OAKLAND, Calif. — Managers Mark Kotsay of the Oakland A’s and A.J. Hinch of the Detroit Tigers got a chance to sit down and talk inside the Coliseum on Sunday before their two clubs played each other. The two former Major Leaguers shared memories and told stories about the 57-year-old stadium, which will host its final big league game later ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — For as bad as the Dodgers' pitching situation looks here in the final month of the season, there's a world where it could have been so much worse.

A world where the team failed to execute its buzzer-beater acquisition of Jack Flaherty at the July 30 trade deadline. A world where the Southland-raised right-hander never returned ...Read more

Kyle Freeland set the tone, Sam Hilliard provided the juice, and the bullpen closed the deal Sunday afternoon in one of the Colorado Rockies’ most impressive victories of the season.

Their 4-1 win over the playoff-bound Brewers at American Family Field earned them a three-game series victory in Milwaukee.

Freeland’s rocky first inning gave...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A few minutes after Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli aired out his frustration with his team in a loud closed-door meeting, following a 2-0 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Sunday, he declined to take questions during a postgame news conference.

“That was an unprofessional series of baseball that we just played, ...Read more

ST. LOUIS — Launch angle? Exit velocity? Barrel rate? xwOBA?

Over the last decade, modern baseball has introduced a new language and, for many, a new way to think about the game.

For one of the most accomplished hitters in Seattle Mariners history, though, the new-age analytics are about as useful as Sanskrit.

"I don't care if you have an ...Read more

The New York Yankees had no answer for a pitcher they knew very well.

Jameson Taillon dominated the Bombers on Sunday afternoon at Wrigley Field as the Chicago Cubs avoided being swept on their home field. The 32-year-old tossed six innings allowing one run on six hits while striking out six. The right-hander lowered his season ERA to 3.57.

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SAN DIEGO — Nothing, it seems, comes simply to these San Francisco Giants, especially not as they attempt to break in a group of young players they hope can morph into core contributors next year.

Not even their first series win since the third week of August, not even coming against the majors’ hottest team since the All-Star break, the ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Billy Cook was spending his Saturday evening how he normally would, playing video games online with his former minor-league teammates from his days in the Baltimore Orioles system. An avid gamer, few things could pry the 25-year-old away from a round of “Fortnite” with his pals, but two calls within the same hour from ...Read more

NEW YORK — The Mets’ winning streak is over.

Gone, too, is their sole possession of a National League playoff spot.

A Sunday afternoon of close calls ended with a 3-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds at Citi Field, snapping the Mets’ nine-game winning streak and allowing the Braves to tie them for the third and final NL wild-card position.

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ATLANTA — The Braves won an 11-inning thriller Sunday, 4-3, over the Toronto Blue Jays to earn a series win.

Here are five takeaways from Sunday:

1. After squandering their chance by leaving the bases loaded in the 10th, the Braves scored twice in the 11th to win it. Eli White, typically an outfielder who was handling second base for the ...Read more

BALTIMORE — Corbin Burnes returned to form on Sunday. The Baltimore Orioles’ offense did not.

Baltimore (82-62) squandered a quality start from its ace Sunday, failing to push a run across in a 2-0 home loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. A two-run home run by Rays left fielder Jonny DeLuca broke a scoreless tie in the sixth inning for the lone ...Read more

BOSTON — Dominic Fletcher knew he was in for a tough at-bat facing Boston Red Sox reliever Zack Kelly.

The Chicago White Sox right fielder came to the plate with runners on first and second, one out and the score tied in the ninth inning.

The afternoon shadows at Fenway Park added another element to the challenge.

“Both teams have to deal...Read more

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. — Michael Montanari, president of the Hartford World Series Club, noted this month’s guest needed no introduction, but just the same he rattled off the list of Cooperstown-worthy achievements.

“… Don’t forget my arrest,” interjected Jose Canseco.

And so unfolded an interesting couple of hours at the VFW Hall ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers are tied with the Philadelphia Phillies for the best record in baseball heading into the final three weeks of the regular season, and it hasn’t guaranteed them much, not with San Diego and Arizona breathing down their necks in the National League West.

“We’re feeling the Padres and Diamondbacks ...Read more

BOSTON — It was only fitting that the Red Sox quarterback returned on the first Saturday of the NFL season.

“He’s the quarterback,” manager Alex Cora said of Trevor Story, who returned after missing 133 games with what was thought to be a season-ending shoulder injury, and helped the Red Sox beat the visiting Chicago White Sox, 7-5. “...Read more

ATLANTA — The Braves lost 9-5 to the Blue Jays at Truist Park on Saturday, falling out of postseason position in the process.

Here are five takeaways from Saturday:

1. It was an ugly outing for rookie Spencer Schwellenbach, who’s been so brilliant throughout his rookie campaign. He surrendered six runs (three earned) on 10 hits, allowing ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — All eyes are on the Giants’ contingent of young players this September as they attempt to carve out roles for next season.

And if you ask Grant McCray, good thing folks are watching.

McCray, 23, started the season in Double-A and didn’t reach Triple-A until the middle of June, but in 19 games since getting the call to the ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — The top wild-card team in the NL, the Padres control their own destiny.

A little more breathing room would be nice.

Dylan Cease coughed up an early lead and a lineup missing Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill squandered opportunity after opportunity in a 6-3 loss to the San Francisco Giants on Saturday, costing the Padres a ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — In their first loss of the day, it was a lack of offense that served as the key issue. In loss No. 2, it was the bullpen. Ahead 4-2 after six strong innings from Mitch Keller, the Pirates’ unit of reserve arms once again failed to hold onto their team’s lead, blowing multiple advantages en route to an 8-6 loss at PNC Park.

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