CHICAGO — After Twins players sat in the visitor’s clubhouse for more than three hours, part of a 200-minute rain delay before Wednesday’s series finale, Byron Buxton provided an immediate wake-up call.

Buxton, on the 10th pitch of the afternoon, clobbered a 446-foot, solo homer into the mostly empty bleachers in center field. He turned ...Read more

MIAMI — Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: Pete Alonso saved the Mets with a late-game home run.

With the Mets down 4-1 to the Miami Marlins in the top of the eighth inning on Wednesday at LoanDepot Park, Alonso teed off on right-hander Calvin Faucher, sending a three-run homer 415 feet over the center-field fence to tie the game. It ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — Among the Padres to learn about Jackson Merrill’s life-changing contract extension as he woke up, Dylan Cease greeted his 21-year-old center fielder with a grin in a mostly empty clubhouse Wednesday morning. It was his day to pitch, and you don’t mess with a pitcher on his day.

“I can’t believe you did that to me,” Cease...Read more

HOUSTON — On Aug. 10, 2024, the San Francisco Giants beat the Detroit Tigers and improved to 61-58. That was the best their record would look.

Before playing their home opener, the Giants stand four games above even. Wilmer Flores continued his comeback campaign, Landen Roupp struck out a career-high eight batters and Luis Matos and LaMonte ...Read more

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — You won’t hear a complaint out of Dallas Braden when it comes to his treasured sport.

The perpetually upbeat and proudly bearded former Major League Baseball pitcher said he understands the publicized and behind-the-scenes gripes and concerns from opposing players about the cramped conditions of a Triple-A ballpark...Read more

ST. LOUIS — With the snapping of offensive skids from Masyn Winn and Willson Contreras and an eighth-inning rally sparked by the bottom third of their lineup, the Cardinals avoided a sweep of the Angels with a 12-5 win Wednesday at Busch Stadium.

After Winn scored following his single and Contreras’ double in the seventh inning, Jordan ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — The Padres have locked up another young player they believe will be a cornerstone of a championship club for years to come.

And they have done it at a wholly reasonable price.

Jackson Merrill, their 21-year-old center fielder who just began his second big league season, has agreed to a nine-year contract extension that begins in ...Read more

MILWAUKEE — The Kansas City Royals hit the road for their first trip of the 2025 season. KC stopped in Milwaukee to face the Brewers for a three-game midweek series.

A few early-season issues traveled along.

The Royals continued to produce inconsistent offense. In Monday’s game, KC scored 11 runs and picked up its second victory. Tuesday�...Read more

The Red Sox didn’t waste any time securing rookie Kristian Campbell for the long haul.

Less than a week after the versatile top prospect made his major league debut on Opening Day, the team announced that they were in agreement on an eight-year extension through 2032, with club options for ’33 and ’34.

Campbell, 22, is guaranteed $60 ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — From injuries to poor performances, few things have gone right so far this season for manager Derek Shelton’s club. But luckily for the Pirates, Paul Skenes decided enough was enough. Taking the mound after watching his team lose five of its first six games of the season, the 2024 National League Rookie of the Year took it upon...Read more

Dustin May closed his eyes, took a breath and held his head suspended toward the heavens.

For a brief moment, shortly before he began warming up for the first inning on Tuesday night, the Dodgers pitcher seemed to absorb the significance of his milestone moment — reflecting one last time on the 685-day journey that brought him there.

Not ...Read more

The Padres waited. Not exactly patiently, but effectively.

Then they pounced. Then their bullpen took over again.

And now they are 6-0.

They beat the Guardians 7-0 on Tuesday night at Petco Park, their third shutout in four games, to extend the best beginning to a season in club history.

After they squandered their lead-off batter reaching ...Read more

It’s been a running joke between Casey Mize and his skipper the last two years, whether Mize would be the 26 th and final player on the roster to enter a game.

He was the 26 th last year and AJ Hinch did him one better (or one worse) this year.

“He reminded me that he was the 27 th player to play this year,” Hinch said with a smile. “...Read more

ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Cardinals intentionally walked Mike Trout to get to Kyren Paris.

Clearly, they haven’t been paying attention.

Paris, suddenly the Angels’ best hitter, delivered a two-out, run-scoring single to put the Angels on top in the 11th inning. Yoán Moncada followed with a two-run double and the Angels held on for a ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Last week, on the final day of spring training, Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed prospect Thomas Harrington was asked for his biggest takeaway of the preseason.

"I figured out that making the opening day roster is really hard,” Harrington said with a smile. “That's for sure. I also learned that these hitters are really good. ...Read more

NEW YORK — The Yankees’ hot start to the season has been all about power.

But on Tuesday night, it was the Arizona Diamondbacks who delivered a back-breaking blast.

Eugenio Suárez’s eighth-inning grand slam against reliever Mark Leiter Jr. proved to be the game-winner in the D-Backs’ 7-5 victory in the Bronx, dealing the Yankees (3-1)...Read more

MILWAUKEE — After scoring 11 runs in Monday’s series opener, the Kansas City Royals went dormant offensively against the Milwaukee Brewers.

A big piece of the Royals offense was missing. First baseman Vinnie Pasquantino received the night off as he continues to nurse a right hamstring strain.

Pasquantino’s absence shifted the Royals ...Read more

HOUSTON — Logan Webb is a different pitcher now than he was last year. He’s tweaked his mechanics. He’s upped his cutter usage. He’s altered his changeup.

At his core, he remains the San Francisco Giants’ ace of staff.

Webb turned in the first of many quality starts as the Giants (4-1) beat the Houston Astros (2-3) on Tuesday night ...Read more

CHICAGO — Jose Miranda dropped a bloop single into right field in the sixth inning Tuesday, and the Twins dugout erupted in a way it hasn’t for days, what felt like an eternity in the early part of the season.

There were the high-five lines. Players shouted in celebration and smacked the top of the dugout railing for more noise.

Who knew ...Read more