WASHINGTON (AP) — Baseball players are open to extending the designated hitter to the National League and to expanding the winner-take-all wild-card playoff to a multi-game series. Management has little interest.The American League has used the DH since 1972, and there has been more …

WASHINGTON (AP) — By the time Bryce Harper gets to the plate at the All-Star Game, Max Scherzer could already be done.Harper is batting sixth in his fifth All-Star start, the lowest he has been in the National League lineup since the No. 9 spot in 2013. Scherzer getting the start against …

At the All-Star break last year, Chris Sale looked as if he might pull away in the American League Cy Young race. He already had 178 strikeouts with only 22 walks.By the end of the season, of course, Sale had to settle for second place — and not a particularly close second — after …

WASHINGTON (AP) — Touki Toussaint was about to settle down for his pregame nap when Atlanta Braves director of player development Dom Chiti called."When I saw his name pop up, I did kind of get nervous," Toussaint said. "You see that name pop up, you're like, 'Oh, snap.'"Chiti was calling …

WASHINGTON (AP) — David Ortiz drew so many pals and well-wishers, it took him nearly three minutes just to climb a few dugout steps. He then swung behind the batting cage, gave Vladimir Guerrero a playful pat, and spotted another Hall of Famer along the first base side."What's goin' on, …

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox rolled through the pre-All-Star game portion of their schedule piling up wins. Now, they'll have a few days to sit back, relax and enjoy their historic start.Xander Bogaerts homered in his first at-bat a day after hitting a walk-off grand slam and drove in …

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals aren't accustomed to stretches of mediocrity, and certainly not to reports of clubhouse unrest.The prospect of a third straight year without a postseason berth has spelled the end for manager Mike Matheny.Matheny was stunningly fired Saturday night …

BOSTON (AP) — Xander Bogaerts relaxed to the beat of his favorite walk-up song. Three pitchers later, he was stunned by excitement rounding the bases.Bogaerts hit a game-ending grand slam with one out in 10th inning, and J.D. Martinez hit his major league-leading 29th homer to carry the …

BOSTON (AP) — Teammates have long stopped laughing at J.D. Martinez and his iPad.Boston's All-Star slugger is serious about every swing he takes, even in batting practice, and he has the tape to prove it. Get to the park early enough for Red Sox BP, and you'll see a pair of iPads attached …

BOSTON (AP) — Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez had to leave Saturday's game in the sixth inning with a sprained right ankle after tumbling over Toronto's Lourdes Gurriel Jr. attempting to cover first on a grounder.Rodriguez, off to his third straight scoreless start, got to the bag at …

BOSTON (AP) — The streak had to end some time.Rick Porcello just didn't want it to be his fault.Justin Smoak homered and Kevin Pillar hit a two-run double as the Toronto Blue Jays chased the Boston right-hander in a five-run third inning on Friday night, beating the Red Sox 13-7 to snap …

A look at what's happening around the majors today:HEAVEN 11Mookie Betts and the rolling Boston Red Sox try to win their 11th consecutive game when they host Toronto again at Fenway Park. Betts, who leads the majors with a .352 batting average, had a grand slam and five RBIs in Thursday night's …

BOSTON (AP) — Mookie Betts was so excited he nearly tripped when his feet got tangled on the way to first base.Boston's normally mild-mannered right fielder let loose with some emotion after ending a marathon at-bat with a grand slam that helped lead the Red Sox to a 6-4 win over the …

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox have placed third baseman Rafael Devers on the 10-day disabled list with left shoulder inflammation.The move was retroactive to Wednesday night.Infielder Tzu-Wei Lin was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket to replace him on the roster.Devers was batting.241 with …

A look at what's happening around the majors today:PAIR OF ACESTwo of the top pitchers in the American League square off when the New York Yankees begin a series in Cleveland. Two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber (12-4, 2.49 ERA) starts for the Indians, while the AL leader in wins, Luis …

BOSTON (AP) — Chris Sale came off the mound, yelling something into his glove that wasn't fit for his mother's ears.It wasn't another strikeout that got him fired up, though he had 12 of those on Wednesday night. It was a comebacker that he stabbed out of the air to start an inning-ending …

BOSTON (AP) — Chris Sale struck out 12 in seven innings of shutout ball in his final start before the All-Star Game, and major league batting leader Mookie Betts had two more hits on Wednesday night to lead the Boston Red Sox to their ninth straight victory, 4-2 over the Texas Rangers.Sale …

BOSTON (AP) — Andrew Benintendi bolstered his All-Star credentials, then happily left it up to the fans to decide.Benintendi hit two doubles and drove in two runs in his final game before fan votes are tallied, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Texas Rangers 8-4 on Tuesday night to extend …

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox say infielder Marco Hernandez and catcher Christian Vazquez each had surgery.Hernandez had surgery on his left shoulder and will miss the rest of the season.Vazquez had surgery on his right pinky finger and will miss 6 to 8 weeks.The Red Sox have won seven in …

A look at what's happening around the majors today:SURGING SOXThe major league-best Boston Red Sox look for their 15th win in 18 games as they host the Texas Rangers in the middle game of their series. The Red Sox, who lead the second-place Yankees by 2 1/2 games in the AL East, send Hector …