Lack of command torments Phillies pitchers as skid hits 7
CHICAGO – If there was ever a time where it seemed like the Phillies’ bad luck would finally turn, Tuesday night at Wrigley Field was it. Struggling left-hander Jesús Luzardo dealt with control issues throughout Philadelphia’s bout with the Cubs, but he still held them to just one earned run
'I'm not worried about the hole': Dombrowski still confident in Phils
CHICAGO – As Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski passed by Rate Field on his way to join his club on the north side of Chicago, he couldn’t help but recall his 1983 season as a member of the White Sox front office. That club, Dombrowski noted, opened the
Wheeler to return Saturday to bolster Phillies' struggling rotation
CHICAGO – A Phillies club in dire need of a jolt is due to receive one this weekend in Atlanta. Ace starter Zack Wheeler, fresh off his fifth rehab outing as he makes his way back from the thoracic outlet decompression surgery he underwent back in September, will officially make
Snakebitten Phils sunk by Nola's rough stretch, bad luck with bats
CHICAGO -- Having just faced the Cubs a week ago, Phillies manager Rob Thomson noted one key way to ensure his club’s struggles against Chicago weren’t replicated once again in Monday’s series opener at Wrigley Field. “We’ve got to stay away from long innings here,” Thomson said. “We ran into
Taiwanese fans go out of their way to thank Fairchild for epic Classic … literally
Stuart Fairchild is quick to admit his return to Spring Training after representing Team Chinese Taipei in the 2026 World Baseball Classic was a bit of a culture shock. Sure, transitioning from the high-stakes at-bats of an international tournament to the “spring stats don’t matter” mentality at Guardians camp would
Attempt to take back ABS challenge denied -- but works out anyway
CHICAGO -- There are things everyone is learning as they make their way through MLB’s first season utilizing ABS challenges -- you’re bound to see something new during a game as a result. Take Friday at Wrigley Field for example.
Pirates wait out dominant Imanaga to defeat Cubs in series opener
CHICAGO -- The Pirates are well aware of their struggles against Shota Imanaga. The Cubs’ southpaw entered Friday having held them in check in four career starts, allowing just one earned run over 26 innings and even leading a combined no-hitter against them on Sept. 4, 2024.
Boyd baffles Angels -- and his own teammates -- in 10-K gem
CHICAGO – The Cubs’ series against the Angels opened with perfect baseball weather and ended with the polar opposite, pun slightly intended. After both teams enjoyed the summer-like warmth of Monday’s opener, Wednesday’s game-time temp came in at 39 degrees. Add in the 21 mph gusts that kept every flag
‘This is your team’: Pasquantino proudly carrying Italy’s Classic torch
Back when he was making his way through the Royals’ Minor League system, Vinnie Pasquantino began noticing a common trend. “People always tried to give me nicknames,” he told MLB.com, “so they didn't have to say ‘Pasquantino.’”
