Identifying future closers isn't easy. Mariano Rivera, baseball's all-time saves leader and only unanimous Hall of Famer, began his pro career as a starter. So did Edwin Diaz and Wade Davis, the league leaders in saves a year ago, and many other pitchers who are nailing down the ninth inning

MILWAUKEE -- How loaded is the Dodgers’ starting rotation if there isn’t room for Julio Urias? Urias is headed to the bullpen with the return of Hyun-Jin Ryu from the injured list on Saturday, even though Urias didn't allow a hit until the fifth inning Thursday night in the Dodgers’

SAN DIEGO -- The Reds enjoyed a night of firsts Thursday at Petco Park. First baseman Joey Votto connected for his first career leadoff home run, Tucker Barnhart hit his first home run from the No. 9 spot of the lineup and Tanner Roark earned his first win with the

MINNEAPOLIS -- Blue Jays fans will have to wait at least a few more days before Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is called up to make his Major League debut. Toronto's fan base has been waiting on pins and needles for news of Guerrero's imminent arrival. There was some speculation it might

ANAHEIM -- This time, Ryon Healy left nothing to chance. After having a home run reversed by replay a day earlier, the big third baseman launched a pair of no-doubt long balls and Jay Bruce delivered the go-ahead RBI single in the top of the ninth as the Mariners snapped

MILWAUKEE -- Down by three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning Thursday night, Milwaukee’s Hernan Perez tried to score from second base on Lorenzo Cain’s two-out single. Alex Verdugo believes he might have convinced the Brewers he doesn’t have a typical left fielder’s throwing arm, using a laser

Will Benson, known for his incredible raw power, made history on Thursday night, becoming the first player in Class A Lake County history to homer four times in one night. Benson homered in each of his first four at-bats and finished 4-for-5 with eight RBIs in a 12-6 win over

DENVER -- Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado can turn a bad hop into a really sweet one. In the fourth inning of Colorado's 6-2 win over the Phillies on Thursday night at Coors Field, Rhys Hoskins lashed a Kyle Freeland pitch for a two-hopper toward the third-base line. The second

ANAHEIM -- Shohei Ohtani will take another step in his rehab from Oct. 1 Tommy John surgery, as he will hit on the field with his teammates before Friday’s game against the Mariners. Ohtani has been hitting on the field since March 26 and has been facing fastballs and curveballs

As rumors continue to swirl around Dallas Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel, it’s becoming clear that the two All-Star free agents will sign with teams at some point. And once they sign, the question quickly becomes: How soon will we see them pitching in a Major League game? This question was

Think MLB needs a universal DH? Don't tell the Brewers. The Brewers' pitching staff is off to an unbelievable start to the season -- at the plate. Through Milwaukee's first 20 games of 2019, Brewers pitchers are hitting, well, like the opposite of a pitcher. As a unit, they have

DALLAS -- Pedro Sierra was one of the last of the Negro Leaguers, a pitcher for the Indianapolis Clowns in the 1950s. Sierra was hoping to follow in the footsteps of Jackie Robinson and others, but the chance never came. However … “If I had the opportunity to do it

MILWAUKEE -- Cody Bellinger held the National League home run lead for a couple of innings on Thursday night, until Christian Yelich tied up the leaderboard again, as the two sluggers got off to a good start in what could be their own Home Run Derby through the weekend series.

MILWAUKEE -- Prior to Thursday night's National League Championship Series rematch, the NL's home run leaders paused for a quick chat and a friendly handshake. Then they went to work. Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich and Dodgers slugger Cody Bellinger began the day tied for the league lead with nine home

NEW YORK -- Aaron Judge's plate appearances are still the ones that ease traffic at the concession stands and stadium lavatories, but the Yankees right fielder's defense has been just as worthy of attention so far this year. Judge contributed another stellar defensive play in the fifth inning of the

WASHINGTON -- Normally when a team inks a player to a contract as lucrative as the six-year, $140 million deal the Nationals awarded to left-hander Patrick Corbin this winter, that player enters the season as the center of attention. Yet Corbin has managed to fly under the radar at the

Closer Craig Kimbrel has compiled an impressive resume during his nine seasons in the big leagues, recording a microscopic 1.91 ERA with a 0.92 WHIP, 333 saves and a 14.7 K/9 rate. Below you will find a list of the latest news and rumors surrounding the right-hander, who remains unsigned.

DENVER -- Ryan McMahon didn’t believe in single-handed hitting drills -- “I was like, ‘You’re never going to swing like that.'” But while sitting out 10 games with a left elbow sprain, he was bored enough to hit off a tee using only his right arm. McMahon homered twice on

NEW YORK -- One evening after their clubhouse was transformed into the city’s most exclusive nightclub, the Yankees’ icy bats ensured that the fog machine and strobe lights remained unplugged. Domingo Germán permitted a pair of early homers, and the bats were unable to respond in Thursday’s 6-1 loss to

ST. PETERSBURG -- Brandon Hyde called it a “give you a heart attack kind of game.” He also called it a “character win.” Those definitions, at this point, are one in the same for the young Orioles, who fought back after blowing a three-run lead to salvage Thursday’s 6-5 series

BOSTON -- Dustin Pedroia's latest setback with his problematic left knee landed him on the 10-day injured list, effective Thursday. To fill Pedroia's spot on the roster, the Red Sox will recall righty Marcus Walden from Triple-A Pawtucket prior to Friday's game against the Rays. Pedroia, 35, exited Wednesday's game

ST. PETERSBURG -- With the Rays down 5-4 in the ninth inning, Avisaíl García stepped up to the plate and hit a game-tying home run off Orioles reliever Mychal Givens that literally never came down. While Garcia’s home run wasn’t enough to help the Rays win Thursday, as the Orioles

NEW YORK -- Right-hander Homer Bailey showed on Thursday night that he could be a candidate for American League Comeback Player of the Year. He pitched six solid innings and helped the Royals defeat the Yankees, 6-1, at Yankee Stadium. The Royals have won five of their last seven games