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Bad Streakers to Return Home

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HOUSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Astros’ legend Carlos Correa’s two-out, three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning changed the game, helping Houston complete a three-game sweep against the visiting Boston Red Sox with a 6-4 win on Wednesday afternoon. Correa and Christian Vazquez both went deep, Yordan Alvarez went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored, and Mike Burrows (1-1) pitched five innings of two-run ball with six strikeouts for Houston, which has won five straight since an 0-2 start.

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Correa’s long ball off Boston ace Garrett Crochet (1-1) broke a 2-2 tie.

Wilyer Abreu (2-for-4) and Roman Anthony homered in the eighth and ninth, respectively, as the Red Sox attempted to stage a late comeback, but a 1-for-7 showing with runners in scoring position and seven men left on base did them in. Connor Wong also had two hits.

Crochet struck out seven but allowed five runs (four earned) through five innings.

Jarren Duran’s move into the leadoff spot paid instant dividends for Boston in the first, as he lined a single to left field before scoring the opening run on a Willson Contreras single up the middle.

Houston responded with a two-run first, scoring in its first at-bats for the third time in as many games in the series. After Crochet struck out Jose Altuve to lead off the game, Alvarez and Isaac Paredes knocked back-to-back doubles to plate the tying run. Correa then reached on an error, and Christian Walker lined a go-ahead single to left.

Three straight baserunners to begin the second helped the Red Sox draw back even. Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s fielder’s choice and a Wong double to left created an RBI opportunity for Duran, whose grounder to short plated the run.

After Boston made it a 2-2 game, the starting pitchers posted dueling zeroes over several frames, with Burrows striking out the side in the third and Crochet doing the same in the fourth.

Crochet retired six straight Astros before Altuve singled and Alvarez was hit by a pitch, setting the stage for Correa — who previously grounded into a 5-4-3 double play — to send a low pitch into the left field Crawford Boxes for his first round-tripper.

In the seventh, Vazquez greeted Boston reliever Danny Coulombe with a leadoff solo shot to center field, extending the Houston lead to 6-2.

Vazquez’s swing proved to be key insurance as Boston staged a comeback with solo shots in back-to-back innings. The hosts had an opportunity for even more as Red Sox reliever Garrett Whitlock labored through a 37-pitch eighth inning, but a bases-loaded strikeout ended the threat without any damage.

After Anthony’s pinch-hit homer in the ninth, Bryan Abreu struck out the side to record his first save.

–Field Level Media

Astros Turn to Brown vs. Red Sox

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HOUSTON – (Wire Service Previwew) – The Houston Astros had to slug their way past the Los Angeles Angels in the final two contests of their season-opening four-game series, setting the stage for veteran right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. to deliver a lengthy start against the Boston Red Sox and provide the bullpen a bit of a breather.

McCullers did exactly what was needed, hurling seven strong innings to lead the Astros to an 8-1 victory in the opener of a three-game home series that continues on Tuesday. Houston needed only two pitchers on Monday to secure the triumph, with reliever Ryan Weiss covering the final two frames of the Astros’ third straight win.

Astros manager Joe Espada had an inkling that his starter was up to snuff when McCullers struck out Roman Anthony and Trevor Story to open the game.   McCullers faced the minimum through six and, when he ran into a spot of trouble in the seventh, Espada let him finish the job.

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“He picked us up big time,” Espada said.

“He knew exactly what he needed to do, which makes it even harder to do. The expectations are I need to pick the teammates up. And then he does it against that lineup. It just tells you it’s not his first rodeo. He’s been in that spot before. The fact that he delivered and picked us up put us in a much better spot for (Tuesday).”

Right-hander Hunter Brown (0-0, 0.00 ERA) has the starting assignment for Houston on Tuesday. He worked 4 2/3 scoreless innings against the Angels but did not factor into the decision of a 3-0 loss last Thursday after he allowed four hits and four walks with nine strikeouts. Brown recorded eight scoreless starts last season.

Brown is 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA across three career starts against the Red Sox. He faced Boston twice in 2025 and allowed two runs on 10 hits and four walks with 10 strikeouts in 13 2/3 innings.

Right-hander Brayan Bello (11-9, 3.35 ERA in 2025) is the scheduled starter for the Red Sox on Tuesday. He logged a career-high 166 2/3 innings last season but labored down the stretch and dropped his last three decisions while allowing nine earned runs across 14 innings. During one stretch in 2025, Bello recorded a decision in 13 consecutive starts, going 8-5 with a 2.49 ERA.

