ATLANTA (AP) — Trying to fill another injury hole with a trade, the Atlanta Braves acquired veteran catcher Stephen Vogt from the Arizona Diamondbacks late Friday night for minor league first baseman Mason Berne. The 36-year-old Vogt, a two-time All-Star with Oakland, batted .212 with five homers and 17 RBIs in 52 games for the major league-worst Diamondbacks this season. He has thrown out 10 of 30 runners attempting to steal. The move came one night after the depleted Braves obtained Joc Pederson in a trade with the Chicago Cubs, bolstering their outfield after recently losing star slugger Ronald Acuña Jr. to a season-ending knee injury. Atlanta, hoping to chase down the New York Mets and win its fourth straight NL East title, has struggled to replace injured catcher Travis d'Arnaud with the likes of Kevan Smith, William Contreras and Jonathan Lucroy. Following a big 2020 season, d'Arnaud has played only 23 games this year and is on the 60-day injured list with torn ligaments in his left... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Trying to fill another injury hole with a trade, the Atlanta Braves acquired veteran catcher Stephen Vogt from the Arizona Diamondbacks late Friday night for minor league first baseman Mason Berne. The 36-year-old Vogt, a two-time All-Star with Oakland, batted .212 with five homers and 17 RBIs in 52 games for the major league-worst Diamondbacks this season. He has thrown out 10 of 30 runners attempting to steal. The move came one night after the Braves obtained Joc Pederson in a trade with the Chicago Cubs, bolstering their outfield after recently losing star slugger Ronald Acuña Jr. to a season-ending knee injury. Atlanta, hoping to chase down the New York Mets and win its fourth straight NL East title, has struggled to replace injured catcher Travis d'Arnaud this year with the likes of Kevan Smith, William Contreras and Jonathan Lucroy. Following a big 2020 season, d'Arnaud has played only 23 games this year and is on the 60-day injured list with torn ligaments in his left thumb. He's been progressing but is not expected back until next month. The third-place Braves (44-46) are four games behind the NL East-leading Mets, with Philadelphia (45-45) in between. Berne, 25, was 3 for 12 (.250) with a home run in five games in the low minors with the FCL Braves this season. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MIAMI (AP) — Miami Marlins right-hander Pablo López set a major league record by striking out the first nine batters to start Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Braves. López struck out Ehire Adrianza, Freddie Freeman and Ozzie Albies each swinging in the first inning. He then fanned Austin Riley, Orlando Arcia and Dansby Swanson also all swinging in the second inning. In the third, Guillermo Heredia looked at strike three, Kevan Smith went down swinging and Ian Anderson was called out on strikes. The 25-year-old righty broke the mark of eight straight strikeouts to begin a game set by Jim Deshaies in 1986 and matched by Jacob deGrom in 2014 and German Marquez in 2018. The second time around the batting order was not as kind to López. After getting Adrianza on a grounder to begin the fourth, Freeman broke up López’s sensational start with a double and Albies and Arcia added RBI singles. López began the day with 102 strikeouts over 95 innings in 18 starts this season. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves acquired catcher Kevan Smith from the Tampa Bay Rays for cash on Wednesday and designated catcher Jeff Mathis for assignment. Smith, 32, was designated for assignment by the Rays on Sunday. He was 1 for 4 in only three games with the Rays this season. Smith has a .271 career batting average in six seasons with the Chicago White Sox, the Angels and the Rays. Mathis, 38, was 0 for 9 with five strikeouts in three games with Atlanta. The Braves also optioned left-hander Tucker Davidson to Triple-A Gwinnett and activated left-hander Grant Dayton from the 10-day injured list. Davidson allowed three runs in six innings against the New York Mets on Tuesday night in his 2021 debut Dayton will be active for Wednesday night's game against the Mets after recovering from a thigh inflammation. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Rookie left-hander Shane McClanahan was a surprise addition to the 28-man roster the Tampa Bay Rays announced for the AL first-round series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday. McClanahan was a first-round pick in the amateur draft two years ago who pitched at Class A and Double-A in 2019. He joined first baseman Ji-Man Choi and infielder Yandy Diaz, who have been on the injured list, in being added to the active roster before Game 1 of the best-of-three series. To make room on the 40-man roster for McClanahan, lefty reliever Sean Gilmartin was designated for assignment. Gilmartin is the husband of White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany. Three players who were on the regular season-ending roster — catcher Kevan Smith, left-handed starter Josh Fleming and lefty reliever Ryan Sherriff — were not included on the roster against Toronto. They remain in the 60-man postseason eligible player pool and can be added in future rounds. Tampa Bay’s 28-man roster... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Harrison Bader tripled and homered to help the St. Louis Cardinals clinch a postseason berth on the final day of the regular season with a 5-2 win over Milwaukee, and the Brewers also earned a playoff spot Sunday via help on the West Coast moments later. St. Louis (30-28) will be the fifth seed in the NL and open a three-game wild-card series at San Diego on Wednesday. By winning, the Cardinals avoided having to travel to Detroit for two makeup games Monday. The Brewers (29-31) locked up the eighth seed and a third consecutive postseason berth after the Padres beat San Francisco 5-4 in a game that ended about 15 minutes later. The Giants finished with an identical record as the Brewers but lost out on a tiebreaker due to an inferior intradivision record. Milwaukee will face the top-seeded Dodgers in Los Angeles in a three-game series that also starts Wednesday. The Brewers haven’t had a winning record at any point this season. Milwaukee and Houston will be the first teams... [More]

