ATLANTA — Charles Fazzino (known as the master of 3D pop art) roams around his MLB exhibit with ease, becoming fascinated with each detail as if he’s not the artist behind them.

There are hand-painted baseballs, edgy baseball bats and posters, among other collectibles at the Cobb Galleria exhibit. It’s the type of art that requires in-...Read more

In a season full of rocky losses, the Rockies’ 4-3, walk-off loss to the Reds on Saturday was one of the rockiest.

The end was hind-end ugly, but what ultimately cost Colorado was its failure to capitalize on prime scoring opportunities. But then, that’s been the Rockies’ way for much of a season that has them owning a 22-73 record with ...Read more

CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox had already scored two runs during the fourth inning to tie Saturday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians.

They were in position for more with two runners on and no outs.

Guardians starter Tanner Bibee struck out Colson Montgomery. Josh Rojas then grounded into a double play.

The momentum swung back in ...Read more

NEW YORK — With the Yankees fresh off a 5-2 loss to the Cubs, Aaron Judge had no interest in discussing his latest milestone on Saturday.

“I honestly got nothing to be honest. Would have been great if we got a win today to do something like that,” Judge, never one to bask in his own success, said shortly after crushing the 350th home run ...Read more

NEW YORK — Matthew Boyd had already been viewing the upcoming four-day All-Star break as a prolonged stretch to rest his body and gear up for the final 2 1/2 months in the regular season.

When the 34-year-old lefty learned last Sunday he had made his first All-Star team, Boyd still opted to keep the big picture in mind with his workload and ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — Once upon a time, Shohei Ohtani wasn’t expected to start pitching this season until after the All-Star break, if not longer.

In hindsight, how much more dire things would be for the Los Angeles Dodgers had they ultimately stuck to that initially conservative plan.

Needing a spark, a jolt or just some shred of momentum ...Read more

NEW YORK — This portion of the MLB calendar is filled with cautionary tales.

The Detroit Tigers traded a 20-year-old John Smoltz to the Atlanta Braves for veteran starter Doyle Alexander in August of 1987.

Three Augusts later, the Boston Red Sox sent a 22-year-old Jeff Bagwell to the Houston Astros for reliever Larry Anderson.

But perhaps ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Atlanta- and All-Star Game-bound Byron Buxton played like an All-Star and then some Saturday at Target Field, where he became the 12th Twins batter in club history to hit for the cycle.

He went 5 for 5, his seventh-inning solo home run capping the quadruple in a 12-4 beating of Pittsburgh. That happened on the day fans lined up ...Read more

ST. LOUIS — After the Cardinals’ ability to load the bases led to game-tying run on a wild pitch in the eighth inning, their inability to find an offensive answer in the ninth when they once again trailed led to a second consecutive defeat to the Atlanta Braves.

The Cardinals went down in order in the ninth inning of a 7-6 loss on Saturday ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — As more and more National League pitchers dropped out of participating in the All-Star Game this week — Zack Wheeler included — the absence of Phillies starters Ranger Suárez and Cristopher Sánchez from the roster became more and more glaring.

Sánchez is scheduled to start on Sunday and would be unable to pitch in the ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Dedniel Núñez was a great story last season, but the story of his 2025 season is over before it even really started. The New York Mets‘ right-handed reliever will undergo surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow during the All-Star break, leaving him sidelined for at least the next year, if not ...Read more

BOSTON — On Saturday, the Red Sox made official what Hunter Dobbins knew as soon as it happened:

The injury that forced the rookie right-hander out of Friday night’s game after just 1 2/3 innings is a right ACL tear.

“I’ve torn my ACL on this knee before, and it was the same feeling,” explained Dobbins, as he stood in the clubhouse ...Read more

MILWAUKEE — As a tour group gathered in the press box at American Family Field on Monday, the stadium guide looked down at the diamond and tried to identify the hitter in a Dodger blue T-shirt taking thunderous swings in an afternoon batting practice session.

"I'm not sure which player that is," the tour guide said.

One knowledgeable Dodger ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — When Oneil Cruz steps into the batter's box at Truist Park in Atlanta for the MLB Home Run Derby on Monday night, on the surface it offers the snuggest of fits.

A gigantic man who can hit towering home runs and enjoys entertaining fans charged with putting on a show. It should be must-see TV for much of the country.

Here in ...Read more

NEW YORK — Max Fried didn’t exactly scream like Ringo Starr at the end of “Helter Skelter,” but the southpaw did complain about a blister on his left index finger before prematurely exiting the Yankees’ 5-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Saturday afternoon.

Fried, making his final start of the first half, complained about the bleb at the...Read more

PITTSBURGH — It's a cloudy, humid Tuesday afternoon on the North Shore. In a few hours, the Pirates will take on the St. Louis Cardinals. No fans have made their way through the gates at PNC Park. Neither team has started taking batting practice. And Paul Skenes, scheduled to start that evening, is bored.

With time to kill, the Pirates' 23-...Read more