A look at what's happening around the majors Thursday:THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHTOzzie Albies, Ronald Acuna Jr. and the baby Braves play their series finale against the visiting Chicago Cubs. Rookie right-hander Mike Soroka (1-1, 3.68 ERA) makes his fourth start for surprising Atlanta, which boasts the best record in the National League at 26-16. Veteran lefty Jon Lester (3-1, 2.66) is 6-2 with a 2.47 ERA in nine career starts against the Braves. He has a 1.83 ERA in six games at Atlanta.MR. AUTOMATICOdubel Herrera tries to extend his on-base streak to 43 games for the surging Phillies when they visit St. Louis. Philadelphia (24-16) has won six of seven and is eight games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 2011 season. "We're really, really positive in here right now," pitcher Nick Pivetta said. "Everybody is gelling together, you guys can see it. It's really fun in here right now."BORDER PATROLThe Oakland Athletics will be without catcher Bruce Maxwell for a four-game series... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts leaned back in his chair and it did not collapse, which is surprising given the way the season has gone.The defending NL champions had just endured one of their six consecutive defeats through Wednesday, all against last-place teams. The two most recent losses came in Miami, and Roberts contemplated his team's place in the universe, which includes the same 16-26 record as the Marlins, baseball's perennial punch line."I need a Presidente," he said, before pausing to reconsider. "I need more than one."Here's a toast to the most disappointing team in the majors. The Dodgers began the season with expectations to match their high payroll, but they've been bad and getting worse. Since May 5, they are 0-8 against the Marlins, Reds and Padres, the NL's cellar-dwellers.On Tuesday the Dodgers failed to score against Miami starter Wei-Yin Chen, who entered with a 10.22 ERA. On Wednesday, they scored one run against Elieser Hernandez, a Rule 5 pickup... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Houston Astros recalled outfielder Tony Kemp from Triple-A Fresno on Wednesday after sending Jake Marisnick down after the previous night's game.Kemp was hitting .335 with a .841 OPS this season at Triple-A, including a 20-game hitting streak end that ended Tuesday.He flew from Fresno to Phoenix to El Paso, Texas, with his Triple-A team Tuesday, and was informed of the call-up at the end of the second flight. He was on a shuttle back to the airport at 4:30 a.m. Wednesday morning for a 6:15 flight back to the West Coast, where he will bat ninth in the series finale against the Los Angeles Angels."It's always funny, the day you get called up, you always go 0-for," Kemp said prior to the game. "I'm kind of glad it ended just cause you have so many superstitions."Kemp gives the Astros added flexibility as he can play in the outfield or at second base, but Hinch is hoping he can provide a boost from left field."He's been the most consistent performer down there from... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Bartolo Colon laughed off having Jean Segura's line drive hit him in the stomach, allowing four hits in 7 2/3 shutout innings and giving the Texas Rangers a 5-1 win over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday.Colon (2-1), who turns 45 on May 24, struck out two, walked none and threw 71 of 96 pitches for strikes.Delino DeShields gave Texas the lead with a two-out RBI double in the eighth inning that scored Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who had singled off James Pazos (1-1). The Rangers added four more in the ninth, all after Ryon Healy's two-out error.PHILLIES 4, ORIOLES 1BALTIMORE (AP) — Nick Pivetta (3-2) tied a career-high with 11 strikeouts, and Cesar Hernandez homered as Philadelphia (24-16) climbed eight games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 2011 season.Odubel Herrera singled in the first and extended his on-base streak to 42 games for the Phillies, who have won six of seven.Andrew Cashner (1-5) allowed three runs, five hits and three walks over 5 2/3 innings. He... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Derek Jeter was chatting with a cluster of fans during Marlins batting practice Wednesday when a preschooler wearing a Dodgers cap asked him to sign a baseball."I will if you take that hat off," Jeter said with a smile.One-quarter of the way through Jeter's first season as CEO, the Marlins are still struggling to reclaim the support of South Florida. Average home attendance through Tuesday was 10,676, by far the worst in the majors, and a 15-26 record didn't have fans scrambling to jump on the bandwagon.Jeter said he's not pleased with the team's record or attendance, but sees reason for encouragement regarding the direction of the troubled franchise."What I try to do is take positives from every game," he said. "There are a lot of good things we've seen. Obviously no one is happy with the win-loss record. But there are a lot of positives."They're tougher to find regarding attendance, with the Marlins likely to finish last in the National League for the 13th time in 14 years."We've... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Red Sox manager Alex Cora said he was surprised to hear that reliever Carson Smith feels that fatigue could have contributed to his dislocated pitching shoulder.Smith was placed on the 10-day disabled list on Tuesday."I don't agree with it," Cora said when he met the media Wednesday at Fenway Park before the team's series finale against Oakland. "On a daily basis, we talk to pitchers and see how they feel. "If they don't feel that they can pitch that day, we stay away from them."It caught me by surprise. If he felt that way, he should have talked to us."The 28-year-old right-hander was injured when he threw his glove during a tantrum in the dugout after leaving Monday night's 6-5 loss to Oakland. He entered with the Red Sox trailing 5-4 in the eighth, allowed Khris Davis' leadoff home run, then retired three straight batters.After he was placed on the DL, Smith opened up."I think fatigue played a factor with my shoulder, and my shoulder just couldn't handle it," he said. "Think... [More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Carlos Gomez was put on the disabled list Wednesday with a strained right groin, a day after he left a win over Kansas City in the sixth inning."The way he plays, how intense he is, running the bases, playing the outfield, probably smartest to get him off his feet for 10 days, not allow him to aggravate it," Rays manager Kevin Cash said Wednesday. "It'll be a loss."Gomez signed a $4 million, one-year deal in March. He is hitting .200 with five home runs and 11 RBIs in 37 games, striking out 49 times in 145 at-bats."I know Carlos hasn't swung the bat the way he's capable of, but you know eventually he's going to get hot," Cash said. "We're still waiting but maybe this will give him a bit of a blow, rest his mind as much as his groin and come back and get us going once he does come back."The 32-year-old Gomez was an All-Star in 2013-14 while with Milwaukee. He hit .255 with 17 home runs and 51 RBIs last season with Texas.Gomez said he felt... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals placed struggling reliever Luke Gregerson on the 10-day disabled list Wednesday with a right shoulder impingement.Gregerson, who signed an $11 million, two-year contract with St. Louis over the winter, has an 8.64 ERA in 12 appearances this season. The 34-year-old right-hander recorded just one out in Tuesday's 4-1 loss at Minnesota and was charged with two runs and two hits."The shoulder just wasn't quite cooperating and he's got some bark in the elbow too," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "So we're going to have to get a look at both. I think he's had some things periodically through a long career. He'll have them pop up, but these don't seem to be letting him do what he needs to do."St. Louis recalled right-hander John Brebbia from Triple-A Memphis. Brebbia is 0-1 with a 2.70 ERA in six relief appearances for St. Louis this season, striking out 14 in 10 innings.St. Louis has put four pitchers on the disabled list in the last week, with... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota catcher Jason Castro will miss the rest of the season following surgery to repair the meniscus in his right knee.Castro tore his meniscus, was operated on Tuesday by Dr. Richard Steadman and had been expected to be sidelined for four-to-six weeks.Minnesota said Wednesday that Steadman found damage to be more extensive than an MRI indicated. As a result, Steadman performed a full repair instead of a trim of the meniscus. Castro's meniscus was trimmed during an operation in 2011."There's only so much meniscus you can clean up as you go," Twins chief baseball officer Derek Falvey said Wednesday. "Certainly, MRI read for us that we thought it would be more of a clean-up, but you don't know until you go in there."Falvey said Castro's rehabilitation will take five-to-six months, putting the 30-year-old on track to be ready for spring training. Castro had surgery to repair the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in 2011 and had a cyst removed from the knee in 2013."They... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota catcher Jason Castro will miss the rest of the season following surgery to remove the meniscus in his right knee.Castro tore his meniscus, was operated on Tuesday by Dr. Richard Steadman and had been expected to be sidelined for four-to-six weeks.Minnesota said Wednesday that Steadman found damage to be more extensive than an MRI indicated. As a result, Steadman performed a meniscectomy to remove the cartilage.Twins chief baseball officer Derek Falvey says Castro's rehabilitation will take five-to-six months, putting the 30-year-old on track to be ready for spring training.Castro has been on the disabled list since May 5. He hit .143 with three RBIs in 19 games and tried to play through knee pain for several weeks.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