The Chicago White Sox clinched their first postseason berth since 2008, beating the Minnesota Twins 4-3 Thursday as Eloy Jim�nez hit a tiebreaking double that capped a two-run, seventh-inning rally. Chicago (33-17) opened a three-game lead over the second-place Twins (31-21) in the AL Central. The White Sox assured themselves of no worse than a wild-card berth. Jos� Abreu homered and drove in two runs and Edwin Encarnaci�n also homered for Chicago, which won three of four in the series. Chicago trailed 3-2 in the seventh when Abreu beat out an infield hit on a slow grounder that drove in Jarrod Dyson from third base. Jim�nez followed with a go-ahead double. Codi Heuer (3-0) pitched a scoreless 1 2/3 innings, and Alex Colom� got four outs for his 12th save in 13 chances. Tyler Clippard (1-1) gave up two runs in two-thirds of an inning. Byron Buxton homered twice, giving him seven in his last nine games and 12 this season. Josh Donaldson also went deep for Minnesota and was ejected for kicking... [More]

Rays second. Manuel Margot flies out to deep right field to Adam Eaton. Nate Lowe homers to right field. Willy Adames called out on strikes. Kevin Kiermaier singles to center field. Kevan Smith singles to left center field. Kevin Kiermaier scores. Austin Meadows strikes out swinging.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Rays 2, Nationals 0.Rays fifth. Austin Meadows singles to center field. Brandon Lowe lines out to third base to Trea Turner. Mike Brosseau hit by pitch. Yoshi Tsutsugo walks. Mike Brosseau to second. Austin Meadows to third. Manuel Margot singles to shallow right field. Yoshi Tsutsugo to second. Mike Brosseau to third. Austin Meadows scores. Nate Lowe walks. Manuel Margot to second. Yoshi Tsutsugo to third. Mike Brosseau scores. Willy Adames strikes out swinging. Kevin Kiermaier singles to left field. Nate Lowe to second. Manuel Margot scores. Yoshi Tsutsugo scores. Kevan Smith strikes out swinging.4 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Rays 6, Nationals 0.Nationals sixth. Juan Soto doubles to deep center field. Asdrubal Cabrera grounds out to shortstop, Willy Adames to Nate Lowe. Juan Soto to third. Kurt Suzuki grounds out to third base, Mike Brosseau to Nate Lowe. Juan Soto scores. Eric Thames called out on strikes.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Rays 6, Nationals 1.

