JUSTIN VERLANDER

For the first time in nine years, baseball’s postseason won’t include a New York team.

Justin Verlander began his second stint with the Houston Astros by pitching seven solid innings, but he gave up a go-ahead homer to Jake Bauers that sent the New York Yankees to a 3-1 victory.

New York Mets owner Steve Cohen met with player and team personnel in Kansas City prior to the team's game Wednesday.

The arms race in the AL West began with Lucas Giolito and quickly escalated.

Framber Valdez threw the 16th no-hitter in Houston Astros history Tuesday night in a 2-0 victory over the Cleveland Guardians.

Houston’s Framber Valdez has not allowed a hit through seven innings against the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday night.

Justin Verlander is headed back to the Houston Astros, who reacquired the three-time Cy Young Award winner from the New York Mets in a trade-deadline blockbuster.

Ace pitcher Justin Verlander was shipped from the New York Mets to Houston ahead of the trade deadline, returning to the Astros after he helped them win the World Series last year.

Pete Alonso homered twice and drove in a season-high five runs, Justin Verlander pitched six shutout innings and the New York Mets beat the New York Yankees 9-3 in their Subway Series opener.

Justin Verlander gave up back-to-back home runs in his New York Mets debut and Eduardo Rodriguez threw eight scoreless innings as the Detroit Tigers completed a three-game sweep with a 2-0 win Thursday.

Justin Verlander was roughed up early before settling in and having some success in his New York Mets debut.

New York Mets star pitchers Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer are returning to the mound in Detroit against a team both of them played for.

Clayton Kershaw reached 200 victories this past week.

The average Major League Baseball salary was up 11.1% to a record $4.9 million to start this season, the biggest jump for the sport since 2001, according to a study by The Associated Press.

The New York Mets placed Justin Verlander on the injured list with a strained back muscle on opening day, sidelining the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner before his first appearance with the team.

Players and coaches in the NCAA Tournament may be breathing life into a new controversy: Inflategate.

Team USA fielded a World Baseball Classic roster brimming with All-Star names from Trea Turner to Mookie Betts to Mike Trout.

Major league hitters are working with the sport's brightest minds to close the gap on a technology-driven pitching renaissance.

Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara has received his NL Cy Young Award trophy for the second time, and this time he has no reason to give it back.

There were some familiar faces in new places as teams picked up the pace on the second day of spring training.

Baseball's 2023 season begins with another celebration for the Houston Astros, and Jacob deGrom returns to New York on another big day on this year's major league schedule.

Spring training opens Monday in Florida and Arizona.

In yet another nod to technology, Major League Baseball will permit pitchers in spring training to wear wristbands that will let them signal to the catcher what’s coming next.

Justin Verlander says owner Steve Cohen and his willingness to spend his hedge-fund fortune on building a World Series-contender is the reason he joined the New York Mets.

Dusty Baker finally got his elusive championship with the Houston Astros, garnering his first World Series ring in 25 years as a manager in one of the most memorable moments of the year in sports.

Japanese pitcher Kodai Senga and the New York Mets have agreed to a $75 million, five-year contract, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.

A person familiar with the negotiations says Justin Verlander has agreed to an $86.7 million, two-year contract with the New York Mets.

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred confirmed Thursday that Major League Baseball is looking into potentially improper communication between the New York Mets and Yankees regarding star free agent Aaron Judge.

Houston’s Justin Verlander in the American League and Miami’s Sandy Alcantara in the National League are both unanimous selections for the Cy Young Award.

Justin Verlander has declined a $25 million option with the Houston Astros to become a free agent.

Oz Ocampo already sees a similarity between the Miami Marlins and the two teams that just played in the World Series.

Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani and Yordan Alvarez are the finalists for American League MVP in voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

The Houston Astros just won their second World Series in six years and have been a consistent presence in the playoffs.

Aaron Judge, Edwin Díaz, Trea Turner, Dansby Swanson and Xander Bogaerts were among 131 players who became free agents as baseball’s business season began just hours after the final out of the World Series.

Dusty Baker has been here before.

Houston Astros center fielder Chas McCormick and fill-in first baseman Trey Mancini both made key defensive plays in the late innings that helped preserve a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 5 of the World Series.

The Philadelphia Phillies continued to struggle in the clutch in a 3-2 loss to the Houston Astros in Game 5 of the World Series.

Justin Verlander overcame an early jolt to grit out the World Series win that long eluded him, rookie Jeremy Peña hit a go-ahead home run and the Houston Astros beat the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2 to head home with a 3-2 lead.

Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber put a sudden end to that record-tying hitless streak by Houston pitchers.

Justin Verlander has a very tough act to follow.

Cristian Javier and Houston’s bullpen combined on just the second no-hitter in World Series history, silencing a booming lineup and boisterous ballpark as the Astros blanked the Philadelphia Phillies 5-0 Wednesday night to even the matchup at two games each.

Phillies fans had to hand it to Justin Verlander.

Game 3 of the World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros has been postponed because of rain with the matchup tied 1-1, pushing the entire Fall Classic schedule back one day.

Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. wasn’t born in Houston, but he sure loves it now.

Framber Valdez made a five-run lead stand up after Houston’s lightning first-inning burst, Alex Bregman homered and the Astros beat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-2 to tie the World Series at one game apiece.

The Astros and Phillies travel Friday to Texas, where Game 6 of the World Series will be played a night later.

Kyle Tucker got the fans jumping with a leadoff homer in the second inning.

