A team-by-team look at the American League West 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:___Houston Astros Manager: Dusty Baker (first season). 2019: 107-55, first place, lost to Nationals in World Series. Training Town: West Palm Beach, Florida. Park: Ballpark of Palm Beaches. First Workout: Feb. 13/17. He's Here: Manager Dusty Baker, RHP Austin Pruitt, C Dustin Garneau.He's Outta Here: Manager AJ Hinch, RHP Gerrit Cole, RHP Will Harris, C Robinson Chirinos, OF Tony Kemp. Going campin': The Astros enter the spring reeling from a sign-stealing scandal that cost manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow their jobs. They brought in Baker to steady the team, and it gives the 70-year-old another chance to chase his first World Series title as a manager. He’ll get a crash course learning his new team this spring after being hired less than three weeks before pitchers and catchers... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — There were bound to be bumps and headaches along the way when the Seattle Mariners embarked on a major makeover.After using a major league-record 67 players in one season, the first year of Seattle's rebuild was quite the roller coaster for those involved. It nearly turned out to be one player for every win."I would characterize it as organizationally we knew what we were in for. You hear the saying expect things that are expected," Seattle manager Scott Servais said. "When we left spring training we knew we were going to have a ton of transition, a ton of turnover on our roster. We have. We have gotten to a point I knew we were eventually going to get there."The Mariners weren't going to be contenders this year. They knew that back in spring training and even after starting off the season with an unexpected 13 wins in their first 15 games. They were flawed. They accepted it as they turned the team over to a young core that they hope to build around for the future.Along the... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:FAREWELL TO THE KINGFelix Hernandez starts for Seattle in what well could be his last game for the Mariners. A sea of yellow-shirted fans in the "King's Court" will rise in unison and chant as he takes the mound, and when he gets to two strikes on any hitter, and will cheer deliriously anytime No. 34 can record a strikeout against playoff-chasing Oakland.After 15 seasons and more time spent on the injured list than on the mound in recent years, there may not be many suitors for a 33-year-old pitcher with decreased velocity and more than 2,700 career innings on his right arm. Hernandez is 1-7 in 14 starts this season with a 6.51 ERA.The face of the franchise for so long, his contract with the Mariners expires after the season and both sides seem ready to go their own way."I don't want to retire yet," Hernandez said after his last start. "I think I can go out there and compete against anybody. It was a tough year with my shoulder. But if... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:FAREWELL TO THE KINGFelix Hernandez starts for Seattle in what well could be his last game for the Mariners. A sea of yellow-shirted fans in the "King's Court" will rise in unison and chant as he takes the mound, and when he gets to two strikes on any hitter, and will cheer deliriously anytime No. 34 can record a strikeout against playoff-chasing Oakland.After 15 seasons and more time spent on the injured list than on the mound in recent years, there may not be many suitors for a 33-year-old pitcher with decreased velocity and more than 2,700 career innings on his right arm. Hernandez is 1-7 in 14 starts this season with a 6.51 ERA.The face of the franchise for so long, his contract with the Mariners expires after the season and both sides seem ready to go their own way."I don't want to retire yet," Hernandez said after his last start. "I think I can go out there and compete against anybody. It was a tough year with my shoulder. But if... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Thursday:FAREWELL TO THE KINGFelix Hernandez starts for Seattle in what well could be his last game for the Mariners. A sea of yellow-shirted fans in the "King's Court" will rise in unison and chant as he takes the mound, and when he gets to two strikes on any hitter, and will cheer deliriously anytime No. 34 can record a strikeout against playoff-chasing Oakland.After 15 seasons and more time spent on the injured list than on the mound in recent years, there may not be many suitors for a 33-year-old pitcher with decreased velocity and more than 2,700 career innings on his right arm. Hernandez is 1-7 in 14 starts this season with a 6.51 ERA.The face of the franchise for so long, his contract with the Mariners expires after the season and both sides seem ready to go their own way."I don't want to retire yet," Hernandez said after his last start. "I think I can go out there and compete against anybody. It was a tough year with my shoulder. But... