Rays tie record with 13-0 start, rally to beat Red Sox 9-3Video
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays tied MLB’s post-1900 record for 13 consecutive wins to start a season, rallying to beat the Boston Red Sox, 9-3, on Thursday behind a seven-run fifth inning that Harold Ramirez began and capped with doubles. Tampa Bay matched the 13-0 start of...
First Call: A new Steeler has draft advice for the franchise; local MLB star signs big contract
A new Pittsburgh Steeler is giving out draft advice to the franchise. A Penn State alum is unhappy with his franchise tag. A local baseball star just hit it rich. And college hockey is catching on with ESPN viewers. All that in Thursday’s “First Call.” Pat Pete playing GM? Appearing...
Umpire hospitalized after being hit in head by relay throw
CLEVELAND — Umpire Larry Vanover is being evaluated for a concussion and other injuries at a hospital after being struck in the head with a relay throw during Wednesday’s game between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians. The 67-year-old Vanover was knocked down by the throw from Guardians All-Star...
Rangers SS Seager out at least 4 weeks with hamstring strain
ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager will miss at least four weeks after being placed on the injured list Wednesday with a left hamstring strain after getting hurt running the bases. General manager Chris Young said Seager had an MRI that showed a Grade 2 strain. Seager, who...
Salt Lake City group seeks MLB expansion team
SALT LAKE CITY — While Major League Baseball has no current plans to add teams, the family that used to own the NBA’s Utah Jazz says it wants an expansion franchise. The Miller family and the Larry H. Miller Company said Wednesday a coalition calling itself Big League Utah has...
Mt. Lebanon native Ian Happ, Cubs agree to $61 million, 3-year contract for 2024-26
CHICAGO — All-Star outfielder Ian Happ and the Chicago Cubs agreed Wednesday to a $61 million, three-year contract covering 2024-26. Happ, a Mt. Lebanon native, agreed in January to a $10.85 million, one-year contract. His new deal calls for a $3 million signing bonus payable June 1 and salaries of...
Confident Rays not surprised by 11-0 start to season
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The streaking Tampa Bay Rays are running out of superlatives to describe baseball’s best start in more than three decades. Remarkable, incredible, unbelievable — even crazy — are words players have used to describe the dominant, all-around team effort that has carried them to an 11-0...
Bottoms up! Some MLB teams extend beer sales to 8th inning
PHOENIX — Thanks to the pitch clock, the action is moving much faster at Major League Baseball games. It also means a little less time for fans to enjoy a frosty adult beverage. To combat that time crunch, at least four teams — the Arizona Diamondbacks, Texas Rangers, Minnesota Twins...
MLB batting average up 16 points, game time down 31 minutes
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball’s new rules designed to speed pace of play and encourage more action seem to be working through the first 1 1/2 weeks of the season. Batting average is up 16 points, stolen bases have spiked 30% and the average game time is down 31...
Going, going, gone: Study says climate change juicing homers
Climate change is making major league sluggers into even hotter hitters, sending an extra 50 or so home runs a year over the fences, a new study found. Hotter, thinner air that allows balls to fly farther contributed a tiny bit to a surge in home runs since 2010, according...
Minor-league pitcher calls Padres’ Fernando Tatis ‘cheater’ after monster HRVideo
A San Francisco Giants minor leaguer called Fernando Tatis Jr. a “cheater” on Twitter after the suspended San Diego Padres superstar hit a mammoth home run Wednesday night in a Triple-A game while on a rehab assignment. Kade McClure of the Sacramento River Cats responded to a tweet that included...
Plum grad McGough works way back to MLB after finding his footing in Japan
What’s longer: 6,585 miles, or 2,749 days? For Plum’s Scott McGough, it took (repeatedly) traveling the former to take a meandering route in figuratively navigating the latter. A four-year trip to Japan ultimately led McGough back to the major leagues, a level he hadn’t pitched at since Sept. 20, 2015....
