CHICAGO — The baseball gods blessed the Chicago Cubs with perfect fall weather Wednesday for Game 3 of the National League Division Series at Wrigley Field.

DJ John Summit energized the pregame crowd with a pop-up concert at Gallagher Way, turning the area that once housed Yum-Yum Donuts into Wrigleypalooza. Carlos Zambrano, the former Cubs ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — John Seidler’s first effort at communicating to Padres fans following a season was somewhat different than the standard public relations-crafted missive.

In an email sent to every account in the team’s database, there were the usual platitudes of gratitude for fans’ support. But the Padres chairman’s four-paragraph letter ...Read more

CHICAGO — The first inning has not been kind to Chicago Cubs starting pitchers in the National League Division Series.

The Milwaukee Brewers delivered a gut punch in the opening frame during the first two games of the series. A strong shutdown first inning in Game 3 on Wednesday at Wrigley Field felt like a must for starter Jameson Taillon. ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Rays shortstop Wander Franco’s appeal of his conviction on a charge of sexual abuse of a minor is scheduled to be heard Tuesday in the Dominican Republic.

But there is some question about whether it will take place or be postponed.

Franco is required to be present for the hearing in Puerto Plata, but there have been no public...Read more

DETROIT — Fire up the plane. The Tigers are heading back to Seattle.

Riley Greene, who has scuffled throughout the postseason, broke a 3-3 tie in the sixth inning with a massive blast, sending the Tigers to a valiant, 9-3 comeback win in Game 4 of the American League Division Series at Comerica Park Wednesday.

The series will be decided on ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — If you want to watch every Dodgers game in 2026, you'll likely need access to all of these outlets: SportsNet LA, Fox, ESPN, NBC, Peacock and Apple TV.

That is not, shall we say, fan-friendly.

Baseball's holy grail is this: One place to watch your team, and every team, wherever you are. One price. No blackouts. No need to ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — It’s a ticklish proposition when everybody’s favorite player is also the team’s biggest problem.

Everybody loves Kyle Schwarber. It’s impossible not to. He’s a kind and generous star, a strong and effective player, an accountable and reasonable man. He is a gentle bear who hits Schwarbombs.

He just can’t hit them in...Read more

PITTSBURGH — When Andrew McCutchen returned to the Pirates for the 2023 season, the goal was simple.

The unquestioned face of Pittsburgh baseball for an entire generation (and likely more) would finish his career where it all started, in the city he adopted as his own, while hopefully helping a young club return to the postseason.

That ...Read more

NEW YORK — The Yankees aren’t done just yet. They can thank Aaron Judge for that.

With his Yankees on the brink of elimination, Judge gave them new life in the most dramatic of fashions, clubbing a game-tying three-run home run to cap a historic comeback in Game 3 of the ALDS.

Judge’s instant-classic blast served as the biggest blow in ...Read more

NEW YORK — As Aaron Judge braced for an 0-2 pitch, Yankee Stadium roared in unison.

“MVP! MVP! MVP!” the crowd bellowed, desperate for the New York Yankees’ captain to deliver a signature postseason moment.

Judge, whose prior postseason struggles have been well-documented, rose to the occasion, turning on a 99.7-mph, inside fastball ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was trying to play the long game Monday night.

Which is why, when his team entered the ninth inning with a three-run lead in Game 2 of the National League Division Series, he gave the save opportunity to Blake Treinen instead of Roki Sasaki.

If all things had been equal, it’s likely that Roberts ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Bryce Harper played a lot of cards on the Phillies’ cross-country flight.

He didn’t spend a lot of time ruminating over the team’s two losses to open the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers and the wasted opportunities in those games. After the Phillies arrived to Dodger Stadium for their ...Read more

CHICAGO — Jameson Taillon tends to get super nervous watching games from the dugout.

But once he makes the walk to the outfield on start days to begin warming up, those feelings dissipate and the Chicago Cubs’ veteran right-hander feels locked in. That repetition is a reminder that it’s still the same game, no matter the stakes, when ...Read more

DETROIT — The split-finger fastball — statistically the best strikeout pitch — was fired with complete conviction and cruel intentions.

Logan Gilbert didn’t want it to be his last pitch of the night, not with the way he was executing. But if his final pitch of the sixth inning was going to be his last of his outing, it was going to be ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Rob Thomson said he was playing for the tie, which means the process was as flawed as the result.

The Phillies lost Game 2 of the NLDS because they did not try to win it.

It’s as simple as that. You do not negotiate with the jaws of defeat. You snatch the victory or you die trying.

Here lie the Phillies, 4-3 losers of Game ...Read more

One-time top Mariners prospect Jesús Montero is in a Venezuela hospital after being involved in a serious motorcycle accident, according to reports out of the country.

Venezuelan media reported that Montero was riding his motorcycle when he was hit by a pickup truck sometime last weekend. Details emerging from the country are limited, but ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Even Dodgers fans steeped in the lore of Kirk Gibson might not remember the name of Mel Didier.

Didier was the scout who had issued this warning to the 1988 Dodgers: If you're facing Dennis Eckersley, the mighty closer for the Oakland Athletics, and the count runs full, he's going to throw a backdoor slider.

Eckersley threw it...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — This is over.

Or, from the perspective of the Dodgers, this is just starting.

Because the Dodgers are returning to the World Series.

Technically, they still have to close out their National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. They still have to win the NL Championship Series.

But they will.

They will ...Read more