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — He arrived as a scraggly teenager with an ill-fitting uniform and curly hair billowing out from underneath his often crooked cap.He'll leave as one of the finest players to ever put on a Seattle Mariners uniform after a career worthy of the "King Felix" nickname that was bestowed upon him.Felix Hernandez will make his final start of the season Thursday night when the Mariners host the Oakland Athletics. It's an important game for the A's in their quest to earn a wild-card berth in the American League. But what happens with the A's will be secondary in Seattle to what happens on the mound, with No. 34 likely taking the ball for the Mariners for the final time.A career that began in 2005 when he was a fresh-faced 19-year-old with all the promise in the world is expected to come to an end, at least as far as Seattle is concerned. Hernandez's contract with the Mariners expires after the season and both sides seem ready to go their own way.Whether Hernandez pitches again is unclear.He... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ronald Acuña Jr. ignited a four-run rally with the go-ahead, two-run double, and the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves clinched a playoff berth with a 10-1 victory over the Washington Nationals on Saturday.Acuña's double down the left-field line off reliever Fernando Rodney added fuel to a dramatic seventh inning for the Braves (93-57), who reduced their magic number to four to clinch their 19th division title.Earlier in the seventh, Charlie Culberson was struck directly on the right cheekbone by a 91-mph fastball on Rodney's first pitch of the game.Culberson remained on his back for several minutes as trainers pressed a towel to his face. He was eventually helped to his feet and onto the back of a cart.The Braves have won the last 11 games started by Mike Foltynewicz (7-5), who pitched six solid innings.Wander Suero (5-8) was charged with the loss as the Washington bullpen gave up nine runs over the final four innings. The Nationals saw their lead in the NL wild card race... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:HOME OF THE BRAVESJosh Donaldson and the Atlanta Braves have won nine in a row, their best string since 2014. The NL East leaders also have taken 13 straight at SunTrust Park.Donaldson hit his 36th home run in a 5-4 win over Washington on Saturday night. He has 28 homers since June 11. The Nationals have lost four in a row and lead the NL wild-card race by two games over the Cubs.Nationals ace Max Scherzer (9-5, 2.60 ERA) tries to end Atlanta's streaks. He makes his fourth straight start since returning from back trouble — the three-time Cy Young Award winner has no decisions and a 4.66 ERA in his last four outings.Mike Soroka (11-3, 2.53 ERA) pitches for the Braves.HARPER HURTINGPhillies star Bryce Harper could return to the lineup if his right hand is feeling better. He was hit by a pitch from Steven Matz of the Mets on Friday night and sat out Saturday.X-rays were negative and manager Gabe Kapler was confident there were no fractures... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Sunday:HOME OF THE BRAVESJosh Donaldson and the Atlanta Braves have won nine in a row, their best string since 2014. The NL East leaders also have taken 13 straight at SunTrust Park.Donaldson hit his 36th home run in a 5-4 win over Washington on Saturday night. He has 28 homers since June 11. The Nationals have lost four in a row and lead the NL wild-card race by two games over the Cubs.Nationals ace Max Scherzer (9-5, 2.60 ERA) tries to end Atlanta's streaks. He makes his fourth straight start since returning from back trouble — the three-time Cy Young Award winner has no decisions and a 4.66 ERA in his last four outings.Mike Soroka (11-3, 2.53 ERA) pitches for the Braves.HARPER HURTINGPhillies star Bryce Harper could return to the lineup if his right hand is feeling better. He was hit by a pitch from Steven Matz of the Mets on Friday night and sat out Saturday.X-rays were negative and manager Gabe Kapler was confident there were no fractures... