DETROIT — This is what the Tigers expected. Heck, this is what Framber Valdez expected.

After back-to-back messy starts, Valdez was back on form Thursday night, pitching seven dominant innings to back the Tigers’ series-sweeping 4-1 win over the Athletics in front of 20,699 at Comerica Park.

It’s five straight wins now for the surging ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Surely they hear the chants. They must hear the wonderful chants.

“Let’s go Doyers! Let’s go Doyers!”

Surely they see the faces? They can’t miss the gloriously diverse faces.

All shades, all colors, four million faces surrounding them with resounding support and unrequited love.

The Dodgers do know they play in Los ...Read more

CINCINNATI — This year’s Home Run Derby will officially have some hometown flavor.

Bryce Harper announced on Instagram Thursday he will participate in the Derby, which will be held on Monday.

“Derby at home? Sure why not?” Harper captioned a video of himself homering off the Pirates’ Braxton Ashcraft.

Harper, who was included on the...Read more

Bryce Harper on Thursday declined to discuss a Philadelphia Inquirer report about a personalized video of the Philadelphia Phillies star that FanDuel Sportsbook sent in November 2024 to a VIP bettor who had a gambling addiction.

The Inquirer obtained a copy of the 21-second video, which is marked with a blue FanDuel logo and shows Harper ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — The Twins have been one of Major League Baseball’s best teams throughout the past three weeks, but Cleveland Guardians starter Gavin Williams presented a different challenge Thursday at Target Field.

Williams retired his first 13 batters, carrying a perfect game into the fifth inning, and he struck out 11 batters to match his ...Read more

BALTIMORE — Pete Alonso, on his knees and his jersey decorated in dirt, let out an emphatic roar.

The Orioles’ 245-pound first baseman had just lumbered home as third base coach Buck Britton emphatically sent him on a Jeremiah Jackson pinch-hit double into the gap — the type of play that Britton told The Baltimore Sun makes his heart race...Read more

The Boston Red Sox weren’t exactly sure what they would get from left-hander Patrick Sandoval when he stepped on the mound Thursday afternoon for his first big league game in 748 days.

They got as much, if not more than they hoped. Sandoval pitched 4 1/3 innings on 65 pitches (41 for strikes), and allowed one earned run on five hits, walked ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers are scheduled to visit the White House on July 23 to celebrate their latest World Series title.

"President Trump is excited to welcome the Los Angeles Dodgers BACK to the White House to celebrate their World Series championship!," said White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers in a statement to The Los Angeles Times.

...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Mitch Keller’s woes continued Thursday. The Pirates’ offense and bullpen nearly let him get away with it — until a blast too far in the ninth.

Keller completed just three innings, while three Pirates home runs weren’t quite enough in a 10-5 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Thursday afternoon at PNC Park. The tying run ...Read more

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Theoretically, this was a win for the Rays.

Not the game, of course. That was an unholy mess.

Drew Rasmussen had the single worst inning of his career, the Rays made 11 outs, including double plays, with runners in scoring position and the Yankees, ultimately, rolled past the Rays, 12-4, before an announced crowd of 18...Read more

Michael King eventually got his act together Wednesday night.

The Padres’ offense did, too.

Eventually.

King battled command but gutted his way through six innings, Luis Campusano hit his first home run since returning from the injured list and the Padres pulled away for a 10-4 win to get back to .500 with four games left before the All-...Read more

Mookie Betts’ first hit this series against the Rockies couldn’t have come at a more opportune time. With the crack of the ball against his bat, Tommy Edman scored from third, giving the Dodgers the lead.

And as Betts reached first, he pointed to Freddie Freeman, whose single put Edman in scoring position. It had taken a team effort to ...Read more

The Boston Red Sox keep on rolling, though Wednesday night’s series-clinching 5-0 victory over the White Sox in Chicago came at a cost.

Taking a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning cost them two of their hottest hitters, Anthony Seigler and Willson Contreras, who suffered a right trap contusion and left foot contusion, respectively, ...Read more

CINCINNATI — Each time a Reds player clubs a home run at Great American Ball Park, fireworks are released from the smokestacks in the outfield.

By the end of the fourth inning of Wednesday’s 11-5 Phillies loss, it was fair to wonder if Cincinnati’s supply might be running low. Because the Reds blasted four homers in the inning, including ...Read more

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Angels emphatically ended their losing streak.

After dropping seven straight games, mostly because of a struggling lineup, the Angels let out their frustration with a 13-1 victory over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night.

The Angels got All-Star slugger Mike Trout back in the lineup for the first time in nearly three ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — One of the reasons the Minnesota Twins won their first home series against the Cleveland Guardians in more than four years, clinching a series victory with a 6-5 walk-off win Wednesday, was commissioner Rob Manfred’s insistence on a rule change before the 2020 season.

Another reason was Alan Roden delivering a walk-off RBI ...Read more

BALTIMORE — Pete Crow-Armstrong isn’t showing any signs of cooling off at the plate.

Crow-Armstrong became the first hitter with at least 20 home runs and 20 steals in MLB this season when he went deep in the third inning to give the Chicago Cubs an early lead against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night at Camden Yards.

The 24-year-...Read more

NEW YORK — A day after a complete slugfest with 28 total runs scored, it was a much quieter evening at Citi Field on Wednesday. And it was a much more favorable outcome for the home team.

Christian Scott’s strong performance and some clutch hitting by Brett Baty led the Mets to an 6-2 win over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night.

...Read more