MLB

LEADING OFF: Stanton back to hit, Strasburg returnsBy The Associated PressA look at what's happening all around the majors Wednesday:---STANTON RETURNSThe Marlins are getting a key reinforcement for their postseason push - sort of. Star slugger Giancarlo Stanton was activated Tuesday, just three weeks after his season was thought...

Bregman powers Astros past Indians to boost playoff hopesCLEVELAND (AP) Houston rookie Alex Bregman continued his hot hitting with a two-run homer that helped the Astros beat Cleveland 6-2 on Monday to boost their playoff hopes while ending the Indians' six-game winning streak.The Astros stayed within two games...

Dansby Swanson's 1st home run is inside the parkWASHINGTON (AP) Dansby Swanson's first major league home run stayed in the ballpark.The 2015 overall No. 1 draft pick circled the bases with an inside-the-park home run in the second inning of the Atlanta Braves' game at the Washington Nationals...

LEADING OFF: Pirates try to end skid, Cessa boosts YanksBy The Associated PressA look at what's happening all around the majors today:---HARR-IBLEThe Pirates have lost seven in a row and fallen below .500, dropping them 4 1/2 games behind St. Louis for the second NL wild-card spot. Ryan Vogelsong...

Associated PressStruggling Shields vows to keep pitching despite back painBy MIKE CRANSTONCHICAGO (AP) White Sox right-hander James Shields vowed Tuesday to stay in the rotation despite back pain and asked for patience from fans amid the worst season of his career.A day after Chicago manager Robin Ventura suggested...

LEADING OFF: Pirates try to end skid, Cessa boosts YanksBy The Associated PressA look at what's happening all around the majors Tuesday:---HARR-IBLEThe Pirates have lost seven in a row and fallen below .500, dropping them 4 1/2 games behind St. Louis for the second NL wild-card spot. Ryan Vogelsong...

Red Sox activate reliever Koji Uehara from disabled listSAN DIEGO (AP) The Boston Red Sox have activated reliever Koji Uehara from the disabled list.Uehara had been out since July 20 with a strained pectoral muscle. The right-hander is 2-3 with a 4.50 ERA in 39 games.He is expected...

Astros lefty Keuchel sent back to Houston for shoulder examCLEVELAND (AP) Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel has been shut down for now because of inflammation in his left shoulder and sent back to Houston for an examination.Manager A.J. Hinch said Monday that Keuchel wouldn't pitch as planned on Tuesday...

Astros lefty Keuchel sent back to Houston for shoulder examCLEVELAND (AP) Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel has been shut down for now because of inflammation in his left shoulder and sent back to Houston for an examination.Manager A.J. Hinch said Monday that Keuchel wouldn't pitch as planned on Tuesday...

AP Sports WriterFlattered by MVP talk, Cubs' Bryant focused on his gameBy JAY COHENCHICAGO (AP) Kris Bryant is learning. Adjusting. Patching holes more quickly than major league teams can find his weaknesses.And that's the scary part right now for opponents of the Chicago Cubs. While the MVP talk...

AP Baseball WriterAngels' Shoemaker has surgery to stop bleeding on brainBy JANIE McCAULEYOAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Los Angeles Angels pitcher Matt Shoemaker underwent surgery to stop bleeding on his brain after he was struck in the head by a line drive against the Seattle Mariners.Shoemaker had the procedure performed...

AP Baseball WriterMcGwire, Strasburg among future stars who played in OlympicsBy NOAH TRISTERBaseball is returning to the Olympics in 2020. The question now is who will be playing.With the Summer Games falling in the middle of the major league season, the sport has never been able to produce the...