ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves are facing lineup changes after placing second baseman Ozzie Albies and designated hitter Matt Adams on the 10-day injured list.In another move on Wednesday, outfielder Nick Markakis was reinstated from the restricted list. Markakis announced on July 29 that he was returning to the team, three weeks after opting out due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.Albies is batting only .159 after he was held without a hit in Tuesday night's 10-1 win over Toronto. He is in a 2-for-21 slump as he tried to play with a bruised right wrist. The injury led the switch-hitter to bat left-handed against left-hander Anthony Kay in the seventh inning.Adams has been the team's primary designated hitter and has made two starts at first base. He hit a second-inning homer on Tuesday night before leaving the game with a strained left hamstring.Among manager Brian Snitker's options at second base are Johan Camargo, who replaced Adams as the designated hitter against the... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Nick Markakis is returning to the Atlanta Braves, three weeks after announcing he was opting out of the season due to his concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.Markakis, the veteran outfielder who is in his sixth season with Atlanta, said Wednesday he changed his mind about sitting out after watching his teammates play the first five games.“Sitting at home, watching these guys compete ... and all the risks they’re going through going out there, in the pit of my stomach I felt I wanted to be out there,” Markakis said.He said he realized returning was possible following a phone call from Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos earlier this week.The 36-year-old Markakis earns $24,691 for each game he on the roster or injured list as part of a $4 million, one-year contract. He says he has the full support of his family, including his three children, in his decision to return.“It was nice to be home with the family, but more than anything I know my family wanted me to be out... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Nick Markakis is returning to the Atlanta Braves, three weeks after announcing he was opting out of the season due to his concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.Markakis, the veteran outfielder who is in his sixth season with Atlanta, said Wednesday he changed his mind about sitting out after watching his teammates play the first five games.“Sitting at home, watching these guys compete ... and all the risks they’re going through going out there, in the pit of my stomach I felt I wanted to be out there,” Markakis said.He said he realized returning was possible following a phone call from Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos earlier this week.The 36-year-old Markakis says he has the full support of his family, including his three children, in his decision to return.“It was nice to be home with the family, but more than anything I know my family wanted me to be out there with (the Braves),” he said.Markakis opted out on July 6, when he said he was uneasy about playing the... [More]

Braves third. Ender Inciarte reaches on error. Fielding error by Ji-Man Choi. Alex Jackson doubles to deep left field. Ender Inciarte to third. Ronald Acuna Jr. walks. Ozzie Albies strikes out swinging. Freddie Freeman strikes out swinging. Marcell Ozuna singles to deep left field. Ronald Acuna Jr. to second. Alex Jackson to third. Ender Inciarte scores. Matt Adams pops out to shortstop to Joey Wendle.1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 3 left on. Braves 1, Rays 0.Rays third. Kevin Kiermaier walks. Michael Perez flies out to left field to Marcell Ozuna. Ji-Man Choi strikes out swinging. Brandon Lowe walks. Yandy Diaz walks. Brandon Lowe to second. Kevin Kiermaier to third. Yoshi Tsutsugo singles to deep right center field. Yandy Diaz to third. Brandon Lowe scores. Kevin Kiermaier scores. Jose Martinez singles to left field. Yoshi Tsutsugo to second. Yandy Diaz scores. Joey Wendle singles to shallow center field. Jose Martinez to third. Yoshi Tsutsugo scores. Hunter Renfroe grounds out to shortstop,... [More]

The Atlanta Braves will be without their top two catchers, Tyler Flowers and Travis d'Arnaud, for Friday's opening game at the New York Mets after both players showed symptoms of the coronavirus.Manager Brian Snitker said Friday that Flowers and d'Arnaud have tested negative for the coronavirus but did not travel with the team because they had symptoms. Snitker said he did not know what the symptoms were, and he hoped the two just had “a bad cold." Snitker said the team is being careful because “we’ve had guys test negative and the next day they test positive." First baseman Freddie Freeman and right-hander Touki Toussaint are back with the team and on the opening-day roster after testing positive at the start of summer camp. Left-handed reliever Will Smith and infielder Pete Kozma have not returned following positive tests.Freeman said he was grateful Flowers and Contreras reported the symptoms even though it meant they would miss the opener and possibly more games.“I applaud them for... [More]

The Atlanta Braves will be without their top two catchers, Tyler Flowers and Travis d'Arnaud, for Friday's opening game at the New York Mets after both players showed symptoms of the coronavirus.Manager Brian Snitker said Friday that Flowers and d'Arnaud have tested negative for the coronavirus but did not travel with the team because they had symptoms. Snitker said he did not know what the symptoms were, and he hoped the two just had “a bad cold." Snitker said the team is being careful because “we’ve had guys test negative and the next day they test positive." First baseman Freddie Freeman and right-hander Touki Toussaint are back with the team and on the opening-day roster after testing positive at the start of summer camp. Left-handed reliever Will Smith and infielder Pete Kozma have not returned following positive tests.Freeman said he was grateful Flowers and Contreras reported the symptoms even though it meant they would miss the opener and possibly more games.“I applaud them for... [More]

