Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony was removed from Tuesday's game against the Cleveland Gua...

<p>Boston Red Sox outfielder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/17320" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/17320">Roman Anthony</a> was removed from Tuesday's game against the Cleveland Guardians with left oblique tightness.</p><p>Anthony will undergo an MRI on Wednesday and will be reevaluated, manager Alex Cora said after his team's 11-7 win, per <a href="https://x.com/NESN/status/1963051703281823843">NESN</a>.</p><p>Anthony said postgame that he felt the tightness on a check-swing during his fourth-inning at-bat. He was seen holding his lower back and left side while walking back to the dugout after striking out in that plate appearance. He didn't take the field in the top of the fifth, and was replaced defensively by <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/14160" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/14160">Nate Eaton</a>.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Roman Anthony’s injury. <a href="https://t.co/2CA89lrfG7">pic.twitter.com/2CA89lrfG7</a></p>— Boston Strong (@BostonStrong_34) <a href="https://twitter.com/BostonStrong_34/status/1963026910847598885?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 2, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>The 21-year-old missed two games in August because of mid-back tightness.</p><p>"It sucks," Anthony said <a href="https://x.com/NESN/status/1963054150075162887">postgame</a>. "(I'm) hoping for the best and staying positive, but anytime I'm not out there I'm pretty pissed off.</p><p>"... I've been feeling great. And just took a check-swing, and felt it there, and knew something wasn't right.</p><p>Anthony, one of the favorites to win AL Rookie of the Year, is hitting .292/.396/.463 with eight home runs and 32 RBIs over 71 big-league games this season. The former No. 1 overall prospect signed an eight-year, $130-million extension with Boston in August.</p>

BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 2: Roman Anthony #19 of the Boston Red Sox holds his lower back as he heads for the dugout after swinging and missing at a third strike during the fourth inning at Fenway Park on September 2, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts.

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Roman Anthony to get MRI after exiting with oblique tightness

The Detroit Tigers are moving right-hander Chris Paddack to the bullpen, manager A.J. Hinch told ...

<p>The Detroit Tigers are moving right-hander <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/8243" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/8243">Chris Paddack</a> to the bullpen, manager A.J. Hinch told reporters Tuesday, including <a href="https://x.com/EvanPetzold/status/1962972460376379469">Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press</a>.</p><p>Paddack was one of the Tigers' marquee trade-deadline additions. He made his first relief appearance in two years on Tuesday, allowing six runs on eight hits - including two homers - while striking out one in 1 1/3 innings of work against the New York Mets.</p><p>Following Detroit's 12-5 loss, an emotional Paddack revealed that he'll be going on the bereavement list because of a death in his family, according to <a href="https://x.com/evanwoodbery/status/1963057515911901289">MLive's Evan Woodbery</a>.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"A.J. and them are giving me three days to go home and be with my family," Paddack <a href="https://x.com/evanwoodbery/status/1963059684895514713">said</a>. "Hopefully that is a little reset for me to be able to go back home and hug the loved ones. The reason I play this game is for them."</p><p>The Tigers acquired Paddack and minor-league right-hander Randy Dobnak from the Minnesota Twins on July 28 in exchange for catching prospect Enrique Jimenez. Paddack was supposed to solidify the back end of their rotation down the stretch; instead, he's been hit hard. Paddack entered Tuesday sporting the worst K/9 (4.2) and second-highest FIP (6.16) among all starters with at least 30 innings since the trade.</p><p><strong>Paddack's 2025 splits</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Team</th>
<th>IP</th>
<th>ERA</th>
<th>WHIP</th>
<th>K/9</th>
<th>HR</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Twins</td>
<td>111</td>
<td>4.95</td>
<td>1.28</td>
<td>6.7</td>
<td>17</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tigers</td>
<td>31.1</td>
<td>6.89</td>
<td>1.40</td>
<td>4.3</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>Paddack failed to record a strikeout in two of his six starts as a Tiger and allowed eight runs in 5.2 innings during a loss to the Twins on Aug. 17. In his most recent start Aug. 29, Paddack allowed three runs and two homers with no strikeouts in 3.2 innings against the Kansas City Royals.</p><p>The 29-year-old is in the final season of a $12.525-million contract he originally signed with Minnesota in 2023.</p><p>With Paddack now in the bullpen, Detroit's rotation plans for the weekend remain unclear. Sawyer Gipson-Long started Tuesday against the Mets after being recalled from Triple-A, while <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/10561" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/10561">Casey Mize</a> will get the series finale Wednesday afternoon. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/11799" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/11799">Tarik Skubal</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/5646" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/5646">Jack Flaherty</a>, and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/1117" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/1117">Charlie Morton</a> are likely to start against the Chicago White Sox in some order on the weekend.</p>

DETROIT, MI - AUGUST 23: Chris Paddack #40 of the Detroit Tigers with a new baseball while pitching against the Kansas City Royals during the second inning at Comerica Park on August 23, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan.

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Tigers move struggling deadline acquisition Paddack to bullpen

Milwaukee Brewers reliever Shelby Miller felt something pop in his right elbow moments before bei...

<p>Milwaukee Brewers reliever <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/1683" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/1683">Shelby Miller</a> felt something pop in his right elbow moments before being removed from Monday's game, manager Pat Murphy said following his team's 10-8 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies, according to <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamMcCalvy/status/1962664889240981798">Adam McCalvy of MLB.com</a>.</p><p>Murphy did not provide any further updates on Miller's injury or status.</p><p>Miller doubled over in pain after throwing a pitch to Max Kepler in the eighth inning Monday. It quickly became apparent that he couldn't continue, and walked off the mound alongside trainers.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/m/shelby-miller-exits-in-the-8th-with-apparent-injury?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share" width="560" height="315"></iframe></figure><p>(Video source: MLB.com)</p><p>A long-term absence for Miller would be another massive blow to the league-best Brewers' bullpen. Last week, Milwaukee lost closer Trevor Megill to a flexor strain. The Brewers signed Erick Fedde last week to add some back-end bullpen depth.</p><p>The 34-year-old Miller was making his 11th appearance with Milwaukee since being acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks at this year's trade deadline. At the time of the trade, Miller was on the injured list with a forearm strain.</p><p>Miller owns a 2.74 ERA and 1.04 WHIP with 54 strikeouts across 46 total innings with Arizona and Milwaukee this season.</p>

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 01: Shelby Miller #55 of the Milwaukee Brewers reacts as he walks back to the dugout after an apparent injury against the Philadelphia Phillies in the eighth inning at American Family Field on September 01, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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Brewers' Miller exits game after feeling pop in elbow

This one was weird even by Fenway Park standards.  Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story somehow ...

<p>This one was weird even by Fenway Park standards.</p><p>Boston Red Sox shortstop <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/4232" href="/mlb/players/4232">Trevor Story</a> somehow beat Pesky's Pole to collect what might be one of the strangest home runs in baseball history. During the sixth inning of Monday's game against the Cleveland Guardians, Story lifted a fly ball to the right-field corner that deflected off Guardians right fielder Jhonkensy Noel's glove, the infamous foul pole, and a fan - in some order. Umpires initially ruled it a foul ball, but the Red Sox challenged and had the call overturned to a homer because it touched Noel first.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The ruling on the field is ... HOME RUN!?<br><br>You see something new every day in this beautiful game! <a href="https://t.co/kw0S5YBsuz">pic.twitter.com/kw0S5YBsuz</a></p>— NESN (@NESN) <a href="https://twitter.com/NESN/status/1962605895600222623?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 1, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>The hit officially went down as a 306-foot homer for Story, making it the second-shortest non-inside-the-park round-tripper of the Statcast era (since 2015), according to <a href="https://x.com/SlangsOnSports/status/1962609993397539320">Sarah Langs of MLB.com</a>. The only one shorter was a 302-foot shot by the Kansas City Royals' Lorenzo Cain in 2017 that also scraped by Pesky's Pole.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Red Sox manager Alex Cora credited replay coordinator Mike Brenly with noticing the sequence and getting him to challenge the initial foul call.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Alex Cora on Mike Brenly telling everyone in the dugout they had to challenge the Trevor Story homer.🫡 <a href="https://t.co/ABcjWwDD8k">pic.twitter.com/ABcjWwDD8k</a></p>— Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) <a href="https://twitter.com/tylermilliken_/status/1962619934195736939?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 1, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Story's hit, which would only have been a home run in Fenway, gave the Red Sox a 6-3 lead. They held on to beat Cleveland 6-4 and move within 2.5 games of the first-place Toronto Blue Jays.</p>

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 01: Trevor Story #10 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates with his teammates wearing a mascot mask after hitting a solo home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the sixth inning at Fenway Park on September 01, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts.

