The passing of Tommy John this weekend, at age 83 after a period of hospice care, should be one more reminder that we need to sufficiently honor transformational souls while they are still alive.

It’s now too late for John, former Dodger and former Angel, but most notably the first pitcher to successfully undergo what is now commonplace elbow...Read more

DENVER — Dodgers manager Dave Roberts called right fielder Kyle Tucker into the visiting manager’s office at Chase Field a week and a half ago, just to catch up.

Roberts had run into Tucker’s wife Samantha and their 5-month old baby that morning in Arizona. And he saw it as a good time to check in.

“When you start to struggle and you ...Read more

DENVER — Dodgers manager Dave Roberts called right fielder Kyle Tucker into the visiting manager’s office at Chase Field a week and a half ago, just to catch up.

Roberts had run into Tucker’s wife Samantha and their 5-month old baby that morning in Arizona. And he saw it as a good time to check in.

“When you start to struggle and you ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A day after the Royals scored nine runs against the Athletics, the Kansas City offense took a minute to crank into full gear on Tuesday.

The Royals finished with eight hits, saving their best effort for the final innings. They trailed by two runs in the ninth, victimized by some unlucky breaks — including Vinnie ...Read more

HOUSTON — George Klassen has come a long way since April, when he could barely throw the ball over the plate in his two nightmarish major league starts.

Since coming back to the big leagues this month, Klassen has gotten better each start, including seven scoreless innings in the Angels’ 3-1 victory over the Houston Astros on Tuesday night....Read more

NEW YORK — Home plate umpire Laz Diaz held up Mets pitcher Zac Thornton until the clock turned to 7:10 p.m. on Tuesday night.

Then it was showtime.

Fernando Tatis Jr. did not wait to take center stage once the game got underway.

He sent Thornton’s first pitch 452 feet to the second deck of seats beyond left field.

That was not even ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Nick Martinez’s encore performance to his Aug. 11 nine-inning complete game turned out to be a mess.

With the benefit of two additional days of rest, Martinez and manager Kevin Cash said there should be no residual impact from the season-high 101-pitch outing.

But that looked to be an issue, as the Jays hit Martinez early, ...Read more

BALTIMORE — Are the Orioles back?

Not in the optimistic sense that surrounded them only days ago. They’re back to making enough progress to look like a team capable of becoming a factor down the stretch, only to fall flat once again. It’s a pattern that has followed them throughout the season.

Tuesday’s 3-1 loss to the Yankees added ...Read more

PORTLAND, Maine — When Roman Anthony first sprained his hand he didn’t think it would be a big deal. He might miss a few games, sure, but before long he’d be back in the lineup and ready to help the Red Sox right the ship after a poor start.

It took a lot longer than that, but after nearly four months of starts and stops Anthony finally ...Read more

BOSTON — For the first three months of the season, the Red Sox needed to go on the road to win.

Those springtime struggles are long forgotten by now, though as Fenway Park is the ultimate home-field advantage once more. Fresh off a 2-5 road trip to Toronto and Pittsburgh, the Red Sox are 2-0 to begin this six-game homestand, after clinching ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins entered Tuesday a half-game out of the third American League wild-card spot, behind Baltimore, Texas and Detroit and tied with Toronto. Lately, they’ve had a heavy diet of interleague play with three of four series against National League teams.

Minnesota had dropped five straight against the NL before a ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Welcome back, Oneil Cruz.

Back to back, Braxton Ashcraft.

Ashcraft spun his second consecutive gem, completing eight innings of one-run ball on 80 pitches, and Cruz hit a two-run homer in his first appearance off the injured list to lead the Pirates to a 4-1 win against the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night at PNC Park.

The ...Read more

Carson Whisenhunt entered Tuesday night at Progressive Field coming off one of his more encouraging starts of the season. He wasn’t exactly dominant against the Houston Astros last week and teetered on the edge of disaster, but the left-hander featured a legitimate five-pitch mix en route to securing his third win of the season.

Now, it’s ...Read more

CHICAGO — Pete Crow-Armstrong’s walk-off home run in the opener of the City Series was still the talk of the town heading into Game 2 Tuesday night at Wrigley Field.

Chicago White Sox manager Will Venable’s decision to pitch to Crow-Armstrong in the 10th inning was debated ad nauseam on talk radio and the internet, and Venable reiterated ...Read more

DENVER — The Dodgers are putting closer Edwin Díaz on the injured list for the second time this season, a source familiar with the situation but not authorized to speak publicly confirmed Tuesday afternoon.

The move, which was first reported by the Athletic, comes after Díaz allowed nine runs and recorded three blown saves in a span of six ...Read more

CHICAGO — Where were you in the summer of 2008?

If you’re old enough to remember, you probably were watching your favorite Chicago baseball team and dreaming of a crosstown World Series.

Until this year, 2008 was the last full season the Cubs and Sox played each other in the regular season with realistic dreams of a World Series rematch.

...Read more