HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Astros have optioned reliever Ken Giles to Triple-A Fresno, a night after he appeared to curse at manager A.J. Hinch when he lifted him from the game.Despite Tuesday night's incident, the Astros insisted that the move was about baseball and not the right-hander's behavior."We need to get his pitching right," Hinch said on Wednesday. "He's had an up-and-down season. He's had signs that things are good. He's had some bad games. He's had some meltdowns. But we need to get him right. He's not right and we've got to get him right mentally and physically to make sure he's a good contributor to a 'pen."The Astros were up by four to start the ninth inning against Oakland on Tuesday night when Giles took over and gave up three straight singles, which cut the lead to 4-1.Hinch came to the mound to take out Giles and the television broadcast caught him appearing to curse at Hinch right after he walked by him on his way off the field. The Athletics tied the game in the ninth... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Indians reliever Andrew Miller threw off the mound Wednesday at Progressive Field, a major stride in his recovery from knee inflammation."Really well," manager Terry Francona said describing Miller's workout, which was closely observed by pitching coach Carl Willis. "I think every time he throws, he takes a step in the right direction."Miller has been on the disabled list since May 26, and the left-hander's absence has had a detrimental effect on Cleveland's bullpen, which entered Wednesday's series finale against Cincinnati with the AL's highest ERA.On Tuesday, Indians closer Cody Allen and Dan Otero couldn't protect a 4-0 lead as the Reds rallied for a 7-4 win.Miller has been throwing off a bullpen mound, but the Indians moved his workout onto the ballpark's main mound so the team could better use monitoring equipment to track his mechanics, velocity and location.Francona said the next step for Miller before he returns to the Indians — and that won't be until after the... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets have promoted outfielder Matt den Dekker and right-hander Jacob Rhame from Triple-A Las Vegas.Den Dekker hit .286 with 11 homers and 34 RBIs in 63 games with Las Vegas. He was in New York's starting lineup for Wednesday night's game against Philadelphia, batting sixth and playing center field in his first major league appearance since July 2, 2017, with Detroit.Rhame is beginning his sixth stint with the Mets. The 25-year old reliever is 0-1 with a 6.59 ERA and one save. He served as the 26th man for Monday's doubleheader against Philadelphia.The Mets also optioned right-hander Drew Gagnon and outfielder Kevin Kaczmarski to Las Vegas. Gagnon was charged with six runs in 4 2/3 innings Tuesday in his major league debut. Kaczmarski was 0 for 4 with a walk since being called up on June 22.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

BALTIMORE (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles placed right-hander Andrew Cashner on the 10-day disabled list on Wednesday with a neck strain.Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said, "It's something he gets once a year." Cashner received an injection on Wednesday to treat the injury.It has been a rough season for the 31-year old Cashner, who signed a two-year contract as a free agent in February.After going 11-11 with Texas last year, Cashner is 2-9 with a 4.56 ERA and is 0-4 in eight starts since May 21. He gave up five runs in 6 1/3 innings against the Yankees on Tuesday after retiring the first 13 batters.Baltimore recalled right-hander Yefry Ramirez from Triple-A Norfolk. The rookie could start in Cashner's place on Sunday against Texas.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

CLEVELAND (AP) — Indians manager Terry Francona spent the night tossing, turning and trying to forget.There are tough losses during the course of a season. And then there are troubling ones — like what happened Tuesday night."I thought about it at 1 o'clock. I thought about it at 2 o'clock. I thought about it at 3 o'clock. I thought about it at 4 o'clock," Francona said Wednesday, still coping with the Indians' shocking — and embarrassing — 7-4 loss to Cincinnati. "Between 6 and 8 I actually slept."He wasn't the only one with insomnia.Francona and several of his coaches had trouble moving past a communication breakdown that helped the Reds score seven runs in the ninth inning. As the Reds were rallying, Francona wanted to bring in left-hander Oliver Perez to face slugger Joey Votto with two outs, the bases loaded and the Indians clinging to a 4-3 lead. But pitching coach Carl Willis thought he heard Francona tell him to summon right-hander Dan Otero.Votto promptly hit a three-run double... [More]

