CLINT FRAZIER

Alfonso Rivas had three hits and five RBIs, and the Chicago Cubs stopped a four-game slide by pounding the Pittsburgh Pirates 21-0.

Ian Happ had three hits, including a tiebreaking two-run double in the seventh inning, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-4 on opening day.

Good morning, Chicago. Here are some of the top stories you need to know to start your day.

A person familiar with the situation says the Chicago Cubs and star Japanese outfielder Seiya Suzuki have agreed to an $85-million, five-year deal.

Clint Frazier's tenure with the Yankees may have ended after five unfulfilling seasons when New York designated him for assignment on Friday to open a roster spot for a prospect ahead of the winter meeting draft. Frazier can be claimed by another major league team off waivers. If he is not, he could be assigned outright to the minors but he would have the right to reject the assignment and become a free agent because he has at least three years of major league service.

Gerrit Cole pitched two-hit ball into the sixth inning and struck out nine in his return from the COVID-19 injured list, and Joey Gallo hit a two-run homer as the New York Yankees beat the Los Angeles Angels 2-1.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone isn't certain that Clint Frazier will be able to play baseball again after the outfielder was pulled from a minor league rehab assignment Monday amid continuing issues with his vision. “We'll see,” Boone said when asked if Frazier would play again. The 26-year-old Frazier began a minor league rehab assignment last Tuesday after missing nearly six weeks due to dizziness and other symptoms consistent with vertigo.

Anthony Rizzo continued his remarkable debut for the Yankees with another key hit and New York completed a three-game sweep with a 3-1 victory over the Miami Marlins on Sunday.

Taijuan Walker took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, Brandon Nimmo provided a spark in his return from the injured list and the New York Mets beat the crosstown Yankees 8-3 to open a three-game Subway Series.

Shohei Ohtani’s debut on the Yankee Stadium mound sure didn’t last long.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman says his fourth-place ballclub is “as bad as you can be” but he’s not placing the blame on manager Aaron Boone or the coaching staff.

Gerrit Cole’s strikeouts and spin rate dropped as he pitched for the first time since Major League Baseball’s crackdown on sticky substances, and the Kansas City Royals rallied off Jonathan Loiasiga for four runs in the eighth inning to beat the New York Yankees 6-5.

Rafael Devers hit a three-run homer in the first inning off Michael King, Marwin González added a two-run double and the Boston Red Sox beat the New York Yankees 5-2 in the first of the rivals’ 19 meetings this season.

Ryan Yarbrough ended a 24-start winless skid with Tampa Bay’s first complete game in more than five years, Austin Meadows homered off shaky Yankees ace Gerrit Cole and drove in five and the Rays beat New York 9-2.

Clint Frazier hit a game-ending, two-run homer with two outs in the 11th inning after making a game-saving catch in the eighth, and the slumping New York Yankees beat the rival Tampa Bay Rays 5-3.

Yankees center fielder Aaron Hicks will have surgery for a torn tendon sheath in his left wrist that could sideline him for the rest of the season.

Gleyber Torres’ tying single in the ninth inning and a winning infield single in the 11th helped the New York Yankees overcame Max Scherzer’s commanding 14-strikeout performance to beat the Washington Nationals 4-3.

José Altuve responded to jeering fans by marking his 31st birthday with a go-ahead, three-run homer off Chad Green in the eighth inning, and the Houston Astros beat the New York Yankees 7-4 to avoid a three-game sweep.

Giancarlo Stanton homered again and knocked in four runs, Aaron Hicks hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning and the New York Yankees beat the Houston Astros 6-3 for their fifth straight victory.

Jameson Taillon earned his first win in exactly two years, Aaron Judge had three hits and three RBIs, and the New York Yankees beat the Detroit Tigers 6-4.

New York Yankees players and staff are restlessness and so are fans.

