SAN DIEGO — Two sinkers fluttered away from the strike zone — outside, then inside — before a change-up dived below it.

If Anibal Sanchez thought he could sneak a middle-middle sinker past Manny Machado, he was wrong.

Machado always has a green light.

The rest of the team remains stuck in neutral.

Machado’s fourth-inning homer on a ...Read more

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Rays returned Thursday to Tropicana Field deprived of shuteye and a series sweep of the Yankees. The bullpen taxed and the everyday players bleary-eyed, they needed a collective jolt.

On this night, a mere 19 hours after a 10-inning walk-off loss in The Bronx, a quality start proved more stimulating than caffeine.

...Read more

ATLANTA — There are times when you watch Jacob deGrom and think he may never give up a run again.

Watching him give up three runs — two in the same inning, no less — can feel like witnessing an unnatural earthly phenomenon. When the Braves tagged him for three runs on Thursday night, the planet did not start spinning backward and rain ...Read more

NEW YORK — The age-old saying in baseball is that momentum lasts only as long as the next day’s starting pitcher. Unfortunately for the Yankees, less than 24 hours after a dramatic, extra-inning walk-off grand slam, Frankie Montas came up short.

The Blue Jays killed any momentum the Bombers had from Wednesday night’s dramatic win and hit...Read more

Just when it looked like the Red Sox were primed to go on a hot streak, they took a step back.

Though they did already win the series, the Red Sox failed to complete a sweep and notch another much-needed win against one of the worst teams in baseball. Josh Winckowski was torched for six runs – including two home runs by Bryan Reynolds – and...Read more

ST. LOUIS — Everybody has an opinion about what Albert Pujols should do next season.

That includes Yadier Molina.

“One more year! One more year!” the Cardinals catcher ribbed Thursday afternoon as media members circled Pujols following another magical moment.

“Yeah, I’ve been hearing one more year,” Pujols said. “Sure, I’ll be...Read more

CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox had an opportunity to inch closer to first place ahead of a big series against the division-leading Guardians in Cleveland.

Instead, they closed out a homestand with a clunker Thursday against the Houston Astros.

The Sox surrendered four home runs, including two two-run homers to Alex Bregman, in a lopsided 21...Read more

ATLANTA — Mets right-handed pitcher Taijuan Walker, last seen throwing just two innings on Tuesday night before leaving with back spasms, took some time out of his treatment to explain how he’s feeling.

“A lot better than expected,” he reported. “Tuesday, I would say, was a lot, a lot of pain. One of the worst pains I’ve ever felt. ...Read more

CHICAGO — The link in the NBC Sports Chicago tweet Wednesday begged to be opened.

“Tony La Russa calls White Sox leadership meeting, fuels win streak.”

Could it really be that the White Sox manager was responsible for the five-game win streak against the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros after calling a meeting of his key players? The ...Read more

BALTIMORE — Even without rookie catcher Adley Rutschman leading Major League Baseball’s top prospect lists, the Orioles have the best farm system in the sport.

Rutschman has established himself as an American League Rookie of the Year candidate with the big league club, but with shortstop Gunnar Henderson taking his place as the top ...Read more

Ron Gardenhire was sitting in his Oakdale home this week with his three children and three grandchildren. And, big surprise, he was up to shenanigans.

"This morning when I was over at the house, he had my sister's baby, River," said Toby Gardenhire, his son and current St. Paul Saints manager. "And he was pretending to give River some Mountain ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — Not much was working for Logan Webb. Absolutely nothing worked for the Giants against Zac Gallen.

The Diamondbacks’ patient approach at the plate has given the Giants problems all season. So games can spiral if the starter isn’t on point. Webb, who rarely falters, didn’t have his usual stuff and Arizona slammed him for ...Read more

BALTIMORE — The Orioles have largely avoided these sorts of games, which is why they’re playing meaningful baseball in the middle of August for the first time in years. But with anemic offense coupling with a bullpen that has cracked two days in a row, their playoff aspirations took another hit Thursday against the Chicago Cubs.

For the ...Read more

MILWAUKEE — Even when he struck out Andrew McCutchen, it didn’t work out well for Andrew Heaney.

McCutchen hit two home runs off the Dodgers left-hander Thursday afternoon then reached base on a third-strike passed ball, extending the fifth inning long enough for Hunter Renfroe to hit a two-run homer off Heaney. Those runs proved to be the ...Read more

BALTIMORE — Félix Bautista doesn’t really understand the reference. He’s never seen “The Wire” on HBO. But the Orioles closer still wore the T-shirt with his own face photoshopped where the face of Omar Little should be.

The Orioles love their T-shirts, and the latest addition was seen Thursday in the clubhouse with most of Bautista�...Read more

ST. LOUIS — Adam Wainwright, two weeks shy of his 41st birthday, stopped the Colorado Rockies on three hits over seven innings Thursday in a 13-0 Cardinals victory. But Wainwright had to defer to his elders.

Albert Pujols, 42 years old, was the story of the day at Busch Stadium, achieving something he never had done in his storied career by ...Read more

Dan Gladden greeted a visitor at the top of the driveway overlooking his 64-acre property with an observation.

"Those are tennis shoes," he said. "They're going to get dirty."

Gladden instructed me previously to bring boots because he planned to put me to work during a visit to his home for an interview.

Not quite sure whether he was kidding,...Read more

Jon Daniels started with the Texas Rangers in 2002 as the youngest GM in MLB history, and he left in 2022 as the most polarizing figure in the history of the franchise.

Three days after Daniels announced that the team fired manager Chris Woodward, team owner Ray Davis fired Daniels.

Some place near Houston, Nolan Ryan probably chuckled.

Other...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants came into Wednesday’s game riding a five-game win streak with their starting rotation turned to its ace, who gave them their best shot until the Arizona Diamondbacks put together a comeback against the bullpen. The Giants lost 3-2.

The Giants carried a 2-1 lead heading into the eighth inning. Dominic Leone gave up...Read more