Diamondbacks All-Star pitcher Corbin Burnes set for Tommy John surgeryVideo
CINCINNATI — All-Star right-hander Corbin Burnes of the Arizona Diamondbacks is set to undergo Tommy John elbow surgery, ending his season early in the first year of a $210 million, six-year contract that’s the richest in team history. Manager Torey Lovullo said Friday the decision was made with “a lot...
Braves call up franchise saves leader Craig Kimbrel a day after blowing big lead
SAN FRANCISCO — The Atlanta Braves have called up franchise career saves leader Craig Kimbrel from the minors a day after having their worst blown ninth-inning lead in more than a half-century. The Braves selected Kimbrel from Triple-A Gwinnett and recalled left-hander Dylan Dodd before opening a road series against...
White Sox reach agreement for potential future sale of controlling interest to Justin IshbiaVideo
CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox reached an agreement that will give Justin Ishbia, the brother of Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia, the chance to buy a future controlling interest in the club. The team made the announcement Thursday, adding that Ishbia will make capital infusions into the White Sox...
Trump’s support of Pete Rose among voices Rob Manfred listened to
NEW YORK — President Donald Trump’s support of Pete Rose was among the factors MLB commissioner Rob Manfred weighed when he decided last month that permanent bans by the sport ended with death, which allows the career hits leader to be considered for the Hall of Fame. Manfred announced the...
North Allegheny grad Cole Young delivers walk-off RBI in MLB debut with Seattle
SEATTLE — Cole Young hit a fielder’s choice in the 11th inning in his major league debut for his first RBI, giving the Seattle Mariners a 5-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday night. Promoted from Triple-A Tacoma prior to the game, the North Allegheny graduate hit a dribbler...
Astros’ Lance McCullers gets 24-hour security after online death threatsVideo
HOUSTON — Soon after Lance McCullers Jr.’s family received online death threats following a tough start by the Houston Astros’ pitcher, his 5-year-old daughter, Ava, overheard wife Kara talking on the phone about it. What followed was a painful conversation between McCullers and his little girl. “She asked me when...
Braves RHP AJ Smith-Shawver diagnosed with torn UCL
ATLANTA — Atlanta Braves rookie right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver has a torn UCL in his pitching elbow, the team said Friday. Smith-Shawver left Thursday’s 5-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies in a doubleheader opener and said he felt a “pop.” The 22-year-old was initially placed on the 15-day injured list before...
Astros right-hander Ronel Blanco is set for season-ending Tommy John surgery
HOUSTON — Houston right-hander Ronel Blanco will have season-ending Tommy John surgery next week. The team made the announcement Wednesday after Blanco got a second opinion. He was placed on the injured list last week with inflammation in his throwing elbow, a few days after his last start on May...
Sub-.500 Braves remain optimistic thanks to Ronald Acuna’s return
ATLANTA — The restored health of Ronald Acuna Jr. gives the Atlanta Braves reason for optimism despite again falling two games under .500 after losing two of three to the San Diego Padres. Acuna played all three games against the Padres and immediately flashed his all-around athleticism in his return...
Ohtani to face hitters Saturday for 1st time in pitching rehab with Dodgers
NEW YORK — Shohei Ohtani is scheduled to face hitters Saturday for the first time in his recovery from right elbow surgery. The two-way superstar will throw live batting practice at Citi Field before the Los Angeles Dodgers play the New York Mets, manager Dave Roberts announced Friday. It’s the...
Braves activate Ronald Acuña Jr. from injured list almost 1 year after ACL injury to left knee
ATLANTA — Ronald Acuña Jr. was activated from the injured list by the Atlanta Braves on Friday, almost one year after he tore the ACL in his left knee. The Braves announced the move before Friday night’s game against the San Diego Padres. Infielder Orlando Arcia, a 2023 All-Star, was...
Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman leaves game with right quad tightness
BOSTON — Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman was removed in the fifth inning of Friday’s opening game of a doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles with right quad rightness, the team said. Bregman singled sharply to left field and made a wide turn before retreating to the first-base bag. The...
Guardians’ right-hander Ben Lively will have Tommy John surgery, miss rest of season
DETROIT — Guardians pitcher Ben Lively will undergo Tommy John reconstruction surgery on his right elbow and will be sidelined for the rest of the season. The Guardians said before Friday night’s game at Detroit that Lively’s surgical date has not been set, but it will be performed by Dr....
