CHICAGO — Cubs fans found out early Friday that they would have a chance to honor one of the greatest home run hitters in history, Sammy Sosa, as he made his first public return to Wrigley Field since 2004.

After the 40,787 in attendance got a chance to honor Sosa before the bottom of the second inning, they watched the player who is so far ...Read more

NEW YORK — The Yankees boosted their bullpen on Friday, activating Luke Weaver from the injured list prior to their series-opener against the Baltimore Orioles.

The expected move marks a speedy, rehab assignment-less return for the righty, who strained his left hamstring during a mid-game stretch at Dodger Stadium on June 1. Weaver was ...Read more

CHICAGO — Sammy Sosa is back.

Again.

The former Chicago Cubs outfielder returned to Wrigley Field Friday for the first time since his controversial exit in 2004 after reuniting with the organization in January at the Cubs Convention.

Sosa’s return was supposed to be a surprise reveal after a video highlight package was played in the “...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The two New York teams dropped by Dodger Stadium a couple of weeks ago, first the Yankees and then the Mets, and broadcasters for each team made sure to complain about how loud it was.

“The Dodger Stadium center field speakers are in full assault mode,” Yankees radio voice Dave Sims tweeted.

On the ESPN Sunday night ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Seven times in the last 10 days, the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres have faced one another.

In the last inning of the last one of those games Thursday night, mounting tensions between the clubs — and their respective managers — finally spilled onto the field.

At the end of the Padres’ 5-3 win against the Dodgers...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Before Thursday, the last time an Baltimore Orioles manager pleaded Charlie Morton to eat innings, one of the worst losses in franchise history followed.

On Easter Sunday, Baltimore’s bullpen was gassed. Then-skipper Brandon Hyde didn’t hesitate when expressing what the Orioles needed. “Come on, Charlie Morton. Need you,�...Read more

ATLANTA — Over three nights in Atlanta, the New York Mets waited on a big hit that never came.

The Atlanta Braves, however, had no problem beating up on the Mets’ pitching staff. They knocked out starters early twice and hit the New York bullpen as well.

The Mets were swept in a three-game series, with the Braves taking the finale 7-1. ...Read more

MIAMI — As soon as the ball left his bat, Kyle Schwarber knew it was gone.

Before Schwarber had stepped up to the plate in the eighth inning, the Phillies had only mustered three hits. The offense hadn’t given Cristopher Sánchez, who dazzled through eight innings against the Marlins, much by way of run support.

But Schwarber, who had ...Read more

CHICAGO — At the end of a long day at the ballpark, where even a five-run lead wasn’t safe, and plenty of the play was slippery, the Cardinals had enough left for a short, decisive burst of offense.

Nolan Arenado and Lars Nootbaar combined in the 10th inning of Thursday’s second game to deliver two runs and send the Cardinals to an 8-6 ...Read more

DETROIT — Sloppy weather caused a 40-minute delay for the first half of Thursday’s doubleheader at Comerica Park. And while play was eventually able to begin, the Pittsburgh Pirates, similar to the weather, continued to look a mess, losing to the Detroit Tigers by a final score of 9-2.

Reigning American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal ...Read more

BOSTON — With Wilyer Abreu set to return from the injured list ahead of Friday’s series opener against the San Francisco Giants, the Boston Red Sox are sending one of their “big three” prospects to Triple-A.

According to a Red Sox source, Kristian Campbell is being optioned to Worcester to clear a spot on the active roster for Abreu.

...Read more

CINCINNATI – The Minnesota Twins have 88 games remaining in their season after Thursday’s 12-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds, but the next month could factor heavily into what direction they’re headed.

Byron Buxton looks determined to keep them in contention ahead of the July 31 trade deadline. Buxton homered twice — the 14th multi-...Read more

NEW YORK — For the first time in a week, the Yankees looked like the Bronx Bombers again.

The Yankees awakened from their offensive slumber in Thursday afternoon’s 7-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels in the Bronx to snap a season-worst six-game losing streak.

Trent Grisham and Paul Goldschmidt struck back-to-back home runs against Angels ...Read more

Colorado Rockies closer Seth Halvorsen never even turned around to watch the ball fly. He just walked off the mound knowing he’d given up a game-winning homer.

James Wood, the Washington Nationals’ rising star, launched Halvorsen’s 1-0 splitter 428 feet to center field for a two-run, 11th-inning, walk-off homer Thursday afternoon at ...Read more

The Kansas City Royals needed some positive momentum.

After a winless homestand, there were rumors circulating around the team’s direction. And a players only meeting didn’t help soothe those concerns.

Were the Royals underperforming? The answer was a clear yes.

Can they overcome it? That much is still up for debate.

This week, the ...Read more