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Watch: Story records strange HR after ball clanks off glove, pole, fan

The Atlanta Braves claimed former Gold Glove infielder Ha-Seong Kim off waivers from the Tampa Ba...

<p>The Atlanta Braves claimed former Gold Glove infielder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12593" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12593">Ha-Seong Kim</a> off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays, they announced Monday.</p><p>By claiming Kim, Atlanta assumes the remainder of the two-year, $29-million contract he signed with the Rays this past winter. He's owed around $2 million over the final month of this season and holds a $16-million player option for 2026.</p><p>Kim was on the injured list with lower back inflammation at the time of the transaction, although he was originally expected to be activated and play for the Rays on Monday night, according to <a href="https://x.com/TBTimes_Rays/status/1962579695171408069">Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times</a>.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The 29-year-old Korean represented a rare high-profile free-agent signing for the small-market Rays. However, his career in Tampa amounted to just 24 games, as he missed the first half of this season while recovering from shoulder surgery.</p><p>Atlanta now gets to audition Kim for a potential infield spot in 2026, provided he opts into the final year of his contract. A natural shortstop, Kim has experience at multiple positions and won the 2023 NL utility Gold Glove for his positive defense at shortstop, second, and third base.</p><p>For now, Kim can fill in for the injured <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/8131" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/8131">Austin Riley</a> at the hot corner down the stretch. If he returns in 2026, a healthy Kim could be an upgrade at shortstop over <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12359" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12359">Nick Allen</a> and potentially one half of a talented double-play combination with <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/4916" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/4916">Ozzie Albies</a>.</p><p>Riley, who underwent season-ending core surgery in August, was transferred to the 60-day injured list to open Kim's 40-man roster spot.</p><p>Originally signed by the San Diego Padres in 2021 following years of stardom in the KBO, Kim is a lifetime .241/.325/.377 hitter with 49 homers, 205 RBIs, and 84 stolen bases over 564 big-league games.</p><p>For the Rays, moving on from Kim allows top prospect <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/16372" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/16372">Carson Williams</a> to remain in the majors and potentially secure the starting shortstop job for 2026. Williams, 22, has hit .250/.300/.429 with a homer, six RBIs, and two walks over 30 plate appearances since being called up after Kim's injury two weeks ago.</p><p>Tampa Bay also recalled right-hander Kevin Kelly from Triple-A and reinstated utility player Richie Palacios from the 60-day IL ahead of Monday's game.</p>

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 17: Ha-Seong Kim #7 of the Tampa Bay Rays looks on before the game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on August 17, 2025 in San Francisco, California.

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Braves claim Kim off waivers from Rays

Frankie Montas' 2025 season is over after the New York Mets right-hander sustained a "significant...

<p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/5006" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/5006">Frankie Montas</a>' 2025 season is over after the New York Mets right-hander sustained a "significant" injury to his right ulnar collateral ligament, manager Carlos Mendoza announced Saturday, per <a href="https://x.com/SNY_Mets/status/1959365589496991934">SNY</a>.</p><p>The full nature of his injury isn't clear yet, as doctors are still examining Montas' elbow. However, Mendoza did acknowledge that it's "possible" he will need Tommy John surgery. That procedure would likely put his 2026 campaign in jeopardy.</p><p>This is the first major elbow injury of Montas' career. He did miss most of the 2023 season following shoulder surgery.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The Mets signed Montas to a two-year, $34-million contract this past winter. He can opt out of the deal at season's end.</p><p>The 32-year-old's Mets tenure began inauspiciously, as he suffered a lat strain in spring training and didn't make his regular-season debut until June. Montas ended up making just nine big-league appearances this year, putting up a 6.28 ERA and 1.60 WHIP over 38 2/3 innings. </p><p>He was demoted to the bullpen earlier this month amid his struggles, and last pitched Aug. 15.</p><p>"It's hard for him," Mendoza <a href="https://x.com/SNYtv/status/1959368085963448734">said</a>. "He was pretty devastated yesterday when he found out, and rightfully so. It's been a hard year for him."</p><p>The Mets' pitching staff has been hit hard by injuries all year. New York lost <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/9562" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/9562">Griffin Canning</a> to a season-ending Achilles injury in June and is still without <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12918" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12918">Tylor Megill</a>, who's rehabbing from a shoulder sprain. Multiple relievers are also sidelined with an array of injuries.</p><p>New York recalled right-hander Huascar Brazobán from Triple-A Syracuse in a corresponding roster move after placing Montas on the 15-day IL.</p>

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 28: Frankie Montas #47 of the New York Mets prepares to pitch against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at Petco Park on July 28, 2025 in San Diego, California.

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Mets' Montas out for season with 'significant' UCL injury

Philadelphia Phillies starter Zack Wheeler was recommended to undergo thoracic outlet decompressi...

<p>Philadelphia Phillies starter <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/2917" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/2917">Zack Wheeler</a> was recommended to undergo thoracic outlet decompression surgery in the coming weeks and will miss the remainder of the 2025 season, the team announced Saturday.</p><p>He's expected to undergo the procedure in the next few weeks.</p><p>Wheeler had a procedure to remove a blood clot in his right arm earlier this week. After follow-up exams, he was diagnosed with venous thoracic outlet syndrome, which requires a different surgery to fix. The recovery time from his upcoming procedure is around six-to-eight months.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"We figure that he'll come back in the six-to-eight month time period and come back and be the Zack Wheeler of old," president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said, according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6571385/2025/08/23/phillies-zack-wheeler-season-ending-surgery/">Matt Gelb of The Athletic</a>. "That's what we've been told. Unless something unanticipated happened, he'll be able to come back and pitch like he has before this."</p><p>Head athletic trainer Paul Buccheit added that Wheeler is "doing fine," and said that surgeons told the Phillies that the prognosis is "really good," per Gelb.</p><p>The 35-year-old Wheeler was in the midst of another strong campaign with a 2.71 ERA in 24 starts while leading the majors in strikeouts (195) and WHIP (0.935). Wheeler was an All-Star for the third time in six seasons last month.</p><p>Wheeler is in the first season of a three-year, $126-million extension signed in March 2024. He initially joined Philadelphia on a five-year, $118-million contract in 2020.</p><p>The Phillies hold a six-game lead on the New York Mets in the NL East.</p>

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 15: Zack Wheeler #45 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Friday, August 15, 2025 in Washington, District of Columbia.

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Phillies' Wheeler expected to miss 6-8 months due to shoulder injury

New York Mets superstar Juan Soto isn't losing any faith despite his team's ongoing tailspin.  Th...

