This modern world is one of constant stimulation. Push notifications, cortisol-creating headlines, targeted ads and a continuous barrage of some new show you “just have to watch.”

We have more work than ever and seemingly never enough time to do it. Buy, buy, buy. Sell, sell, sell.

At best, it’ll leave you on edge. At worst, it’ll ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — In 2018, toward the end of a decade in which Mike Trout was the best player in baseball, Major League Baseball reckoned with its failure to transform him into a national icon. Commissioner Rob Manfred inelegantly but bluntly suggested why the league had struggled to market Trout.

"Player marketing requires one thing for sure: ...Read more

PHOENIX — The Chicago Cubs’ younger players might prove to be the difference between a good and great season on the North Side.

Miguel Amaya hit two doubles and drove in five runs, Pete Crow-Armstrong reached base twice and scored both times, stole a base and beat out a critical forceout attempt and rookie Matt Shaw scored three runs in the...Read more

SEATTLE — You can see the phrase on t-shirts at almost any baseball tournament over the summer.

It reads: How to bunt: 1. Don’t 2. Hit a dinger.

Can someone buy Jorge Polanco one of them, size large?

The Mariners’ opening day second baseman in 2024, who turned into opening day third baseman in 2025, turned T-Mobile Park into celebratory...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers marched in from center field on a blue carpet. The Commissioner’s Trophy cruised in from the parking lot in an icy blue convertible.

The championship flag was raised by the owners. The championship sign was unveiled by two fire department officials.

The pregame festivities before the Dodgers’ home opener at ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The 2025 Dodgers looked a lot like the 2024 Dodgers on Thursday.

Just with gold lettering adorning their World Series championship jerseys.

In a 5-4 win over the Detroit Tigers in their home opener, this year’s Dodgers produced all the same hallmarks of last season’s title-winning club.

Timely offense, epitomized by ...Read more

ST. LOUIS — The Cardinals sparked the season the way they wanted with runs created by their new leadoff hitter and runs robbed by their young center fielder, but by the late innings, it took something strikingly familiar to ice an Opening Day victory.

Holding fast to a slim lead — just like so many of the nail-biter games a year ago — ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The rings will come Friday.

But on Thursday, ahead of the first home game of the Dodgers' 2025 season, reminders of the club's 2024 World Series championship were everywhere — offering a sentimental (and not-so-subtle) indication of the stakes for this year's title defense.

In the Dodgers' newly renovated home clubhouse, the ...Read more

HOUSTON — It was the most anticipated season opener for the Mets in a decade, and they came out flat.

The Mets’ 3-1 Opening Day loss to the Houston Astros at Daikin Park featured a baserunning blunder, a botched double play and a starting pitcher who was laboring by the fourth inning and was removed with two outs in the fifth.

The Mets are...Read more

SAN DIEGO — The Braves that are visiting Petco Park this week are not tattered and tired.

The team whose season the Padres ended with a sweep in the National League wild-card series in October showed up to start the 2025 season with Chris Sale and Austin Riley and with Ozzie Albies able to bat from the left side.

And Michael King was not the...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino was the top storyline heading into Thursday’s home opener against the Cleveland Guardians.

It was unclear if Pasquantino would play on Opening Day. Last Friday, he sustained a Grade 1 right hamstring strain in Cactus League play. The Royals monitored Pasquantino, who ...Read more

ARLINGTON, Texas — Wilyer Abreu does not look like a guy who missed most of spring training with a gastrointestinal illness.

The second-year outfielder stole the show on Thursday, going 3 for 3 with two home runs and four RBIs to lead the Red Sox past the Texas Rangers, 5-2, on Opening Day. The exclamation point came in the top of the ninth, ...Read more

CINCINNATI — Jerar Encarnacion’s late injury aside, the Giants had an objectively great spring. They went 21-6. They were third in ERA and OPS. They excelled in every facet of the game.

Down to their last out on Thursday afternoon, they took the right swings in the right moments to win their first real game of the season, too.

The Giants ...Read more

NEW YORK — With a microphone and a room full of reporters in front of him, Aaron Boone acknowledged the obvious prior to Opening Day.

“We have questions,” the Yankees’ skipper said of his banged-up roster, “but we think we have answers too.” One of those questions, even before the wave of injuries, was how the Yankees would handle ...Read more

TORONTO — It took only two batters for the Orioles to get settled into the 2025 season.

Adley Rutschman hit a 436-foot home run in his first at-bat and went back-to-back with Jordan Westburg in the eighth inning, Tyler O’Neill homered for his MLB-record sixth consecutive Opening Day and Cedric Mullins launched a pair of long balls himself ...Read more

NEW YORK — Austin Wells’ tenure as the Yankees leadoff hitter got off to a strong start.

Wells — the first catcher in the Yankees’ 123-year history to start a game in the leadoff spot — crushed a home run in his first at-bat on Opening Day against the Milwaukee Brewers.

The lefty-swinging Wells pulled a 2-0 fastball from Freddy ...Read more

TORONTO — There’s something about Opening Day for Tyler O’Neill.

Whether it’s the pomp and circumstance, the excitement of a new season or he’s just that good when fully healthy, O’Neill knows how to get ahold of one. The Orioles outfielder extended his MLB record Thursday by hitting a home run in his sixth consecutive Opening Day ...Read more