A look at what's happening around the majors today:BOUNCE-BACK BLAKE?A day after the Rays came within an inning of baseball's first ever combined perfect game, ace lefty Blake Snell (5-7, 4.70) faces the first-place Yankees in the Bronx. Snell's last visit was a historical flop. He became the first reigning Cy Young Award winner to allow six runs and get no more than one out in a start. Snell has adjusted and improved since, even pitching five innings of one-run ball in a home start against New York before the All-Star break. The Rays may go back to the opener Tuesday after the strategy nearly led to perfection Sunday, when Ryan Yarbrough took over from Ryne Stanek in the third inning and went unblemished until Baltimore's Hanser Alberto grounded a leadoff single in the ninth.TESTING TROUTAngels star Mike Trout will have an MRI a day after leaving a game with right calf tightness. Los Angeles doesn't believe the injury is serious, and Trout said he wanted to continue playing Sunday but... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:BOUNCE-BACK BLAKE?A day after the Rays came within an inning of baseball's first ever combined perfect game, ace lefty Blake Snell (5-7, 4.70) faces the first-place Yankees in the Bronx. Snell's last visit was a historical flop. He became the first reigning Cy Young Award winner to allow six runs and get no more than one out in a start. Snell has adjusted and improved since, even pitching five innings of one-run ball in a home start against New York before the All-Star break. The Rays may go back to the opener Tuesday after the strategy nearly led to perfection Sunday, when Ryan Yarbrough took over from Ryne Stanek in the third inning and went unblemished until Baltimore's Hanser Alberto grounded a leadoff single in the ninth.TESTING TROUTAngels star Mike Trout will have an MRI a day after leaving a game with right calf tightness. Los Angeles doesn't believe the injury is serious, and Trout said he wanted to continue playing Sunday but... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — The Red Sox have placed knuckleballer Steven Wright on the 10-day injured list with a bruised right foot a day after he was hit with a line drive by Dodgers infielder Max Muncy.The move was made before Sunday night's series finale against Los Angeles at Fenway Park.With Wright being placed on the IL, Boston added right-hander Andrew Cashner to the active roster.The Red Sox acquired the 32-year-old Cashner from Baltimore on Saturday for two minor leaguers. He's expected to make his first start for Boston on Tuesday in Fenway against Toronto.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Mike Trout has been pulled from the Los Angeles Angels' game against Seattle due to right calf tightness.The two-time AL MVP left before the start of the third inning, interrupting his incredible recent success at the plate.Trout lined out to first in his only plate appearance against Yusei Kikuchi. The outfielder didn't emerge from the dugout to start the third, with Kole Calhoun moving over from right field to center and David Fletcher moving from shortstop to right.Starting before the All-Star break, Trout was on an offensive tear even by his lofty standards. He had eight homers and 18 RBIs in his previous seven games, becoming just the sixth player in AL history to reach those totals in a seven-game span.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels will play a day-night doubleheader in their return to Texas next month to make up the game that was postponed after the death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs.The Rangers announced Sunday that the makeup game will be a day game Aug. 20. That will be before the previously scheduled game that night.After Skaggs was found unresponsive in his Texas hotel room on July 1, the scheduled opener of what was supposed to be a four-game series was postponed. The other three games were played, with the Angels winning the first two before Texas won the July 4 game that Skaggs had been set to start.Los Angeles played its first home games this weekend since Skaggs passed away.The Angels make their last scheduled trip to Globe Life Field from Aug. 19-21. The split doubleheader with the makeup game will come on the middle day of what was to be a three-game series.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BALTIMORE (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays' bid for the first combined perfect game in major league history has ended with a leadoff single in the ninth inning by Baltimore's Hanser Alberto.The hit off reliever Ryan Yarbrough came Sunday at Camden Yards. Alberto hit an easy grounder to the right side, through the Rays' overshifted infield.Tampa Bay's try came two days after a pair of Los Angeles Angels pitchers teamed up for a no-hitter while wearing the jerseys of late teammate Tyler Skaggs.Rays right-hander Ryne Stanek pitched the first two innings before Yarbrough took over.Recalled from Triple-A Durham before the game, Yarbrough retired 18 straight batters before Alberto's hit.The Rays have had only one no-hitter in franchise history, by Matt Garza against the Detroit Tigers on July 26, 2010.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

