11:17 AM ET ESPN News Services The Washington Nationals‘ opener against the New York Mets on Thursday night has been postponed because of COVID-19 issues, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred told ESPN’s Mike Greenberg. Manfred said the game will be played on Friday, using the buffer day built into the schedule for Opening Day postponements, but
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12:26 PM ET ESPN News Services The Oakland Athletics will be without closer Trevor Rosenthal to start the season after he was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a shoulder injury. The Athletics also announced that right-hander Mike Fiers had been placed on the 10-day IL. Rosenthal joined the Athletics this offseason on
10:12 AM ET Associated Press BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox have postponed Thursday’s opener against the Baltimore Orioles until Friday because of rain that was forecast to last all day. The Red Sox made the announcement at 9 a.m., about five hours before the scheduled first pitch. After playing last season without fans, the
7:00 AM ET It all begins today. Barring any postponements, for the first time since 1968 every team will begin play on the first day of the MLB season — the way it should be every season. The Los Angeles Dodgers begin their chase for history. They are trying to become the first team since
6:55 AM ET After a 60-game season in 2020, MLB is set to begin a complete 162-game schedule on Thursday with a full slate of 15 matchups, starting in New York with the Yankees hosting the Blue Jays (1:05 ET, ESPN). Can the Los Angeles Dodgers repeat, or will they be challenged by the upstart
11:23 PM ET ESPN News Services The New York Mets and shortstop Francisco Lindor have agreed to a 10-year, $341 million deal, a source told ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Lindor’s deal will be the third-largest based on total value in major league history, trailing only the deals for the Los Angeles Angels‘ Mike Trout ($426.5 million)
9:40 PM ET President Joe Biden, speaking the night before major league ballparks reopen to fans throughout the country, stressed the importance of wearing masks and continuing to abide by health and safety protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19, calling it “a mistake” for the Texas Rangers to open their stadium at full capacity
6:51 PM ET CHICAGO — Despite a halt in negotiations, Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer says he’s “very confident” he’ll be able to sign longtime first baseman Anthony Rizzo to a contract extension before he becomes a free agent in November. Rizzo, 31, indicated on Monday he would rather not negotiate during
4:26 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — Mike Trout, the consensus best player in baseball, ranked just 10th on the list of top-selling jerseys released Wednesday by Major League Baseball, behind even Boston Red Sox utility player Kike Hernandez. Trout had the league’s fourth best-selling uniform two years ago, but the three-time MVP has
5:53 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — As fans return to major league stadiums for openers Thursday amid pandemic attendance restrictions in most places, baseball commissioner Rob Manfred can envision filled ballparks by midseason. Capacity will be limited to about 12% at the season’s start in Boston and Washington. Twelve teams are at 20%,
4:24 PM ET Associated Press A player for the Washington Nationals tested positive for COVID-19, and four teammates and a staff member have been quarantined on the eve of the start of the regular season after contact tracing, general manager Mike Rizzo said Wednesday. The result came from a test conducted Monday, while the Nationals
3:34 PM ET The Toronto Blue Jays‘ big-money addition to the lineup will begin the season on the shelf. Manager Charlie Montoyo said Wednesday that outfielder George Springer will start the season on the injured list with a Grade 2 oblique strain. Montoyo added that Springer’s most recent MRI showed improvement, and that they expect
1:44 PM ET Associated Press KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Oft-injured Royals shortstop Adalberto Mondesi will begin the season on the injured list with a right oblique strain, leaving Kansas City without one of its most exciting players when it opens the season against the Texas Rangers on Thursday. Mondesi was put on the injured list
2:26 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — Umpire Angel Hernandez lost his lawsuit against Major League Baseball alleging racial discrimination. The Cuba-born Hernandez sued in 2017 in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati, with the case later moved to New York. Hired as a big league umpire in 1993, he alleged he was discriminated against
1:23 PM ET Associated Press CLEVELAND — While moving forward with a plan to change their name, the Indians said they will not permit fans inside Progressive Field wearing Native American headdresses or face paint. The team announced the fan dress policy for the 2021 season on Wednesday in advance of Monday’s home opener against
11:00 AM ET Associated Press MIAMI — Marlins Park will be renamed LoanDepot Park in a multiyear naming rights agreement announced Wednesday by the Miami Marlins. The deal provides additional revenue for the Marlins, who have operated with budget constraints and a small payroll for most of their history. They have not previously had a
9:21 AM ET As the New York Mets‘ contract negotiations with Francisco Lindor approach their Opening Day deadline, one of Lindor’s teammates is going to bat for the star shortstop. “I hope they pay him $400 million,” Mets first baseman Pete Alonso told reporters Tuesday. “He’s worth every penny.” The Mets were widely expected to
8:32 AM ET Associated Press CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Police are asking “Where’s Looie?” after a minor league baseball team in Tennessee reported its team mascot was stolen from its ballpark. The Chattanooga Lookouts told authorities that the costume of its mascot, Looie, was stolen from an office at AT&T Field on Tuesday, according to a