Baseball

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Slowed by stiff knees and bruised by foul balls and backswings, major league catchers have long been defined by what they do defensively — even if it hinders them on offense.

NEW YORK (AP) — Jorge López will be cut by the struggling New York Mets after the reliever threw his glove into the stands following his ejection Wednesday at Citi Field.

MIAMI (AP) — CJ Abrams hit a two-run homer and the Washington Nationals beat the Miami Marlins 7-2 on Monday night, completing a four-game sweep of the NL’s worst club in front of a season-low 6,376 fans at loanDepot Park.

ATLANTA (AP) — Lane Thomas hit a three-run home run and the Washington Nationals beat Atlanta 7-2 on Wednesday night to spoil Braves right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach's major league debut.

Detroit Tigers (27-28, fourth in the AL Central) vs. Boston Red Sox (28-28, third in the AL East) Boston; Thursday, 7:10 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Tigers: Jack Flaherty (1-4, 3.84 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 81 strikeouts); Red Sox: Nick Pivetta (2-3, 4.

Houston Astros (24-32, third in the AL West) vs. Seattle Mariners (31-26, first in the AL West) Seattle; Thursday, 4:10 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Astros: Spencer Arrighetti (2-5, 6.93 ERA, 1.

Washington Nationals (25-29, third in the NL East) vs. Atlanta Braves (31-22, second in the NL East) Atlanta; Thursday, 7:20 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Nationals: Trevor Williams (4-0, 2.29 ERA, 1.

New York Yankees (38-19, first in the AL East) vs. Los Angeles Angels (21-34, fifth in the AL West) Anaheim, California; Thursday, 9:38 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Yankees: Carlos Rodon (6-2, 2.95 ERA, 1.

Oakland Athletics (23-34, fourth in the AL West) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (27-29, fourth in the AL East) St. Petersburg, Florida; Thursday, 1:10 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Athletics: Ross Stripling (0-0); Rays: Shawn Armstrong (1-1, 3.91 ERA, 1.

Kansas City Royals (35-22, second in the AL Central) vs. Minnesota Twins (30-25, third in the AL Central) Minneapolis; Thursday, 1:10 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Royals: Brady Singer (4-2, 2.63 ERA, 1.