NEW YORK (AP) — Mookie Betts is back in Boston's lineup, hitting leadoff as the designated hitter while the Red Sox try to clinch the AL East at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night.Betts was pulled from a game Sunday with a left side injury. After the team's day off Monday, Betts was held out of the lineup Tuesday night against New York.Manager Alex Cora originally had Betts slated to play center field Tuesday, but when rain pushed back the scheduled first pitch about six hours, Cora sat the AL MVP candidate to keep him away from the soggy conditions.Boston can lock up the division with a victory. It would mark the second time in three years the Red Sox celebrated a division title in the Bronx.Betts leads the majors with a .337 average and also has 29 homers, 28 steals and 72 RBIs as Boston's leadoff man.___Follow Jake Seiner: https://twitter.com/jake_seiner___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The New York Mets are shutting down right-hander Zack Wheeler for the rest of the season as a precaution, ending a career-best year in which he logged nearly 100 more innings than 2017.Manager Mickey Callaway said before Wednesday night's game at Philadelphia that they'd be "probably taking the best care of him" by holding him out of his final two starts."I feel like I had a good season," Wheeler said. "I would have liked to have finished it out, but getting 100 more innings than last season without doing that much the past 2½ years, I think it makes sense to kind of shut it down and not really push it."Wheeler missed two full seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2015. He returned last season and was 3-7 with a 5.21 ERA in 17 starts. After beginning this season in Triple-A following a difficult spring training, Wheeler was called up in April and went 12-7 with a 3.31 ERA in 29 starts while throwing 182 1/3 innings."He always knew he could be this guy. But when... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Rangers hard-throwing reliever Matt Bush has had surgery to repair a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament that will keep him out the first half of the 2019 season.Assistant general manager Mike Daly says Bush did not have Tommy John surgery. Instead, he had a procedure to repair and reinforce the ligament in his right elbow. Bush hasn't pitched since June 13. He had a 4.70 ERA in 23 innings over 21 appearances.Bush had tried stem cell treatment and was throwing again at one point before the surgery.The surgery was done by Rangers team physician Dr. Keith Meister, who also repaired torn cartilage in the right knee of reliever Austin Bibens-Dirkx in another surgery performed Wednesday. Bibens-Dirkx is expected to be ready for spring training.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The New York Mets are shutting down right-hander Zack Wheeler for the rest of the season as a precaution, ending a successful year in which he logged nearly 100 more innings than 2017.Manager Mickey Callaway said before Wednesday night's game at Philadelphia that they'd be "probably taking the best care of him" by holding him out of his final two starts.Wheeler missed two full seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2015. He returned last season and was 3-7 with a 5.21 ERA in 17 starts. This season, Wheeler went 12-7 with a 3.31 ERA in 29 starts while throwing 182 1/3 innings.The 28-year-old Wheeler was dominant after the All-Star break, going 9-1 with a 1.68 ERA and solidifying his hold as the No. 3 starter behind Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard.Callaway said Corey Oswalt will start in Wheeler's place on Saturday at Washington.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman has been activated from the disabled list.New York announced the move Wednesday before the second game of a three-game series against the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox.Chapman has been out since Aug. 21 with left knee tendinitis. The All-Star left-hander threw a simulated game Monday and said Tuesday that he had recovered well.He will be available out of the bullpen Wednesday night. New York is trying to prevent Boston from clinching the division at Yankee Stadium for the second time in three years. The Red Sox can clinch with one victory.The hard-throwing Chapman has 31 saves and a 2.11 ERA in 50 appearances this season.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