The Atlanta Braves will be without their top two catchers, Tyler Flowers and Travis d'Arnaud, for Friday's opening game at the New York Mets after both players showed symptoms of the coronavirus.Manager Brian Snitker said Friday that Flowers and d'Arnaud have tested negative for the coronavirus but did not travel with the team because they had symptoms. Snitker said he did not know what the symptoms were, and he hoped the two just had “a bad cold." Snitker said the team is being careful because “we’ve had guys test negative and the next day they test positive." First baseman Freddie Freeman and right-hander Touki Toussaint are back with the team and on the opening-day roster after testing positive at the start of summer camp. Left-handed reliever Will Smith and infielder Pete Kozma have not returned following positive tests.Snitker said the team was trying to avoid contact between the catchers and other players in case they do have positive tests.Alex Jackson and William Contreras are next... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Francisco Cervelli caught on with a playoff contender, just as he hoped.The first-place Atlanta Braves signed Cervelli to a one-year contract Saturday and immediately plugged the veteran catcher into the starting lineup against the New York Mets. After recovering from his latest concussion, it was his first game in the majors since May 25."The only way he's going to get to know these guys is to catch 'em," Braves manager Brian Snitker said.About two hours before the game, Cervelli said he was still waiting for his catching equipment to arrive at Citi Field. But on the second pitch he saw in his first at-bat, he laced a two-run double into the left field corner for a 2-0 lead. He added a sharp single his next time up.Cervelli, who has a long history of concussions, was granted his release Thursday by the last-place Pittsburgh Pirates after telling them he wanted to hook on with a big league team that had playing time to offer and a chance to reach the postseason. He gives... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The first-place Atlanta Braves have signed catcher Francisco Cervelli and immediately plugged him into the starting lineup against the New York Mets.Cervelli, who has a history of concussions, was recently granted his release by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He gives the NL East leaders a veteran replacement for injured catcher Brian McCann, who is sidelined with a sprained left knee.The 33-year-old Cervelli joined the Braves on Saturday at Citi Field and was set to bat seventh against Mets right-hander Zack Wheeler. Atlanta manager Brian Snitker says Cervelli will split playing time with Tyler Flowers behind the plate and likely remain with the club when McCann returns because by then rosters will have expanded in September.Cervelli batted .193 in 34 games for the Pirates this season before getting hurt. He is a .269 career hitter with 36 home runs in 700 major league games.To make roster room for Cervelli, the Braves optioned catcher Alex Jackson to Triple-A Gwinnett and transferred left-hander Grant Dayton to the 60-day injured list.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Braves sixth. Ronald Acuna Jr. called out on strikes. Ozzie Albies singles to center field. Freddie Freeman singles to center field. Ozzie Albies scores. Josh Donaldson strikes out swinging. Matt Joyce strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Braves 1, Mets 0.Mets sixth. Jacob deGrom homers to center field. Amed Rosario strikes out swinging. Joe Panik grounds out to shallow infield, Alex Jackson to Freddie Freeman. Pete Alonso lines out to third base to Josh Donaldson.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Braves 1, Mets 1.Braves fourteenth. Tyler Flowers walks. Adeiny Hechavarria doubles to deep right center field. Tyler Flowers to third. Rafael Ortega strikes out swinging. Billy Hamilton singles to shallow right field. Adeiny Hechavarria to third. Tyler Flowers scores. Max Fried pinch-hitting for Luke Jackson. Max Fried strikes out swinging. Ronald Acuna Jr. walks. Ozzie Albies strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 left on. Braves 2, Mets 1.

