The Atlanta Braves have signed outfielder Preston Tucker to a minor league contract. The 31-year-old spent the last three years playing in the KBO League in South Korea. He hit 32 home runs over 142 games in the league in 2020, but struggled in 2021, batting .237/.334/.350 with nine home runs. Tucker previously spent time with the Braves back in 2018. He's also played for the Houston Astros and Cincinnati Reds. Over 243 games in the majors, he has a .222/.281/.403 slash line with 23 home runs, 68 RBI and 65 runs.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Back managing a team, just being able to talk with his players is a challenge for Matt Williams.About 10 miles from the spring training camps of the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins, the 54-year-old is at spring training with South Korea's Kia Tigers.“You never know whether you’re going to get another chance to manager or not, so I look at it as a challenge or an opportunity,’’ he said, sitting in some small metal bleachers. “So far it’s been a lot of fun.”A World Series champion with the 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks, Williams was third-base coach with Oakland the past two years. The five-time All Star, who hit 378 homers over 17 years in the major leagues, was home in Los Angeles after last season when he got a call asking whether he was interested. Members of the organization came to LA, and a few days later he had the job.He was voted 2014 NL Manager of the Year with the Washington Nationals, then was fired after the 2015 season when the club didn’t make the playoffs.... [More]

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Reds have activated All-Star first baseman Joey Votto from the 10-day disabled list before Thursday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers.Votto had been out since Aug. 17 with a sore right knee, which was hit by a pitch on Aug. 4.He is hitting .284 with nine home runs and 55 RBIs over 118 games.The Reds also optioned outfielder Preston Tucker to Triple-A Louisville, recalled right-handed pitcher Austin Brice from Louisville and placed right-hander Robert Stephenson on the 10-day disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BALTIMORE (AP) — Sonny Gray made the most of a foray into the starting rotation by taking a three-hitter into the seventh inning, and the New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-1 Saturday night for a doubleheader sweep.In the opener, rookie Miguel Andujar homered and had four RBIs, J.A. Happ (15-6) won his fifth straight start and New York rolled to a 10-3 victory.Gray (10-8) gave up three hits, a walk and struck out seven in 6 1/3 innings. The right-hander had been exiled to the bullpen after yielding seven runs in a loss to Baltimore on Aug. 1.Gray allowed only one runner past second base in helping the Yankees notch their seventh win in eight games to pull seven games behind first-place Boston in the AL East.Austin Romine homered, had three hits and scored three runs for the Yankees, who led 4-0 after four innings against Andrew Cashner (4-12).Andujar had two hits in each game to raise his batting average to .300. He leads AL rookies in batting, multihit games (43) and RBIs (70).RAYS... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — Sonny Gray made the most of a foray into the starting rotation by taking a three-hitter into the seventh inning, and the New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-1 Saturday night for a doubleheader sweep.In the opener, rookie Miguel Andujar homered and had four RBIs, J.A. Happ (15-6) won his fifth straight start and New York rolled to a 10-3 victory.Gray (10-8) gave up three hits, a walk and struck out seven in 6 1/3 innings. The right-hander had been exiled to the bullpen after yielding seven runs in a loss to Baltimore on Aug. 1.Gray allowed only one runner past second base in helping the Yankees notch their seventh win in eight games to pull seven games behind first-place Boston in the AL East.Austin Romine homered, had three hits and scored three runs for the Yankees, who led 4-0 after four innings against Andrew Cashner (4-12).Andujar had two hits in each game to raise his batting average to .300. He leads AL rookies in batting, multihit games (43) and RBIs (70).RAYS... [More]

