Category: Sports News

After last weekend's 1-2 series in New York, the Yankees' three-game rematch from Friday through Sunday at the Boston Red Sox was worse.

Sunday's 2-0 loss saw the Red Sox (37-36) return above .500 for the first time since May 24 while the Yankees (42-28) continue to struggle against Boston.

"Coming here, obviously, you want to win," said New York ace Max Fried (9-2, 1.89 ERA), whose seven-inning gem -- two runs allowed on six hits while striking out nine and walking two -- went to waste. "So, obviously, we're disappointed and definitely wish the outcomes were different."

The Yankees remain atop the AL East, leading by 3.5 games after the Tampa Bay Rays improved to 39-32 with a three-game sweep of the Mets, but New York is now 1-5 against Boston and 8-11 in the division this season.

"Concerning? I mean, I wouldn't put it that way," said Yankees manager Aaron Boone. "I would just say you always want to -- especially when you're playing the Red Sox, you always want to put your best foot forward. And they took us down this weekend, and back-to-back weekends, so you hate that.

"But we have a really good club, and just didn't play our best here this weekend -- obviously had a hard time putting runs on the board. Overall, I thought we pitched pretty well and did enough run prevention-wise to keep them in check to hopefully win some games. But we just didn't get much going."

The latest Red Sox series included a 1-for-12 showing from captain Aaron Judge, who hit his MLB-lead-tying 26th home run of the season late in this past Friday's 2-1 (10-inning) loss but was bottled up otherwise.

"Move past it, learn from it, get ready for the next series -- and we've got a big one with the Angels coming in for four," said Judge, who is slashing .378.473.756 with 60 RBI through 70 games.

As Judge referenced, a four-game set against the Los Angeles Angels (33-37) -- starting with Monday's 7:05 p.m. series opener -- brings the Yankees back to the Bronx for a seven-game homestand that includes the Baltimore Orioles (30-40) this coming Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

"It's 162, man," Boone said. "It sucks, losing to the Red Sox. We never like that, right? But it's why teams don't win 120 games.

"Like, we're really good -- I think that's going to continue to show itself -- but tough weekend and, frankly, had a chance to potentially win all the games, even back home against 'em.

"So, credit to them. They were a little bit better than us this weekend. So, look forward to turning the page and getting after it (Monday)."

The long-anticipated wait is over — Shohei Ohtani is ready to pitch.

The Dodgers announced after Sunday’s 5-4 win over the Giants that Ohtani will make his Dodgers pitching debut Monday against the San Diego Padres. He will start, but he likely will pitch only an inning or two.

“It's very exciting,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts before the team announced Ohtani's start. “I think that for me, I'm still a baseball fan first. I really am. The anticipation here for the game is, man, it's going to be bananas when it happens. There's been a lot of anticipation. I think we've done it the right way as far as kind of our process.”

For Ohtani, it’s been a long road back to pitching. He signed with the Dodgers on a 10-year, $700-million contract before the 2024 season — a value representing not just his MVP-level bat, but his potential Cy Young Award-level pitching.

He underwent Tommy John surgery in September 2023, only hitting in his first season with the Dodgers. He tallied unprecedented numbers at the plate (.310 batting average, league-high 54 home runs, 130 RBI and 59 stolen bases). In recent weeks, Ohtani ramped up his throwing program, facing live hitters a handful of times.

Roberts said Ohtani let the team — and its training staff — know he was ready to pitch in games again.

“Just kind of talking to [pitching coach Mark Prior] and [president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman] and the doctors and medical and just kind of saying, 'OK, we've done the three-inning live, it's a little taxing or more taxing on my body,'" Roberts said. “You're at a point of, I don't know if it's diminishing returns. But he's ready to pitch in a major league game. He let us know that."

Ohtani had been brilliant for the Angels, going 38-19 with a 3.01 earned-run average over 86 starts since coming over from Japan before the 2018 season. In 2022, Ohtani posted his best pitching numbers in the majors, with a 15-9 record, a 2.33 earned-run average and 219 strikeouts over 166 innings en route to placing fourth in AL Cy Young Award voting.

