A look at what's happening around the majors today:EARLY TESTOff to the best start in baseball, Kevin Kiermaier and the Tampa Bay Rays host the wobbling Red Sox. Boston is just 6-13, and a real bad series at Tropicana Field could drop the defending World Series champions into a double-digit deficit.Rays manager Kevin Cash will use an opener for the third straight game. Tampa Bay is again employing a reliever to start because ace Blake Snell is out with a broken toe — the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner might have a bullpen session this weekend.Eduardo Rodriguez (1-2, 7.98 ERA) starts for the Red Sox, who will play Tampa Bay six times in 10 days. Boston has placed second baseman Dustin Pedroia back on the injured list because of left knee irritation.A HITTING SABBATICALCC Sabathia takes a unique streak into this matchup vs. Kansas City: The Yankees lefty is the only pitcher in big league history to have back-to-back starts in the regular season of at least five innings while allowing no... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — At spring training, Khris Davis expressed his desire to stay with the Oakland Athletics on a long-term contract for the next several seasons. He wants to build something special in the East Bay, while keeping up his remarkable home run pace.Davis now has the new deal he so wanted, after patiently waiting for it to get done.Davis' contract, announced by the team Thursday, takes him through the 2021 season. The deal adds $33.75 million for 2020 and '21, which increased Davis' guarantee to $50.25 million over three years, a person familiar with the agreement told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because contract terms had not been announced."Oakland has been a special place for me since I arrived," Davis said. "I love playing here in front of our fans, and my teammates make this feel, like a family. I never hid the fact that I wanted to stay in Oakland because that is how I feel and I'm glad that I can continue to call the city of Oakland... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Patrick Corbin took a one-hitter into the eighth inning in his first victory with Washington, Wilmer Difo homered and the Nationals beat the punchless San Francisco Giants 4-2 on Thursday.Signed to a $140 million, six-year contract in December after pitching for six seasons in Arizona, Corbin started three games without a decision with his new team before throwing a gem in the deciding matchup of a three-game series.Corbin (1-0) struck out nine, walked one and a hit a batter over 7 2/3 innings against a struggling San Francisco offense that came in with a .208 average. The lone hits against the lefty were Evan Longoria's fifth-inning double and Erik Kratz's two-out RBI double in the eighth.After Kratz broke up the shutout, Kyle Barraclough entered and retired pinch-hitter Buster Posey. Sean Doolittle worked the ninth, giving up three hits and a run while earning his second save.San Francisco starter Drew Pomeranz (0-2) gave up four runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings.After... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox have placed second baseman Dustin Pedroia on the 10-day injured list with left knee irritation.The 35-year-old Pedroia started the season on the injured list with inflammation in his left knee. He was reinstated April 9 and appeared in four games with Boston, making four starts at second base and two as a designated hitter and going 2 for 20 (.100) with a walk, an RBI and a run scored.To fill Pedroia's spot, Boston is recalling right-handed pitcher Marcus Walden from Triple-A Pawtucket ahead of Friday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays.Walden has appeared in five games this season. The right-hander is 2-0 with a 3.38 ERA. In 13 major league appearances with Boston, Walden is 2-0 with one save and a 3.57 ERA.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — At spring training, Khris Davis expressed his desire to stay with the Oakland Athletics on a long-term contract for the next several seasons. He wants to build something special in the East Bay, while keeping up his remarkable home run pace.Davis now has the new deal he so wanted, after patiently waiting for it to get done.Davis' contract, announced by the team Thursday, takes him through the 2021 season. The deal adds $33.75 million for 2020 and '21, which increased Davis' guarantee to $50.25 million over three years, a person familiar with the agreement told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because contract terms had not been announced.Davis hit a majors-best 48 home runs last season while setting a career high with 123 RBIs, helping send the 97-win A's back to the playoffs for the first time in four years. He is leading the majors again with 10 home runs so far this season and is batting .260 with 20 RBIs."I never think he's cold,... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Boston Red Sox pitcher David Price thinks Major League Baseball made a mistake by having just 10 games Monday on Jackie Robinson Day."Hey @mlb every year on April 15th we celebrate Jackie Robinson Day," Price tweeted Wednesday. "EVERYONE plays on that day next year deal? No one should have an off day let alone 10 teams!!"African American players dropped from 18 percent of the majors leagues in 1991 to 7.7 percent in 2017, then rose to 8.4 percent in 2018, according to The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at Central Florida. Price, who won the 2012 AL Cy Young Award, thinks more efforts on Jackie Robinson Day are needed.Jackie Robinson broke the major league color barrier for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947."1/3 of @mlb teams had an off day on Jackie Robinson day," tweeted Price, who is black. "I just can't wrap my head around that. We've had a problem for a while and this couldn't make it any more noticeable."This year, April 15 fell on a Monday. Most teams'... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Dustin Pedroia's painful left knee forced him out of Wednesday night's 5-3 loss to the Yankees after 1 1/2 innings, and the Boston second baseman planned to remain in New York for an examination rather than travel with the team to Tampa Bay.The 2008 AL MVP was hurt when he fouled off an 0-1 pitch from J.A. Happ in the second inning, Red Sox manager Alex Cora said."I was surprised that he came up to me and told me that, but at least he was honest," Cora said. "He was down. I haven't seen him like that. Hopefully, it's nothing serious, and it's something that he just got scared."Eduardo Núñez replaced Pedroia for the bottom half.Pedroia was activated from the injured list April 9 and is 2 for 20 at the plate.He has been slowed since a slide into his surgically repaired left knee at second base by Baltimore's Manny Machado on April 21, 2017. Dr. Riley Williams III of the Hospital for Special Surgery operated on Pedroia's left knee on Oct. 25, 2017, and Pedroia was limited to three big league games in 2018, from May 26-29.Cora said Pedroia would not be examined by the surgeon but by another doctor.Pedroia, 35, had not played the field since Saturday, and Cora said Pedroia also has been feeling ill. The Red Sox play three games on artificial turf at Tama Bay starting Friday, so another trip to the injured list is possible.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia left Wednesday night's game against the New York Yankees after 1½ innings because of left knee discomfort.The 2008 AL MVP flied out in the top of the second inning, then was replaced by Eduardo Núñez for the bottom half.Pedroia was activated April 9 and is 2 for 20 at the plate.He has been slowed since a slide into his surgically repaired left knee at second base by Baltimore's Manny Machado on April 21, 2017. Pedroia had left knee surgery on Oct. 25, 2017, and was limited to three big league games in 2018, from May 26-29.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves have a big hole in their bullpen now that closer Arodys Vizcaino will miss the rest of the season after undergoing right shoulder surgery.Vizcaino had the procedure Wednesday in New York. He pitched in four games this season, getting one save and allowing one run in four innings for the NL East champs.General manager Alex Anthopoulos has heard fans chanting at SunTrust Park for the team to sign free agent closer Craig Kimbrel and bring him back to Atlanta, and he indicated the Braves are exploring all available options."There's been a ton of turnover from the beginning of camp to where we are today," Anthopoulos said Wednesday. "I think it goes without saying we're going to look to do what we can both internally and externally."Even before Vizcaino got hurt, there's been speculation that Kimbrel, who closed games last season for the World Series champion Boston Red Sox, would return to the Braves, his original team.Anthopoulos declined to say if the team... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Boston Red Sox pitcher David Price thinks Major League Baseball made a mistake by having just 10 games Monday on Jackie Robinson Day."Hey @mlb every year on April 15th we celebrate Jackie Robinson Day," Price tweeted Wednesday. "EVERYONE plays on that day next year deal? No one should have an off day let alone 10 teams!!"African American players dropped from 18 percent of the majors leagues in 1991 to 7.7 percent in 2017, then rose to 8.4 percent in 2018, according to The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at Central Florida. Price, who won the 2012 AL Cy Young Award, thinks more efforts on Jackie Robinson Day are needed.Jackie Robinson broke the major league color barrier for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947."1/3 of @mlb teams had an off day on Jackie Robinson day," tweeted Price, who is black. "I just can't wrap my head around that. We've had a problem for a while and this couldn't make it any more noticeable."This year, April 15 fell on a Monday. Most teams'... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — Detroit Tigers left-hander Matt Moore is expected to miss the rest of the season after right knee surgery.Manager Ron Gardenhire updated Moore's status Wednesday. The 29-year-old pitcher signed with the Tigers in the offseason and did not allow a run in 10 innings this year, but he hurt his knee April 6.Moore said last weekend he had a tear in his meniscus, but the severity wasn't clear.An All-Star in 2013 with Tampa Bay, Moore was one of the game's rising stars, but Tommy John surgery cost him almost all of 2014, and he hasn't been very effective since.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Braves closer Arodys Vizcaino will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on his right shoulder.Vizcaino had the procedure Wednesday in New York. He pitched in four games this season, getting one save and allowing one run in four innings for the NL East champs.Minus Vizcaino, there's likely to be further speculation the Braves might be interested in Craig Kimbrel — their former closer played for the World Series champion Boston Red Sox last season, became a free agent and hasn't signed with anyone.The 28-year-old Vizcaino was put on the 10-day injured list a few days ago with right shoulder inflammation. A.J. Minter had taken over the closer's role, but has struggled.Vizcaino has often been injured during his two stints with the club. He had a $4.8 million, one-year contractDr. David Altchek performed the surgery. He cleaned up Vizcaino's labrum and removed scar tissue from the right shoulder joint.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SEATTLE (AP) — Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor has been sent to Triple-A to begin a rehab assignment as the All-Star is moving closer to rejoining the big league club after being slowed by a left ankle injury.The Indians announced the move Monday before starting a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners. Cleveland also activated second baseman Jason Kipnis from the 10-day injured list and designated for assignment veteran infielder Brad Miller.The switch-hitting Lindor was making steady progress from a right calf injury when he rolled his ankle while caught in a rundown during a minor league scrimmage in Arizona. Lindor batted .277 last season with 38 home runs, 92 RBIs and 25 steals.Lindor was hopeful of playing Monday night with Columbus but travel delays pushed his first game back to Tuesday. Cleveland manager Terry Francona didn't have a set number of games for Lindor to play before rejoining the Indians."It's going to depend on how he feels and the last thing we want to do is slow him down," Francona said. "But we want to set him up for success. We want to make sure he's OK."Kipnis opened the season on the injured list after suffering a calf strain late in spring training. He played just 10 games in spring because of hip, quad and calf injuries and appeared in six games at Triple-A during his rehab assignment.Miller hit .250 in 13 games for the Indians.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Mike Trout is easing his way back in the Los Angeles Angels lineup, returning as the designated hitter and skipping at least one night in center field after missing three games because of a right groin strain.Trout was listed second in the batting order for the Angels' series opener Monday night at Texas. The two-time AL MVP said he expects to be back in center field during this three-game set."I think just being in the lineup is huge for me," Trout said. "I'm confident I'll be back there in the outfield tomorrow or the next day. I got to play it by ear. I got to see how it comes out after the game and see how I feel."After missing a weekend series at the Chicago Cubs , Trout was seen by Dr. Steve Yoon in Los Angeles for the second time in three days Sunday. The team said ultrasound images showed further improvement to his groin and that Trout reported continued improvement.The two-time AL MVP has five home runs this season, all of those coming in a four-game home... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor has been sent to Triple-A to begin a rehab assignment as the All-Star is moving closer to rejoining the big league club after being slowed by a left ankle injury.The Indians announced the move Monday before starting a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners. Cleveland also activated second baseman Jason Kipnis from the 10-day injured list and designated for assignment veteran infielder Brad Miller.The switch-hitting Lindor was making steady progress from a right calf injury when he rolled his ankle while caught in a rundown during a minor league scrimmage in Arizona. Lindor batted .277 last season with 38 home runs, 92 RBIs and 25 steals.Kipnis opened the season on the injured list after suffering a calf strain late in spring training. He played just 10 games in spring because of hip, quad and calf injuries and appeared in six games at Triple-A during his rehab assignment.Miller hit .250 in 13 games for the Indians.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Phillies reliever David Robertson has been placed on the 10-day injured list because of a sore right elbow.Right-hander Drew Anderson was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to take Robertson's spot. The moves were announced before Monday night's game against the New York Mets.Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said Robertson will have an MRI on Tuesday.Robertson worked two scoreless innings in Philadelphia's 3-1, 14-inning victory at Miami on Sunday. He has a 5.40 ERA in seven appearances but hasn't allowed a run in his last four.The Phillies signed Robertson to a $23 million, two-year contact in the offseason.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Mike Trout is back in the Los Angeles Angels lineup after missing three games because of a right groin strain.Trout was listed as the designated hitter and batting second for the Angels' series opener Monday night at Texas.After missing a weekend series at the Chicago Cubs, Trout was seen by Dr. Steve Yoon in Los Angeles for the second time in three days Sunday. The team said ultrasound images showed further improvement to his groin and that Trout reported continued improvement.The two-time AL MVP has five home runs this season, all of those coming in a four-game home series April 4-8 against the Rangers. He is hitting .406 and also has 12 RBIs in his 12 games.Trout, who signed a record $426.5 million, 12-year contract near the end of spring training, first felt discomfort after working out before last Tuesday's home game against Milwaukee. The injury flared up while he was running to second base in the second inning that night___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

TORONTO (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays simply couldn't touch Toronto reliever Thomas Pannone.Pannone became the 89th different pitcher in major league history to strike out the side on nine pitches, setting down the Rays in the fifth inning Sunday.The 24-year-old lefty fanned a swinging Avisail Garcia, then caught Brandon Lowe and Daniel Robertson looking at strike three.Pannone became the third Toronto pitcher to accomplish the feat, joining Roger Clemens (1997) and Steve Delabar (2013).Pannone wound up pitching three innings and struck out four without allowing a runner in Toronto's 8-4 loss.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Detroit left-hander Matt Moore will undergo surgery this week to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.The Tigers said Sunday they won't have a definite timetable for Moore's return until after Wednesday's scheduled procedure in Dallas, although Moore said he's hoping for a recovery time of four to six weeks.Moore hurt the knee on April 6 when he left in the third inning of his start against Kansas City. Since then, he said, he's had two setbacks."I know I have a tear in my meniscus, it's just the severity of it I think is a little bit unknown right now," Moore said before Sunday's game at Minnesota. "It's when he gets in there, and that's when I guess they make those decisions. He can only fix what he can see and right now they can't really tell enough through the MRI to tell me exactly which type of repair they're going to have to do."Moore was off to a promising start after signing a one-year deal with the Tigers in the offseason. He hasn't allowed an earned run in 10 innings, with nine strikeouts and a single walk.Moore said the surgery will be performed by Dr. Keith Meister."It wasn't like this sharp pain or nothing like that, but the instability kind of told me that it might not be in our control to let this heal up on its own during the season," he said.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — Snow and rain led to the postponement of Sunday's finale of a three-game series between the Los Angeles Angels and Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.A makeup date was not immediately announced.A steady snow fell throughout the morning and a mix of snow and rain was forecast to continue throughout the afternoon.Right-hander Tyler Chatwood (0-0, 6.00 ERA) was scheduled to make his first start of the season on Sunday for Chicago. He will pitch Monday night when the Cubs open a three-game series at Miami.Right-hander Trevor Cahill (1-1, 3.50 ERA) will start for the Angels in the opener of a three-game series at Texas on Monday night.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports