Byrd: Career over

Marlon Byrd’s second strike with performance-enhancing drugs cost him a full season — and his career. The Indians veteran outfielder was suspended 162 games without pay by Major League Baseball on Wednesday after testing positive for ipamorelin, a growth hormone-releasing peptide. It’s Byrd’s second violation of Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Shortly after he was released in 2012 by Boston, Byrd served a 50-game suspension for testing positive for tamoxifen, a medication used by body builders but also used to treat breast cancer. In 2014, MLB increased its penalty for a second offense from 100 games to a full season. Byrd packed his belongings following a loss to Texas on Tuesday night, but he didn’t tell the team about his suspension until he called Manager Terry Francona on Wednesday morning. Later, he spoke to his teammates as a group in Cleveland’s clubhouse. He apologized, took responsibility for his actions and said his career was over. He will not appeal the suspension. Byrd is the second Cleveland outfielder to be suspended for PED use this season. Abraham Almonte, who was expected to open the season in center field, was slapped with an 80-game suspension during spring training.

The Kansas City Royals placed Brett Eibner (Arkansas Razorbacks) on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a left ankle sprain. Eibner injured his ankle Tuesday night while chasing down Brad Miller’s triple in the fifth inning of the Royals’ 10-5 victory over Tampa Bay. Eibner made his big league debut Friday. On Saturday he had two hits, including a walk-off single, in the Royals’ seven-run ninth inning to defeat the Chicago White Sox. The Royals also optioned righthander Dillon Gee, who was the winning pitcher Tuesday, to Class AAA Omaha. Gee gave up 4 runs

and 9 hits, including 1 home run, and 1 walk in 5 innings against the Rays. Gee, who was with the New York Mets the previous six seasons, is 2-2 with a 4.28 ERA in 11 games.

Detroit Tigers closer Francisco Rodriguez said he contracted the Zika virus over the offseason in his home country of Venezuela and advises potential Olympic athletes to educate themselves on the virus before heading to Rio de Janeiro.

Rodriguez told ESPN.com on Tuesday that he wouldn’t blame athletes for skipping the Olympics, and that “if they have plans to have kids in the future, you’ve got to think about it.” Zika is a mosquito-borne virus linked to severe birth defects and possible neurological problems in adults. The World Health Organization last week rejected a call from 150 health experts to consider postponing or moving the Olympics due to Zika in hard-hit Brazil.

The Chicago Cubs are dominating the All-Star balloting so far, with first baseman Anthony Rizzo receiving the most votes in the National League in the first update announced on Wednesday. Rizzo could have plenty of company for the July 12 game in San Diego. Third baseman Kris Bryant, shortstop Addison Russell and second baseman Ben Zobrist also were the leaders at their positions, and center fielder Dexter Fowler was in position to grab a starting spot. With ace right-hander Jake Arrieta also in the mix for the start, it could be an all-Cubs infield for the first pitch.

Top prospect Julio Urias will make his second start for the Los Angeles Dodgers today, giving Kenta Maeda an extra day of rest. Urias, 19, was promoted from Class AAA Oklahoma City when the Dodgers put left-hander Alex Wood on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday with elbow soreness. The team announced Wednesday that Urias would start the finale of its four-game series against the Chicago Cubs. Urias made his major league debut Friday at the New York Mets and allowed 3 runs and 5 hits in 22/ innings. He became the first teenage pitcher to start in the majors since Seattle’s Felix Hernandez in 2005. Maeda is being treated for swelling in his right hand.