LOS ANGELES — On the 13th of July, Dave Roberts will reveal his selection for the National League‘s starting pitcher in the All-Star Game.

On the 13th of June, Yoshinobu Yamamoto reminded his manager that he is the Dodgers’ best pitcher.

Is that enough for Yamamoto to start the All-Star Game? Probably not.

Is that enough to force ...Read more

MILWAUKEE — Jacob Misiorowski struck out the Phillies’ first three batters — Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner and Bryce Harper — in the first inning here Friday night on 12 pitches.

Nine registered at least 103 mph.

“I feel like, when we face pitchers, they’re always a tick up or ready to face our lineup, or at least our top three guys,...Read more

CHICAGO — This much-anticipated series between the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers originally was hyped as a showdown between Shohei Ohtani, the Japanese superstar, and Sox slugger Munteka Murakami, before the budding Japanese star injured his hamstring last month.

As it turned out, it was Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto who ...Read more

WASHINGTON — Two weeks after his 18th birthday, Colt Emerson made his professional debut on Aug. 4, 2023, for the Mariners’ rookie-ball affiliate in Arizona.

His first professional hit that day was an opposite-field home run, a 110-mph blast out to left field.

The following spring, on the very first swing of the first game of his first ...Read more

BOSTON — Roman Anthony hasn’t hit off a tee since late May, when he was shut down after experiencing discomfort attempting the next step in his progression from a sprained hand.

But while the injured Red Sox outfielder remains in a state of limbo, he said he has occasionally continued swinging a light bat just to see how it feels, and to ...Read more

BOSTON — Earlier in his career, Ceddanne Rafaela probably would have struck out on three pitches.

Facing Texas Rangers left-hander Robby Ahlstrom with the game tied and the bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Rafaela took a called strike and then couldn’t check his swing to fall behind 0-2. The next pitch was a high ...Read more

NEW YORK — Making his first start of the season Saturday afternoon against the Atlanta Braves, left-hander Sean Manaea gave the Mets a chance to win. That was a victory in and of itself. A veteran left-hander who struggled so much to start the season that the Mets were practically avoiding pitching him, Manaea scattered two runs over six ...Read more

TORONTO — Trent Grisham and the Yankees hoped that a good night’s rest would keep him off the shelf.

Instead, the club placed the center fielder on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain before Saturday’s series-tying, 3-1 win over the Blue Jays. Jasson Domínguez, in the midst of a rehab assignment for an AC joint sprain, ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — There was surely a less painful way for the Pittsburgh Pirates to plate the go-ahead run, but they got it nonetheless.

With two outs and the bases loaded in a tie game in the bottom of the eighth, Spencer Horwitz took a 97 mph sinker off his right leg as the Pirates beat the Miami Marlins, 3-2, to even the series on Saturday ...Read more

CLEVELAND — There are no magic pills or potions in baseball.

The return of reigning, two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal will provide a shot in the arm for the Tigers over time, but it was unrealistic to think he was going come back after missing 45 days and turn the season around.

There was bound to be rust.

Skubal, back after having a ...Read more

WASHINGTON — At least they got out of this one without losing another key player to injury.

That’s about the only nice thing worth noting about the Seattle Mariners’ ugly 8-3 loss to the Washington Nationals on Saturday afternoon, their fifth loss in nine games on this 10-game East Coast swing.

Sloppy isn’t a strong enough descriptor ...Read more

CHICAGO — Fans around Rate Field rose to their feet as Yoshinobu Yamamoto embraced his teammates before walking off the mound.

Of course, the Dodgers fans stood. But fans clad in White Sox jerseys joined them, waving White Sox hats in the air, acknowledging the brilliance they'd just witnessed.

In the Dodgers' 7-1 win against the White Sox ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — The Cardinals had misplaced a four-run lead Saturday and maneuvered the game right where they apparently like it this season — close and about to be decided by the bullpens — when they chose an alternate and emphatic tack.

The opted for a show of force.

The Cardinals cranked three home runs in the seventh inning to pull ...Read more

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