INSIDER
Shohei Ohtani hits first home run for Dodgers, who beat Giants 5-4 for 3-game sweep
Read full article: Shohei Ohtani hits first home run for Dodgers, who beat Giants 5-4 for 3-game sweepShohei Ohtani hit his first home run for the Los Angeles Dodgers, a solo drive in the seventh inning in a 5-4 win over the San Francisco Giants that finished a three-game sweep.
Matos hits first career HR to lift Giants past Diamondbacks 7-6 for 12th win in 13 games
Read full article: Matos hits first career HR to lift Giants past Diamondbacks 7-6 for 12th win in 13 gamesLuis Matos hit his first career home run, a go-ahead two-run drive in the sixth inning, and the San Francisco Giants beat the division-leading Arizona Diamondbacks 7-6 for their 12th win in 13 games.
Muncy hits 2 more homers, powers Dodgers past Giants 10-5
Read full article: Muncy hits 2 more homers, powers Dodgers past Giants 10-5Max Muncy hit a three-run homer and a solo shot to finish a three-game set against San Francisco with four homers and 11 RBIs, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers past the Giants 10-5 for a series win.
Kepler, Pagán among 4 unvaccinated Twins to miss Jays series
Read full article: Kepler, Pagán among 4 unvaccinated Twins to miss Jays seriesThe struggling Minnesota Twins have arrived in Toronto without regular right fielder Max Kepler and relief pitchers Emilio Pagán, Caleb Thielbar and Trevor Megill.
Twin win: Rogers gets save, brother loss as Pads top Giants
Read full article: Twin win: Rogers gets save, brother loss as Pads top GiantsManny Machado’s RBI groundout in the seventh inning put San Diego ahead, Austin Nola hit his first home run of the season and the Padres beat the San Francisco Giants 4-2.
Refsnyder, Twins hand Orioles 14th straight loss, 3-2 in 10
Read full article: Refsnyder, Twins hand Orioles 14th straight loss, 3-2 in 10Rob Refsnyder bounced back from a run-in with the center-field fence to score the go-ahead run in the 10th inning on a wild pitch and the Minnesota Twins handed the Baltimore Orioles their 14th straight loss, 3-2.
Streak breaker: Kepler singles in 9th, as Twins edge Red Sox
Read full article: Streak breaker: Kepler singles in 9th, as Twins edge Red SoxMax Kepler’s RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning gave Minnesota a 4-3 victory over Boston, stopping a five-game losing streak for the Twins and breaking a nine-game winning string for the Red Sox.
LEADING OFF: Kershaw vs Scherzer as last 2 champs collide
Read full article: LEADING OFF: Kershaw vs Scherzer as last 2 champs collideA pair of three-time Cy Young Award winners square off when Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers face Max Scherzer and the Nationals in a marquee matchup between the past two World Series champions.
AP source: Twins, closer Rogers agree to $6 million contract
Read full article: AP source: Twins, closer Rogers agree to $6 million contractMINNEAPOLIS – The Minnesota Twins and closer Taylor Rogers agreed to terms Thursday on a $6 million, one-year contract, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contract had not yet been finalized. Rogers compiled a 4.05 ERA in 21 appearances with nine saves and two blown chances during the abbreviated 60-game season. They declined Wednesday to offer 2021 contracts to left fielder Eddie Rosario and reliever Matt Wisler, making them free agents. Rogers took a step back this season after notching 30 saves with 90 strikeouts over 69 innings in 2019.
