[ad_1] 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
[ad_1] 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
[ad_1] 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
[ad_1] 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
[ad_1] 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
[ad_1] Is this the Mexico team that goes all the way? In 2023, they were one inning away from advancing to the championship of the World Baseball Classic, leading 5-4 in the ninth inning of one of the most thrilling games of the tournament, when Munetaka Murakami’s walk-off double in the semifinals sent Japan through. Still, Mexico’s third-place finish was its best ever showing at the tournament, and this time
[ad_1] Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal plans to make only one start for the United States in the World Baseball Classic, regardless of how far Team USA advances. The two-time AL Cy Young Award winner wants to remain on a regular spring training regimen and ramp up for opening day mostly with the Tigers. "The reason I didn’t announce it (sooner) was I wanted to keep the momentum on the
[ad_1] Shohei Ohtani is scheduled to play a couple of Cactus League games for the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers before he departs the desert to join Japan for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. He was in the lineup leading off as the designated hitter scheduled, for two or three at-bats for the club's spring training opener Saturday afternoon against the Los Angeles Angels at Tempe Diablo
[ad_1] It took Aaron Judge about two seconds to shake off the offseason rust. In what was his 2026 spring training debut for the New York Yankees, Judge hit a two-run home run to center field in the third inning against the Detroit Tigers on Saturday afternoon. The next inning? He hit a two-run homer inside the left field foul pole. Judge finished the day 2-of-3 before being deliberately removed
[ad_1] Bill Mazeroski, the Hall of Fame second baseman who won eight Gold Glove awards for his steady work in the field and the hearts of countless Pittsburgh Pirates fans for his historic walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series, has died at the age of 89. Pirates chairman Bob Nutting said: "Maz was one of a kind, a true Pirates legend ... His name will
