A look at what's happening around the majors Wednesday:ACUNA AGAIN!Atlanta rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. has homered five games in a row — at 20, he's the youngest major leaguer to do that. He's also hit leadoff home runs in three straight, connecting the last two days on the first pitch Miami threw.Acuna later added his 19th homer with a three-run drive in the seventh inning Tuesday night.Brady Anderson was last player with so much leadoff success, homering four straight times to start games for Baltimore in 1996.Acuna has matched the Atlanta record for consecutive games with a home run set by Brian McCann in 2006. Acuna will try to keep the streaks going when the Braves face Jose Urena and the Marlins at SunTrust Park.SKIDDINGMinus MVP Jose Altuve, the AL West-leading Astros are struggling. They've matched a season high with five straight losses and have dropped nine in a row at home. Houston will try to reverse the slides when Gerrit Cole (10-5, 2.75 ERA) starts vs. Colorado lefty Tyler Anderson... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Jose Altuve is headed to the disabled list.The reigning American League MVP is bound for the 10-day disabled list for the first time in his career after battling right knee soreness since exiting Wednesday's 3-2 loss in Colorado in the fifth inning."If they think it is better to go on the disabled list for the team and for me in order for me to come back healthy and strong," Altuve said. "So, we got to do it."Altuve is batting .329 with nine home runs and 46 RBIs for the Astros this season and had missed the last two games.

A look at what's happening around the majors today:INJURIES MOUNTINGThe Houston Astros are hoping for good news on All-Star outfielder George Springer, who exited Sunday's loss to the Dodgers after hurting his left thumb on a headfirst slide. It's unclear how long the 2017 World Series MVP might be out. "He was in a lot of pain," manager AJ Hinch said. "He is going to get evaluated. Other than that I have no idea." Before the game, the defending champs put pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. on the 10-day disabled list with right elbow discomfort. And star second baseman Jose Altuve (right knee soreness) was sent back to Houston for further examination. Last year's AL MVP won't come off the DL when eligible this week.PLAYOFF PREVIEW?Jake Arrieta (9-6, 3.32 ERA) pitches for the Phillies, looking for their sixth straight victory when they visit Arizona in a matchup of NL division leaders. Zack Godley (12-6, 4.46) goes for the Diamondbacks.HAMELS' DAYCole Hamels makes his second start for the Cubs... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Monday:INJURIES MOUNTINGThe Houston Astros are hoping for good news on All-Star outfielder George Springer, who exited Sunday's loss to the Dodgers after hurting his left thumb on a headfirst slide. It's unclear how long the 2017 World Series MVP might be out. "He was in a lot of pain," manager AJ Hinch said. "He is going to get evaluated. Other than that I have no idea." Before the game, the defending champs put pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. on the 10-day disabled list with right elbow discomfort. And star second baseman Jose Altuve (right knee soreness) was sent back to Houston for further examination. Last year's AL MVP won't come off the DL when eligible this week.PLAYOFF PREVIEW?Jake Arrieta (9-6, 3.32 ERA) pitches for the Phillies, looking for their sixth straight victory when they visit Arizona in a matchup of NL division leaders. Zack Godley (12-6, 4.46) goes for the Diamondbacks.HAMELS DAYCole Hamels makes his second start for the Cubs... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:STARTING OUTBrian Dozier could make his first start for the Los Angeles Dodgers when they host Milwaukee. The power-hitting Minnesota second baseman was traded Tuesday, shortly before the deadline for making deals without waivers. The defending NL champion Dodgers have revamped their infield in the last two weeks, also getting star Manny Machado.MOVING DAYChris Archer, Jonathan Scoop and Wilson Ramos were part of the 15 trades made Tuesday as contenders prepped for the playoff race. Brandon Kintzler will celebrate his 34th birthday finishing the move from Washington to the Cubs — on his birthday last year, he was going from Minnesota to the Nationals.HURTINGAstros center fielder George Springer will see how his sore left shoulder is feeling. The World Series MVP jarred himself making a diving try, hoping to cut off a ball Tuesday night at Seattle. Houston already has star infielders Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa on the disabled list.WELCOMECole... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Wednesday:STARTING OUTBrian Dozier could make his first start for the Los Angeles Dodgers when they host Milwaukee. The power-hitting Minnesota second baseman was traded Tuesday, shortly before the deadline for making deals without waivers. The defending NL champion Dodgers have revamped their infield in the last two weeks, also getting star Manny Machado.MOVING DAYChris Archer, Jonathan Scoop and Wilson Ramos were part of the 15 trades made Tuesday as contenders prepped for the playoff race. Brandon Kintzler will celebrate his 34th birthday finishing the move from Washington to the Cubs — on his birthday last year, he was going from Minnesota to the Nationals.HURTINGAstros center fielder George Springer will see how his sore left shoulder is feeling. The World Series MVP jarred himself making a diving try, hoping to cut off a ball Tuesday night at Seattle. Houston already has star infielders Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa on the disabled list.WELCOMECole... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge sat side by side on the dais, together in public for the first time as Yankees teammates.Truly a big night in New York baseball.The towering duo joined several of the game's top stars in attendance Sunday night as the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America held its 95th annual dinner.Acquired by the Yankees in a December trade with Miami, the 6-foot-6 Stanton was on hand to collect the National League Most Valuable Player award after leading the majors with 59 home runs and 132 RBIs last season."This has been an amazing ride and I'm excited to be here in New York and experience the big city, bright lights, and this is going to be a lot of fun for me," said the eight-year veteran, drawing loud applause.Standing a smidge taller at 6-foot-7, Judge took home his own share of hardware. The 25-year-old outfielder was selected New York player of the year and also received the Joe DiMaggio Toast of the Town award.Stanton... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox may head to spring training without the middle-of-the-lineup hitter they have been seeking since David Ortiz retired at the end of the 2016 season.That's by necessity, not choice.After saying all winter that he would like a big bat to address the power outage that left the Red Sox last in the AL in homers in 2017, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said on Thursday that he's prepared to move forward without one."We'll keep working at it," Dombrowski said before the awards dinner for the Boston chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America. "But I do think we have a good club, no matter what."After leading the majors in runs in 2016, Ortiz's last season before he retired, the Red Sox won 93 years for the second straight year in '17 to claim the first back-to-back AL East titles in franchise history. But without Ortiz, the offensive production plummeted: They were sixth in runs, and Mookie Betts led the team with 24 homers, the fewest... [More]

2B Jose Altuve is expected to be Houston's first MVP winner since Jeff Bagwell in the strike-shortened 1994 season. The 5-foot-6 Altuve led the majors with a .346 batting average and to go along with 24 homers and 81 RBIs in 153 games. The other AL MVP finalists are Yankees RF Aaron Judge and Indians INF Jose Ramirez.

2B Jose Altuve had his $6 million contract option picked up by the Houston Astros.

2B Jose Altuve became the eighth player in history to reach seven homers during a single postseason, joining Carlos Beltran (eight in 2004), Barry Bonds (eight in 2002), Nelson Cruz (eight in 2011), Troy Glaus (2002), Daniel Murphy (2015), Melvin Upton Jr. (2008) and Jayson Werth (2009). Altuve now has 22 hits this postseason, a franchise record for a single postseason. He surpassed Carlos Beltran, who had 20 hits in the 2004 postseason.

2B Jose Altuve hit a go-ahead home run in the 10th inning, becoming the first player with a long ball to put his team ahead in extra innings during a World Series game since David Freese's game-ending home run in Game 6 of the 2011 World Series. Altuve also went back-to-back with SS Carlos Corea, becoming the 16th duo to pull off the feat in the World Series. Altuve has six homers in the 2017 postseason.

2B Jose Altuve had a single Tuesday but is just 4-for-21 (.190) over his last six postseason games. Before that, Altuve had multiple hits in five of his first six games in the 2017 playoffs. He does have five home runs in these playoffs, the second most in franchise history to Carlos Beltran's eight in 2004.

2B Jose Altuve finished 1-for-3 with a walk and a home run and has hit safely in all six home games this postseason. Altuve is batting .591 in 22 at-bats with five home runs and eight RBIs at Minute Maid Park this postseason and is the fourth player in major league history with at least five home runs at home in a postseason.

2B Jose Altuve produced his first RBIs of the series with a two-run single in the fifth inning of the American League Championship Series on Friday night before adding a leadoff homer in the eighth. It marked his sixth multi-hit game of this postseason, which ties him for the fourth most in franchise history. Altuve has hit four homers this postseason, second only to Carlos Beltran, who had postseason eight homers in 2004.

2B Jose Altuve went 0-for-2 with a pair of walks in Game 4 of the ALCS Tuesday, extending his postseason on-base streak to eight games. In 14 postseason games, Altuve has reached base in 11 games.

2B Jose Altuve finished 2-for-4 and scored the winning run in the ninth inning. With his two singles, Altuve owns the highest single-season postseason batting average ever at .565 (13-for-23) with a minimum of 25 plate appearances. Dodgers OF Manny Ramirez hit .520 (13-for-25) in 2008.

2B Jose Altuve became the first Houston batter with three hits in an LCS game since C Brad Ausmus in Game 6 of the 2005 NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals. Altuve, who finished 3-for-4, now has four three-hit games in the postseason, a club record.

2B Jose Altuve was announced as the Astros' nominee for the 2017 Hank Aaron Awards on Monday. The 27-year-old AL MVP candidate logged his fourth consecutive 200-hit season and won the league's batting title after hitting .346 with 24 home runs and 81 RBIs this season. "This national spotlight that he's been on over the last couple of years ... has been well deserved," manager A.J. Hinch said. Altuve went 0-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout Monday against the Red Sox in Game 4 of the ALDS and finished the string batting .533 (8-for-15) with three homers and four RBIs.

2B Jose Altuve followed his three-homer performance in Game 1 by going 2-for-3 with two walks, two runs scored and an RBI single. Altuve became just the sixth second baseman in history to record two-plus intentional walks in a postseason game, joining Dale Murphy (2016), Roberto Alomar (1997), Joe Morgan (1976), Jackie Robinson (1952) and Tony Lazzeri (1937).