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Sunday:HOME OF THE BRAVESJosh Donaldson and the Atlanta Braves have won nine in a row, their best string since 2014. The NL East leaders also have taken 13 straight at SunTrust Park.Donaldson hit his 36th home run in a 5-4 win over Washington on Saturday night. He has 28 homers since June 11. The Nationals have lost four in a row and lead the NL wild-card race by two games over the Cubs.Nationals ace Max Scherzer (9-5, 2.60 ERA) tries to end Atlanta's streaks. He makes his fourth straight start since returning from back trouble — the three-time Cy Young Award winner has no decisions and a 4.66 ERA in his last four outings.Mike Soroka (11-3, 2.53 ERA) pitches for the Braves.HARPER HURTINGPhillies star Bryce Harper could return to the lineup if his right hand is feeling better. He was hit by a pitch from Steven Matz of the Mets on Friday night and sat out Saturday.X-rays were negative and manager Gabe Kapler was confident there were no fractures... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Felix Hernandez has been activated off the injured list and was set to start for the Seattle Mariners.Hernandez hasn't pitched in the majors since May 11 because of a strained right shoulder. He was scheduled to start Saturday night at home against Toronto.The 33-year-old former ace is 1-4 with a 6.52 ERA in eight starts for Seattle this season.Hernandez made five starts for three minor league affiliates during his rehabilitation, totaling 13 1/3 innings with a 3.38 ERA.The six-time All-Star and 2010 AL Cy Young Award winner is 169-132 in 15 seasons with Seattle.The Mariners optioned right-hander Zac Grotz to Triple-A Tacoma. The 26-year-old is 1-0 with a 3.52 ERA in five relief appearances since making his major league debut on Aug. 2.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Aug. 111907 — In the second game of a doubleheader, shortened by agreement, Ed Karger of the St. Louis Cardinals pitched a seven-inning perfect game, beating the Boston Braves 4-0.1926 — Tris Speaker of Cleveland hit his 700th career double but the Indians lost to the Chicago White Sox, 7-2. The double came in the third inning off Joe Edwards.1929 — Babe Ruth hit his 500th career home run in the second inning off Willis Hudlin at Cleveland's League Park. The homer was Ruth's 30th of the year, but it wasn't enough as the Indians beat the Yankees 6-5.1951 — Robin Roberts of the Philadelphia Phillies beat the New York Giants 4-0, dropping the Giants 13 1/2 games behind the first-place Brooklyn Dodgers.1961 — Warren Spahn of the Milwaukee Braves scattered six hits to beat the Chicago Cubs, 2-1, for his 300th career victory.1970 — Philadelphia's Jim Bunning beat the Houston Astros 6-5 to become the first pitcher to win 100 games in both leagues since Cy Young.1986 — Cincinnati player-manager... [More]

June 231917 — In baseball's greatest relief effort, Ernie Shore of the Boston Red Sox relieved pitcher Babe Ruth with nobody out and a man on first. The base runner was cut down stealing and Shore retired all 26 batters he faced to gain a 4-0 victory over Washington. Ruth walked Eddie Foster to open the game and was ejected after arguing with umpire Brick Owens.1930 — Hack Wilson drove in six runs on five hits, including the cycle, to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 21-8 rout of the Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field.1950 — Hoot Evers' game-winning home run in the ninth inning gave the Detroit Tigers a 10-9 victory over the New York Yankees as the teams combined for 11 home runs, a major league record. The Yankees hit six and the Tigers five.1961 — The Philadelphia Phillies overcame two, nine-run, deficits to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 12-11. The Phillies trailed 9-0 and 11-2 before they scored four runs in eighth and six runs in ninth.1963 — Jimmie Piersall, playing for the Mets in New... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Seattle Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez pulled himself out of his first minor league rehab start because of fatigue.Hernandez exited Friday after throwing 31 pitches for Triple-A Tacoma. The Mariners said Hernandez came out of the game when he wore down, not with pain.Hernandez allowed two hits and two runs in 2 1/3 innings against San Antonio before coming out. He struck out two and walked one.Seattle had hoped their former ace would throw between 50-60 pitches in his first outing since going on the injured list with right shoulder stiffness on May 12.The 33-year-old righty is 1-4 with a 6.52 ERA in eight starts for Seattle.__More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

