A lockout is looming over MLB in December 2026, with a salary cap fight possibly at the center
ATLANTA — Looming over baseball is a likely lockout in December 2026, a possible management push for a salary cap and perhaps lost regular-season games for the first time since 1995. “No one’s talking about it, but we all know that they’re going to lock us out for it, and...
Baseball players’ union head hopeful of major leaguers participating in 2028 Olympics
ATLANTA — Baseball players’ union head Tony Clark says plans are moving ahead exploring the possibility of using major leaguers in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and discussions have taken place this week during the All-Star break. “There’s a lot of work that still needs to be done,” he told...
Robot umpires to make All-Star Game debut, another step toward possible regular-season use in 2026
ATLANTA — Tarik Skubal views the strike zone differently than robot umpires. “I have this thing where I think everything is a strike until the umpire calls it a ball,” Detroit’s AL Cy Young Award winner said ahead of his start for the American League in Tuesday night’s All-Star Game....
In an era prizing velocity, more than 20,000 curveballs a year have disappeared from MLB
ATLANTA — Curveballs have been thrown a curve by a modern game valuing velocity over variety, disappearing from the major leagues by more than 20,000 annually. The Athletics have thrown curves on just 2.5% of pitches this season. The overall big league figure dropped from 10.7% in 2019 to 8.1%...
Nationals take Eli Willits with No. 1 pick in MLB draft, first of record 17 first-round shortstops
ATLANTA — The Washington Nationals selected Oklahoma high school shortstop Eli Willits on Sunday night with the No. 1 pick in Major League Baseball’s amateur draft in a selection seen by some as a surprise. The 17-year-old Willits is the youngest player taken No. 1 overall since Ken Griffey Jr....
Terry Francona gets his 2,000th managerial win as the Reds beat the Rockies
CINCINNATI — Terry Francona has added another milestone to his impressive career. Francona became the 13th manager in major league history to reach 2,000 wins when the Cincinnati Reds beat the Colorado Rockies 4-2 on Sunday. “I don’t think I’ve ever tried to delude myself. I mean some of those...
Astros’ Isaac Paredes will miss the All-Star Game because of a family matter
HOUSTON — Houston Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes has dropped out of next week’s All-Star Game to attend to a family matter. Paredes was added to the roster Wednesday after Cleveland’s José Ramírez opted out to rest a nagging Achilles tendon injury. Paredes was in the Astros’ lineup at designated...
Braves’ Matt Olson to replace Ronald Acuña Jr. in Home Run Derby
ATLANTA — The Braves announced Friday that first baseman Matt Olson will now participate in Monday’s Home Run Derby at Truist Park, replacing right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. Acuña had told FanDuel Sports Network on Wednesday that he planned to hit in the event “Yes, sir,” Acuña told FanDuel Sports...
Holding No. 1 pick, Nationals’ front-office upheaval injects even more uncertainty into MLB draft
The Washington Nationals are at a pivotal point in their rebuild to baseball relevance, owning the No. 1 overall pick in the MLB Amateur Draft that begins Sunday night in Atlanta. There are multiple intriguing prospects they can choose from, including prep shortstop Ethan Holliday, the son of seven-time All-Star...
Yankees’ Rodón, Royals’ Estévez and Garcia, Tigers’ Mize are replacements on AL All-Star roster
Carlos Rodón, Carlos Estévez and Casey Mize on Friday were named replacement pitchers on the American League roster for the All-Star Game. The New York Yankees’ Rodón, an All-Star for the third time in five seasons, will replace teammate Max Fried for Tuesday’s game in Atlanta. Fried will be unavailable...
Holding No. 1 pick, Nationals’ front-office upheaval injects more uncertainty into MLB draft
The Washington Nationals are at a pivotal point in their rebuild to baseball relevance, owning the No. 1 overall pick in the Major League Baseball amateur draft that begins Sunday night in Atlanta. There are multiple intriguing prospects they can choose from, including prep shorstop Ethan Holliday, the son of...
Athletics’ Brent Rooker and Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm Jr. join Home Run Derby lineup
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Brent Rooker doesn’t plan to change his approach at the plate for the Home Run Derby. “I mean, look, just about every swing I’ve ever taken in my life I’ve been trying to hit a home run,” the Athletics slugger said. “It’s not like I have...
