KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals were dealt a blow early in their series opener against the Cleveland Guardians.

Designated hitter David Fry hit a two-run home run in the second inning, and it felt like an early tone setter.

It was also a familiar feeling: Royals starting pitcher Michael Wacha has given up a homer in five of his ...Read more

NEW YORK — If this series was a litmus test for the Baltimore Orioles, the results came back with a conclusive answer.

The Orioles — at least right now — are nowhere close to being in the same ballpark as the New York Yankees.

Baltimore on Monday lost 12-1 to New York, as the Orioles were once again outplayed by the Yankees in every ...Read more

ST. LOUIS — Following a weekend series where they came within a game of sweeping the reigning World Series champions, the St. Louis Cardinals’ ability to score when chances presented themselves and get outs when needed helped them to a win Monday night over the club that has reigned over their division in recent years.

With runs provided by...Read more

As dark clouds moved in across Detroit in the sixth inning, fans were urged to take cover ahead of the incoming storms. The result was an almost apocalyptic vibe as the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers raced to finish their game in what looked at a glance like an abandoned Comerica Park.

Perhaps it’s fitting that a game pulled straight out ...Read more

MIAMI — Before Aaron Nola uncorked even one of his signature breaking pitches Monday night, the Phillies threw a curveball with the lineup.

Behind the plate: Garrett Stubbs.

Why not? Nola got hit hard in his two previous starts. And even though J.T. Realmuto has since returned from the injured list, the veteran right-hander has always worked...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Opening a month of facing mostly their American League East rivals, the Tampa Bay Rays kept a lot of good things going on Monday night in beating the Toronto Blue Jays 5-1.

The win was their 10th in 11 games, improving them to 22-12 overall and a majors-best 20-7 since a 2-5 start.

They allowed three or fewer runs for the 11th ...Read more

NEW YORK — Even in death, John Sterling commanded multiple spaces at Yankee Stadium on Monday.

The beloved radio broadcaster, who died at age 87 earlier in the day, was the subject of praise, reflection and adoration prior to the Yankees’ series finale against the Baltimore Orioles. Whether it be outside the pinstripers’ clubhouse, in the...Read more

DETROIT — Tarik Skubal talked to the media Sunday afternoon and said all systems were go to make his start against the Boston Red Sox Monday night.

Then he went to do his catch-play and felt his elbow lock up, similar to what happened to him in the seventh inning in Atlanta last week.

Not good.

"I've been dealing with some stuff but I ...Read more

SEATTLE — Time doesn't necessarily heal all wounds, but winning might.

If there was animus between the Mariners and Randy Johnson in his final days in Seattle, it has been replaced by adoration.

Saturday night, the Big Unit's No. 51 was retired beside Jackie Robinson and fellow Mariners legends Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez and Ichiro at T...Read more

DETROIT — It felt like 2024 again.

It was Casey Mize’s start day, but with him on the injured list with a groin strain, the Detroit Tigers dusted off the pitching chaos strategy that helped them storm into the postseason two years ago.

It’s not always popular with the fan base and it may have lost some of its luster last season, but it ...Read more

DENVER — Mickey Moniak‘s star power is in overdrive.

The Colorado Rockies‘ outfielder launched two more home runs on Sunday afternoon at Coors Field, giving him 11 in Colorado’s first 35 games and extending his hitting streak to 16 games.

Still, a formula for consistent success continues to elude the reimagined Rockies. Their 11-6 loss...Read more

SAN DIEGO — It didn’t come easy.

But Xander Bogaerts came through in a very Xander Bogaerts manner, and that seemed a fitting way for the San Diego Padres to take a lead that would set them up for their first victory in six days.

A four-game losing streak came to an end in large part because Bogaerts hit a check-swing grounder straight ...Read more

SEATTLE — Luis Castillo was (a bit) better. The Seattle Mariners’ offense was not.

Playing without injured star Cal Raleigh for the second day in a row, the Mariners’ offense offered little thump in a 4-1 loss before 39,408 at T-Mobile Park and were swept by a Kansas City Royals squad that came into series with one of the worst records in...Read more

NEW YORK — In the first two games of the series, the New York Yankees took early leads over the Baltimore Orioles and looked like the far better team throughout the entire game.

On Sunday, the Yankees waited until the eighth inning to prove that fact.

The Orioles played sloppy defense and couldn’t get the big hit, but they were down only ...Read more

BOSTON — The 2025 Boston Red Sox were a top-10 team in several offensive metrics, but the struggles to capitalize were always there. They were a bottom-10 team in runners left on base, and had the fourth-worst rate of Productive Out success despite having the most Productive Out opportunities of any American League team. No MLB team had more ...Read more

ANAHEIM, Calif. — A series win against one of the only teams that have a worse record than the New York Mets might not seem like much of a victory, especially since they didn’t look particularly good in any of the three games they played this weekend at Angel Stadium.

If the Mets learned anything this weekend, it’s that digging themselves...Read more

MIAMI — Kyle Schwarber took a changeup in the dirt, dropped his bat, and peeked into the dugout, where teammates applauded and banged the padded railing.

Everybody laughed.

It was a new day, and in baseball, sometimes that’s all you need. One day after getting shut out on one hit, the Phillies scored six first-inning runs for South Florida...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays just needed a little time to get going Sunday.

Shut out by the San Francisco Giants through the first seven innings, they bunted home the tying run in the eighth, then won in the 10th when Jonathan Aranda singled home Chandler Simpson.

The result was a 2-1 victory to complete a series sweep and their MLB-best...Read more