3:31 PM ET Associated Press Jon Lester could tell something wasn’t right. Long known for taking the ball whenever it was his turn to pitch, no matter what — never making fewer than 31 starts in any of the past 12 full Major League Baseball seasons — Lester seemed, to use his phrase, “a little
MLB
2:52 PM ET Associated Press A drone disinfectant program will be used to clean Marlins Park in Miami this season. Licensed pilots will use FAA-approved drone technology in the ballpark to apply a formula to large open areas that will inactivate pathogens including coronavirus, the Marlins said. The program is part of a new multiyear
2:54 PM ET Associated Press ARLINGTON, Texas — – The Texas Rangers could have a full house for their home opener next month after debuting their new 40,518-seat stadium without fans in the stands for their games last season. If that happens, the Rangers could be the first team in Major League Baseball or any
2:31 PM ET Associated Press HOUSTON — -The Houston Astros‘ top prospect, right-hander Forrest Whitley, will have Tommy John surgery, manager Dusty Baker said Wednesday. Whitley was diagnosed with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow Sunday after experiencing discomfort during a batting practice session last week. He received a second opinion before
1:30 PM ET Associated Press GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto has been put on the injured list for an indefinite period at spring training, a team spokesperson said Wednesday. The team released no details of Votto’s situation or how long he is expected to be sidelined. Votto, 36, has played in
7:00 AM ET The February 24, 1997 issue of Sports Illustrated featured the young smiling faces of Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez on the cover, with the billing that the pair “head up the finest group of shortstops since World War II.” The article highlighted an up-and-coming young class that included Jeter, Rodriguez, Nomar Garciaparra
9:35 PM ET Associated Press Stephen Strasburg pronounced his fastball command better than it was before his carpal tunnel surgery and said his first game action in nearly seven full months essentially was the same as any other Grapefruit League debut after throwing 1 2/3 innings Tuesday night against the Houston Astros. “It didn’t really
2:57 PM ET Associated Press The Texas Rangers will be without one of their top relievers to start the season after hard-throwing Jonathan Hernandez was shut down from pitching for at least four weeks because of a ligament sprain in his right elbow. Rangers general manager Chris Young said Tuesday that an MRI revealed a
2:48 PM ET Associated Press HOUSTON — Jake Odorizzi decided to fashion his game like Zack Greinke’s when he was still in high school. Now entering his 10th season in the majors, the right-hander has become teammates with the man he’s looked up to for so long after Odorizzi signed with the Houston Astros. “I’m
10:53 AM ET Associated Press CLEVELAND — Third baseman José Ramírez and slugger Franmil Reyes have rejoined the team after being banned for breaking COVID-19 protocols. The players tested negative for the virus Tuesday and were back at the team’s facility in Goodyear, Arizona. They are scheduled to play in Wednesday’s exhibition against the Los
11:07 AM ET Associated Press TAMPA, Fla. — New York Yankees left-hander Zack Britton is not throwing because of a sore pitching elbow, was to be examined by a doctor on Tuesday and could miss the start of the season. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Britton’s ulnar collateral ligament was not suspected of being hurt,
7:00 AM ET Alden Gonzalez Close ESPN Staff Writer Joined ESPN in 2016 to cover the Los Angeles Rams Previously covered the Angels for MLB.com Jesse Rogers Close ESPN Staff Writer Jesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com. As Opening Day of the 2021 MLB season approaches, fans across the
8:21 PM ET Associated Press PHILADELPHIA — Rheal Cormier, the durable left-hander who spent 16 seasons in the majors and remarkably pitched in the Olympics before and after his time in the big leagues, died Monday. He was 53. The Philadelphia Phillies said Cormier died of cancer at his home in New Brunswick, Canada. Cormier
7:09 PM ET GLENDALE, Ariz. — David Price watched the 2020 season as a spectator and was often struck by the talent throughout the Los Angeles Dodgers’ starting rotation. When the offseason progressed and word began to spread that his team might ultimately add Trevor Bauer, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, Price
2:20 PM ET Associated Press Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo declined to specify Monday why Jeremy Jeffress was released from a minor league contract by the team, saying only that he considered it an “employment issue” and acknowledging it was not related to the reliever’s baseball performance. “We’re just going to stand by the
1:01 PM ET Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, the son of a Black father and a Japanese mother, is speaking out about the rise of violence against Asian Americans in the United States. “Over the past year, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of hate crimes against Asian Americans and the
11:00 AM ET CHICAGO — Chicago is lifting some coronavirus restrictions in time for MLB’s Opening Day, allowing fans to attend games at Wrigley Field and Guaranteed Rate Field for the first time in more than a year. The rules, announced Monday by Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration, take effect April 1, Opening Day for the
7:00 AM ET Last season’s 16-team MLB playoffs format with a best-of-three first round drew mixed reviews. Fans seemed to like the bracket-style setup and the elimination of the one-game wild-card matchup, but others feared it was a sign of things to come with an expanded playoffs devaluing the regular season. While an expanded postseason