A look at what's happening around the majors today:LAST CHAPTERLocked in a tight race for the NL West title, the Rockies and Dodgers meet for the final time in the regular season. Los Angeles leads by 1½ games and will go for a three-game sweep at Dodger Stadium when rookie Walker Buehler (7-5, 2.88 ERA) pitches against Tyler Anderson (6-9, 4.82). Colorado could be without slugger Trevor Story again after the All-Star shortstop hurt his right elbow Monday night. Tests showed inflammation but no structural damage, and the Rockies hope Story can return to the lineup in a few days. Story this year became the first shortstop in major league history with at least 40 doubles, 30 home runs and 25 steals in a season.END GAMEAs they pursue a third consecutive NL Central crown, the ninth inning is getting more and more complicated for the Chicago Cubs. The team announced Tuesday that closer Brandon Morrow will be shut down for the rest of the year because of an injured right elbow that's been slow... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Neil Walker hit a three-run homer, Zach Britton started a game-ending double play on New York's third try in the ninth inning and the Yankees kept the Boston Red Sox from a bubbly celebration in the Bronx for at least another night with a 3-2 victory Tuesday.Batting from the left side, Walker launched a no-doubter in the seventh inning off Ryan Brasier for the Yankees' third hit of the game and a 3-1 lead.Aaron Judge returned to New York's lineup for the first time since breaking his right wrist July 26, while AL MVP candidate Mookie Betts got a day off for Boston after injuring his left side Sunday. Judge hit a pop fly to the warning track but finished 0 for 4.New York moved 2½ games ahead of Oakland for the top AL wild card. The A's lost at home to the Angels.Boston is trying to clinch the AL East at Yankee Stadium for the second time in three years. The Red Sox lead the Yankees by 10 1/2 games and entered the night with a magic number of four over the Astros to lock up... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Afternoon showers in the Bronx were just what Aaron Judge needed to get back into the New York Yankees' lineup.For Boston Red Sox star Mookie Betts, it was just the opposite.Judge was hitless in his return and Betts sat out when the Yankees beat the Red Sox 3-2 in the opener of a three-game series Tuesday night. The game was pushed back about six hours because of rain in the forecast and began at 7:08 p.m.The delay allowed Judge to talk his way into manager Aaron Boone's lineup for the first time since breaking his right wrist on July 26. Boone slotted Judge to bat second and play right field, but only because the late start gave him and the front office a few extra hours to evaluate Judge."I just voiced my opinion — a lot," Judge said with a grin. "And they kind of got tired of me telling them I would be playing, so they finally said, 'Let's just put him in there and see what happens.'"Judge went 0 for 4, including a pop fly to the warning track in the right field corner,... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Wednesday:LAST CHAPTERLocked in a tight race for the NL West title, the Rockies and Dodgers meet for the final time in the regular season. Rookie right-hander Walker Buehler (7-5, 2.88 ERA) pitches for Los Angeles against Tyler Anderson (6-9, 4.82) at Dodger Stadium. Colorado could be without slugger Trevor Story again after the All-Star shortstop hurt his right elbow Monday night. Tests showed inflammation but no structural damage, and the Rockies hope Story can return to the lineup in a few days. Story this year became the first shortstop in major league history with at least 40 doubles, 30 home runs and 25 steals in a season.END GAMEAs they pursue a third consecutive NL Central crown, the ninth inning is getting more and more complicated for the Chicago Cubs. The team announced Tuesday that closer Brandon Morrow will be shut down for the rest of the year because of an injured right elbow that's been slow to heal. Morrow, who leads the Cubs... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — The Chicago Cubs say closer Brandon Morrow will be shut down for rest of the year because of an injured right elbow that has been slow to heal.The NL Central leaders made the announcement before Tuesday night's game at Arizona.Morrow, who tops the Cubs with 22 saves, has been on the disabled list since July 19. The Cubs are without their two relievers with the most saves — Pedro Strop has 13 and is out with a hamstring injury, and the team hopes he's ready for the postseason.The Cubs will go with a closer-by-committee plan going forward. Morrow, who posted a 1.47 ERA in 35 games, is expected to be ready for spring training in 2019.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Colorado slugger Trevor Story has inflammation in his right elbow, but there's no structural damage and the Rockies are hopeful he can return to the lineup in a few days.The All-Star shortstop tweaked his elbow on a throw in the first inning of an 8-2 loss to the Dodgers on Monday night and aggravated it on a swing in the fourth.Rockies manager Bud Black says tests on Tuesday produced "good results." He says Story has soreness around his joint, but his ligament appears to be in good shape.Black says Story experiences some stress when he swings and throws, but if the inflammation goes down he should be playing again in a few days.Colorado began Tuesday a half-game behind the NL West-leading Dodgers.Story this year became the first shortstop in major league history with at least 40 doubles, 30 home runs and 25 steals in a season.