MLB

AP Sports WriterCubs' Schwarber draws inspiration from boy with illnessBy JAY COHENCHICAGO (AP) Kyle Schwarber signed a baseball for Campbell Faulkner, and Faulkner gave Schwarber a green wristband. Twin acts of kindness, and a friendship was born.The slugger with the big Ohio heart, and the sunny boy with...

CLEVELAND (AP) The New York Yankees have called up first baseman Greg Bird from Triple-A and put him into the starting lineup.Bird was set to make his major league debut Thursday night at Cleveland. The lefty hitter was batting seventh while Mark Teixeira got a day off.The Yankees...

AP Sports WriterNationals announce 7-year extension for Stephen StrasburgBy HOWARD FENDRICHWASHINGTON (AP) A day after Stephen Strasburg deflected questions about a new contract, the Washington Nationals announced that they had, indeed, agreed to a seven-year extension with the right-hander.The team said it would hold a news conference at...

A look at what's happening around the major leagues today:---TEXAS TWO-STEPBoth AL Division Series travel to Texas, with the Astros hosting the Royals at 4:10 p.m. EDT and the Blue Jays facing the Rangers at 8:10 p.m. EDT. Kansas City and Houston split Games 1 and 2 in Missouri,...

A look at what's happening around spring training in Florida and Arizona on Friday:---BONJOURMajor League Baseball returns to Montreal when Toronto and Cincinnati open a two-game series at Olympic Stadium. The city had the Expos from 1969-2004. Last year, a pair of exhibitions at the Big O between the...

AP Baseball WriterCleveland planning to start rookie Merritt in Game 4 or 5By NOAH TRISTERTORONTO (AP) The Cleveland Indians plan to start rookie left-hander Ryan Merritt in the AL Championship Series.Merritt is slated to pitch either Game 4 or 5, depending on how Trevor Bauer's injured finger holds...

A look at what's happening around spring training in Florida and Arizona on Monday:---READY TO GORockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez expects to return to the lineup Monday after sitting out two days. After leaving Friday night's game against San Diego with pain in his surgically repaired left knee and missing...

ATLANTA (AP) Braves right-hander Mike Foltynewicz has been hospitalized because of blood clots in his right arm.Assistant general manager John Coppolella says Foltynewicz was taken to an emergency room on Friday with swelling and redness in his arm. Coppolella says Foltynewicz remained in Piedmont Hospital on Sunday.Foltynewicz is...

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) The Rangers moved within a half-game of AL West leading Houston when Prince Fielder hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the eighth inning to lead Texas to a 5-3 win over the Astros on Monday in the opener of a pivotal four-game series.Mitch Moreland hit...

NEW YORK (AP) Joe Maddon walked to the mound in a ski cap. Yoenis Cespedes wore a balaclava. As baseball's postseason keeps getting longer, the Boys of Summer are starting to resemble skiers on a Steamboat Springs lift line.''This weather is not for me,'' Cubs infielder Javier Baez...

AP Baseball WriterAlex Rodriguez to play final game with Yankees on FridayBy MIKE FITZPATRICKNEW YORK (AP) Ready or not, Alex Rodriguez will play his final game in pinstripes this week.One of the most prolific hitters and polarizing figures in baseball history, the slumping slugger plans to take his...

SEATTLE (AP) The Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays have completed the first significant trade of the offseason, a six-player swap that sends infielder Brad Miller, first baseman Logan Morrison and pitcher Danny Farquhar to Tampa Bay for pitchers Nathan Karns and C.J. Riefenhauser, and minor league outfielder...