First Call: Mike Tomlin showers praise on Stan Savran; Danny Smith on kickoff controversy; Brewers blow it in the 9th
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin showers praise on the late Stan Savran. Danny Smith has some curious remarks on the new kickoff rule. A blown lead by the Brewers helps the Pirates in the National League standings. And Phil Kessel is a Stanley Cup champion, again. All that in Wednesday’s...
Defiant A’s fans plan ‘Reverse Boycott’ at Oakland ColiseumVideo
OAKLAND, Calif. — Dawn Pieper will show her love for the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night in the spirit of her late husband, Jay, who is the reason she became such a loyal supporter. Lifelong fan Gabriel Hernandez will cheer his heart out in hopes everyone in attendance can make...
Ohtani struggles on mound, with 4.88 ERA in last 8 startsVideo
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Dominant on the mound for much of the past three seasons, Shohei Ohtani has struggled over the last six weeks. The two-way Japanese star is 2-2 with a 4.88 ERA in his last eight starts. He has allowed at least three runs in all but two of...
Mark Madden’s hot take: Hey fans, don’t be stupid — cash in
Whenever a fan is in the presence of a big-time athlete, the fan should remember that the athlete doesn’t care about him or her. You won’t be friends. It’s an empty encounter, so don’t feel bad about wanting a selfie, autograph, whatever. (Be polite.) This especially goes if you have...
Blue Jays cut pitcher Anthony Bass after latest anti-LGBTQ+ comments
TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays cut pitcher Anthony Bass on Friday, one day after the right-handed reliever said he didn’t think an anti-LGBTQ+ social media post he shared last month was hateful. The move came hours before Bass was set to catch a ceremonial first pitch from Toronto LGBTQ+...
First Call: Just 1 safety rated higher than Steelers’ Minkah Fitzpatrick; Mets limp into Pittsburgh to play Pirates
Friday’s “First Call” looks at a flailing opponent for the Pirates at PNC Park this weekend. It’s the anniversary of a memorable night in Pittsburgh hockey history. A Steelers All-Pro is deemed to be second best at his position. And the Pirates get a little help on their off day....
Belmont cancels racing, Nationals postpone game due to poor air quality from Canada wildfires
Racing at Belmont Park was canceled and the Washington Nationals’ home game against the Arizona Diamondbacks was postponed Thursday because of poor air quality from wildfires in Canada. It’s the second straight day the continuing fires north of the border have impacted sports in the Northeastern United States. Several Major...
First Call: Steelers’ preseason kickoff times set; Oneil Cruz has a Statcast challenger in the division; wildfires cancel games
Thursday’s “First Call” has the remaining details about the Steelers preseason schedule. The teams directly in front of and behind the Pirates in the standings lit it up on Wednesday. Plus some eerie photos of Yankee Stadium as the Canadian wildfires are forcing Major League Baseball cancellations. Now it’s known...
Reds’ Elly De la Cruz hits 1st big-league homer, then triples
CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Reds newcomer Elly De la Cruz hit his first major-league homer with a 458-foot, two-run drive off the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Noah Syndergaard on Wednesday night and then tripled in an 8-6 win. With fellow rookie Matt McLain on second base, De la Cruz hit an 0-1...
Plum product Alex Kirilloff takes ‘exciting’ step with improved plate discipline
His surgically repaired wrist now healed, Alex Kirilloff is back in the big leagues and back with the Twins as a transformed hitter. The son of a hitting instructor has been known for his bat since the Twins made him the 2016 MLB draft’s 15th overall pick out of Plum...
Rangers ace Jacob deGrom to have season-ending surgeryVideo
ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas ace Jacob deGrom will have season-ending surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, cutting short his first season with the AL West-leading Rangers after the oft-injured right-hander signed a $185 million, five-year contract. “We’ve got a special group here, and to...
Roger Craig, former MLB pitcher and manager who was World Series fixture, dies at 93
NEW YORK — Roger Craig, who pitched for three championship teams during his major league career and then managed the San Francisco Giants to the 1989 World Series that was interrupted by a massive earthquake, has died. He was 93. A spokesperson for the Giants said the team was informed...
MLB takes over Padres broadcasts Wednesday after Bally misses payment
Major League Baseball will take over broadcasts of San Diego Padres games beginning Wednesday after Diamond Sports missed a rights fees payment to the regional sports network’s parent company and let the grace period expire. Diamond Sports, which owns 19 networks under the Bally Sports banner, said in a statement...
New Hampshire town recognized for historic role in racially integrating baseball in the 1940s
NASHUA, N.H. — The conversation around racial integration in baseball often revolves around Jackie Robinson, who broke the major league color barrier in 1947 with the Brooklyn Dodgers. But a year earlier, history was being made in the small town of Nashua, New Hampshire. It was here that Hall of...
New bill to build Athletics stadium on Las Vegas Strip caps Nevada’s cost at $380 million
CARSON CITY, Nev. — A bill introduced late Friday in the Nevada Legislature would give the Oakland Athletics up to $380 million for a potential 30,000-seat, $1.5 billion retractable roof stadium on the Las Vegas Strip. The bulk of the public funding would come from $180 million in transferable tax...
Even after his latest ejection, Yankees manager Aaron Boone doesn’t want robo umps
NEW YORK — Ejected for the fourth time this season and second time in a four-game span, Yankees manager Aaron Boone didn’t think there was a need for robot umpires. “I don’t want that,” Boone said after Thursday night’s 3-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. Boone was tossed in the...
Latrobe alum Zach Kokoska having big month in High-A league
Zach Kokoska is burning up the Northwest League as he makes inroads to his dream of playing in the majors. The former Latrobe and Kansas State baseball star has been on an offensive tear of late, hitting safely in 14 of his last 18 games for the High-Class A Spokane...
MLB warns teams that batters may not try to trick pitchers into clock violations
NEW YORK — Teams were warned by Major League Baseball on Wednesday that batters may not attempt to deceive pitchers into quick-pitch violations. “In recent days, we have seen batters attempt to induce pitchers to violate the pitch timer regulations by creating the appearance that they are in the batter’s...
First Call: Steelers sign XFL star WR; new home for Pat McAfee’s show
Wednesday’s “First Call” has some roster news for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Plus, the shenanigans between the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays won’t stop. And the “Pat McAfee Show” is heading to a major network. Hello, Hak After the Steelers invited XFL receiving star Hakeem Butler to their rookie...
Oakland A’s reach agreement for potential stadium site on Las Vegas StripVideo
LAS VEGAS — The Oakland Athletics reached an agreement with Bally’s and Gaming & Leisure Properties to build a potential stadium on the Tropicana hotel site along the Las Vegas Strip. Bally’s Corp. made the announcement Monday for a 30,000-seat stadium on the 35-acre site. The project is expected to...
Colorado’s Ryan Feltner has skull fracture, concussion from line driveVideo
DENVER — Colorado pitcher Ryan Feltner has a skull fracture and concussion after getting hit by a line drive off the bat of Philadelphia’s Nick Castellanos. Feltner was injured Saturday night and was likely to be discharged from Swedish Medical Center later Sunday. He will not need surgery. “Overall, he’s...
Last-place St. Louis Cardinals trying to find their wayVideo
CHICAGO — When Dylan Carlson looks at his St. Louis teammates, he sees a long list of accomplishments. There is reigning NL MVP Paul Goldschmidt and seven-time All-Star Nolan Arenado. And Adam Wainwright, a World Series winner closing in on 200 career victories. All that past success is one reason...
Twins reinstate Kyle Farmer 4 weeks after hit by pitch in face
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins returned infielder Kyle Farmer from his rehab assignment and reinstated him from the injured list on Wednesday, four weeks after he was hit by a pitch in the face and needed oral surgery. Third baseman Jose Miranda was sent to Triple-A St. Paul to make...
MLB, players finalize collective bargaining deal through ’26
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball and the players’ association finalized their collective bargaining agreement through the 2026 season on Tuesday, 14 months after reaching a memorandum of understanding for a deal that ended a 99-day lockout. The agreement, which expires at 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 1, 2026, runs 426...
Robo umps reach Triple-A, but MLB rollout still uncertain
WORCESTER, Mass. — Trailing Nashville with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, St. Paul Saints first baseman Alex Kirilloff watched the 3-2 pitch go by for strike three. He thought it might have missed the high and inside corner. There was no point in arguing. The game was...
