Category: Baseball

Only two MLB division winners from last season are expected to repeat this season, meaning parity is alive and well in baseball.

Let’s check out the division winner odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of March 24, as well as what to know about each division.

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NL WEST 

Dodgers: -650 (bet $10 to win $11.54 total)
Padres: +900 (bet $10 to win $100 total)
Giants: +1700 (bet $10 to win $180 total)
Diamondbacks: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)
Rockies: +30000 (bet $10 to win $3,010 total)

What to know: It’s the Dodgers’ to lose again. L.A. has won four straight and 12 of the last 13. The last time a different team won the NL West was in 2021, when the Giants took the division … before losing to the Dodgers in the NL Divisional Round.

NL EAST

Mets: +140 (bet $10 to win $24 total)
Phillies: +175 (bet $10 to win $27.50 total)
Braves: +250 (bet $10 to win $35 total)
Marlins: +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total)
Nationals: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)

What to know: The Mets last won the division in 2015, and that same year, they lost in the World Series to the Royals. The Braves won six straight from 2018-2023, before the Phillies won it in 2024 and 2025. Each of the last four NL East winners have lost their first postseason series, and are a combined 4-12 in those series.

NL CENTRAL

Cubs: +110 (bet $10 to win $21 total)
Brewers: +235 (bet $10 to win $33.50 total)
Reds: +550 (bet $10 to win $65 total)
Pirates: +600 (bet $10 to win $70 total)
Cardinals: +2800 (bet $10 to win $290 total)

What to know: Milwaukee has won four of the last five, and the Cubs last won it in 2020. The Brewers defeated the Cubs in the NLDS last season before losing to the Dodgers in the NLCS. It stands as Milwaukee’s only postseason series win during that span of four division titles in five years. 

AL WEST

Mariners: +100 (bet $10 to win $20 total)
Astros: +250 (bet $10 to win $35 total)
Rangers: +340 (bet $10 to win $44 total)
Athletics: +1300 (bet $10 to win $140 total)
Angels: +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total)

What to know: The Mariners will look to make it two straight, having captured their first division title since 2001 in 2025. The winner of the AL West has won at least one playoff series every year dating back to 2017, with the exception of 2024. Houston has won seven of the last nine AL West titles. 

AL EAST

Yankees: +180 (bet $10 to win $28 total)
Blue Jays: +250 (bet $10 to win $35 total)
Red Sox: +320 (bet $10 to win $42 total)
Orioles: +425 (bet $10 to win $52.50 total)
Rays: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)

What to know: Parity has been the theme in this division over the last 20 years. Since 2006, the Yankees have won the division seven times, the Red Sox five times, the Rays four times, the Jays twice and the Orioles twice. The last two AL East winners, and four of the last eight, have made it to the World Series, where each has faced the Dodgers. L.A. is 3-1 in those series, with Boston winning in 2018.

AL CENTRAL

Tigers: +110 (bet $10 to win $21 total)
Royals: +225 (bet $10 to win $32.50 total)
Guardians: +425 (bet $10 to win $52.50 total)
Twins: +900 (bet $10 to win $100 total)
White Sox: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)

What to know: The Guardians have won three of the last four and six of the last 10. The Tigers haven’t won it since 2014, and won four straight from 2011 to 2014. The AL Central represented the American League in the World Series in both 2015 and 2016. 

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

A lot of history has a chance to be made when it comes to MLB MVP awards this season. 

Let’s check out the odds for the AL and NL MVP race at DraftKings Sportsbook as of March 24.