It’ll likely be an incremental start for Ohtani as he looks to add more pitches and innings in the weeks ahead.

“He's getting very eager, getting very excited,” Roberts said before Sunday's game. “I think that there's a point where, in hearing from Shohei, that the effort that it takes to throw lives and things like that, [rather] than to play a game, then let's use those bullets in a game. He's getting very excited."

Now those proverbial “bullets” will be used Monday night at Dodger Stadium.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Fifteen minutes before first pitch on Sunday, Giants catcher Logan Porter trotted in from the visitor’s bullpen. He’d usually be accompanied by the starting pitcher, which was set to be left-hander Kyle Harrison.

Instead, Porter stood on the first-base line for the national anthem, turned to his left and whispered to his teammates. As they all received the information from Porter — reminiscent of the children’s game “Telephone” — other Giants teammates likely learned one-by-one that Harrison had been traded.

The odd scene at Dodger Stadium was because of a reported blockbuster trade that involved the Boston Red Sox sending infielder Rafael Devers to the Giants in exchange for Harrison, right-hander Jordan Hicks and two prospects — a move that further bolsters the talent in the L.A.-San Francisco rivalry.

Read more:Shohei Ohtani 'most likely' will make his Dodgers pitching debut this week

San Francisco manager Bob Melvin turned to long reliever Sean Hjelle, who rapidly warmed up for the last-minute start, against a Dodgers offense that had scored 11 runs Saturday night.

It was more of the same from the Dodgers in a 5-4 victory Sunday. The top of the order manufactured a run via an Andy Pages sacrifice fly in the first inning. Tommy Edman hit a solo home run — his 10th — in the second. Pages put a cherry on top in the fifth after Shohei Ohtani (three for three, one walk) and Mookie Betts set the table with singles.

The Cuban slugger’s three-run home run helped the Dodgers (43-29) outmaneuver a Giants (41-31) team to take the series.

On the mound, Dustin May was looking to get back on track.

Read more:Nezza says she sang national anthem in Spanish at Dodger Stadium against team's wishes

May's recent starts left more to be desired from the former top prospect who had been struggling with his command and not tallying many swinging strikes. He had struck out just six batters across his last 11 innings — striking out just one in his last outing.

Although May couldn’t find his strikeout pitch, his start Sunday was the sixth time he had pitched through the sixth inning in 2025. He walked four batters for the second time in as many starts — the only time he’s issued at least four free passes in back-to-back games in his career — and struck out three batters. He didn’t have his best stuff, but showed his mettle in the fifth inning.

Whereas he crumbled in the fourth, giving up a two-RBI triple to Jung Hoo Lee to give the Giants a 3-2 lead, he battled out of a bases-loaded jam to keep San Francisco at bay, inducing Porter into an inning-ending groundout.

After Pages further strengthened his All-Star case with his 13th home run, the Dodgers' bullpen took care of business. Alex Vesia tossed a shutout seventh, while Kirby Yates (one run) and Tanner Scott (zero runs and struck out the side) finished it off in the eighth and ninth, respectively.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Sunday's 9-0 loss to the Rays was a rock-bottom point of the weekend for the Mets, who lost all three games against Tampa Bay (39-32) by a combined 24-9 margin, but National League-leading New York (45-27) is not dwelling on its season-first sweep as it prepares for this week's series at the Atlanta Braves.

"You hate to get swept here at home, but you've got to move on," said Carlos Mendoza. "You've got to turn the page. We've got an off day. And then we've got a stretch here where we're playing the Braves, we're playing the (Philadelphia) Phillies, we've got the Braves again.

"So, again, it's 162 (games) -- you're going to go through stretches where this is going to happen. Obviously, we've got to play better. We didn't execute, we didn't play clean baseball and they made us pay. So, like I said, we've got to turn the page and start -- be ready to go Tuesday."

The sweep marks just the second time this season where the Mets have lost three straight games, with the first and only other instance coming May 18-20 at the Yankees (one) and Boston Red Sox (two).