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CLEVELAND (AP) — White Sox All-Star slugger Jose Abreu remains hospitalized with an infection in his right thigh.Abreu was admitted on Tuesday to a hospital in Cleveland and had the infection "cleaned up," manager Rick Renteria said before the White Sox opened a three-game series with the Indians.Abreu will miss this series and the team will provide an update on him Friday in Chicago, the manager said. The White Sox open a three-game series with the Cubs on Friday.The 31-year-old first baseman was picked for his second All-Star team this year. He needs three home runs to become the ninth player in major league history to hit at least 25 homers in each of his first five seasons.Abreu is batting .265 with 22 homers and 78 RBIs in 128 games. He spent three weeks on the disabled list (Aug. 22-Sept. 9) after undergoing surgery to repair a testicular torsion. He was activated on Sept. 10 and is hitless in his last 20 at-bats."Jose is fine, he's doing well," Renteria said. "It's been a tough year for him with various things, but he's dealing with it the best he can."The Cuban-born Abreu has been durable, playing in at least 145 games in each of his previous four seasons. He's also hit at least 25 homers and driven in 100 runs since signing with the White Sox in 2014.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Left-hander Justus Sheffield was put on the roster by the New York Yankees and could make his major league debut this week.The 22-year-old Sheffield was 6-4 with a 2.56 ERA in 15 starts and five relief appearances for Triple-A Scranton Wilkes/Barre this year after going 1-2 with a 2.25 ERA in five starts for Double-A Trenton. New York moved him to the bullpen in late August as preparation for a possible callup as a reliever."I know that early on it was kind of rocky just because getting the routine down was a little hard," Sheffield said of the bullpen move. "But I'm feeling comfortable."Sheffield was selected by Cleveland with the 31st overall pick in the 2014 amateur draft and was acquired by the Yankees in the July 2016 trade that sent left-hander Andrew Miller to the Indians."He's someone that potentially gives us a little bit of length," manager Aaron Boone said. "He's not built up like he was a starter for most of the season, but he's still a guy that we feel like could give us a couple of innings if we needed it."Outfielder Clint Frazier, also obtained by New York in that trade, was transferred to the 60-day disabled list to open a spot for Sheffield, whose contract was selected to the 40-man roster. Frazier has been bothered by a concussion since spring training.New York also recalled right-hander Domingo German from Scranton before Tuesday's series opener against Boston.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Afternoon showers in the Bronx were just what Aaron Judge needed to get back into the New York Yankees' lineup.For Boston Red Sox star Mookie Betts, it was just the opposite.Judge was set to play and Betts to sit out when the Yankees and Red Sox opened a three-game series Tuesday night. The game was pushed back six hours to 7:05 p.m. because of rain in the forecast.The delay allowed Judge to break into manager Aaron Boone's lineup for the first time since breaking his right wrist on July 26. Boone slotted Judge to bat second and play right field, but only because the late start gave him and the front office a few extra hours to evaluate Judge."We want to start that clock of getting in there and playing and getting him those ABs," Boone said. "So he can find that timing sooner rather than later. Physically he's good to go."Manager Alex Cora wrote Betts in as his center fielder as of 9 a.m., even after the AL MVP contender injured his left side Sunday. But then the conditions... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — White Sox slugger Jose Abreu will miss Chicago's three-game series against the Cleveland Indians because of an infection in his right thigh.Abreu was hospitalized in Cleveland on Tuesday, where he had the infection "cleaned up," manager Rick Renteria said. The team will provide an update on Abreu on Friday in Chicago, the manager said.Abreu is hitting .265 with 22 homers and 78 RBIs in 128 games. He spent three weeks on the disabled list (Aug. 22-Sept. 9) after undergoing surgery to repair a testicular torsion. He was activated on Sept. 10 and is hitless in his last 20 at-bats.The 31-year-old first baseman was named to his second All-Star team this year. He needs three home runs to become the ninth player in major league history to hit at least 25 homers in each of his first five seasons.