WASHINGTON — The Orioles were supposed to show up to Nationals Park Tuesday night “pissed off.” Jordan Westburg had said Sunday’s drubbing was a kick in the pants — not to change anything, but presumably to heighten the sense of urgency for a sub-.500 ball club teetering between showing the chutzpah for an upswing and completely ...Read more

After only recording five outs in his last start, Will Warren didn’t have to clear a high bar for a better outing on Tuesday night.

But the Yankees’ rookie looked as good as he has all season against the Guardians, keeping the Guardians scoreless for the first five innings. Alas, that wasn’t enough for the Yankees in a 3-2 loss.

The ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — A month ago Dodgers gear festooned with colorful flowers in the unmistakable designs of acclaimed Japanese artist Takashi Murakami sold out in minutes at a pop-up on Fairfax Avenue. A couple of hundred Angelenos lined up overnight to purchase gear.

The pop-up, called the MLB Tokyo Series collection, preceded the two-game, season...Read more

DETROIT — The short-handed San Diego Padres weren’t given much of a chance to win or lose Monday night.

They lost.

And who knows what they might have been able to do had Luis Arraez and/or Jake Cronenworth and/or Jackson Merrill been in the lineup rather than on the injured list?

But a 6-4 defeat at the hands of the Detroit Tigers was not...Read more

ATLANTA — The first walk of the season allowed by reliever Phil Maton proved the spark that led to a bonfire the St. Louis Cardinals could not contain in the eighth inning.

With the Cardinals holding tight to a one-run lead earned in the sixth inning, the Atlanta Braves spun an infield single, two walks and a sacrifice fly into a lead, and ...Read more

NEW YORK — Juan Soto rounded the bases as the lights flickered and the fans roared. Finally, he had hit a home run in his new home ballpark.

Or so he thought.

Soto’s monstrous three-run shot to the second deck in right field off Aaron Nola was called back after a review. At the last second, the ball had hooked foul.

The Mets were already ...Read more

DETROIT — The news was good for Luis Arraez and the San Diego Padres, considering the anxious moments they endured after Arraez collided full-speed into Houston Astros second baseman Mauricio Dubón while running out a sacrifice bunt in the first inning of Sunday night’s game.

“It’s overall very favorable relative to how scary that ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — As a father of two, Dave Roberts is a true believer.

"Dad strength," he declared Sunday morning, "is real."

Which, naturally, made the Dodgers manager all the more excited about the return of the team's newest dad: Shohei Ohtani.

"Now that he is a father," Roberts joked, "we might see some 120[-mph] exit velos off the bat."

...Read more

BOSTON — It only took the Red Sox two hours and 14 minutes to complete their 4-2 win over the Chicago White Sox in the annual 11:10 a.m. Marathon Monday game, but for starter Walker Buehler, the win was several hours longer in the making.

Before the contest, manager Alex Cora described the right-hander as “on-point with his preparation,” ...Read more

DENVER — Maybe it was the new, sunset-inspired City Connect uniforms. More likely, it was the shutdown start by Antonio Senzatela, a salty bullpen, excellent defense and some timely hits that finally stopped the Rockies’ avalanche of losses.

Whatever. The Rockies will take it.

They beat the Nationals, 3-1, in the second game of a ...Read more

HOUSTON — A scary scene unfolded eight pitches into the Padres' game against the Astros on Sunday night, as designated hitter Luis Arraez was carted off the field after a collision at first base.

The exact nature of his injury was not immediately clear, but Arraez was moving his limbs and gave a thumbs up as he was slowly driven down the ...Read more

HOUSTON — There was a scary injury. There was some chaos and confusion.

There was a two-run lead squandered for the second straight night.

And then another Fernando Tatis Jr. home run sailed over the outfield wall in a hurry, setting things at least temporarily back on course for a team whose road trip has begun with some bumps.

Tatis’ ...Read more

DENVER — Kris Bryant can’t play baseball right now, and he’s unsure when he’ll be able to play again.

But he’s not ready to give up the game.

Bryant, 33, talked at length on Sunday about his chronic back condition and the physical and emotional effects it’s had on him. But the Rockies’ highest-paid player said he is not ...Read more

BOSTON — The Red Sox got a bounce-back start from Tanner Houck, but the bullpen couldn’t hold on to a two-run lead and Boston lost, 8-4, to the White Sox on Sunday.

Manager Alex Cora had high praise for his starter. He didn’t mince words when it came to his relievers.

“He did an amazing job, gave us six, his best start of the season,�...Read more

TORONTO — Randy Arozarena’s bat will always get the primary attention and understandably so considering his spot in the middle of the Mariners batting order.

He came up with another clutch two-out hit to score a pair of runs on Sunday that proved to be vital, for example.

Defense will never be Arozarena’s forte. But at times he can come ...Read more

BALTIMORE — Entering Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds with a taxed bullpen, the Orioles needed Charlie Morton to shake off his rough start and provide some length. Instead, his struggles continued as the veteran starter allowed seven runs over 2 1/3 innings and his relievers failed to minimize the damage in a laugher of a 24-2 loss....Read more

PITTSBURGH — For the second consecutive weekend, the Pirates were swept by a ballclub from the Buckeye State. This time around, it came at the hands of the Cleveland Guardians, who concluded their three game sweep with a 5-4 victory in 10 innings Sunday afternoon at PNC Park.

Emmanuel Clase earned the win, improving to 3-0, while Dennis ...Read more