Jay Bruce returned to the major leagues Saturday, making the New York Yankees' roster at the deadline for decisions on free agents who had gone to spring training with minor league contracts. Atlanta added third baseman Pablo Sandoval and told infielder Ehire Adrianza he will be put on the major league roster. The Chicago Cubs told infielder Eric Sogard he will be added. Detroit, having already told pitcher Julio Teheran he will be on the roster, informed pitcher Derek Holland he will be added and decided to pay a $100,000 retention bonus to keep pitcher Erasmo Ramirez. Under baseball's collective bargaining agreement, players who became free agents after the World Series and then went to spring training with minor league contracts had to be told by noon EDT Saturday that they would be added to the 40-man roster, paid the retention bonus or released. Released players can re-sign with the same team. Miami paid the retention bonus to catcher Sandy Leon, the only other player given the bonus.... [More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Pitchers Iván Nova and Héctor Rondón have been released from minor league contracts by the Philadelphia Phillies along with catcher Jeff Mathis. Philadelphia still had to make decisions on whether to add right-hander Brandon Kintzler, left-hander Tony Watson and outfielder Matt Joyce to the major league roster. Nova, a 34-year-old right-hander, had a 7.30 ERA in five spring training appearances. He allowed 10 runs and 15 hits in 12 1/3 innings with nine walks and six strikeouts. He would have received a one-year contract paying $1.5 million while in the major leagues. Rondón, a 33-year-old righty, had a 7.71 ERA in eight spring training games. He gave up seven runs — six earned — and eight hits in seven innings with two walks and eight strikeouts. He also would have received a contract paying $1.5 million while in the major leagues. Mathis, who turns 38 on March 31, hit .207 with one homer and two RBIs in 29 exhibition at-bats. If added to the 40-man roster, he would... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Former All-Star center fielder Odubel Herrera was among 31 non-roster players the Philadelphia Phillies have invited to spring training. Herrera, who will earn $10 million this season, hasn’t played for the Phillies since 2019 when he was suspended under Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy. The charges against Herrera were dismissed but he was removed from the team’s 40-man roster last year and wasn’t part of the 60-player pool for the shortened season. He will report to the team’s minor league mini-camp. Catcher Jeff Mathis signed a minor league deal with the Phillies on Tuesday and will join the major league camp. Mathis batted .161 in 24 games for Texas last season. Other non-roster players invited to major league spring training include: pitchers Neftalí Feliz, Brandon Kintzler, Bryan Mitchell, Iván Nova, Héctor Rondón and Michael Ynoa; catchers Christian Bethancourt and Rodolfo Durán; infielder Ronald Torreyes and outfielders Travis Jankowski and Matt Joyce. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports¶

A team-by-team look at the National 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: ___ Atlanta Braves Manager: Brian Snitker (sixth season). 2020: 35-25, first place, lost to Dodgers in NL Championship Series. Training Town: North Port, Florida. Park: CoolToday Park. First Workout: Feb. 18/23. He’s Here: RHP Charlie Morton, LHP Drew Smyly, RHP Carl Edwards, SS Ehire Adrianza, RHP Victor Arano. He’s Outta Here: OF Nick Markakis, OF Adam Duvall, INF Charlie Culberson, RHP Mike Foltynewicz, RHP Mark Melancon, C Tyler Flowers, RHP Shane Greene, RHP Darren O’Day, RHP Jhoulys Chacin, INF Adeiny Hechavarria, LHP Cole Hamels. Going campin’: The key offseason move was re-signing left fielder Marcell Ozuna to a four-year, $65 million deal. Morton and Smyly add experience to the rotation. The team can take a cautious approach with 2020 opening day starter Mike Soroka’s return from... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Phillies have agreed to minor league contracts with right-hander Brandon Kintzler and outfielder Matt Joyce, inviting both to big league spring training as non-roster players. Kintzler had a 2.22 ERA and 12 saves for the Miami Marlins last season. He had 14 strikeouts and 11 walks in 21 1/3 innings. The 36-year-old Kintzler had a career-best 29 saves in 2017. Joyce hit .252 with two homers and 14 RBIs last season for Miami. The left-handed hitting Joyce had a career-high 25 homers with Oakland in 2017. ___ More AP MLB coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MIAMI (AP) — Their T-shirts say Bottom Feeders, even though the Miami Marlins are showing they’re a different kind of fish in 2020 — the sort that rises to make a splash. Surprising Miami has advanced to MLB's final eight, disproving disparaging adjectives so often applied to the long-suffering franchise by detractors. That includes the opposing-team broadcaster who described the Marlins early in the season as “bottom feeders.” Instead, they made the playoffs for the first time since 2003, swept the Chicago Cubs in this week's wild-card round, and advanced to the best-of-five NL Division Series to face the Atlanta Braves beginning Tuesday in Houston. “I don’t think we’re going to be satisfied,” manager Don Mattingly said. “We’re going to be looking to win.” Don't count them out: This is a franchise that tends to be an also-ran in the summer but dominant in October, with a 7-0 record in postseason series. That includes World Series titles in 1997 and 2003. After holding the Cubs to one run... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Garrett Cooper homered against Yu Darvish in a two-run seventh, hard-throwing rookie Sixto Sánchez dominated for five innings and the Miami Marlins won their first playoff series in 17 years, beating the Cubs 2-0 Friday to complete a two-game wild card series sweep. Miami will face Atlanta in the NL Division Series in Houston starting Tuesday. Cooper gave the Marlins a 1-0 lead with two out in the seventh with a drive into the seats beyond the left-field wall. Matt Joyce doubled off the glove of diving center fielder Ian Happ, and Miguel Rojas chased Darvish with an RBI single. Winner Brad Boxberger threw 1 1/3 innings. Former-Cub Brandon Kintzler gave up a leadoff double to Jason Heyward in the ninthm then struck out the next three batters. Chicago missed the playoffs last year for the first time since 2014, then scored one run in its return. The Cubs haven’t advanced since the 2017 team lost in the NLCS.