June 161916 — Tom Hughes of the Boston Braves pitched a no-hitter in a 2-0 win over Pittsburgh Pirates.1938 — Jimmie Foxx didn't get a chance to hit as the St. Louis Browns walked him six straight times. The Boston Red Sox won anyway, 12-8.1953 — The St. Louis Browns beat New York 3-1 to break the Yankees' 18-game winning streak and end their 14-game losing streak.1957 — Relief pitcher Dixie Howell hit two home runs in the 3 2-3 innings he pitched to lead the Chicago White Sox to an 8-6 victory in the second game of a doubleheader against the Washington Senators.1971 — The Oakland Athletics hit five solo home runs in a 5-1 win over the Washington Senators. Mike Epstein and Joe Rudi had a pair homers and Dave Duncan one. Epstein's home runs came in his first two at-bats to give him homers in four straight at-bats over two games.1978 — After three ninth-inning near misses, Tom Seaver threw the first no-hitter of his 12-year career as the Cincinnati Reds beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-0.1991... [More]

June 21928 — Les Bell of the Boston Braves hit three home runs and a triple at Braves Field, but the Cincinnati Reds came away with a 20-12 triumph.1928 — The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 2-1. All the runs came from three pinch-hit home runs.1935 — Babe Ruth, 40, announces his retirement as a player.1941 — Lou Gehrig died in New York at age 37.1949 — The Philadelphia Phillies hit five homers in the eighth inning against the Cincinnati Reds. Andy Seminick hit two and Del Ennis, Willie Jones, and Schoolboy Rowe hit one apiece. Seminick had homered earlier in the game.1959 — The Baltimore Orioles-Chicago White Sox game at Comiskey Park was delayed for nearly half an hour as a swarm of gnats overcame the field. Groundskeepers tried using bug sprays and torches, but the gnats wouldn't budge. A post-game fireworks display was brought in from center field and a smoke bomb was attached to the framework. The gnats left and the Orioles defeated the White Sox, 3-2.1990 —... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle Mariners starter Felix Hernandez is expected to miss four to six weeks after being diagnosed with a grade 1 lat strain in his right side.Seattle manager Scott Servais said Tuesday that an MRI revealed the extent of the injury. Hernandez was placed on the 10-day injured list on Sunday and was originally diagnosed as having a shoulder strain. Servais said the injury is similar to the lat strain suffered by Hunter Strickland early in the season, just not as severe.Hernandez landed on the injured list a day after he pitched 2 1/3 innings against Boston, giving up six hits and seven earned runs in his second-shortest start of the season. Hernandez lasted only one inning in April against Kansas City, but left that game because of an illness.Hernandez said he's hopeful he will be out only a couple of weeks.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BOSTON (AP) — Seattle's Félix Hernández became the 36th major league pitcher with 2,500 career strikeouts, getting it in the second inning Saturday against the Boston Red Sox.The 33-year-old right-hander fanned rookie Michael Chavis looking with a 92 mph fastball for the milestone.Hernández is the fourth active pitcher to reach the mark — behind the Yankees' CC Sabathia, Houston's Justin Verlander and Washington's Max Scherzer.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BOSTON (AP) — Seattle's Félix Hernández became the 36th major league pitcher with 2,500 career strikeouts, getting it in the second inning Saturday against the Boston Red Sox.The 33-year-old right-hander fanned rookie Michael Chavis looking with a 92 mph fastball for the milestone.Hernández is the fourth active pitcher to reach the mark — behind the Yankees' CC Sabathia, Houston's Justin Verlander and Washington's Max Scherzer.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Adam Wainwright was warm enough on a cool day, allowing one run in six innings for his 150th career victory, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-2 on Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep.Last year's MVP, Christian Yelich, had most of the day off but still had a chance to rescue the Brewers. He came up as a pinch-hitter with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, but Jordan Hicks struck him out to pick up his seventh save in eight chances.Wainwright (2-2) matched his season low in runs allowed, and it was his first quality start in a game with a starting temperature of 60 degrees or cooler since May 27, 2017.Marcell Ozuna and Yadier Molina homered for the Cardinals as part of a four-run fourth.St. Louis' three-game sweep of Milwaukee was its first against its NL Central rival since July 1-3, 2016.Jhoulys Chacin (2-3) lasted four innings, allowing four runs on five hits.PHILLIES 6, METS 0NEW YORK (AP) — Rhys Hoskins homered off reliever Jacob Rhame... [More]