The Toronto Blue Jays inked free-agent right-hander Luke Bard to a minor-league deal on Saturday with an invitation to major-league spring training. The team also invited non-roster catcher Jamie Richie to big-league camp. Bard pitched for the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees last year, going a combined 1-1 with a sparkling 1.80 ERA (3.85 FIP), 0.93 WHIP and eight strikeouts in just 15 innings pitched over nine appearances out of the bullpen. The 32-year-old will be hoping to win a relief spot in Toronto's bullpen out of spring training, but he'll be well off the fantasy radar if he does. Bard has four seasons of big-league experience and has posted a 4.44 ERA (5.05 FIP), 1.11 WHIP and 20.4 percent strikeout rate in 81 innings over 55 appearances (three starts).

The Tampa Bay Rays signed right-handed pitcher Luke Bard to a minor league deal on Thursday. The 31-year-old right-hander appeared in 46 games (three starts) for the Los Angeles Angels from 2018-20, posting a 5.05 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 60 strikeouts and 18 walks in 66 innings pitched. He missed all of the 2021 season after having hip surgery in April. Bard will simply be providing relief depth for the Rays this year and will most likely begin the season in the minor leagues.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels added a pair of relievers three days before their opener, agreeing to $1 million, one-year contracts with left-hander Tony Watson and side-arming, right-hander Steve Cishek on Monday night. Watson was released from a minor league contract with Philadelphia on Friday after allowing five runs — four earned — and nine hits in five innings over seven spring training appearances. He struck out seven and walked two. Watson, 35, is 40-25 with 32 saves and a 2.80 ERA in 10 major league seasons with Pittsburgh (2011-17), the Los Angeles Dodgers (2017) and San Francisco (2018-20). He leads active left-handers in appearances since 2011. Cishek was released Thursday from a minor league contract with Houston after seven spring training appearances. The 35-year-old allowed three runs — on three solo homers — and seven hits in 7 2/3 innings with 12 strikeouts and two walks. He is 32-37 with 132 saves and a 2.78 ERA in 11 major league seasons with the Marlins (2010-15), St. Louis (2015), Seattle (2016-17), Tampa Bay (2017), the Chicago Cubs (2018-19) and the Chicago White Sox (2020). Both took less than they would have gotten had they been added to major league rosters under their original contracts this season: Watson $3 million and Cishek $2.25 million. Los Angeles placed right-hander Luke Bard on the 60-day injured list. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Angels first. David Fletcher flies out to deep center field to Mark Canha. Mike Trout singles to shortstop. Albert Pujols singles to third base. Mike Trout to second. Brian Goodwin reaches on a fielder's choice to first base. Albert Pujols out at second. Mike Trout to third. Justin Upton doubles to deep center field. Brian Goodwin scores. Mike Trout scores. Kole Calhoun strikes out swinging.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Angels 2, Athletics 0.Athletics first. Marcus Semien hit by pitch. Matt Chapman called out on strikes. Marcus Semien steals second. Matt Olson grounds out to first base, Albert Pujols to Luke Bard. Marcus Semien to third. Mark Canha singles to center field. Marcus Semien scores. Jurickson Profar grounds out to shallow right field, Luis Rengifo to Albert Pujols.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Angels 2, Athletics 1.Angels third. David Fletcher singles to shallow infield. Mike Trout homers to center field. David Fletcher scores. Albert Pujols grounds out to shortstop,... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Los Angeles Angels pitcher Félix Peña has a torn ACL in his right knee and has been placed on the 10-day injured list.Peña was injured covering first base in the second inning Saturday against Cleveland. He went to the ground after crossing the bag to record the out and grabbed his right leg.Peña was down for several moments before being carried to the dugout by first baseman Albert Pujols and an athletic trainer. An MRI revealed the injury.Manager Brad Ausmus said the team won't know until after the surgery is completed when the 29-year-old right-hander will begin a rehabilitation program.Peña leads the Angels in wins and is 8-3 with a 4.58 ERA in 22 games. He pitched the final seven innings of a no-hitter against Seattle on July 12 on a night when they honored late left-hander Tyler Skaggs by all wearing his No. 45 in their first home game since his death.Shortstop Andrelton Simmons (sprained left ankle) and right-hander Griffin Canning (elbow inflammation) were placed... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Los Angeles Angels pitcher Luke Bard has left their game at Cleveland after he was hit by a line drive in the fifth inning.Bard was struck above his right elbow by Carlos Santana's liner. Manager Brad Ausmus and a trainer went to the mound, and Bard departed with a right triceps contusion.The ball landed near the shortstop position just in front of the outfield grass and Santana was credited with a single.Bard was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake before Sunday's game when the Angels made a flurry of roster moves. He recorded the final out of the fourth in relief of Jaime Barria. Santana was the leadoff hitter in the fifth.