<p>New York Mets superstar <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/8271" href="/mlb/players/8271">Juan Soto</a> isn't losing any faith despite his team's ongoing tailspin.</p><p>The Mets suffered another critical loss Thursday, blowing an early lead in a 9-3 defeat to the Washington Nationals. Still, Soto sees no reason for panic when it comes to New York's playoff hopes, which are suddenly hanging by a thread.</p><p>"100%," Soto told reporters when asked if he thinks the Mets are still a playoff team, per <a href="https://x.com/SNYtv/status/1958672351605801096">SNY</a>. "Since day one, we believe in each other and we think we can make it to the playoffs."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Thursday's loss trimmed the Mets' hold on the final NL wild-card spot to just a half-game over the idle Cincinnati Reds. New York held a 1 1/2-game lead in the NL East on July 27. Since that date, the team has gone 5-16 and lost six of seven series during that span.</p><p>Soto, who signed a historic $765-million contract with the Mets this past offseason, has been enduring his own cold stretch. He's hitting .167/.344/.417 over the last week, and went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts Thursday.</p><p>With just over five weeks left in the season, the pressure is mounting on the Mets to maintain their hold on a playoff spot. The 26-year-old recognizes the urgency, while also trying to keep things calm as the club tries to work out of this funk.</p><p>"I mean, it ain't late but it ain't early, either," Soto <a href="https://x.com/SNYtv/status/1958671706219778311">said</a>. "We have to win today. We don't have to be focused on what is gonna happen in the future, or what happened in the past. We gotta focus on what we can do today."</p><p> </p>

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 20: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Mets react after striking out in the fourth inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on August 20, 2025 in Washington, DC.

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Soto '100%' believes Mets make playoffs despite ongoing funk

The Houston Astros signed veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel to a major-league contract, the club ann...

<p>The Houston Astros signed veteran reliever <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/1378" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/1378">Craig Kimbrel</a> to a major-league contract, the club announced Friday.</p><p>Kimbrel had been pitching for the Texas Rangers' Triple-A affiliate since June. Texas released him earlier Thursday, clearing the way for his move across the state.</p><p>Kimbrel put up a 3.86 ERA and 1.14 WHIP with 28 strikeouts, 12 walks, and five saves over 24 appearances with Round Rock prior to his release.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The 37-year-old endured a woeful 2024 campaign with the Baltimore Orioles, leading him to begin this year with the Atlanta Braves' Triple-A club on a minor-league deal. He made one big-league appearance with Atlanta in June before being released and catching on with Texas.</p><p>Houston has been in need of front-end bullpen reinforcements after closer <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/5307" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/5307">Josh Hader</a> suffered a shoulder injury earlier this month. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/10590" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/10590">Bryan Abreu</a> has been the Astros' primary closer in Hader's absence.</p><p>One of the most decorated closers in MLB history, Kimbrel's 440 saves rank fifth all-time. The nine-time All-Star is also a four-time Reliever of the Year award winner, and helped the Boston Red Sox win a World Series in 2018.</p><p>Kimbrel was an All-Star with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2023. However, he fell off with the Orioles, posting a 5.33 ERA and a career-worst 5.3 BB/9 rate over 57 appearances before being released in mid-September.</p>

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 6: Craig Kimbrel #46 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the game at Oracle Park on June 6, 2025 in San Francisco, California.

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Astros sign former All-Star Kimbrel to MLB deal

Chicago Cubs star Kyle Tucker's second-half struggles might be explained by injury.  Tucker playe...

<p>Chicago Cubs star <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/8173" href="/mlb/players/8173">Kyle Tucker</a>'s second-half struggles might be explained by injury.</p><p>Tucker played through a hairline fracture in his right hand that was originally diagnosed in June, manager Craig Counsell confirmed Wednesday, according to <a href="https://x.com/JesseRogersESPN/status/1958363744192569529">ESPN's Jesse Rogers</a>.</p><p>Counsell also noted that Tucker's hand is now fully healed.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The four-time All-Star initially sustained the injury on a slide during the Cubs' June 1 game against Cincinnati. He left that contest early with what the team called a jammed finger. However, follow-up X-rays revealed the fracture at the top of his right hand, sources told <a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46034596/cubs-tucker-diagnosed-june-fracture-hand">Rogers</a>.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/m/kyle-tucker-exits-the-game-early-against-the-reds?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share" width="560" height="315"></iframe></figure><p>(Video source: MLB.com)</p><p>Tucker opted to play through the issue instead of being placed on the injured list, Rogers reports. He continued to be a consistent presence in the Cubs' lineup until this week, when his struggles prompted manager Craig Counsell to give him some <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3327387" href="https://thescore.com/news/3327387">time off</a>.</p><p>"I'm fine," Tucker told Rogers on Tuesday. "I've played, for the most part, every game this year. I'm fine going out there."</p><p>On Thursday, Tucker elaborated that he didn't want to take time off because the injury wasn't impacting anything he could do on the field.</p><p>"I was doing fine and everything, still playing well," he added, according to <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/kyle-tucker-on-deciding-to-play-through-hairline-fracture-in-hand">Jordan Bastian of MLB.com</a>. "So, I was just like, 'I'm going to keep playing.' There wasn't really a need to go on an IL, because I could still do everything. It was more like a pain tolerance at that point rather than like I physically couldn't do anything."</p><p>Tucker was garnering NL MVP consideration during a red-hot first half that saw him be named an All-Star starter. However, the 28-year-old has fallen off since the break and has been one of the worst hitters in MLB during the second half.</p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Date</th>
<th>PA</th>
<th>OPS</th>
<th>HR</th>
<th>RBI</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Before 6/1</td>
<td>269</td>
<td>.918</td>
<td>12</td>
<td>39</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>After 6/1</td>
<td>264</td>
<td>.721</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>23</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>The Cubs were in first place in the NL Central on June 1. Since then, Chicago has fallen six games back of Milwaukee in the division, although the team remains in a playoff position as the NL's top wild-card team.</p><p>Chicago acquired Tucker from the Houston Astros for three players last winter. He'll be a free agent this coming offseason.</p>

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 18: Kyle Tucker #30 of the Chicago Cubs looks on from the on deck area in a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field on August 18, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.

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Cubs' Tucker played through fractured hand

New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge seemed to take issue with manager Aaron Boone's comments a...

<p>New York Yankees superstar <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/4773" href="/mlb/players/4773">Aaron Judge</a> seemed to take issue with manager Aaron Boone's comments about a timeline for his return to the outfield.</p><p>Earlier Tuesday, Boone <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3327789" href="https://thescore.com/news/3327789">told WFAN</a> that he wasn't sure when Judge would be ready to play right field again. He added that Judge, who hasn't played the field since late July due to an elbow injury, might not be able to throw "normally" for the rest of the season.</p><p>"I don't know why he said that," Judge said when asked about Boone's comment, according to <a href="https://x.com/GaryHPhillips/status/1957925665702904231">Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News</a>. "He hasn't seen me throw for the past two weeks, so I'm pretty confident I'll get back to (100%)."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Boone later walked back his initial remark while meeting with reporters before Tuesday's game in Tampa, <a href="http://x.com/GaryHPhillips/status/1957919833989038112">saying</a> he "overstated" the issue. He also clarified that he was trying to temper expectations about how Judge might perform in right field.</p><p>"I'm just saying, is he going to come back and be the 70-80 (grade) arm that he normally is?" Boone said, per <a href="https://www.nydailynews.com/2025/08/19/yankees-aaron-judge-questions-why-aaron-boone-said-he-wont-throw-normally-again-this-year-i-dont-know-why-he-said-that/?share=aoweoag0togc5oktkaaa">Phillips</a>. "I don't know that I'm expecting that necessarily, but when we get him out there, I would expect him to be able to handle himself.</p><p>"I was trying to say, initially, I don't expect him coming out and making Aaron Judge throws that we've become accustomed to seeing."</p><p>However, it still remains unclear when Judge might return to his regular position. According to <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/aaron-judge-throwing-likely-impacted-for-rest-of-2025">Bryan Hoch of MLB.com</a>, the two-time MVP has been ramping up his throwing program, recently increasing his range to 150 feet.</p><p>Judge's absence in the outfield has resulted in the Yankees running out a makeshift defensive lineup in August.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/1388" href="/mlb/players/1388">Giancarlo Stanton</a>, the team's regular DH who dealt with elbow problems earlier this year, has been forced back into the outfield for the first time in two years. Stanton is playing right field on Tuesday, marking his first starting assignment in nearly a week.</p>

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 12: Aaron Boone #17 and Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees look on before the game against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium on August 12, 2025 in New York, New York.

