9+ min ago (386+ words) When healthy, there might be an argument to be made that the New York Yankees' rotation can be very good. With Max Fried, Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, and Cam Schlittler, the Yankees have three of the better pitchers in the American League. However, with Rodon's injuries, Cole not throwing the baseball in over a year, and other factors, it might not be the worst idea for New York to go out and add to its rotation. When examining what that might mean for opening day, Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report recently predicted that New York would add to its rotation by signing Chris Bassitt, who not only pitched for the New York Mets but was also a member of the Toronto Blue Jays team that just lost in the World Series. "With Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rod'n and Clarke Schmidt all…...

48+ min ago (100+ words) Thunder Over Louisville is still months away, but Slugger Field is getting ready for the big event. Tickets for Thunder at Slugger Field went on sale Monday. Thunder Over Louisville is on April 18 next year. Tickets for the event start at $35 for general admission and $41 for reserved seating. They can be purchased here. The Louisville Bats host the Toledo Mud Hens at 2:05 p.m. on April 18. Following the game, The Crashers will perform on the field, with Thunder Over Louisville capping off the night. Guests will be able to reenter the ballpark all day....

51+ min ago (279+ words) Shohei Ohtani, a two-time World Series champion, will attempt to add a second World Baseball Classic title to his haul when he competes for the defending champion Japanese team again next year. The 31-year-old two-way superstar made the announcement Monday on social media that he would again participate in the international tournament. Ohtani is fresh off another spectacular season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was the unanimous selection as the National League's Most Valuable Player after going 1-1 with a 2.87 ERA in 14 pitching starts while leading the league at the plate with a .622 slugging percentage, a 1.014 on-base-plus-slugging percentage and a career-high 146 runs scored. In 158 regular-season games this year, Ohtani batted .282 with 55 home runs and 102 RBIs en route to his fourth career MVP honor. Then Ohtani helped the Dodgers complete a run to their second straight World Series championship. He hit…...

1+ hour, 29+ min ago (196+ words) The Dodgers star has already made the United States suffer before The Japanese two-way superstar confirmed on Monday his intention to participate in the tournament, adding the biggest name in baseball right now to an event that will take place next March. This news boosts global interest in the WBC 2026, especially among fans following Ohtani's historic run. Japan will open Group C play in the 2026 WBC on March 6 at the Tokyo Dome-a massive event for the defending champions, who will face Chinese Taipei, Korea, Australia, and Czechia (Czech Republic) in pool play. Ohtani is coming off winning his fourth unanimous MVP in the last five MLB seasons. It's also worth remembering that he is the reigning WBC MVP after leading Japan to its third gold medal in the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ohtani delivered one of the most epic moments…...

1+ hour, 42+ min ago (791+ words) Shohei Ohtani will once again represent Team Japan in next year's World Baseball Classic. Whether or not he pitches in the international tournament, however, remains unclear. On Monday, Ohtani announced on Instagram he is planning to participate in the WBC for the second time in his career. In the 2023 WBC, he won tournament MVP with a .435 batting average and 1.86 pitching ERA, helping Japan to that year's title. He punctuated the event with his memorable strikeout of Mike Trout for the final out in the championship game. The baseballs turned into fast cash for two Blue Jays fans and one Dodgers fan who secured their possession through good fortune and quick thinking. "I'm happy to play again representing Japan," Ohtani wrote in Japanese on Monday. The question now is whether Ohtani will pitch in the event, which takes place in March,…...

1+ hour, 42+ min ago (791+ words) Shohei Ohtani will once again represent Team Japan in next year's World Baseball Classic. Whether or not he pitches in the international tournament, however, remains unclear. On Monday, Ohtani announced on Instagram he is planning to participate in the WBC for the second time in his career. In the 2023 WBC, he won tournament MVP with a .435 batting average and 1.86 pitching ERA, helping Japan to that year's title. He punctuated the event with his memorable strikeout of Mike Trout for the final out in the championship game. The baseballs turned into fast cash for two Blue Jays fans and one Dodgers fan who secured their possession through good fortune and quick thinking. "I'm happy to play again representing Japan," Ohtani wrote in Japanese on Monday. The question now is whether Ohtani will pitch in the event, which takes place in March,…...

1+ hour, 56+ min ago (419+ words) After playing into November and winning a second consecutive World Series championship with the Dodgers, Shohei Ohtani announced on Instagram on Monday that he will play for Team Samurai in the World Baseball Classic next spring. "Dear fans, thank you for sharing this wonderful season with me. I will train hard and see you again next year," Ohtani posted in Japanese. "I am delighted to have the opportunity to play again representing Japan." Ohtani was named the MVP of the 2023 WBC, when he memorably struck out Mike Trout to end the gold-medal game against Team USA. As Japan's DH, Ohtani hit .435 with a home run, eight RBIs and a 1.345 OPS in seven games during the tournament. He was 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA in three appearances as a pitcher. Ohtani's post does not specify whether he will participate for Japan as a…...

2+ hour, 2+ min ago (400+ words) Could the Rangers" early season form be about to turn around? After struggling at home, but tearing it up on the road through the first 20 games, the Blueshirts went winless on their three-game road trip, then returned to the Garden Monday and got only their second home win of the season, beating the St. Louis Blues 3-2 to snap their four-game losing streak. Alexis Lafreniere tipped in a shot by Vladislav Gavrikov to break a 1-1 tie 40 seconds into the third period and Adam Edstrom banged in a pass from Gavrikov at 8:56 of the period to provide some welcome insurance. Edstrom"s goal turned out to be the game-winner when Brayden Schenn scored with 1:15 left in regulation. That goal came after the Rangers had killed off a four-minute power play by St. Louis after Brett Berard, called up Sunday from AHL Hartford,…...

2+ hour, 46+ min ago (172+ words) Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani will play for Team Japan in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, he announced on social media Monday night. Japan will be looking to repeat after winning gold in the 2023 Classic. Ohtani won the tournament's MVP award and memorably struck out former teammate Mike Trout for the final out of the deciding game against Team USA. Ohtani, who returned to the mound this past season after not pitching for nearly two years following a second repair of his ulnar collateral ligament. He did not say in his post whether he would be pitching for Japan. The WBC kicks off on March 5, with Japan beginning group play in Pool C along with Australia, South Korea, Czechia and Chinese Taipei. Team USA will be in Pool B. Team USA has already received commitments from stars Aaron Judge, Cal Raleigh…...

2+ hour, 51+ min ago (442+ words) Shohei Ohtani finished his second season with the Los Angeles Dodgers the same way he did in his debut year with the organization: on top of the baseball world. Ohtani helped Los Angeles capture a second straight World Series title, this time contributing both at the plate and on the mound after serving exclusively as a designated hitter in his first year with the club. Across 158 regular season games at the plate, the 30-year-old Japanese star posted a .282 batting average, a .392 on-base percentage, a 1.014 OPS, 55 home runs and 102 RBIs while serving as the Dodgers" leadoff hitter. On the mound, he delivered a 2.87 ERA over 47 innings, striking out 62 batters as he ramped back into starting pitching form. His two-way excellence earned him a third consecutive MVP Award, further cementing his place among the game"s all-time greats as he continues to…...