WASHINGTON (AP) — Utility player Josh Harrison signed a one-year contract with the Washington Nationals and was added to their 30-man active roster Monday, less than a week after he was released by the Philadelphia Phillies.The 33-year-old Harrison is a two-time All-Star and a right-handed hitter who has started games at second base, third base, shortstop and both corner outfield spots during his nine years in the majors.“The only positions that I haven’t played are catcher and first — I’ve even got a third of an inning on the mound,” he said.Harrison said that after he asked for his release from the Phillies, he was immediately in touch with teams other than the Nationals — and was close to agreeing to a deal with one of those clubs.But about 20 minutes from the end of the 600-mile drive from Philadelphia to his home in Cincinnati with his wife and children, Harrison recounted, his agent called to say: “Change of plans. Washington wants you. Big leagues. Let’s do it right now.”So that’s... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Utility player Josh Harrison signed a one-year contract with the Washington Nationals and was added to their 30-man active roster Monday, less than a week after he was released by the Philadelphia Phillies.The 33-year-old Harrison is a two-time All-Star and a right-handed hitter who has started games at second base, third base, shortstop and both corner outfield spots during his nine years in the majors.“The only positions that I haven’t played are catcher and first — I’ve even got a third of an inning on the mound,” he said.Harrison said that after he asked for his release from the Phillies, he was immediately in touch with teams other than the Nationals — and was close to agreeing to a deal with one of those clubs.But about 20 minutes from the end of the 600-mile drive from Philadelphia to his home in Cincinnati with his wife and children, Harrison recounted, his agent called to say: “Change of plans. Washington wants you. Big leagues. Let’s do it right now.”So that’s... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Utility player Josh Harrison signed a one-year contract with the Washington Nationals and was added to their 30-man active roster Monday, less than a week after he was released by the Philadelphia Phillies.The 33-year-old Harrison is a two-time All-Star and a right-handed hitter who has started games at second base, third base, shortstop and both corner outfield spots during his nine years in the majors.“The only positions that I haven’t played are catcher and first — I’ve even got a third of an inning on the mound,” he said.Harrison said that after he asked for his release from the Phillies, he was immediately in touch with teams other than the Nationals — and was close to agreeing to a deal with one of those clubs.But about 20 minutes from the end of the 600-mile drive from Philadelphia to his home in Cincinnati with his wife and children, Harrison recounted, his agent called to say: “Change of plans. Washington wants you. Big leagues. Let’s do it right now.”So that’s... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers included four rookies on their NL Division Series roster.First baseman Matt Beaty, second baseman Gavin Lux, catcher Will Smith and reliever Dustin May each made impacts during the regular season when the Dodgers won a franchise-record 106 games.“They don’t act like rookies, they don’t play the game like rookies, and we’re going to need them in the postseason,” Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw said Thursday. “We don’t expect their performance to be any different.”Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts added, “We just believe in those guys.”The Dodgers and Washington Nationals announced their rosters for the best-of-five series hours before the start of Game 1.Smith was tabbed to catch starter Walker Buehler on Thursday in a Kentucky-bred battery. Smith is from Louisville and Buehler is from Lexington.Roberts often jokes about Smith’s youthful looks.“Don’t let that fool you because this guy is as tough as they come,” he said.Beaty is the oldest of the quartet... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers have included four rookies on their NL Division Series roster.First baseman Matt Beaty, second baseman Gavin Lux, catcher Will Smith and reliever Dustin May each made impacts during the regular season when the Dodgers won a franchise-record 106 games.The Dodgers announced their roster for the best-of-five series Thursday, hours before the start of Game 1 against Washington.The Nationals tweaked their roster after their NL wild-card victory over Milwaukee. Catcher Raudy Read and outfielder Andrew Stevenson were dropped in favor of added pitching depth with right-handers Wander Suero and Austin Voth.Washington is going with 11 pitchers and 14 position players.Beaty and Lux are among six left-handed hitters on the Dodgers’ roster. Lux was called up in September after starting the season at Double-A.Another rookie, outfielder Alex Verdugo, was ruled out of the NLDS because of a back injury.Los Angeles is carrying 12 pitchers and 13 position players.The... [More]

