Ronald Blum – Page 5 –

Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani walks through the dugout with a cup of water during a Cactus League game against the Giants on March 18, 2026, in Phoenix. (Ross D. Franklin/AP)

MLB season preview: Robot umpires, LA Dodgers go for 3-peat, Tampa Bay Rays return to Trop — and lockout looms

March 25, 2026 at 6:00 a.m.

Baseball is changing at a dizzying speed in 2026 with the arrival of robot umpires, the return home of the Tampa Bay Rays and an alphabet soup of networks televising...

Venezuela pitcher Daniel Palencia celebrates after the team defeated the United States in the championship game of the World Baseball Classic on March 17, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

MLB teams pressure WBC managers to be careful with their pitchers. But Venezuela pushed back.

March 18, 2026 at 10:33 a.m.

Venezuela manager Omar López went beyond the limit to help his nation win its first World Baseball Classic.

Daniel Palencia of Venezuela celebrates after the 3-2 victory against the United States at loanDepot park on March 17, 2026, in Miami. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Venezuela beats the United States 3-2 to win the country’s 1st World Baseball Classic title

March 17, 2026 at 10:32 p.m.

Venezuelan Daniel Palencia of the Chicago Cubs struck out two in a perfect bottom half of the ninth to get his third save of the WBC.

United States outfielders Roman Anthony, left to right, Byron Buxton and Aaron Judge celebrate after the team’s victory over Mexico in a World Baseball Classic game, Monday, March 9, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Criticized for their cool, American players head into the WBC final appreciating opponents’ flair

March 17, 2026 at 6:00 a.m.

United States captain Aaron Judge’s controlled composure has filtered through the clubhouse ahead of Tuesday night’s final against Venezuela.

Daniel Palencia of Venezuela celebrates a 4-2 victory against Italy in the World Baseball Classic semifinals on March 16, 2026, in Miami. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Venezuela rallies past Italy 4-2 with 3-run 7th and will face US for World Baseball Classic title

March 16, 2026 at 10:26 p.m.

Venezuelan pitcher Daniel Palencia of the Chicago Cubs got three outs for the save.

Dominican Republic's Geraldo Perdomo reacts after striking out at the end of the ninth inning of a World Baseball Classic semifinal game against the United States on March 15, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Dominican Republic’s World Baseball Classic run ends on called strike that appeared low: ‘It was 100% wrong’

March 16, 2026 at 12:59 p.m.

A close called third strike ended the Dominican Republic’s rally attempt and sent the United States into the World Baseball Classic title game.

Italy first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino celebrates a home run with an expresso in the second inning of a World Baseball Classic game against Mexico on March 11, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Team Italy celebrates its World Baseball Classic success with la dolce vita: espresso, wine and Armani

March 16, 2026 at 8:49 a.m.

Italy reached its first World Baseball Classic semifinal, and the team’s espresso-and-wine celebrations have gained some level of attention in a soccer-obsessed nation.

FILE – Major League Baseball Players Association Senior Director, Collective Bargaining & Legal, Bruce Meyer answers a question at a news conference in their offices in New York, March 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

New MLB union head says 2027 work stoppage could disrupt plans for big leaguers at 2028 Olympics

March 15, 2026 at 8:00 p.m.

A work stoppage that leads to canceled games during the 2027 MLB season could disrupt plans under discussion to have big league players participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

United States’ Aaron Judge smiles while taking batting practice prior to an exhibition game against the Rockies on March 4, 2026, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Can a loaded US roster dethrone Japan at the World Baseball Classic?

March 6, 2026 at 6:00 a.m.

Aaron Judge will captain a loaded U.S. roster at the World Baseball Classic. The Americans are chasing their first title since 2017.

Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar bats against the Nationals, on Sept. 17, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Atlanta Braves’ Jurickson Profar faces 162-game suspension for 2nd positive PED test, AP source says

March 3, 2026 at 1:52 p.m.

Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar faces a 162-game MLB suspension for a possible second failed test for a performance-enhancing drug.

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