SALVADOR PEREZ

Shohei Ohtani struck out a career-high 13 over eight dominant innings of two-hit ball, and the AL MVP also reached base three times in the Los Angeles Angels’ 5-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals.

MJ Melendez and Emmanuel Rivera drove in two runs apiece, leading Brady Singer and the Kansas City Royals over the Toronto Blue Jays 8-4 to end a three-game losing streak.

Aaron Judge returned from a scheduled day off to homer twice and drive in the tying run as the Yankees rallied past the Royals 6-4 for their ninth straight win.

Royals Cardinals Baseball St. Louis Cardinals' Albert Pujols watches his solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Tuesday, April 12, 2022, in St. Louis. Nolan Arenado also went deep for St. Louis, which has won 20 of 27 interleague games against the in-state Royals since 2017. The 42-year-old Pujols, who also singled twice in a 3-for-4 performance, signed with St. Louis on March 28 for his final season. St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol returned after missing the previous two games with the flu. Greinke is 13-6 with a 3.85 ERA in his career against St. Louis.

Albert Pujols homered for the first time since returning to St. Louis and Andrew Knizner hit a three-run shot as the Cardinals defeated the Kansas City Royals 6-5.

Albert Pujols called his shot. The veteran slugger told Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol he was going to hit the first pitch he saw Tuesday night for a home run — and then did just that. Pujols homered for the first time since returning to St. Louis and Andrew Knizner launched a three-run shot as the Cardinals defeated the Kansas City Royals 6-5 on Tuesday night.

Guardians Royals Baseball Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez, left, tags out Cleveland Guardians' Owen Miller at home plate during the 10th inning of a baseball game in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, April 9, 2022. The Royals improved to 2-0 with their second win over the Guardians. Brad Keller allowed two hits in six innings for Kansas City, striking out five with one walk. Royals relievers Dylan Coleman, Amir Garrett, Taylor Clark, Josh Staumont and Snider combined for four innings of scoreless ball with five strikeouts. TRAINER’S ROOMThe Guardians have RHP Cody Morris (right back strain) and RHP Carlos Vargas (right elbow rehab) on the injured list.

Prized rookie Bobby Witt Jr. made an eye-popping play at third base to nail a runner at the plate in the top of the 10th inning, then Adalberto Mondesi’s RBI single in the bottom half lifted the Kansas City Royals over the Cleveland Guardians 1-0.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred announced the cancellation of the first two series of the regular season, a move that wipes out division series for both Chicago teams.

Japan Baseball Ohtani Los Angeles Angels' Shohei Ohtani listens to questions from journalists during a press conference at the Japan National Press Club Monday, Nov. 15, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) (Eugene Hoshiko)NEW YORK — (AP) — Shohei Ohtani was unanimiously voted American League MVP on Thursday for a two-way season not seen since Babe Ruth, and Bryce Harper earned the National League honor for the second time. Ohtani received all 30 first-place votes and 420 points in voting by members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. It was the first full season on the mound for the 27-year-old right-hander following Tommy John surgery in 2019. Ohtani won AL Rookie of the Year in 2018 after leaving the Pacific League's Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters to sign with the Angels.

Two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels has been selected major league player of the year by Baseball Digest and eBay.

The pairings for the baseball playoffs are all set.

Brewers Dodgers Baseball Los Angeles Dodgers' Trea Turner hits a grand slam home run against the Milwaukee Brewers during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels was a singular sensation with a superlative two-way season, unmatched even by Babe Ruth. Turner hit .328 to top defending NL batting champion Juan Soto of Washington, who hit .313. “It’s consistency, which I pride myself on and showing up every day," said the 28-year-old Turner, traded from Washington to Los Angeles in late July. San Francisco (107), the Los Angeles Dodgers (106) and Tampa Bay (100) gave the major leagues three 100-win teams for the fourth straight full season.

Trea Turner of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston’s Yuli Gurriel won their first batting titles in a season of boom and bust that saw four teams lose 100 games for only the third time, and four 90-game winners in the AL East alone.

Rays Yankees Baseball New York Yankees' Brett Gardner reacts after hitting an an RBI-single in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Friday, Oct. 1, 2021, in New York. New York will face Tampa Bay rookie Shane Baz (2-0, 1.69) in his third big league start. Boston is a game behind the Yankees with two games left against last-place Washington, while Toronto and Seattle are two games back. The Blue Jays have two games remaining versus lowly Baltimore, and the Mariners are closing things out against the Angels. The Giants can lock up an unexpected NL West title with a win over San Diego or a Dodgers loss to Milwaukee.

Four teams are separated by two games in the AL wild-card chase, with the Yankees clinging to a one-game lead for the top spot with two games remaining.

Rays Yankees Baseball New York Yankees' Brett Gardner reacts after hitting an an RBI-single in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Friday, Oct. 1, 2021, in New York. New York will face Tampa Bay rookie Shane Baz (2-0, 1.69) in his third big league start. Boston is a game behind the Yankees with two games left against last-place Washington, while Toronto is two games back of New York with two left against lowly Baltimore. The Mariners were 1 1/2 games behind the Yanks as they played the Angels late Friday. Urías (19-3, 3.01) hasn’t lost since June 21, and Los Angeles has won each of his past 10 outings dating to Aug. 1.

Dodgers Diamondbacks Baseball Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Julio Urias throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) (Ross D. Franklin)A look at what's happening around the majors Saturday:___TWENTY FOR ONE? Urías (19-3, 3.01) hasn’t lost since June 21, and Los Angeles has won each of his past 10 outings dating to Aug. 1. Urías might pick up some consideration with old-school minded voters with win No. SWEET BABY RAYTampa Bay rookie Shane Baz (2-0, 1.69) tries to shut down the Yankees in his third big league start.

The Cleveland Indians won their last home game before they become the Guardians, beating the Kansas City Royals 8-3 to close a run that started in 1915 and will continue in 2022 with a new identity.

Kevin Gausman returns to the mound — and plate — as he tries to help the Giants protect their lead in the NL West.

(AP Photo/Tony Dejak) (Tony Dejak)CLEVELAND — (AP) — Formerly a fleet outfielder, Anthony Gose returned to the majors five years later Monday night as a rocket-armed reliever for the Cleveland Indians, flashing 100 mph heat and fanning Royals slugger Salvador Perez. Gose pitched 1 2/3 innings, allowing one run with one walk and one strikeout in the second game of a doubleheader against Kansas City. Gose retired Nicky Lopez on another line drive to left to begin the fifth before striking out Perez on a 98 mph four-seam fastball. Gose struck out 49 in 33 innings, hitting 100 mph on the radar gun and consistently throwing in the upper 90s. Gose hit .240 with 57 steals in the majors.

The home run broke Johnny Bench's record for the most home runs in a season by a primary catcher. Perez hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning, topping Bench’s total from 1970 for the most by a player who played at least 75% of his team’s games at catcher. Perez pointed to the sky after crossing home plate and was hugged by several teammates as he entered the dugout. “Perez is one of those rare individuals to find energy and passion just to keep playing,” Indians interim manager DeMarlo Hale said. He’s definitely caught fire toward the end of the season.”Hunter Dozier and Andrew Benintendi also hit two-run homers for the Royals.

Salvador Perez hit his 46th home run, breaking Johnny Bench’s record for most by a catcher in a season to highlight the opener, then the Kansas City Royals completed a doubleheader sweep by beating the Cleveland Indians 4-2.

Formerly a fleet outfielder, Anthony Gose returned to the majors five years later Monday night as a rocket-armed reliever for the Cleveland Indians, flashing 100 mph heat and finishing his outing by fanning Royals slugger Salvador Perez.

Shohei Ohtani is set to pitch for the Angels against Oakland on Sunday a few days after manager Joe Maddon contemplated shutting down the two-way star with arm soreness.