Closers Roberto Osuna and Ken Giles switched spots. Adam Warren and Zach Duke moved into the Seattle bullpen. Lance Lynn got a new look in pinstripes. Adam Duvall will be slugging for the Braves. And Ian Kinsler is primed for a playoff run with his new team, the Red Sox.A day before the deadline to make trades without waivers, there were plenty of deals Monday.Hoping they could improve their bullpen without causing friction in the clubhouse, the defending World Series champion Houston Astros acquired Osuna from the Toronto Blue Jays for Ken Giles and two pitching prospects.The 23-year-old Osuna was a first-time All-Star last season, his second as the Blue Jays' full-time closer, and finished with 39 saves and a 3.38 ERA.But he hasn't pitched in the majors since May 6 because he's been serving a 75-day suspension under Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy. That suspension ends Sunday. Osuna was charged in May with one count of assault in Toronto, a charge that remains pending.The... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The Latest on Major League Baseball trades (all times Eastern):12 a.m.The Boston Red Sox have acquired Ian Kinsler from the Los Angeles Angels to fill in for injured second baseman Dustin Pedroia.Boston is sending Triple-A pitchers Ty Buttrey and Williams Jerez to Los Angeles. The Angels are also sending cash.Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski announced the trade in the clubhouse after a 2-1, 13-inning win over Philadelphia that put Boston a season-best six games ahead of the New York Yankees in the AL East.Kinsler, 36, is batting .239 with 13 homers and 32 RBIs for the Angels this season. He is due to become a free agent at the end of the season.Pedroia and Kinsler have been connected since their college days, when Pedroia took Kinsler's starting job as shortstop at Arizona State in 2002. Kinsler transferred to Missouri the following year.Pedroia has played just three games this year after left knee surgery in the offseason. Dombrowski says it's likely... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves acquired outfielder Adam Duvall from the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night to bolster their lineup, especially against left-handers, for a postseason push.Duvall was targeted for a platoon role, starting against left-handers. The move will cut into Ender Inciarte's playing time.For the Reds, the trade opens the way for full-time roles for corner outfielders Jesse Winker and Scott Schebler while adding three young players.The Braves sent right-handers Lucas Sims and Matt Wisler and outfielder Preston Tucker to Cincinnati. All three spent time in Atlanta this season but were with Triple-A Gwinnett at the time of the trade.The trade was announced following the Braves' 5-3 win over Miami on Monday night.Duvall, 29, has hit 15 home runs with 61 RBIs but is hitting only .205 this season.Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos said the Braves plan to start Duvall in left field against left-handers, with rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. moving to center and Inciarte, a Gold... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The Latest on Major League Baseball trades (all times Eastern):11:10 p.m.The Atlanta Braves have acquired outfielder Adam Duvall from the Cincinnati Reds.The Braves sent right-handers Lucas Sims and Matt Wisler and outfielder Preston Tucker to Cincinnati. All three spent time in Atlanta this season but were with Triple-A Gwinnett at the time of the trade.The 29-year-old Duvall has hit 15 home runs with 61 RBIs but is hitting only .205 this season.Duvall hit 64 homers over the previous two seasons, including 31 in 2017. He was an NL All-Star in 2016.Duvall was also a finalist for the Rawlings Gold Glove Award in each of the last two seasons.___8 p.m.The Minnesota Twins have traded right-hander Lance Lynn to the New York Yankees for first baseman/outfielder Tyler Austin and right-handed pitching prospect Luis Rijo.Minnesota will send $2 million to the Yankees as part of Monday's deal to cover half of the $4 million remaining in Lynn's $12 million salary.The 31-year-old Lynn... [More]

Closers Roberto Osuna and Ken Giles switched spots. Adam Warren and Zach Duke moved into the Seattle bullpen. Lance Lynn got a new look in pinstripes. And Adam Duvall will be slugging for the Braves.A day before the deadline to make trades without waivers, there were plenty of deals Monday.Hoping they could improve their bullpen without causing friction in the clubhouse, the defending World Series champion Houston Astros acquired Osuna from the Toronto Blue Jays for Ken Giles and two pitching prospects.The 23-year-old Osuna was a first-time All-Star last season, his second as the Blue Jays' full-time closer, and finished with 39 saves and a 3.38 ERA.But he hasn't pitched in the majors since May 6 because he's been serving a 75-day suspension under Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy. That suspension ends Sunday. Osuna was charged in May with one count of assault in Toronto, a charge that remains pending.The Astros have a zero-tolerance policy on domestic violence and released... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves have acquired outfielder Adam Duvall from the Cincinnati Reds to bolster their lineup for a postseason push.The Braves sent right-handers Lucas Sims and Matt Wisler and outfielder Preston Tucker to Cincinnati. All three spent time in Atlanta this season but were with Triple-A Gwinnett at the time of the trade.The trade was announced following the Braves' 5-3 win over Miami on Monday night.The 29-year-old Duvall has hit 15 home runs with 61 RBIs but is hitting only .205 this season.Duvall hit 64 homers over the previous two seasons, including 31 in 2017. He was an NL All-Star in 2016.Duvall was also a finalist for the Rawlings Gold Glove Award in each of the last two seasons.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

ATLANTA (AP) — Braves left fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. is grateful that his knee and back injuries aren't as serious as he first thought."To be honest, I feel better than I did yesterday," Acuna said Monday through an interpreter. "I just give thanks to God it's not worse than it was."Atlanta placed Acuna on the 10-day disabled list with a mild ACL sprain in his left knee and bruises to his knee and lower back.Acuna's leg buckled while running out a grounder Sunday in Boston. He fell on his back after crossing the bag, then rolled over on his front side with what looked to be a gruesome injury. The 20-year-old surprisingly walked off the diamond, declining a wheelchair."I thought his season was over when it happened and I went out there," manager Brian Snitker said. "Now it's very optimistic."Acuna, who is hitting .265 with five homers and 13 RBIs in 51 games, is walking without a brace and even tried to talk his way into the lineup for the second game of a doubleheader before he was placed... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves have placed left fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. on the 10-day disabled list with a mild ACL sprain in his left knee and bruises to his knee and lower back.The team announced Acuna's MRI results during the first game of Monday's doubleheader against the New York Mets.Acuna's leg buckled while running out a grounder Sunday in Boston. He fell on his back after crossing the bag, then rolled over on his front side with what looked to be a gruesome injury. The 20-year-old surprisingly walked off the diamond, declining a wheelchair.Preston Tucker took Acuna's place in the field Monday. Ozzie Albies, the usual leadoff hitter, batted in Acuna's No. 2 spot and Ender Inciarte batted first.Acuna is hitting .265 with five homers and 13 RBIs in 51 games."It's definitely scary whenever you see a teammate go down the way he did," shortstop Dansby Swanson said. "We're definitely thankful that he was able to walk off. I think he'll bounce back just fine. It's just a matter of when."Left-hander Max Fried, the 26th man for the doubleheader, was making his first start this season and the second of his career in Game 1.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

ATLANTA (AP) — Braves left fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. is out of the lineup a day after injuring his left leg running to first base.The Braves did not announce a diagnosis before Monday's doubleheader against the New York Mets, and manager Brian Snitker was not available to speak with reporters.Acuna's left leg buckled while running out a grounder Sunday in Boston. He fell on his back after crossing the bag, then rolled over on his front side with what looked to be a gruesome injury. The 20-year-old surprisingly walked off the diamond, declining a wheelchair.Preston Tucker took Acuna's place in the field. Ozzie Albies, the usual leadoff hitter, batted in Acuna's No. 2 spot and Ender Inciarte batted first.Acuna is hitting .265 with five homers and 13 RBIs in 51 games."It's definitely scary whenever you see a teammate go down the way he did," shortstop Dansby Swanson said. "We're definitely thankful that he was able to walk off. I think he'll bounce back just fine. It's just a matter of when."Left-hander Max Fried, the 26th man for the doubleheader, was making his first start this season and the second of his career in Game 1.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

ATLANTA (AP) — Shortstop Dansby Swanson was placed on the 10-day disabled list by the Atlanta Braves with left wrist inflammation.Swanson was removed from Wednesday's game at the New York Mets in the sixth inning and did not play in Thursday's trip finale. He is hitting .298 with two homers and 13 RBIs but just .171 in his last 35 at-bats."It's just something he's been fighting," manager Brian Snitker said Friday. "But he's handled it and managed it. It was pretty evident to me in the at-bat that it wasn't going well. I didn't want to take any chances with it."Johan Camargo started in Swanson's spot. Atlanta recalled Preston Tucker from Triple-A Gwinnett. The outfielder was optioned earlier Friday when Jose Bautista was brought up.___For more AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

