NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani likely will rejoin the Los Angeles Angel's rotation next week.The 23-year-old rookie, the first two-way player in the major leagues in decades, was on track to start Sunday at Yankee Stadium against countryman Masahiro Tanaka, but the Angels said Thursday that Ohtani will miss the turn as part of workload management."We will wait and see as we get direction from our medical staff and Billy Eppler on when Shohei will be folded back into the rotation," manager Mike Scioscia said Friday, referring to general manager Billy Eppler. "Then he'll throw a light bullpen, then he'll throw a heavier bullpen and then we'll get an idea of when he's ready. But I'm sure it's going to be this next week sometime."Ohtani last pitched Sunday against Tampa Bay, winning his second straight decision and giving up two runs and six hits in a season-high 7 2/3 innings. His 110 pitches were also a season high.Ohtani is 4-1 with a 3.35 ERA in seven starts and is batting .309 with six homers and 19 RBIs in 28 games as a designated hitter. He was 0 for 3 with a walk in Friday's 2-1 loss, hitting an inning-ending groundout against Aroldis Chapman with the potential tying run on second base in the eighth.He had wanted to be on the mound Sunday."Personally, I was looking forward to it, not just pitching against Tanaka but pitching in Yankee Stadium," Ohtani said through a translator. "But it is what it is."___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

NEW YORK (AP) — Gleyber Torres became the youngest American League player to homer in four straight games, Aaron Judge threw out a pair of runners from right field and the New York Yankees beat the Los Angeles Angels 2-1 on Friday night.Shohei Ohtani, the two-way Japanese rookie sensation, came up with the potential tying run on base and two outs in the eighth. New York brought in closer Aroldis Chapman to face Ohtani with Justin Upton at first. Chapman threw a wild pitch that advanced the runner, Ohtani sent a 100 mph pitch just foul of the left-field pole, then grounded out on a 101 mph offering.Mike Trout tied the score in the fifth for Los Angeles with his 16th homer.Torres drove in New York's first run with an infield hit in the second. He broke a 1-all tie in the seventh against Jim Johnson (2-2) with a drive over the right-field scoreboard, his ninth homer since coming up to the Yankees on April 22 and his fifth in four games. At 21 years, 163 days, he became the fourth-youngest... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Gleyber Torres became the youngest American League player to homer in four straight games, Aaron Judge threw out a pair of runners from right field and the New York Yankees beat the Los Angeles Angels 2-1 on Friday night.Shohei Ohtani, the two-way Japanese rookie sensation, came up with the potential tying run on base and two outs in the eighth. New York brought in closer Aroldis Chapman to face Ohtani with Justin Upton at first. Chapman threw a wild pitch that advanced the runner, Ohtani sent a 100 mph pitch just foul of the left-field pole, then grounded out on a 101 mph offering.Mike Trout tied the score in the fifth for Los Angeles with his 16th homer.Torres drove in New York's first run with an infield hit in the second. He broke a 1-all tie in the seventh against Jim Johnson (2-2) with a drive over the right-field scoreboard, his ninth homer since coming up to the Yankees on April 22 and his fifth in four games. At 21 years, 163 days, he became the fourth-youngest... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Gleyber Torres became the youngest American League player to homer in four straight games, Aaron Judge threw out a pair of runners from right field and the New York Yankees beat the Los Angeles Angels 2-1 on Friday night.Shohei Ohtani, the two-way Japanese rookie sensation, came up with the potential tying run on base and two outs in the eighth. New York brought in closer Aroldis Chapman to face Ohtani with Justin Upton at first. Chapman threw a wild pitch that advanced the runner, Ohtani sent a 100 mph pitch just foul of the left-field pole, then grounded out on a 101 mph offering.Mike Trout tied the score in the fifth for Los Angeles with his 16th homer.Torres drove in New York's first run with an infield hit in the second. He broke a 1-all tie in the seventh against Jim Johnson (2-2) with a drive over the right-field scoreboard, his ninth homer since coming up to the Yankees on April 22 and his fifth in four games. At 21 years, 163 days, he became the fourth-youngest... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani likely will rejoin the Los Angeles Angel's rotation next week.The 23-year-old rookie, the first two-way player in the major leagues in decades, was on track to start Sunday at Yankee Stadium against countryman Masahiro Tanaka, but the Angels said Thursday that Ohtani will miss the turn as part of workload management."We will wait and see as we get direction from our medical staff and Billy Eppler on when Shohei will be folded back into the rotation," manager Mike Scioscia said Friday, referring to general manager Billy Eppler. "Then he'll throw a light bullpen, then he'll throw a heavier bullpen and then we'll get an idea of when he's ready. But I'm sure it's going to be this next week sometime."Ohtani last pitched Sunday against Tampa Bay, winning his second straight decision and giving up two runs and six hits in a season-high 7 2/3 innings. His 110 pitches were also a season high.Ohtani is 4-1 with a 3.35 ERA in seven starts and entered Friday batting .319 with six homers and 19 RBIs in 27 games as a designated hitter.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