Shohei Ohtani will pitch for the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday after his sore arm felt much better in a bullpen session.

Athletics Royals Baseball Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. — (AP) — Salvador Perez tied Johnny Bench's record for homers in a season by a catcher with his 45th, but Chad Pinder's two-run single spurred a third-inning rally and the Oakland Athletics held off the Kansas City Royals 7-2 Thursday. The Royals had the tying runs on base with less than two outs in the sixth and eighth innings but couldn’t score. Soler extended the Royals’ record by 10. Jed Lowrie reached on an error, scoring another run, and Pinder’s two-run single capped the inning.

Salvador Perez tied Johnny Bench’s record for homers in a season by a catcher with his 45th, but Chad Pinder’s two-run single spurred a third-inning rally and the Oakland Athletics held off the Kansas City Royals 7-2.

Bo Bichette thumped a leadoff homer in the first inning and singled in the tiebreaking run in the seventh, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his 42nd homer, and the Toronto Blue Jays held off the skidding New York Yankees 6-4 for their eighth straight win.

Shohei Ohtani hit his major league-leading 43rd home run and Jose Suarez pitched a five-hitter, leading the Los Angeles Angels to a 4-1 win over the Texas Rangers.

Royals Cubs Baseball Kansas City Royals' Emmanuel Rivera, right, celebrates with Nicky Lopez after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Friday, Aug. 20, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) (Nam Y. Huh)CHICAGO — (AP) — Salvador Perez hit two of Kansas City's five home runs in the Royals' 6-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Friday. Perez broke a 2-2 tie in the sixth inning with his second homer of the day off Zach Davies (6-10). The right-hander struck out eight, allowing one earned run on four hits in six innings. UP NEXTRoyals left-hander Kris Bubic (3-6, 5.09 ERA) and Cubs right-hander Keegan Thompson (3-2, 2.21 ERA) start on Saturday.

Salvador Perez hit two of Kansas City’s five home runs in the Royals’ 6-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Friday.

Luke Voit had a two-run single in the first inning and the New York Yankees beat Kansas City 5-2 on Wednesday for their 12th straight series victory over the Royals.

Tigers Royals Baseball Kansas City Royals pitcher Daniel Lynch throws to a batter during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, July 25, 2021. — (AP) — Jorge Soler hit two home runs, Salvador Perez added a three-run blast and Daniel Lynch pitched eight scoreless innings for his first major league win to lead the Kansas City Royals to a 6-1 win over the Detroit Tigers Sunday. The Royals grabbed a 4-0 first-inning lead as Perez hit his team-leading 23rd home run and Soler followed with his 11th for the Royals, who have won fifth straight games. It was the second straight game Perez has hit a three-run homer. ROSTER MOVESRoyals: Kansas City optioned Tyler Zuber to Triple-A Omaha to correspond the move to recall Lynch.

Daniel Lynch pitched eight scoreless, Jorge Soler homered twice and Salvador Perez once to lead the Kansas City Royals to a 6-1 win over the Detroit Tigers.

Royals Red Sox Baseball Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez runs after hitting a solo home run during the second inning of the team's baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, Wednesday, June 30, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) (Elise Amendola)Kansas City catcher Salvador Pérez will join Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels, Trey Mancini of the Baltimore Orioles, Pete Alonso of the New York Mets and Trevor Story of the Colorado Rockies in the All-Star Home Run Derby at Denver's Coors Field on July 12. Pérez will become the fourth Kansas City player in the derby after Bo Jackson (1989), Danny Tartabull (1991) and Mike Moustakas (2017). Perez, a seven-time All-Star, entered Friday ninth in the AL with 19 home runs. Alonso won the most recent derby in 2019.

Kansas City catcher Salvador Pérez will join Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels, Trey Mancini of the Baltimore Orioles, Pete Alonso of the New York Mets and Trevor Story of the Colorado Rockies in the All-Star Home Run Derby at Denver’s Coors Field on July 12.

