MLB notebook: Blue Jays upset with timing of Rangers’ retaliation

Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista is in the lineup for Monday’s game against the Rays, one day after being punched in the jaw by Rangers infielder Rougned Odor during a brawl in Texas.

As they await word of discipline and suspensions from Sunday’s melee, the Blue Jays remain angry that Texas waited until the final regular season meeting between the teams to seek retaliation for Bautista’s bat flip in last year’s AL Division Series.

Bautista did not speak to reporters before Monday’s game, but manager John Gibbons said he felt it was inappropriate for the Rangers to wait until the eighth inning of the season finale against Toronto to hit Bautista with a pitch.

“If something irritates you that bad and something is going to happen, the only way to do is to take care of it right away,” Gibbons said.

After Bautista was hit by Matt Bush, things escalated when Bautista slid hard into second while trying to break up a double play. He and Odor shoved one another before Odor landed a punch to Bautista’s jaw, sending Bautista’s batting helmet and sunglasses flying.

Outfielder Kevin Pillar was among the first to rush to Bautista’s defense Sunday. On Monday, Pillar said he felt Odor’s punch was out of line.

“When a guy gets a clean shot like that, most of us, our only thought process was getting one back,” Pillar said. “An eye for an eye, that’s how a lot of us approached it.”

The incident led to six ejections, including Blue Jays reliever Jesse Chavez, who was tossed after hitting Prince Fielder with a pitch to begin the bottom half of the inning.

Gibbons, who returned to the field Sunday after being ejected for arguing earlier in the game, said Monday that he has yet to hear about any suspensions.

AP source: LA Angels closing in on deal to sign Tim Lincecum

The Los Angeles Angels are closing in on a deal to sign two-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum, a free agent trying to come back from hip surgery, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no deal had been announced.

Lincecum tossed 41 pitches on May 6 for about three dozen scouts representing nearly every major league club in Scottsdale, Arizona, the spring training home of the San Francisco Giants. That’s the only team the 31-year-old right-hander has ever pitched for.

Lincecum won the NL Cy Young Award in 2008 and 2009 and made four All-Star Game appearances. He helped the Giants win three World Series titles in five years and had a pair of no-hitters against San Diego during an 11-month span between the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

The Angels have been hard-hit by injuries, with seven players currently on the disabled list. They were forced to trade one of their minor league players last week to acquire a fifth starter to complete the rotation, making it possible Lincecum could become a starter.

Longtime ace Jered Weaver has struggled since going 3-0 with a 3.86 ERA in his first four starts.

The Angels earned a weekend road sweep at Seattle and are in third place in the AL West, trailing leader Texas by 5 1/2 games.

They opened the four-game Freeway Series against the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Monday night.

Lincecum went 7-4 with a 4.13 ERA in 15 starts last season. He didn’t pitch after June 27 due to degenerative issues with his hips. He had surgery on Sept. 3 and didn’t sign with a team after concluding a $35 million, two-year deal last season.

Former Tiger Dick McAuliffe dies

Long time Detroit Tigers infielder Dick McAuliffe died Friday at the age of 76, the team announced.

There was no cause of death given. McAuliffe was born Nov. 29, 1939, in Hartford, Connecticut.

McAuliffe joined the Tigers as a 20-year-old in 1960, and was a fixture in the middle of the infield until 1973. He played in three straight All-Star Games from 1965-67, and led the American League with 95 runs scored in 1968. Despite coming to the plate 658 times that season as Detroit’s leadoff hitter, he didn’t ground into a double play.

He hit .222 in the 1968 World Series, but homered in Game 3 and played errorless defense in Detroit’s seven-game victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. His career ended in 1975 when he was left off Boston’s postseason roster.

McAuliffe, who had a unique batting stance where he faced the pitcher until the ball was delivered, finished his career with 1,530 hits, 197 homers and 697 RBIs.

A-Rod, Sabathia set to come off DL this week

The New York Yankees will bolster their roster this week with the return of Alex Rodriguez and CC Sabathia from the disabled list.

Rodriguez took batting practice with the team in Phoenix and manager Joe Girardi said he expects him to be activated in Oakland on Thursday, the day he is eligible to come off the 15-day DL.

Girardi also confirmed that Sabathia will come off the DL and start Friday night’s game in Oakland.

Rodriguez, hitting just .194 with five home runs and 17 RBIs, has been on the disabled list since May 4 with a strained right hamstring. Sabathia, 2-2 with a 3.81 ERA, went on the DL May 5 with a left groin strain.

Red Sox-Royals postponed by rain; doubleheader Wednesday

The series opener between in Kansas City between the Royals and Boston Red Sox night was postponed because of rain and will be made up as part of a split doubleheader on Wednesday.

The Royals’ Yordano Ventura will be pushed back to start Tuesday night against Red Sox right-hander Rick Porcello. Steven Wright will start the day game and David Price the nightcap for Boston on Wednesday and the Royals will start Ian Kennedy and Edinson Volquez in the doubleheader.

They have not decided which pitcher will start which game.

The rainout came at a good time for the Royals, who used all nine of their pitchers in a 4-2, 13-inning win over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday. Several relievers would not have been available.