SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres activated first baseman Eric Hosmer from the 10-day injured list on Saturday, just 12 days after he broke his left index finger while trying to bunt. Hosmer started and batted fifth against the Seattle Mariners. The Padres had the chance to clinch their first playoff berth in 14 seasons. The Padres also recalled right-hander Luis Patiño to start in place of Mike Clevinger, who will have his next start pushed back a few days due to right biceps tightness. To make room on the roster, catcher Francisco Mejía and right-hander Luis Perdomo were optioned to the alternate training site.

A look at what's happening around the majors Sunday: ___ SHUT DOWN Justin Verlander’s bid to rejoin the Astros for a playoff push is over. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner says he needs Tommy John surgery, likely putting him out of action through all of next year. The 37-year-old right-hander threw to hitters on the side Wednesday for the first time since he was injured in the team’s opener on July 24. “I tried as hard as I could to come back and play this season,” Verlander said. “Unfortunately, my body just didn’t cooperate.” The Astros hold the eighth and final spot in the AL playoff race. Verlander went 21-6 with a 2.58 ERA last year, striking out a career-high 300 and throwing his third no-hitter. He pitched 223 innings, most in the majors, and then made six more starts in the postseason as the Astros reached the World Series. TRY AGAIN Madison Bumgarner makes another attempt at his first win since signing an $85 million, five-year contract in the offseason as a free agent with... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander will undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the rest of the season. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner announced the news Saturday on his Instagram account in a 1½-minute video. “In my simulated game a couple days ago, I felt something in my elbow, and after looking at my MRI and conversing with some of the best doctors in the world, we’ve determined that Tommy John surgery is my best option,” Verlander said. He threw to hitters on Wednesday for the first time since he was injured in the team’s opener on July 24. He threw 50 pitches in the bullpen before throwing about 25 pitches to hitters in two simulated innings. “I tried as hard as I could to come back and play this season,” Verlander said. “Unfortunately, my body just didn’t cooperate.” Verlander has been on the injured list with a right forearm strain. He went 21-6 with a 2.58 ERA in 2019. “Obviously, this is not good news,” Verlander said. “However, I’m going to handle this the only... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander says he needs Tommy John surgery.

Sept. 20 1902 — Chicago’s Jim Callaghan tossed the White Sox’s first no-hitter, beating Detroit 2-0. 1907 — Pittsburgh’s Nicholas Maddox became the first Pirates pitcher to throw a no-hitter by defeating the Brooklyn Superbas, 2-1, at Exposition Park. Pirates player-manager Fred Clarke had the only two hits of the game, both off Elmer Stricklett. All three runs in the game were unearned. Brooklyn scored its run in the fourth, thanks to errors by Maddox and shortstop Honus Wagner. Maddox made a high throw over first baseman Harry Swacina’s head, allowing Emil Batch to reach base. Batch scored when Wagner threw away Al Burch’s ground ball. 1908 — Frank Smith of the Chicago White Sox threw his second career no-hitter for a 1-0 victory over the Philadelphia Athletics. 1912 — The Detroit Tigers snapped Joe Wood’s 16-game win streak with a 6-4 win over the Boston Red Sox. 1924 — Grover Cleveland Alexander won his 300th game as the Chicago Cubs beat the New York Giants 7-3 in 12 innings. 1958... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today: ___ BACK AT IT Cubs journeyman Alec Mills (5-3, 3.93) is set to pitch for the first time since his unexpected no-hitter a week ago against Milwaukee. The 28-year-old will face the Twins in just the 16th start of his big league career. Johnny Vander Meer in 1938 is the only pitcher to throw consecutive no-hitters. Mills will face Minnesota right-hander Michael Pineda (1-0, 3.57). MINUS MEADOWS The playoff-bound Rays will be missing outfielder Austin Meadows into the postseason because of a strained oblique. Meadows was hurt while taking a swing this week for the AL East leaders during a game in Baltimore Meadows is batting just .205 with four homers and 13 RBIs. Last year, he hit .291 with 33 home runs and 89 RBIs. “I don’t need to talk about how important Austin is,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. ACE CARD Cardinals left-hander Kwang Hyun Kim starts at Milwaukee, trying to keep up his remarkable run. The 32-year-old Kim, who starred... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Angels slugger Albert Pujols passed Willie Mays for fifth place on the career home run list, hitting No. 661 on Friday night against Texas. The 40-year-old Pujols connected for a solo homer with two outs in the fifth inning. He sent Wes Benjamin's fastball on a 1-2 count over the wall in left field. Pujols has hit five homers this season. He tied Mays last Sunday at Colorado. It is only Pujols' second home run since Aug. 4. He now trails only Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714) and Alex Rodriguez (696). Pujols has one more season left on his contract with the Angels after this year. Benjamin was the 428th different pitcher Pujols homered against in his career. Only Bonds has homered against more pitchers (449). ___ AP Sports Writer Tim Booth in Seattle and Baseball Writer Stephen Hawkins in Texas contributed to this report. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Angels slugger Albert Pujols hits 661st home run, passing Willie Mays for fifth on career list.

CINCINNATI (AP) — Slumping Jesse Winker hit a three-run homer — one of four off White Sox starter Jonathan Stiever — and the Cincinnati Reds extended their surge into playoff contention with a 7-1 win Friday night for their season-high sixth victory in a row. The Reds moved to .500 (26-26) for the first time since Aug. 3. Their winning streak has them in playoff position, in second place in the NL Central behind the Cubs. The AL Central-leading White Sox clinched their first playoff berth since 2008 with a win over the Twins on Thursday night. Their momentum hit a snag as Stiever (0-1) got hit hard in his first major league road appearance. The 23-year-old right-hander allowed Winker’s shot and solo homers by Joey Votto, Nick Castellanos and Tucker Barnhart. Tyler Mahle (2-2) got his first win since Aug. 28, allowing four hits and fanning eight in 5 2/3 innings. CARDINALS 6, PIRATES 5, 1st game PITTSBURGH (AP) — Kolten Wong hit the second leadoff home run of his career, Tyler O’Neill added... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Saturday: ___ BACK AT IT Cubs journeyman Alec Mills (5-3, 3.93) is set to pitch for the first time since his unexpected no-hitter a week ago against Milwaukee. The 28-year-old will face the Twins in just the 16th start of his big league career. Johnny Vander Meer in 1938 is the only pitcher to throw consecutive no-hitters. Mills will face Minnesota right-hander Michael Pineda (1-0, 3.57). MINUS MEADOWS The playoff-bound Rays will be missing outfielder Austin Meadows into the postseason because of a strained oblique. Meadows was hurt while taking a swing this week for the AL East leaders during a game in Baltimore Meadows is batting just .205 with four homers and 13 RBIs. Last year, he hit .291 with 33 home runs and 89 RBIs. “I don’t need to talk about how important Austin is,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. ACE CARD Cardinals left-hander Kwang Hyun Kim starts at Milwaukee, trying to keep up his remarkable run. The 32-year-old Kim, who starred... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Austin Meadows was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday with an oblique strain that will keep him sidelined into the postseason. The injury occurred while Meadows took a swing in the opener of Thursday's doubleheader against the Orioles. The Rays won both games to earn a berth in the AL playoffs, and they'll need a deep run to get Meadows back in the lineup. “We’re going to have to play really, really well to see him at any point the rest of the season," manager Kevin Cash said. Meadows is batting .205 with four homers and 13 RBIs. Last year he hit .291 with 33 home runs and 89 RBIs, so his bat is always welcome in the Tampa Bay lineup. “I don’t need to talk about how important Austin is," Cash said. To fill the roster spot, Tampa Bay selected left-hander Sean Gilmartin from its alternate site. In order to add Gilmartin to the 40-man roster, the Rays transferred pitcher Cody Reed (left pinky irritation) to the 45-day IL, ending his season.... [More]

