TORONTO — Trevor Rogers was once again delivering an excellent start, making it through five innings without allowing an earned run Friday night against the Blue Jays.

But during that fifth frame, his velocity was noticeably down. Instead of averaging 93 mph, Rogers’ fastball was sitting 90.5 mph, including several below 90 mph. He got ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Walker Buehler gave the Phillies exactly what they wanted Friday night, notably five solid innings and a fifth day of rest for each of their other starting pitchers.

But Bryce Harper supplied more of what they need.

Harper slugged a two-run home run in the third inning to break a tie in an 8-2 thumping of the Royals — and, ...Read more

BOSTON — Aaron Judge continued his ascent in the Yankees’ record books on Friday, as he crushed the 362 nd home run of his career in the first inning of the team’s series-opener at Fenway Park.

The solo shot off Red Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito gave Judge sole ownership of fourth place on the Bombers’ all-time home run list, as he had...Read more

MIAMI — Friday’s pitching matchup between the Marlins’ Sandy Alcantara and Tigers’ Tarik Skubal promised to be something special.

After all, it marked only the second time in Marlins history that a pair of former Cy Young Award winners faced each other in a game, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

The duel didn’t deliver as ...Read more

CHICAGO — It has been a while since Chicago Cubs fans had to figure out the magic number, a flashback to the late 2010s that disappeared around the same time Kyle Schwarber was nontendered.

But it’s time to brush up on those math skills again.

The magic number for the Cubs to clinch a postseason spot was down to seven by late Friday ...Read more

Winning has been a struggle as of late for the Pirates, and Friday’s game was no different.

Entering the bottom of the seventh inning with a one-run lead, Pittsburgh’s bullpen allowed the game to get away. The Nationals rallied to score four runs, paving the way for a 6-5 Pirates loss Friday evening at Nationals Park.

“It’s frustrating...Read more

There is no such thing as The Team to Beat in the major league playoffs. The Phillies have seen both sides of that coin. They were that team in 2010 and 2011. They beat that team in 2023.

Come October, there are only hot teams, hotter teams, and everybody else. Regular-season records have little correlation with which teams fall into which ...Read more

Of the five relievers to pitch for the Yankees on Wednesday night, only one managed to deliver a scoreless outing:

Austin Slater.

Slater, of course, is a veteran outfielder who was pressed into mop-up pitching duty in the ninth inning of the Yankees’ 11-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers.

It’s been that kind of week for the Yankees’ bullpen. ...Read more

After Walker Buehler was released from the Boston Red Sox two weeks ago, he fielded many calls from other teams checking in on his status.

But none of those teams put their general manager, manager, and pitching coach all together on the call to entice him to sign. None, that is, except the Phillies.

“I think a lot of the times the (...Read more

SAN DIEGO — The season had gotten a little green for the San Diego Padres. As in, the color of one’s countenance when feeling ill.

Purple is the color the Padres needed to see at a time like this.

That is the color worn by one major league team. The worst one.

That is who came to Petco Park on Thursday.

And that is who the Padres got ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — There was a gasp in the stadium as the line drive whizzed toward Jesús Luzardo.

He caught the ball hit by Mets center fielder Jeff McNeil, then spun around to get the double play at second base. In a flash, Luzardo had gotten himself out of the first-inning jam that seemed like it might never end while the Mets tagged him for ...Read more

CLEVELAND — The Kansas City Royals know their backs are against the wall.

With 15 games remaining in the 2025 season, they have reached a point where every game matters.

“It’s a really important one to try to get ahead of these guys because I think they got the tiebreaker on us,” Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino said before ...Read more

NEW YORK — Aaron Judge keeps rising up the Yankees’ all-time home run list.

The star slugger hit two more homers in Thursday night’s 9-3 win over the Detroit Tigers, giving him 361 in his career and tying him with Joe DiMaggio for the fourth most in Yankees history.

Only Babe Ruth (659), Mickey Mantle (536) and Lou Gehrig (493) are ahead...Read more

NEW YORK — President Donald Trump gave a speech inside the Yankees’ clubhouse, then took his seat behind protective glass at Thursday night’s game in the Bronx, amid an overwhelming security presence on the 24th anniversary of 9/11.

Trump heard cheers and boos as he appeared during the national anthem on the jumbotron, which showed him ...Read more

CHICAGO — Chicago White Sox infielder Chase Meidroth said it’s “pretty easy” playing defense behind starter Shane Smith.

“He throws a lot of strikes,” Meidroth said. “Every time he’s on the mound, we should win. He’s a No. 1 in this league. He’s really good.”

The rookie had another sharp outing Thursday, scattering four ...Read more

BALTIMORE — It wasn’t a walk-off this time, but the win counts just the same.

The Orioles beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2 on Thursday as Dylan Beavers, the latest walk-off hero from their victory Wednesday night, came through again with a go-ahead RBI single in the seventh to break the tie and help Baltimore (69-77) win its eighth game in ...Read more

At some point, the Dodgers hope, they will be able to field a fully healthy lineup.

A late scratch on Wednesday to catcher Will Smith, however, meant it would have to wait at least a couple more days.

Despite activating Tommy Edman from the injured list pregame, and proceeding to sweep the Colorado Rockies with a 9-0 win that stretched their ...Read more

The longest night of the season had the strangest of endings for the Mariners.

Leo Rivas hit a walkoff, two-run home run on the first pitch of the bottom of the 13th inning, sending the Mariners to a 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night at T-Mobile Park.

It was the first plate appearance of the night for Rivas, who ...Read more