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Judge: 'I don't know why' Boone said I won't throw normally again

MLB's regular season is heading for a thrilling finish, with division titles and playoff spots de...

<p>MLB's regular season is heading for a thrilling finish, with division titles and playoff spots decided over the final seven weeks. Here, we look at the tightest races and how we think they'll end up.</p><h3>Who wins the NL West?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797511/cropped_GettyImages-2221192974.jpg?ts=1755179564" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797511/w220xh124_GettyImages-2221192974.jpg?ts=1755179564 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797511/w320xh180_GettyImages-2221192974.jpg?ts=1755179564 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797511/w640xh360_GettyImages-2221192974.jpg?ts=1755179564 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797511/w768xh432_GettyImages-2221192974.jpg?ts=1755179564 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797511/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2221192974.jpg?ts=1755179564 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Padres:</strong> The reigning World Series champions are in some trouble, and the Padres are taking advantage. San Diego has lost only three contests since July 26 and holds a one-game lead over L.A. atop the division. The timing couldn't be better, given the SoCal rivals are about to play each other six times over the next 10 days. The Padres also have a unique swagger. Not only are they not afraid of the star-studded Dodgers, but they believe they're the better team. San Diego clearly sees a complacent squad that thought it could sleepwalk to October and has seized the opportunity. The road to the NL West is running through San Diego in 2025. <em>- Sharkey-Gotlieb</em></p><p><strong>Dodgers:</strong> There's no denying that Los Angeles is in a funk. The team is 10-14 in the second half and has watched its nine-game lead in the division evaporate. But still, these are the reigning World Series champion Dodgers, winners of 11 of the last 12 NL West titles. The pitching staff is finally starting to get healthy, Max Muncy is back to inject some more life into the offense, and Mookie Betts is showing signs of coming out of his season-long malaise. The bullpen is a legitimate concern, but this is a veteran, battle-tested team that knows how to flip the switch when things matter most. Maybe this upcoming series with the Padres is exactly what the Dodgers need to get their groove back. <em>- Wile</em></p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Who wins the AL West?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797513/cropped_GettyImages-2226199239.jpg?ts=1755179753" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797513/w220xh124_GettyImages-2226199239.jpg?ts=1755179753 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797513/w320xh180_GettyImages-2226199239.jpg?ts=1755179753 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797513/w640xh360_GettyImages-2226199239.jpg?ts=1755179753 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797513/w768xh432_GettyImages-2226199239.jpg?ts=1755179753 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797513/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2226199239.jpg?ts=1755179753 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Alika Jenner / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Mariners: </strong>For years, everyone has looked at the Mariners and said, "If only they could find some offense." Well, they've finally found it, and look where they are. Josh Naylor has been an absolute revelation for Seattle, serving as an anchor and spark plug for the entire unit. Thanks to Naylor and pitching, the Mariners have climbed to within 1.5 games of Houston at the top of the division despite Eugenio Suárez's post-trade struggles and Cal Raleigh's second-half slump. Once those two get going again, a lineup of Raleigh, Suárez, Naylor, Randy Arozarena, and Julio Rodríguez will be hard to beat. The AL West is wide open, and the Mariners have all the ingredients to knock off Houston. This is finally their year. <em>- Sharkey-Gotlieb</em></p><p><strong>Astros:</strong> It feels like we've been trying to predict the fall of Houston for years, and the team keeps finding new ways to win. The Astros have held the division lead since June 3 despite an overwhelming amount of injuries, and now they're starting to get healthy at the right time (with the exception of Josh Hader). Cristian Javier made his season debut earlier this week. Luis Garcia, Lance McCullers Jr., and Yordan Alvarez are also expected to rejoin the club at some point in the near future. Don't sleep on the impact of Carlos Correa's reunion with the organization, either. Not only will he help the offense, but his addition at third base gives the squad another excellent defender who brings exceptional leadership. Considering the Astros have the easiest schedule of any AL team down the stretch, it's hard not to consider them the favorites to win a fifth-straight division title. <em>- Wile </em></p><h3>Who wins the AL East?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797515/cropped_GettyImages-2222770718.jpg?ts=1755180232" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797515/w220xh124_GettyImages-2222770718.jpg?ts=1755180232 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797515/w320xh180_GettyImages-2222770718.jpg?ts=1755180232 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797515/w640xh360_GettyImages-2222770718.jpg?ts=1755180232 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797515/w768xh432_GettyImages-2222770718.jpg?ts=1755180232 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797515/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2222770718.jpg?ts=1755180232 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Paul Rutherford / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Blue Jays: </strong>How can you doubt them at this point? John Schneider's Blue Jays seem to be passing every test thrown their way en route to opening up a sizeable division lead and grabbing the AL's best record. Their remaining schedule isn't soft, but it's spread out favorably. After Sept. 11, Toronto plays only three games against teams that currently own a winning record. The Blue Jays will also soon get George Springer and a fresh Shane Bieber back to help down the stretch. And, like last year's Tigers, this club is playing with house money because nobody was expecting this kind of run - and those are the most dangerous kinds of teams. Toronto hangs on to take the division. <em>- Sharkey-Gotlieb</em></p><p><strong>Red Sox: </strong>It's probably going to be the Blue Jays, especially with them holding a five-game lead plus the critical tiebreaker over Boston and New York. Still, I'm not ready to count out one last push by the Red Sox down the stretch to at least make things interesting. Alex Cora's club has a favorable schedule, with only 13 of its final 40 games against teams currently in a playoff spot, including three against Toronto. Boston has gone 24-12 over the last two months, led by an offense that ranks ninth in MLB in runs scored since the All-Star break and a pitching staff that owns the AL's third-lowest ERA over that time. Kristian Campbell's resurgence in Triple-A could also open the door to a promotion soon, giving the offense another potentially dynamic bat for the final push.<em> - Wile </em></p><h3>Do the Yankees make the playoffs?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797516/cropped_GettyImages-2230040963.jpg?ts=1755180416" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797516/w220xh124_GettyImages-2230040963.jpg?ts=1755180416 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797516/w320xh180_GettyImages-2230040963.jpg?ts=1755180416 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797516/w640xh360_GettyImages-2230040963.jpg?ts=1755180416 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797516/w768xh432_GettyImages-2230040963.jpg?ts=1755180416 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797516/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2230040963.jpg?ts=1755180416 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Jim McIsaac / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>No: </strong>The Yankees play incredibly sloppy baseball. Sloppy teams rarely make it to October. The time for them to correct these mistakes was in May or June, not mid-to-late August, when you're starting to peek at the scoreboard. New York has allowed Toronto and Boston to fly past it in the AL East and is suddenly clinging to a half-game lead over Cleveland for the final AL wild-card spot.<strong> </strong>Making matters worse, the Yankees have already lost head-to-head tiebreakers with the Astros, Blue Jays, and Tigers, and they're close to losing it against the Red Sox, too. At this point, the hole is so deep it might be too difficult for New York to get out of. <em>- Sharkey-Gotlieb</em></p><p><strong>Yes: </strong>It feels like the Yankees do this same song and dance every year: they build what feels like an insurmountable lead in the division, play so poorly that we question Aaron Boone's and Brian Cashman's futures, and then somehow figure it out in time to make a run through the playoffs. This edition of the Bronx Bombers is incredibly flawed, but it's also incredibly talented. The new bullpen additions will acclimate themselves to New York, Giancarlo Stanton hasn't been a disaster in the outfield while crushing the ball, and Aaron Judge appears to have avoided the worst with his injury. Another thing working in the Yankees' favor is they own the AL's second-easiest schedule to end the season, and the teams chasing them - the Guardians, Rangers, and Royals - have their own flaws.<em> - Wile </em></p><h3>Do the Mets make the playoffs?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797517/cropped_GettyImages-2230031510.jpg?ts=1755180565" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797517/w220xh124_GettyImages-2230031510.jpg?ts=1755180565 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797517/w320xh180_GettyImages-2230031510.jpg?ts=1755180565 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797517/w640xh360_GettyImages-2230031510.jpg?ts=1755180565 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797517/w768xh432_GettyImages-2230031510.jpg?ts=1755180565 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797517/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2230031510.jpg?ts=1755180565 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Al Bello / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Yes: </strong>In contrast to their civic rival, the Mets are going to be fine. Yes, they aren't playing particularly well of late, but holding onto an NL wild-card spot should be easier since there are fewer contenders to fend off compared to the AL. Seven games against the Phillies also offer a potential opening to gain ground. Meanwhile, the team closest to New York in the wild-card standings, Cincinnati, has one of the toughest remaining schedules. This isn't to say that the Mets will go far in October - they have glaring issues - but they'll get there. <em>- Sharkey-Gotlieb</em></p><p><strong>No:</strong> New York owns the worst record (2-10) in the majors in August and has lost its last five series. Despite Pete Alonso and Juan Soto combining for 10 home runs this month, the pitching staff has gotten crushed, posting a 5.30 ERA. All five of New York's starters have an ERA over 4.50 in August, leaving the offense struggling to keep up. Things don't get any easier for the Mets either, as 25 of their final 41 games are against teams with winning records. While it's true the Reds have a difficult schedule, they have a deep pitching staff that just got Hunter Greene back and a roster capable of going on a run. <em>- Wile</em></p>