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American League MVP

Aaron Judge: +215 (bet $10 to win $31.50 total)
Bobby Witt Jr.: +500 (bet $10 to win $60 total)
Cal Raleigh: +1100 (bet $10 to win $120 total)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: +1300 (bet $10 to win $140 total)
Roman Anthony: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
Nick Kurtz: +1500 (bet $10 to win $160 total)
Gunnar Henderson: +1500 (bet $10 to win $160 total)
Jose Ramirez: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)

What to know: Last year’s race was as close as it gets between Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh, with Judge receiving 17 first-place votes and Raleigh receiving 13. In the end, it was Judge winning his third AL MVP in four years, with him and Shohei Ohtani both repeating in their respective leagues. While Raleigh led the majors in home runs and the AL in RBIs, Judge led MLB in WAR, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging and OPS. Judge’s three MVP awards are tied with a host of MLB legends for the third-most all-time, including Yankee icons Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio and Yogi Berra.

National League MVP

Shohei Ohtani: -145 (bet $10 to win $16.90 total)
Juan Soto: +900 (bet $10 to win $100 total)
Ronald Acuna Jr.: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Fernando Tatis Jr.: +1900 (bet $10 to win $200 total)
Elly De La Cruz: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)
Bryce Harper: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)
Kyle Schwarber: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)
Paul Skenes: +2800 (bet $10 to win $290 total)

What to know: Ohtani will look to make more history via the MVP award this season. Two seasons ago, Ohtani became the first player in league history to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases. Then last season, he became the first player in league history to hit 50 home runs and record 50 strikeouts. With that, he won back-to-back NL MVP awards for the first time since Albert Pujols did it in 2008 and 2009. He won the AL MVP in 2023 and NL MVP in 2024, making him the first player in MLB history to win MVP back-to-back in each league. This year, if Ohtani is to win NL MVP, he will make a dent in Barry Bonds’ record of four straight MVP wins (2001-2004). All four of Ohtani’s MVP wins have been unanimous, with him receiving all 30 first-place votes. He has the second-most MVPs in history, trailing only Bonds’ seven.

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Outfielder Randy Arozarena insists everything is cool between him and his Seattle Mariners teammate Cal Raleigh after he made expletive-laden comments about the star catcher during the World Baseball Classic. Arozarena also apologized for the remarks he made about Raleigh.

“I understand that with Opening Day a few days away, I don’t want it to be a distraction. Cal and I have talked and I apologized for what I said after the game,” Arozarena said in a statement provided by the Mariners on Saturday. “Nothing in the WBC takes away from the fact that we are brothers and teammates. He’s family, and we are both focused on helping the Mariners win the World Series.”

Raleigh also expressed his appreciation for Arozarena following the Mariners’ 7-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs in their Cactus League game on Saturday night.

“We talked it out, and everything went great,” Raleigh said. “Randy knows that I love him, and he’s a brother, and it’s in the past and none of us are carrying this forward. We’re in a good spot. We talked it out. We were both sorry, and we both got in a good place and we’re both happy to be here, too. It was really good walking in the door and seeing everybody. As fun as [the WBC] was, it was nice to feel back here. It feels like the family’s all back together in a way.”

The drama between the two Mariners teammates was sparked by a moment during Team USA’s win over Mexico in pool play of the World Baseball Classic. During the March 9 matchup, Raleigh (playing for Team USA) turned down a handshake from Arozarena when he went up to the plate for Mexico. 

Following the game, Arozarena used profane language when discussing Raleigh’s actions in an interview with Mexican journalist Luis Gilbert. Arozarena said Raleigh could “f— off” and “go to hell” in Spanish. 

Arozarena opted not to speak about his comments when he returned to the Mariners this past week, saying “the WBC is behind us now.” Raleigh also downplayed his teammate’s remarks when he met with reporters the day after Arozarena made them. The star catcher iterated that there was “no beef” between the two and apologized to Arozarena if he felt disrespected by the situation. 

Now, Arozarena and Raleigh will look to lift the Mariners to back-to-back AL West titles and another deep postseason. Arozarena hit a career-high 27 homers in his first full season with the Mariners in 2025, adding 76 RBIs and 31 stolen bases. As for Raleigh, he made history with his 60 home runs last season, which marked the most ever for a catcher in a single season. 

