DETROIT — It was coming. He could feel it.

In his first at-bat, he hit a sizzler, 106.2 mph off his bat, right at the left fielder. Two innings later, with Riley Greene at second base following a double, Spencer Torkelson ignited a 2-1 sinker from right-hander Chad Patrick.

The ball left his bat on a line with an exit velocity of 106.4 and ...Read more

NEW YORK — Juan Soto did little to dispel the notion that the New York Mets are lacking clubhouse chemistry. The club activated the star slugger from the injured list on Wednesday, hoping he can provide the offensive spark the team desperately needs after 12 straight losses. But the Mets can’t look at Soto — or any one player, for that ...Read more

ANAHEIM, Calif. — José Soriano pitched five scoreless innings and it was his worst start of the season.

Even though Soriano looked somewhat mortal in what has been a sensational start to his season, and even though the bullpen cost him a victory, Nolan Schanuel helped make sure the Los Angeles Angels could still celebrate.

Schanuel drove in...Read more

SEATTLE — Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodríguez and Josh Naylor — the three players critical to the Mariners success on offense this season — delivered on a day when they absolutely needed a victory.

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth and extra innings looming, Raleigh bounced a ball up the middle to keep the comeback hopes alive. Rodrí...Read more

MIAMI — A road trip that had such a raucous beginning in Houston came to a muted finish.

The Cardinals’ getaway-day lineup, geared to take advantage of Thursday’s off-day before launching into a 17-game, 17-day stretch, struggled to muster more than a fleeting flicker of offense in the series finale Wednesday against Miami. The Marlins ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The power has always been there for Coby Mayo. It fully manifested in Kansas City this week.

One day after setting a career high with a 439-foot home run, Mayo went even deeper Wednesday with a three-run, 452-foot blast to help the Baltimore Orioles beat the Royals, 8-6, and clinch a series victory to close out their road ...Read more

DENVER — The Padres bought some insurance for their starting rotation.

Lucas Giolito, the last remaining quality free-agent starting pitcher on the market, was signed Wednesday to a one-year deal and will spend time building up with low-A Lake Elsinore before joining the team in mid-May.

Giolito, who will also be at Petco Park working with ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Nick Martinez delivered a strong eight-inning start and the Tampa Bay Rays offense came back to life for a sweep-avoiding 6-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds Wednesday afternoon at Tropicana Field.

Martinez delivered the Rays’ longest, and one of their best, starts of the season, allowing just the one run with five hits and a ...Read more

ANAHEIM — Plane rides and room service continue to be more agreeable to the Angels than in-town commutes and home cooking.

After putting on a power display at New York last week, the Angels have struggled to provide the same excitement for gatherings that would appreciate it most.

Tuesday night’s 4-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays extended ...Read more

Scoring two runs isn’t going to cut it.

Mariners manager Dan Wilson can laud his team for battling in a loss … again. He can talk about the approach improving at the plate and the at-bats getting better. It’s not illogical for an optimist to say it’s early in the season and the results will improve in the warm months ahead.

But right ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants’ bullpen has been, and continues to be, something of a mystery. On Tuesday night at Oracle Park in front of a sellout crowd, San Francisco’s relievers delivered their best combined effort of the season.

Ryan Borucki, Matt Gage, Erik Miller, Keaton Winn and Ryan Walker combined to throw four scoreless innings ...Read more

DENVER — The Padres have four games remaining this week.

Plenty of time to start playing like it.

At least while they got acclimated, they had Randy Vásquez dealing for them.

The 27-year-old right-hander continued his excellent start to the season with seven scoreless innings, and the Padres scored the game’s only run on a bases-loaded ...Read more

In a matchup between two reeling teams on aggravating losing streaks, the Minnesota Twins showed how quickly momentum can turn in a come-from-behind 5-3 win over the New York Mets Tuesday night at Citi Field.

The Twins, who didn’t have a baserunner through their first five innings against Mets right-hander Nolan McLean, erased a three-run ...Read more

ARLINGTON, Texas — On Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Pirates had something they’ve barely experienced so far this season: a routine, simple loss.

The Pirates lost 5-1 to the Texas Rangers Tuesday night at Globe Life Field. There was little drama or disaster. The Rangers simply played better.

Right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski had his first off game ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Rico Garcia had been perfect. Ryan Helsley had been nearly as dominant.

That came to a screeching halt in the worst possible way on Tuesday.

Garcia surrendered a game-tying home run to Kansas City Royals second baseman Michael Massey in the eighth inning, and third baseman Maikel Garcia scored on a wild pitch by Helsley to...Read more

CHICAGO — A few hours before first pitch against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski offered his perspective of his team’s disappointing start.

“We just haven’t played very well. It’s really every portion of our game,” he said. “ … I don’t think any part of our team has ...Read more

BOSTON — Hours before the Yankees faced the Red Sox for the first time this season, Aaron Boone was asked if he thought his series-opening starter, Luis Gil, had been thinking about his uncertain job security.

“I think [Luis is] in the moment, and knows he’s got another big start tonight,” the Yankees manager said, adding that Gil is ...Read more

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Because of how well-prepared Steven Matz came into spring training as he converted back to full-time starter for the first time since 2021, the Rays were not overly surprised by his success over his first four starts.

Similarly, they are not especially concerned with how he struggled in his rough outing Tuesday, in ...Read more

MIAMI — From a few hits from Alec Burleson to improving innings from Dustin May, the St. Louis Cardinals got a familiar assortment of contributions Tuesday night, all the way down to the inflamed inning from the bullpen they had to survive.

A home run from Nathan Church and two RBIs from Burleson propelled the Cardinals to a four-run lead ...Read more

DETROIT — The Tigers like to play aggressive baseball and apply pressure on the opponent at every turn.

The Milwaukee Brewers, they pretty much own the brand.

“It’s no secret,” Jake Rogers said before the game Tuesday, “they wreak some havoc.”

The havoc started in the second inning, when the Brewers scored three times on their way...Read more