It's common in fantasy baseball to factor parks in when helping value players. Lorenzo Cain saw a boost in value in season-long leagues because moving from Kansas City to Milwaukee was expected to boost his offensive numbers. Daily park shifts can similarly help us to deduce value in each game.At this point in the evolution of daily fantasy baseball, using offensive park factors is fairly common practice, and the edge is reduced in knowing parks in Colorado, Texas, and Cincinnati are offensive boons while parks in San Francisco and Pittsburgh favor the pitcher.But one area of park factors that is seldom discussed is their effect on strikeouts. A close look at the data shows that certain parks inflate strikeout totals while other parks suppress strikeout totals due to some combination of several factors: amount of foul territory, elevation, batter's eye, and potentially other small, unknown but impactful factors.A good example of this is Houston ace Gerrit Cole. Cole moved from PNC Park... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies have activated right-hander Vince Velasquez from the 10-day disabled list.Velasquez had been sidelined by a bruised right forearm. He is slated to start Wednesday night against the New York Mets.The 26-year-old Velasquez was hit just below the elbow by a line drive off the bat of Washington's Adam Eaton on June 30. He retrieved the ball and threw left-handed to first for the out, and then fell to the ground in pain.Velasquez was placed on the disabled list on July 1 and missed just one start. He has made four trips to the DL in his three seasons with Philadelphia.Enyel De Los Santos was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday night after throwing 6 1/3 effective innings to earn a win over the Mets in his major league debut. The 22-year old prospect is eligible to play for the World Team in Sunday's All-Star Futures Game.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Astros have optioned reliever Ken Giles to Triple-A Fresno, a night after he appeared to curse at manager A.J. Hinch when he lifted him from the game.The Astros were up by four to start the ninth inning against Oakland on Tuesday night when Giles took over and gave up three straight singles which cut the lead to 4-1.Hinch came to the mound to take out Giles and the television broadcast caught him appearing to curse at Hinch right after he walked by him on his way off the field.I?t was the second major outburst of the year for the right-hander, who punched himself in the face as he left the mound after another bad performance earlier in the season.Houston went on to win Tuesday night's game 6-5 in 11 innings.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins have placed right-handed reliever Addison Reed on the 10-day disabled list with tightness in his triceps.The move was made before Wednesday's game against Kansas City, the first trip to the disabled list in Reed's seven-year major league career.In 41 games in his first season with the Twins, Reed is 1-5 with a 4.83 ERA. He has allowed eight home runs in 41 innings. Five of those have come in his past 16 appearances, over which he has a 9.42 ERA with 24 hits allowed in 14 1/3 innings. Reed signed a two-year, $16.75 million contract with the Twins before the season.Right-handed reliever Alan Busenitz was recalled from Triple-A Rochester for the third time this year.___For more AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