Bello is 1-1 with a 2.19 ERA in three career appearances (two starts) against the Astros. He faced Houston in consecutive starts in late August 2023, splitting the decisions after allowing four runs (three earned) on 13 hits and five walks with six strikeouts across 11 2/3 innings.

After scratching across just 10 runs while dropping a three-game series to the Cincinnati Reds over the weekend, the Red Sox mustered only six baserunners against the Astros on Monday.

The slow start offensively hasn’t presented any cause for concern.

“Honestly, I think we’re in a pretty good spot,” Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran said. “I feel like we’re a pretty positive group. I feel like nobody has really been down on themselves, and we’re very talkative. I feel like we’ve been talking to each other about what we’ve seen on the mound.”

–Field Level Media

Crochet, Red Sox Take Opener

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CINCINNATI – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston ace Garrett Crochet pitched six scoreless innings and Ceddanne Rafaela broke a scoreless tie in the seventh with an RBI single to lead the visiting Red Sox past the Cincinnati Reds 3-0 on Thursday in the season opener for both clubs.

Roman Anthony had three hits, while Trevor Story and Jarren Duran added insurance RBI singles in the ninth.

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Crochet (1-0), the 2025 American League Cy Young runner-up, allowed three hits, walked two and struck out eight to earn the win.

Marcelo Mayer opened the seventh as a pinch-hitter against new Reds reliever Pierce Johnson (0-1) with a double to left-center, just beyond the diving reach of center fielder TJ Friedl. After moving to third on a sacrifice bunt, he scored on Rafaela’s single.

Sal Stewart overcame being drilled in the left wrist by an Anthony liner in the fifth to rack up three hits, becoming the first Cincinnati rookie since 1958 (when rookie rules were established) to record three hits on Opening Day.

His two-out ground-rule double — his second two-bagger of the game — to right set up a rematch of the World Baseball Classic title game when Eugenio Suarez beat Garrett Whitlock and Team USA with a go-ahead double in the 3-2 Venezuela win. This time, Whitlock fanned Suarez to end the eighth-inning threat.

Former Cincinnati closer Aroldis Chapman came on and pitched a scoreless ninth for the save.

With a summer-like temperature of 81 degrees and a stiff 15-mph breeze blowing out to left, dueling lefties Crochet and Andrew Abbott managed to match zeros for the first six innings.

Abbott finished with six scoreless innings, scattering seven hits and one walk with four strikeouts on 83 pitches.

Crochet matched Abbott and pitched out of his biggest jam in the sixth when he fanned Eugenio Suarez and Spencer Steer with the bases loaded.

Abbott was able to work his way out of jams in the first two innings, thanks to a pair of groundball double plays, one started by Ke’Bryan Hayes at third and the other fielded by Elly De La Cruz at short.

The Red Sox totaled five hits over the first three innings against Abbott, including two by Anthony, but could not score.

–Field Level Media

It’s Opening Day … on Netflix

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By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – For baseball purists, nothing says “Opening Day” like an interleague Major League Baseball game featuring the New York Yankees at the San Francisco Giants, played at nightime and broadcast on Netflix.

Gone is the tradition of having the Cincinnati Reds host baseball’s first game of each season – a day game none-the-less. The Reds were traditionally the first team to throw-out the first pitch for each new MLB season for much of the 20th century. The Reds’ loss of their Opening Day tradition is symbolic of the team’s declining national profile, even as the City of Cincinnati continues to treat the annual home opener as a cherished local holiday.
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Instead, MLB programmers opted for the big bucks and large market New York and San Francisco (Bay Area) for the 2026 opener, The game is part of a $50m cash grab by MLB with Netflix with a package of three tune-in opportunities.

  1. Baseball’s Opening Night
  2. The MLB All-Star Home Run Derby
  3. MLB “Special Event,” like the Field of Dreams game (Iowa) – Aug 13 (PHI v MINN)

That some $16.6m for each stand-alone broadcast, spread out over the course of the 2026 season. For Netflix, it’s waving a giant business card three times a summer. For MLB, its global exposure with the signing of one deal. It might even draw a few of the younger set along to a sports that skews heavily to the older, male audiences.

If you’re scoring at home:

  • Wednesday – One MLB game
  • Thursday – 11 games
  • Friday – 8 games
  • Saturday – Full throttle – 15 MLB games

Baseball was smart to schedule its lone opener on Wednesday night, a full 23 hours ahead of the continuing saga of March Madness. In an era of “alternate facts,” we have a “new tradition” in the works.

No matter the teams, an umpire uttering the words, “Play Ball,” or “Batter-Up” have the true meaning of Opening Day, even if said ump will have his balls and strikes reversed sometime tonight.

Yes, there are some rule changes for 2026, and the “ABS” is atop the list. Let’s take a look:

Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System: Each team begins the game with two challenges. Batter, pitcher, or catcher can appeal a ball/strike call. If the appeal is successful, the challenge is retained; if not, it is lost. Challenges are not permitted when position players are pitching.

Base Coach Regulations: Base coaches must remain within their designated boxes while the pitcher is on the rubber to reduce sign-stealing via better angles. It’ll take a but of “getting used to it” for the coaches.

Infield Interference/Obstruction: Runners cannot initiate contact with fielders to draw an obstruction call. Doing so may result in the runner being called out.

Extra Inning Challenges: If a team runs out of challenges, they will receive one, (per inning in extra innings).

There will be some other rule changes in the works, but they’ll be tested in the Minor Leagues throughout 2026. (See rule changes for MiLB – HERE).

What will the fans – baseball purists and newcomers – see when the seasons starts?

We’ll still have Fenway Park – the world’s most beloved ball park – in Boston.

We’ll still have Wrigley Field – the world’s biggest saloon – in Chicago.

Those are the “only” two ballparks remaining.

We’ll still have the Dodgers in Los Angeles and the Yankees in New York both outspending the mere mortals of a league, trying to move forward with the times, but with a Players Association so strong, the words Salary and Cap can not be used in the same sentence, even by the Commissioner of the sport in a Philadelphia clubhouse.

On Opening Day, we’ll still have “hope” in at least 28 of the 30 major league baseball cities, excluding Denver, Colorado and the District of Columbia. That’s pretty good, considering you can slice off the lower third of teams and not a soul would miss them come October.

We’ll still have kids with gloves, hoping to catch a foul ball – an instant, treasured souvenir to be a keepsake until one day, when you really need a baseball, and you play ball with it, or “have a catch.”

You’ll note, some people “have a catch” and others “play catch.” That subtle difference is what baseball is all about and the debate between the use of the two phrases will live in infamy.

This season we’ll watch fast balls thrown at 100 mph. We’ll see four seam fastballs, fastballs, curve balls, wicked curves, sliders, change-ups and rare screwballs and knuckle balls. We’ll tolerate cutters, sinkers, splitters and sweepers.

If you catch a glimpse of the Eephus pitch, it’ll be something special.

As defined by Major League Baseball, an Eephus pitch is “one of the rarest pitches thrown in baseball, and it is known for its exceptionally low speed and ability to catch a hitter off guard.

Typically, an eephus is thrown very high in the air, resembling the trajectory of a slow-pitch softball pitch. Hitters, expecting a fastball that’s nearly ten times the velocity of the eephus, can get over-zealous and swing too early and hard. But for a hitter who is able to keep his weight back and put a normal swing on the pitch, it is the easiest pitch to hit in baseball — one without unexpected movement or excessive velocity.”

Pirates pitcher Rip Sewell was the first pitcher to throw the eephus pitch regularly — although, at the time, the pitch hadn’t yet been named. Sewell’s teammate Maurice Van Robays took care of that. He concocted the name “eephus” and when asked why, he responded by saying, “Eephus ain’t nothing, and that’s a nothing pitch.” In Hebrew, the word “efes” can be loosely translated into “nothing,” and the word “eephus” undoubtedly stems from that.

Zack Greinke was famous for surprising hitters with an eephus on occasion, one of the only modern-day pitchers to use the eephus pitch with any frequency.

There you have it.

Baseball is back.

It’s Opening Day – although it’ll be a night game on Netflix.

Batter up!

Everyone’s in first place.

Play Ball!

 

Red Sox Acquire Durbin; Trade Hamilton

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report from Official News Release) – The Boston Red Sox are acquiring third baseman Caleb Durbin and two other infielders from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for three players, multiple media outlets reported Monday.

The reported trade sends left-handers Kyle Harrison and Shane Drohan and infielder David Hamilton to Milwaukee. Boston will also acquire Andruw Monasterio, Anthony Seigler and a Competitive Balance Round B Draft pick.

