MIAMI -- We’re in the knockout stages now: Any loss from here on out means the end of the tournament and a trip back home.

HOUSTON -- The afternoon start time at Daikin Park was conducive to a new, beautifully bizarre reality out in Italy. There, the locals could gather in the evening hours Saturday and converse not just about “calcio,” or soccer, while sipping on their espressos and digestivi but also lock in on

Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs. Ronald Acuña Jr: This is the platonic ideal of the World Baseball Classic. With a nearly packed crowd at Miami’s loanDepot park, the game started with the reigning World Series MVP Award winner taking on the 2023 NL MVP Award winner, each playing with their country’s name

It's the matchup everyone's been waiting for at the World Baseball Classic, the tournament's unstoppable force meeting its immovable object: Paul Skenes vs. the Dominican Republic lineup. "It’s going to be electric," United States pitcher Logan Webb said. "I expect it to be one of the best games of all

The Cubs' Seiya Suzuki exited the World Baseball Classic quarterfinal matchup against Venezuela with right knee discomfort, walking off the field limping following a stolen-base attempt in the first inning on Saturday at loanDepot park. He will continue to be evaluated. After drawing a walk to get on base, Suzuki

In the pages of the New York Times in the spring of 2005, a just-announced tournament to be known as the “World Baseball Classic” was being touted for one particular potential pairing. “Baseball’s first world cup will probably be decided,” David Leonhardt wrote, “by a matchup between one of the

The Dominican Republic has thoroughly dominated the World Baseball Classic, turning each contest into less of a game than a celebration of Dominican baseball and spirit. The team has smashed a tournament-best 14 home runs, hitters launching their bats with a joyous expulsion as the rest of the team spills

Cal Raleigh is certainly consistent. Four days after Team USA’s catcher declined to shake hands with Team Mexico outfielder Randy Arozarena at the World Baseball Classic -- leading to some choice words postgame -- a similar situation played out, featuring Raleigh and a different Mariners teammate. During the first inning

Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman will take Clayton Kershaw's place on Team USA's World Baseball Classic roster. The righty was added to the roster after the team's quarterfinal win over Canada on Friday night. Kershaw, who retired after last season, came out of retirement to participate in the Classic but

It’s the electric, bat-flipping brilliance of the Dominican Republic’s loaded lineup versus the electric, bat-defying brilliance of Paul Skenes’ right arm. It’s the intensity of Team USA, relishing in the bonding experience but also fully aware of the gold-or-bust stakes, versus the showmanship and looseness of a Dominican Republic club

HOUSTON – Team USA has definitely “punched its ticket” this time. And it’s a ticket to a real heavyweight bout. After a tumultuous couple of days emanating from a regrettable MLB Network interview segment for manager Mark DeRosa and a lamentable loss to upstart Italy, the American dream in this

MIAMI -- Vlad Jr. went airborne. Juan Soto went swimming. Austin Wells went deep off the facing of the second deck. And the Dominican Republic went on to the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic. The D.R. rolled past Korea, 10-0, in a seven-inning, run-rule shortened game in the opening

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Randy Arozarena returned to Mariners camp on Saturday morning ready to turn the page towards the regular season. He also preferred not speaking further on the exchange with Cal Raleigh at the World Baseball Classic, declining interview requests at the Peoria Sports Complex and instead issuing a

Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes set the bar high on the pitching side in 2025. Skubal became the first pitcher since Pedro Martinez to repeat as the American League Cy Young Award winner, while Skenes followed up an incredible rookie season with a National League Cy Young crown. While there

CLEARWATER, Fla. – The few Phillies fans lucky enough to be at BayCare Ballpark on Saturday morning watched Zack Wheeler take his latest step toward his return to the rotation. Wheeler threw a live batting practice session.

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Ask most starting pitchers, and they’ll say they don’t think about who’s starting on the mound for the opposing team. They don’t have to pitch to the guy, or worry about hitting him, so they’ll focus on their own game. But when Tarik Skubal realized earlier in

PHOENIX – If Jacob Misiorowski gets the nod for the Brewers to start Opening Day against the White Sox, he would be one of the greenest pitchers in franchise history to get that honor. He would also be one of the most electric. For the record: the Brewers have made

MESA, Ariz. -- You never want to peak too early, but with a little over a week of Spring Training left, it’s hard to imagine Shea Langeliers ever being more locked in than he was on Saturday afternoon. One day after the A’s offense exploded for four home runs in

Stay up-to-date with all the latest news on injured players across Major League Baseball.

TAMPA, Fla. -- A few hours before a sold-out crowd watched Max Fried’s latest Opening Day tuneup in New York's 6-4 loss to the Phillies on Saturday afternoon at George M. Steinbrenner Field, many of those same fans piled into the bleachers on the other side of the Yankees’ complex

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- At the core of the game of baseball, having fun is what the sport is all about. Nobody in this year’s World Baseball Classic may be having as much fun as Team Dominican Republic. Although there were several Red Sox players showing their stuff for various

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Not every battle needs a bad guy. This is especially true in Pirates camp this spring, as Nick Gonzales works to strengthen his grip on the starting shortstop role while baseball’s No. 1 prospect, Konnor Griffin, aims to loosen it.

This story was excerpted from Jake Rill's Orioles Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.