MIAMI (AP) — Brandon Kintzler escaped a bases-loaded jam to end it and the Miami Marlins kept up their playoff push, scratching out a late unearned run off Max Scherzer to beat the Washington Nationals 2-1 Sunday to open a doubleheader. The Marlins began the day with a half-game lead over Philadelphia for second place in the NL East. The top two teams in each division are assured spots in the expanded postseason field — two extra wild-card clubs will advance, too. A two-out error by first baseman Eric Thames in the sixth inning gave Miami the go-ahead run. Washington threatened in the seventh and final inning when Luis Garcia led off with a single and pinch hitter Yadiel Hernandez followed with a ground-rule double off Kintzler. After Andrew Stevenson flied out to short right, Trea Turner hit a hard smash to Kintzler, who got Garcia out on a rundown that left runners still at second and third. Juan Soto was intentionally walked before Kintzler struck out Kurt Suzuki for his 10th save. Matt... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Dinelson Lamet outpitched Clayton Kershaw, and rookie Jorge Oña hit a go-ahead double in a five-run seventh inning to lead the San Diego Padres to their eighth straight win, 7-2 against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night in the opener of a series between the NL’s top teams.The Padres cut the Dodgers’ lead in the NL West to 1½ games. Trent Grisham added some spice to the rivalry when he hit a tying home run off Kershaw in the sixth and said something to the Dodgers’ dugout as he headed for home. The Padres have won 12 of 14.Lamet (3-1) got the victory thanks to a seventh-inning outburst that chased Kershaw (5-2). Lamet matched his season high with 11 strikeouts while holding the Dodgers to one run and three hits.WHITE SOX 3, TWINS 1CHICAGO (AP) — Adam Engel delivered a tiebreaking pinch-hit single in the eighth inning, and the White Sox increased their lead in the AL Central.Chicago opened its pivotal four-game set against Minnesota with its ninth win in 10 games. The... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Mike Minor tossed a two-hitter, Jake Lamb doubled and homered in his first game after signing with Oakland, and the Athletics beat the Seattle Mariners 9-0 for a doubleheader split on Monday. Seattle won the opener 6-5, rallying from a 5-0 deficit and scoring twice in the sixth inning with two outs to stay on the heels of Houston in the AL West. Seattle is 1½ games behind the Astros for second. The games were played with a haze of smoke hovering above the field at T-Mobile Park, even with the retractable roof of the stadium closed. Wildfires on the West Coast have suffocated much of the Pacific Northwest with unhealthy air conditions that brought into question whether the games would even be played. Minor (1-5) picked up his first victory of the season in his third start since being acquired by the A’s from Texas. Jimmy Yacabonis (0-1) was charged with the loss.Kyle Lewis had a big day for Seattle. The rookie outfielder hit a two-run homer and reached on a bases-loaded walk... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Kyle Lewis sparked Seattle’s rally with a two-run homer and walked with the bases loaded in the sixth inning, helping the Mariners top the Oakland Athletics 6-5 on Monday in the opener of a doubleheader. The game was played with a haze of smoke hovering above the field at T-Mobile Park, even with the retractable roof of the stadium closed. Wildfires on the West Coast have suffocated much of the Pacific Northwest with unhealthy air conditions that brought into question whether the games would even be played. Seattle trailed 5-0 after home runs by Sean Murphy and Marcus Semien off Marco Gonzales (6-2). But Seattle chipped away and scored twice in the sixth against Oakland’s bullpen to move in front for good.Yoshihisa Hirano pitched the seventh inning for his second save. The win pulled Seattle within one game of idle Houston for second in the AL West.Semien had four RBIs for division-leading Oakland. Joakim Soria (2-2) got the loss.MARLINS 6. PHILLIES 2MIAMI (AP) — Pablo Lopez... [More]

