WASHINGTON (AP) — The Atlanta Braves have sent 2018 All-Star pitcher Mike Foltynewicz to the minor leagues following another ineffective start.Foltynewicz (2-5, 6.37 ERA) was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnet on Sunday after giving up eight runs in four innings to Washington less than 24 hours earlier.After the Braves rallied for a 13-9 win on Saturday night, Foltynewicz said, "It's just frustrating. I have a 7.00 ERA on a first-place team."By late Sunday morning, he was no longer part of the NL East-leading Braves' roster.Atlanta pitching coach Rick Kranitz said of the right-hander: "He's an All-Star, and he has great stuff. He just needs to go down, clear his head and relax and start making pitches."The Braves filled the roster spot by recalling right-hander Chad Sobotka from Gwinnet.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BOSTON (AP) — Red Sox infielder Brock Holt has left Sunday's game against Toronto in the fourth inning with left hamstring tightness.Holt singled with one out in the second, advanced on Christian Vázquez's single and was cut down at the plate by left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr.'s throw trying to score on Jackie Bradley Jr.'s single.Holt was replaced by Eduardo Núñez in the top of the fourth.Holt has been Boston's hottest hitter since returning from the injured list on May 27, leading the team with a .357 average coming into Sunday.He went on the IL on April 7 with a scratched right cornea and also on injured his right shoulder while on a rehab assignment.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Nationals finally ran out of patience waiting for Trevor Rosenthal to throw strikes following his return from Tommy John surgery.Rosenthal was released by the Nationals on Sunday, less than 24 hours after the 29-year-old reliever walked all three batters he faced in a 13-9 loss to Atlanta.After undergoing elbow ligament replacement surgery in 2017, Rosenthal sat out last season before signing as a free agent with Washington in November. The Nationals were hopeful he would pitch as he did in 2014 and 2015 with St. Louis, when he totaled 93 saves.Instead, Rosenthal went 0-1 with an unsightly 22.74 ERA. He issued 15 walks and allowed 16 earned runs in 6 1/3 innings."He's got great stuff," Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. "He just couldn't find the strike zone."Rosenthal retired the only batter he faced Friday night before bottoming out Saturday night."I was very hopeful he had turned a corner," Martinez said. "We're up four runs (on Saturday), we're down... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Bobby Bradley has brought his big bat to the majors.The Indians recalled Bradley on Sunday from Triple-A Columbus, where he was leading the International League in home runs and causing Cleveland fans to question why he wasn't in a lineup needing power.The Indians, who are chasing AL Central-leading Minnesota, have been contemplating the move with Bradley for some time. He's in the lineup Sunday batting seventh and playing first as the Indians go for a three-game sweep over the Detroit Tigers.Bradley said he was so excited about his promotion to the majors that he put his car on cruise control during the two-hour drive from Columbus to Cleveland on Saturday."I couldn't keep my foot off the gas," Bradley said. "I just wanted to get up here so fast."Bradley was taking ground balls before Columbus' game against Lehigh Valley on Saturday when Clippers manager Tony Mansolino approached him."He informed me that I made the Futures Game, but the Indians didn't want me to play for... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Cameron Maybin is the 21st player to go on the injured list this year for the New York Yankees, exceeding their total for the entire 2018 season.The 32-year-old Maybin has a strained left calf. To replace the veteran outfielder on the roster, the AL East leaders recalled left-hander Nestor Cortes Jr. from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre before Sunday's game against Houston.The Yankees acquired Maybin in a trade with Cleveland on April 25. He is batting .314 with five homers and 14 RBIs in 42 games.Maybin got hurt in the third inning of Friday's 4-1 win over the Astros. Manager Aaron Boone said he has a Grade 2 strain and will be out for a while.Cortes is 2-0 with a 4.09 ERA in seven appearances for New York this year.