ATLANTA — The Baltimore Orioles and Atlanta Braves entered this weekend’s series as near-mirror images of one another.

When the season began, both teams had World Series aspirations anchored by talented, mostly homegrown lineups. Injuries and underperformance have caused them to play well below expectations, placing them outside the playoff...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Bryson Stott hit the home run that put the Phillies ahead in the eighth inning Sunday. But it wasn’t for another few minutes that the crowd stood, clapped and chanted.

“Let’s go, Wheeler!”

It began after Zack Wheeler ascended the dugout steps and trotted back to the mound for the ninth inning. And it kept going, right ...Read more

CLEVELAND — The Detroit Tigers swept the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field this weekend.

They won the first two games despite scoring just three runs. They won the finale Sunday despite having one hit through nine innings and being one strike away from defeat.

Trey Sweeney, whose batting average is sinking ever close to the .200 mark,...Read more

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – It was touch and go there for a while, but the San Francisco Giants on Saturday night once again looked like a playoff-caliber team.

Matt Chapman shined in his return to the lineup, Willy Adames had his most productive night of the season, and Logan Webb did not disappoint his many friends and family members in ...Read more

DENVER — Head bowed, hands on his knees, German Marquez struck a pose befitting the Colorado Rockies’ season.

The right-hander had just served up a two-run homer to Chicago second baseman Lenyn Sosa, putting the Rockies in a 5-2 hole in the second inning. When Marquez’s night was done after six innings, the hole was 6-2.

Given the ...Read more

SEATTLE — The pitch was perfect. The punctuation was, too.

Luis Castillo, on a 3-2 pitch, painted a 96.8-mph fastball on the outer edge to strike out Oneil Cruz looking to end the top of the seventh inning Saturday night.

Castillo then spun around the mound, holding a pose for a beat, and then walked backward for several steps as he flashed ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — For some reason, Stephen Kolek can’t get comfortable at home. But what ails the San Diego Padres’ offense has been obvious for quite a bit:

Their stars aren’t producing like stars.

At least not simultaneously.

Kolek’s curious Petco Park woes continued, the Padres fell quiet for too long after Jake Cronenworth’s second-...Read more

NEW YORK — Aaron Judge said he was fine after an across-the-field throw struck him in the face, leaving the Yankees captain with a cut next to his right eye.

The scare occurred after the final out of the fifth inning in Saturday’s 12-6 loss to the Mets at Citi Field as Yankees defenders tossed the ball amongst each other on the way to the ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers’ starting pitcher had no problems on Saturday afternoon.

It was the bulk guy who followed him who ran into issues.

In a 6-4 loss to the Houston Astros at Dodger Stadium, Shohei Ohtani showed more encouraging signs as a pitcher, throwing two scoreless innings that included a double-play in the first and a strikeout...Read more

CHICAGO — On a sweltering morning at Wrigley Field, hours before the Chicago Cubs’ 8-6 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, the daily pregame meeting of ushers and security guards was interrupted by a guest speaker who needed no introduction.

Pete Crow-Armstrong ambled up to the mic and held it like he was giving a toast at his best friend’s ...Read more

CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs are fortunate to have the All-Star break coming up as they try to deal with the loss of starter Jameson Taillon to a right calf strain.

Manager Craig Counsell used Drew Pomeranz as the opener Saturday in an 8-6 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals and will have only one more outing to fill before the break.

Counsell ...Read more