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Durbin, who turns 26 on Feb. 22, fills a lineup void created when Alex Bregman signed with the Chicago Cubs in free agency.

Durbin made his major league debut last April and batted .256 with 11 home runs, 53 RBIs and 18 stolen bases in 136 games for the Brewers. He led the National League with 24 hit-by-pitches and finished third in the NL Rookie of the Year voting.

Durbin, 25, make  his Major League debut on April 18. The right-handed hitter played in 136 games, batting .256 (114-for-445) with 25 doubles, 11 home runs, 60 runs scored, 53 RBI, and 18 stolen bases while making 119 starts at third base and three at second base. He led National League rookies in stolen bases and ranked second in runs scored and third in hits and doubles. In nine Postseason games, Durbin batted .276 (8-for-29) with two doubles, one triple, three runs scored, two RBI, and three stolen bases. An Illinois native, he was originally selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 14th round of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft.

Monasterio, 28, played in 68 games for the Brewers during 2025, batting .270 (34-for-126) with nine doubles, four home runs, and 16 RBI. The right-handed hitter made 21 starts at shortstop, eight at second base, and five at third base, while also playing 20.1 innings at first base and 2.0 innings in left field. He also played in 30 games for Triple-A Nashville, batting .250 (28-for-112) with a .346 on-base percentage, six doubles, and four home runs. Originally signed as an international free agent by the Chicago Cubs in March 2014, the Venezuela native has batted .250 (133-for-533) in 219 career Major League games, all with Milwaukee (2023-25).

Seigler, 26, played in 34 games for Milwaukee during 2025, his Major League debut, batting .194 (12-for-62) with six runs scored and five RBI. A switch-hitter and ambidextrous thrower, he made 16 starts at third base and one as the designated hitter. He also played in 72 games for Triple-A Nashville, batting .285 (71-for-249) with a .414 on-base percentage, .892 OPS, 51 runs scored, 16 doubles, four triples, eight home runs, and 23 stolen bases. The Arizona native was originally selected by the New York Yankees in the first round (23rd overall) of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft.

Harrison, 24, posted a 4.04 ERA (16 ER/35.2 IP) with 38 strikeouts in 11 games (six starts) during 2025 with the San Francisco Giants (eight games, four starts) and Boston (three games, two starts). The left-hander also made 18 Triple-A starts between Worcester (12 starts) and Sacramento (six starts), going 5-2 with a 3.66 ERA (31 ER/76.1 IP) and 88 strikeouts. He was acquired by the Red Sox in a trade from San Francisco alongside three others in exchange for Rafael Devers on June 15. Originally selected by the Giants in the third round of the 2020 First-Year Player Draft, the California native has posted a 4.39 ERA (95 ER/194.2 IP) with 191 strikeouts in 42 career Major League games (37 starts) with the Giants (2023-25) and Red Sox (2025).

Drohan, 27, went 5-2 in 2025 with a 3.00 ERA (18 ER/54.0 IP), 77 strikeouts, and a .202 opponent batting average in 15 games (14 starts) between High-A Greenville (three starts) and Triple-A Worcester (12 games, 11 starts). The left-hander is rated as the Sox’ No. 15 prospect by Baseball America. Selected by Boston in the fifth round of the 2020 First-Year Player Draft, the Florida native owns a 4.29 ERA (196 ER/411.2 IP) in 104 career minor league games (89 starts).

Hamilton, 28, batted .198 (35-for-177) with six home runs and 22 stolen bases in 91 games for the Red Sox in 2025. The left-handed hitter made 42 starts at second base and seven at shortstop. Originally selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the eighth round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft, the Texas native has hit .222 (112-for-504) with 23 doubles, two triples, 14 home runs, 47 RBI, and 57 stolen bases in 204 career Major League games, all with the Red Sox (2023-25).

“Sonny” Skies Over Fenway After Trade

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BOSTON – (Wire Service Report) – The St. Louis Cardinals traded All-Star right-hander Sonny Gray to the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday. The Cardinals acquired right-hander Richard Fitts, minor league left-hander Brandon Clarke and a player to be named later or cash considerations to complete the deal.

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Clarke was the consensus fifth-ranked prospect in the Red Sox organization.

