MLB

Talk about an embarrassment of riches. The Dominican Republic's roster for this year’s World Baseball Classic is fully-loaded with a "Plátano Power" version of the Avengers’ superhero cast. From Juan Soto to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to Ketel Marte to Fernando Tatis Jr. to Manny Machado to Julio Rodriguez to Sandy Alcantara to Carlos Estevez, the ample amount of star power on this roster is dizzying. It’s clear that this high-octane […]

Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai threw a 10-pitch scoreless inning and was struck by a comebacker in his spring training debut for the Houston Astros on Thursday against the New York Mets. Imai allowed a leadoff single to Marcus Semien, whose sharp hit ricocheted off the pitcher's lower right leg and went into foul territory. Imai was checked by an athletic trainer and stayed in the game. "That was not what […]

Padres reliever Yuki Matsui’s will not pitch for Japan in the World Baseball Classic and the left-hander's status for San Diego's season opener in a month also is unclear because of a left groin strain. Matsui was still throwing off flat ground Thursday, a week after cutting short a batting practice session because of the groin. "Right now, I’m just continuing the throwing progression, getting intensities and distances of (playing) […]

Venezuela can defeat anyone — and they’re still considered the fourth favorite to win the World Baseball Classic title this year. In the 2023 WBC, Venezuela and Japan were the only two teams to go 4-0 in the group stage. Venezuela looked poised to advance to the semifinals for the first time since 2009, carrying a lead into the eighth inning of their quarterfinal against the United States. WBC Rosters: […]

Hope springs eternal. The old proverb reflects the optimism that comes along with the start of a new MLB season. A fresh start, and the possibility of contending, gives teams and their fans hope ahead of the long 162-game season. While that optimism is justified, the reality is that not everyone will play into October. Some teams will be bad, and some will, in fact, be very bad. While focusing […]

CC Sabathia's No. 52 will be retired on Sept. 26 by the New York Yankees, who will dedicate a plaque in honor of the Hall of Famer at Monument Park before that day's game against the Baltimore Orioles. Sabathia will be the 24th man to have his number retired by the Yankees, the first since Paul O'Neill was honored with the retirement of No. 21 in 2022. Twenty-three numbers have […]

National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes lost four strikes to challenges in his first spring training start. Skenes struck out four and walked four over 2 1/3 innings for Pittsburgh on Wednesday against the Atlanta Braves, who were 4 for 4 against the right-hander on challenges to get called strikes overturned to balls — one of them by the slimmest of margins. The 53-pitch outing is expected to […]

"Bear Bets" are real wagers that Chris "The Bear" Fallica is actually making. Don't worry that football season is on a hiatus. There are so many other betting markets to dive into, it'll make your head spin. March Madness is on the horizon, we're in the height of the Premier League season and there are some futures wagers that are worth a look. Here are a few bets I'm making […]

Shohei Ohtani captured the MVP in the 2023 World Baseball Classic after leading Japan to its third WBC title in the most spectacular fashion. The superstar struck out Mike Trout — his former teammate on the Angels — before being crowned the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. Will two-way Shohei take home the trophy again in 2026? Here are the latest odds at FanDuel Sportsbook as of Feb. 24. […]