Ball or strike? Bethel Park product Mason Miller seals U.S. victory over Dominican Republic on controversial call
MIAMI — Ten days later, the United States and the Dominican Republic would have kept on playing. Geraldo Perdomo watched Mason Miller’s full-count slider appear to drop just under the strike zone and took a step toward his team’s dugout on the third-base side, thinking he walked to put runners...
Pirates’ Paul Skenes to pitch in WBC semifinals after refocused U.S. beats Canada
HOUSTON — The United States is heading to the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic after a “different level of focus” helped this All-Star-studded team rebound from a shocking loss. The U.S. beat Canada, 5-3, on Friday night for a spot in the semifinals Sunday against the Dominican Republic. The...
Mark DeRosa owns ‘overly confident’ WBC remark before Team USA’s loss to Italy
HOUSTON — Manager Mark DeRosa says his premature comment about the United States having already punched its ticket to the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals before facing Italy was just an “overly confident statement” and reiterated Thursday he knew nothing was guaranteed at that point. DeRosa had made that remark on...
U.S. advances in WBC thanks to 3-HR game by Italy’s Vinnie Pasquantino in win over Mexico
Vinnie Pasquantino had the World Baseball Classic’s first three-homer game, leading Italy over Mexico, 9-1, on Wednesday night to win Pool B and advance the United States to the quarterfinals as group’s second-place team. Italy’s victory ended a day of uncertainty for the Americans, who needed help to reach the...
Joe Starkey: Did Team USA manager Mark DeRosa just make the biggest coaching blunder in sports history?
Part of me relates to Mark DeRosa, the MLB Network host who doubles as manager of Team USA at the World Baseball Classic. I’m a travel sports parent, you see, and the tournament brackets always leave me far beyond befuddled. I’ve been at softball or volleyball tournaments with my daughter,...
Stunned by Italy, U.S. could be bounced from World Baseball Classic
Kyle Teel, Sam Antonacci and Jac Caglianone homered as Italy built a big lead and held on to stun the United States, 8-6, on Tuesday night in the World Baseball Classic. The U.S. is done with pool play at Houston’s Daikin Park and needs the Italians to beat Mexico on...
Cal Raleigh says there’s no beef with Seattle teammate Randy Arozarena after WBC handshake snub
HOUSTON — Cal Raleigh insisted Tuesday he has no beef with Randy Arozarena even though his Seattle teammate lashed out with a vulgar rant after Raleigh left him hanging for a handshake at the World Baseball Classic. The kerfuffle went viral when Arozarena, a two-time All-Star outfielder playing for Mexico,...
Reds’ ace Hunter Greene could miss up to 4 months following right elbow surgery
GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Cincinnati Reds’ ace Hunter Greene is scheduled to undergo surgery Wednesday on his right elbow and could miss up to the first four months of the season. The Reds said Greene was diagnosed with bone chips and loose bodies in his elbow. Greene needed an MRI last...
Paul Skenes shines, Aaron Judge homers as U.S. tops Mexico in World Baseball Classic
Aaron Judge hit a two-run homer and Roman Anthony added a three-run drive in a big third inning to lead the United States over Mexico, 5-3, in the World Baseball Classic at Houston’s Daikin Park on Monday night. The U.S. improved to 3-0 and will meet Italy (2-0) on Tuesday...
Aaron Judge crushes 453-foot HR as U.S. dominates again in WBC exhibition game
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Aaron Judge looks ready for his first World Baseball Classic. Alex Bregman does, too. As for the recently retired Clayton Kershaw? Understandably a little rust. Judge crushed a 453-foot solo homer in the first inning of the team’s exhibition game against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday, the...
First Call: High profile training partner with Will Howard; huge money coming in on Pirates win totalVideo
Wednesday’s “First Call” has a big name training partner (and tutor) for Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Will Howard. Gambling money is pouring in on the Pirates. Pitt needs to close the college basketball season strong, as Robert Morris is ready to start tournament play. Plus, postseason accolades for Duquesne women’s basketball,...
Atlanta Braves’ Jurickson Profar suspended for 2026 season following second positive drug test
NEW YORK — Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar was suspended for the 2026 season by Major League Baseball on Tuesday following his second positive test for a performance-enhancing drug. Profar tested positive for exogenous testosterone and its metabolites, the commissioner’s office said, which means testosterone that was not produced by...