AP exclusive: MLB average salary up 11% year after lockoutVideo
NEW YORK — A year removed from a labor lockout that postponed Opening Day, major league players are enjoying their biggest salary spike in more than two decades. The average MLB salary was up 11.1% to a record $4.9 million to start this season, the largest jump for the sport...
Rendon suspension reduced to 4 games by MLB, appeal droppedVideo
NEW YORK — Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon says he is dropping his appeal after his suspension was reduced to four games by Major League Baseball for his altercation with a fan last week. Rendon spoke before the Angels opened a series in Seattle on Monday night and...
MLB owners ratify minor league collective bargaining deal
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball owners unanimously approved an initial five-year labor contract with minor league players on Monday that will more than double player salaries. The agreement was reached last Wednesday and ratified by players on Friday. Minor league players formed a bargaining unit during a rapid 17-day...
MLB game times cut 30 minutes, steals double under new rules
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball’s new rules are working as hoped through the first four days of the season. The average game time has dropped by 30 minutes, stolen bases have doubled and batting average has increased by 16 percentage points compared to last year’s opening weekend. Games averaged...
FanDuel Sportsbook promo gives up to $1,000 back in Bonus Bets for MLB Opening Weekend
BY HOME FIELD SPORTS STAFF MLB Opening Weekend is upon us and that means that baseball is officially back! Baseball gives bettors a whole other opportunity to make money daily with a plethora of games being played across the country. Whether you’re betting on run lines, over/under totals, futures or...
Phillies put Bryce Harper on 10-day IL to start seasonVideo
ARLINGTON, Texas — Bryce Harper was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday by the Philadelphia Phillies, who avoided the 60-day list for their star slugger and left open the opportunity he could return before the end of May. Dave Dombrowski, the Phillies president of baseball operations, said the timeline...
Mets place Justin Verlander on IL with muscle strain on Opening DayVideo
MIAMI — The New York Mets placed Justin Verlander on the injured list with a strained upper back muscle on Opening Day, sidelining the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner before his first appearance with the team. The Mets announced Verlander has a low-grade teres major strain a few hours...
World Series odds: Will the Astros repeat as champions or will the field step up?
BY GABE HENDERSON | Home Field Sports Dusty Baker’s Houston Astros lifted the Commissioner’s Trophy in triumph at Minute Maid Park less than six months ago. It’s now time for the dynasty to defend its crown as Opening Day is finally upon us. The offseason was filled with a ton...
NL MVP race more wide open than AL according to betting odds: See our best values
BY SPENCER URQUHART | Home Field Sports Major League Baseball is stocked with superstars in 2023, and there’s no higher individual award than MVP in both the American League and National League. World Series odds are still the go-to for most MLB futures bettors, but both the AL and NL...
AL West Preview: Can Shohei Ohtani, Angels unseat the Astros?Video
Once Shohei Ohtani struck out Mike Trout for an epic finish to the World Baseball Classic, the former AL MVPs quickly returned to being teammates again for what could be their last chance together to lead the Los Angeles Angels to the playoffs. For the Athletics, this might be their...
AL Central Preview: Guardians trying to defend lackluster divisionVideo
Guardians ace Shane Bieber was musing about Cleveland manager Terry Francona’s importance to the club earlier this spring when he made a somewhat surprising acknowledgement of what baseball’s youngest team had done a year ago. “We kind of maximized our input,” Bieber said, “and our output.” Indeed, that young bunch...
MLB preview 2023: New rules, big-money Mets, Shohei Ohtani’s walk yearVideo
Baseball has transformed in the 145 days since Dusty Baker and the Houston Astros sealed the franchise’s second title in six seasons. As New York Mets owner Steve Cohen dominated an offseason that saw billions spent, the sport braced for a new world that includes pitch clocks, bigger bases, limits...
NL West Preview: Padres eager to take title from DodgersVideo
The San Diego Padres don’t feel like little brother anymore to the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers. Buoyed by a stunning victory against the 111-win Dodgers in the NL Division Series and owner Peter Seidler’s fearless offseason spending, the Padres are poised to make a run at the NL West title...