Phillies first. Andrew McCutchen homers to center field. Bryce Harper lines out to center field to Starling Marte. Alec Bohm pops out to shallow center field to Isan Diaz. Didi Gregorius grounds out to shallow infield, Jazz Chisholm to Garrett Cooper.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Phillies 1, Marlins 0.Marlins second. Matt Joyce singles to right field. Garrett Cooper grounds out to shallow infield, Vince Velasquez to Phil Gosselin. Matt Joyce to second. Jazz Chisholm singles to center field. Matt Joyce scores. Miguel Rojas walks. Isan Diaz grounds out to shallow infield, Vince Velasquez to Phil Gosselin. Miguel Rojas to second. Jazz Chisholm to third. Chad Wallach strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 2 left on. Phillies 1, Marlins 1.Marlins third. Corey Dickerson doubles to left field. Starling Marte singles to right field. Corey Dickerson to third. Jesus Aguilar doubles to third base. Starling Marte scores. Corey Dickerson scores. Matt Joyce strikes out swinging. Garrett Cooper... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Braxton Garrett allowed three hits over five innings to win his major league debut, and the Miami Marlins beat the Phillies 8-1 to complete doubleheader sweep and leapfrog Philadelphia for second place in the NL East.Rookie Sixto Sánchez pitched a three-hitter over seven innings to win the opener 2-1, his first complete game in five major league starts.Garrett, a 23-year-old left-hander, was recalled as Miami’s 29th man. Garrett (1-0) allowed one run, struck out six and walked two, giving up a second-inning homer to Alex Bohm, who is 10 for 20 in the series.Starling Marte had three hits, including a pair of doubles, and Jesús Aguilar had two hits and two RBIs.Miami (23-21) has won four of the first six-games against the Phillies (23-22) in the major leagues’ first seven-game, regular-season series since 1967. The teams play again Monday.Zach Eflin (2-2) allowed four runs, eight hits and two walks in four-plus innings for the Phillies, who have lost five of seven.Aguilar, Matt... [More]

Marlins first. Corey Dickerson walks. Starling Marte singles to shallow infield. Corey Dickerson to second. Jesus Aguilar singles to right field. Starling Marte to third. Corey Dickerson scores. Matt Joyce singles to left field. Jesus Aguilar to second. Starling Marte scores. Brian Anderson singles to right field. Matt Joyce to third. Jesus Aguilar scores. Garrett Cooper strikes out swinging. Brian Anderson out at second. Jazz Chisholm grounds out to shallow infield, Didi Gregorius to Phil Gosselin.3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Marlins 3, Phillies 0.Phillies second. Alec Bohm homers to center field. Didi Gregorius singles to right field. Phil Gosselin walks. Didi Gregorius to second. Kyle Garlick reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Phil Gosselin to second. Didi Gregorius out at third. Andrew Knapp strikes out on a foul tip. Ronald Torreyes grounds out to shallow infield, Miguel Rojas to Jesus Aguilar.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Marlins 3, Phillies 1.Marlins third.... [More]

Phillies second. Alec Bohm doubles to deep right field. Phil Gosselin grounds out to shallow infield, Isan Diaz to Garrett Cooper. Alec Bohm to third. Andrew Knapp out on a sacrifice fly to deep center field to Starling Marte. Alec Bohm scores. Adam Haseley lines out to second base to Isan Diaz.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Phillies 1, Marlins 0.Marlins third. Jazz Chisholm walks. Jorge Alfaro walks. Jazz Chisholm to second. Corey Dickerson singles to right field. Jorge Alfaro to second. Jazz Chisholm scores. Starling Marte singles to center field. Corey Dickerson to second. Jorge Alfaro scores. Matt Joyce flies out to deep right field to Bryce Harper. Corey Dickerson to third. Brian Anderson walks. Starling Marte to second. Garrett Cooper strikes out swinging. Isan Diaz called out on strikes.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 left on. Marlins 2, Phillies 1.