A capsule look at the Astros-Twins playoff series
Read full article: A capsule look at the Astros-Twins playoff seriesA capsule look at the best-of-three playoff series between the Houston Astros and Minnesota Twins in Minneapolis beginning Tuesday:___HOUSTON ASTROSRecord: 29-31. Projected Rotation: RHP Zack Greinke (3-3, 4.03 ERA, 67 Ks), RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (3-3, 3.93, 56 Ks), RHP Jose Urquidy (1-1, 2.73, 17 Ks) or LHP Framber Valdez (5-3, 3.57, 76 Ks) or RHP Cristian Javier (5-2, 3.48, 54 Ks.) Manager: Rocco Baldelli (second season). Projected Rotation: RHP Kenta Maeda (6-1, 2.70 ERA, 80 Ks), RHP José Berríos (5-4, 4.00, 68 Ks), RHP Michael Pineda (2-0, 3.38, 25 Ks in 5 starts). Series Summary: The Twins haven’t won a playoff series since 2002, failing to advance in eight consecutive rounds.
On final day, 2 NL spots and AL Central crown in play
Read full article: On final day, 2 NL spots and AL Central crown in play2 seed in the AL — with a win at home against Cincinnati or a White Sox loss at home to the Cubs. "It would mean a lot for all of us that have been here for the last couple of years,” White Sox infielder Yoán Moncada said through a translator. Oakland won the AL West and will also play a best-of-three first-round series at home beginning Tuesday — possibly against rival Houston. Cleveland can earn home-field advantage with a win over last-place Pittsburgh and a White Sox loss. Anthony Rizzo and the Chicago Cubs clinched the NL Central crown Saturday night even while losing to the crosstown White Sox.
Engel gets big hit as White Sox top Twins 3-1
Read full article: Engel gets big hit as White Sox top Twins 3-1Chicago White Sox's Adam Engel (15) celebrates with catcher Yasmani Grandal and relief pitcher Alex Colome the team's 3-1 win over the Minnesota Twins after a baseball game, Monday, Sept. 14, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)CHICAGO – Adam Engel delivered a tiebreaking pinch-hit single in the eighth inning, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 3-1 on Monday night to increased their lead in the AL Central. The White Sox (31-16) moved two games ahead of the second-place Twins (30-19). White Sox reliever Gio González retired the first two batters in the eighth before issuing consecutive walks. The White Sox are off to their best start since they were 31-15 in 2006.
Maeda's no-hitter ends in 9th; Twins top Brewers 4-3 in 12
Read full article: Maeda's no-hitter ends in 9th; Twins top Brewers 4-3 in 12Minnesota Twins pitcher Kenta Maeda of Japan throws against the Milwaukee Brewers in the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)MINNEAPOLIS Kenta Maeda lost a no-hitter in the ninth inning for the Minnesota Twins, who blew a three-run lead but came back to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 in 12 innings. Maeda's no-hit bid was ended by Eric Sogard's soft single that soared just over the glove of a leaping Polanco at shortstop. Maeda retired 21 straight batters in a stretch from the first to the eighth innings and finished with 12 strikeouts. Opponents are 0 for 22 against Hader this season, with four walks and one hit by pitch 12 strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings.
Bubble-free life means MLB players, coaches must be careful
Read full article: Bubble-free life means MLB players, coaches must be carefulPHOENIX Baseball's bubble-free environment is an anomaly as the sports world tries to come back amid the coronavirus pandemic. Arizona Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen said he'll be constantly reminding everyone in his organization about the delicacy of the current situation. The younger guys that are single that, you know, tend to be a little bit more social, Woodward said. The first step toward a successful season is getting all the players to their home cities. Chicago White Sox GM Rick Hahn said his team's travel department has a busy week ahead, but that they've been planning on this scenario for quite a while.
Baseball scrambles back into action amid lingering concerns
Read full article: Baseball scrambles back into action amid lingering concernsAs baseball scrambles to start an abbreviated season, the prevailing mood is one of nervous excitement. All of these issues could become moot if there's a major outbreak of the virus within baseball. "Ive seen the reports in Houston how COVIDs going up so Im going to have to really be careful. It will be unusual following new safety protocols that are at times incompatible with human nature on the baseball field. Theyre very focused on that and the staff thats going to be associated with the games once we fire up, Crane said.