SAN DIEGO — Nick Pivetta came back after nearly five months and pitched like it was a year ago.

The right-hander with a tenuous right elbow worked five scoreless innings on Monday, and the Padres held on for a 3-2 victory over the Nationals.

That was about as good as could be expected from a guy who was shut down with an elbow flexor strain ...Read more

MILWAUKEE — In this MVP season for Pete Crow-Armstrong, very little of his “MVPing” has been at the expense of the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Chicago Cubs’ star entered Monday’s game at American Family Field with a .108 average and .422 OPS against Brewers pitching in 2026, and a .164 average and .620 OPS against them over his young ...Read more

NEW YORK — Here comes the Judge.

The Yankees activated Aaron Judge from the 60-day injured list on Monday night ahead of Tuesday’s series opener against the Colorado Rockies in the Bronx, marking the slugger’s return from a fractured rib that sidelined him for more than three months.

Judge comes off of the IL with 19 games remaining as ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — When Dodgers manager Dave Roberts went over the weekend plan with Shohei Ohtani, he circled Monday as a potential date for him to return to the lineup after four days off to address lingering aches and pains, including a recurring biceps problem.

On Sunday, that plan was finalized. And Ohtani did indeed grace the top of the ...Read more

The Minnesota Twins hoped to play meaningful games in September, and it’s debatable whether they even made it to Labor Day.

Not even the return of All-Star starting pitcher Joe Ryan could rescue the Twins, who lost 5-4 to the Detroit Tigers on Monday and matched their low point of the season by falling eight games below .500 with a 68-76 ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As the Kansas City Royals evaluate their 2027 pitching options, it’s becoming clear that left-hander Noah Cameron should have a guaranteed spot.

Cameron has pitched with conviction since calling his own pitches. And if the Royals needed more convincing after his American League Pitcher of the Month honors, Cameron ...Read more

BOSTON — In more than three months since his last disastrous start for the Boston Red Sox, Brayan Bello proved himself as an elite bulk-innings reliever.

Called upon to return to the role in which he struggled so immensely in early spring, Bello rose to the challenge in Monday afternoon’s series opener against the visiting Los Angeles ...Read more

BALTIMORE — The Orioles have 17 games remaining this season. If an unlikely postseason appearance is going to happen, this Labor Day victory might be the start of that push.

Baltimore is three games back of the third wild-card spot in the American League after Monday’s 6-4 win over the Cleveland Guardians, who hold that final playoff ...Read more

Due to the steady rise of New York Mets rookies such as Nolan McLean and Carson Benge, it can be easy to forget that prospect development isn’t always linear.

That’s been the case for 23-year-old right-hander Jonah Tong, who skyrocketed through the Mets organization last season, only to struggle for long stretches of this one.

But ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Bullpen collapses had contributed to the Phillies’ two losses against the Braves this series. So in Monday’s finale, starter Jesús Luzardo took matters into his own hands.

The lefty tossed his first career shutout in the Phillies’ 1-0 win over the Braves to split the series. He limited Atlanta to just two hits, carving ...Read more

Rain showers eased Sunday evening in time for the Dodgers’ series finale against the Washington Nationals to start on time. And though Shohei Ohtani was out of the lineup for the fourth straight game, manager Dave Roberts gave a promising update.

“[Saturday] was a good day,” Roberts said before the Dodgers’ 7-5 comeback win behind ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — A fly ball by Fernando Tatis Jr. just beyond the wall in right field. A line drive by Jake Cronenworth off the painted yellow line on the corner of the Western Metal building. A low line drive rocketed off Manny Machado’s bat at 109 mph into the Padres’ bullpen.

Those three home runs — one barely long enough, one barely fair...Read more

CHICAGO – In front of a national audience on “Sunday Night Baseball,” with longshot playoff hopes fading, the Minnesota Twins played one of their ugliest games of the season in a 10-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field.

The Twins offense produced four hits and struck out 15 times. The Twins pitching staff issued nine ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Though Shohei Ohtani was out of the Dodgers' lineup for the fourth straight game Sunday, manager Dave Roberts gave a promising update.

"[Saturday] was a good day," Roberts said. "Came out of it feeling well. So if nothing else changes, or continues to trend, I see him in there [Monday against the Reds]."

Ohtani hit in the ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino had a game-altering opportunity slip through his grasp Saturday night.

In the eighth inning, Pasquantino grounded into a double play with the Royals trailing by a run to the Toronto Blue Jays. The Royals ultimately came up short as the Blue Jays took the series outright ...Read more

DENVER — A perfect debut continued while the Cardinals staged a patent-pending comeback they hadn’t pulled off in, say, at least a few hours.

When rookie Cooper Hjerpe took over the mound for his major league debut and began his streak of retiring 12 consecutive Rockies, nine without the ball leaving the infield, the Cardinals trailed by ...Read more

ARLINGTON, Texas — An early four-run lead wasn’t enough for the Rays on Sunday, as a series of relievers faltered and attempts at a late comeback fell short.

The result was an 8-6 loss to the Rangers and at least a temporary slowdown in the march to their first playoff berth since 2023.

The defeat dropped the Rays’ American League-...Read more

SEATTLE — In the best start of his career, Bryan Woo allowed only one hit over eight dominant innings, helping the Mariners avoid an embarrassing four-game sweep to the Athletics with a 2-0 victory Sunday afternoon.

With a runner on first, Woo got Brian Serven to pop out to end the eighth inning, his 102nd and final pitch, and walked off the ...Read more

MIAMI — The memorable moments keep piling up in Pete Crow-Armstrong’s magical season.

After becoming the first Chicago Cub to produce back-to-back seasons with at least 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases last month, Crow-Armstrong slugged his 40th home run to tie the game in the fifth inning Sunday off Miami Marlins right-hander Tyler ...Read more

CLEVELAND — It’s too soon to say for sure, but this felt like a pivotal start for Jackson Jobe.

It came in yet another tough loss at Progressive Field. The Cleveland Guardians walked the Detroit Tigers off for the third time in four games, taking the series finale, 3-2, on Sunday.

In the bottom of the 10th inning against reliever Kyle ...Read more