Capsules of American League West teams, listed in order of finish last year:___Houston Astros2017: 101-61, first place, won World Series.Manager: A.J. Hinch (fourth season).He's Here: RHP Gerrit Cole, RHP Joe Smith, RHP Hector Rondon.He's Outta Here: DH Carlos Beltran, RHP Luke Gregerson, RHP Joe Musgrove, RHP Mike Fiers, RHP Michael Feliz, INF Colin Moran.Projected Lineup: CF George Springer (.283, 34 HRs, 85 RBIs), 3B Alex Bregman (.284, 19, 71, 39 2Bs), 2B Jose Altuve (MLB-best .346, 24, 81, 39 2Bs, 32 SBs, AL MVP), SS Carlos Correa (.315, 24, 84), 1B Yuli Gurriel (.299, 18, 75, 43 2Bs), LF Marwin Gonzalez (.303, 23, 90, 34 2Bs), DH Evan Gattis (.263, 12, 55), RF Josh Reddick (.314, 13, 82, 34 2Bs), C Brian McCann (.241, 18, 62).Rotation: LH Dallas Keuchel (14-5, 2.90 ERA, 251 Ks), RH Justin Verlander (15-8, 3.36, 219 Ks with Tigers and Astros), RH Gerrit Cole (12-12, 4.26, 196 Ks with Pirates), RH Lance McCullers Jr. (7-4, 4.25), RH Charlie Morton (14-7, 3.62).Key Relievers: RH Ken... [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 AstrosManager: A.J. Hinch (fourth season).2017: 101-61, first place, won World Series.Training Town: West Palm Beach, Florida.Park: The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.First Workout: Feb. 14/19.He's Here: RHP Gerrit Cole, RHP Joe Smith, RHP Hector Rondon.He's Outta Here: DH Carlos Beltran, RHP Luke Gregerson, RHP Joe Musgrove, RHP Mike Fiers, RHP Michael Feliz, INF Colin Moran.Going campin': This team is basically set after retaining almost every key player from last season's championship squad. The two strongest areas are the middle infield, where shortstop Carlos Correa and second baseman Jose Altuve, last year's AL MVP, return to anchor the middle of the order. Correa hit .315 with 24 homers — both career highs — and Altuve had his finest season, hitting a career-best and major... [More]

RHP Jason Grilli has surrendered a walk-off hit in his last three appearances with three different clubs at Kauffman Stadium: Lorenzo Cain, Sunday; Whit Merrifield on June 23 while with Toronto; and Kendrys Morales, May 15, 2016 while with Atlanta.

RHP Jason Grilli, acquired on Sunday in a trade with Toronto, will be a veteran presence in a struggling Texas bullpen beset by inexperience. That doesn't mean the 40-year-old doesn't want to pitch. "I'm just happy to get the ball whenever," said Grilli, who was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on June 27 after compiling a 6.97 ERA in 26 appearances. Manager Jeff Banister said he envisioned Grilli in late-inning, leverage-type situations. Grilli pitched a perfect eighth inning on Monday vs. Boston, striking out two.

RHP Jason Grilli rejoined the Rangers in a trade announced before the game, coming to the club from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for minor league OF Eduard Pinto. Previously a Ranger in 2009, Grilli was 2-4 with a 7.97 ERA, one save and 23 strikeouts in 26 games over 26 2/3 innings this season before Toronto designated him for assignment June 27. Grilli is expected to join the Rangers before Monday's home game against the Boston Red Sox. The Rangers designated RHP Preston Claiborne for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster, and will make a corresponding move for the 25-man roster before Monday's game. Claiborne has an option at Triple-A Round Rock.

RHP Jason Grilli was acquired by the Texas Rangers from the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday in exchange for minor league OF Eduard Pinto. The 40-year-old Grilli was 2-4 with a 7.97 ERA over 26 2/3 innings with one save in 26 games with Toronto this season before being designated for assignment on June 27. Grilli is 34-46 with 79 saves and a 4.18 ERA in 575 career appearances with the Miami Marlins (2000-01), Chicago White Sox (2004), Detroit Tigers (2005-08), Colorado Rockies (2008-09), Texas Rangers (2009), Pittsburgh Pirates (2011-14), Los Angeles Angels (2014), Atlanta Braves (2015-16) and Blue Jays (2016-17). He was a National League All-Star in 2013 when he posted 33 saves for Pittsburgh. He also saved 24 games for Atlanta in 2015.

The Texas Rangers acquired right-handed relief pitcher Jason Grilli from the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday in exchange for minor league outfielder Eduard Pinto.The Rangers also activated right-hander Tony Barnette from 10-day disabled list ahead of Sunday's game in Chicago against the White Sox.Grilli is expected to join the Rangers on Monday for a home game against the Boston Red Sox. The club will make a corresponding 25-man roster move at that time.The Rangers need bullpen help as they lead the major leagues with 16 blown saves this season.The 40-year-old Grilli was 2-4 with a 7.97 ERA over 26 2/3 innings with one save in 26 games with Toronto this season before being designated for assignment on June 27.Grilli is 34-46 with 79 saves and a 4.18 ERA in 575 career appearances with the Miami Marlins (2000-01), Chicago White Sox (2004), Detroit Tigers (2005-08), Colorado Rockies (2008-09), Texas Rangers (2009), Pittsburgh Pirates (2011-14), Los Angeles Angels (2014), Atlanta Braves (2015-16)... [More]

RHP Jason Grilli was designated for assignment Tuesday and RHP Chris Smith was called up from Triple-A Buffalo to take his spot in the bullpen. Grilli, 40, joined the Blue Jays May 31, 2016 in a trade with the Atlanta Braves and worked his way into the setup role in the bullpen. He struggled this season and was 2-4 with a 6.97 ERA in 26 games. He allowed nine home runs in 20 2/3 innings.

