7:00 AM ET The National League playoff race is a mess. If you like “Hoarders,” “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” or the finale of “Game of Thrones,” you are certainly enjoying this mad scramble of mediocrity in Major League Baseball’s senior circuit. With less than three weeks left in the season — and many
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7:00 AM ET Anna Katherine Clemmons Close Anna Katherine Clemmons is a contributing writer for ESPN The Magazine. If you spend time with Oakland Athletics pitcher Liam Hendriks, you will quickly notice one thing: he likes to talk. And when he has a venti Starbucks in hand — possibly his third or fourth of the
7:12 PM ET Associated Press Slumping catcher Gary Sanchez returned to the New York Yankees‘ lineup Tuesday night, hours after general manager Brian Cashman spoke to the struggling team in Buffalo, New York. Cashman tried to reinvigorate a roster that has lost four straight games and 14 of 19, a slump that has dropped New
9:30 PM ET Associated Press SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres placed first baseman Eric Hosmer on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a broken left index finger suffered while bunting with two strikes the night before. To take his roster spot, the Padres recalled outfielder Abraham Almonte from the alternate training site. Manager
6:12 PM ET Associated Press CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs added speedy outfielder Billy Hamilton to their active roster Tuesday and optioned slumping slugger Jose Martinez to their alternate training site. Hamilton was claimed off waivers from the New York Mets on Monday. Hamilton, who turns 30 on Wednesday, went 1-for-22 in 17 games with
9:02 PM ET Associated Press CHICAGO — Cincinnati Reds president of baseball operations Dick Williams expressed confidence in manager David Bell and his coaching staff Tuesday, but he said he would be “extremely disappointed” if the team fails to make the playoffs. Cincinnati was one of the preseason favorites in the NL Central after it
9:21 PM ET ESPN News Services DETROIT — The Tigers appeared to dodge a potential problem after second baseman Jonathan Schoop was hit on the right wrist by a pitch during Tuesday night’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Schoop departed in the fourth inning with a right wrist contusion following the pitch from Adrian Houser.
12:36 PM ET Associated Press ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Pat O’Conner, president and CEO of Minor League Baseball, abruptly announced his impending retirement amid talks between the minors and Major League Baseball to dramatically restructure baseball’s developmental pipeline. O’Conner was with MiLB for 28 years, including a 13-year run as president. He was re-elected to
4:37 PM ET Associated Press DETROIT — The Milwaukee Brewers released first baseman Justin Smoak on Tuesday after designating him for assignment last week. Smoak hit .186 with five home runs and 15 RBIs in 33 games for the Brewers. Milwaukee claimed first baseman Daniel Vogelbach off waivers last week. The Brewers entered Tuesday night’s
4:01 PM ET Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman was reinstated from the injured list Tuesday and is batting second in Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Oakland Athletics. The Astros have lost five straight games entering Tuesday and are just one game above .500 (21-20), 4½ games behind Oakland in the American League