Baseball

NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball offense has picked up as the temperature has climbed in much of the U.S., raising the major league batting average above the level from early last season. Batters are hitting .242 through April, up from .

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Kenta Maeda was cut by the Detroit Tigers on Thursday to open a spot in the bullpen for hard-throwing prospect Tyler Owens. Maeda was designated for assignment after compiling a 7.

CLEVELAND (AP) — José Ramírez picked the perfect opportunity to join another exclusive baseball club.

TORONTO (AP) — Red Sox right-hander Walker Buehler returned to Boston on Thursday to have tests on his sore right shoulder and won’t start against the Minnesota Twins on Friday, manager Alex Cora said.

CLEVELAND (AP) — José Ramírez became the first player in Cleveland franchise history to reach 250 career homers and 250 steals and then scored the winning run in the 10th inning as the Guardians rallied for a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins on T

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Washington Nationals tried to improve what's been a terrible bullpen by agreeing to terms on a $1 million contract for 2025 with Andrew Chafin on Thursday and designating Colin Poche for assignment.

NEW YORK (AP) — The 150 free agents who have signed, with name, position, former club if different, and contract. The contract information was obtained by The Associated Press from player and management sources.

NEW YORK (AP) — The 24 remaining free agents: AMERICAN LEAGUE BOSTON (1) —James Paxton, lhp. CHICAGO (1) — Dominic Leone, rhp. KANSAS CITY (2) — Robbie Grossman, of; Will Smith, lhp. MINNESOTA (1) — Anthony DeSclafani, rhp.

NEW YORK (AP) — Carlos Mendoza wasn’t worried about Juan Soto after the New York Mets' star slugger didn’t homer in his first 15 home games at Citi Field. More importantly, neither was Soto.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. homered to extend his hitting streak to 22 games and had three RBIs, Seth Lugo pitched solid six innings and the Kansas City Royals earned a three-game sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays with an 8-2 victory on Thursday.