MLB

Associated PressMets' Syndergaard prepared to start opening dayBy BILL WHITEHEADPORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) New York Mets manager Terry Collins has not officially revealed his opening day starter yet, waiting instead for a spring training announcement.The worst-kept secret around the Mets is that it will be Noah Syndergaard...

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) Theo Epstein is rising to a new reality. ''For the last few years I've had a semi-recurring dream, maybe five or six times, where I've woken up, wow, we just won the World Series with the Cubs. That's unbelievable,'' he recalled Monday night. ''And then about 10 seconds...

Rangers' Hamilton feeling no pain 7 weeks after knee surgeryDALLAS (AP) Texas Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton says he is feeling no pain seven weeks after extensive surgery on his left knee.Hamilton said Thursday he feels good but knows he still has healing to do and needs to go...

AP Baseball WriterStakes raised whenever prospects traded for starsBy NOAH TRISTERMaybe Brandon Finnegan will become a star someday. The former first-round draft pick is still only 23.But when Johnny Cueto was throwing a two-hitter in Game 2 of the World Series last year, Kansas City fans couldn't have cared...

TORONTO (AP) David Price pitched seven shutout innings and Jose Bautista had two hits as the Toronto Blue Jays used a three-run first inning to beat the New York Yankees 4-2 and pad their lead in the AL East division on Monday.Toronto moved clear of New York by...

AP Sports WriterRoberts' decision to stay with Blanton backfires for DodgersBy ANDREW SELIGMANCHICAGO (AP) Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made all the right moves in the previous playoff round. Sticking with Joe Blanton backfired in the NL Championship Series opener.Blanton gave up a tiebreaking grand slam to...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) The Kansas City Royals and their fans will throw one of the biggest parties in the city's history to celebrate the team's first World Series championship in 30 years.The Royals became World Series champions Sunday with a 7-2 victory in 12 innings over the...

AP Sports WriterCarlos Martinez agrees to $51M, 5-year deal with CardsBy DAVE SKRETTAIn the final days of negotiations, the biggest thing standing in the way of the St. Louis Cardinals signing pitcher Carlos Martinez to a long-term deal was a few hundred miles of ocean.''It's not easy to get...

A look at what's happening all around the major leagues today: ___ REMEMBERING THE DAY At Great American Ball Park, Camden Yards and every stadium where a big league game is played, there will be tributes to mark the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. Players, managers, coaches and umpires will wear...

LEADING OFF: Trade deadline - Sale, Lucroy, Beltran moving?By The Associated PressA look at what's happening all around the majors today:---TRADE WINDSLefty ace Chris Sale, All-Star catcher Jonathan Lucroy and postseason star Carlos Beltran might be on the move before the 4 p.m. EDT deadline for making trades without...

CHICAGO (AP) Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager is not in the lineup for their game Thursday night against the Chicago White Sox.Manager Lloyd McClendon said Seager was getting a day off and would be back in the Mariners' lineup Friday against the White Sox. Seager, 27, is...

Associated PressPhillies turn first triple play in Petco Park historyBy JAY PARISSAN DIEGO (AP) The Philadelphia Phillies turned the first triple play in Petco Park history , accomplishing the feat in the bottom of the seventh inning.With runners on first and second, Padres pinch-hitter Jabari Blash hit a...