Voting starts for MLB All-Stars, starters announced July 8Video
NEW YORK — Fan balloting began Wednesday for the All-Star Game, which takes place July 19 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. A person can submit up to five votes per 24 hours during the first phase of voting, which runs through 2 p.m. on June 30. The leading vote-getter...
Nationals’ Stephen Strasburg to make season debut Thursday
MIAMI — Washington Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg is scheduled to make his season debut against the Miami Marlins on Thursday. The 33-year-old has been sidelined for most of the past two seasons. He underwent surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome last summer and has not pitched since June 1, 2021. A...
Angels fire manager Joe Maddon amid 12-game losing streakVideo
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Los Angeles Angels fired manager Joe Maddon on Tuesday with the team mired in a 12-game losing streak. Third base coach Phil Nevin will be the interim manager when the Angels (27-29) host Boston on Tuesday night. The 68-year-old Maddon went 130-148 with the Angels, who...
Yankees pitcher Nestor Cortes says Jim Kaat didn’t need to apologize for commentVideo
NEW YORK — Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes said Minnesota Twins broadcaster Jim Kaat reached out and apologized after referring to New York’s breakout pitching star as “Nestor the Molester” during a broadcast Thursday night. “Jim Kaat has spent an entire lifetime in this game we love,” Cortes tweeted Friday. “He...
Joe Girardi fired by Phillies, replaced by Rob Thomson
PHILADELPHIA — Joe Girardi was fired by the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday after his team’s terrible start, becoming the first major league manager to lose his job this season. Philadelphia said bench coach Rob Thomson will become interim manager for the rest of the season. Expected to contend for an...
Yankees’ Jameson Taillon takes perfect game into 8th inning
NEW YORK — Jameson Taillon retired Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout in the seventh inning and sensed perfection might be possible. When that crumbled an inning later, he wasn’t as bummed about blowing a shot at history as he was about giving up the game’s first run. “I was pretty...
Twins broadcaster Jim Kaat uses offensive nickname for Yankees pitcherVideo
DETROIT — Minnesota Twins broadcaster Jim Kaat referred to New York Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes as “Nestor the Molestor” during a broadcast Thursday, the second offensive remark in the past year by the 83-year-old Hall of Fame pitcher while calling a game. As Minnesota’s Chris Archer struck out Detroit star...
Mark Appel was once a can’t-miss prospect. 9 years later, the Phillies could finally make him a major leaguer
ALLENTOWN — Mark Appel knows people think he’s crazy. The right-handed pitcher was the first overall pick of a draft that produced Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Kris Bryant. That draft was nine years ago. Judge is a three-time All-Star. Bellinger was the 2019 National League MVP. Bryant helped bring...
First Call: Cameron Heyward’s quote on Aaron Donald comps; Steelers work out pass rushers; Diamondbacks next for hot Pirates
We’ve got a headline-catching quote from Pittsburgh Steelers star Cameron Heyward regarding Penn Hills native Aaron Donald. The Steelers are trying to fill a defensive void. We mix in some soccer talk about Team USA. And we get a scouting report on the Pirates’ next opponent after sweeping the Dodgers....
First Call: Ex-Steelers RB looking for work; red-hot Starling Marte part of viral video moment
Wednesday’s “First Call” checks in on an ex-Steeler who needs a new place to play. A former Pitt Panther has his eyes on the NBA. Starling Marte is on fire with the New York Mets. And a free agent some Steelers fans wanted is heading down south. On the open...
Roger Clemens’ son called up by Tigers for possible MLB debut
DETROIT — Kody Clemens, the 26-year-old son of seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens, was brought up by the Detroit Tigers on Monday for a possible major-league debut. Roger Clemens planned to be at Comerica Park on Tuesday, when his son could make his debut. “He’s scrambling and trying...
Reds’ Tommy Pham suspended for slapping Joc Pederson over fantasy football disputeVideo
CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Reds outfielder Tommy Pham was suspended by MLB for three games on Saturday after he slapped San Francisco Giants outfielder Joc Pederson because of a dispute about their fantasy football league. Pham, 34, also was fined. The suspension was made retroactive to Friday night, and he will...
Giants’ Gabe Kapler refusing to take field for national anthem in protestVideo
CINCINNATI — San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler said Friday he will refuse to take the field for the national anthem in a protest over the nation’s political direction following this week’s school shooting in Texas. “I don’t plan on coming out for the anthem going forward until I feel...
