A look at what's happening around the majors today:ONE-TWO PUNCHHouston goes into a doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox with two of the pitchers the Astros hope will carry them deep into October. In the opener, Zack Greinke will make his second start for AL West-leading Houston since he was acquired from Arizona in a blockbuster trade at the deadline. Greinke is a combined 11-4 with a 3.08 ERA and got the win with a middling performance in his Astros debut, allowing five runs in six innings against the Colorado Rockies. Gerrit Cole (14-5, 2.87 ERA) has been an ace for the Astros all season and is among the favorites for the AL Cy Young Award. The last team to beat him was the White Sox — way back on May 22. The doubleheader was scheduled after Monday's Astros-White Sox matchup was postponed by rain.SCHERZER'S SIM GAMEWashington Nationals ace Max Scherzer is expected to throw a simulated game Tuesday as he tries to get closer to returning from a back muscle injury. Manager Dave Martinez... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The home clubhouse in Minnesota was silent after the final game of the series was lost to Cleveland in distressing fashion, a fifth defeat in the last seven contests for the Twins that let the surging Indians create another tie for the division lead.As players packed for a road trip, minus the usual upbeat music blaring in the background, the mood in the room was hardly somber or tense. Even having the would-be winning run get thrown out at the plate in the ninth inning and the team's top relief pitcher give up a grand slam in the 10th did not qualify as a devastating development amid the 162-game grind of baseball.Particularly not under the supervision of rookie manager Rocco Baldelli, whose perpetually relaxed and upbeat demeanor has had more of an influence on these Twins in his first year than any strategic decision or lineup change."We're in a pretty good frame of mind," Baldelli said following a 7-3 loss Sunday to the Indians. "You're going to go through runs where... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Tuesday:ONE-TWO PUNCHHouston goes into a doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox with two of the pitchers the Astros hope will carry them deep into October. In the opener, Zack Greinke will make his second start for AL West-leading Houston since he was acquired from Arizona in a blockbuster trade at the deadline. Greinke is a combined 11-4 with a 3.08 ERA and got the win with a middling performance in his Astros debut, allowing five runs in six innings against the Colorado Rockies. Gerrit Cole (14-5, 2.87 ERA) has been an ace for the Astros all season and is among the favorites for the AL Cy Young Award. The last team to beat him was the White Sox — way back on May 22. The doubleheader was scheduled after Monday's Astros-White Sox matchup was postponed by rain.SCHERZER'S SIM GAMEWashington Nationals ace Max Scherzer is expected to throw a simulated game Tuesday as he tries to get closer to returning from a back muscle injury. Manager Dave... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Zack Greinke's second start with the Houston Astros has been postponed by rain.The Astros were scheduled to begin a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox on Monday night, but the rain started to pick up in the afternoon and the game was quickly called.The teams will play a traditional doubleheader Tuesday. Greinke and Gerrit Cole will pitch for Houston, and rookie Dylan Cease and Iván Nova are the scheduled starters for Chicago.The 35-year-old Greinke was acquired in a blockbuster trade with Arizona on July 31, giving Houston another ace for its rotation. The six-time All-Star got the win in his Astros debut, pitching six innings of five-run ball in an 11-6 victory over Colorado on Tuesday.Houston has won 12 of 15 to open a 10-game lead in the AL West. It looked as if it was headed for its ninth straight win Sunday in Baltimore, but Roberto Osuna surrendered a two-run homer to Rio Ruiz with two out in the ninth inning of the Orioles' 8-7 victory.Houston's pitching... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Zack Greinke's second start with the Houston Astros has been postponed by rain.The Astros were scheduled to begin a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox on Monday night, but the rain started to pick up in the afternoon and the game was quickly called.The teams will play a traditional doubleheader Tuesday.The 35-year-old Greinke was acquired in a blockbuster trade with Arizona on July 31, giving Houston another ace for its rotation. The six-time All-Star got the win in his Astros debut, pitching six innings of five-run ball in an 11-6 victory over Colorado on Tuesday.Houston has won 12 of 15 to open a 10-game lead in the AL West. It looked as if it was headed for its ninth straight win Sunday in Baltimore, but Roberto Osuna surrendered a two-run homer to Rio Ruiz with two out in the ninth inning of the Orioles' 8-7 victory.Chicago dropped two of three against Oakland over the weekend. Lucas Giolito struck out a career-high 13 in six innings Sunday, but Matt Olson... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Michael Chavis played through the pain for as long as he could.On Monday, the Red Sox rookie finally gave in.Boston placed the versatile Chavis on the 10-day injured list with a sprained left shoulder he sustained recently while trying to make a diving catch.One of the AL's top first-year players, Chavis has 18 homers and 58 RBIs, second most to Mets slugger Pete Alonso among rookies. But he's been in a slump, batting .156 (5 for 32) in his last 11 games, and the shoulder injury explains Chavis' recent slide."It stinks," said Chavis, adding the pain is most severe when the swings a bat. "I want to be out there and help the team, but if I can't do my part it's tough."Red Sox manager Alex Cora didn't want to put a timetable on when Chavis will return. He won't swing a bat for five or six days."It makes sense for him to get healthy," Cora said. "He tried to play through it. It's one of those things we have to manage now."The Red Sox also recalled right-hander Travis Lakins... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The home clubhouse in Minnesota was silent after the final game of the series was lost to Cleveland in distressing fashion, a fifth defeat in the last seven contests for the Twins that let the surging Indians create another tie for the division lead.As players packed for a road trip, minus the usual upbeat music blaring in the background, the mood in the room was hardly somber or tense. Even having the would-be winning run get thrown out at the plate in the ninth inning and the team's top relief pitcher give up a grand slam in the 10th did not qualify as a devastating development amid the 162-game grind of baseball.Particularly not under the supervision of rookie manager Rocco Baldelli, whose perpetually relaxed and upbeat demeanor has had more of an influence on these Twins in his first year than any strategic decision or lineup change."We're in a pretty good frame of mind," Baldelli said following Sunday's 7-3 loss to the Indians. "You're going to go through runs where... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Indians outfielder Yasiel Puig has dropped the appeal for his three-game suspension for his involvement in a brawl when he was with Cincinnati.Puig will begin serving his ban Monday night when the Indians, who have climbed back into a tie for first in the AL Central, open a three-game series against Boston.Puig was disciplined for his involvement in the latest benches-clearing incident between the Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates on July 30. The fracas began shortly after Puig was dealt to the Indians as part of a three-team trade that sent right-hander Trevor Bauer from Cleveland to Cincinnati.The animated 28-year-old Puig is batting .357 with one homer and six RBIs in 11 games for Cleveland. He has given the Indians an infusion of power and energy, helping their surge to catch the Minnesota Twins.Puig is eligible for free agency after the World Series.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Boston Red Sox have placed rookie infielder Michael Chavis on the 10-day injured list with sprained left shoulder.One of the AL's top first-year players, Chavis has 18 homers and 58 RBIs, second most to Mets slugger Pete Alonso among rookies. Chavis has been in a slump, batting just .156 (5 for 32) in his last 11 games. The shoulder injury could explain Chavis' recent slide.The move was announced before the Red Sox opened a three-game series at Progressive Field. Boston has lost 11 of 15 and is 16 ½ games behind first-place New York in the AL East and 7 ½ back for a playoff wild-card spot.The Red Sox also recalled right-hander Travis Lakins and infielder Marco Hernández from Triple-A Pawtucket.Chavis' home-run and RBI totals are the most by a Red Sox rookie since Ellis Burks hit 20 home runs with 59 RBIs in 1987. Chavis played first base (49 games), second (45), and third (five).___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is just part of an exciting group of Toronto rookies.Bo Bichette was called up from the minors late last month, and in just 14 games, he already has 13 extra-base hits. He began his career with an 11-game hitting streak and also set a major league record with nine straight games with a double. Bichette plays shortstop, which differentiates him a bit from his father, Dante, an outfielder who hit 274 home runs in his big league career.The Blue Jays are 23 games under .500, but they have the makings of an exciting young infield with Guerrero at third, Bichette at shortstop and Cavan Biggio at second. All three rookies are the sons of prominent major leaguers. Biggio's father, Craig, had a Hall of Fame career with Houston.The 20-year-old Guerrero came into the season with the highest expectations among that trio. He's hitting .274 with an OPS of .805. Those are somewhat ordinary numbers, but there's still a sense that Guerrero is a star in the making. In a 1-0 loss to... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:SOTO WATCHNationals star Juan Soto is hoping for a quick recovery after spraining his ankle in a win over the Mets on Sunday. The 20-year-old turned his ankle after getting a sudden stop sign from third base coach Bob Henley. X-rays were negative and the team said he's day to day. Washington hopes to know more before starting a three-game home series against Cincinnati on Monday.RAYS OF LIGHTReigning AL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell is expected to play catch as he tries to work back from left elbow surgery in late July. Tampa Bay's ace had an arthroscopic procedure to clean out loose bodies, and while he's hopeful of returning to the rotation before the end of the season, manager Kevin Cash said Sunday it's still too early to projected the left-hander's return. The Rays are set to open a series in San Diego.RACE RESETThe Indians will open a home series against Boston a day after moving into a tie with Minnesota atop the AL Central.... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Carlos Santana hit a grand slam in the 10th inning, and the Cleveland Indians beat the Minnesota Twins 7-3 on Sunday to win the four-game series and forge another tie for the AL Central lead.The Twins tied the game with four hits in a two-run ninth against Brad Hand (5-3), using a single by Luis Arraez and a double by Marwin Gonzalez to extend the game.As pinch-runner Ehire Adrianza tried to score the winning run from first base, left fielder Tyler Naquin grabbed the ball off the bounce from the wall and zipped a throw to shortstop Francisco Lindor, whose relay home was in perfect position for catcher Kevin Plawecki to tag Adrianza with ease.Twins closer Taylor Rogers (2-3) allowed a single, a walk and another single on a bunt by Greg Allen to load the bases with none out for Santana, who quickly erased the late-inning drama with one big swing.The Twins and Indians play six more times, all in September.ORIOLES 8, ASTROS 7BALTIMORE (AP) — Rio Ruiz hit a two-run homer with... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Carlos Santana hit a grand slam in the 10th inning, and the Cleveland Indians beat the Minnesota Twins 7-3 on Sunday to win the four-game series and forge another tie for the AL Central lead.The Twins tied the game with four hits in a two-run ninth against Brad Hand (5-3), using a single by Luis Arraez and a double by Marwin Gonzalez to extend the game.As pinch-runner Ehire Adrianza tried to score the winning run from first base, left fielder Tyler Naquin grabbed the ball off the bounce from the wall and zipped a throw to shortstop Francisco Lindor, whose relay home was in perfect position for catcher Kevin Plawecki to tag Adrianza with ease.Twins closer Taylor Rogers (2-3) allowed a single, a walk and another single on a bunt by Greg Allen to load the bases with none out for Santana, who quickly erased the late-inning drama with one big swing.The Twins and Indians play six more times, all in September.ORIOLES 8, ASTROS 7BALTIMORE (AP) — Rio Ruiz hit a two-run homer with... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Asdrubal Cabrera hit a tiebreaking two-run double against his former team, helping the Washington Nationals beat the streaking New York Mets 7-4 Sunday.Nationals star Juan Soto was injured on Cabrera's bases-loaded hit in the seventh inning. Soto went from first to third but turned his right ankle after getting a late stop sign from third base coach Bob Henley. He was worked on by trainers in the outfield grass before coming out of the game.Victor Robles replaced Soto and homered off Edwin Díaz in the ninth.Sean Doolittle pitched a perfect ninth for his 26th save two nights after blowing a three-run lead in the final inning. The Nats bullpen had blown five consecutive save chances at Citi Field prior to Sunday.The Mets had won eight in a row. They dropped 1 1/2 games behind Washington for the top NL wild card.Jeff McNeil had two hits and two RBIs, and Robert Gsellman (2-3) got the loss.YANKEES 1, BLUE JAYS 0TORONTO (AP) — Masahiro Tanaka and Aroldis Chapman combined on a... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Juan Soto has been diagnosed with a right ankle sprain after being pulled from the Washington Nationals' 7-4 victory over the New York Mets on Sunday.The 20-year-old star came out of the game after turning his ankle running the bases in the seventh inning. Soto went first-to-third on Asdrubal Cabrera's two-out, two-run double and was injured trying to slow down after third base coach Bob Henley threw up a late stop sign. The team said he is day to day after X-rays were negative.The Mets tagged him out to end the inning, and Soto spiked his helmet, hobbled into the outfield and then was visited by a trainer."I just went 100 percent running to the plate and Bobby tried to stop me," Soto said. "When I tried to stop, my ankle just rolled over."Soto remained in shallow left field for a few minutes, attempted to warm up defensively for the next inning, but then returned to the dugout. He was replaced by Victor Robles. Soto broke the same ankle in 2017.Robles later provided a pair of insurance runs in the ninth with a two-run homer."I told the trainers that I just came out to let him hit a homer," Soto joked.Soto was 0 for 2 with two walks. He has reached base in 17 straight games and hit two home runs Saturday. Soto is hitting .289 with 24 home runs and 77 RBIs and ranks among the NL leaders in both walks and on-base percentage.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Young star Juan Soto has been pulled from the Washington Nationals game against the New York Mets after turning his right ankle running the bases in the seventh inning.Soto walked to load the bases and went first-to-third on Asdrubal Cabrera's two-out, two-run double Sunday. Third base coach Bob Henley threw up a late stop sign, and Soto turned his ankle attempting to stop after rounding third. The Mets tagged him out to end the inning, and Soto spiked his helmet, hobbled into the outfield and then was visited by a trainer.Soto remained in shallow left field for a few minutes, attempted to warm up defensively for the next inning but then returned to the dugout. He was replaced by Victor Robles.The 20-year-old Soto was 0 for 2 with two walks. He has reached base in 17 straight games and hit two home runs Saturday. He is hitting .289 with 24 home runs and 77 RBIs and ranks among the NL leaders in both walks and on-base percentage.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BURKE, Texas (AP) — A Houston Astros fan in Texas has marked her 105th birthday with a baseball-themed party including some gifts courtesy of her favorite team.The Lufkin Daily News reports Uba Lee "Tuey" Davis celebrated Saturday at Burke United Methodist. Pastor Mike Waters helped arrange for the Astros to send Davis some birthday presents, including an Alex Bregman bobblehead and a baseball signed by Jose Altuve.Davis was born Aug.10, 1914, in Burke, a town of about 730 people located 100 miles northeast of Houston and her beloved Astros.Her great-niece and care provider, Sherry Tutt, says Davis loves dark chocolate, Dr Pepper, daily devotions and watching the Astros on television.___Information from: The Lufkin Daily News, http://www.lufkindailynews.com

TORONTO (AP) — All-Star infielder Gleyber Torres is back in the New York Yankees' lineup for Sunday's series finale at Toronto after sitting out the past four games because of an unspecified core injury.Torres went to a hospital for treatment last Sunday, then served as New York's designated hitter against the Orioles the following day. He started at second base Tuesday, but was removed in the third inning and hasn't played since.Torres took batting practice and fielded grounders before Saturday's game, then flashed a thumbs-up to manager Aaron Boone as he returned to the clubhouse. The two-time All-Star is batting .281 with 23 homers and 62 RBI. He'll bat sixth and play shortstop, giving regular Didi Gregorius a day off.Also Sunday, the Yankees put left-hander Stephen Tarpley on the 10-day injured list because of a left shoulder impingement. Infielder Breyvic Valera was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.Tarpley is the 17th Yankees player currently on the injured list. In all,... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — The mess in the Atlanta Braves clubhouse made by a punctured fire extinguisher has been cleaned up before Sunday's series finale at Miami.The damage occurred when Braves reliever Sean Newcomb kicked a garbage can in anger after giving up the winning run in the 10th inning of Saturday night's ugly 7-6 loss to the Marlins.The metal garbage can hit the fire extinguisher hanging nearby on the tunnel wall between the dugout and clubhouse, and chemical dust began to spew. A large fan helped send dust and smoke flying, preventing the team from entering the clubhouse.A cleanup crew stayed until early Sunday morning removing the dust. One worker said Newcomb apologized and offered to pay for any damage.Atlanta's bullpen gave up seven runs in the final three innings of the game, including four in the ninth.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BURKE, Texas (AP) — A Houston Astros fan in Texas has marked her 105th birthday with a baseball-themed party including some gifts courtesy of her favorite team.The Lufkin Daily News reports Uba Lee "Tuey" Davis celebrated Saturday at Burke United Methodist. Pastor Mike Waters helped arrange for the Astros to send Davis some birthday presents, including an Alex Bregman bobblehead and a baseball signed by Jose Altuve.Davis was born Aug.10, 1914, in Burke, a town of about 730 people located 100 miles northeast of Houston and her beloved Astros.Her great-niece and care provider, Sherry Tutt, says Davis loves dark chocolate, Dr Pepper, daily devotions and watching the Astros on television.___Information from: The Lufkin Daily News, http://www.lufkindailynews.com