Red Sox reliever Chris Martin placed on injured list with elbow inflammation
NEW YORK — Boston Red Sox right-hander Chris Martin was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday because of right elbow inflammation, and left-hander Cam Booser was recalled from Triple-A Worcester. Boston made the placement retroactive to Thursday, a day after the 38-year-old Martin pitched one inning against Miami. “We’ll...
Bochy won’t have any of his players in AL All-Star lineup at home after Texas had 5 starters in ’23
ARLINGTON, Texas — The American League starting lineup that Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy will write out for the All-Star Game won’t include any of his own players. A year after the Rangers had five All-Star starters — four voted in by fans, and another as an injury replacement —...
Shohei Ohtani elected to start at DH in 4th straight All-Star Game, joins Aaron Judge as only holdovers
NEW YORK — Shohei Ohtani became the first player elected to start at designated hitter in four straight All-Star Games, joined by New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge as the only holdovers from last year in the lineups announced Wednesday for the July 16 game at Arlington, Texas. Philadelphia could...
Philadelphia radio host Howard Eskin suspended from Phillies home games over ‘unwelcome kiss’
PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia sports radio host Howard Eskin has been suspended from Phillies home games for the rest of the season after investigations by his employer showed he kissed a worker for Citizens Bank Park’s food service provider without consent. Audacy, the parent company for Philadelphia’s SportsRadio 94WIP, said in...
Shohei Ohtani says he won’t participate in Home Run Derby during All-Star festivities
LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani won’t participate in the Home Run Derby on July 15 despite the Japanese superstar ranking second in the majors with 27 homers for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Ohtani has taken part in the Derby just once, exiting in the first round in 2021 at Coors...
Brewers continue trying to address their starting rotation by acquiring RHP Aaron Civale from Rays
Milwaukee has acquired veteran right-hander Aaron Civale from the Tampa Bay Rays in the NL Central-leading Brewers’ latest attempt to boost a starting rotation that’s been decimated by injuries. The Brewers are sending minor league infielder Gregory Barrios to Tampa Bay in exchange for Civale. They designated right-hander Taylor Clarke...
U mad, bro?: Pre-Fourth fireworks on state of the Penguins, insufficient Pirates, Mike Tomlin’s recent playoff fade
Thursday is Independence Day. So I plan on celebrating my independence from work. Hence, we are posting “U mad, bro?” a day early this week. Don’t worry. I’m offering up plenty of fireworks about the Penguins’ current roster, the Pirates’ ups and downs and Mike Tomlin’s recent track record. This...
Mets OF Brandon Nimmo faints in hotel room, cuts forehead
WASHINGTON — New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo missed Monday night’s game against the Washington Nationals after fainting in his hotel room overnight and hitting his head when he fell. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Nimmo cut his forehead but did not have a concussion. “He went through all the...
11 people injured when escalator malfunctions in Milwaukee ballpark
MILWAUKEE — Eleven people were injured Saturday when an escalator malfunctioned at American Family Field in Milwaukee following the Brewers’ loss to the Chicago Cubs, a team official said. Six people were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, and five others were treated at the ballpark, according to Tyler Barnes, the senior...
Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña misplays pop fly while doing in-game TV interview
NEW YORK — Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña misplayed a fly ball Friday night in a game against the New York Mets while participating in an in-game interview. Peña was involved in an interview with Apple TV+ just before New York’s Jeff McNeil popped up toward the shortstop area with...
Phillies place Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber placed on injured list
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Phillies placed All-Star first baseman Bryce Harper and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber on the 10-day injured list after both were hurt in Thursday night’s 7-4 loss to Miami. Harper strained his left hamstring running the bases in the ninth inning, and Schwarber strained his left groin...
Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper elected to start in All-Star Game
NEW YORK — New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge and Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper were elected Thursday to start in the July 16 All-Star Game at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. A few hours later, Harper limped off the field with an apparent left hamstring injury after...