Yankees’ Josh Donaldson apologizes to Jackie Robinson’s familyVideo
NEW YORK — Josh Donaldson has apologized to the wife and family of Jackie Robinson for referencing the pioneering Black baseball player in remarks that led to a confrontation with Chicago White Sox star Tim Anderson. The New York Yankees third baseman was suspended for one game and fined Monday...
Tim Anderson: Josh Donaldson tried to provoke with ‘Jackie’ comment
CHICAGO — Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson said Tuesday that Josh Donaldson clearly was trying to rattle him when the New York Yankees third baseman referred to him as “Jackie,” a remark that led to Donaldson being suspended one game by MLB. Anderson and White Sox manager Tony La...
Kelsie Whitmore & ‘The Thing’ take on the Atlantic League
NEW YORK — The first thing Atlantic League hitters notice about Kelsie Whitmore is the obvious: the Staten Island FerryHawks pitcher is the only woman in a league full of former major leaguers. The surprises don’t stop there. The next thing they’re likely to see is a pretty big shocker,...
MLB suspends Josh Donaldson for 1 game for ‘Jackie’ comment
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball suspended Josh Donaldson for one game Monday after the New York Yankees slugger made multiple references to Jackie Robinson while talking to White Sox star Tim Anderson during the weekend. Donaldson also was fined an undisclosed amount for his actions Saturday at Yankee Stadium....
First Call: Michael Vick remains retired; Jameson Taillon shines for Yankees; Pirates hope for break vs. Rockies
Monday’s “First Call” debunks the thought that former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Michael Vick may try a comeback. Jameson Taillon continues to author a fine season in New York. Josh Bell has cooled off in Washington. The Pirates may get a break with the Rockies in town. And Patric Hornqvist is...
Boone: Josh Donaldson shouldn’t make ‘Jackie’ remark to Tim AndersonVideo
NEW YORK — Yankees slugger Josh Donaldson was wrong to make a remark referencing Jackie Robinson when speaking to White Sox star Tim Anderson, New York manager Aaron Boone said Sunday. A day after the comment called “racist” by Chicago manager Tony La Russa — an assessment that Anderson agreed...
White Sox’s Tim Anderson says Yankees’ Josh Donaldson made racist remarkVideo
NEW YORK — Chicago White Sox star shortstop Tim Anderson accused Yankees slugger Josh Donaldson of making a racist remark by calling him Jackie Robinson during Saturday’s game against New York. “He just made a, you know, disrespectful comment,” said Anderson, who is Black, “Basically, it was trying to call...
Mets ace Max Scherzer likely out 6 to 8 weeks with oblique strainVideo
NEW YORK — Mets pitcher Max Scherzer is expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks with a strained oblique muscle in his left side, the latest blow to a New York pitching staff already missing Jacob deGrom. Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, had an MRI on...
Matt Harvey suspended 60 games by MLB for drug distribution
NEW YORK — Baltimore Orioles pitcher Matt Harvey was suspended for 60 games by Major League Baseball on Tuesday for distributing a prohibited drug of abuse, a punishment stemming from his admission of providing opioids to a teammate who fatally overdosed. The former New York Mets star also admitted in...
Mets’ Starling Marte loses grandmother 2 years after wife’s deathVideo
NEW YORK — New York Mets outfielder and former Pittsburgh Pirate Starling Marte was placed on the bereavement list following the death of his grandmother, which came nearly two years to the day after his wife died of a heart attack. Mets manager Buck Showalter said Tuesday that Marte’s grandmother,...
Guardians acquire RHP Yohan Ramirez in trade from MarinersVideo
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Guardians acquired right-hander Yohan Ramirez on Monday from the Seattle Mariners for cash or a player to be named. The 27-year-old Ramirez, who made seven appearances for the Mariners this season, immediately was optioned to Triple-A Columbus. Ramirez went 1-0 with a 7.56 ERA before he...
Padres sign Robinson Cano, plan to use him off the benchVideo
ATLANTA — The San Diego Padres signed veteran second baseman Robinson Cano to a major-league contract and plan to use him as a left-handed bat off the bench. Cano was not in Friday’s lineup against the Atlanta Braves. Acting manager Ryan Christenson said he could get some occasional starts at...
