BALTIMORE — Friday was shaping up to be an all-too-familiar loss for the Orioles — at a time when they couldn’t afford it, with Monday’s trade deadline looming and president of baseball operations Mike Elias clearly on the fence about which direction to go.

But a player who’s consistently struggled in high-leverage spots this season ...Read more

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The first White Sox home run might have been a bad omen for the Rays. The second was certainly worrying. But the third and fourth were nails in the coffin, putting Tampa Bay on the wrong end of a 6-1 score in Friday’s series opener.

Starting pitcher Nick Martinez gave up a career-high four homers in his six innings on...Read more

NEW YORK — Freddy Peralta has likely thrown his last pitch in a Mets uniform. It’s more than likely that Clay Holmes has too.

The scheduled starter for the second game of a four-game set against the Miami Marlins was on track to pitch as early as Friday morning. As negotiations progressed ahead of Monday’s trade deadline, the Mets ...Read more

CINCINNATI — The worst month of Paul Skenes’ career ended in the fourth inning in Cincinnati.

A nightmare loss had only just begun.

Skenes was charged with five earned runs for the second consecutive start, but the Pirates rallied back to take a two-run lead in the eighth. What followed was a bullpen collapse and a game-deciding error, as ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey said in a statement Friday that the team will be “suspending payment” to outfielder Harrison Bader following his late-night scooter accident this past weekend.

“Over the weekend, Harrison Bader was involved in an accident that has delayed Harrison’s prior treatment ...Read more

NEW YORK — Freddy Peralta has likely thrown his last pitch in a Mets uniform. It’s more than likely that Clay Holmes has too.

The scheduled starter for the second game of a four-game set against the Miami Marlins was on track to pitch as early as Friday morning. As negotiations progressed ahead of Monday’s trade deadline, the Mets ...Read more

CHICAGO — Will Warren spun his best start in some time on Friday, holding the Cubs scoreless over 6 2/3 innings in the Yankees’ rainy, 2-0 win at Wrigley Field.

Sharp outings have been hard to come by for the right-hander lately, as Warren, who surrendered six earned runs to the Phillies his last time out, entered the series-opener with a 6...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Bryce Harper was right to be frustrated.

He had the right diagnosis. He had the right prescription. He had the right motivation.

He took the wrong approach.

The first four of those things are the only ones that should matter to anybody invested in the Phillies’ approach to this year’s MLB trade deadline. That goes for the...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Long-term experiments demand resources, which is why the Dodgers' lab is perfect for the Roki Sasaki project.

Funding is no issue. Time is no object. Pressure is a privilege and so is patience.

And when the Dodgers set out to prove a hypothesis — Roki Sasaki can be a "Cy Young-caliber" starting pitcher, as general manager ...Read more

DETROIT — If Scott Harris and the Tigers were waiting for clarity, they got it. After teetering between contention and oblivion all season, they finally reached their tipping point by blowing a 7-0 lead to the Orioles, blowing four of their last five games, blowing saves and chances and shrinking odds.

In a way, Harris’ massive dilemma just...Read more

The Athletics scored first and early in all four games of this week’s series against the Red Sox, and still managed to lose three of four to the visiting Boston ball club.

Such comebacks would’ve been unthinkable a month ago. Even with Thursday’s 5-4 series-clinching victory, the Red Sox are just 21-37 when opponents score first.

“I ...Read more

LOS ANGELES -- In the latest twist in Shohei Ohtani’s battle with left knee discomfort, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts held him out of the lineup during a 6-2 win over the Seattle Mariners on Thursday.

Ohtani reported soreness Wednesday night in his left knee, which he treated over the All-Star break with a lubricating orthovisc injection and ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — There’s no sugarcoating the reality: Robbie Ray’s start on Thursday evening against the San Diego Padres was likely his final start as a Giant.

Ray will not make another start between now and Monday’s trade deadline. When the dust settles, the 34-year-old veteran should be representing his sixth different major-league team. ...Read more

CINCINNATI — The Pirates’ bullpen game failed in its final leg.

Four Pirates relievers combined for eight innings of two-run ball, but Nathaniel Lowe’s bases-loaded fielder’s choice off Gregory Soto earned the Cincinnati Reds a 3-2 win on Thursday night at Great American Ball Park.

Elly De La Cruz scored the winning run. He went 3 for ...Read more

NEW YORK — If there is anything worth coming to Citi Field for after Monday, it’s the kids. The kids are alright.

Of course, if you’ve followed the Mets at all this season, you already knew that. The rising rookies have provided hope for the Mets and for fans since opening day. In the final week before the trade deadline, it’s been no ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — In the latest twist in Shohei Ohtani's battle with left knee discomfort, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts held him out of the lineup Thursday against the Seattle Mariners.

Ohtani reported soreness Wednesday night in his left knee, which he treated over the All-Star break with a lubricating orthovisc injection and rest. So the ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — New details have emerged about Giants outfielder Harrison Bader’s scooter collision over the weekend that further injured his left foot, which he was already rehabbing.

The San Francisco Police Department responded Thursday to an inquiry by this news organization, and while Bader was not specifically named, SFPD detailed that ...Read more

CHICAGO — Tristan Peters drew a walk-off bases-loaded walk in the 11th inning Thursday, giving the Chicago White Sox a 2-1 victory against the New York Yankees in front of 29,384 at Rate Field.

“It’s an interesting way to walk it off,” Peters said. “Any way does the job.”

It was the second straight walk-off win in extra innings for...Read more