The last-place New York Yankees lost their fifth straight game as Yoshi Tsutsugo hit a tiebreaking double off Gerrit Cole in the seventh inning that lifted the Tampa Bay Rays to a 4-2 win and a three-game sweep.

Hyperice, the sports tech company that specializes in muscle recovery products, has agreed to a sponsorship with the New York Yankees, the company told CNBC. The multiyear agreement announced Monday is the first team deal for Hyperice, which added Major League Baseball as an investor last year. The deal calls for Hyperice products, including its "Hypervolt" massage device, available to players in dugouts, bullpens and training areas at Yankee Stadium. Just one month before that equity deal, Hyperice was valued at $700 million. Hyperice used 2020 to build its brand awareness after acquiring NormaTec, the creator of a popular recovery system used by professional athletes.

“We’re just talking.”The Mets obtained Lindor from Cleveland in January, and he's signed for this season at $22.3 million. Canning now has 13 strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings. The two-time Cy Young Award winner has permitted three hits in 8 2/3 innings with 16 strikeouts and a walk. Nola has given up 15 hits in 8 2/3 innings, seeing his ERA rise to 10.38. Kyle Wright made his fourth start, giving up two runs on three hits and two walks in 2 2/3 innings.

TWINS 1, ORIOLES 0 (7 INNINGS)Minnesota ace Kenta Maeda allowed one hit in three innings, striking out four in his second start. Baltimore's Dean Kremer fared better in his second start, allowing a hit and a walk in three scoreless innings. Deivi García pitched three shutout innings in his second start for the Yankees. Nick Pivetta made his second start for Boston, allowing a run on three hits with three strikeouts in three innings. Alex Wood worked two innings in the start for San Francisco and gave up a home run to Omar Narvaez.

FILE - New York Yankees relief pitcher Zack Britton winds up during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles in New York, in this Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, file photo. Yankees left-hander Zack Britton is not throwing because of a sore pitching elbow, was to be examined by a doctor on Tuesday, March 9, 2021, and could miss the start of the season. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)LAKELAND, Fla. – New York Yankees left-hander Zack Britton needs surgery to remove a bone chip from his pitching elbow and seems certain to miss the start of the season. Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced the need for an operation following New York's 6-5 loss to Detroit on Tuesday. Boone said Britton felt soreness Sunday night following a bullpen session and had an MRI of his elbow on Monday.

Bauer wound up pitching three scoreless innings with the creative approach, striking out three while allowing two hits and a walk. Known for speaking his mind and going his own way, Bauer said he regularly shuts one eye during bullpen sessions and other workouts. METS 6, ASTROS 1 (6)Jacob deGrom pitched two scoreless innings in his spring debut, striking out three and allowing one hit. AdBLUE JAYS 7, PHILLIES 1 (7)Newcomer Tanner Roark made his first start for Toronto, allowing one hit in two scoreless innings. Jorge López threw three scoreless innings with three strikeouts.

This screengrab from a Zoom call, Friday, March 5, 2021, shows New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone. Boone said he's feeling better after getting a pacemaker and said he hopes to return to the team Saturday or Sunday. (AP Photo/Ron Blum)New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone returned to the dugout Saturday, three days after surgery to have a pacemaker inserted. Boone, who turns 48 in a few days, left the club Wednesday to get the pacemaker at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, Florida. Boone, who had open heart surgery in 2009 for a congenital defect, had been experiencing light-headedness and fatigue this winter.

FILE - In this Aug. 31, 2019, file photo, New York Yankees pitcher Domingo German throws to first in a pickoff-attempt during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in New York. German has started the process of talking to teammates about his domestic violence suspension that has kept him off the mound since September 2019. “Exciting to be back on the field, be back with my teammates,” Germán said. Germán missed the final nine games of the regular season and all nine of New York’s playoff games. AdBack with the Yankees for the start of spring training, Germán spoke with his New York teammates last week and issued a public apology the next day.

