Put on the espresso because Italy is coming! For the first time in tournament history, the Azzurri are in the semifinals, its team of espresso-shot-taking, cheek-kissing home run hitters blasting its way to Miami. Italy has hit the second-most home runs in the tournament behind the Dominican Republic, with Vinnie

MIAMI -- The delicate balance between going for the gold and getting ready for the regular season impacted Team USA’s pitching plans for the World Baseball Classic finals. And it will be fascinating to watch how manager Mark DeRosa and the Americans try to piece together the 27 outs that

MIAMI -- When MLB instituted its current postseason format in 2022, it did away with coin flips that determined home-field advantage in October, because a new, mathematical tiebreaker system was instituted. But lovers of the coin toss will be pleased to know it can still happen in the World Baseball

A .532 OPS in your rookie season tends to lower expectations, even for one of baseball’s top prospects. But Jac Caglianone has reset them in a hurry this spring. Blasting three balls over 115 mph -- including one at 120.2 mph -- in less than a week will do that.

Team Italy manager Francisco Cervelli is making a change to his pitching plans for tonight's World Baseball Classic semifinal matchup against Venezuela (8 ET on FS1): Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola will get the start instead of previously announced starter Michael Lorenzen.

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Dodgers weren't expecting to welcome Shohei Ohtani back to the fold quite this soon. Ohtani, along with newly anointed Opening Day starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto, was away from Dodgers camp for most of Spring Training while playing for Samurai Japan in the World Baseball Classic. Japan had

MIAMI – The game met the hype. And the Americans met the moment. In a semifinals matchup rife with many of baseball’s biggest names and a game rife with the kind of tension that makes the sport great, Team USA outlasted the Dominican Republic, 2-1, on Sunday night at loanDepot

MIAMI -- It was a team seemingly on course with destiny: 13 years after its lone World Baseball Classic title, the Dominican Republic had stormed through its first five games, battering any opponent that stood in its way. It was leading the tournament in home runs, runs scored and pitching

PEORIA, Ariz. -- When Team USA edged the Dominican Republic in a thrilling 2-1 victory in their World Baseball Classic semifinal contest on Sunday night, Padres manager Craig Stammen was certainly watching like much of the baseball world. But it wasn’t easy for the first-year skipper to take in. Because

Spring Training is arguably the best time for a player to make a good impression on his team. When a hitter or pitcher turns heads in the lead-up to Opening Day, it can set the tone for his entire season, offer a preview of what's to come, and make for

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Another magical moment by Roman Anthony in the World Baseball Classic -- this one a go-ahead solo shot that led Team USA to a thrilling 2-1 victory over Team Dominican Republic in the semifinals on Sunday night -- left his teammates at Red Sox camp in

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- He got the final outs of the Dodgers' successful title defense, and he'll be the first to take the ball as the team opens its bid for a three-peat. Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start on Opening Day for the second straight year, manager Dave Roberts announced on Monday.

MIAMI -- When the United States assembled its super team for this World Baseball Classic, the selections were skewed toward established stars not just because of their talent but because of the guaranteed contracts that make them more prone to participate.

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Joe Musgrove will “most likely” begin the regular season on the injured list. That’s what Padres manager Craig Stammen said prior to the club’s Cactus League game against the Giants on Monday afternoon at Peoria Sports Complex.

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Kevin McGonigle was getting ready to head to the Tigers clubhouse bathroom to wash his face Monday morning when he was stopped for a quick interview. As he was explaining his mindset heading into the final week of Spring Training and his approach to the barrage of

Baseball is a game of inches, and that was evident throughout Team USA’s thrilling 2-1 win over the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic semifinals on Sunday night in Miami. Yes, the classic contest ended with a disputed called third strike against Dominican Republic shortstop Geraldo Perdomo -- but

Team USA's surplus of elite infielders would leave any manager sick with envy -- in theory. In practice, USA manager Mark DeRosa has to leave a top-tier player on the bench every day, and more often than not, the odd man out has been Gunnar Henderson, crowded out by another

MIAMI -- After Paul Skenes exited Sunday’s World Baseball Classic semifinal against the Dominican Republic, he found himself in a conversation with Clayton Kershaw and posed a question to the Dodgers legend. Skenes asked where the WBC -- an incredible event where this particular game packed 36,337 inside a raucous

NORTH PORT, Fla. – Ha-Seong Kim wasn’t willing to confirm he’s aiming to join Atlanta’s lineup during the first half of May. But the Braves shortstop arrived at Spring Training on Monday looking to further distance himself from the patch of ice that led to surgery. “I’m just trying to

MIAMI – In the bottom of the fourth inning, Dominican Republic center fielder Julio Rodríguez was drilled in the hand by a Paul Skenes fastball. A half-inning later and any lingering pain had surely disappeared. With one out in the top of the fifth inning of the World Baseball Classic

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GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Brewers fans in attendance for Opening Day at American Family Field will get an exclusive first look at “Ueck,” a new documentary celebrating the life and legacy of late broadcaster Bob Uecker, the club announced Monday. Fans will be encouraged to remain in their seats immediately following

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Robbie Ray said he felt like he was in a flow state on the mound on Sunday, and it showed. The veteran left-hander fired five perfect innings to help the Giants come within one out of a combined perfect game in a 7-1 win over the Brewers