First pitch, slider down and in. Ball one.

Juan Soto, bent at the knees, now straightened up, never taking his eyes off pitcher Hunter Gaddis. There was some symbolism in the confrontation that was just beginning Saturday night in Cleveland. If you’re romantic, or poetic when it comes to baseball and not affected by dislike for a particular ...Read more

NEW YORK — When the Yankees and Dodgers met in the Bronx in early June, manager Aaron Boone said he could “feel the buzz” surrounding the regular season, weekend series.

“The series we had this summer with them felt like competitive, heavy, tough games,” Boone said Monday of the matchup, which saw the Yankees lose the first two games ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — In a Zoom call Monday with San Diego media, A.J. Preller sat in front of the framed sports page from the San Diego Union-Tribune that captured the franchise’s second no-hitter.

Under the headline “Classic Dylan,” architect Dylan Cease is leaping into the arms of catcher Luis Campusano after shutting down the Nationals on ...Read more

The Athletics will play on grass in Sacramento next season, with Major League Baseball yielding to concerns from players about the risks of an artificial turf surface in a city where summer temperatures often rise above 100 degrees.

The Triple-A stadium into which the A's are moving, Sutter Health Park, currently features a grass field. However...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The World Series is set: the Dodgers against the New York Yankees, featuring two of baseball's three biggest spenders.

Also some of baseball's biggest spenders: fans buying tickets for the World Series.

Resale prices soared Monday, on the day after the Dodgers clinched their spot in the World Series. The Fall Classic matchup is...Read more

LOS ANGELES — From a corner of the clubhouse, Dodgers owners Mark Walter and Todd Boehly smiled as they watched the chaos unfolding in the room.

In front of them, Shohei Ohtani was closing his eyes as manager Dave Roberts emptied a beer on his head. Soon, Ohtani and Roberts were hopping up and down together on the alcohol-soaked carpet, now ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The low point came 34 days ago.

During a late-season series in Atlanta, the Dodgers lost two games as their division lead dwindled. They learned Tyler Glasnow would become the latest, and most important, pitcher lost for the season to injury. For a brief moment, the team felt that people were “panicking,” as outfielder ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Television executives rejoice.

Major League Baseball is getting a World Series between its two biggest brands.

As was widely predicted when these teams met in June in what was billed as a World Series preview, the Dodgers and New York Yankees will meet in the Fall Classic.

The Dodgers got there by holding off the New York Mets...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Home, at last.

Home, after three rocky Octobers and two embarrassing collapses and deep blue scads of doubt.

Home, where Jackie Robinson is still stealing home and Sandy Koufax is still throwing shutouts and Kirk Gibson is still pumping that fist.

Home, to the World Series.

On a rollicking Sunday night at Dodger Stadium, the ...Read more

CLEVELAND — As the Guardians’ Lane Thomas flew out to Juan Soto to end Game 5 of the ALCS on Saturday night, the Yankees started sprinting to the middle of Progressive Field.

Within seconds of Soto, the 10th-inning hero after crushing a three-run bomb to break a 2-2 tie, securing the ball, a mosh pit formed near the mound. With the Yankees ...Read more

CLEVELAND – As George Springer settled under a Greg Bird flyball to end Game 7 of the 2017 ALCS, Minute Maid Park began to roar.

Without a soul near him, the Astros’ center fielder demonstratively waved off his fellow outfielders, raised his glove, caught the ball, and pointed toward the sky with his bare hand. With a pennant secured, Lance...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — The next time you see John Middleton, you better hope he is wearing a space suit with purple accents.

If the Phillies want to upgrade this roster, they may need to go to infinity and beyond.

We’re not talking Yankees star Juan Soto. We’re not even necessarily talking the Astros’ Alex Bregman, or the Orioles’ Anthony ...Read more

NEW YORK — Relax. Deep breaths. Relax.

The Dodgers still own this. The Dodgers are still in control. The Dodgers still have the New York Mets right where they want them.

Two games at Dodger Stadium. Win one and advance to the World Series. Shohei Ohtani hot. Mookie Betts hotter. Andy Pages burning out of nowhere. A rested and nearly ...Read more

NEW YORK — Carlos Mendoza shook some things up when he submitted the Mets Game 5 lineup card. However, one thing remained the same, and that was Francisco Alvarez behind the dish and batting ninth.

The catcher’s immense struggles this postseason have been well-documented. He entered Friday night 6 for 36 (.167) with zero homers and one RBI ...Read more

NEW YORK — Before the sun had even set in Queens on Friday night, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts faced a dilemma.

It was the third inning of Game 5 of the National League Championship Series. His club was facing an early, but hardly insurmountable, two-run deficit. And with starting pitcher Jack Flaherty lacking both command and fastball ...Read more

NEW YORK — As former Mets manager Yogi Berra supposedly once said, it ain’t over ’till it’s over.

It’s not over for the Mets after a 12-6 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the NLCS. The Mets staved off elimination Friday night at Citi Field in front of a sellout crowd by finally coming through with timely hitting with ...Read more

NEW YORK — An obvious pattern developed Thursday in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series.

Right after Shohei Ohtani walked in the third inning, Mookie Betts singled.

Right after Ohtani walked in the fourth, Betts doubled.

Right after Ohtani walked in the sixth, Betts homered.

Just 1 for 10 in the previous three games, Betts ...Read more

NEW YORK — When the Dodgers dug into their lineup’s postseason problems at the end of last year, they noticed a strange October-wide trend.

Teams that swung freely seemed to advance more often in the playoffs, while more disciplined clubs like the Dodgers tended to flame out.

It was an observation that stuck with some Dodgers hitters, ...Read more