The Mariners will open their season with a four-game home series against the Cleveland Guardians beginning on Thursday. 

 

 

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The Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to a new six-year contract with Opening Day starter Cristopher Sánchez.

The deal announced Sunday for last season’s NL Cy Young Award runner-up begins in 2027 and will run through 2032 with a club option for 2033.

Terms were not made immediately available by the team. However, the deal will include $103 million in new money, ESPN reported.

Sánchez had been pitching under a $22.5 million, four-year contract that was through the 2028 season.

He went 13-5 with a 2.50 ERA in 32 starts last season and struck out a career-high 212 batters. He’s 30-21 overall in four full big league seasons.

Originally signed by the Tampa Bay Rays as an amateur free agent in 2013, Sánchez was acquired in a trade by the Phillies on Nov. 20, 2019, for infielder Curtis Mead.

Mead played in just 41 games for the Chicago White Sox last season, while Sánchez has blossomed into one of the best pitchers in baseball and helped key the Phillies’ run to consecutive NL East titles in 2024 and 2025.

The Phillies want to keep their postseason run going — four straight appearances headed into 2026 — and have locked up all veteran members of their staff to long-term deals.

Jesus Luzardo earlier this month finalized a $135 million, five-year contract that starts in 2027. Zack Wheeler has a $126 million deal through the 2027 and Aaron Nola a $172 million, seven-year agreement through 2030. Rookie Andrew Painter is under team control through 2031 and earned the fifth starter spot in the rotation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Team USA received criticism throughout the 2026 World Baseball Classic, including some opining that they didn’t show enough emotion for their country (e.g., Venezuela‘s profound reaction to winning the tournament and the Dominican Republic‘s infectious enthusiasm from pool play through their eventual semifinal-round loss to the United States). 

San Francisco Giants star right-hander Logan Webb is “not a fan” of the negative notion surrounding Team USA.

“I feel like there’s a narrative that we didn’t care,” Webb said about Team USA’s detractors on Thursday. “That’s complete bulls—. I think we probably cared the most out of every team, to be honest with you. We do things in different ways than some of the other teams, but we care a lot.”

Webb made two starts for Team USA during the 2026 WBC, recording a combined 1.04 ERA, 0.69 WHIP and 11 strikeouts over 8 2/3 innings pitched.

Team USA went 3-1 in Pool B play, finishing as the runner-up in its respective pool, and advanced to the championship game before losing to Venezuela in said title game on Tuesday night. It marked the second consecutive WBC that Team USA lost in the title game, with the Americans losing to Japan in the 2023 final.

As for Webb, the two-time All-Star (2024 and 2025) is coming off a 2025 campaign that saw him post a 3.22 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, a National League-high 224 strikeouts, a 124 ERA+ and 3.8 wins above replacement across 207.0 innings pitched (34 starts). He led the NL in innings pitched for a third consecutive season.

Webb’s Giants open the 2026 MLB regular season at home against Team USA captain Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees on Mar. 25.

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The Cleveland Guardians won’t have to pay indicted pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz while Major League Baseball‘s investigation continues into allegations of pitch-rigging for gamblers.

Ortiz was placed on paid leave last July 3 and Clase on July 28, and they received their salaries while they didn’t pitch for the remainder of the season. They were indicted on federal charges on Nov. 9 and a trial is scheduled for May 4 but could be delayed.

“As the legal proceedings involving Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz continue to move forward, MLB and the MLBPA have agreed that both players will remain on non-disciplinary leave from the club without pay until further notice,” Major League Baseball said in a statement Friday.

“This agreement is not an admission of any wrongdoing by Clase or Ortiz,” the statement added. “MLB has been closely monitoring the matter since alerting federal law enforcement at the outset of its investigation and will have no further comment until its investigation has been completed.”

Clase has a $6 million salary in 2026, the final guaranteed season of a $20 million, five-year contract. Ortiz does not have enough service time for arbitration and makes around the minimum salary of $780,000.