DETROIT (AP) — Edwin Encarnacion has been scratched from Cleveland's lineup against Detroit because of back spasms.The 35-year-old Encarnacion was slated to bat fifth as the designated hitter, but a new lineup was announced about 20 minutes before the scheduled first pitch. Encarnacion is hitting .205 with nine home runs and 22 RBIs.Cleveland lost the first two games of this series against the Tigers. The Indians send Trevor Bauer to the mound Wednesday to try to avoid the sweep.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

MIAMI (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts leaned back in his chair and it did not collapse, which is surprising given the way the season has gone.The defending NL champions had just endured their fifth defeat in a row, all against last-place teams. The latest loss came in Miami, and Roberts contemplated his team's place in the universe, including a mere one-game lead over the Marlins, baseball's perennial punch line."I need a Presidente," he said, before pausing to reconsider. "I need more than one."Here's a toast to the most disappointing team in the majors. The Dodgers began the season with expectations to match their high payroll, but they've been bad and getting worse. Since May 5, they are 0-7 against the Marlins, Reds and Padres, the NL's cellar-dwellers.On Tuesday the Dodgers failed to score against Miami starter Wei-Yin Chen, who entered with a 10.22 ERA. The 4-2 defeat left them at 16-25, putting Roberts' team on pace for 99 losses."This is testing every bit of fight... [More]

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto has apologized for saying he doesn't care about Canadian baseball after being asked about James Paxton's recent no-hitter.Votto talked about Paxton's feat for the Mariners against the Blue Jays in Toronto in a Yahoo Sports podcast. The 2010 NL MVP responded that "As far as Toronto, and Canadian baseball, and the country of Canada, and (Paxton) being Canadian, I don't care at all."The Toronto native said he is "terribly ashamed" of his comments and called them "ridiculously selfish and short-sighted" in an email posted on the Canadian Baseball Network website.Votto said the question brought back feelings of resentment over not making Team Canada or being drafted by the Blue Jays. Votto played for Canada at the 2009 and 2013 World Baseball Classics.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals have placed struggling reliever Luke Gregerson on the 10-day disabled list with a right shoulder impingement.The Cardinals also recalled right-hander John Brebbia from Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday. Brebbia is 0-1 with a 2.70 ERA in six relief appearances for St. Louis this season, striking out 14 in 10 innings.Gregerson, who signed an $11 million, two-year contract with St. Louis over the winter, has an 8.64 ERA in 12 appearances this season. The 34-year-old right-hander recorded just one out in Tuesday's 4-1 loss at Minnesota and was charged with two runs and two hits.St. Louis has put four pitchers on the disabled list in the last week, with Gregerson joining starters Carlos Martinez and Adam Wainwright and reliever Tyler Lyons.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

MIAMI (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts leaned back in his chair and it did not collapse, which is surprising given the way the season has gone.The defending NL champions had just endured their fifth defeat in a row, all against last-place teams. The latest loss came in Miami, and Roberts contemplated his team's place in the universe, including a mere one-game lead over the Marlins, baseball's perennial punch line."I need a Presidente," he said, before pausing to reconsider. "I need more than one."Here's a toast to one of the most surprising teams in the majors, although not in a good way. The Dodgers began the season with expectations to match their high payroll, but they've been bad and getting worse. Since May 5, they are 0-7 against the Marlins, Reds and Padres, the NL's cellar-dwellers.On Tuesday the Dodgers failed to score against Miami starter Wei-Yin Chen, who entered with a 10.22 ERA. The 4-2 defeat left them at 16-25, putting Roberts' team on pace for 99 losses."This... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers went 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position against Wei-Yin Chen and four relievers and were beaten by a last-place team for the fifth straight game, losing to the Miami Marlins 4-2 Tuesday night.The NL champions managed only five hits after being swept in a four-game series at home by woeful Cincinnati. Alex Wood (0-4) lost despite allowing only one earned run in six innings for the Dodgers (16-25), who are off to their worst start in 60 years. Miami (15-26) could pass them by sweeping the three-game series.Nick Wittgren (2-0) entered in the fifth and worked 1 2/3 perfect innings to lower his ERA to 0.69. Brad Ziegler gave up a home run to Cody Bellinger in the ninth but earned his sixth save.Dodgers infielders Justin Turner and Logan Forsythe were activated from the disabled list but couldn't spark the defending NL champions, who have scored 11 runs during their skid.ASTROS 5, ANGELS 3ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Jose Altuve hit a go-ahead, three-run double... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers went 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position against Wei-Yin Chen and four relievers and were beaten by a last-place team for the fifth straight game, losing to the Miami Marlins 4-2 Tuesday night.The NL champions managed only five hits after being swept in a four-game series at home by woeful Cincinnati. Alex Wood (0-4) lost despite allowing only one earned run in six innings for the Dodgers (16-25), who are off to their worst start in 60 years. Miami (15-26) could pass them by sweeping the three-game series.Nick Wittgren (2-0) entered in the fifth and worked 1 2/3 perfect innings to lower his ERA to 0.69. Brad Ziegler gave up a home run to Cody Bellinger in the ninth but earned his sixth save.Dodgers infielders Justin Turner and Logan Forsythe were activated from the disabled list but couldn't spark the defending NL champions, who have scored 11 runs during their skid.PADRES 4, ROCKIES 0SAN DIEGO (AP) — Jordan Lyles came (1-1) within five outs of... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto felt disappointment first when he learned of Robinson Cano's 80-game suspension for violating baseball's drug agreement.Then he thought about the opportunities."I think you all have figured out that I'm an optimistic person by nature," Dipoto said Tuesday. "And it turned into, 'All right, how do we turn this into as positive as we can and solve the problem?'"Seattle has rarely fielded the starting lineup it envisioned this season and yet it has stuck around a competitive AL West race. But none of its previous absences will be impactful as the loss of Cano, an All-Star second baseman suspended Tuesday after testing positive for Furosemide, a diuretic that can be used to mask performance-enhancing drugs.Dipoto said Cano's loss "really leaves an impression." It also ups the pressure on the GM to make a move to keep the Mariners' playoff aspirations alive. Lucky for him, he has a couple of assets working in his favor — a Gold Glove Award-winning... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:SECOND CHANCEDee Gordon and the Mariners are contemplating a move back to second base for the 2015 Gold Glove Award winner. Gordon was moved to center field following an offseason trade to Seattle from Miami, but now the Mariners need help at the keystone with Robinson Cano serving an 80-game suspension for violating baseball's drug agreement. Gordon Beckham and Andrew Romine will play second for the short-term, but Gordon took infield practice Tuesday and could find himself back on the dirt in a game soon.RAIN GAMESThe Nationals and Yankees will resume a game suspended Tuesday night in the middle of the sixth inning before playing the finale of a two-game set. The score is tied 3-3, with New York rallying from three down behind Tyler Austin's two-run homer and a sacrifice fly. Of course, rain is also in the forecast Wednesday in Washington, and Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he did not think the teams would make up those games on both... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers went 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position against Wei-Yin Chen and four relievers and were beaten by a last-place team for the fifth straight game, losing to the Miami Marlins 4-2 Tuesday night.The NL champions managed only five hits after being swept in a four-game series at home by woeful Cincinnati. Alex Wood (0-4) lost despite allowing only one earned run in six innings for the Dodgers (16-25), who are off to their worst start in 60 years. Miami (15-26) could pass them by sweeping the three-game series.Nick Wittgren (2-0) entered in the fifth and worked 1 2/3 perfect innings to lower his ERA to 0.69. Brad Ziegler gave up a home run to Cody Bellinger in the ninth but earned his sixth save.Dodgers infielders Justin Turner and Logan Forsythe were activated from the disabled list but couldn't spark the defending NL champions, who have scored 11 runs during their skid.PADRES 4, ROCKIES 0SAN DIEGO (AP) — Jordan Lyles came (1-1) within five outs of... [More]