers primarily have been using Chris Taylor in the leadoff spot.After Wednesday's game, the series shifts back to Milwaukee for Game 6 on Friday.Bellinger started Games 1 and 3 and entered as a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning of Game 4.Max Muncy is starting at second base and hitting fifth for the Dodgers. Austin Barnes is starting at catcher for the second straight game while Yasmani Grandal continues to struggle.The Brewers are starting Hernan Perez at second base, his first start since Game 1 of the series. He will hit fifth.Erik Kratz is back starting at catcher and hitting seventh. He started Games 2 and 3 and came off the bench in the 11th inning on Tuesday for Milwaukee.___More AP MLB: www.apnews.com/tag/MLB and www.twitter.com/AP_Sports

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Astros' current one-game deficit in the AL Championship isn't their only postseason issue.Major League Baseball is investigating two incidents involving someone with the team using a cellphone to take photographs of the visiting dugouts in Cleveland and Boston during games this October.On Wednesday, two people familiar with the situation said the Astros attempted to get a second person next to the Indians' dugout during Game 3 of the AL Division Series after another man was removed earlier by security for taking pictures with his cellphone.The second person tried to gain access to the field photographer's pit but was turned away, said the people who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.The Indians have filed a complaint with MLB, which is investigating Houston's actions and said the matter "will be handled internally."An unidentified man, who had been issued a credential before the Oct. 8 game in Cleveland,... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:SPYGATE, THE SEQUELThe Houston Astros might find themselves defending more than their World Series title. The champions are under scrutiny after Cleveland filed a complaint to Major League Baseball about a man associated with Houston attempting to film in the Indians' dugout during Game 3 of the AL Division Series last week, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday night because of the sensitivity of the matter. MLB also says it is aware of a report by Metro Boston that a man claiming to be an Astros employee was removed from a credentialed area near the Red Sox dugout during the AL Championship Series opener at Fenway Park.In a statement, MLB said the matter "will be handled internally" and offered no other details.Astros manager AJ Hinch was questioned about the Metro report following Tuesday's game and said he was aware of the alleged incident but said... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Manny Machado has stepped into trouble again, causing at least one opponent to call him "a dirty player."Both benches cleared after the Los Angeles Dodgers' star shortstop clipped the back leg of Milwaukee first baseman Jesus Aguilar while running out his groundout Tuesday night in the 10th inning of Game 4 of the NL Championship Series.Aguilar left his foot on the base for a moment after Machado was already out, and the star shortstop appeared to show his displeasure by bringing his left foot forward and kicking Aguilar on the back of the leg.The incident immediately took the top spot on the growing list of Machado's debatable decisions in baseball ethics."He's a player that has a history of those types of incidents," Milwaukee slugger Christian Yelich said. "One time is an accident. Repeated over and over and over again, you're just a dirty player. It's a dirty play by a dirty player, and that's what it is. I have a lot of respect for him as a player, but you can't... [More]