Pirates’ Paul Skenes solid as U.S. cruises past Giants in tuneup for World Baseball Classic
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The United States wasted little time showing how potent its roster could be at the upcoming World Baseball Classic. The Americans needed just three batters to take a 2-0 lead in the first inning of their exhibition game against the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday after Bobby...
Judge relishes opportunity as U.S. captain in WBC
PHOENIX — New York Yankees star Aaron Judge said putting on a Team USA jersey Monday carried special significance, especially considering the conflict raging across the Middle East after the U.S-Israel joint strikes on Iran that started three days ago. The three-time American League MVP is the U.S. captain heading...
It’s an OPS world in today’s major leagues with batting average in the background
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Batting average was a priority for Andrew Benintendi when he broke into the major leagues in 2016. He batted .312 in the minors on the way to his debut. Going into his fourth season with the Chicago White Sox and 11th overall, he is more focused on...
Cardinals extend manager Oliver Marmol through 2028, with club option for 2029
JUPITER, Fla. — St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol signed a two-year contract extension through at least the 2028 season, the Cardinals announced Sunday. The deal includes a club option for 2029, the club said. “As I’ve gotten to know Oli, I’ve seen someone who cares about this organization and knows...
Reports: 3-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer, Blue Jays agree to 1-year, $3M deal
NEW YORK — Max Scherzer is returning to the Toronto Blue Jays. Two weeks into spring training, the three-time Cy Young Award winner has agreed with the reigning American League champions on a $3 million, one-year contract, according to multiple reports Thursday. The 41-year-old Scherzer can earn another $10 million...
Bruce Froemming, record-setting major-league umpire, dies at age 86
Bruce Froemming, a major-league umpire for 37 consecutive years who worked the third-most games in big-league history and a record 11 no-hitters, died Wednesday, his son said. He was 86. Froemming fell just after midnight Tuesday and hit his head on the hardwood floor at his home in Mequon, Wisc.,...
Slugger Kurtz looks to build on AL Rookie of the Year Award
MESA, Ariz. — Aside from towering over most of his Athletics teammates at 6-foot-5, Nick Kurtz blends in at his locker in the middle of the clubhouse. And that’s just the way he prefers it. Even now with the extra fanfare and attention on him this spring as reigning AL...
White Sox’s Munetaka Murakami shakes off traffic delay ahead of Cactus League debut
MESA, Ariz. — Munetaka Murakami was a late arrival for his first spring training game with the Chicago White Sox. Once he got to the ballpark, everything went pretty smoothly. Murakami had two hits and two RBIs in his Cactus League debut Friday. The Japanese slugger is learning his way...
Just over half ball/strike challenges successful on 1st day of spring training games
Just over half the ball/strike challenges were successful on the first day of spring training games Friday as Major League Baseball prepared for the first regular-season use of the automated ball-strike system, the so-called “robot umpires.” Thirteen of 23 calls were overturned during the five games, MLB said, which came...
RHP Walker Buehler signs with Padres after a long career with the NL West rival Dodgers
PEORIA, Ariz. — Walker Buehler has signed with the San Diego Padres after the right-hander spent the first eight seasons of his major league career with their archrivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Buehler was in the Padres’ clubhouse Tuesday morning after agreeing to a minor league deal with an invitation...
Tony Clark intends to resign as MLB players’ union head, as possible cap fight looms
TAMPA, Fla. — Tony Clark intends to resign as head of the Major League Baseball Players Association, a person familiar with the union’s deliberations said Tuesday. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because his decision, first reported by ESPN, had not been announced. The person...
‘The Natural,’ ‘Days of Thunder’ among sports movie roles that helped make Robert Duvall a legendVideo
The entertainment world is mourning the loss of actor Robert Duvall. He died Sunday at the age of 95. He was best known for his roles in “The Godfather,” “The Godfather Part II,” “Network,” “Apocalypse Now,” “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “True Grit,” “The Apostle” and many others. But Duvall certainly...
Padres sign ex-Phillies slugger Nick Castellanos, pitchers Canning and Márquez, AP source says
The San Diego Padres agreed to terms with outfielder Nick Castellanos and right-handers Griffin Canning and Germán Márquez, a person with knowledge of the deals told the Associated Press on Saturday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Padres hadn’t announced the deals, which are pending physicals. After...