ATLANTA (AP) — Jose Bautista is back in the major leagues with the Atlanta Braves, who inserted the 37-year-old at third base and fifth in the batting order against San Francisco.Unable to find a job during the offseason, Bautista agreed to a minor league contract with the Braves on April 18 and hit .250 with one homer and eight RBIs at Triple-A Gwinnett.Atlanta wanted the six-time All-Star to play third base, a position he had not seen much time at since 2011. He had two errors in 30 chances at Gwinnett.Bautista replaces Ryan Flaherty and Johan Camargo as Atlanta's primary third baseman.Atlanta had won five straight entering Friday, moving into the NL East lead. The Braves outfield is set with Ender Inciarte, Nick Markakis and 20-year-old Ronald Acuna Jr., the youngest position player in the major leagues.Bautista earned $18 million under a one-year deal with Toronto last season but put up subpar numbers for the second straight year, hitting .203 with 23 homers and 65 RBIs in 157 games.He will get $819,672, a prorated share of his $1 million salary.To clear a roster spot, Atlanta optioned outfielder Preston Tucker to Triple-A Gwinnett.___For more AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

As we enter the last full week of April, perhaps there's a chance that there are only a handful of postponements for the week, instead of a handful each day.Samples at the plate and on the mound are getting larger, but still far too little to put too much emphasis on them. But let's take a look at the week ahead for the best hitter matchups, two-start pitchers and batters you should consider picking up and getting into your lineups.BEST HITTING MATCHUPS: Atlanta, Minnesota, ColoradoWORST HITTING MATCHUPS: Los Angeles Angels, San FranciscoPLAYERS TO PICK UPTeoscar Hernandez, OF, Toronto - In 97 plate appearances last year, Hernandez had eight home runs and a .261 batting average. He's going to strike out a lot (37.9 strikeout percentage last season), but he's a power-speed outfielder with tremendous upside. He needs to be stashed in all category and roto leagues with five outfield spots, as he only has the struggling Randall Grichuk (.088 average, 33.8 strikeout percentage) in his way of... [More]

As we enter the last full week of April, perhaps there's a chance that there are only a handful of postponements for the week, instead of a handful each day.Samples at the plate and on the mound are getting larger, but still far too little to put too much emphasis on them. But let's take a look at the week ahead for the best hitter matchups, two-start pitchers and batters you should consider picking up and getting into your lineups.BEST HITTING MATCHUPS: Atlanta, Minnesota, ColoradoWORST HITTING MATCHUPS: Los Angeles Angels, San FranciscoPLAYERS TO PICK UPTeoscar Hernandez, OF, Toronto - In 97 plate appearances last year, Hernandez had eight home runs and a .261 batting average. He's going to strike out a lot (37.9 strikeout percentage last season), but he's a power-speed outfielder with tremendous upside. Yes, Toronto is noncommittal about him staying up with the team, but he needs to be stashed in all category and roto leagues with five outfield spots, as he only has the struggling Randall... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Todd Frazier hit his first two home runs with the Mets, and New York extended its winning streak to nine with a 6-5 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night.Steven Matz ended an 11-start winless streak dating to June 28 as New York improved to 11-1 under new manager Mickey Callaway, the best start in team history. The Mets are on their longest winning streak since 11 consecutive victories from April 12-23, 2015.Frazier homered leading off the second and fourth innings against Zach Davies (0-2). He also singled and walked.Matz (1-1), who had lost seven straight decisions, gave up four runs — three earned — and three hits in 5 1/3 innings. Jeurys Familia got three outs for his seventh save.Ryan Braun, Travis Shaw and Hernan Perez homered for Milwaukee. Davies, a 17-game winner last year, gave up five runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings.RED SOX 7, ORIOLES 3BOSTON (AP) — Eduardo Nunez hit a three-run homer, Eduardo Rodriguez struck out eight over six stingy innings... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Todd Frazier hit his first two home runs with the Mets, and New York extended its winning streak to nine with a 6-5 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night.Steven Matz ended an 11-start winless streak dating to June 28 as New York improved to 11-1 under new manager Mickey Callaway, the best start in team history. The Mets are on their longest winning streak since 11 consecutive victories from April 12-23, 2015.Frazier homered leading off the second and fourth innings against Zach Davies (0-2). He also singled and walked.Matz (1-1), who had lost seven straight decisions, gave up four runs — three earned — and three hits in 5 1/3 innings. Jeurys Familia got three outs for his seventh save.Ryan Braun, Travis Shaw and Hernan Perez homered for Milwaukee. Davies, a 17-game winner last year, gave up five runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings.RED SOX 7, ORIOLES 3BOSTON (AP) — Eduardo Nunez hit a three-run homer, Eduardo Rodriguez struck out eight over six stingy innings... [More]