Verlander has muted reaction reaching 3,500-strikeout mark in a disappointing season
SAN FRANCISCO — Justin Verlander added another memorable chapter to his legendary pitching career Sunday, yet was hardly in the mood to celebrate. Verlander struck out the side in the first inning against the Nationals to become the 10th pitcher in MLB history to reach 3,500 career strikeouts. Not long...
Yankees manager Aaron Boone ejected for 5th time this season in game vs. Astros
NEW YORK — New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone was ejected from a game for the fifth time this season in the third inning on Sunday against the Houston Astros. Boone thought Jason Alexander’s sinker to Ryan McMahon was a low called strike. He argued with plate umpire Derek Thomas,...
Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw square off in rare 3,000-K duel
LOS ANGELES — Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw went toe-to-toe for six innings in a vintage duel Friday night between the two most recent additions to the 3,000-strikeout club. The 41-year-old Scherzer, pitching for Toronto, made his 465th career start. Kershaw, 37, started his 443rd game — all for the...
Jen Pawol breaks MLB gender barrier as 1st female regular-season umpire
ATLANTA — Jen Pawol felt love and support from fans, family, peers and players as she made history as the first female umpire to work a regular-season game in the major leagues. “It was amazing when we took the field,” Pawol said. “It seemed like quite a few people were...
Umpire Jen Pawol emotional as she prepares to break big-league gender barrierVideo
NEW YORK — Jen Pawol was in her hotel room in Nashville, Tenn., when she got the call she had awaited for a decade. She was going to make her major-league debut this weekend, becoming the first female umpire in a century and a half of big-league baseball. “I was...
Former Pirate David Bednar goes longer than expected for 1st Yankees saveVideo
ARLINGTON, Texas — Mars graduate David Bednar got his first save for the New York Yankees after going a little longer than expected, and they ended their five-game losing streak before going home. Bednar got the final five outs, all on strikeouts, in their 3-2 win at Texas on Wednesday....
Red Sox sign rookie phenom Roman Anthony to an 8-year, $130 million contact
BOSTON — The Red Sox signed rookie phenom Roman Anthony to an eight-year, $130 million contract Wednesday, spending some of the cash they saved by trading Rafael Devers away on a player they hope will be the centerpiece of the next generation of Boston stars. The 21-year-old outfielder, who had...
MLB is calling up its 1st female umpire, promoting Jen Pawol for Saturday’s Marlins-Braves game
Jen Pawol is set to become the first woman to umpire in Major League Baseball when she works games this weekend between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves. Pawol will work the bases in Saturday’s doubleheader at Truist Park and the plate on Sunday, MLB told The Associated Press on...
Aaron Judge comes off IL, set to rejoin struggling Yankees
ARLINGTON, Texas — Aaron Judge was activated off the 10-day injured list by the New York Yankees on Tuesday, and their captain is set to return at the Texas Rangers after being sidelined because of a flexor strain in his right elbow. Maybe the two-time AL MVP slugger can help...
MLB contenders watch for fatigue as some starters experience an increased workloadVideo
CHICAGO — At age 34, Matthew Boyd is going back to what was once familiar territory for the left-hander. He has logged 130 2/3 innings so far in his first season with the Chicago Cubs, more than he totaled in the previous two years combined. It’s a workload jump that...
Aaron Judge could return to Yankees lineup at Texas on Tuesday
ARLINGTON, Texas — Aaron Judge could be back in the New York Yankees’ lineup as early as Tuesday, when their captain is eligible to come off the 10-day injured list after being sidelined because of a flexor strain in his right elbow. Judge hit off Yankees minor league pitchers at...
Big Dumper’s big year: Cal Raleigh’s ‘staggering’ season leads an offensive surge by MLB catchers
Seattle’s Cal Raleigh — better known by the catchy nickname “Big Dumper” — has lived up to the moniker, dropping baseball into the outfield seats all over the big leagues this season. Manager Dan Wilson has been in awe of his talents. “That’s what you get from Cal,” Wilson said....
Rangers right-hander Jacob DeGrom is fastest to 1,800 career strikeouts in MLB history
SEATTLE — Texas Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom became the fastest pitcher in major league history to reach 1,800 career strikeouts by games and innings Sunday. In the second inning against Seattle, deGrom got Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford to swing through a 98.7 mph four-seam fastball for his fourth K of...
