MLB Previews

Mike Shildt previously confronted his former team while serving as a coach to ex-San Diego Padres manager Bob Melvin most of the past two years. But managing against the St. Louis Cardinals, who he guided to three straight playoff berths from 2019-21, for the first time on Monday night was something completely different. “I was fortunate and blessed to be in that organization and they gave me the opportunity (to manage),” Shildt said before San

Oakland manager Mark Kotsay finds himself searching for answers to a question he wasn’t expecting as the Athletics seek to turn around a sloppy start to the season in a rematch with the visiting Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night. The Red Sox routed the hosts 9-0 in the series opener Monday, taking advantage of five Oakland errors in the first three innings to build an eight-run lead. Kotsay insisted “we couldn’t get out of

Zac Gallen recently said his dream opponent to face in the World Series is the New York Yankees. Only time will tell if that happens this fall but the Arizona ace right-hander will see the New York hitters up close Tuesday night when the Diamondbacks host the Yankees in Phoenix. Gallen’s choice is tied to the 2001 World Series in which Arizona defeated New York in seven games. “For me that was probably the first

With right-handers Justin Verlander and Jose Urquidy opening this season on the injured list, Astros right-hander Ronel Blanco was presented with an opportunity that had escaped him previously in his career: to begin a campaign as a member of Houston’s rotation. Blanco, making just his eighth career start, threw the 17th no-hitter in club history to lead the Astros to their first win of the season, 10-0 over the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday. The

Persistence finally paid off in the 10th inning Monday night for the Detroit Tigers, who are one of just two remaining unbeaten teams in the American League. A reward has yet to arrive for the New York Mets, who are in the midst of their worst start in 19 years. The Tigers will look to extend their season-opening winning streak to five, and the Mets (0-4) will aim to get into the win column Tuesday

The Texas Rangers have won three of their first four games in 2024, but the defending World Series champions suffered a devastating loss on Monday night. Third baseman Josh Jung is out indefinitely with a fractured right wrist after being hit on a swing attempt during the ninth inning of Texas’ 9-3 win over the host Tampa Bay Rays. The Rangers’ journey without their coveted corner infielder will begin Tuesday evening when Texas reconvenes with

Atlanta Braves reliever Aaron Bummer elected not to “drop names” when asked which former Chicago White Sox teammates he might want to face this week. “That’s karma waiting to happen,” Bummer said. Given Chicago’s offensive struggles to start the season, a less diplomatic respondent might have taken more time to answer the question. The White Sox already have been shut out twice in their four games entering Tuesday night’s visit from the Braves after Atlanta

A pair of pitchers looking to solidify their rotation status will face off when the Kansas City Royals visit the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday evening in the middle game of a three-game series. Kansas City right-hander Alec Marsh will open his second season hoping to start better than he did during his rookie campaign. Marsh, 25, dropped his first eight decisions last season before finishing 3-9 with a 5.69 ERA in 17 games (eight starts).

After back-to-back dramatic wins in their last at-bat, the Cincinnati Reds look for a third straight victory when they visit the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday in the middle game of a three-game series. On Monday, the Reds erased an early 2-0 deficit to tie the game before closer Alexis Diaz escaped an eighth-inning jam and tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings and prompt extra innings. Diaz turned around the script from Saturday when he blew a