"I think there are things you take away from it," said Brandon Nimmo, whose first-inning single was the first of only five hits by the Mets in Sunday's shutout. "You try and take it for a learning moment. People will look at this series and see if there's a recipe on how to beat us. And so, I definitely think there's something to learn from it.

"But at the same time, you try and not make it bigger than it is. We've been very good to this point, so you try and build on that. But there's always something to learn, so we will go ahead and look at those small things and learn from that and take 'em into the Atlanta series."

New York enters Atlanta with the Braves (31-39) under .500 since May 22 and fresh off Sunday's 10-1 loss to the MLB-worst Colorado Rockies (14-57).

"We know, when you look at that team on paper, that's a really good team," Mendoza said. "Obviously, they have some struggles. And then the three guys that we're facing, they're elite pitchers. And then you look at their lineup, they're healthy.

"So, yeah -- from the beginning, before the year started, we knew there were some good teams, really good teams in our division and the National League overall and here we are. We've got to get ready and the next 10 days are -- we've got to play well."

After the 7:15 p.m. starts on SNY across Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in Atlanta, the Mets' three-game series at the Phillies (42-29) opens Friday.

"Just take it one day at a time," Nimmo said. "The Braves are a very good team -- I don't care what their record says -- very good team that can play very good baseball, pitch very well, hit very well, especially in their home ballpark, so we're going to be going in there expecting a bulldog fight, be ready for Game 1.

"Same thing with Philadelphia -- we know they're an extremely talented team, very, very good, very dangerous at home, great pitching staff. So, tough stretch coming up and we're just going to have to take it one game at a time."

Mets right-hander Griffin Canning allowed a season-high six runs and five walks in Sunday's 9-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.

While the Rays (39-32) made timely plays, Canning's 50 strikes on 89 pitches over 4.1 IP put New York (45-27) in a tough spot.

"You've got to give them credit," Mendoza said of Tampa Bay, which went on the road and won all three games against the team with the National League's best record and gave the Mets their season-first sweep. "But at the same time, we're giving them too many free passes and we gave them extra outs -- and they're going to make you pay.

"That's a team that I've been saying it -- they're going to put the ball in play, they play the small ball and today was a perfect example. Walks -- they get bunt down, we don't make a play. Before you know it, we're down three. So, yeah, we just didn't play well."

Canning, who is 6-3 in 14 starts with a 3.80 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in 68.2 IP, was direct about the struggles.

"Just falling behind guys, walking guys," Canning said. "Probably shying away from contact a little too much, but it's a good lineup with a hot team right now.

"Just can't give them free bases."

Mendoza delved deeper into Canning's issues.

"Ability to throw strikes," Mendoza said. "The walks, we saw it again today -- a lot of arm-side misses with the breaking ball, the fastball, then he gets behind and, when he comes in, they're going to make him pay. So I think it's just strike-throwing ability.

"When he's been on ... he's giving us a chance and giving us solid outings, he's on the attack and staying on the attack with all of his pitches. And I feel like, right now -- we saw it today -- like I said, a lot of arm-side (misses), and the walks are hurting him."

While Canning has been on a downward trend over the totality of his past five starts, he did just throw six scoreless innings of three-hit ball June 4 at the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 6-1 win -- not by coincidence, he walked only one batter while striking out seven and scattering three hits.

"I've just go to get back to trusting my stuff in the zone," Canning said. "My changeup felt pretty good (Sunday). But yeah, just getting back to what makes me good and just trusting it."

Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani to return to mound as starting pitcher Monday vs. Padres originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

For the first time in nearly two years, Shohei Ohtani is back where he belongs—on a major league mound.

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced Sunday night that their two-way superstar and reigning National League MVP will start Monday night’s series opener against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium.

It will be the first time Ohtani has pitched in a big league game since August 23, 2023, when he exited early against the Reds while still wearing the red and white of the Angels.

Twenty-two months and one elbow surgery later, Ohtani is finally ready to toe the rubber again—this time in Dodger blue.

“Shohei is getting antsy, which is a good thing for us,” said Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts after Sunday’s 5-4 win over the San Francisco Giants. “He’s ready. It’s time to go.”

The plan is for Ohtani to serve as an opener, likely throwing one or two innings before giving way to right-hander Ben Casparius, who will handle the bulk of the workload. The strategy is as cautious as it is electric. For the Dodgers, it’s less about stretching Ohtani out and more about finally letting the world witness something we’ve all been waiting for.

“He’s going to open for us,” said Roberts of the plan for Ohtani. “The live simulated games have run its course and he’s ready to make his debut on the mound. “It’s great for the game. I’m excited for Shohei”

Ohtani told reporters through a translator after his two-homer performance on Saturday night that he was ready to get back on the mound in a big league game.

A pitcher. A slugger. A $700 million miracle.

It’s not often a Monday night in June becomes appointment television—but when the unicorn returns to the hill, the sport pays attention.

Ohtani, 29, underwent surgery on his right elbow on September 19, 2023, after tearing his UCL for the second time in his career. He had previously undergone Tommy John surgery in 2018. Since signing a historic 10-year deal with the Dodgers last December, the Japanese sensation has focused solely on hitting—until now.

His ramp-up began quietly behind the scenes. He paused pitching activities after a mound session in February to focus on Opening Day as a hitter, then resumed bullpens on March 29. Just last Tuesday, in San Diego, he faced live hitters for the first time, throwing 44 pitches over three simulated innings.

It wasn’t long before he let the team know he was ready for more.

“He said doing the three innings live is taxing on his body,” said Roberts about why the team changed course from their original plan of letting Ohtani ramp up to five or more innings in simulated games with his debut expected to come sometime after the All-Star break. “He’s ready to pitch in a major league game, and he let us know that.” 

While Ohtani hasn’t pitched a single inning this season, he’s still been the Dodgers’ most valuable player—and arguably the face of baseball.

Through June 15, he leads the National League with a 1.035 OPS, while batting .297 with 25 home runs, 41 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases. He’s made the extraordinary look routine. Moonshot homers. Blistering line drives. Game-winning sprints around the bases. Every time he steps into the batter’s box, there’s a hum in the air.

And now, that hum is heading to the mound.

The timing of Ohtani’s return couldn’t be more crucial.

The Dodgers are scraping together bullpen games just to survive a brutal wave of injuries. Roki Sasaki, the heralded 23-year-old rookie from Japan, hasn’t pitched since May 9 due to a right shoulder impingement and is likely out long-term. Former Cy Young winner Blake Snell is battling shoulder inflammation. Tyler Glasnow, arguably L.A.’s ace this season, just landed on the IL with the same diagnosis.

Sasaki’s status, in particular, is murky. He began a throwing program earlier this month but felt discomfort again last week and has since been shut down.

“He’s just not feeling strong,” Roberts said. “We’re not going to push him.”

With innings at a premium and the postseason picture beginning to sharpen, Ohtani’s return—however brief—offers a glimmer of relief and a whole lot of hope.

This isn’t just about one inning, or even two.

This is about history in real time.

Ohtani’s presence on a big-league mound reminds us of what’s possible when perseverance meets transcendent talent. It’s a story that stretches from the Tokyo Dome to Chavez Ravine, one filled with setbacks, surgeries, speculation, and now—redemption.

“This is very exciting,” added Roberts of Ohtani making his Dodgers debut on the mound. “I’m a baseball fan first. The anticipation here for the game, man it’s going to be bananas.”

Come Monday night, when the No. 17 jersey jogs out from the Dodgers dugout and takes that slow, deliberate walk to the mound, the roar won’t just be for a pitch.

It’ll be for the moment.

A moment 659 days in the making.

A moment worth every second of the wait.

Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani to return to mound as starting pitcher Monday vs. Padres originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

For the first time in nearly two years, Shohei Ohtani is back where he belongs—on a major league mound.

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced Sunday night that their two-way superstar and reigning National League MVP will start Monday night’s series opener against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium.