CLEVELAND (AP) — Charlie Morton remained unbeaten this season with six solid innings, Alex Bregman and Jake Marisnick hit three-run homers and the Houston Astros defeated the Cleveland Indians 8-2 on Thursday night.Morton (7-0) allowed two runs and five hits while extending his career-best winning streak to 10 games. The right-hander, who moved into a tie for the AL lead in wins, hasn't lost since Sept. 9, 2017, against Oakland. He walked three and struck out five.Morton fell behind after Michael Brantley's two-run single in the third, but his offense gave him plenty of support. Houston scored three runs in the fifth and added five in the sixth to put the game away.Mike Clevinger (3-2) opened with four scoreless innings, but couldn't hold a 2-0 lead in the fifth. Bregman capped the inning with his fifth homer over the 19-foot high wall in left field that put Houston ahead. He added an RBI double in the sixth.ORIOLES 9, WHITE SOX 3CHICAGO (AP) — Dylan Bundy struck out a career-high 14 and... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Charlie Morton remained unbeaten this season with six solid innings, Alex Bregman and Jake Marisnick hit three-run homers and the Houston Astros defeated the Cleveland Indians 8-2 on Thursday night.Morton (7-0) allowed two runs and five hits while extending his career-best winning streak to 10 games. The right-hander, who moved into a tie for the AL lead in wins, hasn't lost since Sept. 9, 2017, against Oakland. He walked three and struck out five.Morton fell behind after Michael Brantley's two-run single in the third, but his offense gave him plenty of support. Houston scored three runs in the fifth and added five in the sixth to put the game away.Mike Clevinger (3-2) opened with four scoreless innings, but couldn't hold a 2-0 lead in the fifth. Bregman capped the inning with his fifth homer over the 19-foot high wall in left field that put Houston ahead. He added an RBI double in the sixth.ORIOLES 9, WHITE SOX 3CHICAGO (AP) — Dylan Bundy struck out a career-high 14 and... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Dylan Bundy struck out a career-high 14 and pitched a two-hitter for his second complete game in the majors, helping the Baltimore Orioles beat the Chicago White Sox 9-3 on Thursday.Adam Jones and Trey Mancini hit solo home runs as Baltimore took a 9-0 lead after three innings. Jones and Manny Machado each had three hits, and Chance Sisco drove in three runs for the last-place Orioles. They won for just the third time in nine games and improved to 6-21 on the road.Jose Rondon hit a three-run homer with two outs in the fourth for the first hit off Bundy. It was Rondon's second career homer and second in two days.Earlier in the day, White Sox catcher Welington Castillo was suspended for 80 games by Major League Baseball following a positive test for a performance-enhancing substance. The commissioner's office cited use of Erythropoietin (EPO).Bundy (3-6) had been roughed up in losing four of five previous starts, but sparkled once again in an afternoon contest. The 25-year-old... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels are pushing back Shohei Ohtani's next outing as a starting pitcher to manage the workload of the two-way rookie, meaning he'll miss a much-anticipated showdown at Yankee Stadium against Masahiro Tanaka.Angels manager Mike Scioscia made the announcement before Thursday's 8-1 win over the Blue Jays.Ohtani is 4-1 with a 3.35 ERA in seven starts. The 23-year-old had been scheduled to pitch against his Japanese countryman on Sunday — Scioscia said Ohtani will be available to hit against Tanaka.Ohtani said he didn't mind missing out on the chance to pitch against Tanaka."Not so disappointed because I have a pretty good chance of facing him as a hitter," Ohtani said through a translator after the Angels' 8-1 win. "Either way, I'll get to face him."The Angels haven't set a date for Ohtani's next outing.Ohtani last pitched May 20 against Tampa Bay, winning his second straight decision and giving up two runs and six hits in a season-high 7 2/3 innings. The right-hander... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels are pushing back Shohei Ohtani's next outing as a starting pitcher to manage the workload of the two-way rookie.Angels manager Mike Scioscia made the announcement Thursday.Ohtani is 4-1 with a 3.35 ERA in seven starts. He had been scheduled to pitch against fellow Japanese right-hander Masahiro Tanaka at Yankee Stadium on Sunday. Scioscia said Ohtani will be available to hit against Tanaka.The Angels haven't set a date for Ohtani's next outing.Ohtani last pitched May 20 against Tampa Bay, winning his second straight decision and giving up two runs and six hits in a season-high 7 2/3 innings. His 110 pitches were also a season-high.Ohtani has started at designated hitter the past two games, hitting a tying two-run single in the ninth inning of Wednesday's 5-4 win over the Blue Jays. He's the DH again in Thursday's afternoon finale.In 26 games as a DH this season, Ohtani is batting .308 with six home runs and 19 RBIs.

HOUSTON (AP) — Justin Verlander got some run support for the first time in nearly a month and led the Houston Astros over the San Francisco Giants 4-1 on Wednesday.Verlander (6-2) struck out nine and walked one in six innings, allowing one run and three hits as his major league-leading ERA rose slightly to 1.08. He had given up just three runs over 29 innings during his previous four starts, but the Astros had scored just three runs in that span, getting shut out twice.Ken Giles pitched the ninth to remain perfect in nine save chances.George Springer hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the fifth on a 93 mph fastball from Jeff Samardzija (1-3), driving the ball off the facade above the left-field seats. Carlos Correa added an RBI single later in the inning.INDIANS 1, CUBS 0CHICAGO (AP) — Adam Plutko carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning and Andrew Miller provided stellar relief work, helping Cleveland beat Chicago.Plutko (2-0) struck out four and walked four in his second major league... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani struck out nine while throwing 7 2/3 innings of excellent six-hit ball in his seventh career start, and the Los Angeles Angels snapped their five-game skid with a 5-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.Martin Maldonado homered and drove in two runs, and Zack Cozart drove in two more runs on sacrifice flies as the Angels wrapped up a disappointing 11-game homestand with only four victories — including both games started by Ohtani (4-1).Los Angeles' rookie two-way sensation had another strong outing in the longest start of his stateside career. Ohtani retired 12 straight Rays after yielding rookie Johnny Field's homer leading off the third. Blake Parker pitched the ninth for his second save.While Ohtani threw 110 pitches, reliever Sergio Romo started for Tampa Bay for the second consecutive day. He faced the Angels' first six batters and got four outs while becoming the first pitcher in 38 years to last at least one inning in back-to-back starts.... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani struck out nine while throwing 7 2/3 innings of excellent six-hit ball in his seventh career start, and the Los Angeles Angels snapped their five-game skid with a 5-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.Martin Maldonado homered and drove in two runs, and Zack Cozart drove in two more runs on sacrifice flies as the Angels wrapped up a disappointing 11-game homestand with only four victories — including both games started by Ohtani (4-1).Los Angeles' rookie two-way sensation had another strong outing in the longest start of his stateside career. Ohtani retired 12 straight Rays after yielding rookie Johnny Field's homer leading off the third. Blake Parker pitched the ninth for his second save.While Ohtani threw 110 pitches, reliever Sergio Romo started for Tampa Bay for the second consecutive day. He faced the Angels' first six batters and got four outs while becoming the first pitcher in 38 years to last at least one inning in back-to-back starts.... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:OHTANI TIMEAngels two-way star Shohei Ohtani pitches at home against Tampa Bay. He's 3-1 with a 3.58 ERA in six starts, and struck out 11 Twins in his last outing. The 23-year-old rookie is hitting .321 with six home runs and 17 RBIs in 84 at-bats.STARTING A NEW TREND?Veteran reliever Sergio Romo, who made his first big league start Saturday night, will start for the second straight day for Tampa Bay. It's an unusual move by manager Kevin Cash, who liked the idea of the righty Romo going against the Angels' right-handed hitters at the top of the lineup this weekend. The bold experiment paid off big-time when Romo struck out Zack Cozart, Mike Trout and Justin Upton on 18 pitches to begin the bottom of the first at Anaheim.That was the only inning Romo pitched after 588 relief appearances in a row. Cash says Romo will throw one or two innings in his return as a starter.NOT AGAINThe Dodgers will see how Rich Hill is feeling, a day after the... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — David Price took a shutout into the ninth inning and held Baltimore to five hits in his first complete game this season, leading the Boston Red Sox past the Orioles 6-2 on Thursday night.J.D. Martinez hit a two-run homer in the first, and Xander Bogaerts homered with two on during a four-run fifth.Price (4-4) struck out eight and didn't walk a batter while winning consecutive starts for the first time this season. Andrew Susac led off the ninth with a double, the first Baltimore player to reach second base in the game. Manny Machado spoiled the shutout bid with a two-out homer, but Price finished off Baltimore on Jonathan Schoop's pop-up.Kevin Gausman (3-3) went 4 2-3 innings for Baltimore, allowing six runs and eight hits while striking out six and walking two.DODGERS 7, MARLINS 0MIAMI (AP) — Justin Turner tied a career high with five RBIs and Kenta Maeda pitched eight sharp innings to help the Los Angeles Dodgers snap a six-game losing streak by beating the Marlins.Turner,... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Home plate umpire Fieldin Culbreth has left the Los Angeles Angels' game against the Houston Astros after a foul ball from Shohei Ohtani hit him in the mask.Culbreth left in the third inning Tuesday night.Ohtani's foul off a 99-mph fastball from Gerrit Cole made an audible hit on the mask of Culbreth, who was visibly shaken. Culbreth grabbed on to Houston catcher Brian McCann, and the Angels' training staff immediately came out to help.Culbreth eventually walked off the field. The 55-year-old ump has been in the majors since 1993, appearing in two World Series and calling many playoff games.CB Bucknor moved from second base to replace Culbreth behind the plate. Los Angeles led Houston 2-0.___More AP baseball: www.apnews.com/tags/MLBbaseball

A look at what's happening around the majors today:BLAH BLAH LANDThe struggling Dodgers (16-24) hope to jumpstart their season with a series against the lowly Marlins in Miami. Of course, Los Angeles was thinking the same heading into a weekend set against last-place Cincinnati, then the Reds pushed the Dodgers around in a four-game sweep. It was the first time LA was swept over four games by a team with a .300 or worse winning percentage since the Padres did it in 1969, per the Elias Sports Bureau. Alex Wood (0-3, 3.60) tries to end the Dodgers' skid at four in a start against Wei-Yin Chen (1-2, 10.22).POLLOCK PROBLEMArizona center fielder A.J. Pollock is set to see a hand specialist after spraining his left thumb diving for a ball Monday. The slumping Diamondbacks lost their sixth straight shortly after Pollock was pulled, and they'll have a hard time getting on track without him. He leads the club with a .293 average, 44 hits, 11 home runs and 33 RBIs. An All-Star in 2015, Pollock played... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Tuesday:BLAH BLAH LANDThe struggling Dodgers (16-24) hope to jumpstart their season with a series against the lowly Marlins in Miami. Of course, Los Angeles was thinking the same heading into a weekend set against last-place Cincinnati, then the Reds pushed the Dodgers around in a four-game sweep. It was the first time LA was swept over four games by a team with a .300 or worse winning percentage since the Padres did it in 1969, per the Elias Sports Bureau. Alex Wood (0-3, 3.60) tries to end the Dodgers' skid at four in a start against Wei-Yin Chen (1-2, 10.22).YU GOOD?Yu Darvish pitches against the Braves aiming for his first victory since signing a $126 million, six-year contract with the Cubs in the offseason. Darvish (0-3, 6.00 ERA) is returning from the disabled list after fighting off a virus and hasn't pitched since allowing three homers and six runs in a loss to Colorado on May 2. The teams are playing in Atlanta a day after a 6-5 Braves'... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Tuesday:BLAH BLAH LANDThe struggling Dodgers (16-24) hope to jumpstart their season with a series against the lowly Marlins in Miami. Of course, Los Angeles was thinking the same heading into a weekend set against last-place Cincinnati, then the Reds pushed the Dodgers around in a four-game sweep. It was the first time LA was swept over four games by a team with a .300 or worse winning percentage since the Padres did it in 1969, per the Elias Sports Bureau. Alex Wood (0-3, 3.60) tries to end the Dodgers' skid at four in a start against Wei-Yin Chen (1-2, 10.22).YU GOOD?Yu Darvish pitches against the Braves aiming for his first victory since signing a $126 million, six-year contract with the Cubs in the offseason. Darvish (0-3, 6.00 ERA) is returning from the disabled list after fighting off a virus and hasn't pitched since allowing three homers and six runs in a loss to Colorado on May 2. The teams are playing in Atlanta a day after a 6-5 Braves'... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — J.D. Martinez hit a tiebreaking home run against Dellin Betances (1-2) leading off the eighth inning, just beyond Aaron Judge's reach at the right-field wall, and the Boston Red Sox rebounded after wasting a four-run lead to beat New York 5-4 Thursday night and send the Yankees to only their second loss in 19 games.In another dramatic game before a sellout crowd, Boston moved back into a tie with the Yankees for the AL East lead at 26-11, the best record in the major leagues. The rivals don't meet again until June 29 in the Bronx.Boston built a 4-0 lead against CC Sabathia as Hanley Ramirez drove in three runs with an RBI groundout in the first, an RBI single in a two-run third and a solo homer in the fifth just before a 55-minute rain delay. But the Yankees tied the score in the seventh.Joe Kelly (2-0) got the win and Craig Kimbrel closed for his 10th save in 12 chances.Mookie Betts had three hits, raising his batting average to a major league-leading .361.New York had... [More]