MLB News Blog

Jeff Niemann didn't win his spot in Tampa Bay's rotation until the end of spring training. It's turning out that late decision was a good one. Niemann pitched a seven-hitter and the Rays got home runs from Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria in a 6-0 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Friday night.

Joe Mauer's two-out single snapped a seventh-inning tie, and Nick Blackburn and the Minnesota Twins hung on for a 6-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Friday night. Blackburn (8-4) went seven innings, but wasn't at his best. Matt Guerrier and Joe Nathan were, with a perfect eighth and ninth to preserve an important [...]

Astros ace Roy Oswalt left in the seventh inning of Friday night's game against Washington with numbness in two fingers on his pitching hand. Houston led 4-1 before Adam Dunn and Josh Willingham opened the inning with consecutive doubles. Pitching coach Dewey Robinson then trotted out to check on Oswalt and called for a trainer.

Joe Blanton and the Philadelphia Phillies are rolling as the first half of the season winds down. Blanton pitched into the eighth inning, Jayson Werth drove in two runs on the same day he was named to his first All-Star team and Philadelphia beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2 on Friday night. The NL East-leading Phillies [...]

Astros ace Roy Oswalt has left his start in the seventh inning against Washington with an apparent injury to his right hand. Houston led 4-1 on Friday night before Adam Dunn and Josh Willingham opened the inning with consecutive doubles. Pitching coach Dewey Robinson then trotted out to check on Oswalt and called for a [...]

All-Star Edwin Jackson pitched seven strong innings and the Detroit Tigers beat Cliff Lee and the Cleveland Indians 5-1 on Friday night. Marcus Thames hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning for Detroit, which has won three straight. Josh Anderson had a two-run single. Jackson (7-4) struck out four and allowed four hits, including [...]

Bronson Arroyo became the latest struggling pitcher to overwhelm the New York Mets. Arroyo threw a four-hitter for his second career shutout, Joey Votto and Laynce Nix homered off Fernando Nieve, and the Cincinnati Reds defeated the sinking Mets 3-0 Friday night. Before the game, New York traded Ryan Church to the Atlanta Braves for [...]

Dustin Pedroia doubled in a run in the eighth inning, Jon Lester outdueled Brian Bannister and the Boston Red Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 1-0 on Friday night. Lester (8-6) allowed four hits through eight innings, but Bannister (6-7) gave up just one hit through seven. Then Mark Kotsay, playing with a calf injury, [...]

Brett Cecil outpitched Jason Berken in a duel between struggling rookies, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Baltimore Orioles 2-0 Friday night to snap a three-game skid. Alex Rios hit two doubles and scored a run for the Blue Jays, but Scott Rolen's 25-game hitting streak ended with an 0-for-4 performance.

The Los Angeles Angels placed center fielder Torii Hunter and right fielder Vladimir Guerrero on the 15-day disabled list before the start of a three-game series with the New York Yankees. Hunter, who was recently selected to his third All-Star game, has an adductor strain on his right side, which will prevent him from participating [...]