BALTIMORE -- Asked to explain their success against the Orioles to this early checkpoint, Gleyber Torres and Gary Sánchez both shuffled and smiled, offering responses that included "luck" and "playing hard." They left out the fact that they are both excellent hitters, and that -- to put things kindly --

At a time when members of baseball’s next generation of stars seem to be arriving every day or two, there’s some clarity in what could eventually be tight Rookie of the Year Award races in both leagues: Padres right-hander Chris Paddack and Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe are clear frontrunners

NEW YORK -- Adam Eaton called Mets third baseman Todd Frazier “very childish” after the two players had to be separated from one another following an on-field incident during the Mets’ 5-3 victory over the Nationals on Monday night at Citi Field. Eaton said he heard Frazier yelling at him

CHICAGO -- The last time Phillies starter Jake Arrieta walked off the mound at Wrigley Field, he was exiting a Game 4 win in the 2017 National League Championship Series. Arrieta had faced 29 of baseball's 30 teams prior to Monday night. The only ballclub he hadn't faced? The same

This pre-Memorial Day juncture is way too early for major baseball trade speculation. Or is it? Remember, the summer swap season has been whittled down to a single Trade Deadline this year. July 31 is the last day to make an impact acquisition. No more of those August waiver shenanigans

SAN FRANCISCO -- Mike Soroka stuck with his standard act Monday night as his traveling show visited Oracle Park. He delivered yet another low-run, low-hit performance to pace the Braves to a 4-1 victory over the Giants. See Soroka befuddle all who dare step into the batter’s box! Watch him

ANAHEIM -- The Angels suffered a tough 3-1 loss to the Twins on Monday, but it was the potential loss of designated hitter Shohei Ohtani and shortstop Andrelton Simmons to injury that cast a dark cloud at Angel Stadium. In a scary eighth inning, the Angels saw both Ohtani and

NEW YORK -- Yoenis Céspedes' chances of returning in 2019, already slim, have reached something close to zero. The outfielder suffered multiple fractures in his right ankle during an accident Saturday night on his ranch in Florida, and he is likely to miss the rest of the season. Cespedes suffered

TAMPA, Fla. -- For the first time in what seemed like forever, Giancarlo Stanton was back in the game. Smaller stage? Sure, but no way the injured Yankees outfielder was complaining on Monday. “It was good,” said Stanton, who homered in his return to action, a six-inning stint for the

HOUSTON -- When they’re struggling to get hits, baseball players will resort to almost anything. So when Astros designated hitter Tyler White saw Cubs star Kris Bryant’s recent switch to an axe handle bat had helped him take off, White borrowed one from teammate Josh Reddick and tried it out

NEW YORK -- As Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen took the podium Monday, most of the highest-ranking members of the Mets’ baseball operations hierarchy -- chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon, multiple assistant GMs, and more -- filed into the team’s press conference room behind him. Manager Mickey Callaway stood

ARLINGTON -- Rangers starter Mike Minor was excellent in setting a club record for consecutive scoreless innings at home, and the offense once again worked over the Mariners’ pitching. But there was also some intrigue at the end of a 10-9 victory on Monday night at Globe Life Park. Minor’s

SAN DIEGO -- The Padres' offense has its flaws. So does the rotation. But the Padres' offense has Franmil Reyes, and the rotation has Chris Paddack, and sometimes that’s good enough. On Monday night, it was. Paddack worked six excellent frames to bounce back from his first poor start as

CLEVELAND -- It wasn’t too long ago that the A’s were one of the worst road teams in baseball. After getting swept over two games in Seattle last week, they had racked up a Majors-leading 15 losses away from home. It was a deep hole they dug themselves into, but

The Astros acquired right-hander Ryan Pressly from the Twins on July 27, 2018, looking to bolster their bullpen for the stretch run. In his Houston debut, Pressly allowed a home run to the very first batter he faced, Texas’ Rougned Odor. It’s fair to say that did not set the

TORONTO -- David Price was back in his comfort zone Monday afternoon at Rogers Centre as he returned from the injured list to throw five strong innings and earn a 12-2 victory over the Blue Jays. Price threw just 67 pitches, allowing two unearned runs on three hits while striking

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Braves hope they gained stability as well as talent for their bullpen Monday by acquiring right-hander Anthony Swarzak from the Seattle Mariners for right-hander Arodys Vizcaino and left-hander Jesse Biddle. With Vizcaino sidelined for the season following shoulder surgery last month, the Braves sought a steadying

The D-backs' Triple-A affiliate erupted for 25 runs on Monday in a game that you'd have to see to believe, spearheaded by monster performances from Yasmany Tomás, Kevin Cron and Matt Szczur. Tomas homered four times. Cron -- the Minor League leader in home runs -- went deep twice. Szczur

Right-hander Carter Stewart, who was selected out of high school by the Braves as the No. 8 overall pick in the 2018 Draft but did not sign, has reached an agreement on a contract with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of the Japanese Pacific League, according to MLB Network insider Ken

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Matthew Boyd stood in front of the gathering at his charity fundraiser on Monday morning at Topgolf, his little daughter, Meira, in one arm, a microphone in the other. He thanked the multitudes who bought tickets for an evening of golf, food and fun, as well

ANAHEIM -- Lefty Andrew Heaney made an impressive first rehab start with Triple-A Salt Lake on Monday night, throwing 4 1/3 scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts. Heaney, on the 10-day injured list with left elbow inflammation suffered during Spring Training, allowed two hits and a walk while throwing 73 pitches,

HOUSTON -- The Astros got good news on the injury front across the board Monday concerning outfielder George Springer, second baseman José Altuve and infielder Aledmys Díaz. Altuve, who’s on the injured list with a strained left hamstring, took batting practice on the field and took ground balls Monday for

BALTIMORE -- Didi Gregorius has hit his significant checkpoints more quickly than expected as he recovers from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, a trend that continued on Monday, when the shortstop played five innings in an extended spring game at the Yankees' complex in Tampa, Fla. With managing