The ball was flying for the Rays as well off Yankees ace Gerrit Cole in downtown San Diego. Cole beat Tampa Bay twice in last year’s ALDS while with Houston. Choi’s shot with no outs in the fourth gave Tampa Bay a 3-2 lead. The teams are meeting in the postseason after Tampa Bay dominated the contentious regular-season series 8-2. DEBUTTampa Bay reliever Shane McClanahan became the first pitcher in baseball history to make his big league debut in a postseason game.

Toronto Blue Jays players, coaches and staff celebrate a 4-1 win over the New York Yankees in a baseball game in Buffalo, N.Y., Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)BUFFALO, N.Y. – Barred from playing in their own ballpark this year because of COVID-19, the vagabond Toronto Blue Jays have found a home in the playoffs. The Blue Jays extended their lead when Biggio and Bo Bichette hit back-to-back, two-out doubles in the third. SEVEN UPRyu became the first Blue Jays starting pitcher since Aug. 22, 2019, to pitch into the seventh. Blue Jays: RHP Taijuan Walker (4-3, 2.86) starts Friday in the opener of a three-game series against Baltimore.

Toronto Blue Jays' Jacob Waguespack reacts as New York Yankees' Kyle Higashioka runs the bases after hitting a home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)NEW YORK – Kyle Higashioka hit a career-high three home runs, DJ LeMahieu connected twice and the resurgent New York Yankees hit a season-best seven homers in another Bronx air show, thumping the Toronto Blue Jays 13-2 on Wednesday night. LeMahieu, Voit and Frazier also connected Tuesday — Voit homered twice — when New York hit six home runs and pummeled Toronto 20-6. Gerrit Cole (6-3) had another overpowering start for New York, carrying a no-hitter into the sixth. Higashioka had never topped three homers in a season but has four in the past six days while emerging as Cole's preferred batterymate.

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Dean Kremer throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)NEW YORK – Luke Voit hit a game-ending sacrifice fly leading off the 10th inning, and the New York Yankees beat Baltimore 2-1 Saturday to open a 4 1/2-game lead over the Orioles for the American League’s eighth and final playoff berth. With DJ LeMahieu starting the inning as the automatic runner on second, Hunter Harvey (0-2) bounced a wild pitch that advanced LeMahieu. LeMahieu scored without a throw. Happ lost Tuesday against Toronto despite allowing two runs in 6 1/3 innings and striking out a season-high 10.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Deivi Garcia throws to a Toronto Blue Jays batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Buffalo, N.Y., Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)BUFFALO, N.Y. Deivi Garca earned his first major league win, Gleyber Torres drove in four runs and the New York Yankees snapped a five-game losing streak, beating the Toronto Blue Jays 7-2 on Wednesday night. The Yankees had lost 15 of 20 and fallen to the edge of the expanded playoff field. Luke Voit hit an RBI single that put the Yankees ahead 3-2 in the fifth and Torres added a two-run double. UP NEXTNew York RHP Gerrit Cole (4-3, 3.63 ERA) will start Thursday against Baltimore LHP Keegan Akin (0-0, 2.08) in the opener of the Yankees four-game weekend series against the Orioles.

New York Yankees pitcher Adam Ottavino walks to the dugout after being pulled during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Buffalo, N.Y., Monday, Sept. 7, 2020. Green, Ottavino and Luis Cessa needed 67 pitches and 43 minutes to get three outs. Green's ERA jumped to 4.26, and Ottavino allowed six runs without getting any outs as his ERA rose to 7.82. Ottavino (2-3) relieved, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a two-run, opposite-field single that bounced past Voit and down the right-field line. Sean Reid-Foley (1-0) won despite a bases-loaded walk to Aaron Hicks in the sixth that extended the Yankees lead to four runs.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole throws during the second inning of the team's baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in Baltimore. Cole (4-3) lost a third straight start for the first time since July 30-Aug. 10, 2018, with Houston. Cole struck out eight of the first nine batters he faced, the exception a grounder to shortstop by Ryan Mountcastle. Stewart was 0 for 17 this season before leading off with a drive over the right-field wall. Orioles: Hyde chose to wait to see how this game impacted his pitching staff before naming a starter for Sunday.

