October 3, 2025 4:35 am
CLEVELAND (AP) — Dillon Dingler grew up rooting for the Cleveland Guardians. But on Thursday, he sent them home. Playing in the ballpark where he attended many games as a youngster, the second-year catcher hit a tiebreaking homer in the sixth inning to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 6-3 victory over Cleveland in the decisive Game 3 of their AL Wild Card Series. Dingler also threw out José Ramírez trying to steal second at a pivotal juncture, helping the Tigers reach the Division Series for the second consecutive season. Dingler was raised about 55 miles from Cleveland in Massillon, Ohio. Detroit manager A.J. Hinch praised Dingler’s stability and presence for the team. The Tigers now prepare to face Seattle in a best-of-five Division Series starting Saturday.
October 2, 2025 4:24 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Yoshinobu Yamamoto struck out nine as the Los Angeles Dodgers advanced to the National League Division Series. On Wednesday night, the Dodgers broke the game open with a four-run sixth inning to beat the Cincinnati Reds 8-4. After hitting five home runs in a 10-5 win on Tuesday, the Dodgers eliminated the Reds by playing small ball and rapping out 13 hits. Mookie Betts went 4 for 5 with three doubles. The Dodgers will face the Phillies in the NLDS starting Saturday in Philadelphia. The teams last met in the postseason in 2009.
October 2, 2025 4:25 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Left out of the starting lineup for the New York Yankees’ playoff opener, Jazz Chisholm Jr. was understandably unhappy. Any accomplished player would be. Chisholm just has a different way of letting off steam. He says he played “MLB: The Show” and routed his opponent — and that’s how he blows off steam. Back at second base Wednesday night, Chisholm played a huge part in saving the Yankees’ season as they beat the rival Boston Red Sox 4-3 in Game 2 of their AL Wild Card Series. And this one was no video game.
October 2, 2025 4:27 am
CHICAGO (AP) — Manny Machado hit a two-run homer, Mason Miller dominated again and the San Diego Padres beat the Chicago Cubs 3-0 to send their NL Wild Card Series to a decisive third game. Jackson Merrill hit an early sacrifice fly as San Diego avoided elimination after losing 3-1 on Tuesday. Dylan Cease struck out five in 3 2/3 innings before handing the ball to his team’s hard-throwing bullpen. The finale of the best-of-three series is back at Wrigley Field on Thursday. The playoff-tested Padres are looking for a repeat of 2020, when they dropped Game 1 in the wild-card round before advancing with two straight victories against St. Louis. Machado also homered in Game 2 of that series.
October 2, 2025 4:28 am
CLEVELAND (AP) — Brayan Rocchio and Bo Naylor homered during a five-run eighth inning and the Cleveland Guardians evened their AL Wild Card Series against the Detroit Tigers with a 6-1 victory in Game 2. George Valera also went deep as the Guardians forced a deciding game in the best-of-three series. The winner Thursday faces the Seattle Mariners in a Division Series. Javier Báez had two hits and an RBI for the Tigers, who were 1 for 15 with runners in scoring position and left 15 on base.
October 2, 2025 4:29 am
CLEVELAND (AP) — Rookie Dillon Gabriel will get his first NFL start on Sunday when the Cleveland Browns face the Minnesota Vikings in London. The Browns are benching Joe Flacco after he struggled to lead the offense in the first four games. Cleveland is 1-3 and ranked next-to-last in scoring, averaging 14 points per game. The team has scored 17 points or fewer in nine straight games. Gabriel will be the fifth different starting QB in 10 games. Gabriel was selected in the third round of April’s draft. He has seen action in two games and has completed three of four passes for 19 yards and a touchdown.
October 1, 2025 4:34 am
PITTSBURGH — According to reports, the Pirates are making changes to their coaching staff, parting ways with pitching coach Oscar Marin and third base coach Mike Rabelo. Assistant pitching coach Brent Strom will also not have his contract renewed. The Pirates have not confirmed the moves. Additional changes to the coaching staff could also be coming. Marin and Rabelo were two of the longest-tenured members of the coaching staff and were among former manager Derek Shelton’s first hires during the 2019 offseason. The report comes after manager Don Kelly signed a contract extension Monday. The Pirates finished the season 71-91 and in last place in the National League Central Division.
October 1, 2025 4:24 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit two home runs for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of their NL Wild Card Series against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night. Ohtani’s first homer was a leadoff shot in the first inning. His second, a two-run drive in the sixth, extended the lead to 8-0. Ohtani hit a career-high 55 homers during the regular season, breaking his own franchise record. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has said the two-way superstar would probably start on the mound if the series goes to a decisive third game. Ohtani has yet to pitch in the postseason.
October 1, 2025 4:26 am
CHICAGO (AP) — Seiya Suzuki watched the playoffs on TV after each of his first three years in the majors. He gets to play this time around, and he is determined to make the most of the opportunity. Suzuki hit a crucial home run to help the Chicago Cubs to a 3-1 victory over the San Diego Padres in Game 1 of their NL Wild Card Series. The usually reserved Suzuki pumped his right arm and yelled in celebration as he made his way to first base after his big swing. Chicago had just one hit before the Japanese slugger opened the fifth with a 424-foot shot into the bleachers in left-center on a 94.5 mph fastball from Nick Pivetta.
October 1, 2025 4:25 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Garrett Crochet led the Boston Red Sox to a 3-1 victory over the New York Yankees in their AL Wild Card Series opener. He threw 117 pitches, the most in a postseason game in six years, striking out 11 batters and walking none over 7 2/3 innings. Crochet retired 17 consecutive batters after Anthony Volpe’s homer in the second. Acquired from the Chicago White Sox in December, Crochet has become Boston’s ace, earning a $170 million contract starting next year. He went 18-5 with a 2.59 ERA this season, leading the major leagues with 255 strikeouts and topping the AL with 205 1/3 innings.
