WASHINGTON — Two fans are banned from Nationals Park for five years after a heated exchange with Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras.

The incident occurred in the top of the 10th inning Tuesday during the Cubs’ 7-5, 11-inning win against the Washington Nationals. After Contreras’ sacrifice fly gave the Cubs a lead, he made his way ...Read more

The Texas Rangers fired long-time executive Jon Daniels Wednesday, two days after firing manager Chris Woodward.

Daniels, who has been with the team since 2002, spent the past 17 years running the baseball operations, including as general manager in 2005 and team president in 2013.

General manager Chris Young, who was hired nearly two years ...Read more

CINCINNATI — Over the last four months, Seranthony Domínguez has reestablished himself as one of the best relievers in baseball.

On Wednesday, he offered a reminder that he’s human.

Domínguez issued a rare four-pitch walk, then gave up back-to-back two-out singles in the ninth inning as the Phillies were walked off, 1-0, by the ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — In a positive development for the Giants postseason hopes, Jakob Junis returned to form Tuesday night against the Diamondbacks. A not-so-good development saw the Giants fail to crack their Kryptonite this season that has taken the form of Arizona right-hander Merrill Kelly.

The best development, though, waited until the end.

...Read more

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Instead of forcing the Angels into another ninth-inning implosion of mistakes, this time the Mariners turned the ninth inning into an explosion of their own hits and runs.

And as the Angels fans, at least the ones that decided to stay after Seattle scored five runs in the top of the ninth inning, vented their anger at the ...Read more

WASHINGTON — Three weeks later, Chicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele laughs at how close he came to making history.

The notable statistic highlighted the effectiveness of Steele’s four-seam fastball and his ability to suppress hitters from slugging against the pitch. It has been his strength the entire season, limiting barreled balls and ...Read more

NEW YORK — Ever since the Yankees roared off to their record-threatening start, winning 52 of their first 70 games, the American League East division race was considered all but over.

But here’s a question:

Is that now in question?

The Rays beat the Yankees again Tuesday, this time 3-1.

The victory extended the latest run for the Rays, ...Read more

More than 15 years after the Phillies earned the dubious distinction of becoming the first franchise in Major League Baseball history to lose 10,000 games, the team has finally joined baseball’s 10,000-win club.

Thanks to their 11-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night, the Phillies became just the ninth MLB team to win 10,000 ...Read more

TORONTO — For all his talents, Adley Rutschman’s greatest strength might just be his ability to discern balls from strikes, a model of the swing decision-based development plan that floods the Orioles’ minor league system. At times, it’s burned him, with his awareness of the strike zone perhaps sharper than that night’s home-plate ...Read more

MIAMI — The Padres say this is different.

Different mindset. Different manager and coaches. Lots of different players.

Curiously, what is happening on the field is disappointingly familiar.

It’s August, and the Padres are scuffling. It’s crunch time, and they are getting crunched.

It’s usually their offense that lets them down. It is...Read more

CLEVELAND — The baseball hasn’t much bounced the Tigers’ way this season. But it did Tuesday in their 4-3 victory over the Cleveland Guardians.

Guardians manager Terry Francona and center fielder Myles Straw were ejected in a wild bottom of the ninth.

Down 4-3, rookie Tyler Freeman led off the bottom of the ninth with a ringing double to...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Sonny Gray received a standing ovation from the announced 23,093 fans at Target Field on Tuesday after he put up 10 strikeouts in six-plus scoreless innings en route to a 9-0 victory.

In all, the starter (7-3 with the win) gave up only one walk and three hits, with two of them coming to lead off the seventh inning. Reliever ...Read more

ATLANTA — For the second straight night, the Mets’ starting pitcher left the game after completing just two innings.

Taijuan Walker got through his two innings on Tuesday without giving up a run, but when the Braves came up to bat in the bottom of the third, R.J. Alvarez came running in from the Mets’ bullpen. Walker had thrown 32 pitches...Read more

NEW YORK — Mets starter Carlos Carrasco was placed on the 15-day IL due to a low-grade strain in his left oblique. The Mets estimate his recovery timetable to be about three to four weeks.

“Carlos got the test back, it’s actually pretty good news,” Buck Showalter offered optimistically. “Grade 1 (strain), that’s good news. We ...Read more

If one were making a guess on whether or not the Red Sox are a playoff team this year solely based on the decibel level of the “Yankees suck” chant on Sunday night, the answer would be unanimous.

Sox fans were as rowdy and confident as ever following a Sox’ 3-0 shutout of the Yankees that was played in 2 hours, 15 minutes, tying the ...Read more

MILWAUKEE — The door to Dave Roberts’ office stayed shut a little longer than usual after Monday night’s game.

Inside, the Dodgers manager had sat down Cody Bellinger, the former MVP center fielder who, amid another up-and-down season, had started slumping again over the past week.

There was no reprimanding Bellinger’s effort. No ...Read more

Oakland Athletics officials were in Las Vegas Tuesday meeting again with hotel magnate Phil Ruffin about a potential north Strip ballpark deal, sources told the Review-Journal.

The meeting is the second to occur this month, with Ruffin previously making a trip on August 2 to Oakland regarding the 37-acre Las Vegas Festival Ground site he owns, ...Read more