MLB News Blog

James Loney homered, Clayton Kershaw allowed just one hit and the Los Angeles Dodgers were leading the Philadelphia Phillies 1-0 after three innings on Thursday night in Game 1 of the National League championship series. The Dodgers, coming off a three-game sweep of St. Louis, are in the NLCS for the ninth time overall and [...]

Stephen Strasburg is going to stick with the same plan he employed throughout college when he makes his first appearance in the prospect-rich Arizona Fall League on Friday. Strasburg, selected by the Washington Nationals with the No. 1 overall pick in June's amateur draft, pitched inside when he competed for San Diego State and is [...]

Pedro Martinez's first postseason start in five years will be in a familiar spot. Martinez is scheduled to pitch for the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 2 of the NL championship series against Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium on Friday. The 37-year-old right-hander made his major league debut with the Dodgers in 1992 and also played [...]

Mark Teixeira remembers calling Torii Hunter last winter. "After I signed with the Yankees, I said, `You know, good luck to you guys. Hopefully, we'll see you in the ALCS,"' Teixeira recalled. And then he repeated the message when Hunter reached first base during the first series between the teams in May.

Former Washington manager Manny Acta has been interviewed by the Cleveland Indians for their managerial opening. Acta, fired by the Astros in July, spoke with Indians general manager Mark Shapiro by phone earlier this week. The Indians are conducting initial interviews with candidates by phone from their training complex in Goodyear, Ariz.

Ned Yost says he knows how to turn around the Houston Astros. The former Milwaukee Brewers manager met with the team Thursday, the third candidate to interview to become Houston's skipper next season. The team says it will interview a total 10 candidates. San Diego Padres hitting coach Randy Ready is scheduled to meet with [...]

Slugger Albert Pujols says the St. Louis Cardinals are interested in extending his contract during the winter. Pujols told a Dominican radio station on Wednesday that he is in no rush to make a decision. He still has a year left on his contract for 2010 and a club option for 2011. Pujols signed a [...]

Mets shortstop Jose Reyes is expected to be ready for spring training following surgery on his injured right leg. Reyes, who didn't play after May 20, had surgery Thursday in Dallas at North Central Surgical Center. The procedure cleaned scar tissue from the torn hamstring tendon behind the knee. New York said Reyes will start [...]

The Boston Red Sox are among several major league teams lining up to woo Japanese high school pitcher Yusei Kikuchi. The 18-year-old lefthander, who throws a fastball that has been clocked as high as 96 mph, is the latest Japanese amateur pitcher to draw interest from major leagues teams. Kikuchi will hold talks with the [...]