MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — New York Yankees All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman could return next week from nearly a month on the disabled list.Chapman has not pitched since Aug. 21 because of left knee tendinitis, which has bothered him throughout the season. The 30-year-old left-hander threw a bullpen session Wednesday and was to return to New York for treatment. Manager Aaron Boone anticipates another bullpen session this weekend, then a return."Hopefully back with us, if everything goes well, sometime next week," Boone said before Thursday's game at Minnesota.Chapman has a 2.11 ERA and 31 saves in 33 chances. Dellin Betances has closed mostly in Chapman's absence. New York's bullpen also includes David Robertson, Zach Britton and Chad Green."You can look at it the same way you look at our lineup," Boone said. "When we were at our best, one of the reasons was the length of our lineup. We're able to hurt you from everywhere. ... Same way with our bullpen. When you add another guy of Chapman's capabilities to an already strong group, it just allows you in some cases and on some days to shorten the game even more."___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees are set to achieve their goal of coming under baseball's luxury tax threshold for the first time since the penalty started in 2003.Boston and Washington remain the only teams on track to pay the tax his year, according to Aug. 31 figures compiled by the commissioner's office for clubs and obtained by The Associated Press.The Yankees' updated luxury tax payroll is $192.1 million, an increase from $178.8 million at the season's start. Even with possible performance bonuses of $500,000 for pitcher CC Sabathia and $125,000 for infielder Neil Walker, plus the addition of nearly $3,000 a day for each September call-up on expanded 40-man active rosters, the Yankees are set to finish below this year's $197 million threshold.New York has paid the tax in 15 straight years, a total of $341 million.Boston is on track to pay $11.3 million and Washington could end up paying $2.1 million.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CINCINNATI (AP) — Yasmani Grandal and Justin Turner drove in three runs each, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat Cincinnati 8-1 on Wednesday to avoid a season sweep by the last-place Reds.Joc Pederson homered for the Dodgers, and Grandal had three hits.Los Angeles began the day 1 1/2 games behind NL West-leading Colorado and three games back of St. Louis for the second NL wild card. The Dodgers had been 0-6 against the Reds and were on the verge of being swept by Cincinnati in a season for the first time.Cincinnati's Scooter Gennett went 1 for 4, keeping his NL-leading batting average at .321.Left-hander Caleb Ferguson (6-2), the third of seven Dodgers pitchers, struck out three in the fifth.Anthony DeSclafani (7-5) allowed six runs — five earned — five hits and three walks in 4 2/3 innings. Jose Peraza put Cincinnati ahead with his first inning homer, but Pederson tied it 1-1 with a leadoff drive in the fourth, his second two games and 21st this season.Grandal hit a go-ahead double later... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer and Aaron Nola are going pitch for pitch in the NL Cy Young Award race.Problem is, that prize might not do the trio justice. Not according to baseball's advanced analytics.With 2½ weeks left in the season, it's time to ask: Should one of those three be MVP?"It's the best player in the league," deGrom said. "If that happens to be a pitcher and they can win it, then it's well deserved."There's no debating deGrom's dominance, even if it's not translating into wins for the struggling New York Mets. Scherzer's awards-season resume is more traditional, bolstered by league-leading totals in victories and strikeouts. And Nola is right there, too, in a breakout season with the Philadelphia Phillies.But an MVP? For three pitchers who are going to miss the postseason? Some don't think pitchers should even be considered for the award, though they've won 25 times before.The stats devised by sabermetricians suggest it would be a swing and a miss not to consider... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer and Aaron Nola are going pitch for pitch in the NL Cy Young Award race.Problem is, that prize might not do the trio justice. Not according to baseball's advanced analytics.With 2½ weeks left in the season, it's time to ask: Should one of those three could be MVP?"It's the best player in the league," deGrom said. "If that happens to be a pitcher and they can win it, then it's well deserved."There's no debating deGrom's dominance, even if it's not translating into wins for the struggling New York Mets. Scherzer's awards-season resume is more traditional, bolstered by league-leading totals in victories and strikeouts. And Nola is right there, too, in a breakout season with the Philadelphia Phillies.But an MVP? For three pitchers who are going to miss the postseason? Some don't think pitchers should even be considered for the award, though they've won 25 times before.The stats devised by sabermetricians suggest it would be a swing and a miss not to... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets are transferring longtime media relations boss Jay Horwitz to a new role as vice president of alumni public relations and team historian.Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon announced Horwitz's job change Wednesday at a press conference that was more of a roast by former players, coaches and executives. Horwitz has been with the team for nearly 40 years, and figures from throughout his tenure attended.Among them: Darryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden, Mookie Wilson, Keith Hernandez, John Franco, Joe Torre, Terry Collins, Steve Phillips and Omar Minaya. A number of current Mets also attended, including captain David Wright.Horwitz will work in his new role to aid next season's 50-year anniversary of the Mets 1969 World Series championship, and also on further connecting the club's alumni.The 73-year-old Horwitz has been beloved by players for his bumbling but loyal personality. %href_on(file:

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay Rays ace Blake Snell has a no-hitter through six innings in Wednesday's game against the AL Central-leading Cleveland Indians.Snell, who is seeking a major league-leading 19th win, has struck out eight batters and walked two. He has thrown 82 pitches.The lefty retired his first seven batters before walking Roberto Perez on a 3-2 pitch with one out in the third. Snell also issued a fourth-inning walk to Edwin Encarnacion, who stared and shook his head toward the mound earlier in the plate appearance after a high-and-inside pitch.Snell made a nice defensive play in the fifth, fielding Melky Cabrera's comebacker and throwing out the Cleveland right fielder at first base.The Rays lead 2-0 on Ji-Man Choi's two-run homer in the first.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

DETROIT (AP) — Niko Goodrum left Detroit's game against Houston on Wednesday after the shortstop collided with teammate Christin Stewart on a shallow flyball to left field in the second inning.The Tigers say Goodrum has a bruised right quad.Stewart, a rookie left fielder, came charging in and made the catch on the ball hit by Evan Gattis in the second. Goodrum was coming from the opposite direction and appeared to pull up at the last moment, perhaps preventing an even worse collision. But when Stewart went to the ground while catching the ball, Goodrum tripped over him.Goodrum was able to walk off the field but was replaced at the start of the third.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

A look at what's happening around the majors today:LAST SHOTThe Brewers try to close ground on the NL Central-leading Cubs in their final showdown of the regular season. Chicago beat Milwaukee 3-0 on Tuesday night to stretch its division lead to two games. The Cubs will start right-hander Kyle Hendricks (11-10, 3.71) in the finale at Wrigley Field. He is 5-1 with a 2.90 ERA in his past eight starts. Chase Anderson counters for the Brewers. The right-hander has seldom thrown more than 90 pitches in a start down the stretch, but also hasn't lost since July 14. He pitched seven innings of one-hit ball in a 4-0 win over Chicago on June 12.SEEING REDCincinnati will try to complete its first season sweep of the Dodgers when Anthony DeSclafani starts at Great American Ball Park. The Reds 6-0 vs the defending NL champions this year and have slowed their chased for a playoff spot this season. Ross Stripling starts for Los Angeles. The franchises have been playing each other since the 1880s, dating... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox became the first team in the majors to clinch a playoff spot this season, rallying on pinch-hitter Brock Holt's go-ahead home run in the seventh inning to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-2 Tuesday night.The Red Sox assured themselves at least a spot in the AL wild-card game while reaching the postseason for the third straight year. The AL East leaders began the night with an eight-game lead over the New York Yankees.Boston starter Chris Sale came off the disabled list and pitched one scoreless inning, striking out two and throwing 26 pitches. Sale has been slowed by inflammation in his left shoulder, and the Red Sox had said they would ease their ace back into action.Ryan Brasier (2-0) got the win with 1 1/3 innings of hitless relief as Boston used seven relievers after limiting Sale in his return.Ryan Tepera (5-5) took the loss.ANGELS 1, RANGERS 0ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Blake Parker gave up Isiah Kiner-Falefa's single to right with one out in the eighth inning... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Isiah Kiner-Falefa singled off Blake Parker with one out in the eighth inning, spoiling the Los Angeles Angels' bid for an unprecedented no-hitter against the Texas Rangers.Los Angeles was closing in on the record for most pitchers used in a no-hitter. The Houston Astros set the mark with six pitchers while shutting down the Yankees in 2003. Roy Oswalt started that game but was injured in the first inning. The Mariners matched that record in 2012.Jim Johnson opened Tuesday night's game with 1 1/3 innings, and Noe Ramirez, Hansel Robles, Cam Bedrosian, Justin Anderson and Jose Alvarez followed with no-hit ball. Parker retired Willie Calhoun to start the eighth before Kiner-Falefa lined a clean single into right field.The Angels led 1-0 through seven innings.Unlike the Astros in their no-hit bid, the Angels planned to make this one a bullpen game, following a trend started by the Tampa Bay Rays this season of using relievers as openers. Los Angeles is using the strategy to cover for an injury-decimated rotation that is without Shohei Ohtani, Garrett Richards, Tyler Skaggs and more. Manager Mike Scioscia used four bullpen games in August.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox became the first team in the majors to clinch a playoff spot this season, rallying on pinch-hitter Brock Holt's go-ahead home run in the seventh inning to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-2 Tuesday night.The Red Sox assured themselves at least a spot in the AL wild-card game while reaching the postseason for the third straight year. The AL East leaders began the night with an eight-game lead over the New York Yankees.Boston starter Chris Sale came off the disabled list and pitched one scoreless inning, striking out two and throwing 26 pitches. Sale has been slowed by inflammation in his left shoulder, and the Red Sox had said they would ease their ace back into action.Ryan Brasier (2-0) got the win with 1 1/3 innings of hitless relief as Boston used seven relievers after limiting Sale in his return.Ryan Tepera (5-5) took the loss.ASTROS 5, TIGERS 4DETROIT (AP) — Jose Altuve homered on the game's first pitch, and Houston powered past Detroit.The Astros maintained... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Five pitchers have combined to throw six hitless innings for the Los Angeles Angels against the Texas Rangers.Jim Johnson opened Tuesday night's game with 1 1/3 innings, and Noe Ramirez, Hansel Robles, Cam Bedrosian and Justin Anderson have followed with no-hit ball. The group has combined for six strikeouts and three walks.The Angels led 1-0 through six.The Houston Astros used a record six pitchers in a no-hitter against the Yankees in 2003. Roy Oswalt started that game but was injured in the first inning.The Angels planned to make this one a bullpen game, following a trend started by the Tampa Bay Rays this season of using relievers as openers.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

A look at what's happening around the majors Wednesday:LAST SHOTThe Brewers try to close ground on the NL Central-leading Cubs in their final showdown of the regular season. Chicago beat Milwaukee 3-0 on Tuesday night to stretch its division lead to two games. The Cubs will start right-hander Kyle Hendricks (11-10, 3.71) in the finale at Wrigley Field. He is 5-1 with a 2.90 ERA in his past eight starts. Chase Anderson counters for the Brewers. The right-hander has seldom thrown more than 90 pitches in a start down the stretch, but also hasn't lost since July 14. He pitched seven innings of one-hit ball in a 4-0 win over Chicago on June 12.SEEING REDCincinnati will try to complete its first season sweep of the Dodgers when Anthony DeSclafani starts at Great American Ball Park. The Reds 6-0 vs the defending NL champions this year and have slowed their chased for a playoff spot this season. Ross Stripling starts for Los Angeles. The franchises have been playing each other since the 1880s,... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle Mariners right-handed pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma intends to try and continue his professional career next year pitching in Japan.The 37-year-old Iwakuma has missed the entire 2018 season as he's tried to recover from major shoulder surgery in September 2017. Iwakuma was hoping to contribute to the Mariners rotation later in the season, but had several setbacks along the way and only pitched in rehab outings in the minors.Seattle manager Scott Servais said Iwakuma would not pitch for the Mariners in the final few weeks of the regular season."Looking at the big picture, it's been long process of rehab, and finally in this long tunnel, I'm starting to see light," Iwakuma said through a translator on Tuesday. "And at this point, it's unfortunate that I cannot come back as a Mariner. But Japan is my origin. It's where I started my career and by saying that, I think it's a good place to end my career too. With that said, I wanted to explore how much more I could do back in... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle Mariners right-handed pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma intends to try and continue his professional career next year pitching in Japan.The 37-year-old Iwakuma has missed the entire 2018 season as he's tried to recover from major shoulder surgery in September 2017. Iwakuma was hoping to contribute to the Mariners rotation later in the season, but had several setbacks along the way and only pitched in rehab outings in the minors.Seattle manager Scott Servais said Iwakuma would not pitch for the Mariners in the final few weeks of the regular season."I think he saw enough out of his last outing or two that he wants to continue to play, which is a good thing," Servais said.Iwakuma pitched six seasons with the Mariners and had a career mark of 63-39 with a 3.42 ERA in 150 career games. He threw a no-hitter during the 2015 season.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BOSTON (AP) — Chris Sale pitched a scoreless inning for the Boston Red Sox in his first start since going on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation.Sale allowed a hit, struck out two and hit a batter before getting Toronto's Randal Grichuk to pop out to second and end the inning Tuesday night.Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Sale, who hadn't pitched since Aug. 12, would only throw an inning or two with a maximum pitch count of 40. He threw 26 pitches before Brandon Workman took over for the second inning. Sale threw a few more pitches in the bullpen after.Nathan Eovaldi replaced Workman to begin the third inning.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — David Wright took live batting practice Tuesday at Citi Field as the New York Mets captain tries to complete his comeback from a string of debilitating injuries.The third baseman originally was scheduled to play defense in a simulated game as well, but those plans were scrapped on a drizzly afternoon because the infield was wet and muddy.Wright faced Mets minor league pitching prospects Justin Dunn and David Peterson, simulating game at-bats for the second time in four days. The seven-time All-Star did similar work Saturday, also taking grounders on the field."I'm really excited and I'm really satisfied with how these two simulated games went," Wright said. "Took some good swings, took some bad swings."The 35-year-old Wright said he's still trying to regain his timing, and he'll need to see how he feels Wednesday before looking ahead to the next step."It's getting a little better," Wright said. "I'm still fouling a lot of pitches off, which for me at least in my mind tells... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Randal Grichuk is back in the lineup, two days after he crashed face-first into a guard's metal chair.Grichuk as starting in right field and batting fifth as the Blue Jays played at Boston on Tuesday night.Toronto had Monday off, which gave Grichuk a chance to rest and be re-evaluated after leaving Sunday's game against Cleveland in the fourth inning. He was injured when he slid while catching a foul ball at Toronto. A guard seated near the stands didn't see Grichuk coming, and was holding a metal stool when the accident occurred.Concussion tests were negative. Grichuk was left with a bloody nose, swollen left eye socket and a few facial cuts."My mom always said I had a hard head. Guess she was right," Grichuk posted Monday on Twitter.

NEW YORK (AP) — David Wright took live batting practice Tuesday at Citi Field as the New York Mets captain tries to complete his comeback from a string of debilitating injuries.The third baseman originally was scheduled to play defense in a simulated game as well, but those plans were scrapped on a drizzly afternoon because the infield was muddy.Wright faced Mets minor league pitching prospects Justin Dunn and David Peterson, simulating game at-bats for the second time in four days. The seven-time All-Star did similar work Saturday, also taking grounders on the field.The 35-year-old Wright says he's still trying to regain his timing, and he'll need to see how he feels Wednesday before looking ahead to the next step.Wright hasn't played in the major leagues since May 2016 due to neck, back and shoulder injuries that required surgery.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports