BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox have activated second baseman Dustin Pedroia from the injured list for their home opener.Pedroia has not played since last May because of a knee injury. He appeared in only three games last year, when the Red Sox won their fourth World Series since 2004. They were scheduled to raise their championship banner before the opener against the Toronto Blue Jays.Pedroia is a four-time Gold Glove winner who is the longest tenured player on the Boston roster.Tzu-Wei Lin was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket to make room for him on the roster.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Leaving the clubhouse after his first exhibition game this year, St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina got a fist bump from third baseman Matt Carpenter."It's good to have you back," said Carpenter, one All-Star to another.Molina went 1 for 2 as a designated hitter Friday, the 36-year-old's first game since left knee surgery in mid-December. Molina is likely to be behind the plate on Saturday, catching Adam Wainwright against Houston — about a week ahead of the original projection for him to catch."I can't really tell you how happy I am just to be back with Waino," Molina said.A nine-time All-Star and nine-time Gold Glove, Molina singled through the left side off Washington newcomer Patrick Corbin and scored in a three-run Cardinals' first."Just proves yet again he's a special guy," St. Louis manager Mike Shildt said. "Comes in, first at-bat, gets down 0-2 and battles, battles, battles. It's impressive to see a guy that takes a pro at-bat like that — that can work on getting... [More]

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Leaving the clubhouse after his first exhibition game this year, St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina got a fist bump from third baseman Matt Carpenter."It's good to have you back," said Carpenter, one All-Star to another.Molina went 1 for 2 as a designated hitter Friday, the 36-year-old's first game since left knee surgery in mid-December. Molina is likely to be behind the plate on Saturday, catching Adam Wainwright against Houston — about a week ahead of the original projection for him to catch."I can't really tell you how happy I am just to be back with Waino," Molina said.A nine-time All-Star and nine-time Gold Glove, Molina singled through the left side off Washington newcomer Patrick Corbin and scored in a three-run Cardinals' first."Just proves yet again he's a special guy," St. Louis manager Mike Shildt said. "Comes in, first at-bat, gets down 0-2 and battles, battles, battles. It's impressive to see a guy that takes a pro at-bat like that — that can work on getting... [More]

Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez is headed for Tommy John surgery and out for the season. New York Yankees ace Luis Severino is shut down, too — at least through opening day.Hours after Severino stopped warming up in the bullpen because of an inflamed right shoulder, the Royals announced more damaging news Tuesday: Perez will have surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right elbow, keeping the six-time All-Star off the field for the entire year.Perez hurt the elbow during a workout last week and said over the weekend that he was harboring a slim hope he might be able to play through it. Instead, he is expected to undergo surgery Wednesday."There was nothing that can prepare us for this. There was no information we had that led us this direction," Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. "Salvy was having no issues. He's asymptomatic. He has wear and tear, just like any 28-year-old catcher who's been squatting and catching since he was 12 years old. There was no warning sign... [More]

Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez is headed for Tommy John surgery and out for the season. New York Yankees ace Luis Severino is shut down, too — at least through opening day.Hours after Severino stopped warming up in the bullpen because of an inflamed right shoulder, the Royals announced more damaging news Tuesday: Perez would have surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right elbow, keeping the six-time All-Star off the field for the entire year.Perez hurt the elbow during a workout last week and said over the weekend that he was harboring a slim hope that he might be able to play through it. Instead, he is expected to undergo surgery on Wednesday."There was nothing that can prepare us for this. There was no information we had that led us this direction," Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. "Salvy was having no issues. He's asymptomatic. He has wear and tear, just like any 28-year-old catcher who's been squatting and catching since he was 12 years old. There was no warning... [More]

New York Yankees ace Luis Severino will miss opening day because of an inflamed right shoulder that acted up while he was getting loose for his first spring training start.Severino felt something wrong when he threw his first slider in the bullpen and was immediately scratched. He won't throw for two weeks, manager Aaron Boone said after a 5-1 win over Atlanta."Obviously, anytime a starting pitcher and a guy like Sevie walks off while he's warming up to start a game, you always get worried and concerned about that," Boone said. "But it sounds like the shoulder is pretty clean, it's just the inflammation issue. So if that's the case, then hopefully two weeks is something that will do the trick, then he can start ramping back up with his throwing program, but we'll re-evaluate it also at the same time."Masahiro Tanaka, James Paxton, CC Sabathia and J.A. Happ are also projected to be in the Yankees' rotation. Luis Cessa, Jonathan Loaisiga and Domingo German are possible short-term replacements... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius has torn cartilage in his right wrist and is unsure whether he will be able to play in the AL wild-card game on Oct. 3.Gregorius, who has 27 homers and 86 RBIs, got injured Saturday when he slid headfirst on Aaron Hicks' 11th-inning double to score the run that clinched a postseason berth for New York, which disclosed the injury after a 6-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday.New York remained 1½ games ahead of Oakland for the top AL wild card. Baltimore (45-110) is one loss shy of matching the franchise record for defeats set by the 1939 St. Louis Browns, who went 43-111.Tim Beckham homered twice for the lowly Orioles, who trailed 3-0 early. Ryan Meisinger (2-0) pitched two perfect innings and Mychal Givens worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his ninth save. A.J. Cole (3-1) was the loser.INDIANS 4, RED SOX 3, 11 INNINGSCLEVELAND (AP) — Greg Allen singled with one out and the bases loaded in the 11th inning and Cleveland denied Boston's bid for... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts left a game in the New York Mets after hurting his left side while making a throw to home plate.Betts caught a fly ball from Wilmer Flores in the sixth inning Sunday and tried unsuccessfully to throw out Austin Jackson, who scored from third.Boston says Betts has left side soreness and will be evaluated further.Betts went down to one knee and was stretching his left side and back as a team trainer and manager Alex Cora jogged to the outfield. Betts walked off slowly and was replaced by Tzu-Wei Lin, who went into center. Jackie Bradley Jr. moved to right.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BOSTON (AP) — Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts left a game in the New York Mets after hurting his left side while making a throw to home plate.Betts caught a fly ball from Michael Conforto in the sixth inning Sunday and tried unsuccessfully to throw out Austin Jackson, who scored from third.Boston says Betts has left side soreness and will be evaluated further.Betts went down to one knee and was stretching his left side and back as a team trainer and manager Alex Cora jogged to the outfield. Betts walked off slowly and was replaced by Tzu-Wei Lin, who went into center. Jackie Bradley Jr. moved to right.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

DETROIT (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals needed something to get them going on Sunday against the Detroit Tigers.Out of nowhere — again — a squirrel appeared.In an episode sure to revive St. Louis fans' memories of the 2011 Rally Squirrel, this game at Comerica Park was scoreless going into the seventh inning. That's when a squirrel took up residence between second and third base.There was a delay and, with some prompting, the critter moved into foul territory and eventually made its escape in right field.The Cardinals wound up scoring five times in the inning and avoided a series sweep with a 5-2 victory. St. Louis has a one-game lead for the second NL wild card spot.During the 2011 NL Division Series, a squirrel cut across the diamond at Busch Stadium, running right past home plate during a game against Philadelphia. The Cards went on to win the playoff series and later the championship — their World Series rings even depicted a squirrel.The Cardinals John Gant (7-5) allowed two runs on... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Boston Red Sox have activated left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, catcher Christian Vazquez and knuckleballer Steven Wright from the 10-day disabled list.Rodriguez had been sidelined by a sprained right ankle. Vazquez was out with a broken finger, and Wright had been dealing with left knee inflammation.Rodriguez and Vazquez are slated to start Saturday's game against the Chicago White Sox. Rodriguez hasn't pitched in a big league game since July 14.The major league-leading Red Sox also recalled five players from Triple-A Pawtucket: first baseman/outfielder Sam Travis, infielder Tzu-Wei Lin, lefties Robby Scott and Bobby Poyner and right-hander William Cuevas.Saturday was the first day that major league rosters could expand to as many as 40 players.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox have placed third baseman Rafael Devers on the 10-day disabled list before Sunday's series finale against Minnesota with a strained left hamstring he sustained a night earlier running the bases.To take his place on the roster, the club recalled infielder Tzu-Wei Lin from Triple-A Pawtucket.Devers limped running into third base on Eduardo Nunez's double in the eighth inning of Boston's 10-4 victory on Saturday night.He said he felt something on his bunt single in the first inning, but didn't think it was anything to worry about."When I bunted, I felt a little discomfort and didn't feel like I pulled anything," he said Sunday morning.Entering Sunday with a majors' best record of 73-33, the AL East-leading Red Sox have a makeshift lineup for their game. They have backup catcher and infielder Blake Swihart slated to start at third, Nunez at second and reserve Brock Holt at short.Manager Alex Cora said regular shortstop Xander Bogaerts has a planned day off.Devers is batting .245 with 15 homers and 52 RBIs. It's Lin's fourth stint with the Red Sox. He's batted .182 (8 for 44) in 19 games.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox have placed third baseman Rafael Devers on the 10-day disabled list with left shoulder inflammation.The move was retroactive to Wednesday night.Infielder Tzu-Wei Lin was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket to replace him on the roster.Devers was batting.241 with 14 homers and 48 RBIs this season, his first full year in the majors.Lin is batting.162 in 16 games over two call-ups to the majors this season. He was batting.308 with five homers at Pawtucket.