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Breaking down MLB's best races down the stretch 

The San Diego Padres placed starting pitcher Michael King on the 15-day injured list with left kn...

<p>The San Diego Padres placed starting pitcher <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/9842" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/9842">Michael King</a> on the 15-day injured list with left knee inflammation, the team announced Thursday.</p><p>In a corresponding move, the Padres recalled right-hander <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/14786" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/14786">Randy Vásquez</a> from Triple-A El Paso.</p><p>King's latest injury comes just two days after he returned from a nearly three-month-long IL stint due to shoulder inflammation. The 30-year-old started Saturday against the Boston Red Sox but lasted just two-plus innings, allowing two runs on four hits with one strikeout on 57 pitches.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>San Diego had listed King as its scheduled starter for Friday's series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers before placing him on the IL. The team has yet to announce a new starter for Friday. Vásquez could be a candidate, as his most recent Triple-A start was a 68-pitch outing Sunday, according to <a href="https://x.com/dennistlin/status/1956113561505366097">Dennis Lin of The Athletic</a>.</p><p>King owns a 2.81 ERA and 1.09 WHIP with 65 strikeouts and one shutout over his 11 starts this season.</p><p>The Padres head into this weekend's critical series at Dodger Stadium sitting first in the NL West, one game above their NL West rivals.</p>

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 09: Michael King #34 of the San Diego Padres pitches against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning at Petco Park on August 09, 2025 in San Diego, California.

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Padres' King returns to IL with knee inflammation after 1 start

The Pohlad family, longtime owners of the Minnesota Twins, announced Wednesday that they're no lo...

<p>The Pohlad family, longtime owners of the Minnesota Twins, announced Wednesday that they're no longer pursuing a sale of the team and will retain majority ownership.</p><p>In a statement, the family said that new limited partners will join the ownership group.</p><p>"Over the past several months, we explored a wide range of potential investment and ownership opportunities," the Pohlad family wrote. "Our focus throughout has been on what's best for the long-term future of the Twins. We have been fully open to all possibilities.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"After a detailed and robust process, our family will remain the principal owner of the Minnesota Twins. To strengthen the club in a rapidly evolving sports landscape - one that demands strong partnerships, fresh ideas, and long-term vision - we are in the process of adding two significant limited partnership groups, each of whom will bring a wealth of experience and share our family values."</p><p>Chairman Joe Pohlad told <a href="https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-twins-sale-pohlad-family/601454378">Phil Miller of the Minnesota Star Tribune</a> that one of the two new investment groups joining the ownership is Minnesota-based. He added that MLB is currently in the process of approving the new partners and their identities could be made public within the next few weeks.</p><p>The Pohlads began exploring a sale in October and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3249969" href="https://thescore.com/news/3249969">reportedly</a> set a price of at least $1.7 billion.</p><p>Billionaire Justin Ishbia appeared to be the front-runner to purchase the franchise. However, Ishbia ultimately backed out and increased his minority ownership stake in the Chicago White Sox instead.</p><p>Carl Pohlad purchased the Twins for $44 million from Calvin Griffith in 1984. Under his watch, the team won World Series championships in 1987 and '91 and moved from the multipurpose Metrodome into Target Field.</p><p>After Carl's death in 2009, his son Jim was elevated to chairman. Joe, Jim's nephew, took over day-to-day operations as the team's control person in 2022, while Jim remained as the Twins' executive chair. Carl's two other sons, Bill and Bob, are also board members.</p><p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/justinteitelbaum/2025/03/26/baseballs-most-valuable-teams-2025/">Forbes</a> valued the Twins at $1.5 billion this past March. However, the team is also operating with a debt of $425 million, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6529725/2025/08/01/minnesota-twins-trade-carlos-correa-astros/">The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Dan Hayes</a> reported earlier in August.</p><p>In 2023, the Twins won their first playoff series in 21 years but missed the postseason the following year after a late-season collapse.</p><p>Minnesota was a seller at this year's trade deadline, dealing away 11 players amid a disappointing 2025 campaign. The most notable trade sent <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/3992" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/3992">Carlos Correa</a>, a marquee free-agent addition in the middle of a $200-million contract, back to the Houston Astros in what amounted to a salary dump.</p><p>"Those were truly primarily baseball decisions," Joe Pohlad told Miller. "It certainly set us up for more (financial) flexibility, but they were primarily baseball decisions."</p>

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - AUGUST 5: A general view of a Twins logo during a game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on August 5, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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Pohlad family no longer selling Twins

HAMILTON, Ontario - Just over an hour before first pitch at Bernie Arbour Memorial Stadium, the l...