(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)NEW YORK Mike Brosseau got some payback against the New York Yankees, hitting two home runs as the Tampa Bay Rays topped their AL East rivals again with a 5-2 victory Wednesday night. The Rays improved to 20-4 in their last 24 games and moved 4 1/2 games ahead of the Yankees. Tampa Bay also avoided consecutive losses for the first time since a five-game skid from July 29 to Aug. 2. Tampa Bay right-hander Charlie Morton returned after missing three weeks with right shoulder inflammation and pitched two-plus hitless innings while being limited to 38 pitches. Yankees: Visit the crosstown New York Mets in a makeup Thursday, the final Subway Series game of the season.

Aaron Hicks lined a tying, two-run homer in the seventh, and Gio Urshela hit a game-ending single off Edwin Diaz an inning later. At 21 years, 103 days, Garca became the youngest pitcher to start in the majors in the abbreviated 60-game game season. GAME 1The Yankees trailed 7-2 with two outs in final inning of the seven-inning game before rallying against Jared Hughes and Diaz. The Mets added three runs in the sixth when Michael Conforto hit a two-run double and Pete Alonso was hit by a pitch. Yankees: RHP Gerrit Cole (4-1, 3.51) opens a three-game series against AL East leaders Tampa Bay.

(AP Photo/John Minchillo)NEW YORK The last time the New York Yankees lost eight in a row, it was a different millennium. Frazier drew a leadoff walk in the ninth from Betances (0-1), a four-time All-Star with the Yankees before signing with the Mets last offseason. Happ held the Mets to three hits in 7 1/3 shutout innings, becoming the first Yankees starter to reach the eighth this season. The Mets will be the home" team at Yankee Stadium in the second game. Prized pitching prospect Deivi Garcia will start one game for the Yankees, making his major league debut.

Back in his comfort zone Friday night, the New York Mets outfielder took a starring role in a Subway Series instant classic. We all were extremely happy to just be back on the field and be back playing baseball, Smith said. Smith, a 25-year-old Black man, cried Wednesday night reflecting on a recent shooting by police of a Black man in Wisconsin. 42 for the second game only. Inspired by the emotional comments from the usually upbeat Smith, the Mets staged a walkout protest against racial injustice with the Miami Marlins on Thursday night.

New York Yankees' Gerrit Cole delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)NEW YORK Gerrit Cole posted his 20th straight regular-season win, becoming the sixth pitcher to ever reach the mark by throwing seven sharp innings to lead the New York Yankees over the Boston Red Sox 10-3 Friday night. New York also beat Boston for the seventh straight time and is 12-1 at home against the Red Sox since the start of last season. The Red Sox also lost to the Yankees for the 12th time in the past 13 meetings since July 28, 2019. Yankees: LHP James Paxton (0-1, 7.84 ERA) starts Saturday.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)NEW YORK Injury fill-in Clint Frazier had three hits, including a home run, and scored twice in his season debut as the Yankees beat Atlanta 6-3 Wednesday night, sweeping a two-game set. The Yankees tied it in the bottom of the frame, clubbing back-to-back homers for the first time this season. Yankees: Judge (lower body tightness) did not play, a night after the oft-injured slugger was lifted for a pinch-hitter. Yankees: RHP Gerrit Cole (3-0, 3.22 ERA) should get his first taste of baseballs longest-running rivalry.

New York Yankees Aaron Judge, right, celebrates with the Yankees Luke Voit (59) after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)NEW YORK Yankees star Aaron Judge was out of the lineup Wednesday night because of tightness in his lower body and it was uncertain whether the oft-injured slugger would return for the start of a weekend series against Boston. Judge briefly remained in the dugout, watching Tauchman hit from the top rail, then returned to the clubhouse. Boone said Wednesday that Judge felt some wear and tear during last weekends series on the artificial turf at Tampa Bay. Judge hit 52 home runs in 2017 and was the AL Rookie of the Year.

Washington Nationals' Howie Kendrick (47) is greeted with "air high fives" by Juan Soto (22) after Kendrick scored them both on a two-run home run off Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Alex Cobb during an exhibition baseball game, Monday, July 20, 2020, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)WASHINGTON Washington Nationals slugger Juan Soto tested positive for COVID-19 and was put on the injured list Thursday, forcing him to miss the start of the pandemic-delayed season. Soto had missed the first two weeks of the teams summer camp this month after he was exposed to someone with COVID-19. Also Thursday, Yankees second baseman DJ LeMahieu was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list as New York set its opening day 30-man roster before playing Game 1. "If you told me my dream, making the opening day roster for the yankees, as a young kid in New Jersey would come true, I wouldnt have believed you.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

DHs in the National League, well, OK. An automatic runner on second to start the 10th inning? If this is what its going to be, this is whats going to be, Scherzer said. Four months after the games were supposed to start, strange ball is better than no ball, right? Opening day brings a tasty doubleheader: a marquee pitching matchup in Washington, followed by the nightcap at Dodger Stadium when Clayton Kershaw taking on the San Francisco Giants. Is it going to be perfect the very first day? As manager Bob Melvin said.

He was like, Youre bothering me, Im trying to hit, recalled Girardi, now manager of the Philadelphia Phillies. I said, Well, Im trying to bother you, Chili.Girardi doesnt think that kind of chatter will happen as much this season amid the coronavirus pandemic. Some plate umpires are expected to wear their own face coverings. Im just trying to show that its easy to do and its the right thing to do, Frazier said. Neither is MLB players must use face coverings elsewhere in the ballpark, but not during on-field activities.

NEW YORK The crowd noise was phony. Those runs in the fourth inning were the only ones Cole allowed over 5 2/3 innings Friday night. He thought the crowd noise was a work in progress. It kind of sounds the same, I guess, if youre in your zone and youre and youre not really paying attention, he said. Warren wont be ready to pitch at the major league level until next year and the Yankees could re-sign him.

New York Yankees hitting coach Marcus Thames, left, watches Aaron Judge take batting practice during a baseball summer training camp workout, Wednesday, July 8, 2020, at Yankee Stadium in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)NEW YORK Yankees slugger Aaron Judge was held out of action for a second straight day Sunday due to a stiff neck. New York manager Aaron Boone said Judge got treatment at Yankee Stadium on Sunday and was improving. Judge was diagnosed with a broken rib in March and used the coronavirus hiatus to recover. Right-hander Masahiro Tanaka played catch Sunday to 100 feet and is ramping up his cardio but remains in concussion protocol.

Protective face coverings won't be out of sight when Major League Baseball resumes in less than two weeks. New York Yankees outfielder Clint Frazier has been experimenting with various masks during intrasquad scrimmages. At 68, Washington has seen fellow Braves coach Eric Young Sr. and Mets hitting coach Chili Davis opt out this season. I trust the protocol that MLB has in place and I also trust Ron Washington even more.This is very safe, he said Sunday, adding, Sixty games? More umpires are expected to start working intrasquad games this week.

New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole throws during the first inning of an intrasquad game during baseball practice Tuesday July 7, 2020, in New York. But the team's new $324 million ace learned the hard way about one of baseballs new coronavirus safety protocols Tuesday night during an intrasquad game at Yankee Stadium. I liked that ball, Cole grumbled on the mound. Cole faced a Yankees B team in an intrasquad game that aired locally. ... C Kyle Higashioka was scratched from the intrasquad game with a sore neck.