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CLEVELAND (AP) — Los Angeles Angels pitcher Félix Peña has a torn ACL in his right knee and has been placed on the 10-day injured list.Peña was injured covering first base in the second inning Saturday against Cleveland. He went to the ground after crossing the bag to record the out and grabbed his right leg.Peña was down for several moments before being carried to the dugout by first baseman Albert Pujols and an athletic trainer. An MRI revealed the injury.Manager Brad Ausmus said the team won't know until after the surgery is completed when the 29-year-old right-hander will begin a rehabilitation program. Peña leads the team in wins and is 8-3 with a 4.58 ERA in 22 games.Shortstop Andrelton Simmons (sprained left ankle) and right-hander Griffin Canning (elbow inflammation) were placed on the 10-day IL on Sunday.Simmons is on the IL for the second time this season with the ankle injury. He was out from May 20 to June 27 after he tripped running past first base trying to beat out a ground... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Los Angeles Angels pitcher Félix Peña has a torn ACL in his right knee and has been placed on the 10-day injured list.Peña was injured covering first base in the second inning Saturday against Cleveland. He went to the ground after crossing the bag to record the out and grabbed his right leg.Peña was down for several moments before being carried to the dugout by first baseman Albert Pujols and a trainer. He underwent an MRI that revealed the injury.The right-hander leads the team in wins and is 8-3 with a 4.58 ERA in 22 games.The Angels made a series of roster moves before Sunday's game with Cleveland. Shortstop Andrelton Simmons (sprained left ankle) and right-hander Griffin Canning (elbow inflammation) were placed on the 10-day IL.Right-hander Luke Bard and first baseman/pitcher Jared Walsh were recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake. Infielder Wilfredo Tovar's contract was selected from Salt Lake.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — Willson Contreras homered in the 15th inning to give the Chicago Cubs a 2-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday.Contreras turned on a 1-2 pitch from Burch Smith (0-1), sending a long shot to left field that gave Chicago its 11th win in 13 games. He spun and flipped his bat toward the Cubs' dugout as the ball sailed toward the bleachers and was mobbed by teammates when he crossed the plate.Chicago moved back ahead of the Brewers for the NL Central lead after falling into a virtual tie with Friday's 7-0 loss. Milwaukee had its season-high seven-game win streak snapped.Tyler Chatwood (2-0) struck out seven in four innings to cap a strong effort by the bullpen after Cole Hamels worked seven solid innings.Hamels gave up a run and three hits in his fourth straight no-decision. Seven relievers combined to give up one hit the rest of the way.RAYS 7, YANKEES 2ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Willy Adames and Ji-Man Choi hit run-scoring infield singles in the sixth after tempers... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Willson Contreras homered in the 15th inning to give the Chicago Cubs a 2-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday.Contreras turned on a 1-2 pitch from Burch Smith (0-1), sending a long shot to left field that gave Chicago its 11th win in 13 games. He spun and flipped his bat toward the Cubs' dugout as the ball sailed toward the bleachers and was mobbed by teammates when he crossed the plate.Chicago moved back ahead of the Brewers for the NL Central lead after falling into a virtual tie with Friday's 7-0 loss. Milwaukee had its season-high seven-game win streak snapped.Tyler Chatwood (2-0) struck out seven in four innings to cap a strong effort by the bullpen after Cole Hamels worked seven solid innings.Hamels gave up a run and three hits in his fourth straight no-decision. Seven relievers combined to give up one hit the rest of the way.RED SOX 9, MARINERS 5BOSTON (AP) — Sandy Leon fouled off a bunt attempt, then hit a three-run homer to cap an eight-run third inning... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — Shohei Ohtani looked so eager to make an impact in his highly anticipated season debut that he swung so hard his helmet flew off his head more than once.He finished 0 for 4 with an RBI groundout and walked once as the Los Angeles Angels beat the Detroit Tigers 5-2 Tuesday night."I was happy to get this out of the way," Ohtani said through a translator.The Angels activated the AL Rookie of the Year from the injured list and it appeared simulated games didn't quite prepare him for the moment. Ohtani took a called third strike in his first at-bat, grounded out to help Los Angeles take a 3-0 lead in the third, struck out on a breaking pitch, lined out to third and drew a base on balls."Baseball is certainly not the type of sports that you focus on one night," Angels manager Brad Ausmus said. "We're looking at using him as a DH for the vast majority of the next 4½ months. I'm not overly concerned about the immediate results, but just the long-term results."The 24-year-old two-way... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — Shohei Ohtani looked so eager to make an impact in his highly anticipated season debut that he swung so hard his helmet flew off his head more than once.He finished 0 for 4 with an RBI groundout and walked once as the Los Angeles Angels beat the Detroit Tigers 5-2 Tuesday night."I was happy to get this out of the way," Ohtani said through a translator.The Angels activated the AL Rookie of the Year from the injured list and it appeared simulated games didn't quite prepare him for the moment. Ohtani took a called third strike in his first at-bat, grounded out to help Los Angeles take a 3-0 lead in the third, struck out on a breaking pitch, lined out to third and drew a base on balls."Baseball is certainly not the type of sports that you focus on one night," Angels manager Brad Ausmus said. "We're looking at using him as a DH for the vast majority of the next 4½ months. I'm not overly concerned about the immediate results, but just the long-term results."The 24-year-old two-way... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Cleveland ace Corey Kluber broke his right forearm when he was hit by a line drive during the Indians' 4-2 loss to the Miami Marlins on Wednesday night.Kluber (2-3) was struck by Brian Anderson's comebacker in the fifth inning. The Indians said he will be re-evaluated in Cleveland on Thursday.The two-time American League Cy Young Award winner allowed eight hits and three runs in 4 2/3 innings, which left his ERA at 5.80.Caleb Smith (3-0) struck out eight in seven innings, helping Miami stop a four-game slide. He allowed one run on Roberto Perez's third homer in the third inning.Cleveland's Carlos Santana homered in the ninth off Sergio Romo, who regrouped to earn his fifth save.DIAMONDBACKS 3, YANKEES 2PHOENIX (AP) — Ketel Marte homered, Merrill Kelly won his first start against New York and Arizona swept a two-game series.The Yankees dropped to 0-5 this year against teams that currently have winning records and is 17-8 against clubs that started the day under .500.Kelly (3-2)... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani's third start for the Los Angeles Angels lasted only two innings Tuesday night after he developed a blister on his pitching hand.The Angels pulled the Japanese two-way sensation early after he yielded three runs and four hits while struggling with his control against the AL-leading Boston Red Sox.One inning after Ohtani left, the Angels announced the right-hander had developed a blister during the second inning.Ohtani has had intermittent issues with blisters throughout his first few months with the Angels, and he had a bandage on one of his fingers last week.Ohtani gave up a leadoff homer to Boston's Mookie Betts, and he couldn't throw his formidable breaking pitches for consistent strikes in the first night start of his big-league career. The Red Sox added two more runs in the second on Brock Holt's RBI single and Andrew Benintendi's sacrifice fly.Although his fastball again hit 99 mph and he only walked one batter, Ohtani needed 66 pitches to get... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani's third start for the Los Angeles Angels has lasted only two innings.The Angels pulled the Japanese two-way sensation early Tuesday night after he yielded three runs and four hits while struggling with his control against the AL-leading Boston Red Sox.Ohtani gave up a leadoff homer to Boston's Mookie Betts, and he couldn't throw his formidable breaking pitches for consistent strikes. The Red Sox added two more runs in the second on Brock Holt's RBI single and Andrew Benintendi's sacrifice fly.Ohtani needed 66 pitches to get through two innings. The Angels replaced him with Luke Bard for the third.Ohtani won his first two big-league starts in impressive fashion against Oakland. His third straight was slated for Kansas City last Sunday, but the game was postponed.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani is scheduled to make his major league pitching debut Sunday when he starts for the Los Angeles Angels in their fourth game of the season at Oakland.The much-hyped Japanese star is expected to be the team's designated hitter in at least one of the first three games, but it's unclear if that will happen in the opener on Thursday."We haven't determined our opening-day lineup yet," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Tuesday night.The 23-year-old Ohtani, who struggled in spring training, was told after Tuesday's exhibition game against the Dodgers that he'll pitch Sunday.Asked what he expects from Ohtani in his first start, Scioscia said: "He's gotten into the mid-80-pitch range and should be able to get over 90 if he's throwing to his capabilities. That's plenty of pitches for him to get deep into the game. We're going to take it one pitch at a time with all of our pitchers."Ohtani was supposed to get an at-bat or two on Tuesday night but that... [More]