BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates are shutting down left-handed starter Steven Brault for at least a month to address discomfort in his throwing shoulder. Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said it's likely Brault will be out for a minimum of 10 weeks. The team had expected Brault to be a part of a totally revamped starting rotation in 2021. Brault complained of tightness in his left arm after two innings of work last Friday in an exhibition game against Baltimore. Tomczyk says at the moment the team does not believe the 28-year-old Brault requires surgery, just rest. Brault went 1-1 with a 5.43 ERA in eight innings of work this spring. Brault won the Steve Blass Award given annually to the team's best pitcher last fall after going 1-3 with a 3.38 ERA in 11 appearances (10 starts). Who replaces Brault is unclear, though J.T. Brubaker is scheduled to start in Brault's spot this week. The Pirates also announced that hard-throwing right-handed reliever Blake Cederlind is out 14-16 months after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. Pittsburgh also made a series of roster moves on Wednesday with opening day approaching. Shortstop Cole Tucker and pitchers Sean Poppen and Miguel Yajure were optioned while infielder Will Craig, catchers Joe Hudson and Andrew Susac and outfielder Troy Stokes Jr. were reassigned. ___ More AP MLB coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

A team-by-team look at the National League Central 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:___St. Louis CardinalsManager: Mike Shildt (third season). 2019: 91-71, first place, lost to Nationals in NLCS.Training Town: Jupiter, Florida.Park: Roger Dean Stadium.First Workout: Feb. 12/17. He's Here: LHP Matthew Liberatore, C Matt Wieters, LHP Kwang-Hyun Kim.He's Outta Here: OF Marcell Ozuna, RF Jose Martinez, LF Randy Arozarena, RHP Dominic Leone.Going campin': The Cardinals return largely intact after getting swept in the NLCS by World Series champion Washington. The biggest competition throughout the spring will be in the outfield, where only Dexter Fowler has a position locked up — mostly because of his contract. Center fielder Harrison Bader probably has another spot under control, and that leaves Tyler O'Neill, Lane Thomas and top prospect Dylan Carlson competing for the last... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Left-handers Derek Holland and Robbie Erlin agreed to minor league contracts with the Pittsburgh Pirates along with catcher Andrew Susac and outfielder Charlie Tilson, and all four will report to big league spring training.Pittsburgh also agreed Friday to an $850,000, one-year contract with JT Riddle, who became a free agent when Miami failed to offer a contract by the Dec. 2 deadline. The 33-year-old Holland is 78-78 with a 4.54 ERA in 11 seasons, including eight with the Texas Rangers. Holland split time between the San Francisco Giants and the Chicago Cubs last year, going 2-5 with a 6.08 ERA. He would get a $1.25 million, one-year contract if added to the 40-man roster and could earn $300,000 in performance bonuses for innings: $50,000 each for 50 and 75, and $100,000 apiece for 100 and 125.Erlin, 29, is 13-20 with a 4.57 ERA in 106 appearances with the San Diego Padres. Erlin began his career as a starter but spent the last two seasons working almost exclusively out... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Left-handers Derek Holland and Robbie Erlin agreed to minor league contracts with the Pittsburgh Pirates along with catcher Andrew Susac and outfielder Charlie Tilson, and all four will report to big league spring training.Pittsburgh also agreed Friday to an $850,000, one-year contract with JT Riddle, who became a free agent when Miami failed to offer a contract by the Dec. 2 deadline. The 33-year-old Holland is 78-78 with a 4.54 ERA in 11 seasons, including eight with the Texas Rangers. Holland split time between the San Francisco Giants and the Chicago Cubs last year, going 2-5 with a 6.08 ERA. Erlin, 29, is 13-20 with a 4.57 ERA in 106 appearances with the San Diego Padres. Erlin began his career as a starter but spent the last two seasons working almost exclusively out of the bullpen.Pittsburgh is in need of pitching heading into spring training. Ace Jameson Taillon will miss the entire season after a second Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. Closer Felipe Vázquez... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Left-handers Derek Holland and Robbie Erlin have agreed to minor league contracts with the Pittsburgh Pirates along with catcher Andrew Susac and outfielder Charlie Tilson.All four will report to big league spring training, the Pirates said Friday.The 33-year-old Holland is 78-78 with a 4.54 ERA in 11 seasons, including eight with the Texas Rangers. Holland split time between the San Francisco Giants and the Chicago Cubs last year, going 2-5 with a 6.08 ERA. Erlin, 29, is 13-20 with a 4.57 ERA in 106 appearances with the San Diego Padres. Erlin began his career as a starter but spent the last two seasons working almost exclusively out of the bullpen.Pittsburgh is in need of pitching heading into spring training. Ace Jameson Taillon will miss the entire season after a second Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. Closer Felipe Vázquez remains in jail on felony charges stemming from an improper sexual relationship with a minor.Susac last played in the majors for Baltimore in 2018. The 29-year-old is a career .221 hitter in spot duty for San Francisco, Milwaukee and Baltimore. Pittsburgh's catching situation is murky behind Jacob Stallings.Tilson comes to the Pirates from the Chicago White Sox. He had one home run and 23 RBIs in 96 games with Chicago. Pittsburgh is in need of outfield depth after trading Starling Marte to Arizona on Monday for prospects. ___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Kansas City Royals All-Star catcher Salvador Perez damaged the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, raising the possibility the 2015 World Series MVP may need Tommy John surgery and miss the season.Perez was hurt during a workout Wednesday, and the team said an MRI on Thursday revealed the damage. Perez will travel next week to California for a second opinion from Los Angeles Dodgers head team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache.The 28-year-old has been an All-Star for six straight seasons and won Gold Gloves in five of the last six years. He hit .235 last year and had 27 home runs and 80 RBIs for the second straight season. He has a $10 million salary this year and is owed $13 million in each of the following two seasons.Cam Gallagher and Meibrys Viloria are the other catchers on Kansas City's 40-man roster. Gallagher, who appeared in 35 games during the past two years, has a .218 career average with two home runs and 12 RBIs.Viloria, 22, was a September call-up last season and has... [More]

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — The sun wasn't shining on Brandon Hyde's first workout as Baltimore Orioles' manager.Rain delayed the start of workouts Wednesday for about an hour. But eventually, 15 pitchers threw bullpens and the Orioles rolled out some new cameras to help the team evaluate them.Baltimore has three confirmed starters: Dylan Bundy, Andrew Cashner and Alex Cobb. Last week, the Orioles signed Nate Karns, who didn't pitch in 2018. They hope he can be their fourth starter, and there's spirited competition for the fifth spot."I think it's pretty open," Hyde said. "It's a great opportunity for everybody in camp. A lot of jobs to be won."Few spots on a team attempting to rebound from a franchise-worst 115 loss season are accounted for."It's just going to be a ton of evaluating," the 45-year-old Hyde said.Besides Karns, David Hess and Yefry Ramirez, who finished last year in Baltimore's rotation, will be in the mix. Josh Rogers, a left-hander obtained from the New York Yankees in the trade... [More]

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — The sun wasn't shining on Brandon Hyde's first workout as Baltimore Orioles' manager.Rain delayed the start of workouts Wednesday for about an hour. But eventually, 15 pitchers threw bullpens and the Orioles rolled out some new cameras to help the team evaluate them.Baltimore has three confirmed starters: Dylan Bundy, Andrew Cashner and Alex Cobb. Last week, the Orioles signed Nate Karns, who didn't pitch in 2018. They hope he can be their fourth starter, and there's spirited competition for the fifth spot."I think it's pretty open," Hyde said. "It's a great opportunity for everybody in camp. A lot of jobs to be won."Few spots on a team attempting to rebound from a franchise-worst 115 loss season are accounted for."It's just going to be a ton of evaluating," the 45-year-old Hyde said.Besides Karns, David Hess and Yefry Ramirez, who finished last year in Baltimore's rotation, will be in the mix. Josh Rogers, a left-hander obtained from the New York Yankees in the trade... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Justin Verlander tamed the Yankees again, slowing down the highest-scoring team in the majors and pitching the Houston Astros past New York 5-1 Monday.Verlander exited in the seventh inning with a major league-best 1.11 ERA. J.D. Davis hit an early three-run homer and Jose Altuve had a solo drive, helping Houston win for the sixth time in eight games.Davis hit his first homer of the season, connecting in the second off Domingo German (0-3).Closer Ken Giles, tagged Sunday as the Astros blew a five-run lead in the ninth at Cleveland, pitched the final inning and worked around a leadoff single.Facing the only club in baseball that hasn't been shut out this season, Verlander (7-2) blanked the Yankees until Greg Bird hit a leadoff home run in the seventh.As he left, Verlander took off his cap and waved it toward a solid contingent of Astros fans wearing bright orange behind the dugout.NATIONALS 6, ORIOLES 0BALTIMORE (AP) — Anthony Rendon hit a three-run homer to back a sharp... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Justin Verlander tamed the Yankees again, slowing down the highest-scoring team in the majors and pitching the Houston Astros past New York 5-1 Monday.Verlander exited in the seventh inning with a major league-best 1.11 ERA. J.D. Davis hit an early three-run homer and Jose Altuve had a solo drive, helping Houston win for the sixth time in eight games.Davis hit his first homer of the season, connecting in the second off Domingo German (0-3).Closer Ken Giles, tagged Sunday as the Astros blew a five-run lead in the ninth at Cleveland, pitched the final inning and worked around a leadoff single.Facing the only club in baseball that hasn't been shut out this season, Verlander (7-2) blanked the Yankees until Greg Bird hit a leadoff home run in the seventh.As he left, Verlander took off his cap and waved it toward a solid contingent of Astros fans wearing bright orange behind the dugout.NATIONALS 6, ORIOLES 0BALTIMORE (AP) — Anthony Rendon hit a three-run homer to back a sharp... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Justin Verlander tamed the Yankees again, slowing down the highest-scoring team in the majors and pitching the Houston Astros past New York 5-1 Monday.Verlander exited in the seventh inning with a major league-best 1.11 ERA. J.D. Davis hit an early three-run homer and Jose Altuve had a solo drive, helping Houston win for the sixth time in eight games.Davis hit his first homer of the season, connecting in the second off Domingo German (0-3).Closer Ken Giles, tagged Sunday as the Astros blew a five-run lead in the ninth at Cleveland, pitched the final inning and worked around a leadoff single.Facing the only club in baseball that hasn't been shut out this season, Verlander (7-2) blanked the Yankees until Greg Bird hit a leadoff home run in the seventh.As he left, Verlander took off his cap and waved it toward a solid contingent of Astros fans wearing bright orange behind the dugout.NATIONALS 6, ORIOLES 0BALTIMORE (AP) — Anthony Rendon hit a three-run homer to back a sharp... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — Anthony Rendon hit a three-run homer to back a sharp pitching performance by Gio Gonzalez, and the surging Washington Nationals beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-0 Monday.Gonzalez (6-2) allowed six hits over 7 2/3 innings to end a six-game losing streak against Baltimore. The left-hander won his first start against the Orioles in 2009 before coming up empty in his next nine outings.Shawn Kelley got four outs to complete the fifth shutout against the Orioles this season.Matt Adams and Michael Taylor both had two hits and an RBI for the Nationals, who have won four straight and 13 of 18.Though NL home run leader Bryce Harper went hitless, his leaping catch against the right-field wall in the fifth inning robbed Andrew Susac of a potential extra-base hit.Making his ninth start with Baltimore since signing as a free agent in March, Alex Cobb (1-7) was undone by a horrific, 42-pitch third inning that featured Rendon's sixth home run.BRAVES 4, METS 3ATLANTA (AP) — Charlie Culberson's... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — David Price took a shutout into the ninth inning and held Baltimore to five hits in his first complete game this season, leading the Boston Red Sox past the Orioles 6-2 on Thursday night.J.D. Martinez hit a two-run homer in the first, and Xander Bogaerts homered with two on during a four-run fifth.Price (4-4) struck out eight and didn't walk a batter while winning consecutive starts for the first time this season. Andrew Susac led off the ninth with a double, the first Baltimore player to reach second base in the game. Manny Machado spoiled the shutout bid with a two-out homer, but Price finished off Baltimore on Jonathan Schoop's pop-up.Kevin Gausman (3-3) went 4 2-3 innings for Baltimore, allowing six runs and eight hits while striking out six and walking two.DODGERS 7, MARLINS 0MIAMI (AP) — Justin Turner tied a career high with five RBIs and Kenta Maeda pitched eight sharp innings to help the Los Angeles Dodgers snap a six-game losing streak by beating the Marlins.Turner,... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — David Price took a shutout into the ninth inning and held Baltimore to five hits in his first complete game this season, leading the Boston Red Sox past the Orioles 6-2 on Thursday night.J.D. Martinez hit a two-run homer in the first, and Xander Bogaerts homered with two on during a four-run fifth.Price (4-4) struck out eight and didn't walk a batter while winning consecutive starts for the first time this season. Andrew Susac led off the ninth with a double, the first Baltimore player to reach second base in the game. Manny Machado spoiled the shutout bid with a two-out homer, but Price finished off Baltimore on Jonathan Schoop's pop-up.Kevin Gausman (3-3) went 4 2-3 innings for Baltimore, allowing six runs and eight hits while striking out six and walking two.DODGERS 7, MARLINS 0MIAMI (AP) — Justin Turner tied a career high with five RBIs and Kenta Maeda pitched eight sharp innings to help the Los Angeles Dodgers snap a six-game losing streak by beating the Marlins.Turner,... [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]

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — Caleb Joseph has gone from being a punchline in 2016 to being the Baltimore Orioles No. 1 catcher — at least for now.Joseph went through the entire season in 2016 — during which he had 132 at-bats — without a single RBI.He rebounded last season, driving in 28 runs, and has swung a hot bat this spring.Entering Tuesday's game at Minnesota, Joseph was batting a cool .444 (8-for-18) with a home run and 5 RBIs, and at least for now, Joseph is the Orioles' starting catcher."It's spring training. That sums it up," Joseph said. "There's been springs when you didn't get any hits. There's been springs where you've gotten a ton of hits. I wish it mattered."The 31-year-old catcher endured years of minor league ball — including five seasons at Double-A Bowie, where he set an unwanted franchise record for most games played.Joseph finally made it to the big leagues in 2014, and after sitting behind Matt Wieters and Welington Castillo, he's inherited — or earned — Baltimore's catching... [More]

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — Caleb Joseph has gone from being a punchline in 2016 to being the Baltimore Orioles No. 1 catcher — at least for now.Joseph went through the entire season in 2016 — during which he had 132 at-bats — without a single RBI.He rebounded last season, driving in 28 runs, and has swung a hot bat this spring.Entering Tuesday's game at Minnesota, Joseph was batting a cool .444 (8-for-18) with a home run and 5 RBIs, and at least for now, Joseph is the Orioles' starting catcher."It's spring training. That sums it up," Joseph said. "There's been springs when you didn't get any hits. There's been springs where you've gotten a ton of hits. I wish it mattered."The 31-year-old catcher endured years of minor league ball — including five seasons at Double-A Bowie, where he set an unwanted franchise record for most games played.Joseph finally made it to the big leagues in 2014, and after sitting behind Matt Wieters and Welington Castillo, he's inherited — or earned — Baltimore's catching... [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]

BALTIMORE (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles have acquired backup catcher Andrew Susac from the Milwaukee Brewers for a player to be named or cash.The trade was announced Friday. Susac was designated for assignment earlier this week after the Brewers signed free agent reliever Matt Albers.Susac, who turns 28 in March, is expected to compete for playing time behind projected starter Caleb Joseph.Susac played eight games for Milwaukee last year, going 1 for 12. He spent most of the season at Triple-A Colorado Springs, batting .205 with eight home runs and 35 RBIs.The Brewers got Susac from San Francisco in 2016 in a trade-deadline deal. In 104 games in the majors, Susac has hit .232 with seven homers and 35 RBIs.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Reliever Matt Albers has finalized a $5 million, two-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers, who adding a veteran right-hander to help set up for All-Star closer Corey Knebel.The 35-year old is coming off a standout season in Washington, where he was a career-best 7-2 with a 1.62 ERA in 63 games.Albers will make $2.5 million in each of the next two seasons. The deal announced Tuesday includes $1 million annually in performance bonuses based on games pitched.Going into his 13th season, Albers is the latest acquisition for the Brewers, who missed making the playoffs by one win last year. Milwaukee traded for Christian Yelich and signed fellow outfielder Lorenzo Cain as a free agent last week.Catcher Andrew Susac was designated for assignment to make room for Albers on the 40-man roster.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball