MLB

7:00 AM ET There have been 12 single-game tiebreakers in MLB history. Each of them brought the nerves and anticipation of a playoff matchup, even though they were played as regular-season games — but game No. 163 is now a thing of the past. With an expanded playoff format launching this October, MLB decided there

10:06 PM ET ESPN News Services ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Houston Astros clinched their fifth American League West title in six years, getting a leadoff home run from Jose Altuve in a 4-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays Monday night. Headed to the postseason for the sixth straight season, Houston won for the

2:42 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — The Mets are on track to have baseball’s highest payroll for the first time since 1989, among a record-tying six teams set to pay a penalty for spending. The Los Angeles Dodgers, who started the season as the top spender, fell into second due to Trevor Bauer’s

3:26 PM ET Jeff PassanESPN Close ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” MILWAUKEE — Yankees star Aaron Judge turned in perhaps the best game of his historic season Sunday, hitting two home runs, a double and a single, driving in four runs and setting

5:41 PM ET ESPN News Services HOUSTON — Working closely with Framber Valdez, Houston Astros catcher Martin Maldonado has enjoyed a front-row seat for the journey that has turned the left-hander into one of baseball’s top pitchers in his fifth season. “It is a lot of calm, a lot of confidence and a lot of

12:22 PM ET The New York Yankees reinstated first baseman Anthony Rizzo from the injured list Sunday and optioned outfielder Estevan Florial to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Rizzo is batting second behind leadoff hitter and American League MVP candidate Aaron Judge in Sunday’s series finale at the Milwaukee Brewers. Rizzo said last week that he was close

12:47 AM ET ESPN News Services ANAHEIM, Calif. — Shohei Ohtani pitched seven scoreless innings, drove in one run and scored another as the Los Angeles Angels beat Seattle 2-1 Saturday night, dropping the Mariners in the wild-card standings. The Angels’ second straight victory against the Mariners came on the back of Ohtani, their two-way

8:37 PM ET Associated Press MILWAUKEE — New York Yankees first baseman Marwin Gonzalez left Saturday’s game with the Milwaukee Brewers after getting hit on the head by a throw from catcher Victor Caratini while standing in the batter’s box. Caratini had just received a pitch from Brandon Woodruff and was attempting to get the

11:49 PM ET ESPN News Services HOUSTON — Ace Justin Verlander had just wrapped up another strong start and was in the dugout in the fifth inning when Yordan Alvarez launched his third spectacular home run of the night for the Houston Astros. The cameras panned to Verlander, eyes wide as he admired his teammate’s

10:48 PM ET ST. LOUIS — Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols hit his 698th career home run Friday night in a 6-5 win over the Cincinnati Reds. With one out in the sixth inning, Pujols, 42, swung at the first pitch from reliever Raynel Espinal, an 84 mph slider, and launched a 427-foot shot out to

4:44 PM ET Associated Press MILWAUKEE — New York Yankees reliever Aroldis Chapman is back from the injured list after missing nearly a month due to a leg infection he sustained from a tattoo. The AL East-leading Yankees activated Chapman on Friday before a three-game series at Milwaukee. They designated right-hander Ryan Weber for assignment.

10:42 AM ET ESPN News Services The Atlanta Braves have activated star second baseman Ozzie Albies from the 60-day injured list. Albies had not played for the Braves since breaking his left foot in June after making an awkward swing. He had been on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett that included a 5-for-5 performance

8:09 PM ET ESPN News Services TORONTO — The Tampa Bay Rays started an unprecedented nine Latin American players in their lineup Thursday on Roberto Clemente Day, going on to rout the Toronto Blue Jays 11-0. Clemente, the late Hall of Fame outfielder from Puerto Rico, was a two-time World Series winner and National League

6:49 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — Sandy Alderson will step down as president of the New York Mets when the team finds his replacement. The 74-year-old Alderson, a cancer survivor who has served two stints as New York’s general manager, will move to a new role as special advisor to owners Steve and

7:00 AM ET There are a little less than three weeks left in the 2022 regular season, meaning things are getting really interesting in certain divisions. While the Dodgers are by far the best squad in the National League — becoming the first team to secure a postseason berth on Monday and then clinching the

11:46 PM ET ESPN News Services TORONTO — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his 100th home run at age 23, becoming the 10th-youngest player in MLB history to reach the mark, and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 5-1 on Wednesday night to ensure winning a rare five-game series against a wild-card rival.

9:07 PM ET ESPN News Services Julio Rodriguez continued to strengthen his rookie of the year campaign with another big accomplishment Wednesday, stealing his 25th stolen base of the season to lead the Seattle Mariners to a 6-1 victory over the San Diego Padres, securing a key two-game split. Rodríguez was hit by a pitch

1:06 AM ET Associated Press PHOENIX — Last year, the Los Angeles Dodgers went all the way to the last day of the regular season, won a whopping 106 games and still lost the National League West title to the San Francisco Giants. This time, Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers left no doubt. Kershaw pitched