MLB

AP Sports WriterGiants star catcher Posey out this year over virus concernsBy JOSH DUBOWSAN FRANCISCO (AP) Giants star catcher Buster Posey decided to opt out of the 2020 season Friday out of health concerns for his newly adopted twin baby girls during the coronavirus pandemic.The babies were born...

MLB releases 2021 schedule; all 30 teams to open on April 1NEW YORK (AP) Major League Baseball will open the 2021 season on April 1 and hopes to have every team play its first game on the same day for the first time since 1968.The league released the...

AP Sports WriterWinds of change? Company looks at weather's effect on ballBy JAY COHENCHICAGO (AP) The wind blowing out at Wrigley Field. The tricky breeze in San Francisco. The heat in Los Angeles.The weather is important business in baseball. But what kind of business is still being decided.Weather...

AP Baseball WriterGiants first baseman Brandon Belt sidelined by sore heelBy JANIE McCAULEYSAN FRANCISCO (AP) Giants first baseman Brandon Belt has been using a walking boot as he nurses a sore right heel that will keep him out at least a week.San Francisco manager Gabe Kapler said Belt...

AP Sports WriterJudgment error: Indians' Reyes sorry for not wearing maskBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) Franmil Reyes' first error this season was in judgment.The Indians' free-swinging slugger and outfielder apologized Thursday for endangering his health - and putting his teammates at risk - by not wearing a mask while...

AP Sports WriterNew extra-inning format stirs debate as teams plot strategyBy STEVE MEGARGEEMILWAUKEE (AP) Baseball has its answer to penalty kicks, overtimes and shootouts, and it figures to stir just as much debate as all those other forms of tiebreakers.Major League Baseball will start each extra inning in...

AP Sports WriterKimbrel looking to bounce back after tough debut with CubsBy JAY COHENCHICAGO (AP) With just 60 games this season, the Chicago Cubs need Craig Kimbrel to be better than he was last year.Much, much better.The 32-year-old Kimbrel is looking to bounce back from one of the...

AP Sports WriterUpcoming MLB free agents have fewer games to impressBy DAVID BRANDTPHOENIX (AP) Robbie Ray already knew 2020 would be a big season for his financial future because it's his last one before becoming a free agent.Now the Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander has less time to make a...

AP Baseball WriterGiants first baseman Brandon Belt sidelined by sore heelBy JANIE McCAULEYSAN FRANCISCO (AP) Giants first baseman Brandon Belt has been using a walking boot as he nurses a sore right heel that will keep him out at least a week.Manager Gabe Kapler said Belt would be...

AP Sports WriterNew center field backdrop has Dodgers hitters adjustingBy BETH HARRISLOS ANGELES (AP) The Los Angeles Dodgers were eager to show off $100 million worth of stadium renovations to fans and a national audience at the All-Star Game this summer.Turns out, it appears only players are going...

AP Sports WriterHealed Twins speedster Byron Buxton: 'I've got no limit'By DAVE CAMPBELLMINNEAPOLIS (AP) An array of injuries was largely responsible for the blight on the first five years of Byron Buxton's still-promising major league career, with surgery last fall to repair labrum damage in his left shoulder...

AP Sports WriterKimbrel looking to bounce back after tough debut with CubsBy JAY COHENCHICAGO (AP) With just 60 games this season, the Chicago Cubs need Craig Kimbrel to be better than he was last year.Much, much better.The 32-year-old Kimbrel is looking to bounce back from one of the...