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CLEVELAND (AP) — Bobby Bradley has brought his big bat to the majors.The Indians recalled Bradley on Sunday from Triple-A Columbus, where he was leading the International League in home runs and causing Cleveland fans to question why he wasn't in a lineup needing power.The Indians, who are chasing the AL Central-leading Minnesota Twins, have been contemplating the move with Bradley for some time. He's in the lineup for Sunday's game batting seventh and playing first as the Indians go for a three-game sweep over the Detroit Tigers.A left-handed hitter, Bradley batted .292 with 24 homers and 55 RBIs for the Clippers. He has hit for power at every level in the minors — he had 27 homers last season between Double- and Triple-A — since being drafted by the Indians in 2014.To make room for Bradley, the Indians sent reliever Josh Smith back to Columbus.The Indians don't want to put too much pressure on Bradley, but hope his presence can fill a power void created by the offseason trades of Edwin Encarnacion, Yonder Alonso and Yan Gomes, as well as the decision not to re-sign Michael Brantley.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Christian Yelich first met Giannis Antetokounmpo last month in downtown Milwaukee.The encounter happened inside a hallway at Fiserv Forum after Antetokounmpo and the Bucks eliminated the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals.The meeting of the Milwaukee stars occurred about six months after Yelich won the 2018 NL MVP award.Now, Antetokounmpo could bring another MVP trophy to the city situated on Lake Michigan's western shore.The Bucks forward is a finalist for NBA MVP along with Oklahoma City swingman Paul George and Houston guard James Harden, who won the award last season.The winner will be announced Monday night."Obviously I'm happy to be one of the three finalists," Antetokounmpo said two days after losing to the eventual NBA champion Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference finals. "Hopefully I get it. If not, I have many more years to be able to help my teammates be successful and put me in a situation that we can get it."Antetokounmpo set career highs... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Indians have recalled slugger Bobby Bradley from Triple-A Columbus, where he was leading the International League in home runs.Cleveland had been contemplating the move for some time to add some pop to its lineup, and the club brought up Bradley on Sunday before going for a three-game sweep over the Detroit Tigers.A left-handed hitter, Bradley batted .292 with 24 homers and 55 RBIs for the Clippers. He has hit with power at every level in the minors — he had 27 last season between Double- and Triple-A — since being drafted by the Indians in 2014.To make room for Bradley, the Indians sent reliever Josh Smith back to Columbus.The Indians don't want to put too much pressure on Bradley, but hope his presence can fill a power void created by the offseason trades of Edwin Encarnacion, Yonder Alonso and Yan Gomes, as well as the decision not to re-sign Michael Brantley.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

A look at what's happening around the majors today:ALBERT'S ALLEYAlbert Pujols wraps up his reunion at Busch Stadium, where the adoring St. Louis fans get another chance to cheer him in the Sunday night special.Pujols has been showered with standing ovations this weekend during the Angels' visit — his first time back since signing with Los Angeles after the 2011 season. He took a curtain call after hitting a home run Saturday, a salute for the three NL MVP awards and two World Series championships he won with the Cardinals.Miles Mikolas (5-7, 4.48 ERA) starts for St. Louis against lefty Tyler Skaggs (6-6, 4.61).STREAKINGAstros ace Justin Verlander tries to halt three long streaks when he starts on Old-Timers' Day at Yankee Stadium.Gleyber Torres and New York have won eight in a row and are going for a four-game sweep in the matchup of AL division leaders. Houston has dropped seven straight — the last time it had a longer skid was a 15-game rut in 2013.Gio Urshela and Austin Romine homered... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Sunday:ALBERT'S ALLEYAlbert Pujols wraps up his reunion at Busch Stadium, where the adoring St. Louis fans get another chance to cheer him in the Sunday night special.Pujols has been showered with standing ovations this weekend during the Angels' visit — his first time back since signing with Los Angeles after the 2011 season. He took a curtain call after hitting a home run Saturday, a salute for the three NL MVP awards and two World Series championships he won with the Cardinals.Miles Mikolas (5-7, 4.48 ERA) starts for St. Louis against lefty Tyler Skaggs (6-6, 4.61).STREAKINGAstros ace Justin Verlander tries to halt three long streaks when he starts on Old-Timers' Day at Yankee Stadium.Gleyber Torres and New York have won eight in a row and are going for a four-game sweep in the matchup of AL division leaders. Houston has dropped seven straight — the last time it had a longer skid was a 15-game rut in 2013.Gio Urshela and Austin Romine homered... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins have signed reliever Cody Allen to a minor-league contract, taking a crack at the former Cleveland Indians closer who was let go last week by the Los Angeles Angels.Allen signed a one-year, $8.5 million deal in January with the Angels, who released the right-hander with a 6.26 ERA and nine homers allowed in 23 innings . He had four saves.The 30-year-old became the all-time leader for the Indians with 149 career saves, but he struggled last season with a 4.70 ERA and five blown saves in his last 19 appearances. Allen had five straight seasons of a sub-3.00 ERA from 2013-17.Twins relievers have a collective 4.47 ERA, ranking 16th in the major leagues.___More AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_MLB

WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Nationals outfielder Victor Robles left the game against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday with symptoms of dehydration in the second inning.The Nationals said Robles was receiving intravenous fluid.Robles went down to a knee in center during Nick Markakis' at-bat Saturday, and manager Dave Martinez and an athletic trainer soon jogged to the outfield. Robles, who walked off the field, was not involved in any fielding plays in the first two innings, and had yet to take a turn at the plate.The rookie is hitting .243 with 11 homers and 33 RBIs. He was replaced in center by Michael A. Taylor.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CLEVELAND (AP) — Leonys Martin's struggles at the plate forced the Indians to make a tough decision with the outfielder.Martín, who overcame a life-threatening bacterial infection last summer after arriving in a trade, was designated for assignment on Saturday. He was batting .199 with nine home runs and 19 RBIs in 65 games.Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said the decision to part ways with the 31-year-old Martín was difficult."Obviously, with all the things we've been through with Leonys and his family to this point, it wasn't easy," Antonetti said before the Indians hosted the Detroit Tigers. "But we also have an obligation to do what we think is the right thing for the rest of the team."Cleveland acquired Martín from the Tigers at the trade deadline last season, but he played only six games before becoming ill and being hospitalized.Antonetti said the move had nothing to do with the argument Martín had with star shortstop Francisco Lindor in the dugout on Wednesday... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Indians have designated outfielder Leonys Martin for assignment on Saturday.Martin, who overcame a life-threatening bacterial infection last summer, batted .199 with nine home runs and 19 RBIs in 65 games.Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said the decision to part ways with Martin was difficult but he felt it was the right move for the team.Cleveland acquired Martin from the Detroit Tigers at the trade deadline last season, but he played only six games before becoming ill and missed the rest of the season.Antonetti said the move had nothing to do with the dugout argument Martin had with star shortstop Francisco Lindor after the center fielder didn't make a catch at the wall Wednesday against Texas.The Indians purchased the contract of right-hander Aaron Civale from Triple-A Columbus to start Saturday against Detroit.Antonetti said pitcher Carlos Carrasco has been going through treatment and is making progress from the blood disorder that sidelined him earlier this month.

