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...
AL East Preview: Aaron Judge, Yankees lead MLB’s deepest divisionVideo
From 1998-2003, the five AL East teams finished in the exact same order every season. Back then, the New York Yankees were dominant, the Boston Red Sox were contenders and everyone else was left chasing those teams — and that remained the status quo for a while. Consider this a...
NL Central Preview: Cardinals seek repeat without Albert Pujols, Yadier MolinaVideo
Two familiar faces from St. Louis’ run to the NL Central title last season aren’t around anymore as the Cardinals attempt to become the division’s first repeat champion in six years. The retirements of Yadier Molina and Albert Pujols leave the Cardinals having to replace two likely Hall of Famers....
First Call: Another cornerback Steelers may consider in draft; bad night for Penguins in playoff race; Pirates bets
With the draft about a month away, we keep surfing through potential cornerback picks for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Penguins had a tough night when it came to their playoff chances. A former Pitt basketball rival now seems to have interest in transferring to the Panthers. And we look at...
NL East Preview: Braves, Phillies, Mets to duke it out againVideo
The National League East made a strong argument as the majors’ toughest division in 2022 and lines up as perhaps even better this season. The NL East boasted two 101-win teams: the Atlanta Braves, who won their fifth consecutive division title, and the New York Mets. A third playoff team...
Reports: Minor leaguers reach 5-year labor deal with MLB
NEW YORK — Baseball minor leaguers reached a historic initial collective bargaining agreement with Major League Baseball on Wednesday, according to multiple reports. As part of the five-year deal, MLB agreed during the contract not to reduce minor league affiliates from the current 120. The sides reached the deal two...
Vandergrift native, GCC grad Warren Schaeffer rises into role as Rockies 3rd-base coach
If Vandergrift’s Warren Schaeffer keeps this up much longer, he will be able to say that literally half his life has been spent in professional baseball. Since summer 2007, Schaeffer has been employed by the Colorado Rockies organization. That’s a lot of games — and a lot of Opening Days....
MLB Rookie of the Year odds show a couple of young hitters as favorites
BY ZACH EWING | Home Field Sports Unlike the other primary individual awards in Major League Baseball, the MVP and Cy Young, handicapping the Rookie of the Year race is difficult. You have to know young players coming up, international arrivals and playing-time situations. That’s no different in 2023, where...
What did players learn about MLB’s new rules this spring?Video
PHOENIX — It was the defining moment of the recently finished World Baseball Classic Japan’s star pitcher Shohei Ohtani vs. United States slugger Mike Trout. Ninth inning. Two outs. One-run game. Team USA pitcher Merrill Kelly said the storybook scene was just as dramatic for the players in the dugout...
MLB The Show breaks barrier with Negro League playersVideo
LOS ANGELES — MLB The Show has broken a video game barrier: For the first time, the franchise will insert some of the greatest Negro League players — from Satchel Paige to Jackie Robinson — into the 2023 edition of the game as playable characters. Video gamers are now able...
Trevor Bauer, shunned by MLB, introduced by Japanese team
YOKOHAMA, Japan — The Trevor Bauer era in Japan began Friday at an introductory news conference, where he pulled a blue and white Yokohama DeNA BayStars jersey over a white shirt and red tie. The 2020 Cy Young Award winner is in Japan on a one-year deal that could let...
Phillies’ Rhys Hoskins tears ACL, expected to miss significant timeVideo
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins needs surgery for a torn ACL after injuring his left knee Thursday fielding a grounder in a spring training game and is expected to miss a significant amount of time. The Phillies did not say when Hoskins would have the surgery...
