NEW YORK (AP) — No fans. No music. A bullpen catcher calling balls and strikes.Still, for one night at least, the New York Yankees played something resembling a baseball game in the Bronx.“It felt great, actually,” said starter J.A. Happ, who pitched for Team Yankees against Team Bombers. “It was a little bit strange, but I was actually surprised at the adrenaline, and I heard a couple of other guys saying the same thing.”The Yankees held their first intrasquad game of summer camp Monday as they prepare for a condensed 60-game season that starts in 2 1/2 weeks. Aaron Judge, Gleyber Torres, Giancarlo Stanton and other regulars from the defending AL East champs took hacks under the lights against teammates for six innings. Happ's first pitch came about an hour after Major League Baseball unveiled the schedule for a season it hopes to run through a pandemic. The Yankees will open July 23 against the World Series champion Nationals in Washington as part of a slate that exclusively features... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The Yankees now have more competition in the job for backup catcher, with Erik Kratz, Josh Thole and Chris Iannetta agreeing to minor league contracts Monday.Austin Romine, Gary Sánchez's backup the last three seasons, became a free agent and agreed to a $4.15 million, one-year contract with Detroit.Kyle Higashioka is the only other catcher on New York's 40-man roster. He hit .214 with three homers and 11 RBIs in 57 plate appearances with the Yankees last year and batted .278 with 20 homers and 56 RBIs at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.The 39-year-old Kratz was signed to a minor league deal by the Yankees last June following his release by Tampa Bay and hit .299 with seven homers and 31 RBIs at Scranton. He played for the U.S. team that failed in November to qualify for the Olympics.Thole, 33, hit .243 with three homers and 26 RBIs at Triple-A and Double-A last year. He last appeared in the major leagues with Toronto in 2016.Iannetta, who turns 37 in April, batted .222 with... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The Yankees now have more competition in the job for backup catcher, with Erik Kratz, Josh Thole and Chris Iannetta agreeing to minor league contracts Monday.Austin Romine, Gary Sánchez's backup the last three seasons, became a free agent and agreed to a $4.15 million, one-year contract with Detroit.Kyle Higashioka is the only other catcher on New York's 40-man roster. He hit .214 with three homers and 11 RBIs in 57 plate appearances with the Yankees last year and batted .278 with 20 homers and 56 RBIs at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.The 39-year-old Kratz was signed to a minor league deal by the Yankees last June following his release by Tampa Bay and hit .299 with seven homers and 31 RBIs at Scranton. He played for the U.S. team that failed in November to qualify for the Olympics.Thole, 33, hit .243 with three homers and 26 RBIs at Triple-A and Double-A last year. He last appeared in the major leagues with Toronto in 2016.Iannetta, who turns 37 in April, batted .222 with... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Tyler Lyons, who earned a spot on the New York Yankees' postseason roster as a left-handed reliever, refused an outright assignment to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and elected to become a free agent.The 31-year-old was released by Pittsburgh in August and signed with New York. He struck out 12 and walked two in 8 2/3 innings during 11 appearances with the Yankees in September. He made one appearance each in the Division Series against Minnesota and the Championship Series vs. Houston, striking out four over 1 2/3 hitless innings.New York reinstated third baseman Miguel Andújar, first baseman Greg Bird, right-handers Jonathan Holder and Jake Barrett and outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury from the 60-day injured list on Monday and assigned Barrett outright to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.Ellsbury has not played since 2017 because of a variety of ailments. He is owed $21,142,857 next year in the final guaranteed season of a $153 million, seven-year contract, which includes a $5 million buyout of a $21 million option for 2021.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

HOUSTON (AP) — The Yankees went to the bullpen early and kept a parade of relievers going to the mound — even CC Sabathia.But New York's bullpen buckled in the 11th inning when Carlos Correa led off with a home run off J.A. Happ, the Yankees' ninth pitcher, to give the Houston Astros a 3-2 win Sunday that tied the AL Championship Series at one game apiece.On a night when starter James Paxton lasted just 2 1/3 innings and 51 pitches, Yankees manager Aaron Boone treated the third inning like he would the sixth during the regular season."Just felt like we were covered as far as today with getting some length and having guys rested. Obviously going into an off day tomorrow we're just going to be aggressive," Boone said.Paxton allowed Correa's RBI double in the second, escaped further trouble, then was replaced by Chad Green with one on and one out in the third."Thought he was struggling with his command," Boone said.Green retired six straight batters, and Yankees went ahead 2-1 on Aaron Judge's... [More]

