KANSAS CITY, Mo. — With a chance to advance, the Yankees never had a doubt in their No. 1 starter.

The Royals roughed Gerrit Cole up in Game 1 of the ALDS, as the reigning Cy Young winner allowed four runs (3 earned), seven hits and 11-hard-hit balls over five innings on Oct. 5. The Yankees squeaked by with a win that night, but the Royals ...Read more

DETROIT — The magical mystery tour took a slight detour Thursday for Detroit Tigers fans.

The team’s 5-4 loss to the Cleveland Guardians sent their series back to Ohio for a fifth and deciding game Saturday.

Patti Tyson of Woodhaven said she was sad but hopeful about a team that has defied the odds the past two months.

“It’s too bad ...Read more

DETROIT — They were nine outs away from another celebration Thursday night and another record crowd at Comerica Park (44,923) was ready to party.

The only problem: The American League Central Division champions weren’t ready to die.

The Cleveland Guardians forced a Game 5 with a gritty 5-4 comeback win over the Tigers in Game 4. This ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — The opening statement came two batters into the game, Mookie Betts hitting a ball to Chula Vista, the stunned stadium enveloping him in the sweetest of silence.

The follow-up statement came soon thereafter, Shohei Ohtani driving a ball down the right-field line at about 1,000 mph, the silence turning to shock.

The closing ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Joe Pohlad rejected the notion last February that his family might consider selling the Twins, saying “it’s not something that interests us.”

It is now.

Pohlad, grandson of the family patriarch who bought the state’s Major League Baseball team four decades ago, announced Thursday that “after months of thoughtful ...Read more

The Rays on Thursday morning began the initial process of assessing the damage to Tropicana Field from Hurricane Milton, most notably the shredding of the roof.

“During the past couple weeks, our beloved city, region and state have been impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. We are devastated by the damage incurred by so many,” the team ...Read more

Every at-bat sends a packed ballpark from elated to deflated. Every result swings the perceived advantage radically.

In front of yet another record crowd at Petco Park, the Padres on Wednesday went from needing to win one of two games to needing to win or go home.

They will have to play the National League Division Series to its fullest extent...Read more

In the hours before Game 4 of the National League Division Series at Petco Park on Wednesday night, there was a quiet but palpable belief around the Dodgers dugout, one that belied the seemingly dire state in which they found themselves.

Sure, the team was facing a third straight elimination in the NLDS, down two games to one to the San Diego ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Michael Wacha has a huge responsibility on Thursday.

He will be the Kansas City Royals’ starting pitcher for Game 4 of the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees at Kauffman Stadium.

The stakes couldn’t be much higher.

The Royals are facing elimination at home after Wednesday’s 3-2 loss. Two ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Hours before Game 3 of the ALDS, Giancarlo Stanton took the field at Kauffman Stadium for some early batting practice.

With assistant Yankees hitting coach Casey Dykes feeding balls through a pitching machine and lead hitting coach James Rowson watching, Stanton repeatedly sprayed heaters across the outfield. With just one ...Read more

NEW YORK — Once again, Jose Quintana did his job.

The veteran left-hander fired five-plus crucial innings in the Mets‘ 4-1 win over the Phillies in NLDS Game 4 on Wednesday night at Citi Field.

And while he collected a no-decision, Quintana was among the biggest reasons that the odds-defying Mets advanced past their NL East rival and ...Read more

NEW YORK — When you lose, it’s always the manager’s fault. When you don’t score, it’s always the hitters’ fault. When you don’t stop the bleeding, it’s always the bullpen’s fault.

When your team loses, it’s always somebody’s fault, right? When your team had the best record in baseball for months, and when it wins 95 games ...Read more

NEW YORK — It was not supposed to end this way. As little as three months ago, the suggestion would have seemed a setup for a punch line. Carlos Estévez, crouched in front of the Citi Field mound, a wince on his face, casting a fearful look over his shoulder, watching Francisco Lindor’s sixth-inning grand slam disappear over the wall in ...Read more

DETROIT — It may not have been the loudest crowd, though the volume level certainly went up as the day grew long.

But it definitely was the largest crowd, at this ballpark, for this time of year.

The Tigers announced Wednesday a crowd of 44,885 showed up for Game 3 of the American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians, ...Read more

DETROIT — The Detroit Tigers, given last rites in early August, are now one win from playing for the American League championship.

Believe it.

In front of the largest postseason crowd ever at Comerica Park (44,885), the Tigers seized control of this best-of-five American League Division Series on Wednesday, blanking the Cleveland Guardians ...Read more

KANSAS CITY – Hours before Game 3 of the ALDS on Wednesday, Juan Soto fielded a question about the tradition and culture associated with the Yankees.

“When you put that jersey on and those pinstripes, it just feels different,” Soto replied.

How much longer Soto will wear pinstripes has been a storyline throughout his first — and ...Read more

ATLANTA — The Braves filed a lawsuit against former employees Bill Acree and his son Ben Acree, in addition to Heritage Auctions, in a case involving the home plate and bases from Hank Aaron’s 715th home run.

The Braves’ lawsuit, filed in Cobb County Superior Court on Sept. 27, contends the memorabilia was stolen, unlawfully possessed and...Read more