Nationals first. Trea Turner singles to left field. Adam Eaton lines out to center field to Bradley Zimmer. Kurt Suzuki flies out to center field to Bradley Zimmer. Juan Soto doubles to deep right field. Trea Turner scores. Matt Adams pops out to Mike Freeman.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Nationals 1, Indians 0.Indians third. Francisco Lindor homers to right field. Bradley Zimmer strikes out swinging. Carlos Santana walks. Franmil Reyes grounds out to shallow infield, Joe Ross to Matt Adams. Carlos Santana to second. Mike Freeman strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Indians 1, Nationals 1.Nationals third. Joe Ross grounds out to second base, Mike Freeman to Carlos Santana. Trea Turner strikes out swinging. Adam Eaton walks. Kurt Suzuki homers to left field. Adam Eaton scores. Juan Soto grounds out to first base, Carlos Santana to Mike Clevinger.2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Nationals 3, Indians 1.Nationals sixth. Raudy Read flies out to left field to Greg... [More]

Phillies first. Cesar Hernandez walks. Bryce Harper singles to left field. Cesar Hernandez to second. Rhys Hoskins pops out to second base to Brian Dozier. Brad Miller singles to right field. Bryce Harper to second. Cesar Hernandez to third. Jean Segura singles to shallow center field. Brad Miller to second. Bryce Harper to third. Cesar Hernandez scores. Scott Kingery strikes out swinging. Adam Haseley grounds out to first base to Ryan Zimmerman.1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 3 left on. Phillies 1, Nationals 0.Nationals fourth. Trea Turner doubles to deep left center field. Adam Eaton out on a sacrifice bunt to shallow infield, Ranger Suarez to Rhys Hoskins. Trea Turner to third. Anthony Rendon out on a sacrifice fly to left center field to Adam Haseley. Trea Turner scores. Juan Soto grounds out to second base, Cesar Hernandez to Rhys Hoskins.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Phillies 1, Nationals 1.Nationals sixth. Trea Turner singles to second base. Adam Eaton doubles to deep right field.... [More]

Washington catcher Kurt Suzuki might not miss extended time after an MRI on his right elbow revealed no serious injury.Suzuki has inflammation and still feels tingling in his arm after an awkward throw to second base. He was a seventh-inning defensive replacement Saturday and got injured in an unsuccessful attempt to catch Atlanta's Rafael Ortega stealing. He left before the top of the eighth."I felt something in my elbow," Suzuki said Sunday. "Some tingling and zings. A little sore today, but should be good."Either Suzuki or Yan Gomes has started every game at catcher for the NL wild-card leading Nationals. Raudy Read took Suzuki's spot on Saturday and moves into the No. 2 role.Suzuki, 36, is in the first season of a $10 million, two-year contract. He is hitting .260 with 16 homers and 58 RBIs in his second stint with the Nationals. Washington selected the contract of catcher Tres Barrera from Double-A Harrisburg on Sunday.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Washington catcher Kurt Suzuki had an MRI on his right elbow still feels tingling in his arm after an awkward throw to second base.Suzuki was a seventh-inning defensive replacement Saturday and got injured in an unsuccessful attempt to catch Atlanta's Rafael Ortega stealing. He left before the top of the eighth."I felt something in my elbow," Suzuki said Sunday. "Some tingling and zings. A little sore today, but should be good."Either Suzuki or Yan Gomes has started every game at catcher for the NL wild-card leading Nationals. Raudy Read took Suzuki's spot on Saturday and moves into the No. 2 role.Suzuki, 36, is in the first season of a $10 million, two-year contract. He is hitting .260 with 16 homers and 58 RBIs in his second stint with the Nationals. Washington selected the contract of catcher Tres Barrera from Double-A Harrisburg on Sunday.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Nationals second. Juan Soto doubles to deep right field. Howie Kendrick called out on strikes. Ryan Zimmerman grounds out to third base, Martin Prado to Garrett Cooper. Juan Soto to third. Yan Gomes reaches on error. Juan Soto scores. Throwing error by Martin Prado. Gerardo Parra pops out to shortstop to Miguel Rojas.1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 left on. Nationals 1, Marlins 0.Nationals third. Patrick Corbin called out on strikes. Trea Turner flies out to deep center field to Lewis Brinson. Victor Robles hit by pitch. Anthony Rendon walks. Juan Soto doubles to deep left center field. Anthony Rendon to third. Victor Robles scores. Howie Kendrick pops out to Garrett Cooper.1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 2 left on. Nationals 2, Marlins 0.Marlins fifth. Starlin Castro homers to center field. Martin Prado singles to shortstop. Lewis Brinson walks. Martin Prado to second. Austin Dean doubles to deep left field. Lewis Brinson to third. Martin Prado scores. Bryan Holaday out on a sacrifice fly to center field... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Nationals reinstated closer Sean Doolittle and first baseman Ryan Zimmerman from the 10-day injured list on Sunday.The team also reinstated right-hander Jeremy Hellickson (right shoulder strain) from the 60-day injured list and right-hander Austin Voth (right bicep tendinitis) from the 10-day injured list and recalled three minor leaguers as rosters expanded for September.Doolittle (6-4, 4.33 ERA) missed 12 games with right knee tendinitis. He ranks third in the National League with 28 saves but allowed 12 earned runs in 10 appearances before going on the injured list.Manager Davey Martinez said Sunday that Doolittle, whose velocity was down in a rehab appearance for Class-A Potomac on Friday night, will be used in low leverage situations as he eases back into the closer's role.Zimmerman, who missed 36 games with plantar fasciitis in his right foot, is hitting .246 with three homers and 15 RBIs. Hellickson is 2-3 with a 6.23 ERA in nine games, and Voth is 1-0 with a 4.35 ERA in four starts.In other moves, the Nationals recalled catcher Raudy Read from Triple-A Fresno, infielder Adrián Sanchez from Double-A Harrisburg and outfielder Andrew Stevenson from Double-A Harrisburg.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — One unidentified major league player tested positive for a banned stimulant in the year ending with the World Series.Under the joint drug agreement between Major League Baseball and the players' association, an initial positive test for a banned stimulant results in six additional urine tests over the next year rather than a suspension, and the identity is not announced. The positive test for an amphetamine was listed in the annual report issued Friday by the drug program's Independent Public Administrator.In the year ending with the 2017 World Series, there were two positive tests for banned stimulants that did not result in a suspension, one each for Adderall and D-Amphetamine.Players not on 40-man rosters are not covered by the union and are subject to the minor league drug program, which mandates is most cases a 50-game suspension for an initial stimulant violation.Major League Baseball conducted a record 11,526 drug tests, a 39 percent increase from two years ago, that... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Chicago Cubs pitching prospect Oscar De La Cruz has been suspended 80 games under Major League Baseball's drug program.The commissioner's office said Friday that the 23-year-old right-hander tested positive for Furosemide, a diuretic and masking agent.De La Cruz is 6-7 with a 5.24 ERA in 16 starts this season at Double-A Tennessee, and is considered among the Cubs' top prospects. He is covered under the major league drug program because he is on the 40-man major league roster and is on option to Tennessee.The Cubs say that while they are "disappointed" in De La Cruz, they "will support him on his journey back."He is the ninth player suspended this year under the big league drug program. The others are Seattle All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano, Chicago White Sox catcher Welington Castillo, Houston pitcher Dean Deetz, Washington catcher Raudy Read, Pittsburgh pitcher Nik Turley, Kansas City outfielder Jorge Bonifacio, Toronto pitcher Thomas Pannone and Minnesota shortstop Jorge Polanco.There have been 46 players suspended this year under the minor league drug program.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

NEW YORK (AP) — Chicago Cubs pitching prospect Oscar De La Cruz has been suspended 80 games under Major League Baseball's drug program.The commissioner's office said Friday that the 23-year-old right-hander tested positive for Furosemide, a diuretic and masking agent.De La Cruz is 6-7 with a 5.24 ERA in 16 starts this season at Double-A Tennessee, and is considered among the Cubs' top prospects. He is covered under the major league drug program because he is on the 40-man major league roster and is on option to Tennessee.The Cubs say that while they are "disappointed" in De La Cruz, they "will support him on his journey back."He is the ninth player suspended this year under the big league drug program. The others are Seattle All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano, Chicago White Sox catcher Welington Castillo, Houston pitcher Dean Deetz, Washington catcher Raudy Read, Pittsburgh pitcher Nik Turley, Kansas City outfielder Jorge Bonifacio, Toronto pitcher Thomas Pannone and Minnesota shortstop Jorge Polanco.There have been 46 players suspended this year under the minor league drug program.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Washington Nationals have activated right-hander Jeremy Hellickson from the 10-day disabled list and will start him against Philadelphia.The Nationals made the move before playing at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday. Reliever Sammy Solis was sent to Triple-A Syracuse.Hellickson is 2-0 with a 2.28 ERA in nine starts this season. The veteran right-hander has been sidelined since June 4 with a right hamstring strain. He was 6-5 for Philadelphia last year.Solis is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in 40 games this season. In 28 innings, the left-hander has allowed 22 hits with 30 strikeouts and 15 walks.Also, Washington transferred third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who has been out since May 10 with a strained right oblique, to the 60-day DL.The Nationals reinstated catcher Raudy Read from the restricted list and optioned him to Triple-A Syracuse. Read, who appeared in eight games last season, is coming off an 80-game suspension after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.