Baseball Page 707 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

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...

AJ Smith-Shawver to start vs. Padres; Chris Sale left off Braves' wild-card roster
Atlanta Braves left-hander Chris Sale was left off the team's roster for its National League wild-card series against the San Diego Padres, while right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver was tabbed to start Tuesday's Game 1.,Sale initially was scheduled to pitch the second game of Monday's doubleheader against...

D-backs owner takes blame for ‘horrible’ Jordan Montgomery deal
It's safe to say the Arizona Diamondbacks and left-handed starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery aren't in for a reunion in 2025.,One day after Arizona was eliminated from playoff contention when the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves secured the final two wild cards, Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick said ...

Ace Chris Sale left off Braves' wild-card roster vs. Padres
Atlanta Braves left-hander Chris Sale was left off the team's roster for its National League wild-card series against the San Diego Padres.,Sale initially was scheduled to pitch the second game of Monday's doubleheader against the New York Mets before being scratched due to back spasms.,The Braves d...

MLB attendance highest since 2017 season
Major League Baseball finished the 2024 regular season with its highest total attendance since 2017, the league announced Tuesday.,MLB also experienced increases in TV viewership, streaming and fan engagement, which the league attributed in part to quicker games -- the 2:36 average was the shortest ...

Justin Verlander left off Astros' wild-card roster vs. Tigers
Three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander was left off the Houston Astros' roster for their American League wild-card series against the visiting Detroit Tigers. ,Game 1 of the series is Tuesday afternoon with Houston's Framber Valdez (15-7, 2.91 ERA) set to square off against Detroit's Tari...
MLB Playoff Predictions 2024: World Series Champion Official Pick
These are our top MLB Playoffs picks and predictions for the 2024 postseason. We breakdown and predict each playoff series and give you an official World Series winner....

Cardinals baseball boss John Mozeliak leaving ... in a year
The St. Louis Cardinals, after failing to reach the playoffs for a second consecutive year, announced a gradual shakeup to their front office on Monday.,The main change won't occur until after the 2025 season, when Chaim Bloom will take over as president of baseball operations from John Mozeliak.,Fo...

Reactions to death of controversial superstar Pete Rose
A host of baseball luminaries commented about the life and legacy of Pete Rose after the Hit King died on Monday at age 83.,Among the posts on social media:,Alex Rodriguez: "Absolutely heartbroken to hear the devastating news about Pete Rose's passing. He always brought a smile to my face when we wo...

MLB playoff primer
The Kansas City Royals are in the postseason for the first time since winning the World Series in 2015, the Tigers are ending a playoff drought that started that same year, and the Baltimore Orioles have an eight-game postseason losing streak that began after beating Detroit in a 2014 series.,At lea...

Mets visit Brewers on short rest for wild-card opener
MILWAUKEE -- It took an extra day to determine the opponent, but the National League Central champion Brewers will host the New York Mets on Tuesday in the opener of an NL wild-card series.,The Mets earned the No. 6 seed Monday by winning the first game of a make-up doubleheader at Atlanta. The Brav...

One final look at a historic regular season
The baseball calendar could not have been more precise this season.,A compelling regular season wrapped up on the last day of September, leaving a wide-open postseason to start on the first day of October.,But before turning to the drama of baseball in the fall -- as temperatures drop and emotions r...

Braves, after clinching at last chance, open playoffs in San Diego
Michael King was one of the assets the San Diego Padres obtained when they traded Juan Soto to the New York Yankees in December, and there was uncertainty regarding the role he would fill.,King made 49 appearances for New York in 2023, and only nine were starts. However, San Diego badly needed a sta...

Brewers welcome short-rested Mets for wild-card opener
MILWAUKEE -- It took an extra day to determine the opponent, but the National League Central champion Brewers will host the New York Mets on Tuesday in the opener of an NL wild-card series.,The Mets earned the No. 6 seed Monday by winning the first game of a make-up doubleheader at Atlanta. The Brav...

Red-hot but inexperienced Tigers prepare for veteran Astros
HOUSTON -- The Astros had to rebound from a miserable start to the season to win their fourth straight American League West title. Now they carry an overwhelming advantage in postseason experience into their matchup vs. the Detroit Tigers in the American League wild-card series, which begins Tuesday...

Baseball legend Pete Rose dies at 83
Pete Rose, the all-time major league leader in hits and games played who was banned for life for betting on baseball, died Monday, ESPN reported. He was 83.,ESPN baseball commentator Eduardo Perez broke the news while appearing on "SportsCenter," saying he had confirmed the news with Rose's son.,The...