Scherzer, other latest $100M contracts not on All-Star teams
Max Scherzer was back on the mound, striking out 11 in six scoreless innings of two-hit ball. The NL starter in last year's game, Scherzer was 5-1 with a 2.26 ERA through his comeback Tuesday night in Cincinnati, only his ninth start this year. Scherzer is making a season-record $43.3 million in the first of his $130 million, three-year deal.
news.yahoo.comBรกez to Detroit, MLB teams race to finish biz before lockout
Javier Bรกez agreed to bring his high motor to the Motor City, while other teams around the majors raced to finish up business before Tuesdayโs deadline to tender contracts and a likely roster freeze coming when baseball's collective bargaining agreement expires Wednesday.
Bang, bang! Pair of 1st-pitch HRs for 1st time in decades
Miami Marlins leadoff batter Miguel Rojas and New York Mets counterpart Jonathan Villar each homered on the first pitch they saw Thursday night, the first time thatโs happened in a major league game since at least 1985, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Diamondbacks' Gallen has sore forearm, might miss opener
SETBACK IN THE BULLPENBlue Jays right-hander Kirby Yates will miss several weeks because of a strained muscle in his forearm. He allowed one run and five hits, striking out five without a walk. Ross Stripling struck out seven and walked none in 3 2/3 innings, but gave up three runs and five hits. Bryan Abreu, a top Astros pitching prospect who turns 24 next month, started and pitched three perfect innings, striking out four. Baltimore starter John Means allowed four hits and walked three over 3 2/3 innings, striking out three.
Seeing is believing: Bauer shuts eye, pitches shutout ball
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 Lรณpez threw three scoreless innings with three strikeouts.
LEADING OFF: Stanton's HR streak, Kershaw at home, Acuรฑa hit
(AP Photo/Gregory Bull)A look at what's happening around the majors on Wednesday:STANTON'S STREAKYankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton has homered in all four of the team's postseason games this year. The two-time NL home run champion is from the Los Angeles area and says โthat SoCal air" is helping the ball fly. If the Dodgers advance to the NL Championship Series or World Series, fans will be allowed at those games. โAt this point I think weโve grown accustomed to it.โAlcantara insisted he didnโt intend to hit Acuรฑa and that Miamiโs game plan is simply to pitch inside to him. Springerโs 17 postseason homers tied Nelson Cruz and Jim Thome for most through a playerโs first 54 postseason games.
Acuรฑa HR, plunked again, Braves top Marlins 9-5 to open NLDS
Acuรฑa got things going for the Braves in the bottom of the first when he sent Alcantaraโs second pitch into right-center for a homer. Braves manager Brian Snitker said that even though he didnโt believe this pitch was on purpose, the Marlins have hit Acuรฑa far too many times. The Braves trailed 4-3 in the seventh before Austin Riley and Acuรฑa hit consecutive singles with no outs to chase Alcantara. The shot caused the Braves dugout to erupt with Acuรฑa jumping over the railing to celebrate. UP NEXTRight-hander Pablo Lopez will make his postseason debut when he starts for the Marlins in Game 2 against Ian Anderson.