PHILADELPHIA (AP) — J.T. Realmuto hit a grand slam, Bryce Harper went deep twice and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Chicago Cubs 11-1 in Charlie Manuel's first game as hitting coach, ruining Cole Hamels' return home Wednesday night.Manuel was back in red pinstripes in his old dugout exactly six years to the day the franchise icon managed his last game for the Phillies. He heard "Charlie! Charlie! Charlie!" chants after Realmuto connected to make it 10-0 in the third.Hamels, the 2008 NLCS and World Series MVP with Manuel's Phillies, was roughed up in his first game in Philadelphia since he was traded to Texas in July 2015. Hamels (6-4) gave up eight runs and nine hits in two-plus innings.Aaron Nola (11-3) benefited from the offense's rare outburst. He allowed three hits, including Kris Bryant's homer, and struck out seven in seven innings.Hamels received the loudest applause during pregame introductions and got a standing ovation when he came to the plate already trailing 4-0 in the... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Thursday:BIG APPLE TESTJosé Ramírez, Francisco Lindor and the Indians own the majors' best record since early June, going 43-19 while whittling away an 11 1/2-game deficit in the AL Central. Now, Yasiel Puig and his new teammates are set to spend more than a week in New York, starting with a four-game series at Yankee Stadium.Adam Plutko (4-3, 4.68 ERA) pitches the opener, taking on a big-hitting Yankees team that has the best record in the majors and has won five in a row. After taking on Gleyber Torres, Aaron Judge and the Yanks, the Indians move across town for a three-game set vs. the Mets and their talented rotation. Cleveland has never played at Citi Field — its only trip to face the Mets was in 2004 at Shea Stadium.WINNING WAYSOakland righty Mike Fiers (11-3, 3.30 ERA) takes a nine-game winning streak into this outing at home against Houston. Fiers, who pitched a no-hitter for the Astros in 2015, has no-decisions in all three starts vs.... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Indians' clubhouse is buzzing with activity about three hours before a three-game series opener against the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox, whose season could be over by October.For a stretch, Cleveland's postseason plans were in serious doubt.As players kill time before the first pitch, several relievers recline in black leather chairs at their cubicles, scanning phones while right-hander Tyler Clippard closes his eyes and grabs a quick nap on one of the large couches nearby.Looking for a fight, third baseman José Ramírez, who is finally swinging the bat like an All-Star again, barrels out of the shower area and shouts at rookie outfielder Oscar Mercado, who rolls his eyes.It's business as usual. Nothing out of place.And, according to All-Star MVP Shane Bieber, that's the key behind the Indians' stunning turnaround this season — same routine, consistency, treat every day and every game just like the one before it."Except, today, I just put on gray pants,"... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Houston Astros ace Gerrit Cole said his sore right hamstring is "not super serious" a day after he was a late scratch in the second game of a doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox.Cole experienced discomfort in his leg while warming up and never took the mound. Instead, Chris Devenski opened the game and lasted just two innings in a 4-1 loss that gave the White Sox a split of the twin bill.The right-hander underwent tests on Wednesday in Chicago and talked to reporters following Houston's 13-9 loss to the White Sox."We got some good news," Cole said. "So we'll just take it day by day right now and kind of see how it responds to some treatment and some rest and get back out there as soon as I can."Cole said he never had a similar hamstring injury, but added, "I've had my fair share of stuff that I've had to get through."Manager A.J. Hinch said Cole would remain with the Astros while the injury is treated and expects the 28-year-old will accompany the team to Oakland for a four-game series that opens on Thursday.Cole didn't know if he'd miss his next scheduled start, next Monday against Detroit in Houston."I don't think it has been ruled out, but I haven't really had that conversation yet with the manager," he said.Cole, 14-5 with a 2.87 ERA, has won a career-best 10 straight games.

