Baseball Page 7 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers massive MVP, World Series favorites
The Los Angeles Dodgers hit Opening Day 2026 as massive favorites to accomplish a feat not seen in Major League Baseball in more than a quarter century.,The two-time defending world champions are attempting to become the first team to three-peat since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees. Ironically, it's...

Twins place RHPs Travis Adams, David Festa on IL
The Minnesota Twins placed right-handers Travis Adams and David Festa on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.,The team also selected the contract of right-hander Cody Laweryson and designated catcher Alex Jackson for release or assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.,Adams, 26, has a right trice...

Astros carry high expectations into opener vs. Angels
The Houston Astros missed the playoffs last season for the first time in nine years, something with which the Los Angeles Angels have become familiar over the past 11 seasons.,Both teams will try to get the 2026 season off to a good start on Thursday when the Astros host the Angels in the opener of ...

Orioles, Twins hope new managers lead to contending seasons
There'll be a double dose of managerial debuts when the Minnesota Twins visit the Baltimore Orioles for Thursday's opener.,Derek Shelton will be in his first game in charge of the Twins. New Orioles skipper Craig Albernaz is in his first managerial role.,Shelton was fired by Pittsburgh last May and ...

Yankees option Luis Gil; OF Randal Grichuk on Opening Day roster
Yankees right-hander Luis Gil will begin the season at Triple-A, and outfielder Randal Grichuk was added to the New York roster ahead of Opening Day in San Francisco on Wednesday. ,Gil, 27, had an erratic spring but threw well on March 20 with seven strikeouts in five innings against the Baltimore O...

Cubs embrace expectations as Nationals visit for Opening Day
After ending a four-year playoff drought last season, the Chicago Cubs enter 2026 with added expectations.,In manager Craig Counsell's mind, that also should increase the clubhouse's penchant for staying in the moment.,"It's not easy to get to a place like this. It's not easy to get to a roster like...
Three MLB Teams Facing Regression in 2026
The Brewers, Guardians, and Blue Jays could be headed for regression in 2026—here’s why these playoff teams may fall short....
How MLB Is Getting Opening Day Wrong in a Crucial 2026 Season
MLB Opening Day draws criticism over streaming decisions and scheduling issues, leaving fans frustrated in a crucial season for baseball....

Brewers, White Sox entrust Opening Day to young All-Star flamethrowers
The Milwaukee Brewers will turn to hard-throwing right-hander Jacob Misiorowski when they open defense of their National League Central Division title against the visiting Chicago White Sox on Thursday afternoon.,Misiorowski (5-3, 4.36 ERA in 2025), an All-Star selection last season as a rookie afte...

Freddy Peralta vs. Paul Skenes headlines Mets-Pirates opener
The New York Mets were expected to overhaul their roster following a disappointing 2025.,The Pittsburgh Pirates responding to their latest sub-.500 finish in similar fashion qualified as a far bigger surprise.,A pair of retooled teams will open the season Thursday afternoon when the Mets host the Pi...

Reports: Cubs, Pete Crow-Armstrong agree on 6-year, $115M deal
A day after news broke that the Chicago Cubs and Pete Crow-Armstrong were finalizing a contract extension, multiple media outlets reported the specifics on Tuesday.,The center fielder reportedly is receiving a six-year, $115 million deal.,It's quite a present one day before Crow-Armstrong's 24th bir...

Spring training roundup: Gerrit Cole passes another test as Yankees rout Cubs
New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole passed another test against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday in his second start of the spring as he continued his return from Tommy John surgery last March.,Cole racked up three strikeouts in the first inning -- fanning Cubs regulars Pete Crow-Armstrong, Michael Busch an...

Spring training roundup: Ranger Suarez rocked as Twins rout Red Sox
Ranger Suarez completed a rocky spring training with his new squad, allowing eight earned runs over 4 1/3 innings on Tuesday as the Minnesota Twins routed the Boston Red Sox 15-6 in Fort Myers, Fla.,Suarez, who signed a five-year, $130 million contract in January, gave up a pair of home runs among n...

Brewers acquire RHP Jake Woodford from Rays
The Milwaukee Brewers acquired right-hander Jake Woodford from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for a minor league pitcher and cash on Tuesday.,Right-hander K.C. Hunt, 25, heads to the Rays after three seasons in the Brewers' farm system.,Woodford, 29, was a non-roster invite to Tampa Bay's spring tra...

Rays RHP Ryan Pepiot (hip) to begin season on IL
Tampa Bay Rays starter Ryan Pepiot will begin the season on the injured list with right hip inflammation, manager Kevin Cash confirmed Tuesday.,The 28-year-old right-hander had been scheduled to start Tuesday's spring finale against the Atlanta Braves. Pepiot made three starts in spring training, al...

AL Central capsules: Can Tigers pitch way back into playoffs?
Chicago White Sox,2025 record: 60-102 (5th place, AL Central),He gone: C Korey Lee, OF Luis Robert, OF Mike Tauchman,New faces: INF Luisangel Acuna, RHP Seranthony Dominguez, RHP Erick Fedde, RHP Jordan Hicks, LHP Anthony Kay, INF Munetaka Murakami, C Reese McGuire, LHP Sean Newcomb,Biggest question...

AL West capsules: Can Mariners reach next level in 2026?
Athletics,2025 record 76-86 (4th place, AL West),He gone: OF JJ Bleday, RHP Oswaldo Bido, C Willie MacIver, LHP Sean Newcomb, INF Max Schuemann, RHP Mitch Spence,New faces: RHP Scott Barlow, RHP Aaron Civale, UTL Andy Ibanez, RHP Mark Leiter Jr., 2B/LF Jeff McNeil,Biggest question entering Opening D...

AL East capsules: Can Blue Jays hold off Yanks, Red Sox once again?
Toronto Blue Jays,2025 record 94-68 (1st place, AL East),He gone: SS Bo Bichette, RHP Chris Bassitt, RHP Seranthony Dominguez, 1B Ty France, INF Isiah Kiner-Falefa,New faces: RHP Dylan Cease, 3B Kazuma Okamoto, RHP Tyler Rogers, RHP Cody Ponce, RHP Chase Lee,Biggest question entering Opening Day: Ho...

Giants' college-to-majors manager faces Yankees in debut
Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees will be the invited guests Wednesday night when the San Francisco Giants open the Tony Vitello managerial era in a nationally televised interleague 2026 curtain-raiser.,The only game on the Opening Day baseball schedule will feature an All-Star pitching matchup o...

Padres tab RHP Nick Pivetta to start opener vs. Tigers
Nick Pivetta will make the first Opening Day start of his career on Thursday afternoon when the San Diego Padres host the Detroit Tigers.,Padres manager Craig Stammen made the announcement on Monday as the team was on the verge of ending spring training.,It won't be an easy assignment as the 33-year...