TOKYO (AP) — Former Cleveland Indians outfielder Leonys Martin has signed a one-year deal with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan's Pacific League.Martín, who overcame a life-threatening bacterial infection last summer, was designated for assignment last month by the Indians. He was batting .199 with nine home runs and 19 RBIs in 65 games.Cleveland acquired Martín from the Detroit Tigers at the trade deadline last season, but he played only six games before becoming ill and being hospitalized."It's an honor to be given this chance by the Marines," Martin said in a statement issued by the team. "I'll do everything I can in order to be the best player and teammate that I can become."The 31-year-old Cuban player made his MLB debut with the Texas Rangers in 2011 and also played for the Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs and Detroit.Martin recorded more than 30 steals in the 2013 and 2014 seasons with the Rangers, and hit a career-high 15 home runs with the Mariners in 2016.In 770 major league games over nine seasons, he had a .244 batting average with 58 home runs, 228 RBIs and 126 stolen bases.____More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

A look at what's happening around the majors today:PINSTRIPE AUDITION?All-Star pitcher Marcus Stroman (5-9, 3.18 ERA) takes the mound for Toronto at Yankee Stadium. Last month, the Long Island native strongly hinted that he wouldn't mind a trade to the Yankees.Stroman has been sidelined with a left pectoral cramp since June 29, but threw a bullpen session Friday and was cleared to return to the rotation against the AL East leaders.TRADE TIMEThe Boston Red Sox made the first significant trade since the All-Star break, getting pitcher Andrew Cashner from Baltimore. The 32-year-old righty was 9-3 with a 3.83 ERA in 17 starts for the team with the worst record in the majors.The Red Sox got Cashner and nearly $1.78 million in cash to help with his salary for a pair of 17-year-old prospects.This year's trade deadline is July 31 — no more swaps can be made after that to have a player eligible for the postseason.ALL-STAR ACTIONAL All-Star teammates Shane Bieber and Jose Berrios pitch against each... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — Locked in a desperate push to get back into the playoffs, the Boston Red Sox had no intention of waiting until the end of the month to upgrade their starting rotation.Getting a jump on the July 31 trade deadline, the Red Sox obtained burly right-hander Andrew Cashner from the Baltimore Orioles for two 17-year-old prospects."He's been throwing the ball well. He's a veteran," Boston manager Alex Cora said after the Red Sox lost 11-2 to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday night. "He's been pitching well against some tough competition and we won't change too much."The deal was announced after Baltimore beat Tampa Bay 2-1 in the first game of a day-night doubleheader.Cashner is 9-3 with a 3.83 ERA in 17 starts for the team with the worst record in the majors. He has gone at least six innings in his last five starts and has a 1.41 ERA since the beginning of June."He'll be here (Sunday) and start on Tuesday," Red Sox general manager Dave Dombrowski said.Better sooner than later."We... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The shrine that has become Tyler Skaggs' locker in the Los Angeles clubhouse had a new addition Saturday — the ball from the final out of the no-hitter the Angels pitched while wearing their late teammate's jersey.As they prepared to face Seattle on what would have been Skaggs' 28th birthday, the Angels were still trying to take in everything that transpired a day earlier in a remarkable 13-0 victory.Taylor Cole started with two perfect innings and Félix Peña held the Mariners hitless the rest of the way in the Angels' first home game since Skaggs was found unresponsive in his hotel room in Texas on July 1.Cole was wearing a T-shirt with Skaggs' catchphrase — "We're Nasty" — in the clubhouse before the game. He said he was still hyped up after the win."I feel great to have been a part of history and helping this city cope a little bit," he said. "When you can comfort and help people heal, and help people realize that there is something more to this than baseball,... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Sunday:PINSTRIPE AUDITION?All-Star pitcher Marcus Stroman (5-9, 3.18 ERA) takes the mound for Toronto at Yankee Stadium. Last month, the Long Island native strongly hinted that he wouldn't mind a trade to the Yankees.Stroman has been sidelined with a left pectoral cramp since June 29, but threw a bullpen session Friday and was cleared to return to the rotation against the AL East leaders.TRADE TIMEThe Boston Red Sox made the first significant trade since the All-Star break, getting pitcher Andrew Cashner from Baltimore. The 32-year-old righty was 9-3 with a 3.83 ERA in 17 starts for the team with the worst record in the majors.The Red Sox got Cashner and nearly $1.78 million in cash to help with his salary for a pair of 17-year-old prospects.This year's trade deadline is July 31 — no more swaps can be made after that to have a player eligible for the postseason.ALL-STAR ACTIONAL All-Star teammates Shane Bieber and Jose Berrios pitch against each... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Max Kepler has Trevor Bauer's number.Kepler connected for home runs his first two times up Saturday night against Cleveland's hard-throwing starter, giving the Minnesota outfielder five homers in his last five at-bats against the right-hander.Kepler homered three times off Bauer in Minnesota's win on June 6 while also drawing a walk.He made it four homers in four straight at-bats with a leadoff shot, then connected in the second inning, one batter after rookie Jake Cave homered off Bauer.Bauer finally got the best of Kepler in the fourth, striking him out but only after he hit a deep foul ball into the upper deck in right.According to Elias, Kepler matched the longest streak in the expansion era for homers in consecutive at-bats against one pitcher. Carlos Delgado did it against Jorge Sosa (2003-04) and Frank Howard connected against Bob Hendley (1963-64).Kepler has 13 career homers against the Indians, 11 at Progressive Field.He also had three-homer game in Cleveland as a rookie in 2016.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BALTIMORE (AP) — Locked in a desperate push to get back into the playoffs, the Boston Red Sox had no intention of waiting until the end of the month to upgrade their starting rotation.Getting a jump on the July 31 trade deadline, the Red Sox obtained burly right-hander Andrew Cashner from the Baltimore Orioles for two 17-year-old prospects.The deal was announced Saturday after Baltimore beat Tampa Bay 2-1 in the first game of a day-night doubleheader.Cashner is 9-3 with a 3.83 ERA in 17 starts for the team with the worst record in the majors. He has gone at least six innings in his last five starts and has a 1.41 ERA since the beginning of June."He'll be here (Sunday) and start on Tuesday," Red Sox general manager Dave Dombrowski said.Better sooner than later."We just felt that this makes sense for us, to get him right into the rotation," Dombrowski said. "He's excited to be here, excited to pitch, excited to join the club and be part of the pennant race."The 32-year-old Cashner goes from... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Washington Nationals have put Max Scherzer on the 10-day injury list because the ace right-hander has a mid-back strain.An MRI on Scherzer's back came back negative, and the three-time Cy Young Award winner had his start pushed back from Sunday to Tuesday. But he was placed on the injury list retroactive to July 10 after throwing a bullpen session before Saturday's game.Catcher Spencer Kieboom was recalled from Double-A Harrisburg to take Scherzer's roster spot.Scherzer was 7-0 with a 0.84 ERA in his last nine starts before the All-Star break. He is 9-5 with a 2.30 ERA overall.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — When the Los Angeles Angels think about Tyler Skaggs in the months and years ahead, Andrew Heaney is grateful they'll have the memory of one incredible night to assuage their sadness.With Skaggs' name and No. 45 on all of their jerseys Friday night, the Angels played practically perfect baseball throughout their first home game since their 27-year-old teammate's death.After they completed a combined no-hitter and a 13-0 victory over Seattle, the Angels gathered on the field and placed those No. 45 jerseys on the mound until it was more red than brown.The Angels then stood reverently in a circle to pay one more tribute to the ebullient, lanky left-hander who definitely would have called them nasty."For us, it's emotionally therapeutic," said Heaney, Skaggs' best friend and fellow starting pitcher. "After the game, we ran out on the field and everybody was celebrating. Like three hours earlier, I don't know about everybody else, (but) I had tears in my eyes. You're... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:REMEMBER WHENRed Sox left-hander Chris Sale faces the Dodgers for the first time since he came out of the bullpen to finish last year's World Series, striking out the side in the ninth inning of Boston's 5-1 victory in Game 5. Sale struggled in his final two starts before the All-Star break, allowing 10 runs and 15 hits in 11 2/3 innings. Ross Stripling pitches for NL-leading Los Angeles.ON THE MENDAll-Star infielder Alex Bregman could return to Houston's starting lineup after he took a groundball off his chin during the Astros' 5-0 loss at Texas on Thursday night. Manager AJ Hinch says Bregman, who needed four stitches, has been evaluated a couple of times since getting hit and is doing OK. He says Bregman "has not been diagnosed with a concussion at all." Bregman was playing shortstop in the series opener when a grounder by Shin-Soo Choo popped up and hit him below his mouth in the third inning. Bregman, the team's primary third baseman,... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels all wore Tyler Skaggs' No. 45 jerseys as they stood solemnly on the field while his mother, Debbie, delivered a heartbreakingly perfect strike with her first pitch.Three incredible hours later, the Angels walked back onto the Angel Stadium field, some with tears in their eyes. One by one, they removed those No. 45 jerseys and spread them over the mound until nearly all of the dirt was covered in red.In between those two melancholy, magical moments, the Angels played their heavy hearts out in their first home game since their beloved pitcher's death.Their 13-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Friday was a combined no-hitter by Taylor Cole and Félix Peña. Mike Trout contributed six RBIs, including a 454-foot homer on the first pitch he saw.On the day before what would have been Skaggs' 28th birthday, these astonishing Angels played a practically perfect game with his memory in their minds."Tonight was in honor of him," Trout said. "He was... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels all put on Tyler Skaggs' No. 45 jerseys and stood solemnly on the field while his mother, Debbie, delivered a heartbreakingly perfect strike on the first pitch.The Angels then proceeded to play their heavy hearts out in their first home game since their beloved pitcher's death.Two Angels pitchers combined to throw the 11th no-hitter in franchise history, and Mike Trout drove in six runs in a stunning 13-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Friday night.On the day before what would have been Skaggs' 28th birthday, these astonishing Angels played a practically perfect game with his memory in their minds."Tonight was in honor of him," Trout said. "He was definitely looking over us tonight. He's probably up there saying we're nasty. What an unbelievable game to be a part of. I'm speechless. This is the best way possible to honor him tonight. It was pretty crazy."This tribute ended up exceeding all logic and expectation. Still reeling from the... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels put on Tyler Skaggs' No. 45 jerseys and stood solemnly on the field while his mother, Debbie, delivered a heartbreakingly perfect strike on the first pitch.The Angels then proceeded to play their heavy hearts out in their first home game since their beloved pitcher's death.Two Angels pitchers combined to throw the 11th no-hitter in franchise history, and Mike Trout drove in six runs in a stunning 13-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Friday night.On the day before what would have been Skaggs' 28th birthday, these astonishing Angels played a practically perfect game with his memory in their minds."Tonight is about him," injured Angels infielder Zack Cozart said before the game. "We're going to do what we can to honor him and keep his legacy going."This tribute ended up exceeding all logic and expectation, however.Still reeling from the loss of their left-handed starter early last week in Texas, the Angels somehow excelled in every aspect... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels put on Tyler Skaggs' No. 45 jerseys and stood solemnly on the field while his mother, Debbie, delivered a heartbreakingly perfect strike on the first pitch.The Angels then proceeded to play their heavy hearts out in their first home game since their beloved pitcher's death.Two Angels pitchers combined to throw the 11th no-hitter in franchise history, and Mike Trout drove in six runs in a stunning 13-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Friday night.On the day before what would have been Skaggs' 28th birthday, these astonishing Angels played a practically perfect game with his memory in their minds."Tonight is about him," injured Angels infielder Zack Cozart said before the game. "We're going to do what we can to honor him and keep his legacy going."This tribute ended up exceeding all logic and expectation, however.Still reeling from the loss of their left-handed starter early last week in Texas, the Angels somehow excelled in every aspect... [More]