MIAMI (AP) — His club seemingly headed to a second consecutive last-place finish in the NL East, Miami Marlins CEO Derek Jeter isn't ready to disclose whether manager Don Mattingly will return next season."There hasn't been a decision yet," Jeter said before Miami hosted the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night. "To be honest with you, we've been so focused on the trade deadline and see what we could do with it.""At the end of every year, we sit down and evaluate all members of the organization, whether it's the manager, coaches, player development, scouting, front office," he said.Mattingly is in the final year of a four-year contract. The former Dodgers manager was hired by ex-owner Jeffrey Loria prior to the 2016 season.The Marlins began the day with a 44-74 record that was the worst in the National League.Jeter, the public face of the ownership group that purchased the club from Loria before the 2017 season, credited Mattingly for his leadership during the team's rebuild. Miami's... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Charlie Manuel was back in red pinstripes in his old dugout with a new role as hitting coach exactly six years to the day he managed his last game for the Philadelphia Phillies.Manuel joined the Phillies on Wednesday, one day after he was hired to replace John Mallee. The 75-year-old Manuel was working as a senior adviser to general manager Matt Klentak before he got the call asking him to put the uniform back on and help revive an underachieving offense."The Phillies pay me and I didn't feel I should turn somebody down that wanted me and I'm already working for them," Manuel said. "I'm excited about it. It's a challenge. I've never been scared about that, especially when it comes to hitting. That's one of my favorite things to talk about."Manuel is beloved in Philadelphia after leading the team to five straight NL East titles, two NL pennants and the franchise's second World Series championship, in 2008. He won more games (780) than any manager in team history and has... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — The New York Mets placed All-Star Jeff McNeil on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday and recalled infielder Rubén Tejada from Triple-A Syracuse.Mets manager Mickey Callaway said McNeil suffered a "fairly mild" left hamstring strain when trying to beat out an infield grounder in the ninth inning of Tuesday night's 5-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves."That is good news," Callaway said. "The bottom line is we're still going to miss him. We need some other guys to step up."McNeil, the Mets' leadoff hitter, is batting .332 with 15 homers and 55 RBIs. This is his second IL stint with a left hamstring injury this season. He missed about two weeks, from May 23 to June 4, with his previous injury.Callaway said it's too soon to know if McNeil might miss more than 10 days this time.The loss of McNeil comes as New York is competing for a playoff spot. The Mets entered Wednesday's schedule two games behind St. Louis for the second NL wild card."I think everybody recognizes that obviously... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Phillies right-hander Jake Arrieta says he's likely going to have season-ending surgery soon because of a bone spur in his pitching elbow.Arrieta has been pitching through pain for several starts but his inability to go more than five innings led him to shut it down. He's scheduled for an MRI on Thursday and will determine his course of action afterward.Arrieta won the 2015 NL Cy Young Award with the Cubs. He has been mediocre since he joined the Phils on a three-year, $75 million contract in March 2018. The deal includes team options for $22.5 million in '21 and '22. Arrieta also can opt out after this season but it's unlikely he'll give up the $20 million he's due next year.He is 8-8 with a 4.64 ERA this season and was 10-11 with a 3.96 ERA in 2018.Zach Eflin will rejoin the starting rotation and take Arrieta's spot on Saturday.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

DENVER (AP) — Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander Robbie Ray left in the third inning against the Colorado Rockies with spasms in his lower back.Ray took the mound in the bottom of the third Wednesday before being visited by manager Torey Lovullo. After a brief meeting, Ray slowly walked toward the dugout with the team trainer. Ray struck out two, walked two and allowed one run over two innings. He threw 45 pitches.The 27-year-old Ray was replaced by right-hander Matt Andriese.Ray is 10-7 with a 3.99 ERA this season.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ATLANTA (AP) — The New York Mets have placed All-Star Jeff McNeil on the 10-day injured list and have recalled infielder Rubén Tejada from Triple-A Syracuse.The Mets say McNeil suffered a low grade left hamstring strain when trying to beat out an infield grounder in the ninth inning of Tuesday night's 5-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves.McNeil is hitting .332 with 15 homers and 55 RBIs. This is his second IL stint with a left hamstring injury this season. He missed about two weeks, from May 23 to June 4, with his previous injury.McNeil has been among the major league leaders in batting this season while providing the Mets a spark at the top of the lineup. He's played both outfield and infield, and has recently been at second base since Robinson Cano got hurt.The 29-year-old Tejada played with the Mets from 2010 through 2015. His last major league appearance came with Baltimore in 2017.Right-hander Jacob Rhame was transferred to the 60-Day IL. He was placed on the IL on Aug. 4 with right elbow discomfort.