Royals Twins Baseball Minnesota Twins' Mitch Garver, center left, scores on a passed ball off Kansas City Royals pitcher Carlos Hernandez, right, in the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, May 29, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) (Jim Mone)MINNEAPOLIS — (AP) — Rookie Trevor Larnach homered and Rob Refsnyder drove in two runs as the Minnesota Twins hung on to beat the Kansas City Royals 6-5 on Saturday. Jorge Alcala and Tyler Duffey pitched a perfect relief inning apiece for the Twins, combining for five strikeouts. Then a rally in the Royals eighth keyed by Hanser Alberto's leadoff double yielded a run off Hansel Robles. Adalberto Mondesi hit his first home run of the season in the ninth, a two-run shot off Taylor Rogers to bring the Royals within one.

Rookie Trevor Larnach homered and Rob Refsnyder drove in two runs as the Minnesota Twins hung on to beat the Kansas City Royals 6-5.

The Tampa Bay Rays’ 11-game winning streak came to an end when Brad Keller pitched seven strong innings and Salvador Perez hit a tiebreaking RBI single to give the Kansas City Royals a 2-1 victory.

Rookie Andrew Vaughn, starting the nightcap at first base after AL MVP Jose Abreu was injured in a frightening collision in the first game, homered to send the Chicago White Sox over the Kansas City Royals 3-1 for a doubleheader split.

The Kansas City Royals have the best record in baseball — and an identity that should be pretty familiar by now.

Merrill Kelly starts for the Arizona Diamondbacks when they host Fernando Tatis Jr. and the Padres following a dominant pitching performance in a doubleheader at Atlanta.

Jarrod Dyson doubled and scored the go-ahead run in the fifth inning and the Kansas City Royals beat the Detroit Tigers 3-2 to complete a four-game sweep on the road for the first time in nearly 22 years.

Television producers Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers will be honored for their wardrobe efforts on hit TV shows like “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Bridgerton” at Tuesday's Costume Designers Guild Awards.

– The Royals made official their $25 million, four-year contract with third baseman Hunter Dozier on Monday, ensuring that another member of their young foundation is under club control for the foreseeable future. And we want that to happen in Kansas City.”AdDozier's deal replaces a $2.72 million, one-year contract he agreed to on Dec. 2. He gets a $1 million signing bonus and will earn $2.25 million this year, $4.5 million in 2022, $7.25 million in 2023 and $9 million in 2024. The Royals have a $10 million option for 2025 with a $1 million buyout. Ad“Hunter is willing to do whatever is necessary to help the team win,” Moore added.

Freeman easily won the NL MVP award Thursday, Nov. 12, topping off a trying year that saw him become so ill with COVID-19 he prayed please dont take me. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)NEW YORK – National League MVP Freddie Freeman was one of three Atlanta Braves selected to the All-MLB first team on Wednesday night. San Diego had two players on the top team: shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. and third baseman Manny Machado. AL MVP José Abreu of the Chicago White Sox was the first baseman on the second team, which also included Philadelphia catcher J.T. Realmuto, Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe, Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager and Indians third baseman José Ramírez.

Not long ago, Royals pitcher Tim Hill was wrapping up eight brutal months of chemotherapy to treat colon cancer. The biopsy came back positive for colon cancer, the same disease that claimed his father when Hill was just 17 years old. With the support of the Royals, Hill began to build back his strength. Those factors left Hill wondering whether he should step on the field when baseball resumed or stick to the sideline, knowing they increased the risk of complications should he contract COVID-19. Some of it seems over-the-top when you first look at it, but when you start seeing people test positive, you see maybe it's necessary.

NEW YORK Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman has tested positive for the coronavirus and is experiencing mild symptoms. Chapman threw a bullpen session Tuesday, and Boone wouldn't comment on whether the left-hander had been at Yankee Stadium since. We adhere to all the contact tracing things. The list now includes the 32-year-old Chapman, a six-time All-Star with 273 career saves, including 37 last season when he had a 2.21 ERA. Britton has been an elite closer in this game for a long time," Boone said.