TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — New York Yankees pitcher James Paxton still has discomfort in his ailing left knee, and shortstop Didi Gregorius planned to start a minor league injury rehabilitation assignment that Saturday that has him returning to the big league team by mid-June.Paxton allowed one hit in four innings and struck out seven against Detroit in extended spring training Friday. He has not pitched for the Yankees since May 3."I felt it a little bit, but I still was able to make my pitches, which is what I wanted to see," Paxton said.Paxton had a cortisone shot on May 4."If I come in tomorrow with more pain than I had walking in today, then we'll have to do something," Paxton added. "But, if I come in tomorrow and it feels the same as it did walking in today, then that's just how I'm going to have to pitch for right now."Paxton threw 42 of 55 pitches for strikes."I executed pretty well," Paxton said. "I was able to get my fastball inside."The 30-year-old left-hander, 3-2 with a 3.11 ERA in... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — New York Yankees pitcher James Paxton still has discomfort in his ailing left knee, and shortstop Didi Gregorius planned to start a minor league injury rehabilitation assignment that Saturday that has him returning to the big league team by mid-June.Paxton allowed one hit in four innings and struck out seven against Detroit in extended spring training Friday. He has not pitched for the Yankees since June 3."I felt it a little bit, but I still was able to make my pitches, which is what I wanted to see," Paxton said.Paxton had a cortisone shot on June 4."If I come in tomorrow with more pain than I had walking in today, then we'll have to do something," Paxton added. "But, if I come in tomorrow and it feels the same as it did walking in today, then that's just how I'm going to have to pitch for right now."Paxton threw 42 of 55 pitches for strikes."I executed pretty well," Paxton said. "I was able to get my fastball inside."The 30-year-old left-hander, 3-2 with a 3.11 ERA... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:MARLINS ON THE MOVESomething unexpected is happening with the baseball team in Miami. The Marlins are actually winning some games.Miami (16-31) has won six straight, capped by Garrett Cooper's two-out grand slam in the ninth inning to beat Detroit on Thursday. There might be a chance for the Marlins to take the streak even further: The next four games at Washington against the struggling Nationals, who have lost five in a row under manager Dave Martinez.Miami still probably won't be a playoff contender anytime soon, but the wins have to be an encouraging sign for team CEO Derek Jeter, who has made known he believes the club is underachieving. The winning streak has come right after a seven-game skid that saddled the Marlins with the worst record in the majors."Just as bad as it looks one day, it looks great six days later," manager Don Mattingly said.SALE VS. ASTROS, PART IIRed Sox ace Chris Sale gets his second crack in a week at facing... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Friday:MARLINS ON THE MOVESomething unexpected is happening with the baseball team in Miami. The Marlins are actually winning some games.Miami (16-31) has won six straight, capped by Garrett Cooper's two-out grand slam in the ninth inning to beat Detroit on Thursday. There might be a chance for the Marlins to take the streak even further: The next four games at Washington against the struggling Nationals, who have lost five in a row under manager Dave Martinez.Miami still probably won't be a playoff contender anytime soon, but the wins have to be an encouraging sign for team CEO Derek Jeter, who has made known he believes the club is underachieving. The winning streak has come right after a seven-game skid that saddled the Marlins with the worst record in the majors."Just as bad as it looks one day, it looks great six days later," manager Don Mattingly said.SALE VS. ASTROS, PART IIRed Sox ace Chris Sale gets his second crack in a week at facing... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The hard cast is off Corey Kluber's broken right arm, providing a dose of positive news for the struggling Indians.Kluber, who may be months away from pitching in a game for Cleveland, said Thursday that he felt relief in having the cast protecting his broken arm removed after a few weeks."I can do a little bit more," said Kluber. "So that's good."The two-time Cy Young winner underwent imaging texts, which showed that his ulna is mending properly."He got what we were expecting," manager Terry Francona said before the opener of a four-game series with Tampa Bay. Francona said the team's medical staff told him Kluber had "expected healing. So, he gets that cast off and he can start doing range of motion. And in two weeks he will be re-examined."The right-hander broke his arm when he was struck flush by a line drive hit by Miami's Brian Anderson on May 1. At the time, the Indians said surgery wasn't needed, and it appears Kluber will be able to avoid an operation.Still, it's... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Indians ace Corey Kluber had the hard cast protecting his broken right arm removed and the two-time Cy Young winner is healing as hoped.Kluber underwent imaging texts Thursday, which showed that his ulna is mending properly. Cleveland manager Terry Francona said Kluber can begin range of motion and that he will be re-examined in two weeks.The right-hander broke his arm when he was struck flush by a line drive hit by Miami's Brian Anderson on May 1. At the time, the Indians said surgery wasn't needed, and Francona said the medical staff told him Kluber was having "expected healing."Kluber has been fitted with a protective brace. He said it was a relief to have the cast off and is excited that he "can do a lot more now."The 33-year-old ran sprints in the outfield before the series opener against Tampa Bay.Kluber won 20 games last season and at least 18 in each of the past three seasons. He is 2-3 with a 5.80 ERA in seven starts this year.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Dave Martinez's theatrical exit brought life to Washington's bats Thursday, sparking a late rally against the New York Mets.Nothing seems to be able to solve the club's bullpen woes, though, and that has the Nationals' second-year manager working from a wobbly seat.Martinez was ejected in the eighth inning of a 6-4 loss to the New York Mets, making quite a scene at the onset of a three-run, eighth-inning comeback by the Nats that was undone by yet another blown save.Plate umpire Bruce Dreckman rang up Washington's Howie Kendrick for a strikeout as he tried to check his swing, then tossed the veteran player. Martinez charged from the dugout, spiked his hat and kicked dirt on home plate during an extended, heated argument."I just didn't think he swung," Martinez said. "We just got into it. All I did was tell him to ask for help. That's why the first base umpire is there. He didn't like it."Washington trailed 3-1 at the time and had already lost four in a row. Immediately after... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets say slugger Yoenis Cespedes is expected to miss the entire season after having ankle surgery.The Mets said the 33-year-old Cespedes had the operation on Thursday.The team announced Monday that the oft-injured outfielder had broken his right ankle in an accident on his ranch.Cespedes hadn't played this season while recovering from surgery on both heels. The two-time All-Star played just 38 games last year.Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said this week the team was told Saturday night that Cespedes sustained multiple ankle fractures on his ranch in Port St. Lucie, Florida, where the club's spring training complex is located.

NEW YORK (AP) — Washington manager Dave Martinez was ejected in the eighth inning of a game against the New York Mets and didn't leave until making quite a scene.Plate umpire Bruce Dreckman rang up Washington's Howie Kendrick for a strikeout as he tried to check his swing Thursday, then tossed the veteran player. Martinez charged from the dugout, spiked his hat and kicked dirt on home plate during an extended, heated argument.Washington trailed 3-1 at the time and had already lost four in a row. Immediately after Martinez got ejected, the Nationals rallied for three runs.After starting the season with postseason aspirations, the Nats entered the game 19-30, a record better than only the Miami Marlins, Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Royals.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BALTIMORE (AP) — CC Sabathia's ailing right knee landed him on the 10-day injured list Thursday, although the New York Yankees don't expect the star lefty to be sidelined for long.Sabathia has right knee inflammation, a problem he's been dealing with for a long time."This is something we know we're going to face at different times throughout the year with CC," manager Aaron Boone said, "so hopefully it's just something that we can knock out quickly and hopefully just miss a turn."Sabathia pitched five innings against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night and complained about knee soreness after allowing five runs and six hits."It's just hard to land," he said. "It's like a shooting pain goes through every time that I land. So it makes it hard to finish my pitches."The 38-year-old Sabathia said he started feeling knee pain "a few starts ago" but was hopeful a cortisone shot and a few days rest would keep him off the IL."I'll probably take some time just to get the medicine in there and... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia has been placed on the 10-day injured list with right knee inflammation.The team announced it Thursday before the finale of the four-game series against the Baltimore Orioles. Sabathia pitched five innings against on Wednesday night and complained about knee soreness afterward.He earned the victory despite allowing five runs and six hits. After the game, the 38-year-old Sabathia described it as "a shooting pain goes through every time that I land."Sabathia has started eight games, going 3-1 with a 3.48 ERA, striking out 34 in 41 1/3 innings.He joins a list of prominent Yankees on the IL, including Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Didi Gregorius, Dellin Betances and Troy Tulowitzki.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

A look at what's happening around the majors today:AILINGThe Mets will check Robinson Canó, a day after he left the game against Washington because of tightness in his left quadriceps.Canó appeared to hurt the leg while running to first base when he grounded out in the third inning. The 36-year-old second baseman is batting .241 with three homers and 13 RBIs. The eight-time All-Star was acquired by New York from Seattle in December.Twice last weekend Canó failed to run out grounders in Miami, both of them resulting in double plays.MISSING MARTINEZBoston star J.D. Martinez wasn't in the lineup for Wednesday's game at Toronto because of a sore back and manager Alex Cora says the slugger is unlikely to play again until Friday.Cora said he was hesitant to play Martinez in the series finale, citing the artificial surface and the early afternoon start. The Red Sox will certainly miss Martinez's presence in the lineup, but the Blue Jays will not — he has 13 home runs and 41 RBIs in 40 career games... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Very little has slowed the Minnesota Twins of late. A rare Southern California rain shower did the trick Wednesday night.The Twins had their series finale against the Los Angeles Angels postponed because of weather and unplayable field conditions. It has been rescheduled for Thursday.It is only the third postponement at Angel Stadium since 1995 and the 12th since the stadium opened in 1966. The last postponement occurred on July 19, 2015, against Boston.Minnesota is 31-16 and has a seven-game lead over Cleveland in the AL Central, which is the earliest it has been up that much in the division. The previous earliest was June 24, 2002, when they were seven games ahead of the Chicago White Sox.The Twins — who haven't won a division title since 2010 — have taken five of six on this road trip and are trying to get a sweep in Anaheim for the first time since 1996.Manager Rocco Baldelli wasn't thrilled with the decision to postpone the game, but he also said he realized... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The series finale between the Minnesota Twins and the Los Angeles Angels has been postponed because of weather and rescheduled for Thursday.It rained at Angel Stadium two hours before Wednesday's game, causing puddles to form in both left and right field. The grounds crew worked for over an hour to remove water from the outfield, but conditions remained unplayable.It is only the third postponement at Angel Stadium since 1995 and the 12th since the stadium opened in 1966. The last postponement occurred on July 19, 2015, against Boston.Martín Pérez (6-1) had been scheduled to start for Minnesota against Los Angeles' Matt Harvey (2-3).The Twins have won five of six on their road trip. The Angels have dropped three straight after winning the first two on their homestand.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

HOUSTON (AP) — The Chicago White Sox have turned a triple play against the Houston Astros.It came in the third inning Wednesday night with runners on first and second. Jake Marisnick hit a grounder down the line to third baseman Yoan Moncada, who stepped on the base for the first out. He threw to Yolmer Sanchez at second, and Sanchez threw it to Jose Abreu at first, where the ball just beat Marisnick.It was the first triple play in the majors this season and Chicago's first since July 8, 2016, against Atlanta. Houston last hit into a triple play on April 19, 2018, against the Mariners.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

A look at what's happening around the majors Thursday:AILINGThe Mets will check Robinson Canó, a day after he left the game against Washington because of tightness in his left quadriceps.Canó appeared to hurt the leg while running to first base when he grounded out in the third inning. The 36-year-old second baseman is batting .241 with three homers and 13 RBIs. The eight-time All-Star was acquired by New York from Seattle in December.Twice last weekend Canó failed to run out grounders in Miami, both of them resulting in double plays.MISSING MARTINEZBoston star J.D. Martinez wasn't in the lineup for Wednesday's game at Toronto because of a sore back and manager Alex Cora says the slugger is unlikely to play again until Friday.Cora said he was hesitant to play Martinez in the series finale, citing the artificial surface and the early afternoon start. The Red Sox will certainly miss Martinez's presence in the lineup, but the Blue Jays will not — he has 13 home runs and 41 RBIs in 40 career... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Switching into stretch-run mode even before Memorial Day, the New York Mets will start using All-Star closer Edwin Díaz more often in the eighth inning.New York began Wednesday with a 22-25 record, 5½ games back of NL East-leading Philadelphia. Manager Mickey Callaway said he was willing to go against the trend of limiting closers to three outs in most situations."We're doing this earlier than we would like, but you might see Díaz for four outs," Callaway said. "If we're not going to be where we want to be at this point, how can we expect to be there and hold off on doing that with Díaz? So we got to win some games. We're going to approach this like it's the playoffs because we feel like we need to."Callaway announced the decision shortly before the Mets made a series of roster moves. They placed outfielder Brandon Nimmo on the 10-day injured list because of a stiff neck, a move retroactive to Tuesday, selected the contract of 38-year-old outfielder Rajai Davis from Triple-A... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Switching into stretch-run mode even before Memorial Day, the New York Mets will start using All-Star closer Edwin Díaz more often in the eighth inning.New York began Wednesday with a 22-25 record, 5½ games back of NL East-leading Philadelphia. Manager Mickey Callaway said he was willing to go against the trend of limiting closers to three outs in most situations."We're doing this earlier than we would like, but you might see Díaz for four outs," Callaway said. "If we're not going to be where we want to be at this point, how can we expect to be there and hold off on doing that with Díaz? So we got to win some games. We're going to approach this like it's the playoffs because we feel like we need to."Callaway announced the decision shortly before the Mets made a series of roster moves. They placed outfielder Brandon Nimmo on the 10-day disabled list because of a stiff neck, a move retroactive to Tuesday, selected the contract of outfielder Rajai Davis from Triple-A Syracuse... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The New York Yankees will have to wait a little longer for the return of the Giancarlo Stanton.The outfielder took a step back in his return from arm injuries and won't play in any rehabilitation games for seven to 10 days because of left calf tightness.Shortstop Didi Gregorius moved ahead toward a mid-June return when he went 1 for 3 with a walk as the designated hitter in an extended spring training game Wednesday after taking one day off due to dehydration.Stanton hasn't played for the Yankees since March 31 due to a strained left biceps and then a strained left shoulder. He went 1 for 3 with a home run and two strikeouts for Class A Tampa on Monday night, then was scratched from the lineup Tuesday.New York said Wednesday he had been returned from his injury rehabilitation assignment."There's a little bit of soreness in there," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said in Baltimore on Wednesday. "Just being cautious with it yesterday. He does have a strain in there so we'll... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — The Orioles bolstered their outfield defense by acquiring Keon Broxton from the New York Mets on Wednesday for $500,000 in 2019-20 international signing bonus pool allotment.Broxton was designated for assignment last week by the Mets after batting .143 in 34 games with no homers and two RBIs. The Orioles, however, like the idea of having his glove in center field after experimenting with rookie Stevie Wilkerson over the past month."He has speed, excellent center field ability, he's got some raw power," general manager Mike Elias said of Broxton on Wednesday. "We're trying some different things in center field and we wanted to give him a look and hopefully give him a little bit more extended time than he's had."In five years with Milwaukee, Pittsburgh and the Mets, the 29-year-old Broxton has a .216 average with 33 homers and 81 RBIs. His best season was in 2017, when he hit 20 homers in 143 games with the Brewers."He's a really athletic guy. His tools are off the charts,"... [More]