BOSTON (AP) — Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts was put on the 10-day disabled list because of a cracked bone in his left ankle.Boston says an MRI confirmed the injury on Monday, a day after he was hurt. The injury is a non-displaced fracture and won't require surgery. He is expected to miss 10-to-014 days.Bogaerts, a 2016 AL All-Star, left Sunday's 8-7 over Tampa Bay in the seventh inning after injuring his ankle while sliding into the Rays dugout. He was covering third base and chasing his own mishandling of a ball relayed by left fielder J.D. Martinez.Boston says it will recall infielder Tzu-Wei Lin from Triple-A Pawtucket.In addition, left-hander Drew Pomeranz's injury rehabilitation assignment is being transferred from Pawtucket to Double-A Portland as he comes back from a left forearm flexor strain___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

BOSTON (AP) — Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts is going on the 10-day disabled list because of a cracked bone in his left ankle.Boston says an MRI confirmed the injury on Monday, a day after he was hurt. The injury is a non-displaced fracture and won't require surgery. He is expected to miss 10-to-014 days.Bogaerts, a 2016 AL All-Star, left Sunday's 8-7 over Tampa Bay in the seventh inning after injuring his ankle while sliding into the Rays dugout. He was covering third base and chasing his own mishandling of a ball relayed by left fielder J.D. Martinez.Boston says it will recall infielder Tzu-Wei Lin from Triple-A Pawtucket.In addition, left-hander Drew Pomeranz's injury rehabilitation assignment is being transferred from Pawtucket to Double-A Portland as he comes back from a left forearm flexor strain___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

The Boston Red Sox activated center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. from the 10-day disabled list ahead of Saturday afternoon's game against the New York Yankees.Bradley, 27, was placed on the 10-day disabled list on Aug. 23 with a sprained left thumb suffered while sliding awkwardly into home plate to avoid a tag. He was expected to be in Saturday's lineup at Yankee Stadium.In 107 games for the Red Sox this season, Bradley is batting .262 with 14 home runs, 54 RBIs and 50 runs scored, while posting a .992 fielding percentage with four assists in 106 starts in center field.In seven games prior to suffering the thumb injury, Bradley went 8-for-20 (.400) with nine RBIs, hitting a solo home run in his most recent game on Aug. 22 at Cleveland. Bradley has appeared in 501 major league games since being selected by Boston in the 2011 draft, hitting .243 with 54 home runs, 224 RBIs and 250 runs scored.The Red Sox also recalled infielder Tzu-Wei Lin from Triple-A Pawtucket.Lin, 23, is batting .280 (14-for-50) with two triples and a .379 on-base percentage in 19 major league games this season, making six starts each at third base and shortstop and two at second base. A native of Taiwan, Lin had never played above the Double-A level prior to being selected to the major league roster on June 24. He is hitting .266 in 82 minor league games this season, his first 48 with Double-A Portland and his final 34 for Pawtucket. He was signed by Boston as an international free agent in 2012.

The Boston Red Sox activated left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez from the 10-day disabled list ahead of his start Monday night against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park.Rodriguez, 24, returned from his injury rehab assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket.Rodriguez was placed on the 10-day disabled list on June 2 with a right knee subluxation. He made one rehab start with Double-A Portland and two with Pawtucket, most recently allowing only one run with seven strikeouts and no walks in 6 1/3 innings on July 9 against Buffalo.Rodriguez has made 10 starts for Boston this season, going 4-2 with a 3.54 ERA over 61 innings while striking out 65 and limiting opposing hitters to a .222 batting average. He compiled a career-long four-game winning streak over seven starts from April 23-May 26, recording a 2.25 ERA.To make room on the 25-man roster, infielder Tzu-Wei Lin and right-hander Austin Maddox were optioned to Pawtucket following Sunday night's game against the New York Yankees. The team was permitted... [More]