MINNEAPOLIS — The newly named All-Star homered twice, and the crowd roared as their favorites ran up the score Thursday to earn an 8-1 victory. What a beautiful afternoon at Wrigley Field North.

Yeah, it was a lot less exciting for Twins’ fans, seemingly outnumbered in their own ballpark by thousands of Chicagoans intoxicated by the Cubs’...Read more

BALTIMORE — The Mets‘ issues hitting with runners in scoring position continue to linger into the summer months. Thursday afternoon at Camden Yards, the Mets had opportunities to increase a one-run lead against the Baltimore Orioles, but came up empty each time, spoiling what was otherwise a stellar outing by left-hander David Peterson.

...Read more

BALTIMORE — It was an offer the Orioles thought was too good to pass up.

Baltimore traded right-handed reliever Bryan Baker to the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday for a Competitive Balance Round A pick, No. 37 overall, in the upcoming MLB draft. The deal gives the club seven of the top 93 selections and four of the top 37 in the draft, which ...Read more

The MLB All-Star Game has served disparate purposes over the years. It always has been a showcase for baseball's top talent. Once upon a time, the outcome determined home-field advantage in the World Series. In recent years, it has been a fashion runway for ridiculous uniforms.

This year, it will be an incubator.

The Automated Ball-Strike (ABS...Read more

ANAHEIM — The Angels slugged last in an epic slugfest.

Jorge Soler hit a tie-breaking two-run homer to lift the Angels to an 11-8 victory over the Texas Rangers in a rollercoaster of a game on Wednesday night.

Soler, who has been in a slump for much of the last two months, got ahead 3-and-1 and then launched a 421-foot homer. Nolan Schanuel ...Read more

Every start is about the same.

Mike Shildt is “excited” to see Dylan Cease pitch.

“Love his arm and love his arsenal, and I’m excited for him tonight,” Shildt said Wednesday afternoon. “It’s gonna be a good night.”

That might have varied by a word or two from what the Padres manager has said before virtually every game in ...Read more

DETROIT — The amazing part of the whole thing was somehow, Zach McKinstry and the Tigers were able to keep the big news a secret for nearly 24 hours.

"Yeah, I had to kind of avoid the media," said McKinstry, who got the news Tuesday night.

The news was officially released, posted on the big scoreboard at Comerica Park during the first inning...Read more

NEW YORK — It didn’t take long for Cam Schlittler to demonstrate his scintillating stuff.

On the sixth pitch of his MLB career, the flame-throwing Yankees rookie lit up the radar gun with a 99.9-mph fastball.

Ten pitches later, Schlittler hit 100 mph.

And just like that, Schlittler’s MLB debut was off to a scorching start.

The prized ...Read more

BOSTON — The competition — and stakes — will ratchet up for the Red Sox with their four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays starting on Thursday, but the Sox at least took care of their business over the last week.

On Wednesday, the Sox completed the three-game sweep of baseball’s worst team, the Colorado Rockies, who have win just ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — The Twins won Wednesday’s game but lost All-Star center fielder Byron Buxton for at least the final seven innings of their 4-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Target Field.

Buxton was hit on the left hand — his non-throwing hand — leading off his team’s first inning and left the game an inning later with what the Twins ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As the Pirates’ road trip moves to a third city, the search for their first win of the trip continues.

The Pirates’ losing streak reached six on Wednesday night at Kauffman Stadium, as they fell, 4-3, to the Royals. It’s the second time they’ve been swept on this road trip and seventh time this season.

Royals first...Read more

ST. LOUIS — Coming off one of his strongest outings of the season after tossing seven scoreless innings in his previous start, Cardinals starter Andre Pallante matched a season-high in runs allowed when he took the mound vs. Washington on Wednesday night at Busch Stadium.

The offensive onslaught allowed by Pallante began with three runs in ...Read more

BALTIMORE — Juan Soto is already making more than $100 million this season alone, but had he been named an All-Star, it could have been more.

The Mets’ star right fielder, the highest-paid player in baseball and one of the game’s biggest stars, was not selected for the game that showcases the league’s biggest stars this year. It was a ...Read more

DETROIT — Everything matters.

That belief is so central to the Tigers’ way of life, they put it on a T-shirt. Little things add up to big results.

Positive and negative.

In the sixth inning Wednesday, center fielder Parker Meadows either didn’t read the ball well off the bat or took a bad angle on it — either way, the result of that ...Read more

DETROIT — After learning Tuesday night he had been added to the American League All-Star team, Rays third baseman Junior Caminero didn’t have anything to say about whether he’d take part in the Home Run Derby.

Wednesday morning, he made it clear he will participate, posting the news on his Instagram account.

He said later he has a simple...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Twins outfielder Byron Buxton has a traveling companion for next week’s All-Star Game back in his home state of Georgia: Pitcher and teammate Joe Ryan on Wednesday was named an injury replacement for the American League team.

Left out the past two seasons when he probably had a case to make the team, Ryan is 8-4 with a 2.76 ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — Bryce Harper felt like he was getting close.

Entering Wednesday’s series finale against the San Francisco Giants, he was still searching for his timing — and his first extra-base hit — since returning from the injured list on June 30.

Harper felt confident heading into the series opener on Monday. He singled and walked ...Read more

CHICAGO — With the Chicago Cubs on pace to finish with their best run-producing season since 1930, manager Craig Counsell was asked over the weekend if he ever was associated with such a high-efficiency offense as a player or manager.

The Cubs entered the final road trip of the first half Tuesday in Minnesota with 492 runs in 90 games, second...Read more

CHICAGO — As the Chicago White prepare to celebrate the past this weekend with the statue ceremony for Mark Buehrle and the 20th reunion of the 2005 World Series champions, the future remains a guessing game.

Will the Sox be able to deal struggling star Luis Robert Jr. before the trade deadline? Can Colson Montgomery become the player the Sox...Read more

ATLANTA — Looking for more entertainment during the upcoming MLB All-Star Week at Truist Park? Tuesday’s game has you covered.

Ludacris, Jermaine Dupri and Zac Brown Band are among the Atlanta artists set to perform during the MLB All-Star Game preshow, according to a news release.

Ludacris, whose real name is Chris Bridges, and Dupri, the...Read more