Red sox first. Yairo Munoz doubles. Christian Vazquez homers to center field. Yairo Munoz scores. Rafael Devers grounds out to second base, Willy Adames to Nate Lowe. J.D. Martinez grounds out to second base, Nate Lowe to Charlie Morton. Jackie Bradley Jr. strikes out swinging.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Red sox 2, Rays 0.Rays first. Manuel Margot reaches on error. Fielding error by Bobby Dalbec. Randy Arozarena grounds out to shortstop. Manuel Margot out at second. Joey Wendle singles to shallow infield. Mike Brosseau doubles to deep right field. Joey Wendle scores. Hunter Renfroe pops out to shallow center field to Christian Arroyo.1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 left on. Red sox 2, Rays 1.Rays fourth. Willy Adames reaches on error. Throwing error by Tzu-Wei Lin. Yoshi Tsutsugo lines out to deep center field to Jackie Bradley Jr.. Kevan Smith homers to left field. Willy Adames scores. Manuel Margot pops out to shallow center field to Christian Arroyo. Randy Arozarena strikes out swinging.2... [More]

Red sox third. Bobby Dalbec strikes out swinging. Christian Arroyo flies out to deep left field to Austin Meadows. Alex Verdugo singles to left field. Rafael Devers homers to right field. Alex Verdugo scores. Xander Bogaerts walks. J.D. Martinez reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Xander Bogaerts out at second.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Red sox 2, Rays 0.Rays fourth. Hunter Renfroe homers to center field. Brandon Lowe homers to center field. Willy Adames strikes out swinging. Kevan Smith strikes out swinging. Joey Wendle grounds out to second base, Christian Arroyo to Bobby Dalbec.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Red sox 2, Rays 2.Red sox fifth. Bobby Dalbec homers to right field. Christian Arroyo singles to right field. Alex Verdugo reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Christian Arroyo out at second. Rafael Devers singles to right center field. Alex Verdugo to second. Xander Bogaerts pops out to shallow center field to Brandon Lowe. J.D. Martinez strikes out... [More]

Marlins first. Corey Dickerson walks. Starling Marte homers to center field. Corey Dickerson scores. Jesus Aguilar flies out to deep center field to Manuel Margot. Matt Joyce walks. Brian Anderson strikes out swinging. Lewin Diaz called out on strikes.2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Marlins 2, Rays 0.Rays first. Manuel Margot grounds out to shortstop, Jazz Chisholm to Lewin Diaz. Randy Arozarena homers to right field. Austin Meadows strikes out swinging. Mike Brosseau singles to center field. Willy Adames called out on strikes.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Marlins 2, Rays 1.Marlins third. Corey Dickerson triples. Starling Marte strikes out swinging. Jesus Aguilar singles to right field. Corey Dickerson scores. Matt Joyce strikes out swinging. Brian Anderson singles to center field. Jesus Aguilar to second. Lewin Diaz called out on strikes.1 run, 3 hits, 1 error, 2 left on. Marlins 3, Rays 1.Rays fifth. Hunter Renfroe homers. Kevan Smith called out on strikes. Nate Lowe called... [More]

Rays first. Manuel Margot doubles to left field. Randy Arozarena homers to left field. Manuel Margot scores. Austin Meadows singles to deep right field. Mike Brosseau homers to left field. Austin Meadows scores. Willy Adames doubles. Joey Wendle strikes out on a foul tip. Hunter Renfroe strikes out swinging. Kevan Smith reaches on catcher interference. Interference error by Gary Sanchez. Nate Lowe walks. Kevan Smith to second. Willy Adames to third. Manuel Margot flies out to right field to Mike Tauchman.4 runs, 5 hits, 1 error, 3 left on. Rays 4, Yankees 0.Rays fourth. Randy Arozarena strikes out swinging. Austin Meadows strikes out swinging. Mike Brosseau homers to center field. Willy Adames pops out to shallow left field to Tyler Wade.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Rays 5, Yankees 0.Yankees sixth. Aaron Hicks grounds out to second base, Willy Adames to Nate Lowe. Clint Frazier homers. Gio Urshela singles to deep right field. Mike Tauchman called out on strikes. Gary Sanchez walks.... [More]

Rays first. Joey Wendle homers to right field. Ji-Man Choi lines out to deep right center field to Lewis Brinson. Yandy Diaz hit by pitch. Yoshi Tsutsugo homers to right field. Yandy Diaz scores. Willy Adames singles to center field. Brian O'Grady strikes out swinging. Hunter Renfroe flies out to left field to Corey Dickerson.3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Rays 3, Marlins 0.Rays fourth. Willy Adames flies out to deep left center field to Corey Dickerson. Brian O'Grady singles to center field. Hunter Renfroe reaches on error. Brian O'Grady to third. Throwing error by Jonathan Villar. Kevin Kiermaier walks. Kevan Smith reaches on a fielder's choice to third base. Kevin Kiermaier scores. Hunter Renfroe out at third. Brian O'Grady scores. Throwing error by Brian Anderson. Joey Wendle grounds out to shortstop, Brian Anderson to Garrett Cooper.2 runs, 1 hit, 2 errors, 1 left on. Rays 5, Marlins 0.Marlins fourth. Jon Berti grounds out to third base, Yandy Diaz to Ji-Man Choi. Corey Dickerson... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Tampa Bay's lead in the AL East is not a healthy one.Left-hander Ryan Yarbrough became the 11th Rays pitcher since the start of summer camp to be sidelined with an injury when he went on the 10-day injured list Saturday because of left groin tightness.Starting catcher Mike Zunino also went on the injured list with a strained left oblique strain. That move was retroactive to Wednesday.The Rays are hoping neither player will be out for an extended stretch. Yarbrough might miss only one start, manager Kevin Cash said.However, there were further setbacks for two Rays pitchers already sidelined. Left-hander Jalen Beeks was scheduled for Tommy John surgery Wednesday, and right-hander Chaz Roe was transferred to the 45-day injured list with a sore right elbow. Roe tried to throw Friday but cut the session short.Three-fifths of the Rays' rotation is on the IL, and the bullpen also has been hard hit. Tampa Bay began the weekend with a 3 1/2-game lead in the AL East despite the wave... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Left-hander Ryan Yarbrough became the 11th Tampa Bay Rays pitcher since the start of summer camp to be sidelined with an injury when he went on the 10-day injured list Saturday because of left groin tightness.Starting catcher Mike Zunino also went on the injured list with a strained left oblique strain. That move was retroactive to Wednesday.There were further setbacks for two Rays pitchers already sidelined. Left-hander Jalen Beeks was scheduled for Tommy John surgery Wednesday, and right-hander Chaz Roe was transferred to the 45-day injured list with a sore right elbow.The Rays recalled infielder-outfielder Brian O’Grady and selected catcher Kevan Smith from the alternate training site.Three-fifths of the Ray’s rotation is now on the IL, and the bullpen has also been hard hit. Despite the wave of health issues, the Rays are in first place in the AL East.“It’s super weird,” starter Blake Snell said. “It stinks to see your teammates get hurt, especially because we count on our pitching so much. It definitely makes it harder, but it just lets you know the depth we have.”Yarbrough pitched 6 2/3 shutout innings in Friday's win at Miami before leaving the game because of the groin issue, which has bothered him in seasons past and also in recent starts.___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports___ Follow Steven Wine on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Steve_Wine

Rays first. Austin Meadows doubles to deep center field. Brandon Lowe called out on strikes. Jose Martinez grounds out to shallow infield, Michael King to Luke Voit. Austin Meadows to third. Ji-Man Choi walks. Joey Wendle walks. Ji-Man Choi to second. Yoshi Tsutsugo walks. Joey Wendle to second. Ji-Man Choi to third. Austin Meadows scores. Willy Adames reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Yoshi Tsutsugo out at second.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 4 left on. Rays 1, Yankees 0.Yankees fourth. Aaron Hicks grounds out to second base, Willy Adames to Ji-Man Choi. Giancarlo Stanton walks. Gleyber Torres singles to center field. Giancarlo Stanton to third. Luke Voit singles to right center field. Gleyber Torres out at third. Giancarlo Stanton scores. Mike Tauchman called out on strikes.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Yankees 1, Rays 1.Rays fourth. Joey Wendle flies out to center field to Aaron Hicks. Yoshi Tsutsugo grounds out to shallow infield, Michael King to Luke Voit. Willy Adames walks.... [More]

Yoenis Céspedes expects to be the designated hitter for the New York Mets on Friday when they open the season against the Atlanta Braves.It will be his first major league game in more than two years. Injuries to his feet and legs have sidelined him since July 20, 2018.Céspedes said he’s feeling good and is confident that he’ll also play left field at some point this season. But he told reporters through a translator Tuesday that “at least for the first game, for opening day, I’ll be the DH.”The 34-year-old slugger, an All-Star in 2014 and 2016, had surgery on both heels and then broke his right ankle in a nasty fall at his Florida ranch. Now he's healthy and eager to help the Mets.“I think the strongest part of me is my mind, is my mentality,” Céspedes said. “I think whether it’s a good day or a bad day, my mentality has always been strong. I’ll be ready to play once the time comes.”BRUISEDAstros second baseman Jose Altuve bruised his left leg in Houston's exhibition win over Kansas City... [More]

Yoenis Céspedes expects to be the designated hitter for the New York Mets on Friday when they open the season against the Atlanta Braves.It will be his first major league game in more than two years. Injuries to his feet and legs have sidelined him since July 20, 2018.Céspedes said he’s feeling good and is confident that he’ll also play left field at some point this season. But he told reporters through a translator Tuesday that “at least for the first game, for opening day, I’ll be the DH.”The 34-year-old slugger, an All-Star in 2014 and 2016, had surgery on both heels and then broke his right ankle in a nasty fall at his Florida ranch. Now he's healthy and eager to help the Mets.“I think the strongest part of me is my mind, is my mentality,” Céspedes said. “I think whether it’s a good day or a bad day, my mentality has always been strong. I’ll be ready to play once the time comes.”BRUISEDAstros second baseman Jose Altuve bruised his left leg in Houston's exhibition win over Kansas City... [More]

Yoenis Céspedes expects to be the designated hitter for the New York Mets on Friday when they open the season against the Atlanta Braves.It will be his first major league game in more than two years. Injuries to his feet and legs have sidelined him since July 20, 2018.Céspedes said he’s feeling good and is confident that he’ll also play left field at some point this season. But he told reporters through a translator Tuesday that “at least for the first game, for opening day, I’ll be the DH.”The 34-year-old slugger, an All-Star in 2014 and 2016, had surgery on both heels and then broke his right ankle in a nasty fall at his Florida ranch. Now he's healthy and eager to help the Mets.“I think the strongest part of me is my mind, is my mentality,” Céspedes said. “I think whether it’s a good day or a bad day, my mentality has always been strong. I’ll be ready to play once the time comes.”BRUISEDAstros second baseman Jose Altuve suffered a bruise to his left leg in Houston's exhibition win over... [More]

A team-by-team look at the American League West entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad:___Houston Astros Manager: Dusty Baker (first season). 2019: 107-55, first place, lost to Nationals in World Series. Training Town: West Palm Beach, Florida. Park: Ballpark of Palm Beaches. First Workout: Feb. 13/17. He's Here: Manager Dusty Baker, RHP Austin Pruitt, C Dustin Garneau.He's Outta Here: Manager AJ Hinch, RHP Gerrit Cole, RHP Will Harris, C Robinson Chirinos, OF Tony Kemp. Going campin': The Astros enter the spring reeling from a sign-stealing scandal that cost manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow their jobs. They brought in Baker to steady the team, and it gives the 70-year-old another chance to chase his first World Series title as a manager. He’ll get a crash course learning his new team this spring after being hired less than three weeks before pitchers and catchers... [More]