INSIDER
Cortes takes no-hit bid into 8th, Yanks beat Rangers 1-0
Read full article: Cortes takes no-hit bid into 8th, Yanks beat Rangers 1-0Nestor Cortes took a no-hit bid into the eighth inning before Eli White singled, and Anthony Rizzo doubled in a run in the bottom half to lift the New York Yankees over the Texas Rangers 1-0 for their sixth straight series win.
Astros clinch final AL playoff spot despite loss to Rangers
Read full article: Astros clinch final AL playoff spot despite loss to RangersThe Astros (29-29) just had to wait a couple of extra hours to wrap up second place in the AL West, which became official with the Angels' 9-5 loss. Now Houston can start planning for a wild-card matchup that could be against Oakland, which ended a three-year run atop the AL West for the defending AL champion. Nick Solak matched Bregman’s sacrifice fly to get the last-place Rangers even in the bottom of the 10th. STANDOUT TEXAS ROOKIERookie catcher Sam Huff homered twice, his second and third, for the first two Rangers runs. 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.
Rangers activate Martin from virus IL, Kluber to 45-day IL
Read full article: Rangers activate Martin from virus IL, Kluber to 45-day ILARLINGTON, Texas Texas Rangers left-hander Brett Martin has been activated from the injured list after missing the start of the season because of a positive coronavirus test. Kluber, who exited his start Sunday after one inning, had a platelet-rich plasma injection and returned to his home in the Boston area. The Rangers also recalled outfielder Adolis Garca and optioned outfielder Leody Taveras, one of their top prospects, to the alternate training site. Martin, already at higher risk for COVID-19 because he has Type 1 diabetes, experienced mild symptoms of the disease including congestion and fatigue. Manager Chris Woodward said Martin threw a two-inning simulated game Monday and would likely be ready to pitch in a game as early as Wednesday.
As MLB 60-game season draws near, careful optimism prevails
Read full article: As MLB 60-game season draws near, careful optimism prevailsSeveral 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.
Rangers in new home with Gallo back and bolstered rotation
Read full article: Rangers in new home with Gallo back and bolstered rotationARLINGTON, Texas The Texas Rangers have All-Star slugger Joey Gallo back and a bolstered starting rotation for their new home stadium. The unprecedented season sprint opens July 24, when the Rangers finally get to play a game in their new $1.2 billion stadium with a retractable roof. And our players understand that.The Rangers slipped to finish 78-84 last season, still an 11-win improvement over 2018. Left-handers Joe Palumbo and Kolby Allard, who both got multiple starts last season, provide depth in the rotation and could also be relievers. He is now set to be the primary center fielder with DeShields gone and Gallo moving to right field.
Baseball players get a peek at playing without fans
Read full article: Baseball players get a peek at playing without fansBaseball 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
Read full article: Giants return, so do some players, but Padres' INF Mateo outSan 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
Read full article: Asymptomatic All-Star slugger Gallo tests positive for virusRangers 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
Read full article: King Flix opts out of MLB season, Doolittle on fenceThe 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
Read full article: Trout uncertain, All-Star Game off as MLB gets back on fieldAt 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.