Gray, 36, agreed to waive his no-trade clause to accommodate the transaction. He finished 14-8 with a 4.28 ERA and one shutout in 32 starts for the Cardinals in 2025. He struck out 201 batters and walked only 38 in 180 2/3 innings. The 13-year veteran is 125-102 with a 3.58 ERA in 339 games (330 starts) with the then-Oakland Athletics (2013-17), New York Yankees (2017-18), Cincinnati Reds (2019-21), Minnesota Twins (2022-23) and Cardinals.

Gray made the American League All-Star team in 2015 and 2023 and the National League All-Star squad in 2019. He finished second in the AL Cy Young voting in 2023 and third in 2015 and signed a three-year, $75 million deal with the Cardinals after the 2023 season and is due to earn $35 million in 2026. The contract includes a $30 million mutual option and a $5 million buyout in 2027, per ESPN.

ESPN reported that the Cardinals are sending $20 million to the Red Sox to put toward Gray’s 2026 salary.

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Fitts, who turns 26 next month, posted a 2-5 record with a 3.97 ERA in 15 appearances (14 starts) with Boston over the past two seasons. He entered the 2025 season ranked as the team’s 12th-best prospect by Baseball America.

Clarke, 22, struck out 60 batters over 38 innings spread over 14 starts this past season with High-A Greenville and Single-A Salem.

“We are pleased to add these two talented young pitchers to our organization,” said Chaim Bloom, Cardinals president of baseball operations.

“Richard Fitts has already begun his big league career, and with his power stuff and willingness to attack the strike zone, he has the ability to start games at the highest level for many years.

“Brandon Clarke is an exciting left-handed prospect whose ceiling rivals that of any pitcher in the minor leagues. Both have the potential to be part of our growing core for a long time, and we are happy to welcome them to the Cardinals.”

The Red Sox Depth Chart for starting pitchers now improves and is currently in this state:

  1. Garrett Crochet
  2. Sonny Gray
  3. Brayan Bello
  4. Connelly Early
  5. ? – Kutter Crawford/Hunter Dobbins/Tanner Houck/Patrick Sandoval

–Field Level Media

MLB MVPs: Ohtani Wins, Raleigh Snubbed

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NEW YORK – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – While Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers had his greatness reconfirmed, Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners learned not even the greatest season by a catcher in Major League Baseball history could stop New York Yankees great Aaron Judge from adding another Most Valuable Player award to his trophy case.

Minutes after Ohtani secured his third consecutive MVP award and fourth in the last five years — leaving him just three shy of Barry Bonds for the most in MLB history — Judge was announced as the American League’s MVP in a close vote with Raleigh on Thursday night.

Ohtani and Judge became the first duo to win the Most Valuable Player Award in the same back-to-back seasons.

The New York Yankees outfielder secured 17 of a possible 30 first-place votes and 355 points. The Seattle Mariners catcher claimed the other 13 first-place votes and finished with 335 points.

In the end, the Baseball Writers’ Association of America voters determined that Judge’s MLB-leading batting average (.331), on-base percentage (.457) and slugging percentage (.688) outweighed Raleigh’s AL-best 60 homers and 125 RBIs.

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“It’s pretty wild,” Judge said. “You try not to think about it during the season. I try to keep my head down through all 162 and do whatever I can in today’s game to help our team win.”

For the 33-year-old Judge, it marks his third MVP award. That puts him in an exclusive neighborhood with the likes of Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial, Mike Trout and a handful of others — but Ohtani no longer resides there.

The 31-year-old Japan native received all 30 first-place votes for the National League MVP.

Ohtani earned his latest honor after piling up a career-high 55 homers, a majors-best 146 runs and an NL-high a .622 slugging percentage and 1.014 OPS in 158 games.

He also returned to the mound after taking 18 months off and forged a 1-1 record with a 2.87 ERA in 14 starts. He registered 62 strikeouts versus just nine walks over 47 innings.

“It was a great year,” Ohtani said on MLB Network via translator. “Like I said, I’m grateful to my teammates, the coaching staff … but not only them. The fans were the ones who really rooted us on and supported us.”

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Ohtani added eight home runs in 17 postseason games while leading the Dodgers to their second consecutive World Series title, though his playoff exploits did not factor into the BBWAA voting.

Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, who produced a league-high 56 homers and 132 RBIs while playing in all 162 games, finished second in the balloting. He was followed by New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto (43 homers, 38 stolen bases), Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo (.290 average, 20 homers, 100 RBIs, 27 steals) and Phillies shortstop Trea Turner (league-leading .304 average with 36 steals).

