CHICAGO (AP) — The Cubs have declined their $5 million option on reliever David Phelps.The 33-year-old right-hander was 2-1 with one save and a 3.18 ERA in 24 appearances with the Cubs after he was acquired from Toronto at the trade deadline. He is 32-34 with six saves and a 3.86 ERA over seven seasons with the New York Yankees, Miami, Seattle, Toronto and the Cubs.Chicago also selected right-hander Colin Rea's contract from Triple-A Iowa on Monday and sent right-hander Allen Webster outright to the minor league club.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

HOUSTON (AP) — Robinson Chirinos hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in a four-run seventh inning to give the Houston Astros a 4-1 win over the Cleveland Indians on Sunday night.The Astros were unable to do much against Carlos Carrasco (2-3) before Yuli Gurriel's RBI double in the seventh. After an intentional walk, Chirinos sent the next pitch over the train tracks atop the wall in left field and out of the stadium on a night the retractable roof was open.The Astros won the final two games to earn a split of the four-game set with Cleveland, a rematch of last year's AL Division Series in which Houston earned a three-game sweep. Houston also moved into first place in the AL West.Wade Miley yielded six hits and one run in 5 2/3 innings to extend his streak of consecutive starts with three or fewer earned runs to 22. The left-hander struck out three and walked two.Framber Valdez (1-1) yielded one hit in two scoreless innings. Ryan Pressly allowed one hit and no runs in the ninth for his second... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Looking to end an early season funk, the Chicago Cubs shook up their struggling bullpen Saturday by demoting right-hander Carl Edwards Jr. to Triple-A and placing left-hander Mike Montgomery on the 10-day injured list.The Cubs called up relievers Allen Webster and Kyle Ryan from Triple-A Iowa. Chicago has dropped six straight since winning on opening day, and its bullpen entered Saturday with an 8.54 ERA.Edwards has a 32.40 ERA in four appearances this season. Eight of the 13 batters he's faced have reached safely, and three of them homered. That includes a two-run shot by Milwaukee's Orlando Arcia in the Brewers' 13-10 win Friday night.Manager Joe Maddon wants Edwards to clear his head in Iowa for a bit. The lanky righty had a 2.60 ERA in 58 appearances last season, and Maddon expects he'll be back at some point."We all know he wants to throw strikes," Maddon said. "It's more about developing his routine. ... What do you do when things go badly? That's what he needs."Montgomery... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Looking to end an early season funk, the Chicago Cubs have shaken up their struggling bullpen by demoting right-hander Carl Edwards Jr. to Triple-A and placing left-hander Mike Montgomery on the 10-day injured list.The Cubs called up relievers Allen Webster and Kyle Ryan from Triple-A Iowa in corresponding moves announced Saturday. Chicago has dropped six straight since winning on opening day, and its bullpen entered Saturday with an 8.54 ERA.Edwards has an ERA of 32.40 in four appearances this season. Eight of the 13 batters he's faced have reached safely, and three of them homered. That includes a two-run shot by Milwaukee's Orlando Arcia in the Brewers' 13-10 win Friday night.Montgomery hadn't fared much better, posting a 16.88 ERA in four appearances. He missed most of spring training because of shoulder soreness and was diagnosed with a strained left lat Saturday.Chicago also designated right-hander Jen-Ho Tseng for assignment to clear space for Webster on the 40-man roster.Webster, 29, had 1.50 ERA over 12 innings this spring. Ryan, 27, posted a 3.09 ERA in Cactus League play.Both were in Milwaukee on Saturday and available to pitch in Game 2 of the Cubs' series against the Brewers.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Kyle Hendricks' focus is on the season, among the reasons the Cubs didn't hesitate to give the right-handed pitcher a new deal.Hendricks and the Cubs agreed Tuesday to a contract that adds $55.5 million from 2020 to 2023, guaranteeing he will receive $62,905,000 over the next five seasons.He had agreed in January to a one-year deal for $7,405,000 and would have been eligible for arbitration next winter."I love everything about being a Chicago Cub," Hendricks said. "I love everything about the city, about the fans and especially about my teammates in the clubhouse. That's where my focus is at. As much as I'll revel and be excited about this, our focus 100 percent is on Thursday and the season. That's what I told the guys in there. I want to be with them as long as I can."His new deal adds salaries of $12 million for 2020 and $14 million annually from 2021-23. The agreement includes a $16 million team option for 2024 with a $1.5 million buyout, and the option would become... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Luke Voit hit two homers off David Price, Miguel Andujar popped another one barely into the right-field seats and the New York Yankees stalled Boston's division-clinching celebration by beating the Red Sox 10-1 on Wednesday night.Luis Severino (18-8) pitched seven innings of one-run ball, and the Yankees had no need for All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman on the day they activated him from the disabled list. Chapman had been out since Aug. 21 with left knee tendinitis.Mookie Betts had two strikeouts and no hits in his return to Boston's lineup. He pulled a possible grand slam just foul in the ninth before grounding into a game-ending double play. The AL MVP contender sat out Tuesday after injuring his left side two days earlier, but came back to bat leadoff as the designated hitter.The Yankees will try to send Boston packing Thursday with the AL East still undecided. The Red Sox lead the division by 9 1/2 games and entered this three-game series needing one victory to lock up... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Luke Voit hit two homers off David Price, Miguel Andujar popped another one barely into the right-field seats and the New York Yankees stalled Boston's division-clinching celebration by beating the Red Sox 10-1 on Wednesday night.Luis Severino (18-8) pitched seven innings of one-run ball, and the Yankees had no need for All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman on the day they activated him from the disabled list. Chapman had been out since Aug. 21 with left knee tendinitis.Mookie Betts had two strikeouts and no hits in his return to Boston's lineup. He pulled a possible grand slam just foul in the ninth before grounding into a game-ending double play. The AL MVP contender sat out Tuesday after injuring his left side two days earlier, but came back to bat leadoff as the designated hitter.The Yankees will try to send Boston packing Thursday with the AL East still undecided. The Red Sox lead the division by 9 1/2 games and entered this three-game series needing one victory to lock up... [More]

