ATLANTA — Kansas City Royals ace Cole Ragans slipped off the mound in the first inning of Friday evening’s season opener at Truist Park.

The 28-year-old left-hander was facing Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies and lost his footing as he planted toward the ground. Ragans shook it off, and to that point he had retired the first two ...Read more

MIAMI — Before they took the field, before another season began, before the Miami Marlins could try once again to show the baseball world that this scrappy young team can be a contender, Clayton McCullough took the time to thank the players and his staff. They put in the work during spring training to make sure the progress they showed at the ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — With an Opening Day golden sombrero and an 0-for-7 start to the season, there was plenty of reason to be worried about Aaron Judge.

What had happened to the back-to-back MVP? Who zapped him of his powers? Was his prime coming to an end!?

That’s a heavy dose of sarcasm for those who overreacted to Judge’s first few at-bats...Read more

Orioles opening day Thursday went off without a hitch — beautiful weather, a bigger scoreboard, Pete Alonso’s debut and a 2-1 win.

Friday might be even better.

The Orioles on Friday afternoon agreed with starting pitcher Shane Baz on a five-year, $68 million contract extension, two sources with direct knowledge of the deal confirmed to The...Read more

Orioles opening day Thursday went off without a hitch — beautiful weather, a bigger scoreboard, Pete Alonso’s debut and a 2-1 win.

Friday might be even better.

The Orioles on Friday afternoon agreed with starting pitcher Shane Baz on a five-year, $68 million contract extension, two sources with direct knowledge of the deal confirmed to The...Read more

LOS ANGELES — First baseman Freddie Freeman, pausing outside of the Dodgers’ home dugout to talk about the upcoming season, nodded his head toward the right-field foul pole, where just beyond it the Dodgers’ championships signs are displayed.

Eight baseball-shaped signs sported their years — 1955, 1959, 1963, 1965, 1981, 1988, 2020, ...Read more

SEATTLE — The opening game of the 2026 season provided all the pomp and circumstance expected, including the decorative bunting placed strategically in T-Mobile Park.

For the 46,938 fans in the sellout crowd on Thursday evening and those who were able to watch via stream or on cable, game No. 1 of 162 offered a mixed back. The Seattle ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — There were fireworks, there was a flyover, there was Will Ferrell screaming and Keith Williams Jr. crooning and four months of cheers unleashed by fans wearing championship belts and howling grins.

But the real stars of Thursday's Dodger opening day show never made a sound.

They arrived silently at the end of the pregame ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — In a quiet moment before the pomp and circumstance of opening day, Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Miguel Rojas learned he’d be starting in the final season opener of his long career.

He was on the bench for the Freeway Series finale at Dodger Stadium earlier this week, when manager Dave Roberts came over to check in and ...Read more

CINCINNATI, Ohio — The 2025 Red Sox excelled at creating opportunities for themselves, but often struggled to capitalize on them.

That was the story of Opening Day 2026, too, as the Boston bats tallied 12 hits, including three from leadoff man Roman Anthony, but were kept off the scoreboard until late in their 3-0 victory over the Reds.

...Read more

ST. LOUIS — When the Cardinals described the offense they need to have this season as “exhausting” to play against, the sixth inning of Thursday’s opener is even more than what they had in mind.

Down by six runs and teetering on what could have been a season-opening thud, the first seven batters of the sixth inning reached base. And ...Read more

CHICAGO — Two hours before throwing the first pitch of the Chicago Cubs season, Matthew Boyd found a spot along the dugout railing at Wrigley Field.

For 10 minutes, Boyd took in the scene as the flags whipped above the center-field scoreboard, Cubs infielders took grounders and stadium workers finished final preparations before 39,712 fans ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — When the sun is shining, and it’s 76 degrees in March, and the Phillies are walking single-file down stairs, across an outfield red carpet and into a new season, it’s natural to think about what lies ahead.

Sometimes, though, a look back is required.

Rewind, then, to those 12 hours in the middle of January when team ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — If AJ Hinch could’ve drawn it up, the season-opener might’ve looked something like this.

The Tigers enjoyed an 8-2 romp over the San Diego Padres on a sun-drenched Thursday before 45,673 patrons at Petco Park, in a game that his ace lefty Tarik Skubal dominated and Kevin McGonigle, his prized rookie, checked off a lot of ...Read more

MILWAUKEE — No Chicago White Sox player had led off the season with a home run — until Thursday.

Second baseman Chase Meidroth worked a full count against Milwaukee Brewers starter Jacob Misiorowski before launching a home run to left field. Meidroth pumped his fist as he made his way to first base.

The good times didn’t last long for ...Read more

HOUSTON — Because one of baseball’s great traditions is overreacting to things that happen on Opening Day …

Mike Trout is back.

Trout hit a home run, stole a base and drew three walks, helping the Angels to a 3-0 victory over the Houston Astros on Thursday afternoon.

“I felt like myself again out there,” Trout said. “Being in ...Read more

NEW YORK — As Paul Skenes walked off the mound with one out remaining in the bottom of the first inning, a majority of the 41,449 fans in attendance at Citi Field rose to their feet in celebration. Some waved goodbye to the Pirates ace, while others gazed in disbelief.

For just one of a handful of times since he was truly introduced to the ...Read more

NEW YORK — It was as hyped of a pitching matchup as you could have asked for on Opening Day: Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes, a Cy Young Award winner, a former Rookie of the Year and, of course, boyfriend to gymnast and influencer Livvy Dunne, facing Freddy Peralta, the newly-acquired Mets ace who is also expected to compete for a Cy Young ...Read more

BALTIMORE — Pete Alonso put his hands to his mouth, walked onto the orange carpet and then stretched his arms outward.

The pregame ceremony Thursday ahead of Orioles opening day at Camden Yards was Baltimore’s first real opportunity to embrace Alonso. As broadcaster Kevin Brown said Alonso’s name, the 42,134 fans at Oriole Park rose to ...Read more

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