NEW YORK (AP) — Looking for a big start, the New York Yankees found an unorthodox spot for Aaron Judge in his long-awaited return to the lineup.After missing two months with a left oblique injury, Judge was back Friday night against Houston and batted leadoff for the first time in his major league career."I loved it. More at-bats. That's the best part about it," Judge said after going 0 for 4 with two strikeouts in a 4-1 victory. "Every time I came up it felt like there was somebody on base somewhere, so it's a good little spot. Hope it was not my last time doing it."Normally the team's No. 2 hitter, the 6-foot-7, 282-pound slugger was moved to the top spot as manager Aaron Boone toys with how best to arrange his power-packed batting order. Regular leadoff man DJ LeMahieu was rested."I'm just trying to get my best players up there as much as possible," Boone said.Judge received a boisterous ovation from the Yankee Stadium crowd when No. 99 was introduced with a "Welcome back!" from public... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Chase Utley ran out to second base one more time wearing a red pinstriped No. 26 Philadelphia Phillies jersey and dark blue suit pants while his walk-up song "Kashmir" by Led Zeppelin blared and adoring fans stood and cheered.The six-time All-Star was honored Friday night at a retirement ceremony before the Phillies played the Miami Marlins. He called Phillies fans the "best" in baseball and threw a ceremonial first pitch to actor Rob McElhenney, creator of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." McElhenney had a "man crush" on Utley in one of the show's episodes."Thank you the fans of Philadelphia," Utley said. "Thank you for motivating me, thank you for being straight forward, thank you for picking me up when I was down, thank you for being loyal, a bit crazy at times and thank you for being passionate. Overall, thank you for being the best fans in baseball."Utley played 13 seasons in Philadelphia and helped the Phillies win five straight NL East titles, two NL pennants... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Chase Utley ran out to second base one more time wearing a red pinstriped No. 26 Philadelphia Phillies jersey and dark blue suit pants while his walk-up song "Kashmir" by Led Zeppelin blared and adoring fans stood and cheered.The six-time All-Star was honored Friday night at a retirement ceremony before the Phillies played the Miami Marlins. He called Phillies fans the "best" in baseball and threw a ceremonial first pitch to actor Rob McElhenney, creator of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." McElhenney had a "man crush" on Utley in one of the show's episodes."Thank you the fans of Philadelphia," Utley said. "Thank you for motivating me, thank you for being straight forward, thank you for picking me up when I was down, thank you for being loyal, a bit crazy at times and thank you for being passionate. Overall, thank you for being the best fans in baseball."Utley played 13 seasons in Philadelphia and helped the Phillies win five straight NL East titles, two NL pennants... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Looking for a big start, the New York Yankees found an unorthodox spot for Aaron Judge in his long-awaited return to the lineup.After missing two months with a left oblique injury, Judge was back Friday night against Houston and batted leadoff for the first time in his major league career.Normally the team's No. 2 hitter, the 6-foot-7, 282-pound slugger was moved to the top spot as manager Aaron Boone toys with how best to arrange his power-packed batting order. Regular leadoff man DJ LeMahieu was rested."I'm just trying to get my best players up there as much as possible," Boone said.Judge received a boisterous ovation from the Yankee Stadium crowd when No. 99 was introduced with a "Welcome back!" from public address announcer Paul Olden. Judge ran the count full his first time up before grounding out to first base against right-hander Brad Peacock.Astros skipper AJ Hinch deadpanned that Judge is the largest leadoff hitter he'll ever manage against."He brings an immediate... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Chase Utley ran out to second base one more time wearing a red pinstriped No. 26 Philadelphia Phillies jersey and dark blue suit pants while his walk-up song by Def Leppard blared and adoring fans stood and cheered.The six-time All-Star was honored Friday night at a retirement ceremony before the Phillies played the Miami Marlins. He called Phillies fans the "best" in baseball and threw a ceremonial first pitch to actor Rob McElhenney, creator of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." McElhenney had a "man crush" on Utley in one of the show's episodes."Thank you the fans of Philadelphia," Utley said. "Thank you for motivating me, thank you for being straight forward, thank you for picking me up when I was down, thank you for being loyal, a bit crazy at times and thank you for being passionate. Overall, thank you for being the best fans in baseball."Utley played 13 seasons in Philadelphia and helped the Phillies win five straight NL East titles, two NL pennants and the... [More]

ST. Louis (AP) — The cheers for Albert Pujols lasted much longer than his at-bat.It had been almost eight years in the making, but Albert Pujols returned to the Busch Stadium on Friday night and was greeted by a raucous standing ovation that carried on for over a minute.Pujols spent the first 11 years of his All-Star career with the Cardinals before signing with the Los Angeles Angels after the 2011 season. Due to inconsistent interleague scheduling, this was the first time the Angels have visited St. Louis since Pujols left.During the ovation, Pujols and Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina — whom he refers to as his little brother — embraced in the first inning. Before stepping in, Pujols tipped his helmet, sending the crowd noise to another level.The cheers faded as quickly as the at-bat, in which Pujols flied out to deep center field on Michael Wacha's first pitch. Wacha was drafted by the Cardinals as compensation for Pujols signing a $254 million, 10-year contract with the Angels as a... [More]