Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Cesar Valdez was designated for assignment Friday. The 36-year-old was a huge surprise at the beginning of the season, converting eight of his first 10 save opportunities with a 1.23 ERA while relying heavily on a changeup. However, he ended up losing the role and had a final stat line of a 5.76 ERA with eight of 12 save opportunities converted.

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge homered twice, including a grand slam, Gerrit Cole struck out 12 and the New York Yankees routed the Detroit Tigers 10-0. The frequently injured Judge was held out of New York’s starting lineup in its previous two games with what the Yankees described as lower body soreness. Clint Frazier, Aaron Hicks and Rougned Odor also homered, and Giancarlo Stanton had three hits. The Yankees set highs for runs, hits (15) and homers (five). Cole (4-1) allowed four hits and no walks during six innings, and New York pitchers had 18 strikeouts to tie a franchise record for a nine-inning game. Tarik Skubal (0-4) allowed four runs in three innings. NATIONALS 2, MARLINS 1 MIAMI (AP) — Kyle Schwarber led off the bottom of the 10th inning with a two-run homer off Yimi García (2-2), his second walk-off homer this season. Garrett Cooper’s single scored Jose Devers to the Marlins a 1-0 lead in the top of the 10th. Brad Hand (2—0) pitched two innings for the win. Jon Lester allowed... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge homered twice, including a grand slam, Gerrit Cole struck out 12 and the New York Yankees routed the Detroit Tigers 10-0. The frequently injured Judge was held out of New York’s starting lineup in its previous two games with what the Yankees described as lower body soreness. Clint Frazier, Aaron Hicks and Rougned Odor also homered, and Giancarlo Stanton had three hits. The Yankees set highs for runs, hits (15) and homers (five). Cole (4-1) allowed four hits and no walks during six innings, and New York pitchers had 18 strikeouts to tie a franchise record for a nine-inning game. Tarik Skubal (0-4) allowed four runs in three innings. NATIONALS 2, MARLINS 1 MIAMI (AP) — Kyle Schwarber led off the bottom of the 10th inning with a two-run homer off Yimi García (2-2), his second walk-off homer this season. Garrett Cooper’s single scored Jose Devers to the Marlins a 1-0 lead in the top of the 10th. Brad Hand (2—0) pitched two innings for the win. Jon Lester allowed... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Harrison Bader tripled and homered to help the St. Louis Cardinals clinch a postseason berth on the final day of the regular season with a 5-2 win over Milwaukee, and the Brewers also earned a playoff spot Sunday via help on the West Coast moments later. St. Louis (30-28) will be the fifth seed in the NL and open a three-game wild-card series at San Diego on Wednesday. By winning, the Cardinals avoided having to travel to Detroit for two makeup games Monday. The Brewers (29-31) locked up the eighth seed and a third consecutive postseason berth after the Padres beat San Francisco 5-4 in a game that ended about 15 minutes later. The Giants finished with an identical record as the Brewers but lost out on a tiebreaker due to an inferior intradivision record. Milwaukee will face the top-seeded Dodgers in Los Angeles in a three-game series that also starts Wednesday. The Brewers haven’t had a winning record at any point this season. Milwaukee and Houston will be the first teams... [More]

Capsules of American League East teams, listed in order of finish last year:___Boston Red Sox2017: 93-69, first place, lost to Houston in ALDS.Manager: Alex Cora (first season).He's Here: DH J.D. Martinez.He's Outta Here: Manager John Farrell, RHP Doug Fister, OF Chris Young, RHP Addison Reed, OF Rajai Davis, LHP Henry Owens, LHP Fernando Abad.Projected Lineup: RF Mookie Betts (.264, 24 HRs, 102 RBIs), LF Andrew Benintendi (.271, 20, 90), 1B Hanley Ramirez (.242, 23, 62) or Mitch Moreland (.246, 22, 79), DH J.D. Martinez (.303, 45, 104 with Tigers and Diamondbacks), 3B Rafael Devers (.284, 10, 30 in 58 games), SS Xander Bogaerts (.273, 10, 62), CF Jackie Bradley Jr. (.245, 17, 63), C Christian Vazquez (.290, 5, 32) or Sandy Leon (.225, 7, 39), 2B Eduardo Nunez (.313, 12, 58, 24 SBs with Giants and Red Sox) or Dustin Pedroia (.293, 7, 62, .369 OBP in 105 games, expected to be out until late May following knee surgery).Rotation: LH Chris Sale (17-8, 2.90 ERA, MLB-best 308 Ks, MLB-high 214... [More]