A look at the best-of-seven American League Championship Series between the New York Yankees and Houston Astros:___Schedule: (All times EDT) Game 1, Saturday, at Houston, 8:08 p.m.; Game 2, Sunday, at Houston, 8:08 p.m.; Game 3, Tuesday, at New York, 4:08 p.m; Game 4, Wednesday, at New York, 8:08 p.m.: x-Game 5, Thursday, at New York, 8:08 p.m; x-Game 6, Saturday, Oct. 19, at Houston, 4:08 p.m. or TBA; x-Game 7, Sunday, Oct. 20, at Houston, 7:38 p.m. (All games on Fox or FS1).x-if necessary.___Season Series: Astros won 4-3.___Projected Lineups:Yankees: 1B DJ LeMahieu (.327, 26 HRs, 102 RBIs), RF Aaron Judge (.272, 27, 55 in 102 games), CF Brett Gardner (.251, 28, 74), DH Edwin Encarnaci�n (.244, 34, 86 in 109 games for Mariners and Yankees), LF Giancarlo Stanton (.288, 3, 13 in 18 games), 2B Gleyber Torres (.278, 38, 90), C Gary S�nchez (.232, 34, 77 in 106 games), SS Didi Gregorius (.238, 16, 61 in 82 games), 3B Gio Urshela (.314, 21, 74 in 132 games).Astros: CF George Springer (.292,... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Hicks returned to Phoenix, unable to throw without pain, advised to rest his aching elbow on Sept. 11 by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, an orthopedic specialist in California. The season appeared to be over for the New York Yankees outfielder.Being told you might have to get Tommy John," he said, "that's like the low of the low. That's like the worst thing to hear."Then, a short time later, Hicks was surprised."I was just messing around in the backyard. One of my buddies wanted to hit in the cage and I was just kind of setting things up for him to kind of hit around and I was like, man, my arm kind of feels good right now," Hicks said. "I just started playing a little light catch."Sidelined since Aug. 3 because of a flexor injury near his right elbow, Hicks had someone take a video of him throwing and sent it to Michael Schuk, the Yankees' assistant athletic trainer. After some questions, Shuck passed it along to Steve Donohue, the Yankees' head athletic trainer."I remember... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Hicks returned to Phoenix, unable to throw without pain, advised to rest his aching elbow on Sept. 11 by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, an orthopedic specialist in California. The season appeared to be over for the New York Yankees outfielder.Being told you might have to get Tommy John," he said, "that's like the low of the low. That's like the worst thing to hear."Then, a short time later, Hicks was surprised."I was just messing around in the backyard. One of my buddies wanted to hit in the cage and I was just kind of setting things up for him to kind of hit around and I was like, man, my arm kind of feels good right now," Hicks said. "I just started playing a little light catch."Sidelined since Aug. 3 because of a flexor injury near his right elbow, Hicks had someone take a video of him throwing and sent it to Michael Schuk, the Yankees' assistant athletic trainer. After some questions, Shuck passed it along to Steve Donohue, the Yankees' head athletic trainer."I remember... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Hicks is an option to start for the New York Yankees in the AL Championship Series opener and CC Sabathia also remains in contention for a roster spot.Hicks has not played since Aug. 3 because of a right elbow flexor strain. Sabathia missed the Division Series sweep of Minnesota with a sore pitching shoulder."We'll have some tough decisions here over the next 24 hours as we work this out, what kind of makes the most sense," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Thursday.New York used the same starting lineup in all three games against Minnesota, only the second time this year Boone has done that in three straight games. The Yankees open the ALCS on Saturday against Houston or Tampa Bay.If Hicks started in center, Brett Gardner could shift to left and Giancarlo Stanton to designated hitter, a move that would send Edwin Encarnación to the bench. Or Stanton could remain in left and Gardner shift to the bench, especially against a left-handed starter.Hicks' lack of playing... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:IT'S ALL ON THE LINEHouston Astros ace Gerrit Cole has won a franchise-record 17 straight decisions heading into the deciding Game 5 of their AL Division Series against visiting Tampa Bay. The winner meets the New York Yankees in the AL Championship Series starting Saturday.Cole is 17-0 in 23 starts since a May 22 loss to the Chicago White Sox. He has allowed 92 hits over 154 1/3 innings during that span, striking out 241 and walking 32. That includes an outstanding outing in a 3-1 Game 2 win over the Rays, when he struck out 15, didn't walk a batter until his final one, and allowed four hits over 7 2/3 scoreless innings.Tyler Glasnow starts for the Rays after taking a 6-2 loss in the opener, when he gave up two runs and four hits in 4 1/3 innings, including Jos� Altuve's go-ahead, two-run homer in the fifth.Both starters came up with the Pirates organization and were teammates in Pittsburgh from 2016-17.Cole was the top pick in the 2011... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Thursday:IT'S ALL ON THE LINEHouston Astros ace Gerrit Cole has won a franchise-record 17 straight decisions heading into the deciding Game 5 of their AL Division Series against visiting Tampa Bay. The winner meets the New York Yankees in the AL Championship Series starting Saturday.Cole is 17-0 in 23 starts since a May 22 loss to the Chicago White Sox. He has allowed 92 hits over 154 1/3 innings during that span, striking out 241 and walking 32. That includes an outstanding outing in a 3-1 Game 2 win over the Rays, when he struck out 15, didn't walk a batter until his final one, and allowed four hits over 7 2/3 scoreless innings.Tyler Glasnow starts for the Rays after taking a 6-2 loss in the opener, when he gave up two runs and four hits in 4 1/3 innings, including Jos� Altuve's go-ahead, two-run homer in the fifth.Both starters came up with the Pirates organization and were teammates in Pittsburgh from 2016-17.Cole was the top pick in the... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — CC Sabathia could be on the New York Yankees' roster for the AL Championship Series after missing the previous round with an achy left shoulder.The left-handed Sabathia sat out New York's three-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins in the AL Division Series, but manager Aaron Boone said the 39-year-old is feeling "considerably better" after throwing a bullpen session Wednesday."Frankly, looked really good," Boone said. "I was really excited about how he looked."Outfielder Aaron Hicks has also recovered from a right elbow flexor strain and is an option for the roster, and relievers Aroldis Chapman and Zack Britton are fine after suffering minor injuries Monday night, Boone said. New York will open the ALCS on Saturday against either Houston or Tampa Bay, which are set to play a winner-take-all Game 5 on Thursday night.Sabathia, a 19-year veteran who plans to retire after the postseason, spent the final week of the regular season preparing to pitch in relief for the AL East champions... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Slumping first baseman Luke Voit was picked over rookie Mike Ford for the New York Yankees' AL Division Series roster against Minnesota because he provides a potential right-handed bat off the bench in the late innings.Minnesota chose three players who had been hurt of late: center fielder Max Kepler and infielders Luis Arráez and Ehire Adrianza.New York also selected speedy and versatile Tyler Wade for the series, which started Friday night. Wade can play second base, third, shortstop, outfield, and pinch run or be a defensive replacement.Voit struggled in his return from a sports hernia, ending the season hitless in his last 12 at-bats and in a 1-for-33 slide, leaving him with a .263 batting average, 21 homers and 71 RBIs. Ford hit .259 with 12 homers and 25 RBIs, including .379 with eight homers and 17 RBIs from Aug. 17 on.Yankees manager Aaron Boone viewed Voit as a better potential pinch-hitting option against Twins closer Taylor Rogers, who is left-handed, than the... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Versatile Tyler Wade was included on the New York Yankees' AL Division Series roster while slumping first baseman Luke Voit made it over rookie Mike Ford.Minnesota chose three players who had been hurt of late: center fielder Max Kepler and infielders Luis Arráez and Ehire Adrianza.The series starts Friday night at Yankee Stadium.Wade, who can play outfield, second, shortstop and third, can pinch run or be a defensive replacement.Voit struggled in his return from a sports hernia, ending season hitless in his last 12 at-bats and 1 for 33, leaving him with a .263 average, 21 homers and 71 RBIs. Ford hit .259 with 12 homers and 25 RBIs, including .379 with eight homers and 17 RBIs from Aug. 17 on.Yankees manager Aaron Boone views the right-handed-hitting Voit as a better potential pinch-hitting option against Twins closer Taylor Rogers, who is left-handed, than the left-handed hitting Ford."Looking at it from an off-the-bench situation, there's not a lot of our righties that... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Versatile Tyler Wade was included on the New York Yankees' AL Division Series roster while slumping first baseman Luke Voit made it over rookie Mike Ford and Cameron Maybin was picked for outfield depth.Minnesota included three players who had been hurt of late: center fielder Max Kepler and infielders Luis Arráez and Ehire Adrianza.Both teams decided on 12 pitchers.Wade, who can play outfield, second, shortstop and third, can pinch run or be a defensive replacement.Voit struggled in his return from a sports hernia, ending season hitless in his last 12 at-bats and 1 for 33, leaving him with a .263 average, 21 homers and 71 RBIs.Ford hit .259 with 12 homers and 25 RBIs, including .379 with eight homers and 17 RBIs from Aug. 17 on. Maybin, the fourth outfielder, batted .285 with 11 homers and 32 RBIs in 239 at-bats.As expected, the Yankees included designated hitter Edwin Encarnación, who hasn't played since Sept. 12 because of a strained left oblique. Encarnación hit .249... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Versatile Tyler Wade was included on the New York Yankees AL Division Series roster while slumping first baseman Luke Voit made it over Mike Ford and Cameron Maybin was picked for outfield depth.Minnesota included 12 pitches and three players who had been hurt of late: center fielder Max Kepler and infielders Luis Arráez and Ehire Adrianza.Kepler started only two of the last 19 games because of a strained left shoulder muscle. Arráez sprained his right ankle last weekend, and Adrianza strained his right oblique muscle Sept. 12.Voit struggled in return from sports hernia, ending season 0 for 12 and 1 for 33.Ford hit .259 with 12 homers and 25 RBIs, including .379 with eight homers and 17 RBIs from Aug. 17 on. Wade, who can play outfield, second, shortstop and third, can pinch run or be a defensive replacement.New York's 12 pitchers included lefty Tyler Lyons and righties Luis Cessa and Jonathan Loisiga. The team's pitching was weakened last month when reliever Dellin Betances tore an Achilles tendon in first appearance back from a lat injury that had sidelined him since spring training, and 18-game winner Domingo Germán was placed on administrative leave under baseball's domestic violence policy.

