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Scherzer faces deGrom in spring game, rematch on opening day

Scherzer will make his Nationals-record sixth opening day start April 1, facing the New York Mets in Washington. The original lineup released by Washington before the game featured a designated hitter; that was revised to include Scherzer batting for himself. DeGrom struck him out, part of his 4 2/3 scoreless innings with three hits and five Ks. YANKEES 8, BLUE JAYS 3Gerritt Cole struck out eight in five innings, allowing one run in his fourth spring start for New York. BRAVES 11, RAYS 1Atlanta starter Max Fried gave up three hits and struck out five over six innings.

Now in Chisox 'pen, Kopech makes debut after 2020 opt-out

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.

Springer, Bauer, Lindor lead list of big names on new teams

The reigning World Series champions already had a pair of Cy Young Award winners in Clayton Kershaw and David Price. Darvish has twice finished runner-up for a Cy Young Award, including last season when he was 8-3 with a 2.01 ERA in 12 starts. Lester is a three-time World Series champion, winning twice with Boston and once with the Cubs. He’s part of a rotation led by three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer, 2019 World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg and lefty Patrick Corbin. Bradley was a Gold Glove winner in 2018 when the Red Sox won the World Series.

The Latest: Padres hoping to have 20% capacity for opener

Padres CEO Erik Greupner said Tuesday that it’s possible the team could be playing before capacity crowds at the 42,000-seat ballpark later in the season. Because of social distancing, “There’s not going to be an inch of Petco Park that isn’t going to have a pod of seating somewhere in it,” Greupner said. Coupled with other protocols, Petco Park “will be one of the safest places to be in San Diego,” Greupner said. ___The Colorado Rockies have gotten permission to have 21,363 fans at home games this season beginning with opening day on April 1. ___Ohio State has halted football team workouts for a week because of an increase in positive COVID-19 tests within the program.

All-Stars, Iowa cornfield, Arenado return spice MLB schedule

With a good young rotation and a deep lineup, the Braves are looking for their first World Series title since 1995. While San Diego is much improved, World Series MVP Corey Seager and Los Angeles are well-positioned for a run at another championship. The last time the All-Stars descended on Atlanta, Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter had three hits and two RBIs in the AL's 6-3 victory at Turner Field in 2000. AdTHURSDAY, AUG. 12New York Yankees at Chicago White Sox: Major League Baseball comes to Iowa. SUNDAY, SEPT. 26Houston Astros at Oakland Athletics: The AL West rivals close out their season series with Oakland's home finale.

Boone takes leave for pacemaker; Lester to have surgery

I look forward to getting back to work in the next several days.”LESTER SURGERYWashington Nationals left-hander Jon Lester is leaving spring training camp to have surgery for the removal of his thyroid gland. He underwent chemotherapy treatments and returned to the Red Sox at spring training before the following season. Soto’s spring training start was delayed because he fouled a ball off his right foot in live batting practice Sunday. Martinez had two hits for a second straight game, driving in his first two runs of spring training. Jarred Kelenic, Seattle’s top prospect, hit a two-run homer and Taylor Trammell hit a solo homer.

Coming home: Padres' Musgrove wears No. 44 to honor Peavy

(AP Photo/Ron Schwane, file)When Joe Musgrove reported to spring training to start his sixth big league season, a brown and gold No. 44 San Diego Padres jersey was hanging in his locker. 44 is a nod to Jake Peavy, the fiery right-hander Musgrove grew up cheering for. "The last few days here, it just feels right.”Musgrove was obtained in a trade with rebuilding Pittsburgh on Jan. 19, the third big trade Padres general manager A.J. Musgrove said he was an energetic and emotional player as a kid, which is why he idolized Peavy, the 2007 NL Cy Young Award winner.

Spring training '21: New year, but COVID-19 protocols remain

FILE - In this Feb. 18, 2014, file photo, Atlanta Braves batting helmets sits on the field under a shining sun during a spring training baseball workout in Kissimmee, Fla. Major League Baseball revamped its spring training exhibition schedule because of the pandemic, cutting travel for Florida-based teams in an effort to avoid the novel coronavirus, the league announced Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)NEW YORK – Completing the 2020 season required MLB to rewrite its rule book. Offers by MLB to delay opening day were rejected by the players' association last month, defaulting the league into an on-time start. The Grapefruit League schedule was reworked to limit travel, and clubs won’t play exhibitions against local colleges — usually a spring staple. MLB has claimed billions in losses after playing the 2020 season almost entirely without fans, and free agents were met by a sluggish market this winter.

Archer agrees to rejoin Rays on $6.5 million, 1-year deal

FILE - In this Aug. 3, 2019, file photo, Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Chris Archer delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, in Pittsburgh. Two-time All-Star pitcher Chris Archer has agreed to rejoin the Tampa Bay Rays on a $6.5 million, one-year contract, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, FIle)ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Two-time All-Star pitcher Chris Archer has agreed to rejoin the Tampa Bay Rays on a $6.5 million, one-year contract, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. The AL champion Rays declined a $15 million option on Morton for 2021. He was 6-12 with a 4.92 ERA over two seasons with the Pirates, who declined an $11 million option on his contract for 2021.

Padres bring Musgrove home in 3-team trade with Bucs, Mets

The San Diego Padres are adding yet another pitcher to their rotation, agreeing to bring right-hander Musgrove to his hometown in a trade with the Pirates, according to a person familiar with the deal. The Padres brought Musgrove home Tuesday, adding yet another starting pitcher via a seven-player trade involving the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Mets. The Padres sent left-hander Joey Lucchesi to New York, and the Pirates got catcher Endy Rodríguez from the Mets. Musgrove won a World Series ring with Houston in 2017 before being sent to the Pirates in the trade that sent Gerrit Cole to the Astros in January 2018. Musgrove was the winning pitcher in Game 5 of the World Series against the Dodgers.

Players call MLB economic proposal `extremely disappointing'

We made a proposal to the union that is completely consistent with the economic realities facing our sport, MLB said in a statement. During that session, MLB gave the union a presentation claiming billions of dollars of anticipated losses and held off making a proposal for two weeks. Under MLBs proposal, the playoffs would expand from 10 teams to 14 and players would receive more money if the postseason is played. Many players and union leadership have said the March 26 agreement would stand and no additional salary should be given up. As protection to teams against a lost postseason, salaries could be deferred with interest.

Rays chase Verlander early, beat Astros 4-1 to even ALDS

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Tampa Bay Rays never doubted themselves, even with Justin Verlander looking to end their season. Willy Adames homered and made a sensational relay throw from shortstop, and the Rays chased Verlander early in beating the Houston Astros 4-1 Tuesday night to even their AL Division Series at two games apiece. "We've got some momentum going for us and we plan on taking it back to Houston," Tampa Bay center fielder Kevin Kiermaier said. Verlander, whose eight career ALDS victories are a major league record, yielded three runs in the first. The Rays helped themselves by playing stellar defense, especially with the Astros threatening to cut into their three-run deficit in the fourth.

Cole fans 15, Bregman homers as Astros top Rays 3-1

Cole, 5-0 with a 1.07 ERA in six starts last month, set an Astros postseason record with 15 strikeouts in 7 2/3 scoreless innings to win his franchise-record 17th straight decision. Kevin Kiemaier doubled with two outs in the eighth and Cole was lifted after putting on Willy Adames with Cole's first walk. The Rays cut the lead to 3-1 when Avisal Garcia grounded into a forceout that scored Meadows. UP NEXTFormer Astro Charlie Morton, who got the win in the Rays wild-card victory, will start against Zack Greinke. Morton pitched for the Astros from 2017-18 and played a big role in their 2017 World Series title.

Astros aces amped to face Rays in AL Division Series

Houston will start Justin Verlander in Game 1 of the AL Division Series against Tampa Bay on Friday, followed by Gerrit Cole on Saturday night in Game 2 and Zack Greinke in Monday's Game 3. Despite their penchant for openers, the Rays will go with three true starters in the first three games of this series. Tyler Glasnow will start Game 1, 2018 AL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell gets Game 2 and Charlie Morton, who got the win in their wild-card game against Oakland Wednesday night, will start Game 3. Some things to know about the ALDS between the Rays and Astros:CORREA READY TO GOHouston shortstop Carlos Correa is healthy and will start Game 1. And in the meeting with the team, Cash was amused by the introduction Hinch gave him.