Shaler graduate Tim Grubbs makes debut as Minnesota Twins play-by-play announcer
The dream of being a play-by-play baseball announcer is a passion many young broadcasters have. With only 30 jobs available, becoming part of that field is truly rarefied air. Shaler native and 1991 graduate Tim Grubbs was among those with that goal. And his path to getting a shot at...
Play ball, take 2: The Braves take the MLB Speedway Classic at Bristol after rain suspension
BRISTOL, Tenn. — A record crowd of 91,032 for a regular-season Major League Baseball game got to see all the pomp and pageantry with the MLB Speedway Classic before the rain washed out the game itself in the bottom of the first inning. Fans returning Sunday only wanted to watch...
Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck to undergo Tommy John surgery
BOSTON — Boston Red Sox right-hander Tanner Houck’s attempt to come back this season is over. Manager Alex Cora said Saturday that Houck will undergo Tommy John surgery. An All-Star last season, the 29-year-old Houck went on the injured list in mid-May with a right flexor strain after going 0-3...
Chicago’s Wrigley Field chosen to host 2027 MLB All-Star Game
CHICAGO — The Friendly Confines are set to host The Midsummer Classic. Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred made it official, announcing during a news conference Friday at home plate that the 2027 All-Star Game will be held at Wrigley Field. Baseball’s second-oldest ballpark hasn’t hosted an All-Star Game since 1990. Chicago...
Bristol Motor Speedway set to host Tennessee’s first MLB game with record crowdVideo
BRISTOL, Tenn. — Bristol Motor Speedway is ready to make history by hosting the first MLB game in Tennessee. The stage, or in this case the racetrack, has been set for the biggest crowd for a regular-season baseball game at Saturday night’s MLB Speedway Classic between the Atlanta Braves and...
Analysis: Padres make waves at trade deadline again by dealing away top prospectVideo
For the second time in four years, A.J. Preller turned the San Diego Padres into the biggest stars of baseball’s trade deadline. In 2022, the San Diego general manager snagged slugger Juan Soto, sending James Wood, MacKenzie Gore, CJ Abrams and three others to Washington in an eight-player blockbuster. Then...
Correa returns to Astros; Bethel Park’s Miller goes to Padres on MLB trade deadline day
MLB’s trade deadline brought plenty of chaos Thursday, with dozens of deals capping a frenetic 24 hours as teams sought to improve their rosters ahead of the postseason. Among the highlights: All-Star shortstop Carlos Correa is reuniting with the Houston Astros, and the San Diego Padres went on a trading...
Durán to Phillies and twin pitchers dealt on same day. Big names remain as MLB trade deadline looms
The Philadelphia Phillies acquired hard-throwing reliever Jhoan Durán, and identical twin relievers Tyler and Taylor Rogers got dealt on the same day, signaling that teams are willing to pay a hefty price for bullpen help as the Major League Baseball trade deadline approaches Thursday. The 27-year-old Durán is arguably the...
Shohei Ohtani leaves mound with trainer after throwing 6 straight balls, including 2 wild pitches
CINCINNATI — Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani left the mound accompanied by a trainer during the fourth inning against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night. Ohtani threw six straight balls — including two consecutive wild pitches — and, after a conference on the mound, departed with a 2-0...
Athletics place All-Star SS Jacob Wilson on 10-day IL with fractured left forearmVideo
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Athletics placed All-Star shortstop Jacob Wilson on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a fractured left forearm. The 23-year-old Wilson was hit on his left hand by a pitch in the first inning of a 10-1 victory over Atlanta on July 8. The rookie is...
Hall of Fame 2nd baseman Ryne Sandberg dies after battling cancer
CHICAGO — Ryne Sandberg, a Hall of Fame second baseman who became one of baseball’s best all-around players while starring for the Chicago Cubs, has died. He was 65. Sandberg was surrounded by his family when he died at his home Monday, according to the team. Sandberg announced in January...
Baseball’s biggest spenders are stumbling, with the Dodgers, Mets and Yankees beset by injuries
NEW YORK — Baseball’s biggest spenders are stumbling, slowed by injuries and scrambling to patch rosters with help for battered bullpens and other positions ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline. Opening the season with a top payroll of $326 million, the New York Mets have a 1 1/2-game NL East lead...