Phillies first. Andrew McCutchen called out on strikes. Rhys Hoskins reaches on error. Fielding error by Brian Anderson. Bryce Harper walks. J.T. Realmuto walks. Bryce Harper to second. Rhys Hoskins to third. Didi Gregorius homers to right field. J.T. Realmuto scores. Bryce Harper scores. Rhys Hoskins scores. Jean Segura strikes out swinging. Alec Bohm grounds out to second base, Isan Diaz to Jesus Aguilar.4 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 0 left on. Phillies 4, Marlins 0.Phillies third. Bryce Harper homers to left field. J.T. Realmuto grounds out to shortstop, Miguel Rojas to Jesus Aguilar. Didi Gregorius grounds out to shallow infield, Miguel Rojas to Jesus Aguilar. Jean Segura lines out to left center field to Corey Dickerson.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Phillies 5, Marlins 0.Marlins fourth. Corey Dickerson strikes out swinging. Starling Marte strikes out on a foul tip. Jesus Aguilar singles to right center field. Matt Joyce walks. Jesus Aguilar to second. Brian Anderson homers to left field.... [More]

Phillies third. Andrew Knapp singles to right center field. Ronald Torreyes lines out to center field to Starling Marte. Andrew McCutchen singles to second base. Andrew Knapp to third. Rhys Hoskins grounds out to shallow infield, Daniel Castano to Garrett Cooper. Andrew McCutchen to second. Andrew Knapp scores. Bryce Harper walks. J.T. Realmuto pops out to shallow center field to Isan Diaz.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Phillies 1, Marlins 0.Marlins third. Miguel Rojas grounds out to shallow infield, Ronald Torreyes to Rhys Hoskins. Lewis Brinson homers to left field. Jorge Alfaro lines out to shallow right field to Rhys Hoskins. Corey Dickerson singles to first base. Starling Marte walks. Corey Dickerson to second. Jesus Aguilar pinch-hitting for Matt Joyce. Jesus Aguilar lines out to center field to Bryce Harper.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Phillies 1, Marlins 1.Marlins fourth. Brian Anderson singles to shallow infield. Garrett Cooper singles to right field. Brian Anderson... [More]

Phillies third. Alec Bohm grounds out to shallow infield, Miguel Rojas to Jesus Aguilar. Adam Haseley doubles to deep center field. Andrew McCutchen homers. Adam Haseley scores. Rhys Hoskins singles to shortstop. Bryce Harper flies out to left center field to Corey Dickerson. J.T. Realmuto hit by pitch. Rhys Hoskins to second. Jean Segura doubles to deep left field. J.T. Realmuto scores. Rhys Hoskins scores. Didi Gregorius flies out to deep right field to Matt Joyce.4 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Phillies 4, Marlins 0.Phillies fourth. Phil Gosselin reaches on error. Throwing error by Brian Anderson. Alec Bohm singles to center field. Phil Gosselin to third. Adam Haseley singles to right field. Alec Bohm to second. Phil Gosselin scores. Andrew McCutchen singles to deep center field. Adam Haseley to third. Alec Bohm scores. Rhys Hoskins homers to left field. Andrew McCutchen scores. Adam Haseley scores. Bryce Harper pops out to shallow infield to Chad Wallach. J.T. Realmuto strikes... [More]

Phillies first. Andrew McCutchen grounds out to shallow left field, Miguel Rojas to Jesus Aguilar. Rhys Hoskins singles to shallow infield. Bryce Harper walks. Rhys Hoskins to third. J.T. Realmuto grounds out to shortstop, Miguel Rojas to Jesus Aguilar. Rhys Hoskins scores. Didi Gregorius pops out to shallow right field to Jazz Chisholm.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Phillies 1, Marlins 0.Marlins first. Corey Dickerson walks. Starling Marte doubles to third base. Corey Dickerson scores. Jesus Aguilar walks. Matt Joyce called out on strikes. Brian Anderson strikes out swinging. Garrett Cooper lines out to deep left field to Andrew McCutchen.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 left on. Phillies 1, Marlins 1.Phillies second. Jean Segura lines out to shortstop to Miguel Rojas. Andrew Knapp reaches on error. Fielding error by Jesus Aguilar. Alec Bohm singles to right center field, advances to 3rd. Andrew Knapp scores. Fielding error by Starling Marte. Adam Haseley singles to left center field. Alec... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Lance Lynn pitched seven strong innings, Elvis Andrus homered and the Texas Rangers snapped a six-game losing streak with a 7-1 win Tuesday night over the Los Angeles Angels, who had won five in a row.Lynn (5-2), the first major league pitcher to make 10 starts this season, struck out six, walked two and limited the Angels to one run on four hits. The right-hander had lost his previous two starts, allowing 10 runs (nine earned) — more than he had allowed combined his first seven starts. Andrus put the Rangers ahead to stay with a solo shot in the second. They went ahead 3-0 with two unearned runs in the fourth on second baseman Matt Thaiss’ two-out error. Andrew Heaney (3-3) allowed five runs (three earned) in five innings. He struck out four and walked one. Heaney had won his last two starts and had pitched 10 consecutive scoreless innings before Andrus went deep. The lefty also gave up five runs (over 3 2-3 innings) in his first start at the Rangers’ new ballpark... [More]