Sept. 19 1925 — Ted Lyons lost his bid for a no-hitter when Bobby Veach singled with two outs in the ninth inning. The Chicago White Sox routed the Washington Senators 17-0. 1926 — The St. Louis Cardinals pounded the Philadelphia Phillies 23-3 in the first game of a doubleheader and beat them again in the nightcap, 10-2. 1949 — Ralph Kiner of the Pittsburgh Pirates became the first NL player to hit 50 home runs in two different seasons. 1955 — Ernie Banks of the Chicago Cubs set a major league record with his fifth grand slam of the season in a 12-inning, 6-5 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. 1968 — Denny McLain won his 31st game, the most in the AL since Lefty Grove’s 31 in 1931. The Detroit Tigers beat the New York Yankees 6-2 while Mickey Mantle hit his 535th and next-to-last career homer. 1973 — Frank Robinson hit his first home run in Arlington Stadium, as a member of the California Angels. It was the 32nd major league ballpark in which he had homered. 1984 — Pete Rose reached the 100-hit... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today: ___ ON THE ROAD AGAIN The Mariners open a three-game series as the home team in San Diego after the set was relocated due to air quality concerns in the Seattle area. The Mariners already had two games against the Giants moved from Seattle to San Francisco this week because of unhealthy air quality from numerous West Coast wildfires. The Padres could be in position to clinch their first playoff berth since 2006 while playing as visitors in their home ballpark. CY TRY Braves right-hander Max Fried is set to return from the injured list and resume his bid for an unlikely NL Cy Young Award. Fried has been out since Sept. 6 with a left-side muscle spasm in his lumbar spine. Prior to the injury, the 26-year-old looked like a prime candidate with a 6-0 record and 1.98 ERA. Fried is the only qualified starter in the majors who hasn’t allowed a home run this season, and he could be the first starter to finish a season with zero homers allowed... [More]

The Chicago White Sox clinched their first postseason berth since 2008, beating the Minnesota Twins 4-3 Thursday as Eloy Jim�nez hit a tiebreaking double that capped a two-run, seventh-inning rally. Chicago (33-17) opened a three-game lead over the second-place Twins (31-21) in the AL Central. The White Sox assured themselves of no worse than a wild-card berth. Jos� Abreu homered and drove in two runs and Edwin Encarnaci�n also homered for Chicago, which won three of four in the series. Chicago trailed 3-2 in the seventh when Abreu beat out an infield hit on a slow grounder that drove in Jarrod Dyson from third base. Jim�nez followed with a go-ahead double. Codi Heuer (3-0) pitched a scoreless 1 2/3 innings, and Alex Colom� got four outs for his 12th save in 13 chances. Tyler Clippard (1-1) gave up two runs in two-thirds of an inning. Byron Buxton homered twice, giving him seven in his last nine games and 12 this season. Josh Donaldson also went deep for Minnesota and was ejected for kicking... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The Yankees hit five run home runs in an inning for the first time in their history. Brett Gardner, DJ LeMehieu and Luke Voit homered on consecutive pitches in the fourth inning from Toronto's Chase Anderson on Thursday night. Voit's home run was his major league-leading 20th. Aaron Hicks struck out, and Giancarlo Stanton and Gleyber Torres followed with home runs that gave the Yankees a 9-2 lead and chased Anderson. New York set a major league record with 18 homers over a three-game span. The Yankees became the seventh team to hit five home runs in an inning. They hit three consecutive homers for the first time since June 2017 at Toronto. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago White Sox clinched their first postseason berth since 2008, beating the Minnesota Twins 4-3 Thursday as Eloy Jiménez hit a tiebreaking double that capped a two-run, seventh-inning rally. Chicago (33-17) opened a three-game lead over the second-place Twins (31-21) in the AL Central. The White Sox assured themselves of no worse than a wild-card berth. José Abreu homered and drove in two runs and Edwin Encarnación also homered for Chicago, which won three of four in the series. Chicago trailed 3-2 in the seventh when Abreu beat out an infield hit on a slow grounder that drove in Jarrod Dyson from third base. Jiménez followed with a go-ahead double. Codi Heuer (3-0) pitched a scoreless 1 2/3 innings, and Alex Colomé got four outs for his 12th save in 13 chances. Tyler Clippard (1-1) gave up two runs in two-thirds of an inning. Byron Buxton homered twice, giving him seven in his last nine games and 12 this season. Josh Donaldson also went deep for Minnesota and was... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Friday: ___ ON THE ROAD AGAIN The Mariners open a three-game series as the home team in San Diego after the set was relocated due to air quality concerns in the Seattle area. The Mariners already had two games against the Giants moved from Seattle to San Francisco this week because of unhealthy air quality from numerous West Coast wildfires. The Padres could be in position to clinch their first playoff berth since 2006 while playing as visitors in their home ballpark. CY TRY Braves right-hander Max Fried is set to return from the injured list and resume his bid for an unlikely NL Cy Young Award. Fried has been out since Sept. 6 with a left-side muscle spasm in his lumbar spine. Prior to the injury, the 26-year-old looked like a prime candidate with a 6-0 record and 1.98 ERA. Fried is the only qualified starter in the majors who hasn’t allowed a home run this season, and he could be the first starter to finish a season with zero homers allowed... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Minnesota's Josh Donaldson managed to get ejected while hitting a home run. Donaldson barked at plate umpire Dan Bellino for the second time in the sixth inning of a 4-3 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Thursday. With Minnesota trailing 3-2, Bellino called a strike when the 2015 AL MVP checked his swing on a 2-0 pitch from Reynaldo López. Manager Rocco Baldelli came out to speak with Bellino, and Donaldson homered down the left-field line on the next offering. After rounding the bases, Donaldson kicked dirt at home plate as he crossed it. Bellino ejected him immediately, and Donaldson, realizing he had missed home plate, returned to the plate to touch it and then argued as he kicked more dirt on it. Donaldson also had argued with Bellino on a 1-1 breaking ball in the first inning that appeared to be high but was called a strike, leading to a strikeout. “We need Josh on the field, out there playing, and at third base,” Baldelli said. “That’s when we’re at our best. And so that’s really the end of it. I think we can move past it at his point, and go from here.” ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees manager Aaron Boone packed two large suitcases Thursday and bid adieu to his family, not knowing when he’d see them again. Right fielder Aaron Judge is packing, too, though he's not a fan of Major League Baseball's postseason arrangements. “Not a fan of the bubble. I’m not a fan of the whole setup. Like I said before, it doesn’t really reward a team for going out and winning,” Judge said. “There’s really no home-field advantage anymore.” Boone’s club embarked on a seven-game trip following its series finale against Toronto, When the team returns to the Bronx for a weekend series against Miami that finishes the regular season from Sept. 25-27, many of New York’s players and staff will check into a hotel to prepare for Major League Baseball’s postseason bubble. American League clubs still in contention for a playoff spot on Sept. 22 are required to stay in a designated hotel while at home as part of increased protocols to combat the novel coronavirus. “It was bye to... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Dakota Hudson left his start Thursday night after two innings because of right elbow tightness. Hudson did not allow a run while walking two and giving up one hit against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He is 3-2 with a 2.77 ERA in eight starts this season. The Cardinals entered the night percentage points behind the Cincinnati Reds for second place in the NL Central, 5 ½ games behind the Chicago Cubs. The top two finishers in each division advance to the expanded postseason this year, along with two wild cards. Hudson was replaced by left-hander Austin Gomber with St. Louis leading 1-0. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports