SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Giants closer Hunter Strickland broke his pitching hand punching a door in frustration after blowing the save and taking the loss in a 5-4 defeat to the Miami Marlins on Monday night.The right-hander had surgery Tuesday and expected to be out six to eight weeks, manager Bruce Bochy said. An X-ray after the game revealed the break of Strickland's pinkie, similar to what sidelined lefty ace Madison Bumgarner to begin the season after he was hurt in his final spring training start."I'm thoroughly disappointed, trust me. I'm crushed because this guy had just grown as a pitcher and a player and a person," Bochy said. "But I know Hunter, he cares. He cares deeply. He let his emotions get away ... he had a temporary snap."Strickland blew his fourth save in 17 chances and second straight, allowing more than two runs for only the fourth time in his career.He posted an apology on Instagram and Twitter."Life has an interesting and sometimes disappointing way of opening up our... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Wednesday:NEED A HANDThe Giants are looking for answers at the back of the bullpen after closer Hunter Strickland broke his hand Monday night punching a door in frustration. Strickland blew a save in a 5-4 loss to Miami, then cost himself six to eight weeks with his postgame outburst. Manager Bruce Bochy said Strickland had shown maturity and progress keeping his emotions in check since a fight last year with Nationals star Bryce Harper, leading Bochy to feel "thoroughly disappointed" by this injury. Sam Dyson and Tony Watson will be called upon for closing duties, with one getting most of the opportunities, though Bochy didn't reveal which one that would be. The manager doesn't consider Mark Melancon — signed to a $62 million, four-year deal before last season to work the ninth — ready for the role after a series of injuries.KING OF THE BRONXFelix Hernandez (6-6, 5.44 ERA) pitches for Seattle at Yankee Stadium in the middle game of a series... [More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Alcides Escobar's streak of making 406 consecutive starts as the Kansas City Royals shortstop is about to end.Manager Ned Yost said he plans to play Adalberto Mondesi, 22, a couple of days a week at shortstop. Escobar, 31, has been the Royals everyday shortstop since 2011 after being acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers as part of the Zack Greinke trade."Esky's been our shortstop for a long time," Yost said Tuesday. "It's a pretty big change, seeing someboy different at short, but it's exciting, too because now you're starting to give other younger players opportunities to see what they can do."Escobar was an American League All-Star starter and Glove Glove winner in 2015, the year the Royals won the World Series.With the Royals in last place with a 22-50 record entering the game Tuesday night against the Texas Rangers, they are looking to the future."It's a good chance to experiment right now," Yost said. "There's nothing that is going to make or break us. You can... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Giants closer Hunter Strickland broke his pitching hand punching a door in frustration after blowing the save and taking the loss in a 5-4 defeat to the Miami Marlins on Monday night.The right-hander was undergoing surgery Tuesday and expected to be out six to eight weeks, manager Bruce Bochy said. An X-ray after the game revealed the break of Strickland's pinkie, similar to what sidelined lefty ace Madison Bumgarner to begin the season after he was hurt in his final spring training start."I'm thoroughly disappointed, trust me. I'm crushed because this guy had just grown as a pitcher and a player and a person," Bochy said. "But I know Hunter, he cares. He cares deeply. He let his emotions get away ... he had a temporary snap."Strickland blew his fourth save in 17 chances and second straight, allowing more than two runs for only the fourth time in his career.Bochy said Strickland had shown maturity and made progress keeping his emotions in check since last year's fight... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — As compensation for losing his job as a closer, Kelvin Herrera gets to pitch for a contender.Herrera joined the Washington Nationals on Tuesday, less than 24 hours after being traded from the last-place Kansas City Royals for three minor leaguers.A two-time All-Star, Herrera had 14 saves and a 1.05 ERA this season. Washington already has a closer, Sean Doolittle, so Herrera will be entering the game earlier than usual for now."I explained it to him and I think he gets it," Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. "The way I explain it to all these guys is, 'When you come in the game think of it as you're closing that inning, cause that's a big moment. So we need you either the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, whatever.'"That's just fine with Herrera."Whatever inning I may get called upon, I just focus on getting that one hitter out," the right-hander said through an interpreter.With 14 saves and one win, Herrera had a hand in more than two-thirds of Kansas City's 22 victories... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Boone Logan experiment is over in Milwaukee.The NL Central-leading Brewers designated the left-handed reliever for assignment on Tuesday to make room on the roster for rookie starter Freddy Peralta.Logan appeared in 16 games for Milwaukee, which signed him as a free agent in January hoping to use him as a left-handed specialist. He started the season dealing with a lat injury and struggled after joining the club in early May. The 33-year-old went 1-0 with a 5.91 ERA for the Brewers and had trouble getting out left-handed batters. Lefties went 9 for 22 (.410) against Logan with five extra-base hits.Peralta is scheduled to start against the Pirates on Tuesday night. He is 1-0 with a 3.72 ERA in two major-league starts.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pedro Alvarez has been designated for assignment by the Baltimore Orioles, who made several moves Tuesday in an attempt to improve a team with the worst record in the big leagues.The 31-year-old Alvarez had a .181 batting average with eight home runs and 18 RBIs in 45 games. Used mostly as a designated hitter, he was in a 1-for-18 skid since his last multihit game, on May 24."Pete's a good man. He's a good teammate," manager Buck Showalter said. "With the potential of some other people returning (from the disabled list), there just weren't going to be any at-bats for him."It was not a surprising move, given the Orioles entered play Tuesday with a 20-50 record."It's unfortunate for Pedro," closer Zach Britton said. "With where we are in the standings, the organization needs to see what we've got with some of the young guys."As a corresponding move, the Orioles selected the contract of infielder Steve Wilkerson from Triple-A Norfolk, whose first appearance will be his major... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pedro Alvarez has been designated for assignment by the Baltimore Orioles, who are shuffling the roster in an attempt to improve upon the worst record in the big leagues.The 31-year-old Alvarez had a .181 batting average with eight home runs and 18 RBIs in 45 games. He was in a 1-for-18 skid since his last multihit game, on May 24.Also Tuesday, the Orioles selected the contract of infielder Steve Wilkerson from Triple-A Norfolk. Wilkerson has not played in the majors.In addition, Baltimore recalled catcher Caleb Joseph from Norfolk. Joseph began the season as the Orioles' starting catcher but was optioned to the minors on May 17 after batting .182 in 24 games.Joseph joins his brother, Corban Joseph, on the Baltimore roster. Corban Joseph was summoned from Norfolk last week and played in his first big league game since a two-game stint with the Yankees in 2013.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

CHICAGO (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw is scheduled make a minor league rehab start on Saturday as he continues his recovery from a strained lower back. The three-time NL Cy Young Award could be back pitching in the majors soon.According to manager Dave Roberts, Kershaw will be limited to four innings and 60 pitches when he returns to the mound with Triple-A Oklahoma City at Omaha. If the outing goes well, Roberts hoped the left-hander's next appearance would be with Los Angeles.Kershaw threw a three-inning simulated game before the Dodgers' postponed series opener against the Chicago Cubs on Monday night. Afterward, Kershaw said he felt really good.Roberts said Kershaw returning when the Dodgers play at the New York Mets this weekend was considered, but the team opted for the minor league start to give the lefty "the best chance for success and health."The 30-year-old Kershaw was sidelined for nearly a month with left biceps tendinitis before returning May 31 against Philadelphia. He pitched five effective innings in a no-decision against the Phillies, and then went back on the disabled list the next day with the back injury.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

CHICAGO (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw is scheduled make a minor-league rehab start on Saturday as he continues his recovery from a strained lower back. The three-time NL Cy Young Award could be back pitching in the majors soon.According to manager Dave Roberts, Kershaw will be limited to four innings and 60 pitches when he returns to the mound with Triple-A Oklahoma City at Omaha. If the outing goes well, Roberts hoped the left-hander's next appearance would be with Los Angeles.Kershaw threw a three-inning simulated game before the Dodgers' postponed series opener against the Chicago Cubs on Monday night. Afterward, Kershaw said he felt really good.Roberts said Kershaw returning when the Dodgers play at the New York Mets this weekend was considered, but the team opted for the minor-league start to give the lefty "the best chance for success and health."The 30-year-old Kershaw was sidelined for nearly a month with left biceps tendinitis before returning May 31 against Philadelphia. The left-hander pitched five effective innings in a no-decision against the Phillies, and then went back on the disabled list the next day with the back injury.

NEW YORK (AP) — Over five seasons as ace of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Gerrit Cole threw one of the game's hardest, heaviest fastballs, and he threw it often. The pitch helped him make millions of dollars. It put him in contention for major awards. Hitters swung through it again and again, and Cole seemed content not to mess with a good thing.But when Cole was traded to the Houston Astros this offseason, a funny thing happened. He became more frugal with his fastball and ended up more overpowering than ever.Cole has joined some of the game's best pitchers — including Cleveland's Corey Kluber and the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw — in benefiting from a puzzling baseball paradox: In an era when pitchers are throwing harder than ever, they're maximizing success by using fewer fastballs.Pitchers — even ones with blazing fastballs like Luis Severino and Chris Archer — are using more offspeed than ever recorded, and while many aces think the downturn is a trend, some believe baseball could be entering... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Cubs infielder Javier Baez is feeling better after he was hit on the left elbow by a pitch.Baez was plunked by Jack Flaherty in the third inning of Sunday night's 5-0 loss at St. Louis. But he could return as soon as Tuesday's day-night doubleheader against the Los Angeles Dodgers.He was not in the starting lineup before Monday's series opener against Los Angeles was postponed by a mixture of poor weather and a limited power outage at Wrigley Field. He said his elbow is still pretty swollen, but he felt good and no X-rays were needed."I was scared for a moment but after I started feeling everything, I knew everything was good," he said.Baez leads the Cubs with 14 homers and is tied for the team lead with 46 RBIs."That's a tough one right there," manager Joe Maddon said. "I've actually gone through that particular instance, and it stings and you want to throw up and it's hot, but you actually come out of it."He's a tough kid. I'm not totally surprised that he's fine. It's just an awkward spot when it happens."Baez said Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina texted him Sunday night to see if he was all right.Also Monday, the Cubs placed reliever Brian Duensing on the bereavement list and recalled left-hander Rob Zastryzny from Triple-A Iowa. Duensing's grandfather died on Saturday."He is in a better place but we miss him dearly already," Duensing posted on his Twitter account.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Nationals closer Sean Doolittle was going through his usual routine Monday, preparing if needed for a save, when general manager Mike Rizzo sought him out.Rizzo wanted to discuss two things: The Nationals were trading for two-time All-Star reliever Kelvin Herrera, and Doolittle was going to keep his ninth-inning job.Getting a jump on the trade deadline, the Nationals picked up right-hander Herrera from the Kansas City Royals for three minor leaguers, adding him to a back end of the bullpen that already includes the lefty Doolittle and righties Ryan Madson and Brandon Kintzler."It's almost their way of saying, 'Here's some help. Here's some reinforcements.' I think it's one of those situations where you can't have too many options down there," Doolittle said. "You get a guy who's pitched in every high-leverage role from the seventh inning on. He's won a World Series. ... We're planning on playing some really meaningful games down the stretch and making a run... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Getting a jump on the trade deadline to add talent to the back of their bullpen, the Washington Nationals picked up right-hander Kelvin Herrera from the Kansas City Royals on Monday for three minor leaguers.The Nationals sent infielder Kelvin Gutierrez, outfielder Blake Perkins and 17-year-old pitcher Yohanse Morel to Kansas City in the deal announced during Washington's doubleheader against the New York Yankees.Herrera has 14 saves and a 1.05 ERA this season. He's allowed three earned runs in 25 2/3 innings while striking out 22 batters and walking two."It's just a moment you don't want to see," Herrera said about leaving KC. "It's always hard. I was born and raised (as) a player here."The 28-year-old is a two-time AL All-Star who helped Kansas City win the 2015 World Series — and is among the last players left from that title team. He is 23-27 with 57 saves and a 2.75 ERA across 442 games in relief over eight seasons in the majors."We've known Kelvin since he signed... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Getting a jump on the trade deadline to add talent to the back of their bullpen, the Washington Nationals picked up right-hander Kelvin Herrera from the Kansas City Royals on Monday for three minor leaguers.The Nationals sent infielder Kelvin Gutierrez, outfielder Blake Perkins and 17-year-old pitcher Yohanse Morel to Kansas City in the deal announced during Washington's doubleheader against the New York Yankees.Herrera has 14 saves and a 1.05 ERA this season. He's allowed three earned runs in 25 2/3 innings while striking out 22 batters and walking two."It's just a moment you don't want to see," Herrera said about leaving KC. "It's always hard. I was born and raised (as) a player here."The 28-year-old is a two-time AL All-Star who helped Kansas City win the 2015 World Series — and is among the last players left from that title team. He is 23-27 with 57 saves and a 2.75 ERA across 442 games in relief over eight seasons in the majors."We've known Kelvin since he signed... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Cubs infielder Javier Baez is feeling better a day after he was hit on the left elbow by a pitch.Baez was out of the starting lineup for Chicago's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night, but he could return as soon as Tuesday. He said it's still pretty swollen, but he felt good and no X-rays were needed."I was scared for a moment but after I started feeling everything, I knew everything was good," he said.Baez got hit by Jack Flaherty in the third inning of Sunday night's 5-0 loss at St. Louis. Baez, who leads the Cubs with 14 homers, then was replaced by Addison Russell."That's a tough one right there," manager Joe Maddon said. "I've actually gone through that particular instance, and it stings and you want to throw up and it's hot, but you actually come out of it."He's a tough kid. I'm not totally surprised that he's fine. It's just an awkward spot when it happens."Baez said Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina texted him Sunday night to see if he was all right.Also Monday, the Cubs placed reliever Brian Duensing on the bereavement list and recalled left-hander Rob Zastryzny from Triple-A Iowa. Duensing's grandfather died on Saturday."He is in a better place but we miss him dearly already," Duensing posted on his Twitter account.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

WASHINGTON (AP) — Getting a jump on the trade deadline to add talent to the back of their bullpen, the Washington Nationals picked up right-hander Kelvin Herrera from the Kansas City Royals on Monday for three minor leaguers.The Nationals sent infielder Kelvin Gutierrez, outfielder Blake Perkins and 17-year-old pitcher Yohanse Morel to Kansas City in the deal announced during Washington's doubleheader against the New York Yankees.Herrera has 14 saves and a 1.05 ERA this season. He's allowed three earned runs in 25 2/3 innings while striking out 22 batters and walking two.The 28-year-old is a two-time AL All-Star who helped Kansas City win the 2015 World Series — and is among the last players left from that title team. He is 23-27 with 57 saves and a 2.75 ERA across 442 games in relief over eight seasons in the majors.Herrera joins lefty closer Sean Doolittle and eighth-inning righty Ryan Madson in the back of Washington's bullpen. Brandon Kintzler, the usual seventh-inning man for Washington,... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The last time Clayton Kershaw pitched at Wrigley Field, the ace left-hander helped lead the Los Angeles Dodgers into the World Series.It was a much different situation Monday. But still important for the Dodgers.Kershaw threw a three-inning simulated game before Los Angeles' series opener against the Chicago Cubs, taking another step forward in his recovery from a strained lower back. The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner said he felt really good and plans to pitch somewhere in four or five days, either in a minor league rehab start or for the Dodgers."It was good, very encouraged," manager Dave Roberts said. "Just the way that the ball was coming out today, the command of the fastball as good as it's been for me — and obviously this setting is not a major league game — but for me the best it's been in a month, for sure."The 30-year-old Kershaw was sidelined for nearly a month with left biceps tendinitis before returning May 31 against Philadelphia. He tossed five effective... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Right-hander Kelvin Herrera has been acquired by the Washington Nationals from the Kansas City Royals for three minor leaguers.The Nationals sent infielder Kelvin Gutierrez, outfielder Blake Perkins and right-hander Yohanse Morel to Kansas City in the deal announced Monday during Washington's doubleheader against the New York Yankees.Herrera has 14 saves and a 1.05 ERA this season. He's allowed three earned runs in 25 2/3 innings while striking out 22 batters and walking two.He is a two-time AL All-Star who helped Kansas City win the 2015 World Series. He is 23-27 with 57 saves and a 2.75 ERA across 442 games in relief over eight seasons in the majors.Herrera joins lefty closer Sean Doolittle and eighth-inning righty Ryan Madson in the back of Washington's bullpen. Brandon Kintzler, the usual seventh-inning man for Washington, went on the disabled list June 10 with a right forearm flexor strain.___More AP Baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Elvis Andrus is back in the Texas lineup after his first trip to the disabled list.Andrus, a two-time All-Star for the Rangers, was activated Monday for the series opener against the Kansas City Royals. He missed 59 games after a pitch by Kenyan Middleton broke his right elbow in an April 11 game against the Los Angeles Angels.He had been inactive for only three of the Rangers' 1,515 games since making his debut on opening day in 2009. He was suspended for a 2016 game and was on the paternity list for two games in 2017."He's never gone through this," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "He's never not played in 10 years. This is the first time."Texas went 25-34 without Andrus, who hit .327 with two home runs and five RBIs in 14 games before the injury."A guy that has played 10 consecutive years you don't replace," Banister said. "You miss everything he does and what he was able to do. He was our three-hole hitter and one of the better centerpieces of the offense.... [More]