Yankees first. DJ LeMahieu flies out to center field to Danny Santana. Aaron Judge triples to deep center field. Brett Gardner out on a sacrifice fly to deep right field to Scott Heineman. Aaron Judge scores. Giancarlo Stanton grounds out to shortstop, Elvis Andrus to Ronald Guzman.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Yankees 1, Rangers 0.Rangers first. Shin-Soo Choo walks. Elvis Andrus strikes out swinging. Willie Calhoun pops out to shallow infield to Didi Gregorius. Danny Santana walks. Rougned Odor doubles to deep right center field. Danny Santana scores. Shin-Soo Choo scores. Scott Heineman walks. Ronald Guzman grounds out to second base, DJ LeMahieu to Mike Ford.2 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 2 left on. Rangers 2, Yankees 1.Rangers fourth. Scott Heineman doubles to deep left field. Ronald Guzman walks. Jose Trevino doubles to deep left field. Ronald Guzman to third. Scott Heineman scores. Isiah Kiner-Falefa strikes out swinging. Shin-Soo Choo strikes out swinging. Elvis Andrus is intentionally... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Anthony Rizzo hit a grand slam, Willson Contreras had two long solo homers and the Chicago Cubs kept pace in the NL wild-card race with a 17-8 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday.Rookie Nico Hoerner hit a two-run shot for his first major league homer and had four RBIs for the Cubs. Chicago moved a game ahead of Milwaukee for the second NL wild card.Contreras, Hoerner and Nicholas Castellanos homered in the first with the wind blowing out as Chicago scored five times after Pittsburgh jumped on Jon Lester (13-10) for a 4-0 lead.Hoerner elevated a low pitch to the center field batter's eye in his first plate appearance at Wrigley Field. He drove in two more runs with a single in Chicago's seven-run fifth. The 22-year-old infielder made his debut with the Cubs on Monday at San Diego after the team announced All-Star shortstop Javier Báez would be out of the season with a hairline fracture in his left thumb.Alec Mills pitched the final three innings for his first save.... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Anthony Rizzo hit a grand slam, Willson Contreras had two long solo homers and the Chicago Cubs kept pace in the NL wild-card race with a 17-8 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday.Rookie Nico Hoerner hit a two-run shot for his first major league homer and had four RBIs for the Cubs. Chicago moved a game ahead of Milwaukee for the second NL wild card.Contreras, Hoerner and Nicholas Castellanos homered in the first with the wind blowing out as Chicago scored five times after Pittsburgh jumped on Jon Lester (13-10) for a 4-0 lead.Hoerner elevated a low pitch to the center field batter's eye in his first plate appearance at Wrigley Field. He drove in two more runs with a single in Chicago's seven-run fifth. The 22-year-old infielder made his debut with the Cubs on Monday at San Diego after the team announced All-Star shortstop Javier Báez would be out of the season with a hairline fracture in his left thumb.Alec Mills pitched the final three innings for his first save.... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Anthony Rizzo hit a grand slam, Willson Contreras had two long solo homers and the Chicago Cubs kept pace in the NL wild-card race with a 17-8 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday.Rookie Nico Hoerner hit a two-run shot for his first major league homer and had four RBIs for the Cubs. Chicago moved a game ahead of Milwaukee for the second NL wild card.Contreras, Hoerner and Nicholas Castellanos homered in the first with the wind blowing out as Chicago scored five times after Pittsburgh jumped on Jon Lester (13-10) for a 4-0 lead.Hoerner elevated a low pitch to the center field batter's eye in his first plate appearance at Wrigley Field. He drove in two more runs with a single in Chicago's seven-run fifth. The 22-year-old infielder made his debut with the Cubs on Monday at San Diego after the team announced All-Star shortstop Javier Báez would be out of the season with a hairline fracture in his left thumb.Alec Mills pitched the final three innings for his first save.... [More]