Guardians slugger Jhonkensy Noel homers in 1st MLB at-bat
BALTIMORE — Jhonkensy Noel became the fourth Cleveland player in franchise history to homer in his first major-league at-bat, going deep Wednesday night against the Baltimore Orioles just hours after being recalled from Triple-A Columbus. Noel launched a 1-1 pitch from Grayson Rodriguez in the second inning to put the...
Mariners minor leaguer Hogan Windish has 4 homers, 9 RBIs in Double-A game
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Hogan Windish, a 25-year-old prospect in the Seattle Mariners’ minor league system, had four homers and nine RBIs for the Double-A Arkansas Travelers in a 9-4 win at the Springfield Cardinals in the Texas League on Tuesday night. Windish became only the second professional with nine RBIs...
Reds pitcher Nick Lodolo goes on 15-day injured list with blister on finger
CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Reds placed left-handed starting pitcher Nick Lodolo on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a blister on a finger of his pitching hand. The move is retroactive to June 24. “It’s definitely the right decision,” Reds manager David Bell said. “I think he can come back...
1-3-5: Phillies complete ultra rare triple play in win over TigersVideo
It is a feat so rare that very few people alive could have even witnessed it the last time it occurred. The Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night turned a 1-3-5 triple play in the third inning en route to an 8-1 win over the Detroit Tigers. It was the first...
Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. placed on IL with stress reaction in thigh bone
SAN DIEGO — San Diego Padres star right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday with a stress reaction in his right thigh bone. Tatis has been dealing with what had been described as a quadriceps injury for some time. Manager Mike Shildt said the...
Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw shut down with lingering soreness
CHICAGO — Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw has been shut down for a week after experiencing lingering soreness in his comeback from left shoulder surgery. Kershaw, 36, had an MRI that “showed no new incidents,” manager Dave Roberts said before Monday night’s game at the Chicago White Sox. “You...
Why are the Texas Rangers the only MLB team without a Pride Night?
All but one of the 30 of the Major League Baseball teams are hosting Pride Nights this season, most during Pride Month, which celebrates and supports LGBTQ+ culture and rights. The Texas Rangers are the only team without a Pride Night. They say they are committed to making everyone feel...
Mets closer Edwin Díaz faces a 10-game suspension after being ejected for foreign substance on hand
CHICAGO — New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz is facing a 10-game suspension after being ejected from the team’s 5-2 win over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday night for having a foreign substance on his hand. Díaz would be the eighth pitcher suspended for sticky stuff since MLB cracked down...
Orelvis Martinez gets 80-game drug suspension 2 days after MLB debut
NEW YORK — Toronto Blue Jays infielder Orelvis Martinez was suspended for 80 games by MLB on Sunday following a positive test for the performance-enhancing drug Clomiphene, an announcement made two days after his major-league debut. Martinez, 22, has been on the Blue Jays’ 40-man roster since November 2022. He...
Braves’ turnaround coincides with arrival of ‘Snitbear’ in dugout
NEW YORK — The Atlanta Braves have a new furry friend in the dugout to coincide with their turnaround. “Snitbear” has become a regular presence on the Braves’ bench since being given to slugger Marcell Ozuna by manager Brian Snitker. The cuddly, brown stuffed animal has a red bandana around...
Reds, Brewers, Nationals on pace to post highest stolen-base totals of any MLB team since 1990s
MILWAUKEE — Cincinnati’s Elly De La Cruz understands how much of a distraction he causes to opposing pitchers whenever he gets on base. “It seems like they get a little bit nervous right there when I go out there,” De La Cruz, who has a major league-leading 37 steals, said...
Willie Mays was baseball’s greatest living Hall of Famer — and the heir apparent isn’t obvious
Amid all the tributes and memories about the legendary Willie Mays, consider this perspective on his greatness: He may have been baseball’s greatest living Hall of Famer — not just at the time of his death this week, but from the moment he was inducted in 1979. Mays’ combination of...
Willie Mays inspired generations of baseball players with talent, exuberance
SAN FRANCISCO — Long after “The Catch” and his 660 home runs, and the daring sprints around the bases with his hat falling off, Willie Mays could still command a room like no other. Mays was a frequent visitor to the downtown ballpark in San Francisco at 24 Willie Mays...