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CLEVELAND (AP) — Trevor Bauer threw to hitters for the first time since breaking his right leg last month and hopes to be back on the mound for Cleveland in time for the postseason.The right-hander pitched three simulated innings of about 17-to-19 pitches per inning and jokingly told manager Terry Francona he was available against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night."I'm glad he feels that way," Francona said. "I don't think that's going to happen, but it's nice to hear him say that."Bauer is 12-6 with a 2.22 ERA in 25 starts. He has been sidelined since he was struck on the lower leg by a line drive off the bat of Chicago's Jose Abreu on Aug. 11.He pitched to Indians reserves Eric Haase, Adam Rosales and Brandon Barnes."The biggest takeaway is that I was able to completely focus on competing instead of being worried about or noticing if there's any discomfort," Bauer said. "I didn't really think about it at all, and that's the most important thing."Bauer hopes to pitch in a game before the regular season ends Sept. 30. Francona said a meeting will be held with Bauer and the team's medical staff."The quicker we can get him in a game without risk the better," Francona said.Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti says the team has discussed using Bauer as a reliever in the postseason.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Red Sox star Mookie Betts will sit out Boston's series opener against the New York Yankees on Tuesday night after injuring his left side Sunday.Boston manager Alex Cora says Betts was originally in his starting lineup before rain pushed Tuesday's game back six hours to a 7:05 p.m. first pitch. Cora scratched Betts out of caution because of the soggy conditions.Betts was hurt making two throws to home plate during a 4-3 win over the New York Mets.Boston leads the AL East by 11½ games and can clinch the division by beating the second-place Yankees.___Follow Jake Seiner: https://twitter.com/jake_seiner___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge is returning to the New York Yankees' starting lineup for the first time since breaking his right wrist on July 26.Judge was set to bat second and play right field in Tuesday night's rain-delayed game against Boston. The start was pushed back six hours to 7:05 p.m.Hurt when hit by a pitch, Judge was activated Friday and played two innings in right field that night without going to the plate. Judge says his wrist no longer bothers him while swinging a bat, but he has been experiencing discomfort on more routine movements. )He had 11 at-bats in a simulated game Monday and lofted an opposite-field homer to right during a series of simulated plate appearances against Yankees minor leaguer Adonis Rosa on Tuesday morning.Judge was also late on some fastballs and had a number of swings and misses against Rosa, who struck out 108 over 128 1/3 innings across three minor league levels this season. A large contingent of Yankees personnel watched the session, including manager Aaron Boone and general manager Brian Cashman.___Follow Jake Seiner: https://twitter.com/jake_seiner___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge lofted an opposite-field homer during a series of simulated plate appearances against a Yankees minor leaguer Tuesday morning, another box checked as the All-Star slugger works his way back from a broken right wrist.Judge hit against right-hander Adonis Rosa at Yankee Stadium shortly after New York announced it had moved its scheduled 1:05 p.m. game against the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox to 7:05 p.m. due to a forecast of rain.Judge had been out since July 26 before playing two innings in right field Friday without going to the plate. He had 11 at-bats in a simulated game Monday, and manager Aaron Boone said over the weekend he was hopeful that Judge could return to the starting lineup during this three-game series against Boston.Judge has said his wrist no longer bothers him while swinging a bat, but he has been experiencing discomfort on more routine movements.___Follow Jake Seiner: https://twitter.com/jake_seiner___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Left-hander Justus Sheffield was put on the major league roster by the New York Yankees and could make his major league debut this week.The 22-year-old Sheffield was 6-4 with a 2.56 ERA in 15 starts and five relief appearances for Triple-A Scranton Wilkes/Barre this year after going 1-2 with a 2.25 ERA in five starts for Double-A Trenton. New York moved him to the bullpen in late August as preparation for a possible callup as a reliever.Sheffield was selected by Cleveland with the 31st overall pick in the 2014 amateur draft and was acquired by the Yankees in the July 2016 trade that sent left-hander Andrew Miller to the Indians.Outfielder Clint Frazier, also obtained by New York in that trade, was transferred to the 60-day disabled list to open a spot for Sheffield, whose contract was selected to the 40-man roster. Frazier has been bothered by a concussion since spring training.New York also recalled right-hander Domingo German from Scranton before Tuesday's series opener against Boston.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports