CHICAGO (AP) — Mike Trout has been ruled out for the Los Angeles Angels' weekend series against the Chicago Cubs after he strained his right groin during the team's last homestand.Trout visited Dr. Steve Yoon on Friday in Los Angeles. Angels general manager Billy Eppler said imaging showed a reduced amount of swelling."Mike also reports daily improvement," Eppler said in an emailed statement. "He will continue treatment in Anaheim and he will be re-evaluated on Sunday."Trout first felt discomfort after working out Tuesday. The injury flared up while he was running to second base in the second inning of the Angels' victory over Milwaukee that night.Manager Brad Ausmus said the team doesn't think Trout will need a stint on the injured list. He could rejoin the Angels for their next series in Texas."It's just a matter of how he feels and what the doc thinks," Ausmus said before the Angels' 5-1 loss to the Cubs.Trout signed a record $426.5 million, 12-year contract near the end of spring training.... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs placed Victor Caratini on the 10-day injured list on Friday with a broken bone in his left hand, sidelining the backup catcher for four to six weeks.The 25-year-old Caratini is scheduled for surgery on Monday. He had been a pleasant surprise for Chicago, batting .571 with a homer and five RBIs in six games.He got hurt on a swing during Thursday night's 2-0 victory over Pittsburgh. A CT scan confirmed a fractured left hamate."He was looking so good," manager Joe Maddon said. "He was pretty upset yesterday. He was upset because he knew how well he was playing, he knew what was going on. It's truly unfortunate. It's just one of those injuries where — you've been around guys that have had them before, they're very freakish. And they're taking care of but they put you down a bit."Taylor Davis was recalled from Triple-A Iowa to replace Caratini on the roster. The 29-year-old Davis is a .278 hitter with three RBIs in 13 career games.The Cubs could look outside the... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Gary Sánchez was as startled as anybody by the news announced Friday.The Yankees catcher has a strained left calf and became the 12th New York player on the injured list, a day after a precautionary MRI revealed the injury.Right-handed reliever Dellin Betances, another member of that achy dozen, returned to New York on Friday to visit a doctor after his simulated game Thursday did not go well. Betances is dealing with a right shoulder issue.Sánchez said through a translator that he was "surprised" by the MRI result, believing the tightness he felt in his calf this week wouldn't require him to miss more time. He was held out of the starting lineup Wednesday at Houston and struck out as a pinch-hitter. He said he felt fine after that game.He had the MRI during a day off Thursday, and the Yankees decided the strain was severe enough to warrant placing him on the 10-day IL, retroactive to Thursday. Sánchez hopes to return when he's eligible. Manager Aaron Boone said Sánchez... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — J.T. Realmuto sat in the visiting dugout before Friday night's game at Marlins Park, surveyed the surroundings and noted he wasn't the only one to depart last offseason.His former team's garish home run sculpture is gone, too, as part of an outfield makeover to give the ballpark a more traditional look."It's great — a lot better than the sculpture," Realmuto said. "I wasn't a huge fan of it."Much with the Marlins remains the same, however, while Realmuto has moved to the other end of baseball's food chain with the high-profile Philadelphia Phillies. Back in Miami for the weekend, he's glad to be in Philly.Realmuto spent his first five major league seasons with the lowly Marlins, and the trade gave the All-Star catcher a chance to play before big crowds with a contending team. The Phillies began the weekend 7-4 riding a wave of excitement thanks to the signing of slugger Bryce Harper."It's definitely different for me," Realmuto said. "It's fun — the adrenalin rush you get from... [More]

April 141910 — William Howard Taft became the first U.S. president to throw out the first ball at a baseball opener in Washington.1910 — Chicago's Frank Smith pitched a one-hitter in the season opener to give the White Sox a win over the St. Louis Browns.1915 — In the opening game at Philadelphia, left-hander Herb Pennock of the A's blanked the Red Sox 5-0. He gave up only one hit — a scratch single by Harry Hooper with two outs in the ninth.1917 — Ed Cicotte of the Chicago White Sox pitched an 11-0 no-hitter over the St. Louis Browns.1925 — The Cleveland Indians opened the season with a 21-14 victory over the St. Louis Browns, the most runs scored by one club on opening day. The Indians scored 12 runs in the eighth inning when the Browns made five errors. Browns first baseman George Sisler had four errors in the game.1967 — Boston rookie Bill Rohr lost a no-hit bid in his first major league start when Elston Howard singled in the ninth inning for the New York Yankees' only hit in a 3-0... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Mike Trout has been ruled out for the Los Angeles Angels' weekend series against the Chicago Cubs after he strained his right groin during the team's last homestand.Trout visited Dr. Steve Yoon on Friday in Los Angeles. Angels general manager Billy Eppler said imaging showed a reduced amount of swelling."Mike also reports daily improvement," Eppler said in an emailed statement. "He will continue treatment in Anaheim and he will be re-evaluated on Sunday."Trout first felt discomfort after working out Tuesday. The injury flared up while he was running to second base in the second inning of the Angels' victory over Milwaukee that night.Manager Brad Ausmus said the team doesn't think Trout will need a stint on the injured list. He could rejoin the Angels for their next series in Texas."It's just a matter of how he feels and what the doc thinks," Ausmus said before the series opener against the Cubs.Trout signed a record $426.5 million, 12-year contract near the end of spring... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs placed Victor Caratini on the 10-day injured list on Friday with a broken bone in his left hand, sidelining the backup catcher for four to six weeks.The 25-year-old Caratini is scheduled for surgery on Monday. He had been a pleasant surprise for Chicago, batting .571 with a homer and five RBIs in six games.He got hurt on a swing during Thursday night's 2-0 victory over Pittsburgh. A CT scan confirmed a fracture."He was looking so good," manager Joe Maddon said. "He was pretty upset yesterday. He was upset because he knew how well he was playing, he knew what was going on. It's truly unfortunate. It's just one of those injuries where — you've been around guys that have had them before, they're very freakish. And they're taking care of but they put you down a bit."Taylor Davis was recalled from Triple-A Iowa to replace Caratini on the roster. The 29-year-old Davis is a .278 hitter with three RBIs in 13 career games.The Cubs could look outside the organization... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Angels center fielder Mike Trout is scheduled to see a doctor in Southern California on Friday about his strained right groin.Trout first felt discomfort after working out Tuesday. The injury flared up while he was running to second base in the second inning of the Angels' victory over Milwaukee that night.Manager Brad Ausmus said Trout could rejoin the team in Chicago for its series against the Cubs or wait until its next series in Texas."At this point we don't expect it to be an injury where he's required to go on the (injured list)," Ausmus said. "It's just a matter of how he feels and what the doc thinks."Trout signed a record $426.5 million, 12-year contract near the end of spring training. The two-time AL MVP is batting .406 with five homers and 12 RBIs in 12 games this year.Ausmus also said he thinks Shohei Ohtani is going to hit off a machine Friday. The 2018 AL Rookie of the Year had Tommy John surgery last October.Ohtani has been taking batting practice for a couple weeks."It's a baby step up," Ausmus said.The 24-year-old Ohtani isn't expected to pitch this year, but he could return to the Angels' lineup in May.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs have placed backup catcher Victor Caratini on the 10-day injured list after he broke a bone in his left hand.Caratini is expected to miss four to six weeks after he got hurt on a swing during Thursday night's 2-0 victory over Pittsburgh. He is scheduled for surgery on Monday.The 25-year-old Caratini had been a pleasant surprise for Chicago, batting .571 with a homer and five RBIs in six games.Taylor Davis was recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Friday. The 29-year-old Davis is a .278 hitter with three RBIs in 13 career games.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — Angels center fielder Mike Trout is scheduled to see a doctor in Southern California about his strained right groin.Trout first felt discomfort after working out Tuesday. The injury flared up while he was running to second base in the second inning of the Angels' victory over Milwaukee that night.Manager Brad Ausmus says Trout could rejoin the team in Chicago for its series against the Cubs or wait until its next series in Texas. He says they don't think he will need to go the injured list at this point.Trout signed a record $426.5 million, 12-year contract near the end of spring training. The two-time AL MVP is batting .406 with five homers and 12 RBIs in 12 games this year.Ausmus also says he thinks Shohei Ohtani is going to hit off a machine Friday. The 2018 AL Rookie of the Year had Tommy John surgery last October and has been taking batting practice for a couple weeks. Ausmus says the hope is to get Ohtani back next month.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees catcher Gary Sánchez has a strained left calf and became the 12th New York player on the injured list.More than half the Yankees starting lineup is hurt. Sánchez joined outfielders Giancarlo Stanton (strained left biceps) and Aaron Hicks (left lower back strain), shortstop Didi Gregorius (recovering from Tommy John surgery last October), third baseman Miguel Andújar (torn labrum in right shoulder) and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (strained left calf) on the IL.New York placed Sanchez on the 10-day IL retroactive to Thursday and recalled catcher Kyle Higashioka from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before Friday's series opener against the Chicago White Sox. Sanchez did not play in Wednesday's series finale at Houston because of calf tightness.The Yankees injured list also includes pitchers Luis Severino, Dellin Betances, Jordan Montgomery and Ben Heller, and oft-injured outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, who last played in 2017. Left-hander CC Sabathia (rehabilitation from cardiac surgery in December) is expected to be activated to start Saturday.New York is more than halfway to its 2018 total of 20 players who had disabled list stints.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Seattle became the first major league team to homer in each of its first 15 games when Dee Gordon connected in the sixth inning, then beat the Kansas City Royals 7-6 Thursday behind Daniel Vogelbach's home run in the 10th inning.Seattle improved the best record in the major leagues to 13-2, completing a four-game sweep and extending its winning streak to six. The Mariners became just the third team since 1987 to open with at least 13 wins in the first 15 games after Milwaukee (14-1 in 1987) and Boston (13-2 last year).Kansas City has lost 10 straight games, has the poorest record in the big leagues at 2-10 and is off to its worst 12-game start since 2006. The Royals failed to preserve leads of 4-0 in the sixth and 6-4 with two outs in the ninth.Kansas City's Whit Merrifield had his hitting streak end at 31 games. Merrifield went 0 for 6. He had not gone hitless since Sept. 9.Royals center fielder Billy Hamilton was carted off with a knee injury after failing to grab... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:EMERALD CITY SHOWDOWNThe surprising Mariners have a six-game winning streak and the best record in the majors at 13-2 heading into a home series against AL West favorite Houston. Seattle is the first big league team to homer in each of its first 15 games and only the third club since 1987 to open at least 13-2 after Milwaukee (14-1 in 1987) and Boston (13-2 last year). Seattle's 36 home runs are tied with the 2000 St. Louis Cardinals for the most in a team's first 15 games. The Astros also have won six straight and hope to get star third baseman Alex Bregman back from a sore hamstring.HOLLYWOOD SEQUELChristian Yelich and the Brewers visit Dodger Stadium in a rematch of last year's NL Championship Series won by Los Angeles in seven games. Julio Urías is scheduled to start against Milwaukee right-hander Corbin Burnes, who earned his first major league win against Los Angeles on July 21 last season.FISH STORYAngels slugger Mike Trout, who... [More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Seattle became the first major league team to homer in each of its first 15 games when Dee Gordon connected in the sixth inning, then beat the Kansas City Royals 7-6 Thursday behind Daniel Vogelbach's home run in the 10th inning.Seattle improved the best record in the major leagues to 13-2, completing a four-game sweep and extending its winning streak to six. The Mariners became just the third team since 1987 to open with at least 13 wins in the first 15 games after Milwaukee (14-1 in 1987) and Boston (13-2 last year).Kansas City has lost 10 straight games, has the poorest record in the big leagues at 2-10 and is off to its worst 12-game start since 2006. The Royals failed to preserve leads of 4-0 in the sixth and 6-4 with two outs in the ninth.Kansas City's Whit Merrifield had his hitting streak end at 31 games. Merrifield went 0 for 6. He had not gone hitless since Sept. 9.Royals center fielder Billy Hamilton was carted off with a knee injury after failing to grab... [More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Seattle became the first major league team to homer in each of its first 15 games when Dee Gordon connected in the sixth inning, then beat the Kansas City Royals 7-6 Thursday behind Daniel Vogelbach's home run in the 10th inning.Seattle improved the best record in the major leagues to 13-2, completing a four-game sweep and extending its winning streak to six. The Mariners became just the third team since 1987 to open with at least 13 wins in the first 15 games after Milwaukee (14-1 in 1987) and Boston (13-2 last year).Kansas City has lost 10 straight games, has the poorest record in the big leagues at 2-10 and is off to its worst 12-game start since 2006. The Royals failed to preserve leads of 4-0 in the sixth and 6-4 with two outs in the ninth.Kansas City's Whit Merrifield had his hitting streak end at 31 games. Merrifield went 0 for 6. He had not gone hitless since Sept. 9.Royals center fielder Billy Hamilton was carted off with a knee injury after failing to grab... [More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Seattle became the first major league team to homer in each of its first 15 games when Dee Gordon connected in the sixth inning, then beat the Kansas City Royals 7-6 Thursday behind Daniel Vogelbach's home run in the 10th inning.Seattle improved the best record in the major leagues to 13-2, completing a four-game sweep and extending its winning streak to six. The Mariners became just the third team since 1987 to open with at least 13 wins in the first 15 games after Milwaukee (14-1 in 1987) and Boston (13-2 last year).Kansas City has lost 10 straight games, has the poorest record in the big leagues at 2-10 and is off to its worst 12-game start since 2006. The Royals failed to preserve leads of 4-0 in the sixth and 6-4 with two outs in the ninth.Kansas City's Whit Merrifield had his hitting streak end at 31 games. Merrifield went 0 for 6. He had not gone hitless since Sept. 9.Royals center fielder Billy Hamilton was carted off with a knee injury after failing to grab... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Ozzie Albies knows he could have earned a lot more money going year to year and waiting for even greater riches in salary arbitration and free agency. The 22-year-old All-Star second baseman instead opted for financial security for his family in Curaçao.Albies and the Braves agreed Thursday to a $35 million, seven-year contract, a deal that includes a pair of team options that could make it worth $45 million for nine seasons.If he continues to produce at the level he did last year, Albies likely would have doubled or tripled the dollars."I look at it as it's not just for money," he said. "Because I'm not playing for money. I'm playing for my career. And I took it because I want my family to be safe."The agreement announced Thursday supersedes a one-year contract signed last month that called for a $575,000 salary in the major leagues — $20,000 above the minimum.He gets $1 million in each of the next two seasons, $3 million in 2021, $5 million in 2022 and $7 million each in... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Three-time All-Star infielder Matt Carpenter and the St. Louis Cardinals have agreed to a contract that adds $37 million in guaranteed money for 2020 and '21, a deal that includes an option for 2022.The 33-year-old has a $14.5 million salary this season a part of a $52 million, six-year deal that included an $18.5 million club option for 2020 with a $2 million buyout.Under the new $39 million, two-year deal, he has guaranteed salaries of $18.5 million in both 2020 and '21, and the Cardinals have an $18.5 million option for 2022 with a $2 million buyout. The 2022 salary would become guaranteed if he has 1,100 plate appearances combined in 2020 and '21, including at least 550 in '21.If the option fails to become guaranteed, it becomes a club option that includes $6.5 million in possible escalators based on 2021 plate appearances: $500,000 for 350, and $1 million each for 400 and each additional 50 through 650.He also gets a full no-trade provision and award bonuses that include... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:SHAKY STARTSNathan Eovaldi tries to snap Boston out of its early-season funk. The Red Sox are 3-9 in defense of their World Series championship, and the rotation has an 8.78 ERA. Eovaldi (0-0, 8.10) has struggled during starts against Seattle and Oakland. He'll oppose the Blue Jays, who averaged 2.66 runs over their first 11 games before beating Chris Sale and the Red Sox 7-5 at the Fenway Park home opener Tuesday.TIEBREAKER GAMEYadier Molina and the Cardinals go for a four-game sweep of the Dodgers in St. Louis. The longtime National League rivals have played each other 2,074 times since 1892 and the series is even at 1,029-1,029 with 16 ties. St. Louis has won four in a row overall and outscored its opponents 19-6 during the winning streak. Los Angeles has dropped three straight after a five-game winning streak. Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler (1-0, 6.75 ERA) faces Michael Wacha (0-0, 1.54) in the series finale. Buehler has struck... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Jose Altuve hit two homers, Carlos Correa homered with three RBIs and the Houston Astros completed their first sweep of the New York Yankees with an 8-6 win Wednesday night.The Astros needed late-game comebacks to win the first two games of the series but used a four-run fifth inning to break the finale open and held on for their sixth straight win despite a big eighth inning by the Yankees.It's the first time since 2004 the Astros have swept a homestand of at least two series. They beat the Athletics three times this weekend before the Yankees arrived.Altuve, who has homered in three straight games, hit his first one off James Paxton (1-2) to tie it at 1 in the first inning after Brett Gardner hit a leadoff homer for New York.The Astros were up by 1 with no outs in the fifth inning when Altuve connected off Paxton again. The towering shot clanged off the light pole atop the wall in left field to make it 4-2.A single by Michael Brantley chased Paxton, who was replaced by... [More]