MINNEAPOLIS — The Twins had a two-run deficit after two batters Tuesday, following a two-run homer from Cody Bellinger, and the rest of the game wasn't much better.

One day after the Twins watched the New York Yankees celebrate clinching a playoff spot, they were routed in an 8-1 loss at Target Field.

If that wasn't enough bad news, rookie ...Read more

The 1985 San Francisco Giants will not have company.

With a 10-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night at Busch Stadium, the Giants won their 63rd game under rookie manager Tony Vitello, guaranteeing that they will not lose 100 games in a single season for the second time in franchise history. San Francisco, at 63-89, had far ...Read more

HOUSTON — Michael Wacha continues to prove his worth to the Kansas City Royals. And on a night when he didn’t have his best stuff, Wacha still gave the club a chance.

Wacha tossed six innings against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. However, his Tuesday start was an uncharacteristic showing. Wacha allowed three homers — including two ...Read more

Patrick Sandoval has had a rocky month. Entering Tuesday the Red Sox left-hander had allowed a 6.12 ERA over his last five starts, but coming out of the gate Sandoval looked like he’d finally figured things out.

But after striking out the first four batters he faced, the wheels came off in the bottom of the second.

Sandoval allowed four runs...Read more

WASHINGTON — Jesús Luzardo spent most of his first night on the injured list seated at the end of a dugout bench, an injured ace unable to pitch due to shoulder stiffness.

Yet, somehow, the Phillies have a bigger problem.

It hardly seems possible given Luzardo’s importance to the entire operation. He’s been the best pitcher in the ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates had a golden opportunity to tie the game against Jacob Misiorowski and the Milwaukee Brewers.

Down a run with two runners on in the fourth, Rafael Flores Jr. hit a grounder that deflected off third baseman David Hamilton’s glove and into shallow left field. Third base coach Tony Beasley, evidently missing...Read more

NEW YORK — Pete Alonso had one more iconic Citi Field moment left in him.

The longtime New York Mets first baseman got all the emotions out of the way Monday in a ceremonious return to Queens, complete with a tribute video, standing ovations and chants all night long. On Tuesday, he gave Mets fans a reminder of what they were missing after ...Read more

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The series against the A’s that opened Tuesday night at Tropicana Field is the Rays’ only one since early September — and until the end of the season — against a team not in the playoff race.

Easy, right?

Not so much.

Tampa Bay prevailed at the end for a 2-1 win in dramatic fashion, as Junior Caminero ...Read more

CINCINNATI — A simple change opened up a dramatic offensive turnaround for Dodgers left fielder Teoscar Hernández.

Hernández’ two-run homer Tuesday, in the Dodgers’ 4-0 win against the Reds on Tuesday was his second home run in as many nights, as they trimmed their magic number to clinch the division to two. And, significantly, this one...Read more

WASHINGTON — If Jesús Luzardo starts again for the Phillies this season — suddenly an enormous “if” — it almost certainly won’t be until the playoffs.

Luzardo went on the 15-day injured list, the Phillies announced Tuesday, because the stiffness in his inflamed left shoulder lingered after three days of not throwing. The All-Star ...Read more

DENVER — It was stressful like September should be. It was crazy like Coors Field almost always is.

“Coors Field special right there,” Padres manager Craig Stammen said afterward. “A lot of hits, walks, crazy bounces. One last bounce went our way at the end.”

That about summed up a the Padres’ 8-7 victory over the Rockies on Monday...Read more

ANAHEIM — Reid Detmers wasn’t as dominant as he had been, but it was good enough on a night when the offense, defense and bullpen all did their jobs.

The Angels’ left-hander gave up three runs, more than he had in any start in more than a month, but the Angels still beat the Seattle Mariners, 6-4, on Monday night.

Shortstop Zach Neto ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Even though the results weren’t there, the New York Yankees kept saying that they liked the way Aaron Judge has looked since returning from a fractured rib on Sept. 8.

“I’ve actually been pleased,” Aaron Boone said before Monday’s series-opener against the Minnesota Twins. “Even right away, I felt like he’s looked ...Read more

NEW YORK — Famous (fictional) Baltimore native Omar Little once said, "if you come at the king, you best not miss."

David Stearns missed when he decided to let the New York Mets’ home run king walk to Baltimore in free agency. The Mets’ president of baseball operations missed big.

Never has that been more evident than it was Monday night...Read more

NEW YORK — This time, Gunnar Henderson came through in the clutch.

The Baltimore Orioles’ star shortstop hasn’t often been the source of big hits in key spots this season, a down year in several regards. Henderson, who still has yet to collect a walk-off hit in his career, entered Monday’s game with a .674 OPS in close-and-late ...Read more

The San Francisco Giants entered their series against the San Diego Padres last week with an opportunity to win four games in a row for the first time all season, a feat every other team in the majors has long since accomplished. Since then, they’ve been absent from the win column.

San Francisco went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position ...Read more

CHICAGO — A video of former Chicago White Sox amateur scouting director Mike Shirley, lauding the organization before the 2026 draft, was still featured on the team’s website Sunday morning.

“There are just so many people contributing to what we do,” Shirley said July 10 on a Chicago Sports Network broadcast. “Major League Baseball, ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants entered this weekend needing just one win to avoid losing 100 games in a single season for the second time in franchise history. As they embark upon their final trip of the year, they are still searching for that one win.

Following the announcement that Rafael Devers would miss the rest of the season, ...Read more

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Lawrence Butler launched a sky-high, two-run home run off Mariners closer Andrés Munoz in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the Athletics stunned the Mariners for the second time this weekend in an 8-7 walk-off victory Sunday afternoon.

The loss further sinks the Mariners’ already thin playoff chances.

Donovan ...Read more