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Indians' clubhouse is buzzing with activity about three hours before a three-game series opener against the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox, whose season could be over by October.For a stretch, Cleveland's postseason plans were in serious doubt.As players kill time before the first pitch, several relievers recline in black leather chairs at their cubicles, scanning phones while right-hander Tyler Clippard closes his eyes and grabs a quick nap on one of the large couches nearby.Looking for a fight, third baseman José Ramírez, who is finally swinging the bat like an All-Star again, barrels out of the shower area and shouts at rookie outfielder Oscar Mercado, who rolls his eyes.It's business as usual. Nothing out of place.And, according to All-Star MVP Shane Bieber, that's the key behind the Indians' stunning turnaround this season — same routine, consistency, treat every day and every game just like the one before it."Except, today, I just put on gray pants,"... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco Giants have placed infielder Pablo Sandoval on the 10-day injured list with right elbow inflammation.Manager Bruce Bochy says the injury has bothered Sandoval to varying degrees for several years, but it flared up Sunday when the 33-year-old switch-hitter was batting right-handed.Bochy says Sandoval recently underwent an MRI, but the severity of his injury isn't known. He had a cortisone shot on Sunday."He is in pain," Bochy said. "This has flared up before, but not quite like this. Sometimes it goes away in two or three days and other times it's lingered. This time we can't get it to go away."A member of the Giants' three World Series championship teams from 2010 to 2014, Sandoval has been a revelation since returning to San Francisco in 2017 after being released by the Boston Red Sox. He is batting .269 with 14 homers and 41 RBIs.Sandoval has appeared in 107 games, playing 45 times at third base, 23 at first and 49 as a pinch hitter. He has pitched once.Sandoval is in the last year of a five-year, $95 million contract he signed with Boston in 2014, the bulk of which is being paid by the Red Sox.In a corresponding move Wednesday, the Giants activated outfielder Alex Dickerson (right oblique strain).___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays placed starting outfielder Avisail Garcia on the 10-day injured list Wednesday, a day after sustaining an oblique strain in the game against the San Diego Padres."It was a tough decision because he's meant so much to us," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "He tweaked it, but I'm confident we're making the best decision for him and for our club."Garcia has started 101 games this season, posting a .278 batting average, 17 home runs and 57 RBIs."We cannot have Avi go down for a significant period of time," Cash said. "But I think we caught it early enough. We probably won't have him do any swinging for five days and keep our fingers crossed that it's a close to minimum stay."Cash says he's confident the Rays, who are competing for a wild-card playoff spot, can play well in Garcia's absence.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) — Max Scherzer says he's all set to pitch. Not in the minors. In the majors. For the Washington Nationals. As soon as possible.On the injured list for all but one game over the past five weeks because of trouble with a back muscle, the three-time Cy Young Award winner played catch at Nationals Park on Wednesday, a day after pitching the equivalent of about two innings in a simulated game, and declared himself rarin' to go."I want to get in a game now. I'm ready to get in a game," Scherzer said in the home dugout, soaked with sweat after his throwing session. "I think I'm ready to pitch in the big leagues."Asked if he has a particular day in mind, the right-hander replied: "I'm itching to get out there. So whenever they'll let me."Manager Dave Martinez said later he still needed to speak to Scherzer and the team's head trainer to "map out his next steps" before making a decision on his ace's status. But Martinez did not rule out the possibility that Scherzer could pitch this... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays placed starting outfielder Avisail Garcia on the 10-day injured list Wednesday, a day after sustaining an oblique strain in the game against the San Diego Padres."It was a tough decision because he's meant so much to us," Rays manager Keith Cash said. "He tweaked it, but I'm confident we're making the best decision for him and for our club."Garcia has started 101 games this season, posting a .278 batting average, 17 home runs and 57 RBIs."We cannot have Avi go down for a significant period of time," Cash said. "But I think we caught it early enough. We probably won't have him do any swinging for five days and keep our fingers crossed that it's a close to minimum stay."Cash says he's confident the Rays, who are competing for a wild-card playoff spot, can continue to play well in Garcia's absence.