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Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS

After a week of drama, Dodgers get back to the familiar and win their home opener

Sports / Baseball /

LOS ANGELES — To Dave Roberts, Thursday afternoon felt nostalgically, longingly, thankfully familiar.

The afternoon start time. The red, white and blue bunting. Even the traffic clogging up Vin Scully Avenue on the first of his 80 commutes, at least, into Chavez Ravine this year.

“You feel the buzz,” said Roberts, entering his ninth year...Read more

Twins open season with 4-1 victory over Royals

Sports / Baseball /

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Twins hope to repeat as AL Central champions this year. Except for the first batter he faced, Pablo López did his part Thursday by duplicating the near-perfect start to the 2023 season.

López surrendered a leadoff home run to Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia, but then smothered Kansas City for seven solid innings, ...Read more

Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun/TNS

Orioles crush Angels, 11-3, on opening day as Corbin Burnes stars in debut

Sports / Baseball /

BALTIMORE — This week proved how unpredictable the world can be. When the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed, it left two construction workers dead and four others presumed dead, a city shocked and a community grappling with tragedy.

Amid the uncertainty Thursday was the consistency of baseball — opening day, a gem of a ballpark and one of ...Read more

Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/TNS

Tarik Skubal stars and bullpen holds as Tigers take 1-0 opening day win vs. White Sox

Sports / Baseball /

CHICAGO — Tarik Skubal more than validated his manager’s decision to give him the ball in the season opener.

Skubal bullied hitters for six scoreless innings, handing the baton to the bullpen to complete the task, as the Tigers beat the Chicago White Sox, 1-0, on a sunny but crisp (50-degree) day at Guaranteed Rate Field.

It was the first ...Read more

Tim Warner/Getty Images North America/TNS

Newcomers Juan Soto, Alex Verdugo aid Yankees' opening day comeback against Astros

Sports / Baseball /

HOUSTON — The Yankees found themselves down early against the Astros on Thursday, but two newcomers helped the club overcome a 4-0 Opening Day deficit.

Juan Soto, the centerpiece of the Yankees’ offseason, started the scoring with a bases loaded, RBI single in the fifth. The slugger finished the game, a 5-4 Yankees win, 1 for 3 with a ...Read more

'Baseball gods' shine on Padres, who win Petco Park opener, 6-4, over Giants

Sports / Baseball /

SAN DIEGO — Stretching across the center-field grass and painted on the front of the press box and sewn on the back of the jacket his widow wore as she threw out the ceremonial first pitch were the initials "PS" inside a heart that will represent a franchise's tribute to their late beloved owner.

"I can feel his presence here today," Padres ...Read more

Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Shohei Ohtani says he's cooperating with investigators. Yasiel Puig offers a cautionary tale.

Sports / Baseball /

LOS ANGELES — The baseball star went into his first conversation with federal investigators assured he was "not a target."

The lead prosecutor on a sprawling sports betting case, Assistant U.S. Atty. Jeff Mitchell, told the player's attorney that he didn't believe it was a federal crime to make payments to an illegal bookmaker, as the player ...Read more

Jamie Squire/Getty Images North America/TNS

Royce Lewis exits with right quad injury after hitting home run in Twins' opener

Sports / Baseball /

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — With a home run and a single so far, Royce Lewis is batting 1.000 for the 2024 season.

The Twins hope his batting average won't stay perfect for long.

Lewis, trying to score from first base on Carlos Correa's third-inning double, instead limped into third base and stopped, clearly bothered by a sudden leg injury. After ...Read more

Ivy Ceballo/Tampa Bay Times/TNS

Rays' Wander Franco taken off 40-man roster

Sports / Baseball /

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Wander Franco was taken off the Rays’ 40-man roster on Thursday and placed on administrative leave through June 1, the Tampa Bay Times has learned.

The decision was made in joint agreement by Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association.

The move is really just a matter of paperwork, as the 23-year-old All-...Read more

Jung Yeon-je/AFP/Getty Images North America/TNS

How the saga of Shohei Ohtani and his interpreter unfolded -- and why it's not over

Sports / Baseball /

LOS ANGELES — The tip arrived two weeks ago, and it threatened to engulf Major League Baseball’s biggest star, Shohei Ohtani, in scandal. The name of the Los Angeles Dodgers slugger and pitcher had surfaced in a federal investigation of illegal sports gambling — millions of dollars in payments were allegedly made from his bank account to ...Read more

Christian Petersen/Getty Images North America/TNS

Vahe Gregorian: How 3-time World Series champion Will Smith became linchpin of Royals' offseason

Sports / Baseball /

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Before relief pitcher Will Smith sprouted into what he jokingly calls a “rabbit’s foot” good-luck charm, he long wondered if he was exactly the opposite: cursed never to play in any World Series, much less become the first player to win three in a row for three different franchises.

