9:00 AM ET The inaugural Most Valuable Player Award, bestowed by the American League in 1922, was won by a first baseman, George Sisler, who hit .420 for the St. Louis Browns. Nine years later, in 1931, the baseball writers jumped into the awards business, and since then, first basemen have been preeminent in the
MLB
7:00 AM ET Major League Baseball’s plan to play through a public health crisis is outlined in a handbook that encompasses more than 100 pages, every single one of which emphasizes the notion that professional baseball in 2020 will be unlike anything anybody has ever experienced. Players are advised to wear sandals in the shower
7:00 AM ET A typical major league baseball season, played under normal parameters, is a proving ground, a long slog in which teams have to leap over multiple hurdles and survive multiple tests to advance to the last rounds of a sports version of “The Hunger Games.” It is that way because it needs to
12:14 AM ET Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO — Giants first baseman Brandon Belt has been using a walking boot as he nurses a sore right heel that will keep him out at least a week. Manager Gabe Kapler said Belt would be re-evaluated in 5-to-7 days but wasn’t ready to put in doubt Belt’s availability
10:48 PM ET LOS ANGELES — Max Muncy didn’t react quickly enough to a pitch running in on him during Sunday’s scrimmage from Dodger Stadium and suffered an injury because of it. “I couldn’t really see the ball,” Muncy said. “I’m trying to adjust to some of the changes out there. It came up and
4:48 PM ET It’ll cost you up to $350 per ticket, but Chicago Cubs fans will have a chance to watch their favorite team in person — though it’ll be from across the street — on one of the many iconic Wrigley Field rooftops. The city of Chicago has approved the rooftops for 25% capacity.
6:39 PM ET ESPN News Services The San Diego Padres revealed Wednesday that newly acquired infielder Jorge Mateo‘s intake test for the coronavirus came back positive and he’s experienced symptoms. Mateo was acquired last week from Oakland for a player to be named or cash, in the first trade since the transaction freeze was lifted.
5:36 PM ET Associated Press CINCINNATI — Sonny Gray knows what it’s like to start a season opener in front of a crowd, having done it twice with Oakland. His third time will be the most different and memorable of all. Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell chose Gray to start the 60-game season and lead
4:10 PM ET Marly RiveraESPN Writer Close Marly Rivera is a writer for ESPNdeportes.com and ESPN.com. Major League Baseball completed the intake coronavirus testing required for players and staff to be ready for summer camp workouts, an eight-day process that yielded a total of 66 positive results. The union informed players Tuesday night that the
1:32 PM ET Associated Press Cleveland Indians outfielder Franmil Reyes has been cleared by the team’s medical staff to return to the field after being isolated for attending a party over the July Fourth weekend. The team kept Reyes away from Progressive Field as a precaution after he attended a holiday gathering without wearing a