DETROIT — If this was it, Tarik Skubal tried to make it last.

But all good things come to an end, as the saying goes. And the way Skubal’s latest start went Wednesday afternoon — and specifically the way it went after he'd done his job — probably should remove all doubt for the Tigers: It’s time to sell.

At least when it comes to ...Read more

MIAMI — Less than an hour after the Phillies suffered their fourth consecutive series loss after the All-Star break, Bryce Harper threw down the proverbial gauntlet.

“I think we need some help,” Harper said. “I think we’ve proved pretty much all year, we’ve done a pretty good job, but anytime you can get some help in here and ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO – Monday’s trade deadline loomed as Luis Arraez batted leadoff and Heliot Ramos slotted in at the No. 3 slot for the San Francisco Giants’ 16-3 romp over the visiting Milwaukee Brewers.

If it was to be his final start at Oracle Park wearing the orange and black of the Giants, Arraez made it a game to remember for the 35,399 ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Wander Franco also will appeal the most recent trial verdict that found the Tampa Bay Rays All-Star shortstop guilty of sexual abuse of a minor but withheld punishment with a judicial pardon.

Prosecutors last week filed an appeal of the May verdict, arguing that the pardon “does not apply” for a “serious case of child ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Another lefty meant another loss for the Pirates in their rubber match against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

After eight shutout innings from southpaw starter Eduardo Rodriguez fueled a 3-0 shutout on Wednesday afternoon, the club has lost five consecutive matchups against left-handed starting pitchers.

“I know the hitting group ...Read more

NEW YORK — There are few things more demoralizing for Mets fans than facing the Atlanta Braves when the NL East foes are sitting in first place in the division. Having to play them right before the trade deadline feels like a cruel twist in what has already been a cruel season for the Mets, but this time, it was more like a plot twist.

The ...Read more

DETROIT — The day was supposed to be about Tarik Skubal receiving a sendoff worthy of a future Hall of Famer pitching perhaps his final game for the Tigers. Detroit jumped out to a seven-run lead, and the Baltimore Orioles, with three errors and a hopeless offense, played the part of the quiet visiting team fading into the background of the ...Read more

MIAMI — Just three days ago, the Miami Marlins were reeling. They were in the midst of a franchise-worst losing streak. Their playoff hopes were fading with each passing game, each passing defeat.

“What 72 hours can do,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said.

For the Marlins, it just might have brought them back to life.

Miami on ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — There was muffled chatter among the grounds crew as the six of us stood on the steps waiting for our cue.

I was already hot. A sheen of sweat was building on my forehead, and I felt the heat in my face, arms and chest. Maybe these were those jitters the others had mentioned. Wait, were my shoes knotted tightly enough?

Two in-...Read more

ANAHEIM — A night after the Angels intentionally walked Yordan Alvarez to load the bases in the ninth inning, they pitched to him.

Neither decision worked out.

Left-hander Mitch Farris threw one pitch to the Houston Astros slugger, and he ripped it into center field for an RBI single, snapping a tie and sending the Angels to a 3-2 loss on ...Read more

Dominic Canzone’s go-ahead home run in the eighth spoiled a Tuesday night of leaderboard climbing for Max Muncy and Shohei Ohtani as the Mariners beat the Dodgers 7-6 in the first game at Dodger Stadium since before the All-Star break on July 12.

With one out, Julio Rodríguez on first and the score tied at five, Canzone got all of Alex Vesia...Read more

That’s baseball.

After so many games this season, some version of that adage, a verbal shrug and a nod to how unpredictable the sport is, has been uttered in the Padres clubhouse.

Yes, it is baseball.

But the Padres can no longer afford that as an explanation for losses that could have or should have been wins if they want to continue ...Read more

He had them from the jump.

Coming into Tuesday night’s outing Athletics rookie Gage Jump’s numbers didn’t exactly leap off the page. The 23-year-old left-hander had an unremarkable 4.42 ERA over his first 11 big league starts and gave up six runs in his last outing, but the former second-round pick was in complete control on Tuesday, ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — The pregame news dump on Tuesday afternoon was one of the most brutal in recent memory.

Utilityman Casey Schmitt was diagnosed with a torn meniscus and could miss the remainder of the season. Rookie right-hander Trevor McDonald will definitively miss the remainder of this season and then some, electing to undergo UCL ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — A Pittsburgh Pirates comeback came out of nowhere.

It wasn’t quite enough.

The Pirates trailed 6-0 going into the eighth inning, but scored six runs on Tuesday night at PNC Park to force extra innings. However, they couldn’t answer James McCann’s RBI single in the 12th, falling to the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-7.

Brandon ...Read more

ST. LOUIS — When the Cardinals slipped beneath the winning waterline for the first time this season it wasn’t a slow sink or even a sudden cannonball, but an absolute dunk by their archrival.

The Cubs drubbed the Cardinals with seven runs before the Cardinals could catch their breath on the way to a 10-2 rout Tuesday night at Busch Stadium....Read more

NEW YORK — The New York Yankees finally added a catcher on Tuesday … via a minor league contract.

The team signed veteran backstop Christian Bethancourt and assigned him to Triple-A before beating the White Sox, 3-2, in Chicago. The move shouldn’t have any impact on the Yankees’ pursuit of a righty-swinging catcher prior to the Aug. 3 ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Starting pitcher Seth Lugo gave the Royals a solid performance in the series opener at the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night.

And the Royals gave him just enough support — to the point of being one out shy of a one-run victory.

But in the bottom of the ninth, Royals reliever Alex Lange gave up a single and a walk before the ...Read more

MIAMI — As MLB’s trade deadline approaches on Monday, Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara once again is dominating trade rumors.

And after the Marlins saw their hopes of reaching the postseason take a hit over the past two-plus weeks after losing 12 consecutive games, naturally the talk of if the Marlins will finally deal Alcantara once again...Read more

NEW YORK — A foreboding forecast in Queens caused Tuesday night’s game between the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves to be postponed, setting up a split-admission doubleheader on Wednesday.

Wednesday’s first game at Citi Field is set to begin at 1:10 p.m. ET, while the second game is scheduled for 7:10 p.m.

Left-hander Sean Manaea (2-5, 4...Read more