<p>HAMILTON, Ontario - Just over an hour before first pitch at Bernie Arbour Memorial Stadium, the line to greet Fernando Rodney in the outfield is long. Kids who just finished shagging flies during batting practice are now swarming the former three-time All-Star for autographs as he warms up.</p><p>Everyone's in luck. Rodney - easily the most famous baseball player to ever call Hamilton home - is patient and gracious in interacting with each of his admirers.</p><p>A few hours later, Rodney makes the long trek to the makeshift left-field bullpen during the fifth inning. There's still a game going on, but no matter - Rodney's signing anything coming his way, posing for photos, and conversing with all ages in both English and Spanish. Some kids are wearing their caps crooked in honor of their unlikely hometown hero. Many around the ballpark mimic his famous celebration.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"A lot of kids ask me, 'How do you do the arrow?' Every time they ask me for a picture, they say, 'Can we do the arrow?'" Rodney told theScore earlier this month. "(I say) 'Yes, let's do it.'"</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/796980/cropped_P1010695.jpg?ts=1754674184" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/796980/w220xh124_P1010695.jpg?ts=1754674184 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/796980/w320xh180_P1010695.jpg?ts=1754674184 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/796980/w640xh360_P1010695.jpg?ts=1754674184 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/796980/w768xh432_P1010695.jpg?ts=1754674184 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/796980/w1080xh607_P1010695.jpg?ts=1754674184 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Simon Sharkey-Gotlieb</span></figcaption></figure><p>Nearly six years after throwing his last MLB pitch, Rodney, now 48, is still firing his bow and arrow after saves. Except he's now doing it for the Hamilton Cardinals of the Intercounty Baseball League, a Southern Ontario semi-pro circuit where salary is essentially free housing and a meal allowance - and that's just the way he likes it. Rodney has found the soul of his sport at a rickety old stadium within a blue-collar Canadian steel town.</p><p>"We had the school day here, it was all the local school kids," Cardinals owner Eric Spearin told theScore. "We were sold out, and he said to me, he's like, 'Eric, this is baseball.' Like, the kids being excited. He just loves the game so much and likes seeing others excited about it too."</p><p>--</p><p>The IBL has a long and storied history in Canadian baseball circles. Established in 1919, its teams are scattered throughout the Greater Toronto Area and Southwestern Ontario. Most players are Canadian, although teams are allowed up to five "imports." Games are only on weekends from mid-May through to the championship in early September.</p><p>There's a <a href="https://www.theibl.ca/mlb-alumni">surprisingly long list</a> of IBL alumni who have played in "The Show." Sometimes, a player passes through en route to fame: Jesse Orosco, MLB's all-time leader in appearances, threw a no-hitter for Cambridge in 1977, two years before he debuted with the Mets. Mostly, though, the most famous names are recognizable only to hardcore Canadian baseball fans.</p><p>This all makes Rodney and his 327 big-league saves quite the anomaly in the IBL. It also begs an important question: How the heck do you even convince a Dominican baseball icon to spend a summer in Hamilton, of all places?</p><p>"I just told him, we pay for the food and the housing, ... (and he said) 'Sure, I'll come,'" Spearin said with an almost disbelieving chuckle. "He's like, 'Let's do the paperwork right now.' We just did it on the spot in the D.R."</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/796981/cropped_rodney_pitching_white_jersey.jpg?ts=1754674581" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/796981/w220xh124_rodney_pitching_white_jersey.jpg?ts=1754674581 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/796981/w320xh180_rodney_pitching_white_jersey.jpg?ts=1754674581 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/796981/w640xh360_rodney_pitching_white_jersey.jpg?ts=1754674581 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/796981/w768xh432_rodney_pitching_white_jersey.jpg?ts=1754674581 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/796981/w1080xh607_rodney_pitching_white_jersey.jpg?ts=1754674581 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Ethan Hammond-Srsan / Hamilton Cardinals</span></figcaption></figure><p>Spearin, 37, bought his hometown baseball team in 2022 and quickly upgraded all aspects of the Cardinals' operations, although he wasn't initially searching for a star name to sell tickets. Signing Rodney fell into his lap thanks in large part to the pitcher's good friendship with Hamilton's manager, Luis Bernardo.</p><p>"Eric came to the Dominican, knocked (on) my door a couple times, and he asked me if I want to keep playing. The door is open here," Rodney told theScore. "So I sit and think about it first and say, 'OK, I like it, to go see how the league is, and I think it's proper.' And when players like me come here, I think it opens the door for the next generation if you'd like to come to play baseball."</p><p>Pitching in Hamilton means Rodney's spending his summer rooming with his fellow Latin American teammates in a house owned by the Cardinals. "We have fun over there," he said with a smile. Road trips are hardly first class; bus rides can range from 40 minutes to 2 1/2 hours, depending on traffic and destination. Not that he cares.</p><p>"There's a vibe (like) I'm younger. I'm traveling, (like) playing in West Michigan, road trip on the bus, in Lakeland, in Erie, Toledo," Rodney said, fondly recalling his days as a Detroit Tigers prospect. "And (I) remember when I took the bus. What kind of conversations we had in (the) back - veterans in the back, the younger guys in the front.</p><p>"So this reminded me, like, (of) beautiful moments (in the minors). So now I can share it with these guys, and they're good, they feel good."</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/796982/cropped_rodney_fun.jpg?ts=1754674719" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/796982/w220xh124_rodney_fun.jpg?ts=1754674719 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/796982/w320xh180_rodney_fun.jpg?ts=1754674719 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/796982/w640xh360_rodney_fun.jpg?ts=1754674719 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/796982/w768xh432_rodney_fun.jpg?ts=1754674719 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/796982/w1080xh607_rodney_fun.jpg?ts=1754674719 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Ethan Hammond-Srsan / Hamilton Cardinals</span></figcaption></figure><p>Everybody around the Cardinals seems to have a Rodney story, from his organizing a pitcher's Home Run Derby - Rodney calls himself a "power hitter" and proudly points out where he homered in right field - to seeing him serve as bat boy for the Cardinals' under-22 team on a random afternoon.</p><p>"We've met guys before that have had a cup of coffee in the majors or whatever, and sometimes they come in with demands that this league can't meet," Spearin said. "But when I met Rodney, I was like, 'Oh, this is gonna work.' Because he's just so chill. He was so laid back.</p><p>"He says it best himself. This is like a hobby for him, like fishing or dominos. He just still likes to play baseball."</p><p>--</p><p>Of course, the main reason Rodney's in Hamilton is to pitch, and he's been pretty effective for a 48-year-old.</p><p>Despite a 4.02 ERA that Spearin chalked up to the IBL's smaller ballparks, Rodney's six saves are tied for third in the league, while his 14.3 K/9 rate ranks near the top among IBL relievers. And he continues to rely on his famous changeup, which he says is "still moving." Bernardo told theScore that Rodney's been hitting around 92-93 mph with his fastball.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_sbvTqWT5oA?si=LICBZ_mqw931Sewc&amp;start=342" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure><p>This is no small feat, given the mileage on Rodney's right arm over 25 seasons: He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2004, but hasn't had a major arm injury since then. Rodney keeps his arm in shape with the same unique program he's used for most of his career.</p><p>"I'm playing long toss with that ball," he said, pulling out an extra-large and very worn baseball with needles stuck in between the seams. "Just keep(s) my arm strong and fast."</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/796977/cropped_20250801_165317.jpg?ts=1754673879" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/796977/w220xh124_20250801_165317.jpg?ts=1754673879 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/796977/w320xh180_20250801_165317.jpg?ts=1754673879 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/796977/w640xh360_20250801_165317.jpg?ts=1754673879 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/796977/w768xh432_20250801_165317.jpg?ts=1754673879 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/796977/w1080xh607_20250801_165317.jpg?ts=1754673879 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Simon Sharkey-Gotlieb</span></figcaption></figure><p>"I've been using that (since) I signed (with the Tigers in) 1998," Rodney continued. "Every time that it's broken, I switch and change and make the other one, and that's what I've been using. It saved my arm. So I play long toss with that, like three or four times a week, and I go 120, 130 (throws) with that. Just make sure my arm's okay."</p><p>Rodney credited his longevity to his unique slide-step delivery. He abandoned the traditional leg kick in favor of the slide-step after joining the Tampa Bay Rays in 2012, when he produced a career-best 0.60 ERA and finished fifth in AL Cy Young voting.</p><p>"I only use my low hip. And my arm comes loose," he explained. "And you do that, you control more of the game and the runner at first."</p><p>In Hamilton, Rodney's also fully embraced the role of mentor, serving as the Cardinals' de facto second pitching coach.</p><p>"He's been helping me try to get more depth on my changeup," Cardinals pitcher Chris Boatto, a nine-year IBL veteran, told theScore. "So he's been trying to show me different pitch grips and how he throws it. ... Basically saying, like, 'Hey, because I'm not a guy who throws hard, I have to not only hit my spots, but to make sure I get ahead of guys early.'"</p><p>--</p><p>If Rodney's big-league career is indeed over, he went out on top with the 2019 World Series champion Washington Nationals. But it certainly wasn't by choice.</p><p>Rodney signed a minor-league deal with Houston during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign but was released after a few weeks on the taxi squad. He then moved south of the border, winning Mexican League Reliever of the Year honors in 2021 for league champions Tijuana and then authoring another strong campaign in '22. But those feats still weren't enough to get him a minor-league deal in the U.S.</p><p>A stint with Gigantes of the Dominican winter league seemed like it might finally be the end. Then last November, the same month he debuted on the Hall of Fame ballot (Rodney didn't receive a vote, but said he was "surprised" and "proud" to have made it), Hamilton gave him the chance to keep pitching.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/796983/cropped_rodney_smile_dugout.jpg?ts=1754675453" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/796983/w220xh124_rodney_smile_dugout.jpg?ts=1754675453 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/796983/w320xh180_rodney_smile_dugout.jpg?ts=1754675453 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/796983/w640xh360_rodney_smile_dugout.jpg?ts=1754675453 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/796983/w768xh432_rodney_smile_dugout.jpg?ts=1754675453 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/796983/w1080xh607_rodney_smile_dugout.jpg?ts=1754675453 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Ethan Hammond-Srsan / Hamilton Cardinals</span></figcaption></figure><p>Rodney says he's already received coaching offers from multiple big-league teams, and he wants to take that path back to the majors at some point. He's just not quite ready yet. His stated goal is to keep pitching - whether in Hamilton or elsewhere - until his age-50 season in 2027.</p><p>So, for at least the next two years, you might catch Rodney firing his bow and arrow on a backfield mound in a small town. And he'll do it while preaching his key gospel: Baseball is just a game. Baseball is fun. Enjoy yourself.</p><p>"(It's) just about more," Rodney said. "Have fun and love this game for (as) long as I can be in the field."</p>

