PHILADELPHIA — To many around the sport, the Dodgers have become villains for the way they’ve outspent the rest of the league, loaded their roster with international talent, and stockpiled depth at seemingly every position.

To the Phillies, however, it makes them the standard; one with which their own big-money, star-studded roster is ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — The last time Oswaldo Cabrera and the Yankees visited the Steel City, he stopped by the Roberto Clemente Museum.

The visit, taken in September 2023, included a chance to hold one of Clemente’s enormous bats. There’s a belief that players who visit the museum and hold the humanitarian’s bats are graced with good luck. Sure ...Read more

DENVER — An announced sellout crowd of 48,105 braved snow and frigid temperatures for the home opener at Coors Field Friday afternoon.

The Rockies gave them a cold shoulder, losing 6-3 to the Athletics in 11 innings in a game that took 3 hours and 21 minutes. The A’s won the game with a two-out, two-run double to right by Gio Urshela off ...Read more

NEW YORK — After a winter of uncertainty, Pete Alonso finally came home to Citi Field, re-christening the ballpark in the best way he knows how.

Alonso’s first-inning opposite-field home run off Kevin Gausman led the Mets to a 5-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday afternoon. His third of the season and second in as many games, Alonso...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts announced Friday he will accompany the team on its visit to the White House next week, when President Trump will recognize the club's World Series title.

There had been uncertainty over Betts' decision, given he declined to go to the White House with the Boston Red Sox in 2019 during Trump's first ...Read more

DETROIT — The Tigers treated a sellout crowd of 44,735 revelers to a very systematic and satisfying victory on a chilly home-opener at Comerica Park Friday, beating the Chicago White Sox, 7-4.

Kerry Carpenter and Riley Greene provided the thump.

Carpenter hit a pair of home runs, drilling one off the foul pole in right field off right-handed...Read more

BOSTON — After years defined by apathy and negativity, the Red Sox returned to a much different atmosphere when they arrived at Fenway Park on Friday. There’s been a shift within the club as well, but hours before first pitch chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said what matters most will be how the team performs going forward.

“...Read more

CHICAGO — The Padres’ historic run of perfection came to an end in one of baseball’s most historic settings.

The Cubs took advantage of an occasionally erratic Randy Vásquez for a 3-1 victory, the Padres’ first loss in eight games this season.

The frigid Friday afternoon game was the Cubs’ 150th home opener and their 110th at ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Turns out two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell had more on his mind than the lineup of the visiting Detroit Tigers last week when he made his first start as a Dodger.

A day earlier, his home in Woodway, Wash., was broken into, the latest in a disturbing string of burglaries targeting the homes of prominent professional ...Read more

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Angels play their home opener Friday, the dawn of their 60th season in Angel Stadium.

Only three major league ballparks are older: Dodger Stadium, Fenway Park and Wrigley Field, all of which have been refreshed and revitalized for new generations of fans.

Angel Stadium remains in limbo, with an increasingly uncertain ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers gladly — perhaps even gleefully — defer to the New York Mets.

In large part because of heavily deferred contracts to Shohei Ohtani and other top players, the Dodgers have a payroll slightly lower than that of their National League rival who signed outfielder Juan Soto to a record 15-year, $765-million contract ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Freddie Freeman's latest ankle issue will keep him out longer than initially expected.

During the Dodgers' travel day to Philadelphia on Thursday, the team announced Freeman had been placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to March 31.

The moves means that Freeman won't be eligible to return to action until next weekend,...Read more

NEW YORK — The Bronx Bombers were out to play on Thursday night.

After subpar offensive performances in the first two games against the Arizona Diamonbacks, the Yankees responded with a gargantuan punch in the series finale, mashing three more homers as they defeated the Diamondbacks, 9-7, to salvage the three-game set.

None other than Aaron...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Bring it on. That's what I say. That's what everybody should be saying about a pair of hot-button sports innovations: torpedo bats and tush pushes.

Instead, we have naysayers.

Innovation always attracts naysayers.

I believe it was either Albert Einstein or Albert Pujols who said, "Great spirits have often encountered violent ...Read more

CHICAGO — Months from now we might not remember the great tarp incident at The Rate or the Chicago Cubs bullpen implosions at Chase Field in Phoenix.

Everything seems magnified at the start of a baseball season, especially for Cubs and White Sox fans who hope to exorcise the nightmares of the last few years.

Fortunately they’re already in ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Joe Ryan, buzzkill.

The Twins’ home opener was off to a rousing start on Thursday, Target Field alive with excitement over Matt Wallner’s leadoff triple, Byron Buxton’s can’t-catch-him infield hit and stolen base, and Trevor Larnach’s opposite-field single. One inning into the first of 81 home games, the Twins were ...Read more

ATLANTA — We have a bit more clarity on Reynaldo López’s timeline — not when he will return, but when he will not return.

The Braves transferred López, who is dealing with right shoulder inflammation, to the 60-day injured list. This means he’ll be out until at least June.

The Braves did this to create a 40-man roster spot for ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — It had been a long time since Taijuan Walker was cheered at Citizens Bank Park.

Boos from the home crowd had been a soundtrack to the right-hander’s prolonged struggles in 2024. Walker was even booed this year in spring training after getting hit hard in his final two starts, and again when he was introduced in the Phillies�...Read more

NEW YORK — Miller Gardner — the 14-year old son of former Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner — died from carbon monoxide poisoning, Costa Rican authorities confirmed Wednesday.

A blood test for carbon monoxide showed a saturation level of 64% in Gardner’s body, Costa Rican officials said. Concentrations above 50% are considered lethal.

...Read more