A look at what's happening around the majors on Wednesday:BRYANT BACK WITH CUBBIESKris Bryant flew to the Bay Area on Tuesday night and is hoping to play in the Cubs' series finale against the Giants. Bryant has been out since June 23 with inflammation in his left shoulder. He played rehab games for Double-A Tennessee on Monday and Tuesday before making his way to AT&T Park. The 2016 NL MVP is hitting .280 with nine homers and 36 RBIs in 66 games this season. Johnny Cueto will try to bounce back for San Francisco after allowing 10 hits and five runs in his return from the DL last week.POORLY 'PENNEDThe Indians return to the park following an excruciating loss Tuesday, when relievers Cody Allen and Dan Otero combined to allow seven two-out runs in the ninth inning of a 7-4 loss to Cincinnati. Trevor Bauer opened the game with eight scoreless innings for Cleveland, but Allen allowed six runs in the ninth and Otero allowed another before the Reds finally made the last out on the basepaths.... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Joey Votto hit a go-ahead three-run double during a seven-run ninth inning and the Cleveland Indians bullpen wasted a gem from Trevor Bauer in a 7-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night.Indians closer Cody Allen (2-4) allowed six runs after getting two outs in the ninth, the last three charged on Votto's sharp hit to right off Dan Otero. Adam Duvall also doubled in two in the ninth, while Jose Peraza and Eugenio Suarez each hit an RBI single. Cincinnati had seven straight batters reach with two outs, and the inning didn't end until Scooter Gennett ran into the third out at third base on Suarez's single.Cleveland's bullpen entered Tuesday with a 5.13 ERA, better only than the Rockies (5.28) and Royals (5.35).Bauer was brilliant, striking out 12 over eight scoreless innings in his first appearance since being named to the All-Star team for the first time. The right-hander allowed three singles, walked one and didn't allow a hit until Jesse Winker hit a one-out single... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Joey Votto hit a go-ahead three-run double during a seven-run ninth inning and the Cleveland Indians bullpen wasted a gem from Trevor Bauer in a 7-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night.Indians closer Cody Allen (2-4) allowed six runs after getting two outs in the ninth, the last three charged on Votto's sharp hit to right off Dan Otero. Adam Duvall also doubled in two in the ninth, while Jose Peraza and Eugenio Suarez each hit an RBI single. Cincinnati had seven straight batters reach with two outs, and the inning didn't end until Scooter Gennett ran into the third out at third base on Suarez's single.Cleveland's bullpen entered Tuesday with a 5.13 ERA, better only than the Rockies (5.28) and Royals (5.35).Bauer was brilliant, striking out 12 over eight scoreless innings in his first appearance since being named to the All-Star team for the first time. The right-hander allowed three singles, walked one and didn't allow a hit until Jesse Winker hit a one-out single... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors on Wednesday:BRYANT BACK WITH CUBBIESKris Bryant flew to the Bay Area on Tuesday night and is hoping to play in the Cubs' series finale against the Giants. Bryant has been out since June 23 with inflammation in his left shoulder. He played rehab games for Double-A Tennessee on Monday and Tuesday before making his way to AT&T Park. The 2016 NL MVP is hitting .280 with nine homers and 36 RBIs in 66 games this season. Johnny Cueto will try to bounce back for San Francisco after allowing 10 hits and five runs in his return from the DL last week.POORLY 'PENNEDThe Indians return to the park following an excruciating loss Tuesday, when relievers Cody Allen and Dan Otero combined to allow seven two-out runs in the ninth inning of a 7-4 loss to Cincinnati. Trevor Bauer opened the game with eight scoreless innings for Cleveland, but Allen allowed six runs in the ninth and Otero allowed another before the Reds finally made the last out on the basepaths.... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant is headed to the Bay Area hoping he will be ready to come off the disabled list and play in Wednesday afternoon's series finale against the San Francisco Giants.Bryant, out since June 23 with inflammation in his left shoulder, played rehab games for Double-A Tennessee on Monday and Tuesday. He had hoped to rejoin the Cubs during their series at AT&T Park.In the two rehab games, Bryant went 2 for 6 with a two-run homer and three RBIs. He left Tuesday's game in the third inning to travel after going 0 for 2 with a pair of strikeouts.Manager Joe Maddon says, "We had hoped it would work out this way and it looks like it's going to."Bryant is batting .280 with nine home runs and 36 RBIs in 66 games this season.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets promoted right-hander Drew Gagnon from Triple-A Las Vegas to start Tuesday night's game against Philadelphia.The 28-year-old Gagnon will be making his major league debut. A veteran of eight minor league seasons, Gagnon was 1-4 with a 4.67 ERA in 17 starts for the 51s.Gagnon signed with the Mets as a minor league free agent in December. He expects his parents, fiancee and three sisters to be in attendance.To make room, New York optioned right-hander Paul Sewald to Triple-A. Sewald is 0-4 with a 5.05 ERA in 28 relief appearances for the Mets this season.New York also returned right-hander Jacob Rhame to Las Vegas. Rhame served as the 26th man for Monday's doubleheader.Phillies starter Enyel De Los Santos will also be making his first big-league appearance.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago White Sox placed outfielder Avisail Garcia on the 10-day disabled list on Tuesday with a Grade 1 right hamstring strain.Garcia, an All-Star last season who hit .330 with 18 home runs and 80 RBIs, missed two months earlier this season with a more serious strain to the same hamstring muscle. White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said Garcia's new injury is "in a different location and considered more mild."Hahn hopes Garcia will return after the All-Star break.The 27-year-old outfielder is batting .282 with nine homers and 17 RBIs in 35 games this season. Since returning on June 22 from his first stint on the DL, Garcia was Chicago's hottest hitter with a .333 average, eight homers and 13 RBIs before leaving Sunday's game at Houston.The White Sox added outfielder Ryan LaMarre, claimed off waivers from Minnesota, to their roster to take Garcia's place.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

CLEVELAND (AP) — Indians right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall will miss 8 to 10 weeks with a strained left calf muscle.A second medical opinion confirmed the severity of the injury.Chisenhall suffered a Grade 3 strain while warming up before a July 2 game in Kansas City. He previously spent two months on the disabled list with a strained right calf before being activated on June 5.The 29-year-old is hitting .321 with one homer and nine RBIs in 29 games for the AL Central leaders. He was returned to the DL on July 3.Cleveland also placed right-hander Josh Tomlin — its longest-tenured player in his ninth season — on the DL with a strained right hamstring.Tomlin has allowed a team-high 21 homers in 49 innings, including three in his past five appearances. He gave up a two-run shot to Cincinnati's Scott Schebler in the ninth inning of a 7-5 loss Monday.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

NEW YORK (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies made a flurry of roster moves Tuesday, including promoting right-hander Enyel De Los Santos from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.The 22-year-old Dominican Republic native was set to start the game against the New York Mets, making his major league debut. De Los Santos was 9-3 with a 1.89 ERA in 16 starts for the Iron Pigs this season.When the Mets counter with righty Drew Gagnon, who is also appearing in his first big league game, it will be the first time a Phillies starter makes his debut against another starter in his first outing since Sept. 25, 1944, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Back then, Charlie Ripple faced Chicago's Charlie Gassaway at Shibe Park.To make room for De Los Santos on the 40-man roster, Philadelphia transferred Pedro Florimon to the 60-day disabled list. The versatile utility man has been idle since May 30 with a fractured right foot.The club also promoted infielder Trevor Plouffe and optioned outfielder Dylan Cozens to Lehigh Valley. A veteran of eight seasons, Plouffe last played in the majors in 2017 and combined to hit .198 in 100 games for Oakland and Tampa Bay.Left-hander Hoby Milner was designated for assignment.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Washington Nationals placed All-Star closer Sean Doolittle on the 10-day disabled list with left toe inflammation, optioned right-handed pitcher Jefry Rodriguez to Triple-A Syracuse and recalled right-handed pitchers Wander Suero and Austin Voth from Syracuse on Tuesday.Doolittle, 31, hasn't pitched since July 6. The following day, he tripped over a pitching mound and first experienced discomfort in his left toe.The left-hander has a 1.45 ERA and has converted 22 of 23 save opportunities this season. He will not pitch in the 2018 MLB All-Star Game, which is being held at Nationals Park on July 17.Kelvin Herrera will close games while Doolittle is out. He had 14 saves with the Kansas City Royals before he was traded to Washington on June 19.Voth is scheduled to start Saturday against the New York Mets. Rodriguez was 0-1 with a 6.86 ERA in five appearances with the Nationals.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

A look at what's happening around the majors today:SURGING SOXThe major league-best Boston Red Sox look for their 15th win in 18 games as they host the Texas Rangers in the middle game of their series. The Red Sox, who lead the second-place Yankees by 2 1/2 games in the AL East, send Hector Velazquez (6-0, 2.76 ERA) against the Rangers' Yovani Gallardo (3-0, 8.17). Boston's J.D. Martinez is 10 for 23 with three homers, eight runs scored and 10 RBIs the last five games.HOME COOKINGThe Tampa Bay Rays will try for their 13th win in 14 games at home when they host the Detroit Tigers in the middle game of their series. Tigers left-hander Matthew Boyd (4-7, 4.58) will start against a Rays bullpen day.Daniel Robertson hit an RBI single in the 10th inning Monday night to lift the Rays to a 10-9 win in the series opener.SEEKING No. 10Houston's Justin Verlander and St. Louis' Miles Mikolas will both be seeking their 10th win of the season. Verlander (9-4, 2.15) will try to become the ninth in the... [More]