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Fernando Rodney can't quit pitching. So he went to Canada's backfields

An already disappointing 2025 campaign got worse for the Baltimore Orioles Tuesday, as interim ma...

<p>An already disappointing 2025 campaign got worse for the Baltimore Orioles Tuesday, as interim manager Tony Mansolino announced that closer <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/13632" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/13632">Félix Bautista</a> and starter <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/5202" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/5202">Zach Eflin</a> will both miss the rest of the season, according to <a href="https://x.com/ByMattWeyrich/status/1955354562279477258">Matt Weyrich of the Baltimore Sun</a>.</p><p>Bautista has what Mansolino described as a "significant shoulder injury" and will undergo further examination later this week. Eflin, meanwhile, will undergo a lumbar microdiscectomy on his lower back.</p><p>Both pitchers were already on the injured list.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Bautista's injury halts what had been a solid comeback season after he missed all of 2024 following Tommy John surgery. The 30-year-old put up a 2.60 ERA, 3.34 FIP, and 1.13 WHIP with 50 strikeouts and 19 saves over 35 appearances before experiencing shoulder discomfort in mid-July.</p><p>The exact nature of his shoulder injury remains unclear. Mansolino added that Bautista's recovery timeline - and any impact on his status for 2026 - won't be known until he sees doctors again, according to <a href="https://twitter.com/afkostka/status/1955357622493909290">Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Banner</a>.</p><p>Eflin, one of Baltimore's most reliable starters in 2024, struggled through an injury-plagued 2025 season, posting a 5.93 ERA with a 6.3 K/9 rate over 14 starts. He's served three separate stints on the IL this season, including two because of lower back problems.</p><p>The 31-year-old is scheduled to become a free agent this offseason.</p>

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JULY 08: Félix Bautista #74 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches against the New York Mets at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 08, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland.

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Orioles shut down Bautista, Eflin with season-ending injuries

The Houston Astros placed star closer Josh Hader on the 15-day injured list with a left shoulder ...

<p>The Houston Astros placed star closer <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/5307" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/5307">Josh Hader</a> on the 15-day injured list with a left shoulder strain, they announced Tuesday.</p><p>Manager Joe Espada told reporters that the severity of the strain remains unknown, and it's too early to establish a timeline for his potential return.</p><p>"A punch in the gut," Espada said, according to <a href="https://x.com/brianmctaggart/status/1955380468125405457">Brian McTaggart of MLB.com</a>. "He's seeing doctors right now, we're getting more tests done, and hopefully it's just not gonna be a long-term thing."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Hader was unavailable to close out Monday's win over the Boston Red Sox after experiencing shoulder discomfort. Espada <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3323922" href="https://thescore.com/news/3323922">said</a> postgame that Hader "just did not feel right" after working out, prompting the team to send the six-time All-Star for testing.</p><p>The 31-year-old has been enjoying another stellar season anchoring Houston's bullpen. Hader owns a 2.05 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, and 28 saves along with a 13.0 K/9 rate and 16 walks over 52 2/3 innings this year. He's allowed multiple earned runs in just two of his 48 appearances in 2025.</p><p>This is the first time in his nine-year career that Hader's been placed on the IL with a significant injury.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/10590" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/10590">Bryan Abreu</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12313" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12313">Bennett Sousa</a>, and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/4903" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/4903">Steven Okert</a> are among the potential options to take over ninth-inning duties in Hader's absence.</p><p>Houston recalled left-hander Colton Gordon from Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding roster move. The team also reinstated right-hander <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12202" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12202">Shawn Dubin</a> from the IL and designated veteran reliever <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/3377" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/3377">Héctor Neris</a> for assignment.</p>

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JULY 23: Relief pitcher Josh Hader #71 of the Houston Astros pitches during the ninth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on July 23, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.

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Astros place Hader on IL with shoulder strain

Toronto Blue Jays president and CEO Mark Shapiro is still hopeful of agreeing to a contract exten...

<p>Toronto Blue Jays president and CEO Mark Shapiro is still hopeful of agreeing to a contract extension with the team before the end of 2025.</p><p>"It's not appropriate for me to comment beyond the fact that ... I want to remain here, and I can also say that both Edward (Rogers, team chairman) and Tony (Staffieri, Rogers Communications president) have been reciprocal in that desire," Shapiro told reporters Tuesday when asked about his future, according to <a href="https://x.com/ShiDavidi/status/1955342132048207888">Sportsnet's Shi Davidi</a>.</p><p>Shapiro's currently working on a five-year extension he originally signed in January 2021.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The 58-year-old executive joined Canada's lone MLB team after the 2015 season, replacing longtime president Paul Beeston. He inherited a club that had just ended a 22-year playoff drought with a run to the 2015 ALCS.</p><p>Under Shapiro's watch, the Blue Jays embarked on an extensive renovation of Rogers Centre, turning the aging stadium from a multipurpose facility into a more modern, baseball-only ballpark. The team's spring training complex in Dunedin, Florida, also received a long-overdue facelift.</p><p>However, the team's on-field success during the tenure of both Shapiro and general manager Ross Atkins - who was hired by Shapiro two months into his tenure - has been mixed. Despite developing homegrown stars like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette and luring several marquee free agents to Toronto, the Blue Jays have been swept out of the wild-card series in their three playoff appearances this decade.</p><p>Atkins' contract is set to expire after next season.</p><p>The Blue Jays enter play Tuesday holding the AL's best record, one year after finishing last in the division.</p>

TORONTO, ON - JUNE 9 - Blue Jays President Mark Shapiro as the Toronto Blue Jays fall the Minnesota Twins 3-2 in ten innings at Rogers Centre in Toronto. June 9, 2023. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

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Blue Jays' Shapiro still hoping for extension: 'I want to remain here'

Major League Baseball released the schedule for the 2025 postseason Tuesday.  This year's playoff...