North Allegheny grad Cole Young hits 1st MLB homer, but Mariners fall to YankeesVideo
NEW YORK — Seattle Mariners rookie Cole Young, a North Allegheny graduate, hit his first home run in the majors, but the New York Yankees beat the Mariners, 9-6, on Wednesday night. Young, the No. 9 hitter, hit a two-run blast on an 0-2 count in the seventh inning. Promoted...
First Call: Rooney family member pans Steelers roster and rips idea of paying T.J. Watt big money; Reds honor Dave Parker
Thursday’s “First Call” has some harsh words about the Pittsburgh Steelers from someone within the Rooney family. Dave Parker is honored by one of his former teams. We’ve also got Pirates’ draft speculation and roster building from the Duquesne football team. Family matters If someone named Rooney is unloading their...
Zach McKinstry picked as AL All-Star sub as Tigers tie Dodgers for most picks for Midsummer Classic
The Detroit Tigers have the best record in the majors. Now they are tied for having the most All-Stars, too. Zach McKinstry was picked Wednesday to replace Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña, who has been dealing with a rib injury. The infielder-outfielder will join Detroit second baseman Gleyber Torres and outfielders...
MLB plans to use robot umpire challenge system in All-Star Game next weekVideo
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball plans to use its robot umpire technology for ball-strike challenges in Tuesday’s All-Star Game at Atlanta, another step toward possible regular-season use next season. MLB said Wednesday it intends to make the All-Star announcement Thursday. Teams won 52.2% of their ball/strike challenges during the...
Manager Dave Martinez, GM Mike Rizzo fired by last-place Washington Nationals
WASHINGTON — Manager Dave Martinez and general manager Mike Rizzo were fired by the Washington Nationals on Sunday in moves that were surprising for their timing, even if the club is more than halfway through its sixth consecutive losing season since winning the 2019 World Series. The team announced the...
Clayton Kershaw makes his 11th All-Star team, James Wood the youngest All-Star at 22
NEW YORK — Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw was picked for his 11th All-Star Game and James Wood and Elly De La Cruz boosted the 23-and-under group to five when they were picked Sunday for the July 15 showcase at Atlanta’s Truist Park. Wood at 22 is the youngest of the...
Brewers’ Woodruff strikes out 8, allows two hits in 6 innings for a win in 1st MLB start since 2023
MIAMI — Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff struck out eight and threw two-hit ball through six innings against Miami on Sunday to win his first start in the majors since Sept. 23, 2023. The two-time All-Star hadn’t pitched in the big leagues since having shoulder surgery after the 2023 season....
Holliday’s 2-run homer helps Rogers finally beat Braves as Orioles complete sweep with 2-1 win
ATLANTA — Jackson Holliday’s two-run homer gave Baltimore an early lead and Trevor Rogers ended his career-spanning victory drought against Atlanta by giving up four hits in 6 2/3 scoreless innings as the Orioles beat the Braves 2-1 on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep. Rogers (2-0) struck out six...
Mets ace Kodai Senga could rejoin rotation next weekend in Kansas City
NEW YORK — Mets ace Kodai Senga could rejoin the rotation next weekend in the final series before the All-Star break, a little over a month after straining his right hamstring. Senga allowed four runs — three earned — and six hits in 3 2/3 innings during Saturday’s minor league...
41-year-old reliever Jesse Chavez returns again for his 7th stint with Braves
ATLANTA — Jesse Chavez has returned yet again for his seventh stint with the Atlanta Braves, including his second this season. The Braves added the 41-year-old reliever to their major league roster before Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles. It is the sixth move to add the veteran right-hander to...
Bobby Jenks, 2-time All-Star closer and World Series champion with the Chicago White Sox, dies at 44
CHICAGO — Bobby Jenks, a two-time All-Star closer and World Series champion with the Chicago White Sox, has died, the team announced Saturday. He was 44. The White Sox said Jenks died Friday in Sintra, Portugal, where he was being treated for adenocarcinoma, a form of stomach cancer. Jenks helped...
Mets add pitchers Paul Blackburn, Dedniel Núñez to long injured list
NEW YORK — Already running low on pitching, the New York Mets added starter Paul Blackburn and reliever Dedniel Núñez to a crowded injured list Thursday in their latest flurry of roster moves. Núñez has a right elbow sprain and could require Tommy John surgery for the second time in...
Nationals slugger James Wood joins Ronald Acuña Jr., Cal Raleigh in Home Run Derby
WASHINGTON — Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood became the third player to announce he will take part in the Home Run Derby. The derby will be held on July 14, the night before the All-Star Game, at Truist Park in Atlanta. Wood joins Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. and Mariners...