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) — Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer says he is "ready to get in a game" for the Washington Nationals and come off the injured list.Scherzer played catch at Nationals Park on Wednesday, a day after throwing the equivalent of about two innings in a simulated game. He said he felt able to return to action following a back muscle problem.Manager Dave Martinez said he still needed to speak to Scherzer and the team's head trainer before making a decision on his ace's status. Martinez did not rule out the possibility that the right-hander could pitch this weekend against the Milwaukee Brewers.The Nationals have not announced who will start for them Saturday or Sunday.Scherzer has appeared once since July 10, coming off the IL to make one start last month before being sidelined again.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — Houston Astros ace Gerrit Cole underwent tests on his right hamstring on Wednesday, a day after he was a late scratch in the second game of a doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox.Cole experienced discomfort in his leg while warming up and never took the mound. Instead, Chris Devenski opened the game and lasted just two innings in a 4-1 loss that gave the White Sox a split of the twin bill.Manager A.J. Hinch says Cole would remain with the Astros while awaiting results. Hinch expects the right-hander will accompany the team to Oakland for a four-game series that opens on Thursday.Hinch says Cole "reports feeling good, he just needs to wait for the results of the tests and the doctors and see what's next for him. He's frustrated that he missed a start last night. Now we've got to run the course of getting him evaluated."Cole, 14-5 with a 2.87 ERA, has won a career-best 10 straight games.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Indians outfielder Yasiel Puig has become a U.S. citizen.The Cuban-born Puig, who was traded to Cleveland by Cincinnati last month, posted a photo Wednesday on social media showing him waving a small American flag. He wrote, "Thank you God for this great opportunity to be an American citizen."A team spokesman said Puig's naturalization ceremony took place in Miami. He defected from Cuba in 2012 after several failed attempts.Puig was not in uniform for the Indians' afternoon game against Boston. He is serving the final game of a three-game suspension for his involvement in a July 30 brawl when he was still with Cincinnati.The 28-year-old was part of a wild fight between the Reds and Pirates mere hours before being traded. Puig is batting .357 with one homer and six RBIs in 11 games with the Indians.Earlier this season, Cleveland first baseman Carlos Santana became a U.S. citizen.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CLEVELAND (AP) — Rafael Devers wasn't trying to make history, it just happened.Boston's third baseman became the first major league player to record six hits and four doubles in the same game as the Red Sox beat the Cleveland Indians 7-6 in 10 innings on Tuesday night.Devers went 6 for 6 and drove in three runs as the Red Sox won after blowing a 6-1 lead.The 22-year-old doubled in the first, fifth, sixth and 10th. He added singles in the third and eighth."Every single ball was a scud missile," said Jackie Bradley Jr., who homered in the 10th as the Red Sox won for just the fourth time in 16 games. "He hit it hard every time."Devers also made a costly error that allowed the Indians to close to within 6-5 in the seventh."I just tried to have a good at-bat every turn," Devers said. "I'm always confident, every single day, every at-bat. Sometimes I don't have a good game when I feel that way."Red Sox starter Chris Sale, who made his own history by getting to 2,000 career strikeouts faster than... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:STRASBURG VS. BAUERThere's quite a pitching matchup at Nationals Park for the series finale between Washington and Cincinnati: Stephen Strasburg vs. Trevor Bauer, two righties who are among the top strikeout artists in the majors this season.For Bauer, it's his third appearance for the Reds since arriving from the Indians in a three-team trade that sent Yasiel Puig to Cleveland — and came shortly after the pitcher chucked a baseball over an outfield wall when he was removed from a game. Bauer is 1-0 with a 3.09 ERA for Cincinnati, and 10-8 with a 3.74 ERA and 200 strikeouts in 168 1/3 innings overall in 2019.Strasburg leads the NL in wins at 14-5, is fourth with 181 Ks and has a 3.72 ERA. He's also 3-0 with a 2.52 ERA in his past four starts against the Reds.REMEMBER ME?Cubs lefty Cole Hamels is set to pitch at Citizens Bank Park for the first time since the Phillies traded him to Texas in July 2015.Hamels spent 10 seasons with Philadelphia... [More]