DETROIT (AP) — Justin Verlander drew several big cheers and pitched seven sharp innings in his return to Comerica Park while leading the Houston Astros over the Detroit Tigers 3-2 Monday night.Verlander struck out 10 in his first game in Detroit since being traded to Houston in August 2017. The World Series champion Astros opened a three-game lead over Oakland atop the AL West.Verlander (15-9) made his major league debut with Detroit in 2005 and ranks among the top 10 on several of the team's career pitching lists.The 35-year-old righty received a long standing ovation after a video tribute was played as he walked in from the bullpen, and another when he came out to warm up for the first inning. Both times, he tipped his cap and waved to the crowd.Verlander allowed two runs on six hits and one walk, improving to 98-50 at Comerica Park. Max Scherzer is second in career wins at the stadium with 46, while Jordan Zimmermann leads current Tigers with 14.The Tigers put two runners on in the seventh,... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — Justin Verlander drew several big cheers and pitched seven sharp innings in his return to Comerica Park while leading the Houston Astros over the Detroit Tigers 3-2 Monday night.Verlander struck out 10 in his first game in Detroit since being traded to Houston in August 2017. The World Series champion Astros opened a three-game lead over Oakland atop the AL West.Verlander (15-9) made his major league debut with Detroit in 2005 and ranks among the top 10 on several of the team's career pitching lists.The 35-year-old righty received a long standing ovation after a video tribute was played as he walked in from the bullpen, and another when he came out to warm up for the first inning. Both times, he tipped his cap and waved to the crowd.Verlander allowed two runs on six hits and one walk, improving to 98-50 at Comerica Park. Max Scherzer is second in career wins at the stadium with 46, while Jordan Zimmermann leads current Tigers with 14.The Tigers put two runners on in the seventh,... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — Justin Verlander drew several big cheers and pitched seven sharp innings in his return to Comerica Park while leading the Houston Astros over the Detroit Tigers 3-2 Monday night.Verlander struck out 10 in his first game in Detroit since being traded to Houston in August 2017. The World Series champion Astros opened a three-game lead over Oakland atop the AL West.Verlander (15-9) made his major league debut with Detroit in 2005 and ranks among the top 10 on several of the team's career pitching lists.The 35-year-old righty received a long standing ovation after a video tribute was played as he walked in from the bullpen, and another when he came out to warm up for the first inning. Both times, he tipped his cap and waved to the crowd.Verlander allowed two runs on six hits and one walk, improving to 98-50 at Comerica Park. Max Scherzer is second in career wins at the stadium with 46, while Jordan Zimmermann leads current Tigers with 14.The Tigers put two runners on in the seventh,... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:WELCOME BACKJustin Verlander will make his first start in Detroit since the Tigers traded him to the Astros last August. The 2011 AL MVP went on to win the World Series with Houston last fall, while Detroit is powering through what figures to be a lengthy rebuild. Verlander has faced his former team once, allowing four homers in a puzzling 6-3 loss at Houston on July 15. The right-hander also struck out 12 in that game, but was charged with six runs in six innings while allowing four homers for the first time since 2016.NO RESTThe weary, NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs open a series at Wrigley Field against second-place Milwaukee. The Brewers are two-games behind the Cubs, who capped a soggy, delay-filled series in Washington with a three-hour wait Sunday before that game was postponed. Chicago and the Nationals will make up that rainout Thursday, erasing the Cubs' final scheduled day off for the rest of the season. Jon Lester (15-5, 3.53)... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Monday:WELCOME BACKJustin Verlander will make his first start in Detroit since the Tigers traded him to the Astros last August. The 2011 AL MVP went on to win the World Series with Houston last fall, while Detroit is powering through what figures to be a lengthy rebuild. Verlander has faced his former team once, allowing four homers in a puzzling 6-3 loss at Houston on July 15. The right-hander also struck out 12 in that game, but was charged with six runs in six innings while allowing four homers for the first time since 2016.NO RESTThe weary, NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs open a series at Wrigley Field against second-place Milwaukee. The Brewers are two-games behind the Cubs, who capped a soggy, delay-filled series in Washington with a three-hour wait Sunday before that game was postponed. Chicago and the Nationals will make up that rainout Thursday, erasing the Cubs' final scheduled day off for the rest of the season. Jon Lester (15-5, 3.53)... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sunday's game between the Chicago Cubs and the Washington Nationals was postponed because of rain and rescheduled for Thursday at 4:05 p.m.The decision was announced three hours after the scheduled 1:35 p.m. start time. Thursday is the teams' only remaining mutual day off.Rain fell at Nationals Park throughout the weekend.The start of Friday's game was delayed 1 hour, 21 minutes. The rain returned with two outs in the top of the second inning and play was stopped. The game was postponed after a wait of 2 hours, 55 minutes when the rain had stopped.Saturday became a doubleheader that was supposed to start at 3:05 p.m. but didn't get underway until 5 p.m. A between-games ceremony honoring former National Jason Werth and another rain delay in the nightcap led to 1:44 a.m. conclusion as Washington swept the Cubs.Chicago began Sunday with a 2½-game lead in the NL Central while Washington was 7½ games behind Atlanta in the NL East.The Cubs, in the midst of 23 games in 23 days,... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sunday's game between the Chicago Cubs and the Washington Nationals was postponed because of rain and rescheduled for Thursday at 4:05 p.m.The decision was announced three hours after the scheduled 1:35 p.m. start time. Thursday is the teams' only remaining mutual day off.Rain fell at Nationals Park throughout the weekend.The start of Friday's game was delayed 1 hour, 21 minutes. The rain returned with two outs in the top of the second inning and play was stopped. The game was postponed after a wait of 2 hours, 55 minutes when the rain had stopped.Saturday became a doubleheader that was supposed to start at 3:05 p.m. but didn't get underway until 5 p.m. A between-games ceremony honoring former National Jason Werth and another rain delay in the nightcap led to 1:44 a.m. conclusion as Washington swept the Cubs.Chicago began Sunday with a 2½-game lead the NL Central while Washington was 7½ games behind Atlanta in the NL East.The Cubs, in the midst of 23 games in 23 days,... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Matt Kemp beat the Diamondbacks for the second straight game, hitting a two-run double in the ninth inning that lifted the Los Angeles Dodgers over Arizona 3-2 Sunday for sole possession of first place in the NL West.A day after Kemp launched a go-ahead, three-run homer in the eighth against Archie Bradley, the Dodgers' slugger tagged him again.Kemp's one-out drive off the wall in left-center field put Los Angeles alone atop the West for the first time since Aug. 7. The Dodgers beat the Diamondbacks by identical 3-2 scores three days in a row, after Arizona won the series opener at Dodger Stadium.Brad Boxberger (2-5) started the ninth and put the potential tying and go-ahead runs on with consecutive walks to pinch-hitter Alex Verdugo and Max Muncy. The runners advanced on Enrique Hernandez's sacrifice bunt and set up Kemp.Daniel Descalso homered leading off the ninth against Caleb Ferguson to put Arizona ahead 2-1.Kenley Jansen (1-5) got the last three outs.ASTROS 4,... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Matt Kemp beat the Diamondbacks for the second straight game, hitting a two-run double in the ninth inning that lifted the Los Angeles Dodgers over Arizona 3-2 Sunday for sole possession of first place in the NL West.A day after Kemp launched a go-ahead, three-run homer in the eighth against Archie Bradley, the Dodgers' slugger tagged him again.Kemp's one-out drive off the wall in left-center field put Los Angeles alone atop the West for the first time since Aug. 7. The Dodgers beat the Diamondbacks by identical 3-2 scores three days in a row, after Arizona won the series opener at Dodger Stadium.Brad Boxberger (2-5) started the ninth and put the potential tying and go-ahead runs on with consecutive walks to pinch-hitter Alex Verdugo and Max Muncy. The runners advanced on Enrique Hernandez's sacrifice bunt and set up Kemp.Daniel Descalso homered leading off the ninth against Caleb Ferguson to put Arizona ahead 2-1.Kenley Jansen (1-5) got the last three outs.BRAVES 5,... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Sunday:SHO TIMEAngels rookie Shohei Ohtani is set to pitch again, and will start at night against the Astros at Minute Maid Park. The two-way sensation from Japan hasn't been on the mound in the majors since spraining the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow nearly three months ago.Ohtani excelled in his first nine starts before getting hurt, going 4-1 with a 3.10 ERA. He's continued to do well at the plate as a designated hitter.Gerrit Cole (12-5, 2.85) starts for AL West-leading Houston.ACESIt's a marquee matchup at Citizens Bank Park when Aaron Nola (15-3, 2.10 ERA) starts for playoff-contending Philadelphia vs. lefty Jon Lester (14-5, 3.67) and the NL Central-leading Cubs. Nola has given up more than two runs just once in his last 12 starts, building his case for the Cy Young Award.START HIM UPTwins manager Paul Molitor says he will use a reliever as the starter in the series finale at Texas, and is leaning toward lefty Gabriel Moya.... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — At one point during Anthony Rizzo's tough start, the big first baseman visited Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon in his office.Rizzo and Maddon talked hitting, and Maddon wrote down what he thought Rizzo's numbers would look like by the end of the season. Fast forward to the last days of August, and Rizzo's statistics are beginning to approach his usual numbers — where Maddon thought they would go eventually.Only Rizzo might have to just trust his manager on that one."I wrote the numbers down a couple months ago. I just have to remember where I put them," a grinning Maddon said.At the end of perhaps his most challenging season in Chicago, the 64-year-old Maddon remains as comfortable with himself as the day he took over four years ago, when he boldly talked about the playoffs at a bar in the shadow in the Wrigley Field.Maddon's personality — his steady hand, and perhaps more importantly, his subtle changes over the years — is a major reason why the Cubs just keep winning through... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — Kendrys Morales had his home run streak snapped at seven games by the Baltimore Orioles, who ended an eight-game skid by defeating the Toronto Blue Jays 7-0 on Monday night.Striving to tie the major league record of homering in eight straight games, Morales went 0 for 3 with a walk and did not hit the ball out of the infield. In his final chance, the Toronto slugger swung through a slider from Paul Fry to strike out in the eighth inning.Though he failed to match the mark shared by Dale Long, Don Mattingly and Ken Griffey Jr., Morales owns the big league record for successive games with a home run by a switch-hitter. He also owns the franchise record for consecutive games with a long ball.Facing Baltimore rookie David Hess, against whom he homered last week, Morales struck out in the first inning, grounded out in the fourth and drew a four-pitch walk in the sixth.Hess (3-8) tossed six innings of four-hit ball to earn his first win since May 25. He was 0-7 in his previous... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — Kendrys Morales had his home run streak snapped at seven games by the Baltimore Orioles, who ended an eight-game skid by defeating the Toronto Blue Jays 7-0 on Monday night.Striving to tie the major league record of homering in eight straight games, Morales went 0 for 3 with a walk and did not hit the ball out of the infield. In his final chance, the Toronto slugger swung through a slider from Paul Fry to strike out in the eighth inning.Though he failed to match the mark shared by Dale Long, Don Mattingly and Ken Griffey Jr., Morales owns the big league record for successive games with a home run by a switch-hitter. He also owns the franchise record for consecutive games with a long ball.Facing Baltimore rookie David Hess, against whom he homered last week, Morales struck out in the first inning, grounded out in the fourth and drew a four-pitch walk in the sixth.Hess (3-8) tossed six innings of four-hit ball to earn his first win since May 25. He was 0-7 in his previous... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — Kendrys Morales had his home run streak snapped at seven games by the Baltimore Orioles, who ended an eight-game skid by defeating the Toronto Blue Jays 7-0 on Monday night.Striving to tie the major league record of homering in eight straight games, Morales went 0 for 3 with a walk and did not hit the ball out of the infield. In his final chance, the Toronto slugger swung through a slider from Paul Fry to strike out in the eighth inning.Though he failed to match the mark shared by Dale Long, Don Mattingly and Ken Griffey Jr., Morales owns the big league record for successive games with a home run by a switch-hitter. He also owns the franchise record for consecutive games with a long ball.Facing Baltimore rookie David Hess, against whom he homered last week, Morales struck out in the first inning, grounded out in the fourth and drew a four-pitch walk in the sixth.Hess (3-8) tossed six innings of four-hit ball to earn his first win since May 25. He was 0-7 in his previous... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:CHASING HISTORYKendrys Morales has homered in seven straight games for Toronto, one short of the major league record. He can match Dale Long, Don Mattingly and Ken Griffey Jr. when the Blue Jays face rookie David Hess (2-8, 5.50) and the Orioles in Baltimore. "It'd be something if he gets (the record). I don't think any of us can comprehend how hard it is to do," Toronto manager John Gibbons said. Morales has already connected off Hess during the streak, and the Cuban slugger said the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, has requested one of his bats. "It's amazing what I've been doing," he added. One of seven players in big league history with a streak this long, Morales has six home runs in 116 career at-bats at Camden Yards. He has 21 homers this season and is batting .500 (17 for 34) with eight home runs and 15 RBIs during a 10-game hitting streak.WILD WESTOakland plays at Houston in the opener of a three-game series between the top... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Monday:CHASING HISTORYKendrys Morales has homered in seven straight games for Toronto, one short of the major league record. He can match Dale Long, Don Mattingly and Ken Griffey Jr. when the Blue Jays face rookie David Hess (2-8, 5.50) and the Orioles in Baltimore. "It'd be something if he gets (the record). I don't think any of us can comprehend how hard it is to do," Toronto manager John Gibbons said. Morales has already connected off Hess during the streak, and the Cuban slugger said the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, has requested one of his bats. "It's amazing what I've been doing," he added. One of seven players in big league history with a streak this long, Morales has six home runs in 116 career at-bats at Camden Yards. He has 21 homers this season and is batting .500 (17 for 34) with eight home runs and 15 RBIs during a 10-game hitting streak.WILD WESTOakland plays at Houston in the opener of a three-game series between the... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Paul DeJong hit a go-ahead, two-run homer off Kenley Jansen in the ninth inning, lifting the St. Louis Cardinals to a 3-1 victory and a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night.The Cardinals' eighth straight road win helped them improve to 17-4 this month, the most wins in the majors. They've homered in 15 straight games, one off the current season mark of 16 in a row by Philadelphia.St. Louis remained 2½ games behind the NL Central-leading Cubs.For Jansen, it was a familiar ending.The All-Star closer, who became a father for the third time earlier in the day, gave up consecutive homers to Jedd Gyorko and Matt Carpenter in the series opener Monday. That was Jansen's first game back after missing time because of an irregular heartbeat.This time, Gyorko singled off Jansen (0-5) and DeJong followed with a drive to left-center to give the Cardinals their first lead.Jordan Hicks struck out Cody Bellinger, Brian Dozier and Chris Taylor to earn his fifth... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Rookie Freddy Peralta tossed seven scoreless innings and drove in a run with his first career hit, combining with two relievers on a five-hitter to lead the Milwaukee Brewers past the Cincinnati Reds 4-0 on Wednesday.Christian Yelich homered and finished a triple shy of the cycle, reaching base five times and driving in two runs for Milwaukee. He opened the first with his 21st homer, doubled in the third, walked in the fourth and singled in the sixth and eighth.Peralta (6-4) allowed just three singles, striking out seven and walking two to win for the second time in seven starts. The 22-year-old right-hander did not allow a hit until Jose Peraza's single to open the fourth.Peralta was 0-for-22 with 11 strikeouts this season before he drove in the Brewers' second run with a fourth-inning single.Robert Stephenson (0-2) allowed four runs on nine hits in five innings, walking three and striking out four.The Reds loaded the bases in the eighth against Taylor Williams, but Jeremy... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Rookie Freddy Peralta tossed seven scoreless innings and drove in a run with his first career hit, combining with two relievers on a five-hitter to lead the Milwaukee Brewers past the Cincinnati Reds 4-0 on Wednesday.Christian Yelich homered and finished a triple shy of the cycle, reaching base five times and driving in two runs for Milwaukee. He opened the first with his 21st homer, doubled in the third, walked in the fourth and singled in the sixth and eighth.Peralta (6-4) allowed just three singles, striking out seven and walking two to win for the second time in seven starts. The 22-year-old right-hander did not allow a hit until Jose Peraza's single to open the fourth.Peralta was 0-for-22 with 11 strikeouts this season before he drove in the Brewers' second run with a fourth-inning single.Robert Stephenson (0-2) allowed four runs on nine hits in five innings, walking three and striking out four.The Reds loaded the bases in the eighth against Taylor Williams, but Jeremy... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Justin Verlander pitched just well enough to earn his 200th career win and the Houston Astros hit five home runs, beating the Oakland Athletics 9-4 Sunday to avoid a sweep and retake sole possession of the AL West lead.The surging A's had won the first two games at the Coliseum to tie shaky Houston atop the division. But Yuli Gurriel hit a three-run homer in the third inning and Evan Gattis, Alex Bergman, Marwin Gonzalez and Martin Maldonado later homered for the defending World Series champions. Maldonado also tripled and doubled.Verlander (12-8) gave up four runs in 5 1/3 innings while becoming the 114th pitcher with at least 200 career wins.Oakland's Sean Manaea (11-9) was charged with six runs and nine hits in four-plus innings.DODGERS 12, MARINERS 1SEATTLE (AP) — Clayton Kershaw pitched seven sharp innings for his 150th career win, Justin Turner homered and drove in five runs, and Los Angeles routed Seattle.Kershaw (6-5) gave up four hits, struck out seven and... [More]