RHP Allen Webster was acquired by the Pirates from the Diamondbacks on Nov. 25 in a cash transaction. Webster, 25, went 1-1 with a 5.81 ERA in nine games (five starts) for Arizona this year. He finished 4-6 with an 8.18 ERA in 15 starts for Triple-A Reno.

Webster was recalled from Triple-A Reno on Tuesday.

Zack Godley's start Wednesday is expected to be his last of the year, and while Webster could be a candidate to return to the rotation, Jhoulys Chacin seems like a more deserving option. Webster has struggled to a 5.88 ERA and 1.62 WHIP in six appearances (five starts) for Arizona this season.

Webster was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Monday, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

Webster will return to the minors Monday, but it wouldn't be surprising if the youngster rejoins the club at some point in September when the rosters expand.

Webster gave up three runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks, but didn't factor in the decision in a loss to the Athletics on Sunday.

While Webster did allow a solo home run to Stephen Vogt in the fourth inning, he was able to stay in control against the Athletics, striking out two batters and needing just 72 pitches to complete five innings. Even with his most recent start, Webster's ERA (5.88) isn't pretty, however, it's unclear if the Diamondbacks will allow the 25-year-old another chance in the rotation.

Webster was recalled from Triple-A Reno and will start tomorrow against the Athletics.

Webster, in 20 innings with the Diamondbacks, compiled a 6.86 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP, recording more walks (16) than strikeouts (13). His Triple-A numbers weren't any better --- in 71 innings, he put together an 8.37 ERA and 1.87 WHIP. While the future is still uncertain for the 25-year-old, a good start against the Athletics could go a long way in earning a potential roster spot moving forward.

Webster was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Friday to make room for Chase Anderson.

Webster's time with the big league squad figured to be short, since he was a roster replacment for a departing member of the rotation and the Diamondbacks were already planning to fill that rotation spot with Anderson. He saw one appearance out of the bullpen, throwing two innings and allowing one run, striking out one, and allowing four baserunners.

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Allen Webster was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Friday.

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Allen Webster was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Friday. Webster made only one relief appearance during his latest stint on the major league roster, and was sent down to make room for pitcher Chase Anderson.

Webster has been recalled from Triple-A Reno.

The Diamondbacks optioned Zack Godley back to Double-A on Wednesday, and Webster will return to the big league club with a chance to step into the rotation in Godley's place. Webster struggled in four starts this season - all in June - allowing 15 earned runs and six home runs while posting a 12:14 K:BB over 19.0 innings.

Webster was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Tuesday.

The move doesn't come as much of a surprise after Webster surrendered four runs on five hits and four walks in just 3.2 innings Monday against the Dodgers. The 25-year-old is 1-1 with a 7.11 ERA in four starts on the year, allowing six home runs, 14 walks and 15 earned runs while striking out only 12 batters across 19.0 cumulative innings. To fill Webster's spot on the 25-man roster, the Diamondbacks called up Matt Stites from Reno.

Following Webster's poor start Monday, manager Chip Hale was non-committal about whether he would get another, reports Zach Buchanan of the Arizona Republic.

Webster hasn't been able to find his command in the majors, posting a 12:14 K:BB ratio and allowing six home runs in 19 innings, including three Monday. With Patrick Corbin coming back soon, Webster's time in the big leagues is likely short whether he makes one more start or not.

Webster allowed four runs on five hits and four walks in 3.2 innings in a no decision Monday against the Dodgers. He struck out three.

Webster served up three home runs and has now given up six blasts in just four major league starts. His control has been an even bigger issue, as Webster has now walked 14 batters in only 19 innings. His ERA sits at 7.11, and it isn't going to get anywhere near acceptable until he remedies both of these issues.

Webster pitched only 4.1 innings against the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, giving up five runs -- three earned -- on six hits and two walks while striking out three.

Webster failed to get through the fifth inning in just his third start this season, though, to be fair, he did pitch in Coors Field. After a surprisingly effective debut, Webster has had back-to-back duds, and he'll look to snap out of it in his next scheduled start Monday against the Dodgers.

Webster (1-1) was a mess Thursday, walking five batters to go with five hits and six runs over 5.1 innings in a loss to the Angels.

After he was surprisingly effective in his D-Backs debut over the weekend, this was more in line with what we expected to see from Webster. The 25-year-old righty has now walked eight while striking out just six over his 11 innings with Arizona. Combine that with his 9.00 ERA in Triple-A this year, and he's an unappealing fantasy asset even in NL-only leagues.