At the All-Star break last year, Chris Sale looked as if he might pull away in the American League Cy Young race. He already had 178 strikeouts with only 22 walks.By the end of the season, of course, Sale had to settle for second place — and not a particularly close second — after Corey Kluber took the award away with a torrid second half.That's all just a roundabout way of saying that the following midseason awards aren't meant as predictions of who will actually win these in 2018. It's just a quick attempt to honor the players who have stood out so far.___AL MVPTop Contenders: Mookie Betts, Red Sox; Aaron Judge, Yankees; Francisco Lindor, Indians; Jose Ramirez, Indians; Mike Trout, AngelsThe Pick: TroutTrout leads the AL in on-base percentage, and although he's second to Betts in OPS, he's played in 19 more games than the Boston outfielder. Trout also has the lead in wins above replacement — both the Baseball-Reference and FanGraphs versions. You could put together an entire 10-man MVP... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — Thirty years ago, the Baltimore Orioles started the season 0-21, assuring themselves a place among baseball's biggest laughingstocks.This season's Orioles could turn out to be even worse.Baltimore's 10-1 loss to Minnesota on Sunday was the team's 13th in its past 14 games and dropped the Orioles to 41 games under .500. At 24-65, this year's Orioles are actually a few games behind where that dreadful 1988 team was through 89 games. That group was 29-60 — and its worst stretch was already over.The current Baltimore club has the worst record in baseball, behind even teams that entered the season with low expectations, such as the Royals and White Sox. The Orioles aren't that far removed from a postseason berth in 2016, and although they went 75-87 last year, there was still enough talent on the roster for Baltimore to believe it could compete in the AL East.In fact, that's one of the most surprising aspects of this collapse: It has happened despite the presence of stars like... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani's pinch-hit home run in the seventh inning sent Andrew Heaney and the Los Angeles Angels to a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday.Albert Pujols also went deep for the Angels, tying the score at 3 in the sixth. Justin Upton had a two-run single.Heaney (5-6) allowed only three hits and equaled a career high with 10 strikeouts in seven innings to help the Angels take two of three at home in the Freeway Series. He gave up an early three-run homer to Yasiel Puig, who later left with an oblique injury.Ohtani drove his first career pinch-hit homer a projected 443 feet to center field off reliever JT Chargois (2-2). It also was the Angels' first pinch-hit home run of the season and Ohtani's seventh in the majors.The two-way rookie star from Japan, unavailable to pitch lately because of an elbow injury, fouled a ball off his knee one day earlier and experienced soreness. Before the game, it was unclear if he would be able to come off the bench.Justin... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Tyler Mahle tossed one-run ball into the seventh inning and the Cincinnati Reds edged the Cubs 3-2 on Friday for their fifth straight victory over Chicago.Adam Duvall and Scooter Gennett drove in runs as the Reds won for the 14th time in 18 games and ended the Cubs' six-game winning streak. Billy Hamilton, Cincinnati's No. 9 hitter, had three hits and leadoff man Jose Peraza had two.Mahle (7-6) allowed five hits and struck out four over 6 2/3 innings to win his fourth straight decision. In his last seven starts, the 23-year-old right-hander has a 2.06 ERA.Raisel Iglesias, Cincinnati's third reliever, got the final five outs for his 17th save in 20 chances.Cubs starter Mike Montgomery (3-3) allowed three runs on six hits in five innings while walking two and hitting two batters.TIGERS 3, RANGERS 1DETROIT — Jordan Zimmermann denied Bartolo Colon's bid at baseball history, striking out 11 batters in eight innings as Detroit beat Texas.Colon (5-6) as trying to become the winningest... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Now that fan voting is finished, it's a good time to take a hard look at All-Star Game selections.Which players are worthy of participating July 17 in Washington, and who gets left out?Let's touch on this topic first: Shohei Ohtani is incredibly talented and fascinating to watch, but the Los Angeles Angels' two-way Japanese star simply hasn't been on the field enough to earn a spot. Not at pitcher OR designated hitter.Ohtani just returned to the lineup from an elbow injury that's knocked him off the mound for now. He's only made nine major league pitching starts, and the Angels have limited his at-bats all season due to concerns about the rookie's workload.So while it would definitely be fun to see him in baseball's summer showcase, there are several more deserving American League sluggers at DH. It wouldn't be fair to deny one of them in favor of Ohtani. And he's unavailable to pitch at this point.Let him win his invitation next season with a fully healthy and productive... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels activated two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani from the 10-day disabled list Tuesday and used him as the designated hitter in their game against the Seattle Mariners.Ohtani and his injured right elbow are only cleared to hit for now, but Los Angeles said he will be re-evaluated as a pitcher in three weeks.Ohtani received stem cell therapy and a platelet-rich plasma injection to help heal the Grade 2 sprain of his ulnar collateral ligament suffered more than three weeks ago. Ohtani was cleared for a hitting program Friday and took part in two simulated games against minor league pitchers over the weekend."We're going to see how many looks we can give him as a (designated hitter) and hopefully he'll give us a lift there," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.Ohtani went 0 for 4 in Los Angeles' 4-1 loss to the Mariners.Scioscia said there's no plan in terms of Ohtani's usage, and they'll monitor it daily."He's been cleared to swing and we will see how it all goes... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Xander Bogaerts hit a three-run homer during a six-run fifth inning, J.D. Martinez and Eduardo Nunez also went deep, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Washington Nationals 11-4 on Tuesday.Martinez drove in four and leads the majors with 26 homers and 71 RBIs. Boston has won 17 of its last 19 interleague games.Washington has lost four straight and 16 of 21 to fall to 42-42, its first time at .500 since it was 17-17.Red Sox starter Brian Johnson allowed two runs in 4 2/3 innings. Brandon Workman (1-0) pitched a perfect seventh.Nationals starter Tanner Roark (3-10) allowed a career-high nine runs in seven innings and is 1-8 with a 5.19 ERA in 12 appearances (11 starts) since May 5.YANKEES 8, BRAVES 5NEW YORK (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Hicks and Kyle Higashioka each homered and New York went ahead early and hung on to beat Atlanta.Aaron Judge had two hits and a walk, and he stole two bases for the first time in his career. Hicks also walked twice as New York drew eight... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — The Angels activated right-handed pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (right elbow) from the 10-day disabled list Tuesday and he was the designated hitter in their game against the Seattle Mariners.Ohtani received stem cell therapy and a platelet-rich plasma injection to help heal his Grade 2 sprain of his ulnar collateral ligament suffered more than three weeks ago. Ohtani was cleared for a hitting program on Friday and took part in two simulated games against minor league pitchers over the weekend."We're going to see how many looks we can give him as a (designated hitter) and hopefully he'll give us a lift there," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.Scioscia added that there's no plan in place in terms of Ohtani's usage and they'll monitor it daily."He's been cleared to swing and we will see how it all goes down," Scioscia said. "I check with my players all the time to make sure nothing is bothering them, but we don't anticipate anything as far as him swinging the bat."Ohtani... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — The Angels activated right-handed pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (right elbow) from the 10-day disabled list on Tuesday.Right-handed pitcher Miguel Almonte was also called up and right-handed pitchers Deck McGuire and Eduardo Paredes were optioned to Triple-A in corresponding moves.Ohtani received stem cell therapy and a platelet-rich plasma injection to help heal his Grade 2 sprain of his ulnar collateral ligament suffered more than three weeks ago. Ohtani was cleared for a hitting program on Friday took part in two simulated games against minor-league pitchers over the weekend.Ohtani is hitting .289 with a .907 OPS and six homers in 114 at-bats as a hitter in his rookie season.It's still unclear if Ohtani is capable of returning on the mound this year, but Angels general manager Billy Eppler has expressed the club's desire to utilize his skills as a hitter as the Angels attempt to climb back into the playoff race.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani's elbow injury has healed enough that the Los Angeles Angels' two-way star can begin a hitting program immediately.General manager Billy Eppler said Thursday that Ohtani underwent an MRI in Los Angeles that showed improvement to his ulnar collateral ligament, clearing him to take batting practice in private."That's news I was hoping to hear," Eppler said on a conference call.Ohtani was placed on the disabled list with a UCL sprain June 8. He will be re-evaluated by doctors in three weeks.Asked whether Ohtani needs Tommy John surgery that could cause him to miss the rest of this season as well as all of the 2019 season, Eppler said, "No doctor has told me that Shohei needs surgical intervention at this time."Ohtani has a Grade 2 sprain, or partial tear, of the UCL in his right elbow. In hopes of avoiding Tommy John surgery, the Angels had Ohtani's ligament injected with platelet-rich plasma and stem cells earlier this month. Eppler said he has not had additional... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani's elbow injury has healed enough that the Los Angeles Angels' two-way star can begin a hitting program.General manager Billy Eppler said Thursday that Ohtani underwent an MRI in Los Angeles that showed improvement to his ligament, clearing him to take batting practice in private.Ohtani was placed on the disabled list with a UCL sprain June 8. He will be re-evaluated by doctors in three weeks.Asked whether Ohtani needs Tommy John surgery that could cause him to miss the rest of this season as well as all of the 2019 season, Eppler says no doctor has told him that the Japanese star needs surgery at this time.If Ohtani responds well to batting practice on Thursday and Friday, Eppler said he could face live pitching this weekend.Ohtani has not been cleared to pitch as of yet.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

Spending on signing bonuses for international amateur free agents dropped 25 percent to $153 million from $203 million in the first year of restraints, which cost Japanese two-way star Shohei Ohtani more than $100 million.Spending was capped by baseball's collective bargaining agreement beginning with the signing period from last July 2 through June 15.Dominican shortstop Wander Franco received the largest bonus, $3,825,000 from Tampa Bay. Venezuelan catcher Daniel Flores was second at $3.3 million from Boston.Just five other players received bonuses of more than $2 million: Cuban outfielder Julio Pablo Martinez ($2.8 million from Texas) was third, followed by Bahamian outfielder Kristian Robinson ($2.55 million from Arizona), Dominican shortstop Luis Garcia ($2.5 million from Philadelphia), Ohtani ($2,315,000 from the Los Angeles Angels) and Dominican shortstop Rony Mauricio ($2.1 million from the New York Mets).Under the new rules, international amateurs were redefined as under 25 years... [More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Tyler Skaggs' return to the Los Angeles Angels' rotation for a makeup game against the Royals on Monday was only the start of what manager Mike Scioscia hopes is a wave of positive news.The ailing Angels, who were in Kansas City to make up a game frozen out on April 15, have seen just about everybody experience some kind of injury this season. They've ranged from the typical nicks and bumps to the strained elbow ligament that has Japanese sensation Shohei Ohtani on the shelf.The Angels had 15 players on the disabled list just over a week ago, the first time they've had that many since the stat began being tracked in 1987, and still had a dozen there when they flew into Kansas City.Skaggs was the latest to rejoin the fold after being scratched from last week's start with tightness in his hamstring. When asked who's next, Scioscia deadpanned: "We're not going to handicap it."But, the skipper added, "We have a whole team back in Southern California that works out every... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Angels two-way rookie Shohei Ohtani will be re-evaluated within the next three weeks to gauge progress in his recovery from a sprained ligament in his right elbow.Angels manager Mike Scioscia announced the slight adjustment to Ohtani's timeline Monday before his club opened an interleague series against Arizona.Scioscia also said the Angels are "very optimistic" about Ohtani's prognosis. The Japanese star has been simulating swings with a bat in his left hand and participating in strength training and running for the past three to four days. A right-handed pitcher and left-handed batter, he won't throw for at least two more weeks.Ohtani is "doing as much as he can without impacting his elbow," Scioscia said.The Angels initially said Ohtani would be re-evaluated within three weeks after his injections of platelet-rich plasma and stem cells. That procedure occurred June 7, one day after the Grade 2 sprain was discovered.Scioscia said Monday the checkup will... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Angels two-way rookie Shohei Ohtani will be re-evaluated within the next three weeks to gauge progress in his recovery from a sprained ligament in his right elbow.Angels manager Mike Scioscia announced the slight adjustment to Ohtani's timeline Monday before his club opened an interleague series against Arizona.Scioscia also said the Angels are "very optimistic" about Ohtani's prognosis. The Japanese star has been simulating swings with a bat in his left hand and participating in strength training and running for the past three to four days. A right-handed pitcher and left-handed batter, he won't throw for at least two more weeks.Ohtani is "doing as much as he can without impacting his elbow," Scioscia said.The Angels initially said Ohtani would be re-evaluated within three weeks after his injections of platelet-rich plasma and stem cells. That procedure occurred June 7, one day after the Grade 2 sprain was discovered.Scioscia said Monday the checkup will... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels lost four more players to the disabled list Friday, putting the club's total at a franchise-record 15 players on the DL at one time.Infielder Zack Cozart went on the DL with a partially dislocated left shoulder, while right-hander Jim Johnson has a lower back strain; right-hander Garrett Richards is nursing a strained left hamstring; and right-hander Nick Tropeano has inflammation in his pitching shoulder.Meanwhile, Japanese two-way star Shohei Ohtani is taking some one-handed swings as the Angels wait out his sprained elbow to be re-evaluated in a few weeks.The timeline for Richards, plagued by injuries the past two seasons that limited him to 12 total starts over 2016 and '17, to return is unclear, though manager Mike Scioscia said the injury is considered mild. "Hamstrings," he said, "they're a different animal."Richards left his Wednesday start at Seattle after two innings with tightness in the hamstring, then Cozart went down the next inning... [More]

PLAYERS TO PICK UPMIKE SOROKA (SP, Atlanta Braves, 38 percent owned in Yahoo) - Soroka returned from the disabled list Wednesday, and despite being on a pitch limit, he made the most of his return to the mound against the Mets. He allowed just one hit and one walk in 6.1 innings, while striking out four batters. He won't ever be a huge strikeout pitcher, but he should be owned in the majority of leagues as a fourth starter.WILLY ADAMES (SS, Tampa Bay Rays, 11 percent) - Adames will get every chance to earn the everyday shortstop role for the Rays. He has the upside to contribute across the board, and he should be owned in 12-team leagues with a middle infielder.MIGUEL SANO (3B, Minnesota Twins, 81 percent) - Sano is owned widely but might be at his low as a fantasy asset. The Twins shocked the baseball world by sending him to Triple-A on Thursday, as he's struggled to get it going after his 2017 All-Star season. If you have the patience and the room, now's the time to buy low on Sano, who... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:AILING ACESStar pitchers Stephen Strasburg, Masahiro Tanaka and Shohei Ohtani all had rough starts to the weekend.Strasburg had to exit after just two innings when Washington hosted the Giants because of tightness in his pitching shoulder. The Nats said the right-hander also had shoulder inflammation and would have an MRI.Tanaka was forced to leave with hamstring problems after sprinting to score his first major league run in the New York Yankees' win over the Mets. He was hurt when he raced home on Aaron Judge's sacrifice fly at Citi Field.Ohtani was put on the disabled list by the Los Angeles Angels with a sprained ligament in his pitching elbow. The team said the two-way Japanese sensation will be out at least three weeks.A CAPITAL IDEAWashington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is set to throw out the first pitch at Nationals Park, two days after leading the club to its first Stanley Cup championship. Ovechkin won the Conn Smythe Trophy... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Shohei Ohtani was put on the disabled list by the Los Angeles Angels with a sprained ligament in his pitching elbow Friday, an ominous injury that will be re-evaluated in three weeks and brought the two-way Japanese sensation's remarkable rookie season to at least a temporary halt.The Angels said Ohtani's right ulnar collateral ligament has a Grade 2 sprain, which typically indicates some degree of damage but not a complete tear. His injury doesn't always require surgery, while Grade 3 sprains are usually repaired by the Tommy John ligament replacement procedure that takes a year or more to recover from. For all the benefits the Angels have reaped from his nine turns on the mound and 30 starts as the designated hitter, the next feat for Ohtani will be to avoid Tommy John surgery."We're hopeful that he can," general manager Billy Eppler said, "that this is completely treatable with the biologic prescription that the doctors recommend."Ohtani, who will turn 24 next month,... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Saturday:AILING ACESStar pitchers Stephen Strasburg, Masahiro Tanaka and Shohei Ohtani all had a rough start to the weekend.Strasburg had to exit after just two innings when Washington hosted the Giants because of tightness in his pitching shoulder. The Nats said the right-hander also had shoulder inflammation and would have an MRI.Tanaka was forced to leave with hamstring problems after sprinting to score his first major league run in the New York Yankees' win over the Mets. He raced home on Aaron Judge's sacrifice fly at Citi Field.Ohtani was put on the disabled list by the Los Angeles Angels with a sprained ligament in his pitching elbow. The team said the two-way Japanese sensation will be out at least three weeks.A CAPITAL IDEAWashington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is set to throw out the first pitch at Nationals Park, two days after leading the club to its first Stanley Cup championship. Ovechkin won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff... [More]