CLEVELAND (AP) — Brett Anderson came off the disabled list and pitched effectively into the sixth inning before turning things over to Oakland's outstanding bullpen as the Athletics downed the Cleveland Indians 6-0 on Sunday.Anderson (1-2) had been sidelined with a shoulder strain, one of several injuries to the A's starting staff. But the left-hander looked sharp in his first start since May 18, limiting the Indians to three hits and leaving with a 4-0 lead.Stephen Piscotty hit a two-run homer off rookie Shane Bieber (4-1), and Jed Lowrie had a solo shot as Oakland won for the 10th time in 12 games to take two of three from the Indians.The A's are 18-6 against AL Central teams.Yusmeiro Petit, Ryan Buchter and Emilio Pagan finished the combined five-hitter as the A's moved 10 games over .500.ASTROS 2, WHITE SOX 1HOUSTON (AP) — Dallas Keuchel pitched seven strong innings, Jose Altuve homered and Houston manufactured the go-ahead run in the seventh to complete a four-game sweep of Chicago.Altuve's... [More]

It's been a week full of injuries, as more and more pitchers hit the disabled list, making arms a premium once again for Fantasy owners.He's not a pitcher, but Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez headlines the list of injured players, as the catcher will miss 3-4 weeks for the second straight season.There are names like John Hicks, Austin Romine, Tucker Barnhart and Tom Murphy who deserve to be owned in Sanchez' absence. Now, let's look at some pitchers to help hold down your rotation.PLAYERS TO PICK UPZACH EFLIN, SP, Philadelphia Phillies (42 percent owned in Yahoo) — First it was Nick Pivetta, now it's Zach Eflin. The Phillies are having pitchers who were no more than a healthy arm last season turn into legit standouts. Eflin increased his velocity this year, and he's adding more swings and misses than a season ago. Like Pivetta, it's smart to grab him before everyone else in your league takes notice.ZACK WHEELER, SP, New York Mets (12 percent) — Like Jacob deGrom earlier this season, the Mets... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez is likely headed to the disabled after pulling up while running out a double-play grounder Sunday at Tampa Bay.Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Sanchez hurt his right groin/hip abductor and "it's probably going to be a DL situation."Sanchez was injured in the 10th inning. He slowly walked back to the dugout and was replaced defensively by Austin Romine."What can I say?" Sanchez said through a translator. "That's the way baseball is sometimes. Now I'm just hoping it's not a long time."Sanchez will undergo an MRI exam Monday.The 25-year-old Sanchez went 0 for 4 in the 7-6, 12-inning loss. He's hitting only .190 with 14 home runs and 41 RBIs, a season after he made the AL All-Star team while batting .278 with 33 homers and 90 RBIs.The Yankees have the best record in the majors at 50-25.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez has left the game with a possible groin injury.Sanchez was hurt Sunday trying to beat out a double-play grounder in the 10th inning at Tampa Bay.He slowly walked back to the dugout and was replaced defensively later in the inning by Austin Romine.

NEW YORK (AP) — Right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga will be brought up from Double-A by the New York Yankees to make his major league debut against Tampa Bay on Friday night.The 23-year-old Loaisiga returned last year following Tommy John surgery. He is 3-1 with a 4.32 ERA in six starts at Double-A Trenton after starting 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA at Class A Tampa this season, striking out 58 in 45 innings."He's really talented. We think he has a very bright future. His stuff is really good. He's a guy that pounds the strike zone," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday. "I don't feel like he'll be overwhelmed."Loaisiga fills the rotation slot that opened when Masahiro Tanaka injured both hamstrings while sprinting home to score on a sacrifice fly last Friday. Domingo German, who entered the rotation after No. 5 starter Jordan Montgomery tore an elbow ligament, will start Thursday. Yankees ace Luis Severino pitches Saturday.Signed by San Francisco in September 2012, the Nicaragua-born Loaisiga was... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Mike Trout homered and doubled three times during his first five-hit game in the majors, and the Los Angeles Angels quickly erased an early deficit in beating the New York Yankees 11-4 on Saturday night.Playing not far from his southern New Jersey hometown, Trout went deep for the third straight game to tie Boston's Mookie Betts for the big league lead with 17 home runs. The two-time MVP drove in four runs and set career bests with four extra-base hits and 11 total bases.Jose Briceno homered in his major league debut for Los Angeles, and rookie Jaime Barria (4-1) returned from the minors to win his third consecutive major league decision.Brett Gardner, Aaron Judge and Austin Romine homered for the Yankees. Sonny Gray (3-4) was tagged for five runs in 3 2/3 innings.RED SOX 8, BRAVES 6BOSTON (AP) — Andrew Benintendi homered and drove in three runs, helping Boston top Atlanta.The AL East-leading Red Sox celebrated the return of Dustin Pedroia with their sixth win in seven games.... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Mike Trout homered and doubled three times during his first five-hit game in the majors, and the Los Angeles Angels quickly erased an early deficit in beating the New York Yankees 11-4 on Saturday night.Playing not far from his southern New Jersey hometown, Trout went deep for the third straight game to tie Boston's Mookie Betts for the big league lead with 17 home runs. The two-time MVP drove in four runs and set career bests with four extra-base hits and 11 total bases.Jose Briceno homered in his major league debut for Los Angeles, and rookie Jaime Barria (4-1) returned from the minors to win his third consecutive major league decision.Brett Gardner, Aaron Judge and Austin Romine homered for the Yankees. Sonny Gray (3-4) was tagged for five runs in 3 2/3 innings.RED SOX 8, BRAVES 6BOSTON (AP) — Andrew Benintendi homered and drove in three runs, helping Boston top Atlanta.The AL East-leading Red Sox celebrated the return of Dustin Pedroia with their sixth win in seven games.... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani struck out nine while throwing 7 2/3 innings of excellent six-hit ball in his seventh career start, and the Los Angeles Angels snapped their five-game skid with a 5-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.Martin Maldonado homered and drove in two runs, and Zack Cozart drove in two more runs on sacrifice flies as the Angels wrapped up a disappointing 11-game homestand with only four victories — including both games started by Ohtani (4-1).Los Angeles' rookie two-way sensation had another strong outing in the longest start of his stateside career. Ohtani retired 12 straight Rays after yielding rookie Johnny Field's homer leading off the third. Blake Parker pitched the ninth for his second save.While Ohtani threw 110 pitches, reliever Sergio Romo started for Tampa Bay for the second consecutive day. He faced the Angels' first six batters and got four outs while becoming the first pitcher in 38 years to last at least one inning in back-to-back starts.... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani struck out nine while throwing 7 2/3 innings of excellent six-hit ball in his seventh career start, and the Los Angeles Angels snapped their five-game skid with a 5-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.Martin Maldonado homered and drove in two runs, and Zack Cozart drove in two more runs on sacrifice flies as the Angels wrapped up a disappointing 11-game homestand with only four victories — including both games started by Ohtani (4-1).Los Angeles' rookie two-way sensation had another strong outing in the longest start of his stateside career. Ohtani retired 12 straight Rays after yielding rookie Johnny Field's homer leading off the third. Blake Parker pitched the ninth for his second save.While Ohtani threw 110 pitches, reliever Sergio Romo started for Tampa Bay for the second consecutive day. He faced the Angels' first six batters and got four outs while becoming the first pitcher in 38 years to last at least one inning in back-to-back starts.... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Miguel Andujar will keep the New York Yankees' third base job, for now.Brandon Drury was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday following the end of his injury rehabilitation assignment.Acquired from Arizona just after the start of spring training in February, the 25-year-old Drury hit .217 (5 for 23) with one homer and four RBIs in New York's first eight games, then went on the disabled list April 7 with severe migraines that caused blurry vision.Drury started the rehab assignment April 25 and batted .315 with two homers, seven RBIs and a .914 OPS in 11 games with Scranton and six with Double-A Trenton.The 23-year-old Andujar is among a wave of players who have sparked the Yankees to a 28-12 record, tied with AL East rival Boston for the best in the major leagues. Andujar is hitting .282 with 12 doubles, three homers and 14 RBIs. He has walked just three times in 135 plate appearances.New York has 13 pitchers on its roster, leaving room for just three bench... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — With banged-up center fielder Bradley Zimmer out of the lineup, the Cleveland Indians have recalled outfielder Greg Allen from Triple-A Columbus.Allen was set to start in center and bat ninth Sunday against the streaking New York Yankees. To make room for him on the roster, Cleveland optioned right-handed reliever Ben Taylor to Columbus.Zimmer exited Saturday's loss at Yankee Stadium after crashing hard into the fence trying to catch Austin Romine's double. He has a bruised left shoulder and hip but no concussion, manager Terry Francona says.After a day off Monday, the team hopes Zimmer can return to the lineup Tuesday night in Milwaukee. He was hitting .234 with two homers and nine RBIs in 31 games.The 25-year-old Allen appeared in two games for Cleveland last month. He was batting .260 with eight doubles, three RBIs and six stolen bases at Columbus.Taylor allowed one run in three outings with the Indians. He struck out five and walked one in 3 1/3 innings.Right-hander Oliver Drake, acquired Saturday from the Brewers for cash, is expected to join the Indians in Milwaukee.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Khris Davis hit a tiebreaking, three-run homer off David Price with two outs in the eighth inning and the Oakland Athletics beat Boston 4-1 on Sunday, to deal the Red Sox consecutive losses for the first time under new manager Alex Cora.Boston had won its first six series before losing two of three at the Coliseum, where they were no-hit Saturday by Sean Manaea. They still have the best record in the majors at 17-4.Davis drove in all four runs for the A's, and Blake Treinen (1-1) retired five batters to win. Price (2-2) allowed four runs and nine hits in 7 2/3 innings.YANKEES 5, BLUE JAYS 1Gleyber Torres went 0 for 4 with a strikeout, double-play grounder, popup and flyout in his big league debut, and the youthful Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-1 on Sunday when New York used a starting lineup that didn't include a player 30 or older for the first time since Sept. 29, 1989.Luis Severino (4-1) allowed three hits and struck out six in seven innings, and David Robertson... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Khris Davis hit a tiebreaking, three-run homer off David Price with two outs in the eighth inning and the Oakland Athletics beat Boston 4-1 on Sunday, to deal the Red Sox consecutive losses for the first time under new manager Alex Cora.Boston had won its first six series before losing two of three at the Coliseum, where they were no-hit Saturday by Sean Manaea. They still have the best record in the majors at 17-4.Davis drove in all four runs for the A's, and Blake Treinen (1-1) retired five batters to win. Price (2-2) allowed four runs and nine hits in 7 2/3 innings.YANKEES 5, BLUE JAYS 1Gleyber Torres went 0 for 4 with a strikeout, double-play grounder, popup and flyout in his big league debut, and the youthful Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-1 on Sunday when New York used a starting lineup that didn't include a player 30 or older for the first time since Sept. 29, 1989.Luis Severino (4-1) allowed three hits and struck out six in seven innings, and David Robertson... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — With prized prospect Gleyber Torres on board, the New York Yankees are going young.After getting called up from the minors, Torres made his highly anticipated major league debut Sunday against Toronto. The 21-year-old infielder was at second base, batting eighth in a Yankees lineup that didn't include a player 30 or older for the first time since Sept. 29, 1989, according to STATS.Veteran left fielder Brett Gardner was rested, so the senior starter on the field was 29-year-old catcher Austin Romine.Rated among the top five or six prospects in baseball, Torres became the youngest position player to appear in a game for the Yankees since 20-year-old Melky Cabrera in 2005. Atlanta second baseman Ozzie Albies, also 21, is the only major leaguer younger than Torres to play in a game this season."We just feel like he's ready," New York manager Aaron Boone said. "We think he has a chance to be a special player."The crowd at Yankee Stadium buzzed when Torres came to the plate for... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Xander Bogaerts hit the first grand slam for Boston since the end of the 2016 season and drove in a career-best six runs to carry the Red Sox to a 10-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday for their seventh straight victory.J.D. Martinez and Rafael Devers homered for Boston, and Rick Porcello (2-0) pitched into the eighth inning.This is just the second time in franchise history that the Red Sox have lost their season opener and won the next seven. The other came in 1904 when Boston captured the AL pennant.The Rays have lost seven straight and are off to their worst start ever after rallying for a win at home over the Red Sox on opening day.Bogaerts hit a two-run double in Boston's four-run first. In the second, his second career slam completely left Fenway Park over the Green Monster and came after Jake Faria (0-1) walked the bases full.PHILLIES 20, MARLINS 1PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Maikel Franco and Aaron Altherr each hit a grand slam and Carlos Santana and Jorge Alfaro also... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Xander Bogaerts hit the first grand slam for Boston since the end of the 2016 season and drove in a career-best six runs to carry the Red Sox to a 10-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday for their seventh straight victory.J.D. Martinez and Rafael Devers homered for Boston, and Rick Porcello (2-0) pitched into the eighth inning.This is just the second time in franchise history that the Red Sox have lost their season opener and won the next seven. The other came in 1904 when Boston captured the AL pennant.The Rays have lost seven straight and are off to their worst start ever after rallying for a win at home over the Red Sox on opening day.Bogaerts hit a two-run double in Boston's four-run first. In the second, his second career slam completely left Fenway Park over the Green Monster and came after Jake Faria (0-1) walked the bases full.PHILLIES 20, MARLINS 1PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Maikel Franco and Aaron Altherr each hit a grand slam and Carlos Santana and Jorge Alfaro also... [More]

The Cleveland Indians gave Mike Napoli a much more familiar uniform.The Indians reunited with Napoli on Tuesday, agreeing on a minor league contract with the popular slugger whose powerful swing and clubhouse leadership were key to Cleveland reaching the 2016 World Series.Napoli had been on the roster to play in Bradenton, Florida, with a group of free agents still looking for jobs. Tyler Clippard, wearing a black jersey with a white players' union logo, pitched two hitless innings in a 2-0 win over amateurs from the East Japan Railway Company."It's a situation where a player that is universally respected in our organization, he shouldn't be in that camp," Indians manager Terry Francona said.Napoli's deal is contingent upon him passing a physical at the Indians' complex in Goodyear, Arizona. He hit .193 with 29 home runs and 66 RBIs for Texas last season.The Indians don't have a roster spot for the 36-year-old Napoli, but Francona wanted to give him an opportunity to showcase himself.Francona... [More]

The Cleveland Indians gave Mike Napoli a much more familiar uniform.The Indians reunited with Napoli on Tuesday, agreeing on a minor league contract with the popular slugger whose powerful swing and clubhouse leadership were key to Cleveland reaching the 2016 World Series.Napoli had been on the roster to play in Bradenton, Florida, with a group of free agents still looking for jobs. Tyler Clippard, wearing a black jersey with a white players' union logo, pitched two hitless innings in a 2-0 win over amateurs from the East Japan Railway Company."It's a situation where a player that is universally respected in our organization, he shouldn't be in that camp," Indians manager Terry Francona said.Napoli's deal is contingent upon him passing a physical at the Indians' complex in Goodyear, Arizona. He hit .193 with 29 home runs and 66 RBIs for Texas last season.The Indians don't have a roster spot for the 36-year-old Napoli, but Francona wanted to give him an opportunity to showcase himself.Francona... [More]

The Cleveland Indians gave Mike Napoli a much more familiar uniform.The Indians reunited with Napoli on Tuesday, agreeing on a minor league contract with the popular slugger whose powerful swing and clubhouse leadership were key to Cleveland reaching the 2016 World Series.Napoli had been on the roster to play in Bradenton, Florida, with a group of free agents still looking for jobs. Tyler Clippard, wearing a black jersey with a white players' union logo, pitched two hitless innings in a 2-0 win over amateurs from the East Japan Railway Company."It's a situation where a player that is universally respected in our organization, he shouldn't be in that camp," Indians manager Terry Francona said.Napoli's deal is contingent upon him passing a physical at the Indians' complex in Goodyear, Arizona. He hit .193 with 29 home runs and 66 RBIs for Texas last season.The Indians don't have a roster spot for the 36-year-old Napoli, but Francona wanted to give him an opportunity to showcase himself.Francona... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — On the day pitchers and catchers reported for his first spring training as New York Yankees manager, Aaron Boone acknowledged the pressure."Embrace that expectation," Boone said Tuesday. "Expect to go out there and be great. It beats the alternative, right. It really does. We're not going to run from that."Boone was hired to replace Joe Girardi, who was fired after a decade — even though the Yankees made an unexpected run to Game 7 of the AL Championship Series before losing to Houston.Led by Baby Bombers Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez, the Yankees face increased demands from their fans — especially after acquiring major league home run leader Giancarlo Stanton from Miami. Fans are likely to be satisfied only with the team's first World Series title since 2009."We understand the expectations and I think one of those things that's exciting for me is to hear some of those comments," Boone said."Last year was great. A lot of these guys came of age and viewed it as a very successful... [More]