Clase and Ortiz are charged by federal prosecutors with accepting several thousand dollars in payoffs to help two gamblers from their native Dominican Republic win at least $460,000 by placing more than 100 in-game prop bets and parlays on the velocity and the outcome of certain pitches. Charges include wire fraud conspiracy and conspiracy to influence sporting contests.

They entered not guilty pleas in Brooklyn federal court.

Clase is a three-time All-Star and two-time American League Reliever of the Year.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

The World Baseball Classic Final had it all. 

A pitcher’s duel. A game-tying home run. A clutch response. 

It all made for a historic night on FOX, with Tuesday night’s game drawing over 10.78 million viewers, making it the most-watched WBC telecast on any network in the history of the tournament.

The viewership for Tuesday’s final broke the previous record, which was set during Sunday’s semifinal game between team USA and the Dominican Republic.

Venezuela beat team USA 3-2, scoring the decisive run in the top of the ninth inning when Eugenio Suarez’s double scored Javier Sanoja. Viewership peaked in those final innings, reaching over 12 million viewers.

Team USA met that moment, its bats waking up as Bryce Harper launched a two-run home run to straightaway center field. Ultimately, it wasn’t enough to reclaim the WBC title, as relief pitcher Garrett Whitlock conceded that run in the top of the ninth and the U.S. couldn’t answer. 

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Shohei Ohtani reached back for the heater and found it, blazing a 99-mph fastball past Willy Adames for his first strikeout of the afternoon on Wednesday.

For a guy who hasn’t spent much time on the mound over the past 2 1/2 years, he doesn’t seem remotely rusty.

The Japanese two-way star was in top form during his spring training debut on the mound, giving up one hit, two walks and a hit by pitch while striking out four over 4 1/3 scoreless innings against the San Francisco Giants.

He threw 61 pitches, including 34 strikes.

“The stuff was really good — it’s going to get more crisp as he gets out there and gets regular pitching,” manager Dave Roberts said. “But, man, it was really good. He knows he only has a couple outings before the start of the season, so he was focused. To have him touch the fifth inning was a huge win for us.”

Ohtani was unfazed by record-hot conditions in Arizona, needing just five pitches to breeze through the first inning as temperatures pushed 100 degrees at Camelback Ranch. In the second, he gave up a leadoff double to Heliot Ramos before retiring three straight, including Adames and and Will Brennan on strikeouts.

“I was pretty happy with the pitch count today,” Ohtani said through an interpreter. “In terms of the next outing, I do want to be better at executing on two-strike counts. I just didn’t finish off hitters as much as I wanted.”

Ohtani threw some live batting practice sessions in Arizona with the Dodgers before joining Team Japan for the World Baseball Classic in early March. The four-time Most Valuable Player didn’t pitch in the WBC — playing solely as a designated hitter — but did throw off the mound in bullpen sessions.

This was his first time on the mound in a competitive setting since Game 7 of the World Series on Nov. 1.

Roberts said he expects Ohtani will get one more preseason start next week before the regular season starts on March 26.

Ohtani hopes to get through his first full season on the mound since 2022, when he 15-9 with a 2.33 ERA in 28 starts for the Los Angeles Angels. He injured his elbow late in the 2023 season which caused him to miss all of 2024 on the mound.

Ohtani returned to pitching midway through 2025 and had a 2.87 ERA over 14 regular-season starts. He also went 2-1 with a 4.43 ERA in the postseason, helping the Dodgers win their second straight World Series title.

The 31-year-old didn’t hit on Wednesday, choosing to focus on pitching, especially on such a hot day. Roberts said he expects Ohtani to be the team’s designated hitter on Friday against the Padres.

“He’s already taken enough at-bats, so I don’t think the at-bats are a concern,” Roberts said.

Ohtani recently returned to Dodgers camp at Camelback Ranch after Japan was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the WBC. He was 6-for-13 at the plate with three homers for Japan over five games.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

There was no shortage of stars in the World Baseball Classic, and many of them played their best baseball with a major international title on the line. 

The complete World Baseball Classic All-Tournament Team was unveiled on Wednesday following Venezuela’s triumph over the USA in Tuesday’s final. Of course, Venezuelan third baseman Maikel Garcia made his way onto the team as he took home MVP honors for the tournament. He was just one of three Venezuelan players who made the all-tournament team, though.

Here’s a closer look at the entire 12-man all-tournament team from the 2026 World Baseball Classic. 

Webb won both of his starts in the World Baseball Classic, allowing just one run on five hits, a walk and 11 strikeouts in 8 ⅔ innings pitched. 

Nola was effective for Italy in the tournament. He pitched nine total innings of one-run ball, giving up eight hits and two walks to go with eight strikeouts over two appearances. Five of those innings came in Italy’s Pool B-securing win, allowing zero runs that day. 

Skenes was lights out in his two starts for Team USA. The Pittsburgh Pirates‘ ace went 2-0, allowing just one run on seven hits, one walk and nine strikeouts in 8 ½ innings pitched during the tournament. That one run allowed came in the USA’s win over the Dominican Republic in the semifinals, pitching 4 ⅓ innings. 

Wells helped power the Dominican Republic to a semifinal trip at the World Baseball Classic. He hit .267 with a 1.086 OPS, two homers and five RBIs during the tournament. His three-run homer against Korea in the quarterfinal doubled as the game-winner as it won by mercy rule, 10-0. 

Arraez showed his hitting prowess at the international level in the World Baseball Classic. He hit .308 with a 1.059 OPS, two homers and 10 RBIs in the tournament. 

Turang was one of the USA’s top hitters in the World Baseball Classic. The Milwaukee Brewers‘ standout hit .364 with a .936 OPS, with his RBI single in the USA’s quarterfinal win over Canada proving to be big. 

3B: Maikel Garcia, Venezuela

Garcia took home MVP honors for the tournament after hitting a pair of key RBIs in Venezuela’s semifinal and final wins. His RBI single against Italy in the semifinal gave Venezuela the lead for good, while he hit a sacrifice fly in the championship game. For the tournament, Garcia hit .385 with a .970 OPS, a homer and seven RBIs. 

Tovar was one of the tournament’s top contact hitters. He hit .471 with a 1.147 OPS during the tournament. 

Anthony was arguably Team USA’s top hitter in its run to the title game. The Boston Red Sox’ young phenom hit .280 with a .920 OPS, two homers and seven RBIs during the tournament. One of Anthony’s homers was his solo shot that proved to be the difference maker in the USA’s 2-1 win over the Dominican Republic in the semis. 

Similar to Anthony, Tatis was a catalyst for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. He hit .400 with two homers and a 1.238 OPS in the tournament. His 11 RBIs were also tied for the most of any hitter in this year’s World Baseball Classic. 

Nori was one of the best contact hitters during the World Baseball Classic. He hit .400 for Italy during the tournament, posting a 1.185 OPS, two home runs and six RBIs. 

DH: Shohei Ohtani, Japan

Japan didn’t repeat as champs in the World Baseball Classic, but Ohtani was still one of the best players in the tournament. His three homers were tied for the most, even though Japan was knocked out in the quarterfinal. He also hit .462 with a 1.842 OPS in this year’s World Baseball Classic. 

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

Having set attendance and broadcast viewer records, the World Baseball Classic will return in 2029 or 2030 and at some future point could be moved to midseason, when clubs would be less likely to restrict players.

Since the WBC’s inception in 2006, it has been played during spring training. Tournament rules include pitch count restrictions, and teams can demand tougher limits or deny players permission to participate.

“Obviously we have commitments to Fox in terms of the All-Star Game in the middle of the season through ’28,” baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said Wednesday during an interview with The Associated Press. “As the game continues to evolve, we have talked about midseason tournaments in general. And certainly if we decided to get serious about this, about a midseason tournament, this would be an ideal opportunity.”

Fan interest for the WBC continues to grow

This year’s WBC drew 1,619,839 fans for 47 games, a 24% increase over the previous high of 1,306,414 in 2023. The initial tournament in 2006 drew 740,451 for 39 games.

The most-watched 2006 matchup was Mexico’s second-round win over the U.S. at 2.46 million on ESPN.

[4 Takeaways: Venezuela’s World Baseball Classic Final Win Over the USA]

This year’s most-viewed game through Sunday was the Americans’ semifinal victory over the Dominican Republic at 7.37 million on FS1 and Fox Deportes. That topped the previous high of 5.2 million for the 2023 final on FS1, Fox Deportes and Fox Sports streaming services. Numbers for Tuesdays final aren’t yet available.

“There’s no resemblance to where we started in 2006,” Manfred said. “This one, I feel like it went to a different level. We set an attendance record after the early play. By the time we got into the semis and the final it was all gravy.”

The Ohtani effect has been key

Shohei Ohtani striking out then-Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout for the last out of the 2023 WBC was a seminal moment. A sport that emerged in the U.S. in the 19th century took until the 21st century to establish a truly global competition.

“The WBC is kind of a springboard for the rest of our international efforts,” Manfred said. “It gives you kind of a cornerstone to work from in terms of making long-term business relationships with sponsors, broadcasters and whatnot.”

Fans from baseball-mad countries like Japan, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela have watched the tourney closely since its inception. Japan has three titles, while the DR and Venezuela have each won once.

The U.S. also has just one title, in 2017, despite using an All-Star roster this year led by captain Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper and Paul Skenes. Judge was appointed U.S. captain last April and his early commitment sparked other top players to join.

Judge called the WBC crowds “bigger and better than the World Series.” Italy’s run to the semifinals this year awakened baseball interest in a soccer-crazed country, even though games started in the middle of the night.

“I just told the guys that they are the champions of this tournament,” Italy manager Francisco Cervelli said after the Azzurri were eliminated by Venezuela, the eventual champion. “They revolutionized Italy. They put another sport on the map.”

A midseason tournament likely would lead to fewer stars declining or being held back. Two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal agreed with Detroit to be limited to one appearance, and the U.S. started 24-year-old rookie Nolan McLean in the final. The U.S. lost 3-2 to Venezuela, which rallied in the ninth inning against Garrett Whitlock to win its first title.

[Big Picture: Team USA’s Offense Had Star Power But No Spark In WBC Defeat]

Closer Mason Miller was held out by DeRosa, who promised the San Diego Padres he would be used only in a save situation.

“Certainly if it was moved to the middle of the season, I don’t think you would have any nos for competing in it,” DeRosa said.

Could the Olympics be next?

MLB and the players’ association are negotiating over having big leaguers participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The six-nation baseball tournament, which includes the U.S.. Dominican Republic and Venezuela, would be played during an extended All-Star break. That event could impact the decision on when the seventh WBC will be played.

MLB and the players’ association have matching equity shares that are the most in the WBC, with Nippon Professional Baseball, the Korea Baseball Organization and the World Baseball Softball Confederation owning minority stakes.

“The issue for us is whether we do it in ‘29 or in ’30, three years or four years? I’m getting a lot of email from people today saying don’t make us wait four more years for this,” Manfred said. “I do think a three- or four-year cycle is probably about right for the event. The timing is going to turn on what we do with respect to related sorts of international efforts. I remain optimistic about the Olympics and obviously if we play in the Olympics it’s a short time from July of ‘28 ’till the spring of 29 and that’s something we’ll have to take into account. I’m not saying it’s outcome determinative, but it’s something we’ll have to think about.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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