In the American League, Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (30 homers, 44 steals) finished a distant third.

Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (23 homers, 38 steals) and Detroit Tigers starter Tarik Skubal, who claimed his second consecutive Cy Young Award with a 13-6 record and 2.21 ERA, rounded out the top five.

–Field Level Media

Arrests Come Down on MLB Pitchers

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BROOKLYN – (Wire Service Report) – Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz have been indicted after being accused of rigging bets in Major League Baseball games. The indictment was handed down earlier this week in U.S. District Court of the Eastern Division of New York and made public on Sunday by the Department of Justice.

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In the case of Clase — a three-time All-Star and two-time Marino Rivera American League Reliever of the Year — investigators tied him to pitches he allegedly rigged for bettors, tipping them off about what he would throw and when. According to the indictment, he sometimes communicated his upcoming pitches via cellphone during games.

Both players face four charges: wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery, and money laundering conspiracy. If found guilty of all charges, they could spend a maximum of 65 years in prison.

Ortiz was arrested Sunday in Boston and scheduled to appear in federal court on Monday. Clase is not in custody in the United States.

In a statement to ESPN, Major League Baseball said: “MLB contacted federal law enforcement at the outset of its investigation and has fully cooperated throughout the process. We are aware of the indictment and today’s arrest, and our investigation is ongoing.”

Law enforcement began its investigation in the spring.

“Beginning in or around May 2023, Clase, a relief pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians, agreed with corrupt sports bettors to rig proposition bets — or ‘prop’ bets — on particular pitches he threw,” per a news release from the Justice Department.

“The bettors wagered on the speed and type of Clase’s pitches, based on information they knew in advance by coordinating with Clase, sometimes even during MLB games. Clase often threw these rigged pitches on the first pitch of an at-bat. To ensure certain pitches were called as balls, Clase threw many of them in the dirt, well outside the strike zone. The bettors used the advanced, inside information that Clase provided about his future pitches to wager thousands of dollars at online sportsbooks.

“Clase at times received bribes and kickbacks from the bettors in exchange for providing advanced, non-public information. He also sometimes provided money to the bettors in advance to fund the scheme. The indictment includes numerous examples of pitches that Clase rigged, including one in the Eastern District of New York in a game against the New York Mets. In total, by rigging pitches, Clase caused his co-conspirator bettors to win at least $400,000 in fraudulent wagers.”

Ortiz is alleged to have joined the scheme in June 2025 and received bribes and kickbacks for throwing balls instead of strikes. Clase was the connection between Ortiz and the bettors, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Ortiz allegedly was paid $5,000 to throw a ball on purpose in Cleveland’s June 15 game against the Seattle Mariners, with Clase getting the same amount for setting it up. For a June 27 game against the St. Louis Cardinals, they each received $7,000 for a similar act, according to the indictment.

That was the final game Ortiz pitched in 2025.

Ortiz and Clase were placed on leave July 3 and July 28, respectively. On Aug. 31, Major League Baseball and its players association extended the non-disciplinary paid leave of the right-handers “until further notice” amid an ongoing sports betting investigation.

Clase, 27, was 5-3 with a 3.23 ERA and 24 saves in 48 appearances in the 2025 season. He had a career-high 47 saves in 2024.

Clase is 21-26 with 182 saves and a 1.88 ERA in 366 career games (one start) with the Texas Rangers (2019) and the Guardians.

Ortiz, 26, was 4-9 with a 4.36 ERA in 16 starts this season. He was acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates as part of a three-team trade that included the Toronto Blue Jays last Dec. 10.

–Field Level Media

MLB: Possible Free Agent Destinations?

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – As the light turns green to signal the open of Major League Baseball free agency, the looming threat of the two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers casts a larger shadow than ever over the other 29 teams.

Most of them are dealing with a level of wallet envy as Los Angeles collects World Series titles and All-Stars at an epic clip.

With perennial MVP Shohei Ohtani front and center, it’s easy to forget the Dodgers scored offseason wins each winter before and after onboarding the two-way stud as a free agent in 2024.

The same year he signed a (largely deferred) 10-year, $700 million contract that runs until 2033, the Dodgers spent $325 million over 12 years (2035) on World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, signed third baseman Max Muncy to an extension and re-upped with right-hander Tyler Glasnow after a trade from the Tampa Bay Rays.

