A team-by-team look at the American League Central entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad:___Cleveland IndiansManager: Terry Francona (sixth season).2017: 102-60, first place, lost to New York Yankees in ALDS.Training Town: Goodyear, Arizona.Park: Goodyear Ballpark.First Workout: Feb. 15/19.He's Here: 1B-DH Yonder Alonso, OF Melvin Upton Jr., RHP Alexi Ogando.He's Outta Here: 1B Carlos Santana, OF Jay Bruce, RHP Bryan Shaw, RHP Joe Smith, OF Austin Jackson, LHP Boone Logan.Going campin': Poised to possibly end their 70-year-old World Series title drought, the Indians, who reeled off 22 straight victories in 2017, didn't even make it back to the AL Championship Series after squandering a 2-0 playoff lead against the Yankees. Unlike last winter, when the club signed DH Edwin Encarnacion in free agency, the Indians were relatively quiet, counting on their core to carry them in... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — While baseball's offseason crawls along waiting for a logjam of free agents to clear, Minnesota Twins chief baseball officer Derek Falvey remains fluid in trying to improve the team's pitching staff.Waiting out decisions by the top starters on the market, Falvey turned his sights to the bullpen, where Minnesota was tied for 20th in the majors in relief ERA (4.40) last season while making its surprise run to the American League wild-card game.As one of the more active teams in free agency, the Twins signed three relievers for a total of $23.4 million guaranteed in closer Fernando Rodney, left-hander Zach Duke and right-hander Addison Reed over the past month."You don't know, really, where things are going to go sometimes," Falvey said Friday as Minnesota began its annual fan festival at Target Field, with Rodney and Duke in attendance. "So, the way we looked at it was, let's find a way to augment our pitching. Ultimately, that could come in the starting rotation, that... [More]

RHP Matt Belisle pitched the ninth inning Thursday against the Tigers in a non-save situation. He hadn't pitched in nearly a week but allowed only a single to the four batters he faced. "Got Mattie some work," manager Paul Molitor said. "It's been about six days. I wasn't going to let him go more than 20 pitches."

RHP Matt Belisle earned his fifth save this season in nine chances for the Twins in Tuesday's win over the White Sox. All five of Belisle's saves have come in August, and he's failed to convert just one save opportunity this month. The run Belisle allowed in the ninth inning Tuesday was just the third run he's given up in his last 21 1/3 innings of work.

RHP Matt Belisle posted his 16th scoreless outing in 17 appearances with his scoreless ninth inning against Chicago. He earned his fourth save in five opportunities this season.

RHP Matt Belisle allowed six runs in the ninth inning in Minnesota's loss to Boston on Sunday. He had allowed seven earned runs in 12 1/3 innings entering Sunday's game. In all, nine of the 13 earned runs he's allowed this season have come in two of his 15 games.

RHP Matt Belisle, who with the team all year, was left off the NLDS roster. "You know, there were some health concerns a couple weeks ago with Belisle, but now he's -- I mean, you've been here with us," Washington manager Dusty Baker said. "Now he's feeling fine, but we needed that extra spot for the extra left-hander."

RHP Matt Belisle retired four batters without giving up a run or hit Wednesday. His ERA is 1.76. "We noticed that he grimaced on a couple pitches, so we sent the trainer out to look at him, and he said he was fine," manager Dusty Baker said. "I mean, this guy wants to pitch. He was sidelined for a while, but we have to make sure that he's ready for the postseason because he's had a very good year for us."

RHP Matt Belisle pitched a scoreless ninth inning for Washington and has held opponents without a run in 21 of his 28 appearances this season. Belisle lowered his ERA to 2.03 on Sunday.

RHP Matt Belisle relieved starter Gio Gonzalez with no outs and two men on in the sixth inning of Wednesday's 7-4 win over Cleveland and pitched out the jam. Belisle got pinch-hitter Lonnie Chisenhall to ground into a double play and retired Abraham Almonte on a ground ball. "He's been to the World Series before. He's unfazed by pressure," manager Dusty Baker said of the veteran. "He knows how to pitch to the situation."

RHP Matt Belisle came off the disabled list Tuesday and was added to the active roster as RHP Jonathan Papelbon (right intercostal strain) was put on the DL. Belisle appeared at Class A Potomac, Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse during his rehab. He is 0-0 with a 1.50 ERA in seven outings for the Nationals this year. "He brings experience," manager Dusty Baker said.

Washington Nationals closer Jonathan Papelbon was placed on the 15-day disabled list with an intercostal strain on Tuesday.The move was made retroactive to Monday.The Nationals activated fellow right-hander Matt Belisle from the disabled list to replace Papelbon, who has posted a 1-2 mark with a 3.28 ERA this season. The 35-year-old Papelbon has converted 16-of-18 save opportunities in 2016.Sidelined with a right calf strain since April 26, the 36-year-old Belisle has amassed a 1.50 ERA without recording a decision in seven appearances this season.

RHP Matt Belisle (right calf strain) is continuing his minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse. The Nationals have less than 10 days to decide what to do with the veteran. "What's going on is that he's pitching as needed down there," manager Dusty Baker told reporters Sunday. "And we gotta make a decision here pretty soon because his 30-day time is up." He went on the disabled list April 27. He gave up two hits and no runs in one inning Saturday at Indianapolis. He had a 4.09 ERA in his first nine games in the minors this year on rehab, with three games at Single-A Potomac, three games at Double-A Harrisburg and three games at Syracuse.

RHP Matt Belisle moved his a rehab assignment to Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday, and he allowed one run on two hits in one inning. The reliever went on the disabled list April 27 with a right calf strain.In seven rehab games (nine innings) for Class A Potomac, Double-A Harrisburg and Syracuse, Belsile has a 5.00 ERA.

RHP Matt Belisle pitched back to back days for Double-A Harrisburg, but manager Dusty Baker said there's no timetable for his return. Belisle is on the disabled list with a right calf strain.

RHP Matt Belisle moved his rehab assignment to Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday, and he allowed one run in two innings. Belisle (right calf strain) previously pitched three times for Class A Potomac, giving up two runs in four innings. The reliever went on the disabled list April 27.

RHP Matt Belisle (right calf strain) pitched a scoreless inning in a rehab appearance for Class A Potomac on Wednesday. He allowed one hit and one walk with one strikeout in a 5-2 loss to Salem. Belisle had also pitched Monday for Potomac. Manager Dusty Baker said Thursday that Belisle is slated to throw again Saturday for Potomac. The reliever went on the disabled list April 27.

RHP Matt Belisle (right calf) was in the Nationals clubhouse Tuesday after throwing one inning in a minor league rehab appearances for Class A Potomac on Monday. "He was smiling. That is a good sign," said Dusty Baker, the Washington manager. Belisle did not allow a run in his outing against Class A Frederick.

RHP Matt Belisle began a rehab assignment with Class A Potomac on Monday, throwing one scoreless inning. Belisle went on the disabled list April 27 due to a right calf strain.

RHP Matt Belisle went on the 15-day disabled list April 27 with right calf strain. Manager Dusty Baker did not have an update on his status Wednesday. He is 0-0 with an ERA of 1.50 in seven games this season.