A team-by-team look at the American League East entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad:___Boston Red SoxManager: Alex Cora (first season).2017: 93-69, first place, lost to Houston in ALDS.Training Town: Fort Myers, Florida.Park: JetBlue Park.First Workout: Feb. 14/19.He's Here: Manager Alex Cora.He's Outta Here: Manager John Farrell, RHP Doug Fister, INF Eduardo Nunez, OF Chris Young, RHP Addison Reed, OF Rajai Davis, LHP Henry Owens, LHP Fernando Abad, RHP Blaine Boyer.Going campin': The Red Sox won 93 games for the second straight season and claimed the franchise's first back-to-back AL East titles. But Farrell was fired after they failed to advance in the playoffs for the fourth year in a row. They are virtually the same team as last year; boss Dave Dombrowski said he was looking for a bat with power and still might add one of the free agents remaining on the market, including... [More]

RHP Cesar Valdez (right shoulder impingement) was put on the 10-day disabled list Tuesday and RHP Leonel Campos was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo. Valdez was scheduled to start the game Wednesday against the New York Yankees. Valdez started three games for the Blue Jays and struggled in the past two, allowing six runs on six hits and two walks Friday in the 16-7 loss to the Houston Astros. The 32-year-old was claimed on waivers from the Oakland Athletics on May 5 and is 1-1 with a 7.63 ERA in 11 games between the teams this season. He is 3-3 with a 3.23 ERA in 11 games (10 starts) with Buffalo this season.

Marlins acquired RHP Cesar Valdez from the Pirates for a player to be named later or cash.

Valdez was acquired from the Diamondbacks this past winter in a trade involving Zach Duke. The 26-year-old Valdez has posted a 3.86 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in 42 innings this season at the Triple-A level and will function as organizational relief depth for the Marlins.

Pirates reassigned RHP Cesar Valdez, LHP Donnie Veal and Cs Eric Fryer and Tony Sanchez to minor league camp.

Valdez, who came over from Arizona in the Zach Duke trade, had an outside shot to make the club as a reliever, but that won't happen. Veal is recovering from Tommy John surgery and will be out until midseason. Sanchez, the 2009 fourth over pick, is still likely a year away from the majors.

Pirates acquired RHP Cesar Valdez from the Diamondbacks to complete the Zach Duke trade.

Valdez, who turns 26 next March, compiled a 7.65 ERA and 13/10 K/BB ratio over 20 innings with the Diamondbacks this past season. Though seven of his nine appearances with the big club was as a reliever, he was primarily a starting pitcher in the minor leagues. He was once viewed as a top prospect in the organization, but his stock has dropped considerably.

Diamondbacks designated RHP Cesar Valdez for assignment.

The 25-year-old Valdez posted a 7.65 ERA and 1.95 WHIP in 20 innings for the D'Backs this season. He could draw interest from other clubs because of his youth, but he's hardly a promising relief prospect.

Diamondbacks optioned RHP Cesar Valdez to Triple-A Reno.

Valdez posted a 7.65 ERA, a 13/10 K/BB ratio and a 1.95 WHIP in a month-plus (20 innings) with the Diamondbacks. He could be recalled later this season.

Cesar Valdez earned a win in his major league debut by limiting the Astros to one run in five innings on Monday.

Valdez has faced tougher challenges in the PCL. The Astros got a run in the first on a Carlos Lee double, only to go on to lose 9-1. Valdez will stay in the rotation for now, but he's a wait-and-see guy in NL-only leagues.

Diamondbacks recalled RHP Cesar Valdez from Triple-A Reno.

Valdez will take on the Astros Monday at Minute maid Park, replacing the injured Kris Benson (shoulder) in the D'Backs' starting rotation. The 25-year-old Valdez had a 3.80 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 25/5 K/BB ratio through four starts (23 2/3 innings) at Triple-A Reno but should probably be avoided in most fantasy formats, even against the light-hitting 'Stros.

Cesar Valdez will get the start for the Diamondbacks on Monday.

Valdez will replace Kris Benson this time through the rotation, which ought to tell you what kind of injury trouble the Diamonbacks have had in their rotation. Valdez is 1-1 with a 3.80 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP in four starts for Triple-A Reno so far this season.