The annual average value of those four deals? A cool $134 million.

Milwaukee was no match for the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. Worth noting is the current payroll allocation for next season from the Brewers: $45 million.

Don’t look now, but this could be the winter the Cincinnati Reds ($39M), Chicago White Sox ($37M) and Miami Marlins ($23M) combine to reach $100 million in total player payroll contract commitments.

Well, maybe not.

Without ballclubs having the cash or credentials to spend Dodgers dollars — or even Brewers bucks — the biggest fish in free agency are not incentivized to float toward smaller markets, lighter spenders or generally away from LA or New York.

Will there be a surprise bidder for any of the top talents on the free agent market this winter?

Don’t rule out the San Francisco Giants, an NL West division rival of the Dodgers and playoff-qualifying Padres all too aware of MLB’s devolved state as a spenders market.

Here’s our early projection for the landing spot of the top 10 players in free agency:

1. Kyle Tucker, RF, Chicago Cubs
Free Agent Destination?: Los Angeles Dodgers
If Tucker truly wants $400 million as is widely speculated, cross off a return to the Chicago Cubs. Yes, he’s 28 and was dogged by hand and calf injuries, but the starting rotation is a higher priority in Chicago. Tucker hit .266/.377/.464 with 22 home runs, 25 doubles, 87 walks and 25 stolen bases in 597 plate appearances.

If the Phillies shock their peers by trading Bryce Harper, they could make a bid and the Yankees are always in play.

2. Kyle Schwarber, DH, Philadelphia Phillies
Free Agent Destination?: Philadelphia Phillies
At 32 going on 33 (March 2026), Schwarber is nowhere close to a perfect candidate for most teams looking for power. But his resume can take a bullet. Other than Yankees bomber Aaron Judge, Schwarber has been baseball’s most consistent HR hitter in MLB the past decade. Schwarber doesn’t fit in the field — anywhere — but the Chicago Cubs might come knocking with full knowledge of perceived shortcomings and the Atlanta Braves are intrigued, too.

3. Alex Bregman, 3B, Boston Red Sox
Free Agent Destination?: New York Mets
If you guessed Bregman was out of gas before last season, your reading was proven wrong. But the exercise is doomed to become annual because of Bregman’s age — he’ll be 32 in March. Still a solid defensive third baseman, his clubhouse leadership is on par with David Wright and he’d bring a bat to help offset the potential loss of Pete Alonso.

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4. Pete Alonso, 1B, New York Mets
Free Agent Destination: Boston Red Sox?
Following a similar map to the one Boston used to reel in Bregman last offseason, the Red Sox could be getting a player capable of being an 80 extra-base-hit threat at Fenway Park. There is the looming return of Triston Casas for Boston to balance with their bidding, but a rotation at 1B-DH would suit if the Mets tag out of the bidding.

5. Bo Bichette, 2B, Toronto Blue Jays
Free Agent Destination: New York Mets?
Cringe away, but the Dodgers make all the sense in the world if the vision is to utilize Bichette as a corner outfielder and second baseman. Of course, he would have a say in buying into that vision. Who else might have the funds for a 28-year-old borderline MVP candidate? All set at shortstop, the Mets would be adding Bichette to play second base and only after the Blue Jays drop the pen and walk away from contract talks. A return to Toronto might still work out, and there are teams with more money capable of forcing Bichette to listen — Los Angeles Angels? — on a 10-year offer.

6. Cody Bellinger, RF, New York Yankees
Free Agent Destination: New York Yankees
Long-term security would appeal to Bellinger, 30, if such an offer exists. More likely, he’s back in pinstripes to give New York balance in the lineup and insurance in case bids for the heavier hitters on this list turn them away.

7. Framber Valdez, LHP, Houston Astros
Free Agent Destination: Chicago Cubs
Reassigning the money ticketed for Tucker to Valdez would be ideal for the Cubs, who have rotation needs and didn’t pick up the option on left-hander Shota Imanaga. Valdez might fetch a $200 million offer from the likes of the Giants and Blue Jays. Will the Cubs blink or swim?

8. Ranger Suarez, LHP, Philadelphia Phillies
Free Agent Destination: San Francisco Giants
We see the Mets and Red Sox kicking the tires on Ranger, but a reunion with the Phillies appears less likely. In the starting pitching market, a team overeager to make a splashy move is always a strong bet. Based on Buster Posey hiring University of Tennessee manager Tony Vitello and both harping on the importance of pitching in the National League West, the Giants fit that profile.

