Everything in this season so far has been surprising, both good and bad. At this point, it is probably best just to steel one’s self for these kinds of surprises all season. That doesn’t mean it won’t be fun. It just means that surprise should be the default emotion at

NEW YORK -- When Aaron Judge finally received a clean bill of health last month, the Yankees witnessed a higher level of intensity from their slugging outfielder, who remained on the field long after his teammates for additional swings. If he is “on a mission,” as manager Aaron Boone believes,

The Rockies are in first place. The Tigers are playing .500 ball. The Orioles just swept the Rays. Are we having fun yet? There are plenty of teams that were expected to be good that are indeed playing well -- the Astros and A’s are tied for the lead in

PHILADELPHIA -- Joe Girardi looks at the calendar and sees a multitude of challenges ahead for the Phillies. It will not be easy. He knows it. “I don't know how that's going to play out,” he said Saturday. “But it seems the landscape of our game is changing every week

DETROIT -- Tigers reliever Tyler Alexander had one double-digit strikeout game in his entire pro career. He averaged less than a strikeout an inning as a rookie last season. But on a rainy Sunday afternoon at Comerica Park, the left-hander turned a long relief appearance into strikeout history. Alexander struck

Mets outfielder Yoenis Céspedes has elected not to play the rest of the season due to COVID-19-related concerns, general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said on Sunday. The announcement came hours after Céspedes, according to Van Wagenen, left his hotel room in Atlanta without telling team officials. The Mets initially released

Just over a week into the 2020 season, Aaron Whitefield already has plans for the day after it comes to an end. Before he returns home to Brisbane, Australia, the 23-year-old outfielder has one immediate offseason assignment to check off his to-do list -- beat Byron Buxton in a race.

As the Cardinals remain quarantined in their downtown Milwaukee hotel for the third day, the team issued a statement Sunday night saying they are awaiting additional results from COVID-19 testing. The Cardinals don’t anticipate having any updates until Monday, when they are scheduled to leave Milwaukee for Detroit for a

Albert Pujols is nearing Hall of Famer Willie Mays’ career total of 660 home runs, as Pujols crushed a grand slam in a 6-5 loss to the Astros in 11 innings on Sunday to reach 658 career homers. Mays ranks fifth all-time in career homers, trailing only Barry Bonds (762),

NEW YORK -- Seeking to shore up their outfield depth, the Mets on Sunday acquired defensive-minded outfielder Billy Hamilton from the Giants for right-hander Jordan Humphreys. Hamilton, who ranks third among active players with 299 stolen bases, gives the Mets a measure of athleticism and defensive depth behind Brandon Nimmo

CHICAGO -- It was only a few days ago when Cubs star Kris Bryant expressed thanks to Cincinnati's Mike Moustakas for self-reporting feeling ill and entering baseball's COVID-19 protocol before being cleared to rejoin his team. Now, Bryant has practiced what he preached. On Sunday, Bryant was out of Chicago's

Shohei Ohtani felt some discomfort in his right arm in his second start of 2020, against the Astros on Sunday, leading him to undergo an MRI exam, the club announced after its 6-5 loss in 11 innings. Ohtani wasn’t available to speak to the media after the game, and the

CHICAGO -- Javier Báez ran through first base, turned around and saw his teammates pouring out of the Cubs' dugout on Sunday. In previous years, it was a moment that would have soon included a celebratory mob scene at Wrigley Field. Báez had just lined a walk-off single to center

Breaking news from Dave Roberts after watching Clayton Kershaw’s dazzling 2020 debut, and it won’t be well received by the rest of baseball. “We’re finally hitting our stride,” the Dodgers’ manager said after watching the three-time Cy Young and former MVP fire 5 2/3 scoreless innings with six strikeouts and

In the fifth inning of Friday night’s game at Wrigley Field, Pirates outfielder Cole Tucker knocked a single to center and slid into second base for his first steal of the season. As so often happens with Tucker, his batting helmet popped off his head and skittered across the infield

Nick Madrigal found out how quickly baseball fortunes can turn during a 9-2 White Sox victory over the Royals on Sunday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium. That fact holds especially true when possessing the talent of the No. 4 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft. Madrigal started 0-for-8 in his

X-rays were negative on Mookie Betts’ swollen left middle finger, and he’s listed by the Dodgers as day to day after being removed in the sixth inning from Sunday’s 3-0 win over the D-backs. Betts was injured taking an awkward swing in his fifth-inning at-bat against Merrill Kelly, even though

One thing the Reds have confidence in is their starting pitching. It was proven during the second game of a scheduled doubleheader on Sunday afternoon. Right-hander Trevor Bauer was dazzling for seven innings and helped Cincinnati blank the Tigers, 4-0, at Comerica Park. The Reds improved their record to 4-5

You've probably heard of a circus catch or circus play in baseball. It's usually of the bobbling, tumbling, fumbling variety. Juan Lagares is a regular in the category, Chase Utley and Adrian Gonzalez teamed up for a wild one in 2016. But 119 summers ago, during some random game in

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

Angels superstar Mike Trout was placed on the restricted list on Sunday, but he will fly with the club to Seattle on Monday’s off-day and will be in the lineup against the Mariners on Tuesday, general manager Billy Eppler said Sunday. Trout is currently away from the club after his

The Reds are one of the top strikeout pitching staffs in the Major Leagues right now. They're one of four teams, along with the Indians, Rays and D-backs, to have already reached the 100-K mark in 2020. But there's one big way the Cincinnati staff stands out: spin. Reds pitchers

This isn’t a play you see every day -- but that’s baseball. Although maybe in this case, it’s closer to soccer. In the second inning of the Royals’ 9-2 loss to the White Sox on Sunday, the team turned a particularly unusual double play. With Eloy Jiménez batting with one

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Twins’ vaunted offense scored just 10 runs during this four-game series against Cleveland. Minnesota won three of four anyway. In a big statement by the Twins against their primary rivals for the American League Central crown, a pitching-dominated Cleveland team was outplayed at its own game throughout