ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Angels tried a new bullpen recipe.

Angels left-hander Mitch Farris, who had been a mop-up reliever for most of the season, recorded eight of the last nine outs and then Ryan Zeferjahn finished off the Angels’ 4-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night.

Farris started the seventh with a two-run lead and he got...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — For a second straight game, Bryce Eldridge homered in the bottom of the ninth inning with the San Francisco Giants trailing. This time, however, the Giants would not be celebrating a victory.

Eldridge homered for a third straight game, the latest being his fifth of the season, but San Francisco lost 5-1 to the Chicago Cubs on ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — The Twins could use as much pitching help they can get.

That made general manager Jeremy Zoll’s injury update before Friday’s game appointment listening.

Mick Abel? Trending well. Could make another rehabilitation start next week.

David Festa, Bailey Ober and Cole Sands, however, aren’t close. And Sands had a second ...Read more

NEW YORK — Facing the Braves for the first time this season, Bo Bichette had a huge night, driving in six runs and homering twice in the Mets' 7-5 victory.

The third baseman/shortstop has been inconsistent at the plate this season, but he looked like the hitter baseball has come to know. Bichette and Juan Soto hit back-to-back homers in the ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals tasted their own blood on Friday night.

The Houston Astros came out swinging in the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Designated hitter Yordan Alvarez threw a nasty left hook that caught Royals starter Luinder Avila, homering in his first at-bat. And then Alvarez went for the jugular with a grand slam...Read more

CHICAGO — Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani was out of the lineup Friday against the Chicago White Sox a day after exiting the game with discomfort in the back of his left knee.

“Seeing him today, he feels fine-ish,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before the Dodgers’ 8-2 loss Friday. “But just giving him an extra day is the smart ...Read more

WASHINGTON — Bryce Miller continued his masterful start to the season, Dominic Canzone continued to mash baseballs all over the field, and the Mariners routed the Washington Nationals, 10-2, in the opener of their weekend series Friday night in a weather-delayed game at Nationals Park.

Miller was simply dominant once again, completing eight ...Read more

BOSTON — It looked like a wild Fenway Friday in the making when the Texas Rangers took a 1-0 lead against Sonny Gray in the top of the first, and the Boston Red Sox answered for two runs off fellow right-hander Jack Leiter in the bottom of the inning.

But from there both starters settled in for a not-so-brief duel. The Red Sox clung to a one-...Read more

BALTIMORE — After ending a four-game losing streak with back-to-back wins over Seattle, the Orioles carried that needed reset into Friday night’s series opener against San Diego.

Behind a two-homer performance that pushed Baltimore to seven runs by the end of the fourth inning, the Orioles beat the Padres, 7-3, for their fifth three-game ...Read more

MILWAUKEE — For five innings here Friday night, Andrew Painter and Jacob Misiorowski shared a mound.

That was all they had in common.

While Painter got roughed up again in an increasingly tough-to-watch rookie season, his Brewers counterpart unleashed 58 — count ’em, 58! — 100-plus-mph pitches and collected 15 — count ’em, 15! — ...Read more

TORONTO — A few improbable things would have to happen for there to be a reunion between the Yankees and Aroldis Chapman.

First, the Yankees would have to have interest in reacquiring a pitcher who left the team on poor terms in 2022. Then, the Yankees and the Red Sox, Chapman’s current employer, would have to agree to a rare trade between ...Read more

CLEVELAND — The same team that slugged six home runs and scored 11 runs Thursday at Comerica Park, managed only two solo shots and nothing else Friday at Progressive Field.

The Cleveland Guardians won their fifth straight game against the Tigers this season, winning the first of a three-game weekend set, 3-2.

And in the process, they might ...Read more

CHICAGO — Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani was out of the lineup Friday against the White Sox after exiting the game before with discomfort in the back of his left knee.

Manager Dave Roberts had expressed optimism Thursday night, after the Dodgers' 8-6 win against the Pirates at PNC Park, that Ohtani would not miss additional time for the ...Read more

MILWAUKEE — Adolis García clutched his right shoulder, and the Phillies’ plan in right field took an unexpected turn.

García went on the 60-day injured list Friday with a torn latissimus dorsi muscle near his right shoulder, according to the Phillies. Righty-hitting outfielder Derek Hill, acquired Thursday in a trade with the White Sox, ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Dodgers and Rams head team physician Neal ElAttrache was questioned by Major League Baseball investigators Friday following a detailed report by the New York Times that the renowned surgeon and sports medicine expert supported the therapeutic use of performance-enhancing drugs by UFC star Conor McGregor.

MLB spoke with ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — The Dodgers couldn’t have asked for better timing, as Shohei Ohtani’s leadoff spot came back around.

They were clinging to a two-run lead in the top of the seventh inning against the Pirates on Thursday. With one out and runners on first and second, the Dodgers superstar, who had already reached base four times, was due up.

...Read more

BALTIMORE — The summer heat arrived at Camden Yards, and the Orioles’ offense followed.

With a first-pitch temperature of 94 degrees, Thursday’s series finale against the Seattle Mariners was the hottest Orioles game of the season to date. Baltimore took the high temperatures in stride by riding a six-run third inning to a 7-5 victory ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals needed length from veteran starter Michael Wacha on Thursday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium.

The bullpen was taxed after Wednesday’s 6-4 loss to the Texas Rangers. And a lengthy rain delay lasting 2 hours, 20 minutes on Thursday didn’t help matters.

Wacha had to eat up some innings and save the ...Read more