9. Dylan Cease, RHP, San Diego Padres
Free Agent Destination: Chicago Cubs
Once traded by the Cubs to the White Sox, Cease is no longer in Cy Young conversations. He is a workhorse. Cease made at least 32 starts in five consecutive seasons and was No. 1 in the National League in Ks/9 at 11.5 in 2025. The Padres have a Michael King decision to make. It’s possible the new regime prefers Cease or has other (trade) targets queued up. The New York Mets and San Francisco Giants could be in play, and the Detroit Tigers might make a run if they decide Tarik Skubal is worth more as the biggest offseason trade chip due to the direction of contract talks.

10. Josh Naylor, 1B, Seattle Mariners
Free Agent Destination: Seattle Mariners
At 28, Naylor should be the clear priority to return to the Mariners. Acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks at the trade deadline, Naylor hit 20 home runs and 29 doubles with 92 RBIs between the two stops in 2025. Naylor and third baseman Eugenio Suarez, another Seattle deadline deal last season, are also targets of smaller-market franchises because of the bang for the bucks. Naylor’s contract is likely to be in the 3-5 years, $75 million-$110 million range or approximately $45 million-$60 million less than Schwarber’s.

–Field Level Media

Greatest Words in Sports: Game Seven!

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TORONTO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – As if there were not enough drama, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays will go at it again – TONIGHT – in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series.

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The teams played an 18-inning Game 3 in Los Angeles, won 6-5 by the Dodgers on Freddie Freeman’s walk-off home run. Then came the ending of Game 6 on Friday. With the Dodgers leading by two runs, one out and runners on second and third, Andres Gimenez lined out to left fielder Enrique Hernandez, who threw to second baseman Miguel Rojas to double off Addison Barger at second.

That completed the Dodgers’ 3-1 victory to set up a Game 7 in the World Series for the first time since 2019, when the Washington Nationals defeated the Houston Astros.

It will be the seventh elimination or call it, in this case, winner-take-all, game of the 2025 postseason, matching 2012 for the most.

After the Friday contest, the term “all hands on deck” was thrown around frequently when referring to pitching possibilities for Game 7.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that he had not decided on a starter. He did say that Tyler Glasnow, Los Angeles’ Game 3 starter who got the final three outs of Game 6 for his first career save, would be available.

“They are all possibilities,” he said.

That includes Game 4 starter Shohei Ohtani, who could either open or relieve.

“Just kind of figuring out what his temperature is on starting versus coming out of the ‘pen, and so we’re close to a decision,” Roberts said.

Toronto will go with Max Scherzer (1-0, 4.50 ERA postseason), who started Game 3.

Scherzer will be starting his second career World Series Game 7. The other was with the Nationals in 2019, when he threw five innings of two-run ball in a no-decision.

“No better guy to have on the mound to kind of navigate the emotions, the stuff,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “Max has been getting ready for Game 7 when he knew he was pitching Game 3. So all the confidence in the world in him and everyone (Saturday).”

Scherzer allowed three runs in 4 1/3 innings during the Game 3 marathon.

The Dodgers are trying to become the first repeat World Series champions since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees.

“I’m excited. It’s going to be fun,” said Los Angeles catcher Will Smith, who hit an RBI double in Game 6. “We work all year long to be in this situation to win a ballgame and win a World Series.”

Roberts added, “We’re going to leave it out there. I don’t think that the pressure, the moment’s going to be too big for us. We got to go out there and win one baseball game. We’ve done that all year.”

The Blue Jays will be trying to win their first World Series since they won back-to-back titles in 1992-93, their only previous appearances in the Fall Classic.

Toronto is headed to its second Game 7 of the 2025 postseason. The Blue Jays won Games 6 and 7 at home to take the American League Championship Series against the Seattle Mariners.

Schneider believes his team is good at keeping things as normal as possible, and he expects the same on Saturday.

We’ve done that a lot this year,” Schneider said. “We’ve got voices in the clubhouse and people in the coaching staff that will keep it normal (Saturday). It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be three or four or five hours of mayhem and great baseball.

“But these guys are going to be ready for it. Hopefully they get to slow some things down but enjoy it. It’s Game 7 of the World Series at your home stadium. I mean, what the hell else do you want?”

–Field Level Media