RHP Jason Grilli was designated for assignment Tuesday by the Toronto Blue Jays. Grilli, 40, was 2-4 with a 6.97 ERA in 26 games with the Blue Jays this season. He allowed nine home runs in only 20 2/3 innings. Grilli recorded a career-high 33 saves with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2013 and added 24 saves with the Atlanta Braves in 2015.

After spending Monday night at the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona was home resting Tuesday and did not manage the team in its game against the Texas Rangers.Francona became ill during Monday night's game. He was taken to the Cleveland Clinic where he underwent a series of tests."The doctors ruled out any major health issues, which was a big relief to all of us," said Indians president Chris Antonetti.It was the second such episode for Francona in less than two weeks. During a home game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 13, Francona had to leave the dugout and was taken to Cleveland Clinic for tests after experiencing spells of dizziness and light-headedness. Tests at that time also revealed no major health issue, and his discomfort was attributed to dehydration.Antonetti said Francona will return to the dugout for Wednesday's game with Texas. Francona will continue to be monitored by doctors over the next several weeks to determine the nature of his recent... [More]

TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays designated right-handed reliever Jason Grilli for assignment Tuesday before the game with the Baltimore Orioles and called up right-handed reliever Chris Smith from Triple-A Buffalo.Grilli, 40, was 2-4 with a 6.97 ERA in 26 games with the Blue Jays this season. He allowed nine home runs in only 20 2/3 innings.Grilli recorded a career-high 33 saves with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2013 and added 24 saves with the Atlanta Braves in 2015.Toronto acquired Grilli from the Braves at the end of May last year. He appeared in 46 games with the Blue Jays in 2016, posting a 6-4 record and 3.46 ERA.Smith, 28, was 1-2 with a 3.93 ERA in 14 games with Triple-A Buffalo. He had his contract selected by the Blue Jays on Sept. 27, but did not make an appearance.The Blue Jays also activated outfielder Ezequiel Carrera (fractured right foot) from the 10-day disabled list and returned outfielder Dwight Smith Jr. to Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday.Carrera has been on the disabled list since June 14. He is batting .297 with five homers and 15 RBIs in 56 games with Toronto. He made one appearance with Buffalo on a rehabilitation assignment Monday and was 1-for-2 for with two walks and a stolen base.

RHP Jason Grilli allowed four home runs in the eighth inning of the 7-0 loss to the New York Yankees on Saturday. It is the most home runs ever allowed by a Blue Jays reliever in one outing. The last major league pitcher to allow four homers in an inning was Yankees RHP Masahiro Tanaka on Sept. 21 at Tampa Bay. The last reliever to allow four homers in an outing was RHP Yusmeiro Petit of the San Francisco Giants on June 21, 2015, against the Dodgers at Los Angeles. Manager John Gibbons did not want to leave Grilli in so long but had little choice with the bullpen situation. "(Grilli) has been pitching pretty well lately and our guys down in the 'pen are running on fumes right now," Gibbons said. "We really can't keep this pace up, especially when you've got seven guys down there. Today was one of those days."

RHP Jason Grilli pitched around a bunt single in his one inning, the seventh, and picked up his second win against four losses in the 5-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds. In his past six outings, he has held batters to a .190 batting average (4-for-21).

RHP Jason Grilli continues to struggle. He came on to pitch in the bottom of the 10th inning and gave up the game-winning homer to Baltimore C Welington Castillo on a 1-2 pitch. Grilli dropped to 1-4 with a 7.71 ERA. "He was ahead of Castillo, but he didn't get it where he wanted," manager John Gibbons said.

RHP Jason Grilli continues to struggle. He came on to pitch in the bottom of the 10th inning on Friday night and gave up the game-winning homer to Welington Castillo on a 1-2 pitch. Grilli dropped to 1-4 with a 7.71 ERA. "He was ahead of Castillo, but he didn't get it where he wanted," manager John Gibbons said.

RHP Jason Grilli got his first save of the year after Joe Smith put two runners on in the ninth. Grilli got strikeouts for both of his outs, pumping his fist in celebration and bouncing back after giving up a run in his first outing in Baltimore.

RHP Jason Grilli might get more of the closing chances while RHP Roberto Osuna is out, but the veteran certainly didn't like how he did against the Orioles on Monday. He came on in the 10th inning of a tie game and allowed a two-out homer to DH Mark Trumbo in the bottom of the 11th that let Baltimore walk off with a 3-2 victory. "I left it fat," Grilli said of the pitch. "This is the big leagues. There is no more practice, it's for real. I made a bad pitch, and he hit it out."

RHP Jason Grilli is expected to start the season as Toronto's closer while Roberto Osuna is on the disabled list.

RHP Jason Grilli has pitched 16 postseason games without allowing a run, including five games and 3 2/3 innings this postseason. He is in fifth place overall for scoreless games at the start of a postseason career.

RHP Jason Grilli did not pitch in the Jays' 3-0, season-ending loss to the Indians on Wednesday in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series. He did pitch in Game 4, a 5-1 Blue Jays victory, to give him his 16th straight postseason game without allowing a run. He is in fifth place overall for scoreless appearances at the start of a postseason career. RHP Chad Bradford and LHP Dennis Cook share the record at 19 each.