Baseball Page 387 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Orioles rookie Colton Cowser hit on hand, leaves game
BALTIMORE -- Orioles rookie outfielder Colton Cowser exited Game 2 of Wednesday's American League wild-card series against the visiting Kansas City Royals with left hand pain.,Cowser was hit on the hand as he struck out swinging on 97 mph fastball from Royals left-hander Angel Zerpa with the bases l...

Tigers pull off shocking sweep of Astros, advance to ALDS
HOUSTON -- Andy Ibanez produced a pinch-hit, two-out, three-run double in the top of the eighth inning and the Detroit Tigers capped a stunning sweep of their American League wild-card series with a 5-2 comeback victory over the Houston Astros in Game 2 on Wednesday.,With their two-game sweep, the T...

Blue Jays make Don Mattingly full-time bench coach
The Toronto Blue Jays are moving Don Mattingly to more of a "traditional role" of full-time bench coach for the 2025 season, general manager Ross Atkins told reporters on Wednesday. ,Mattingly was Toronto's offensive coordinator this past season. ,"He's excited about that opportunity to impact us an...

Mets RHP Paul Blackburn (spinal leak) done for season
New York Mets right-hander Paul Blackburn has been ruled out for the rest of the season due to ongoing issues from a spinal fluid leak, manager Carlos Mendoza announced Wednesday.,Blackburn was first placed on the 15-day injured list with a bruised hand on Aug. 25. The Mets shut him down in mid-Sept...

Fernando Valenzuela leaves Dodgers broadcasts for health reasons
Los Angeles Dodgers icon Fernando Valenzuela is stepping away from the team's radio broadcasts for the remainder of the playoffs "to focus on his health.",In a statement, the Dodgers provided no further details but said the 1981 National League Cy Young winner "aims to return for the 2025 season." T...

Twins fire four coaches after late-season hitting slump
The Minnesota Twins parted ways with hitting coaches Rudy Hernandez and David Popkins, assistant hitting coach Derek Shomon and assistant bench/infield coach Tony Diaz on Wednesday. ,The moves come on the heels of the Twins struggling to find their offense over the final six weeks of the season. As ...

Last-place Pirates fire batting, bullpen coaches
The Pittsburgh Pirates fired three coaches on Wednesday, including batting coach Andy Haines and bullpen coach Justin Meccage.,The changes come after the Pirates finished last in the National League Central with a 76-86 mark.,The team also parted with strength and conditioning coach Adam Vish.,"Afte...
MLB Third Basemen Don’t Hit for Power Anymore: Epidemic on Display During MLB Playoffs Game 1
Game 1 of the MLB Playoffs was proof of an epidemic sweeping the baseball world... the fact that third basemen aren't hitting for power and it's part of why the game has gotten boring....
MLB Playoffs Bye Week Will Greatly Benefit New York Yankees
The New York Yankees have the week off of baseball as they await their opponent for the ALDS of the MLB Playoffs. This break will only help New York....

Max Fried, Braves look to extend series vs. Padres
Max Fried was selected seventh overall by the San Diego Padres in the 2012 draft and was traded to Atlanta while he was a minor league prospect.,Now, the Braves left-hander has the opportunity to prevent the Padres from clinching the National League wild-card series on Wednesday evening when Atlanta...

Brewers turn to Frankie Montas to save season vs. Mets
MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Brewers will turn to midseason acquisition Frankie Montas to stave off yet another postseason meltdown when they face the New York Mets on Wednesday in the second game of a National League wild-card series.,The right-handed Montas (7-11, 4.84 ERA) will be opposed by left-h...

Coroner: Pete Rose died of natural causes
Pete Rose died of natural causes, the Clark County (Nev.) coroner's office announced Tuesday, a day after baseball's all-time hit king died at age 83 at his home in Las Vegas.,The statement from coroner Melanie Rouse identified the causes as "hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease w...

Zach Eflin eager to face Royals, keep Orioles' season alive
BALTIMORE -- Zach Eflin began his season pitching in front of sparse crowds in St. Petersburg, Fla., for the Tampa Bay Rays.,The setting will be far more intense when he tries to continue his campaign, and that of the Orioles, who traded for the right-hander in July.,Eflin will take the mound on Wed...

Yordan Alvarez, Astros attempt to even series vs. Tigers
HOUSTON -- Astros manager Joe Espada was pleased with Yordan Alvarez's contributions in Houston's 3-1 loss during Game 1 of the American League wild-card series against the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday.,The Astros need all the help they can get as they attempt to level the best-of-three series Wednesda...

Michael King fans 12 as Padres blank Braves in Game 1
Michael King struck out 12 in seven shutout innings and Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a massive two-run homer to help the host San Diego Padres notch a 4-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday in Game 1 of a National League wild-card series.,King allowed just five hits, walked none and retired the fi...

MLB roundup: Royals, Tigers, Mets win openers on road
Cole Ragans struck out eight over six scoreless innings in his playoff debut, Bobby Witt Jr. drove in the lone run and the Kansas City Royals blanked the host Baltimore Orioles 1-0 on Tuesday in an American League wild-card series opener.,Kansas City, which played its first playoff game since winnin...

Mets use five-run fifth to top Brewers in Game 1
MILWAUKEE -- Mark Vientos and J.D. Martinez each had two-run singles to fuel a five-run fifth inning rally and pace the New York Mets to an 8-4 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday in Game 1 of a National League wild-card series.,The Mets, who did not secure a postseason berth until winning...

Royals hold off Orioles 1-0 in first playoff game since 2015
BALTIMORE -- Cole Ragans used to watch Cole Hamels carve up opposing lineups during the Philadelphia Phillies' deep postseason runs more than a decade ago.,Ragans models his mechanics after the former Phillies left-hander, bringing both hands over his head during his wind-up before slinging the ball...

Royals starter Cole Ragans (calf cramping) leaves Game 1 vs. O's
BALTIMORE -- Kansas City left-hander Cole Ragans exited Tuesday's Game 1 start in the American League wild-card series against the Orioles after six innings with left calf cramping.,Making his playoff debut, Ragans scattered four hits over six scoreless innings, striking out eight without walking a ...

Tarik Skubal shuts down Astros as Tigers take Game 1
HOUSTON -- Tarik Skubal twirled six shutout innings as the bottom of the order sparked an early rally that carried the Detroit Tigers to a 3-1 victory over the Houston Astros in Game 1 of the American League wild-card series on Tuesday.,Detroit took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series set to resu...