It will be the first time Ohtani has pitched in a big league game since August 23, 2023, when he exited early against the Reds while still wearing the red and white of the Angels.

Twenty-two months and one elbow surgery later, Ohtani is finally ready to toe the rubber again—this time in Dodger blue.

“Shohei is getting antsy, which is a good thing for us,” said Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts after Sunday’s 5-4 win over the San Francisco Giants. “He’s ready. It’s time to go.”

The plan is for Ohtani to serve as an opener, likely throwing one or two innings before giving way to right-hander Ben Casparius, who will handle the bulk of the workload. The strategy is as cautious as it is electric. For the Dodgers, it’s less about stretching Ohtani out and more about finally letting the world witness something we’ve all been waiting for.

“He’s going to open for us,” said Roberts of the plan for Ohtani. “The live simulated games have run its course and he’s ready to make his debut on the mound. “It’s great for the game. I’m excited for Shohei”

Ohtani told reporters through a translator after his two-homer performance on Saturday night that he was ready to get back on the mound in a big league game.

A pitcher. A slugger. A $700 million miracle.

It’s not often a Monday night in June becomes appointment television—but when the unicorn returns to the hill, the sport pays attention.

Ohtani, 29, underwent surgery on his right elbow on September 19, 2023, after tearing his UCL for the second time in his career. He had previously undergone Tommy John surgery in 2018. Since signing a historic 10-year deal with the Dodgers last December, the Japanese sensation has focused solely on hitting—until now.

His ramp-up began quietly behind the scenes. He paused pitching activities after a mound session in February to focus on Opening Day as a hitter, then resumed bullpens on March 29. Just last Tuesday, in San Diego, he faced live hitters for the first time, throwing 44 pitches over three simulated innings.

It wasn’t long before he let the team know he was ready for more.

“He said doing the three innings live is taxing on his body,” said Roberts about why the team changed course from their original plan of letting Ohtani ramp up to five or more innings in simulated games with his debut expected to come sometime after the All-Star break. “He’s ready to pitch in a major league game, and he let us know that.” 

While Ohtani hasn’t pitched a single inning this season, he’s still been the Dodgers’ most valuable player—and arguably the face of baseball.

Through June 15, he leads the National League with a 1.035 OPS, while batting .297 with 25 home runs, 41 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases. He’s made the extraordinary look routine. Moonshot homers. Blistering line drives. Game-winning sprints around the bases. Every time he steps into the batter’s box, there’s a hum in the air.

And now, that hum is heading to the mound.

The timing of Ohtani’s return couldn’t be more crucial.

The Dodgers are scraping together bullpen games just to survive a brutal wave of injuries. Roki Sasaki, the heralded 23-year-old rookie from Japan, hasn’t pitched since May 9 due to a right shoulder impingement and is likely out long-term. Former Cy Young winner Blake Snell is battling shoulder inflammation. Tyler Glasnow, arguably L.A.’s ace this season, just landed on the IL with the same diagnosis.

Sasaki’s status, in particular, is murky. He began a throwing program earlier this month but felt discomfort again last week and has since been shut down.

“He’s just not feeling strong,” Roberts said. “We’re not going to push him.”

With innings at a premium and the postseason picture beginning to sharpen, Ohtani’s return—however brief—offers a glimmer of relief and a whole lot of hope.

This isn’t just about one inning, or even two.

This is about history in real time.

Ohtani’s presence on a big-league mound reminds us of what’s possible when perseverance meets transcendent talent. It’s a story that stretches from the Tokyo Dome to Chavez Ravine, one filled with setbacks, surgeries, speculation, and now—redemption.

“This is very exciting,” added Roberts of Ohtani making his Dodgers debut on the mound. “I’m a baseball fan first. The anticipation here for the game, man it’s going to be bananas.”

Come Monday night, when the No. 17 jersey jogs out from the Dodgers dugout and takes that slow, deliberate walk to the mound, the roar won’t just be for a pitch.

It’ll be for the moment.

A moment 659 days in the making.

A moment worth every second of the wait.