Revamped Team Italy ready to make noise in '26 Classic
The past year of Francisco Cervelli’s life is what some would consider a dream. The former Yankees catcher became the manager for the Italian national team last January, and he has spent the time since driving his truck throughout the country, exploring the land where his father was born while
Fresh off international glory, Chinese Taipei riding momentum into Classic
The last time Hao-Jin Tseng was in the World Baseball Classic, he was serving as the hitting coach for Team Chinese Taipei in 2023. Three years later, he’ll be back on that same international stage, this time as the club’s manager. With this transition to a bigger role, opponents may
PCA's gutsy bunt provides spark in Cubs' walk-off win
CHICAGO -- Pete Crow-Armstrong's frustrations had grown visibly apparent Monday afternoon at Wrigley Field. Through five innings of the Cubs’ series opener against the Braves, the All-Star center fielder had a groundout and a flyout, and could be heard angrily screaming after the latter. “I think there’s natural frustration for
Cubs send Caissie back to Triple-A for playing time; Alcántara recalled
CHICAGO -- The Cubs kicked off the month of September by letting one of their top prospects catch his breath in Triple-A while giving another an extended look in the bigs. Before Monday's series opener against the Braves, Chicago optioned its top prospect, Owen Caissie, back to Triple-A Iowa. In
With command off, Abbott can't replicate prior success vs. Cubs
CHICAGO -- With Andrew Abbott on the mound Wednesday at Wrigley Field, odds certainly seemed to favor the Reds’ ability to complete a pivotal sweep over the Cubs. Cincinnati had just grinded out two hard-fought wins, and was now turning to an All-Star southpaw who'd already faced Chicago twice earlier
Littell joins exclusive club with stellar Cincy debut vs. Cubs
CHICAGO – From Cincinnati's perspective, what more could you have possibly asked from the debut of starter Zack Littell? The Reds badly needed a lengthy outing vs. the Cubs Tuesday at Wrigley Field after grinding through back-to-back bullpen days. What they got from the hurler they acquired from the Rays
Lodolo (blister) lands on IL, hopeful for minimum stay
CHICAGO -- The Reds placed left-hander Nick Lodolo on the 15-day injured list with a blister on his left index finger on Tuesday, one day after the injury forced him to exit Cincinnati's 3-2 win over the Cubs after just 1 2/3 innings. The Reds recalled right-hander Yosver Zulueta from
Lodolo exits early with left index finger blister; IL stint possible
CHICAGO – After Nick Lodolo's July 29 start against the Dodgers, both he and manager Terry Francona put less stock in his season-high 11 strikeouts than they did with the fact the oft-injured left-hander had completed his career-high 22nd start of the year. “It’s huge,” Francona said when asked about
Key challenge proves huge as resilient Reds rally at Wrigley
CHICAGO – Wrigley Field was practically shaking on Monday night. Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson appeared to have just singled home the game-tying run in the seventh, sending the crowd into a deafening uproar and erasing a comeback attempt from a Reds team beaten down by the weekend’s grueling travel schedule.
'Relentless' Brewers bats continue surge as NL Central tightens
MILWAUKEE -- In a way, the Brewers’ bout with the Rockies on Friday night at American Family Field aptly summed up their first 81 games of the season.
White Sox, MLB ban fan from Marte incident indefinitely
CHICAGO -- The White Sox on Wednesday confirmed that they have banned the fan at the center of the previous night’s incident with Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte. The incident occurred in the seventh inning of Arizona’s 4-1 win, when Marte became visibly emotional and was consoled on the field
Gallen's frustrating spell rolls on with mistakes against White Sox
CHICAGO -- James McCann trotted to the mound in the first inning Wednesday afternoon to talk things over with a pitcher he just met two days ago. The newly acquired veteran catcher was making his first start with the Diamondbacks in their series finale with the White Sox and was
Thomas, Tawa, Nelson the latest D-backs to step up in another gritty win
CHICAGO -- There's no way around it -- the Diamondbacks have taken on a season's worth of injuries in the span of a few weeks. When looking at the type of players the team has lost in June alone -- star hitters, ace starters, lock-down relievers -- you’d expect the
'I’m going to protect them': Emotional Lovullo comforts Marte
CHICAGO -- The Diamondbacks’ 4-1 win over the White Sox at Rate Field on Tuesday night was marred by an incident where a fan crossed the line with second baseman Ketel Marte.
Carroll to IL with chip fracture in left wrist; McCarthy recalled
CHICAGO – The news had to feel like a case of déjà vu. Just days after placing catcher Gabriel Moreno on the IL when it was revealed his hand contusion was actually a hairline fracture, the D-backs were once again anxiously awaiting MRI results. This time, it was for star
Suárez (hand), Naylor (shoulder) expected to avoid IL after exiting rout early
CHICAGO – It’s not often that a double-digit win that included a scoreless outing from a once-struggling starter represents merely a pleasant bonus. But that essentially sums up how the Diamondbacks felt after Monday's 10-0 series-opening win against the White Sox at Rate Field.