LOS ANGELES — Dodgers fans generally hiss at the mention of Frank McCourt — the former owner took the team into bankruptcy, after all — but today is about tipping our cap to him.

Without him, fans would have no option to take public transit directly to Dodger Stadium. On his watch, the Dodgers helped secure government funding for the ...Read more

CHICAGO — The 2026 season has begun, and while Jed Hoyer hopes the “next great Cubs team” he began building in 2021 is finally here, fans at Wrigley Field will spend much of 2026 celebrating the last great Cubs team.

A team reunion for the 10-year anniversary of the 2016 World Series championship is scheduled for July 18, and reminders of...Read more

ARLINGTON, Texas — Major League Baseball’s World Baseball Classic was so successful it effectively buried the entire 2026 spring training season, and thus has made Opening Day a surprise.

It’s time for baseball’s regular season ... who knew?

As evidenced by the success of the NHL’s top players playing in the Olympics, there is a way ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — Baseball’s Opening Day is supposed to mean something.

It’s tradition. It’s the bunting draped over the rails. It’s the pomp, the circumstance, and a deep, abiding reverence for a sport that has 150 years of lore.

It’s a special day.

But baseball’s new “Opening Night“?

Well, that was a completely different ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — With Netflix turning Oracle Park into the set of a big-budget, Hollywood-style production on Opening Day, members of the New York Yankees walked between two yellow, New York City taxis during pregame introductions. Meanwhile, the San Francisco Giants, hopped through a San Francisco cable car as they took the field on Wednesday....Read more

NEW YORK — Opening Day always represents renewed hope, but for those hoping Wednesday’s New York Mets press conferences were scheduled to announce a contract extension with Freddy Peralta, well, you had better keep hoping. Peralta remains the gem of the Mets’ 25-26 offseason, but when he takes the Citi Field mound Thursday afternoon ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani’s three straight strikeouts in the fourth inning of his final spring start Tuesday featured a different putaway pitch for each.

He got Angels slugger Jorge Soler to whiff on a sweeper. Jeimer Candelario went down on a curveball. And Jo Adell struck out on a fastball.

“Just shows the confidence he has and ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — For many fans, Major League Baseball's opening day is somewhat of an unofficial holiday. Though this year offers a different viewing experience.

Instead of turning on ESPN or a regional sports channel to catch their favorite team, there will only be one game kicking off the season, and it will be streaming exclusively on Netflix...Read more

SEATTLE — Julio Rodríguez was right.

On Oct. 20, 2025, Seattle’s star center fielder stood in an eerily quiet clubhouse, digesting the shards of another shattered dream. Rodríguez was a fitting symbol for how unforgivably a game — and a season — can flip, from euphoria to this franchise’s most excruciating almost. The 24-year-old ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — To get back to the World Series, the Phillies are going to need the equivalent of one of these names:

— Addison Barger

— Evan Carter and Josh Jung

— Andy Pages

— Gabriel Moreno

— Jeremy Peña

They might need the equivalent of one of these names:

— Corbin Carroll

— Randy Arozarena

— Yordan Alvarez

...Read more

NEW YORK — Shortly after the New York Yankees made Cade Winquest their first Rule 5 draft pick in 14 years in December, the former St. Louis Cardinal connected with his new pitching coach for lunch.

It was at The Smith in Midtown that Winquest, already in New York City visiting his girlfriend, first met Matt Blake in person. There, the two ...Read more

CHICAGO — Retired Chicago White Sox slugger Frank Thomas filed a lawsuit against his former ballclub, Nike and Fanatics last week for allegedly using his identity for commercial purposes without his agreement.

The complaint, filed March 19 in the Circuit Court of Cook County, alleges that Nike, Fanatics, Fanatics Apparel and White Sox ...Read more

CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs are locking in the new face of their franchise.

The Cubs and All-Star center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong are finalizing an agreement on a contract extension, pending medical exams, a source confirmed to the Chicago Tribune on Tuesday.

Crow-Armstrong, who turns 24 on Wednesday, last year became just the second ...Read more

Buster Posey is running a bold, brash experiment. For the sake of the Bay Area’s sports fans, it better work.

Greatness for the San Francisco Giants in 2026? Please. That’s greedy.

Just don’t let the floor cave in.

Just be interesting.

Give folks a reason not to click away by the sixth inning.

Just escape the aggressively bland, ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers’ rotation order is set for the first homestand of the season. And another wild spring training start from right-hander Roki Sasaki didn’t change the plan.

“He’s going to start the fourth game of the season,” manager Dave Roberts said Monday after a 7-7 tie with the Angels. “He’s got to go ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Can you dig it? Can you hear it?

They're getting louder, the echoes from 2002, when Lakers flags flapped above car doors all over L.A., and for a third consecutive year, residents paraded, gleeful and triumphant, with another championship to celebrate.

As well as any place, Los Angeles understands: Great teams win championships...Read more

PHOENIX — By the time Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Roki Sasaki reached the blue backdrop set up in the Surprise Stadium interview room, he’d diagnosed the issue.

“I think it’s because of the two-seamer,” Sasaki said through an interpreter. “It kind of caused my forearm to pronate a little more. Also my arm slot was a little ...Read more

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — It’s the time of the year when baseball is dominated by feel-good stories. The New York Mets are feeling especially good about their player development department as they break camp to begin the 2026 season, with 2024 first-round draft pick Carson Benge set to play right field Thursday at Citi Field when they host the ...Read more