PHILADELPHIA — Max Kepler watched it fly.

On Monday, he would have had his first homer — and extra-base hit — since June 16, but the Padres’ Jackson Merrill hauled it back over the wall before it could become a three-run shot.

Kepler didn’t have to wait very much longer after that to end his drought. In the fourth inning of the ...Read more

MIAMI — It’s always a little heartwarming when a rookie makes a play that changes the outcome of a game, especially when it ends a losing streak. Emil Jimenez was that hero for the Twins on Wednesday.

Who?

OK, Jimenez is not a ballplayer, but an umpire, promoted to the majors full-time this spring. His play on Kyle Stowers’ sixth-inning ...Read more

WASHINGTON — The Tigers were 47-0 when they took a lead into the eighth inning.

Make that 47-1.

The Washington Nationals, held in complete check for four innings, scored five runs off reliever Tommy Kahnle in a six-run bottom of the eighth inning to beat the Tigers, 9-4, to gain a split of the doubleheader Wednesday at Nationals Park.

The ...Read more

CHICAGO — For the first time in nearly 90 years, the Chicago Cubs will have two outfielders in the starting lineup at the All-Star Game.

Center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and right fielder Kyle Tucker earned enough votes in the second phase of the process, which ran from Monday until 11 a.m. Wednesday, to be named National League starters ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Dodgers utility player Kiké Hernández was not born and raised in Los Angeles.

A North Hollywood mural seemingly inspired by the San Juan, Puerto Rico, native's stance on immigration sweeps shows that doesn't matter.

Hernández began a June 14 Instagram post by stating, "I may not be Born & Raised, but this city adopted me as ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Poised to set a record for player popularity and elite production, the Dodgers had eight finalists for the National League starting lineup in the 2025 All-Star Game as voted by fans.

Voters had 48 hours to choose between the two players at each position who had accumulated the most votes over the last month in what MLB called ...Read more

SEATTLE — Everyone, it seems, is catching on to the greatness of the Seattle Mariners’ newest star.

Cal Raleigh’s breakthrough season reached new heights Wednesday when he was voted in as the American League’s starting catcher for the MLB All-Star Game in Atlanta on July 15.

It’s the first All-Star appearance for the 28-year-old ...Read more

ATLANTA — Ronald Acuña Jr. will be in his own right field for the All-Star Game.

Acuña was voted a starting outfielder for this month’s All-Star Game at Truist Park, MLB announced Wednesday evening. This is Acuña’s fifth All-Star nod, but he says this one will be the most special since it’s being hosted at the only major league ...Read more

BOSTON — It took nearly 21 hours, but the Red Sox eventually got it done.

The Red Sox won Wednesday afternoon’s rain-suspended contest, 5-3, rallying for two runs in the bottom of the eighth to clinch the midweek series against the Cincinnati Reds.

Wilyer Abreu delivered the go-ahead RBI single, and Brayan Bello allowed two runs over five ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Nick Pivetta had to wait a day longer than expected to start against his first major league team.

Then he went about winning his National League-leading ninth game as the Padres held off the Phillies in the first game of a doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon.

The Padres scored half their runs in the 6-4 victory on bases-loaded...Read more

WASHINGTON — If Riley Greene is not named to the American League All-Star team, there needs to be a full-scale investigation.

Greene, after enjoying the most productive month of his career in June, christened July with a pair of three-run home runs to propel the Tigers to a 11-2 romp over the Washington Nationals in the first of two Wednesday...Read more

NEW YORK — Between the dismal performance of the Mets over the weekend in Pittsburgh and two days off that followed, Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Milwaukee Brewers took on more significance than it otherwise might have. The Mets badly needed to recover from an embarrassing weekend of being on the wrong end of blowouts against one of ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — The central Florida sun disappeared behind the clouds early Wednesday afternoon, and for at least a couple of innings, seemed to take any remaining slivers of Rays mojo with it.

The hottest team in baseball once upon a June, the Rays entered Wednesday’s overcast matinee against the A’s trying to snap out of a mini-funk in ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — The Cardinals came to Pittsburgh, stayed for three games, then left. During their stay, their gracious hosts didn’t allow them to score a run.

The Pirates beat the Cardinals, 5-0, on Wednesday afternoon at PNC Park, completing a three-game sweep. They outscored the Cardinals 13-0 in the series and haven’t allowed a run in 31 ...Read more

ATLANTA — The Braves placed right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with a fractured right elbow, the team announced. The move is backdated to June 29.

In a season when seemingly everything has gone wrong for the team, this is the latest blow. Schwellenbach has been outstanding in his first full campaign, ...Read more

The Kansas City Royals entered July with a clean slate.

After a disappointing June, during which KC lost 18 of 26 games, the Royals began the pivotal summer month looking to stack winning days.

And they leaned on their maligned offense to lead the way.

On Tuesday, the Royals earned a 6-3 victory against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — For the Chicago White Sox, it was not a question of if Shane Smith was the best pitcher they had to offer against the Dodgers— he was very likely their best.

Among White Sox pitchers with 10 or more starts, the rookie right-hander had the best strikeout-per-nine inning rate (8.2), as well as the lowest earned-run average (3.38...Read more

PHOENIX — Hours after exercising manager Bob Melvin’s contract option for 2026, the Giants were outslugged by the Arizona Diamondbacks, 8-2, to drop their fourth consecutive game and their seventh of their last eight contests.

Hayden Birdsong’s recent rough patch continued as he allowed four runs (three earned) over four innings, walking ...Read more

ARLINGTON, Texas — Adolis García needed vengeance. The Rangers outfielder’s three-run home run in the 10th inning Monday night was an electric display of baseball showmanship. It just wasn’t enough to get past Baltimore in the series opener.

So, he returned to Globe Life Field on Tuesday night wanting more.

His three-hit, four-RBI night...Read more