Astros clinch final AL playoff spot despite loss to Rangers
(AP) – Houston clinched the final spot in the expanded American League playoffs when the Los Angeles Angels lost about two hours after the Astros fell 5-4 to the Texas Rangers in 10 innings Friday night. Houston, which already had its three-year reign atop the division ended by Oakland, currently is the only AL playoff team without a winning record. The Angels' 9-5 loss to the Dodgers made Houston's Dusty Baker the first manager to lead five different franchises to the playoffs. UP NEXTThe Astros were waiting for the LA outcome to decide who would start the third game in the four-game series to finish the regular season. RHP Kyle Gibson (2-6, 5.87 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Rangers.
Astros clinch final AL playoff spot despite loss to Rangers
(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)ARLINGTON, Texas – Houston clinched the final spot in the expanded American League playoffs when the Los Angeles Angels lost about two hours after the Astros fell 5-4 to the Texas Rangers in 10 innings Friday night. Houston, which already had its three-year reign atop the division ended by Oakland, currently is the only AL playoff team without a winning record. The Angels' 9-5 loss to the Dodgers made Houston's Dusty Baker the first manager to lead five different franchises to the playoffs. UP NEXTThe Astros were waiting for the LA outcome to decide who would start the third game in the four-game series to finish the regular season. RHP Kyle Gibson (2-6, 5.87 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Rangers.
As MLB 60-game season draws near, careful optimism prevails
Several stars chose not to participate from the start, and rarely a day goes by without a positive COVID-19 test in one camp or another. But here we are, mere days from launching a season that's unique in almost every way. But Hyde remains hopeful that the season will start on time and go the distance. While there's reason for optimism, the stark truth is that COVID-19 is not going away. They still have a chance to play this season, manager Don Mattingly said.
Baseball players get a peek at playing without fans
Baseball players got a sense of what the game will be like without fans in the stands upon returning for workouts last week. ... just sitting behind the dish at a major league stadium with major league players on the field and no one else there and playing in competition, Milwaukee Brewers general manager David Stearns said Thursday. Baseball returned for workouts last week after the season was interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic during spring training. The season will start without fans in the stands and will likely remain that way for a while as coronavirus hotspots continue to pop up across the country. "In terms of the actual game and the way that the game played out, I think it looked like normal baseball."
Giants return, so do some players, but Padres' INF Mateo out
San Diego announced last week that outfielder Tommy Pham tested positive for coronavirus and was asymptomatic. The Giants, meanwhile, resumed workouts at Oracle Park after receiving test results from Saturday, all of which were negative for players and staff. The only Texas players still not cleared to participate are right fielder Joey Gallo and left-hander Brett Martin, both of whom tested positive for coronavirus. Also, Indians outfielder Delino DeShields Jr., who tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, is traveling to Cleveland after he had one negative test. Theres nothing that we can do about it.The Cubs have thus far avoided any positive tests, a development outfielder Kyle Schwarber insists cannot be attributed to mere luck.
Asymptomatic All-Star slugger Gallo tests positive for virus
Rangers slugger Joey Gallo has tested positive for COVID-19, though the team says the All-Star right fielder is asymptomatic. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)ARLINGTON, Texas All-Star slugger Joey Gallo tested positive for the coronavirus, forcing the outfielder who is asymptomatic to miss the start of summer camp for the Texas Rangers after being among teammates who had worked out at their new ballpark for several weeks before that. Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said Monday that Gallo has had multiple tests, including one that came back negative. Our mindset going into this was its not a matter if guys tested positive but when, Daniels said. Martin, already at higher risk because he has Type 1 diabetes, has also self-isolated in the Dallas area since his positive test.
King Flix opts out of MLB season, Doolittle on fence
The decision came a day after Snitker announced that four-time All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman, premier reliever Will Smith and two other Atlanta players tested positive for the virus. Reliever Brett Martin tested positive on intake and allowed the Rangers to disclose that Friday. Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton said outfielder Socrates Brito and pitcher Blake Cederlind tested positive for the coronavirus and allowed their names to be released. Seven players have tested positive, including the players who forced the shutdown of the teams spring training complex a few weeks ago. The Chicago White Sox said two players tested positive and are asymptomatic.
Trout uncertain, All-Star Game off as MLB gets back on field
At Citi Field, Mets two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom ran sprints by himself in shallow right field, then grabbed his personal bag of baseballs to throw off a bullpen mound. Major League Baseball said the All-Star Game, scheduled for July 14 at Dodger Stadium, has been canceled. You have to come down to the field one way and back off the field another way, Tigers pitcher Michael Fulmer said. When Rougned Odor pulled a home run into the right field seats in an intrasquad game, there was a smattering of applause. Im kind of expecting weird, expecting things to be different, manager Chris Woodward said later.