Phillies closer José Alvarado suspended for 80 games for positive drug test
PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia Phillies closer José Alvarado was suspended for 80 games on Sunday following a positive test for external testosterone under Major League Baseball’s drug-testing program. Alvarado, among the hardest-throwing relievers, became the second player suspended this year under the big league testing program after Atlanta outfielder Jurickson Profar....
White Sox to unveil a graphic installation honoring Pope Leo XIV
CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox plan to unveil a graphic installation on Monday that honors Pope Leo XIV. Robert Prevost became the first pope from the U.S. in the history of the Catholic Church when he was elected on May 8. The Chicago-born missionary, who took the name Leo...
Phillies put struggling Aaron Nola on 15-day IL with right ankle sprain
PHILADELPHIA — Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola was placed on the 15-day injured list on Friday with a sprained right ankle. The 31-year-old veteran has struggled this season and is coming off an outing against St. Louis on Wednesday in which he allowed 12 hits, nine runs and three homers —...
Right-hander Jonathan Loáisiga returns to Yankees, less than 13 months after Tommy John surgery
NEW YORK — Right-hander Jonathan Loáisiga was activated from the 15-day injured list by the New York Yankees on Friday, less than 13 months after Tommy John surgery. The Yankees designated left-hander Tyler Matzek for assignment ahead of the Subway Series opener against the Mets. A 30-year-old reliever, Loáisiga had...
White Sox acquire right-hander Miguel Castro in a trade with the Astros
CHICAGO — Miguel Castro and Vinny Capra joined the Chicago White Sox on Friday, giving manager Will Venable a different option for his bullpen and on his bench. Castro, 30, was acquired in a trade with the Houston Astros for $500,000 in international signing bonus pool allocation. He went 3-0...
Mark Madden: Pete Rose deserved his Hall of Fame shot when he was alive
I wish MLB had ruled before Pete Rose passed away that he’d be eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame after he died. Rose could have faked his own death, resurrected upon his induction, then charged more money to sign autographs at memorabilia shows. Maybe, before he expired, Rose inscribed...
The Twins turned their season around. The Orioles are showing few signs of doing thatVideo
BALTIMORE — The Minnesota Twins lost a couple mainstays in their lineup and even their manager, too. They had to use every reliever they had over the course of a doubleheader. The Baltimore Orioles still couldn’t beat them. Minnesota rallied from a three-run deficit in the opener and a two-run...
Royals sign former Pirates pitcher Rich Hill to minor-league dealVideo
HOUSTON — The Kansas City Royals are giving former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Rich Hill another chance to pitch in the big leagues. The Royals signed the 45-year-old left-hander to a minor-league deal Tuesday, and he will report soon to the club’s spring training facility in Surprise, Ariz. Once he gets...
MLB reinstates Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson, making them Hall of Fame eligible
NEW YORK — Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson were reinstated by baseball commissioner Rob Manfred on Tuesday, making both eligible for the sport’s Hall of Fame after their careers were tarnished by sports gambling scandals. Rose’s permanent ban was lifted eight months after his death and came a day...
Rockies chart a new course under a new manager after one of worst starts in major league historyVideo
DENVER — All the losing nearly reduced lefty Kyle Freeland to tears as he recently chatted about the woeful state of his hometown Colorado Rockies. It’s a gloomy situation with the Rockies, whose 7-33 record is one of the worst in major league history and led to the dismissal of...
Greensburg Central Catholic alum Warren Schaeffer named interim manager of Rockies
The Colorado Rockies’ firing of longtime manager Bud Black means a former WPIAL product will try to get the club back on track. Warren Schaeffer, a native of Vandergrift and a Greensburg Central Catholic alum, was named interim manager Sunday. He had been the third base coach since 2023. Schaeffer,...
Colorado Rockies fire manager Bud Black; Vandergrift native, GCC alum Schaeffer takes over as interim managerVideo
DENVER — The Colorado Rockies fired Bud Black, the winningest manager in franchise history, after a 7-33 start that’s one of the worst in Major League Baseball history. Colorado promoted third base coach Warren Schaeffer to be the interim manager, the team announced Sunday after a 9-3 win over San...