Before he earned his abiding sense ...Read more

Jung Yeon-je/AFP/Getty Images North America/TNS

Orange County bookie at center of gambling scandal thought link to Shohei Ohtani would help business

Sports / Baseball /

As a gambler, Mathew Bowyer bet big, often unsuccessfully, listing nearly half a million dollars in losses to two Las Vegas casinos in his 2011 bankruptcy.

As bookmaker, the Orange County man wagered that a client’s relationship with baseball phenom Shohei Ohtani would pay off by boosting Bowyer’s reputation in the gambling world.

Bowyer, ...Read more

Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Dodgers and Will Smith agree to a long-term contract extension

Sports / Baseball /

LOS ANGELES — In what's been a week of uncertainty and speculation surrounding the Dodgers, the team secured some important long-term clarity Wednesday afternoon.

On the eve of their regular-season home opener, the Dodgers and catcher Will Smith agreed to a long-term contract extension for 10 years and $140 million, ensuring a key piece of ...Read more

Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Bill Plaschke: Do you still believe in Shohei Ohtani? I'm not sure.

Sports / Baseball /

LOS ANGELES — It still doesn't feel right.

It still doesn't make sense.

No matter how much Shohei Ohtani and his advisors attempt to clean it up, something in all this gambling garbage still stinks.

When a smiling Ohtani strides on to the Dodger Stadium field for their home opener Thursday, I want to believe.

I want to believe the game's ...Read more

Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images North America/TNS

Who is Shohei Ohtani's new interpreter with Dodgers? They call him 'Will the Thrill.'

Sports / Baseball /

LOS ANGELES — Dodgers manager Dave Roberts wore a grim expression while talking to reporters in Seoul last Wednesday.

The team had just fired interpreter Ippei Mizuhara, who had been accused by representatives of Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani of engaging in a "massive theft" of the Dodgers two-way player's funds to allegedly pay off at ...Read more

Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Dodgers nearing long-term contract extension with catcher Will Smith

Sports / Baseball /

LOS ANGELES — In what's been a week of uncertainty and speculation surrounding the Dodgers, the team was close to locking up some important long-term clarity Wednesday afternoon.

On the eve of their regular-season home opener, the Dodgers and catcher Will Smith are nearing a long-term contract extension for 10 years and $140 million, ...Read more

Heather Khalifa/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

Phillies' season opener against Braves postponed to Friday due to rain in forecast

Sports / Baseball /

PHILADELPHIA — For the second straight year, the Phillies have rescheduled their home opener at Citizens Bank Park because rain is in the forecast. The team announced Wednesday that its opening day against the Atlanta Braves, which was originally scheduled for 3:05 p.m. Thursday, will now be held on Friday at 3:05 p.m. Gates will open at 12:35...Read more

Jung Yeon-je/AFP/Getty Images North America/TNS

Bookie in Shohei Ohtani betting scandal has Las Vegas ties

Sports / Baseball /

LAS VEGAS — The bookmaker at the center of the Shohei Ohtani betting scandal was a high-stakes sports bettor in Las Vegas, a source told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Mathew Bowyer, the alleged illegal bookie who is the target of a federal investigation, reportedly was wired millions of dollars from the Los Angeles Dodgers star’s bank ...Read more

Dustin Satloff/Getty Images North America/TNS

Mets' opening day game vs. Brewers postponed until Friday due to threat of rain

Sports / Baseball /

NEW YORK — The anticipation for the 2024 Mets campaign will have 24 extra hours to build.

The club announced the postponement of the opening day matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers at Citi Field on Wednesday afternoon, moving the game from Thursday to Friday at 1:40 p.m. ET because of rain in the forecast.

Left-hander Jose Quintana will ...Read more

Yong Kim/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

Mike Sielski: The honeymoon is over. It's World Series or bust for the 2024 Phillies.

Sports / Baseball /

PHILADELPHIA — Even at the time, Oct. 3, 2022 was a pretty consequential date in the history of the Phillies. It has become only more consequential since, especially now at the precipice of the 2024 season.

You might remember the date: 10/3/22. Check that: You almost certainly remember the date. The Phillies beat the Houston Astros, 3-0, at ...Read more