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves have placed catcher Brian McCann on the 10-day injured list with a left knee sprain.Catcher Alex Jackson was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett before the team's game against the Miami Marlins.McCann left Tuesday night's 5-1 win over the Marlins after the third inning due to soreness in the knee. Tests on Wednesday revealed the sprain.The 23-year-old Jackson, who has hit .224 with 25 homers at Gwinnett, is making his second appearance of the season in Atlanta. He had no hits in 10 at-bats in three games from April 8-18 when McCann was out with a strained right hamstring.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves have placed catcher Brian McCann on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain.Alex Jackson was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett and is making his major league debut by starting in Sunday's game against the Miami Marlins.McCann strained his hamstring while running the bases in the fourth inning of Saturday night's 4-2 loss to Miami. Tyler Flowers, who has shared the starting role at catcher, replaced McCann and was hit by a pitch on his right hand in the fifth. X-rays on Flowers' hand were negative.Jackson was the No. 6 overall pick by Seattle in the 2014 draft. He was acquired by Atlanta on Nov. 28, 2016. While in the Seattle organization, Jackson moved from catcher to the outfield. He returned to catcher with the Braves.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) — The Atlanta Braves sent eight players to the minors on Tuesday, including left-hander Kolby Allard, who was competing for a spot in the rotation.Allard, the 14th overall pick in the 2015 amateur draft, was 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA in four games, including three starts.Among other contenders for the No. 5 spot in the rotation are right-handers Kyle Wright, Touki Toussaint, Mike Soroka and Bryse Wilson and left-hander Max Fried.Allard, left-hander Grant Dayton, catcher Alex Jackson and right-hander Jacob Webb were optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett before Tuesday's game against St. Louis. Three left-handers, Thomas Burrows, Corbin Clouse and Tucker Davidson, were assigned to the minor league camp.Following the game, infielder Luis Marte also was assigned to the minor league camp.___For more AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/apf-Baseball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) — The Atlanta Braves have sent seven players to the minors, including left-hander Kolby Allard, who was competing for a spot in the rotation.Allard, the 14th overall pick in the 2015 amateur draft, was 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA in four games, including three starts.Among other contenders for the No. 5 spot in the rotation are right-handers Kyle Wright, Touki Toussaint, Mike Soroka and Bryse Wilson and left-hander Max Fried.Allard, left-hander Grant Dayton, catcher Alex Jackson and right-hander Jacob Webb were optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett. Three left-handers, Thomas Burrows, Corbin Clouse and Tucker Davidson, were assigned to the minor league camp Tuesday.___For more AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/apf-Baseball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Bryce Harper meets with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the very next day, a Brinks truck is parked right outside the team's spring training complex.Coincidence or correlation?With the first full week of exhibition games on deck, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed he joined club executives in meeting with Harper in Las Vegas on Sunday night.Roberts said it was a good session and gave the sides a chance to "get to know each other." Roberts says the Dodgers were "vetting a certain process."Harper has been connected to the Philadelphia Phillies and the San Francisco Giants during a second consecutive slow free-agent market for the sport. Manny Machado, the other top free agent this winter, signed a $300 million, 10-year deal with the San Diego Padres on Thursday.The 26-year-old Harper was the 2015 NL MVP and made six All-Star teams in seven big league seasons with the Washington Nationals. He batted .249 with 34 home runs, 100 RBIs and an .889 OPS last season.FROM AROUND THE GRAPEFRUIT AND... [More]

LF Austin Jackson homered for the second straight game, a three-run shot in the top of the seventh inning that gave Cleveland a 6-1 lead at Minnesota. It is the first time since 2013 that Jackson has homered in back-to-back games. Jackson finished the game 3-for-4, and he is batting .356 (21-for-59) since returning from the disabled list on July 25.

Jackson (hand) was activated from the DL and returned to the lineup for Low-A Everett on Saturday, Jason A. Churchill of Prospect Insider reports.

The Mariners first-round pick, sixth overall in 2014, had been sidelined since August 1 with a left hand injury, but returned to the lineup Saturday. In 23 games with Low-A Everett, Jackson is slugging .444 with two homers and seven doubles, but hasn't shown much plate discipline, striking out 31 times in 81 at-bats. If he's going to move up the organizational ladder, that is one area of his game that will need improvement.

Jackson will be out one or two weeks with a left hand injury, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

After initially being ruled day-to-day, Jackson was placed on the DL Friday. Still, the injury does not appear to be anything too serious. The sixth overall pick in the 2014 draft was slashing a .259/.355/.444 with Single-A Everett.

Jackson (shoulder) was reassigned Monday to the Mariners' short-season club in Everett, Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune reports.

After hitting a wretched .157 with Low-A Clinton over 121 plate appearances to open the season, Jackson was sent back to extended spring training with what the Mariners labeled as a shoulder injury. Jackson had reportedly been playing through the injury for a couple of months, which likely had a negative impact in his results at Clinton. Assuming that he's now fully healthy, Jackson could quickly return to Clinton once he strings together a few quality games in a row with Everett.

Jackson, who was sent to extended spring training Wednesday, will be shut down as he deals with a shoulder injury, the Seattle Times' Ryan Divish reports.

He has apparently been playing through the injury since spring training, which helps to explain his struggles at Low-A so far this season. It is unclear how serious the injury is but his status as a top-100 prospect in dynasty leagues has not changed. Jackson should not be expected in the big leagues until around 2019, so try not to overreact to things that may slow him down a little this season.