<p>Major League Baseball released the schedule for the 2025 postseason Tuesday.</p><p>This year's playoffs will begin with all four wild-card series on Sept. 30. The best-of-five division series get going on Oct. 4, with the World Series slated to start on Oct. 24. If this year's World Series goes to a Game 7, it would be played on Nov. 1.</p><p>Here's a look at the full schedule:</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p><strong>Wild-card series</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Date</th>
<th>Series</th>
<th>Network</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Sept. 30</td>
<td>AL Wild-Card Series A Game 1</td>
<td>ESPN</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>AL Wild-Card Series B Game 1</td>
<td>ESPN</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>NL Wild-Card Series A Game 1</td>
<td>ESPN</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>NL Wild-Card Series B Game 1</td>
<td>ESPN</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Oct. 1</td>
<td>AL Wild-Card Series A Game 2</td>
<td>ESPN</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>AL Wild-Card Series B Game 2</td>
<td>ESPN</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>NL Wild-Card Series A Game 2</td>
<td>ESPN</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>NL Wild-Card Series B Game 2</td>
<td>ESPN</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Oct. 2</td>
<td>AL Wild-Card Series A Game 3*</td>
<td>ESPN</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>AL Wild-Card Series B Game 3*</td>
<td>ESPN</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>NL Wild-Card Series A Game 3*</td>
<td>ESPN</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>NL Wild-Card Series B Game 3*</td>
<td>ESPN</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><em>* - if necessary</em></p><p><strong>League Division Series</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Date</th>
<th>Series</th>
<th>Network</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Oct. 4</td>
<td>ALDS A Game 1</td>
<td>Fox/FS1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>ALDS B Game 1</td>
<td>Fox/FS1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>NLDS A Game 1</td>
<td>TBS/truTV/HBO Max</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>NLDS B Game 1</td>
<td>TBS/truTV/HBO Max</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Oct. 5</td>
<td>ALDS A Game 2</td>
<td>Fox/FS1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>ALDS B Game 2</td>
<td>Fox/FS1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Oct. 6</td>
<td>NLDS A Game 2</td>
<td>TBS/truTV/HBO Max</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>NLDS B Game 2</td>
<td>TBS/truTV/HBO Max</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Oct. 7</td>
<td>ALDS A Game 3</td>
<td>Fox/FS1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>ALDS B Game 3</td>
<td>Fox/FS1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Oct. 8</td>
<td>NLDS A Game 3</td>
<td>TBS/truTV/HBO Max</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>NLDS B Game 3</td>
<td>TBS/truTV/HBO Max</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>ALDS A Game 4*</td>
<td>Fox/FS1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>ALDS B Game 4*</td>
<td>Fox/FS1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Oct. 9</td>
<td>NLDS A Game 4*</td>
<td>TBS/truTV/HBO Max</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>NLDS B Game 4*</td>
<td>TBS/truTV/HBO Max</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Oct. 10</td>
<td>ALDS A Game 5*</td>
<td>Fox/FS1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>ALDS B Game 5*</td>
<td>Fox/FS1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Oct. 11</td>
<td>NLDS A Game 5*</td>
<td>TBS/truTV/HBO Max</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>NLDS B Game 5*</td>
<td>TBS/truTV/HBO Max</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><em>* - if necessary</em></p><p><strong>League Championship Series</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Date</th>
<th>Series</th>
<th>Network</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Oct. 12</td>
<td>ALCS Game 1</td>
<td>Fox/FS1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Oct. 13</td>
<td>NLCS Game 1</td>
<td>TBS/truTV/HBO Max</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>ALCS Game 2</td>
<td>Fox/FS1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Oct. 14</td>
<td>NLCS Game 2</td>
<td>TBS/truTV/HBO Max</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Oct. 15</td>
<td>ALCS Game 3</td>
<td>Fox/FS1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Oct. 16</td>
<td>NLCS Game 3</td>
<td>TBS/truTV/HBO Max</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>ALCS Game 4</td>
<td>Fox/FS1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Oct. 17</td>
<td>NLCS Game 4</td>
<td>TBS/truTV/HBO Max</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>ALCS Game 5*</td>
<td>Fox/FS1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Oct. 18</td>
<td>NLCS Game 5*</td>
<td>TBS/truTV/HBO Max</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Oct. 19</td>
<td>ALCS Game 6*</td>
<td>Fox/FS1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Oct. 20</td>
<td>NLCS Game 6*</td>
<td>TBS/truTV/HBO Max</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>ALCS Game 7*</td>
<td>Fox/FS1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Oct. 21</td>
<td>NLCS Game 7*</td>
<td>TBS/truTV/HBO Max</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><em>* - if necessary</em></p><p><strong>World Series</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Date</th>
<th>Series</th>
<th>Network</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Oct. 24</td>
<td>Game 1</td>
<td>Fox</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Oct. 25</td>
<td>Game 2</td>
<td>Fox</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Oct. 27</td>
<td>Game 3</td>
<td>Fox</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Oct. 28</td>
<td>Game 4</td>
<td>Fox</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Oct. 29</td>
<td>Game 5*</td>
<td>Fox</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Oct. 31</td>
<td>Game 6*</td>
<td>Fox</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nov. 1</td>
<td>Game 7*</td>
<td>Fox</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><em>* - if necessary</em></p>

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 30: Members of the Los Angeles Dodgers are presented with the Commissioner's Trophy after winning Game 5 to win the 2024 World Series presented by Capital One between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, October 30, 2024 in New York, New York.

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MLB releases 2025 postseason schedule

The Chicago Cubs placed right-hander Michael Soroka on the 15-day injured list after he suffered ...

<p>The Chicago Cubs placed right-hander <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/8133" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/8133">Michael Soroka</a> on the 15-day injured list after he suffered a shoulder injury during his first start with the team Monday, the team announced Tuesday.</p><p>Right-hander Nate Pearson was recalled from Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move.</p><p>Soroka appeared to feel something after leaving the mound at the end of the second inning and quickly retreated to the clubhouse after a conversation with trainers. The Cubs announced later that he'd been removed with right shoulder discomfort.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/m/michael-soroka-exits-the-game?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share" width="560" height="315"></iframe></figure><p>(Video source: MLB.com)</p><p>"Things were moving all right. We got out of the first inning and things were OK. But (the) delivery was timed up and just went to go put a little extra on a fastball, and it grabbed me a little bit and it didn't go away," Soroka said after the Cubs' 3-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds, per <a href="https://twitter.com/WatchMarquee/status/1952567840956911913">Marquee Sports Network</a>. "You feel things here and there during the course of an outing, and usually if you throw another one and it's gone, it's nothing. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case, so I decided to say something when I came in after that inning, and they moved along, and that's kinda where I felt it."</p><p>The Cubs acquired Soroka from the Washington Nationals for two prospects before last week's trade deadline.</p><p>Injuries have been a theme throughout the 28-year-old's career. Soroka missed two full seasons after twice tearing his Achilles tendon and has also spent time on the IL with shoulder issues. He missed almost a month this year because of a bicep strain while in Washington.</p>

CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 04: Michael Soroka #41 of the Chicago Cubs pitches during the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Monday, August 4, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.

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