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Even with a 5-0 lead, Justin Verlander couldn’t get his first World Series win.

Aaron Nola was nowhere near perfect for the Philadelphia Phillies in Houston for Game 1 of the World Series.

That is the real Chas McCormick playing center field for the Houston Astros in the World Series.

Justin Verlander remains in search of his first World Series win after going 0-6 with a 5.68 ERA in seven Series starts.

Bryce Harper and the Philadelphia Phillies are set to play the Houston Astros in the World Series.

Alex Bregman hit an early three-run homer, Framber Valdez pitched seven strong innings and the Houston Astros edged the New York Yankees 3-2 to take a 2-0 lead in the AL Championship Series.

Justin Verlander struck out 11 in six strong innings and Yuli Gurriel, Chas McCormick and Jeremy Peña all homered to power the Houston Astros to a 4-2 win over the New York Yankees in their AL Championship Series opener.

Major League Baseball views expanded playoffs as the more the merrier.

Houston Astros star Jose Altuve has long been a postseason powerhouse.

Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge staggered Cleveland with early homers, and the New York Yankees rocked past the Guardians 5-1 in the decisive Game 5 of their AL Division Series to set up another rematch with Houston for the pennant.

Astros starters Framber Valdez and Luis Garcia look like naturals on the mound, but they've gotten an artificial boost from the barber shop.

Yordan Alvarez smashed a game-ending, three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning off Robbie Ray, wrecking Seattle’s strategy of using a Cy Young Award winner in a rare relief role and vaulting the Houston Astros over the Mariners 8-7 in their playoff opener.

Astros reliever Phil Maton says he broke his right pinkie when he punched a locker in frustration after Houston’s regular-season finale and will miss the postseason.

When Justin Verlander takes the mound for the Houston Astros in Game 1 of the AL Division Series on Tuesday against the Seattle Mariners, it will have been almost three years since his last playoff appearance.

Minnesota’s Luis Arraez finished with the lowest average for an American League batting champion since 1968, and the Mets’ Jeff McNeil won the National League title.

The entire Major League Baseball playoff picture is now set.

Justin Verlander and the Houston bullpen have not allowed a hit through eight innings against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Aaron Nola took a perfect game into the seventh inning and Kyle Schwarber homered twice as the Philadelphia Phillies clinched their first playoff berth in 11 years with a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros Monday night.

Dansby Swanson and Matt Olson homered off Max Scherzer, lifting the Atlanta Braves to a crucial 4-2 victory over the New York Mets and a one-game lead in the NL East.

Bryce Harper and the Philadelphia Phillies hoped to be in this position.

The Houston Astros clinched their fifth AL West title in six years, getting a leadoff home run from Jose Altuve in a 4-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Aaron Judge and Albert Pujols could make this a milestone week for home runs.

Yordan Alvarez homered in his first three at-bats, Justin Verlander threw five hitless innings in his return from the injured list and the Houston Astros clinched a postseason berth with a 5-0 win over the Oakland Athletics.

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright and catcher Yadier Molina have made their 325th career start together, setting a major league record for most as a battery.

Mike Trout homered in his sixth straight game to set an Angels franchise record, Shohei Ohtani threw five solid innings before exiting because of a blister and Los Angeles beat the Houston Astros 6-1.

Freddie Freeman drove in the go-ahead run with a grounder in the top of the 10th inning, Chris Martin escaped a bases-loaded jam in the bottom half and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Miami Marlins 3-2.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have put All-Star pitcher Tony Gonsolin on the injured list because of a strained right forearm, making the move as a precaution hours before his scheduled start at Miami.

So far, the impact of baseball's expanded postseason is marginal.

Justin Verlander pitched three scoreless innings before departing because of right calf discomfort, and the Houston Astros used five relievers to close out a 3-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

Astros ace Justin Verlander has left their game against Baltimore after three scoreless innings because of right calf discomfort.

Justin Verlander was pulled after pitching six no-hit innings in his major league-leading 16th win and the Astros beat the Minnesota Twins 4-2 in Carlos Correa’s return to Houston.

Justin Verlander pitched six scoreless innings for his MLB-leading 15th victory, Chas McCormick and Martin Maldonado each homered and had three RBIs, and the AL West-leading Houston Astros beat the Cleveland Guardians 6-0.

Juan Soto is set for his San Diego debut at home Wednesday night against Colorado.

Justin Verlander pitched one-run ball into the eighth inning and won his MLB-leading 14th game, Aledmys Díaz hit two homers and Yordan Alvarez slugged his 30th home run of the season as the Houston Astros beat the Seattle Mariners 11-1.

Houston ace Justin Verlander, who leads the major leagues in wins, takes a 13-3 record and 1.86 ERA into his start Friday against visiting Seattle.

Justin Verlander became the major leagues’ first 13-game winner, striking out nine and topping 99 mph in his final inning to lead the Houston Astros over the Seattle Mariners 3-1.

The Houston Astros ended the Seattle Mariners’ winning streak at 14 games, with Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez homering in a 5-2 victory.

Jarren Duran and the Red Sox will try to shake off what happened at Fenway Park, where Toronto went on a run rampage that included an inside-the-park grand slam thanks to Duran’s misplay and negligence.

Major League Baseball is considering a pitch clock for next year along with shift limits, larger bases and restrictions on pickoff attempts.

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout will miss the All-Star Game because of back spasms, joining Bryce Harper on the sidelines and depriving the showcase of two of baseball’s best-known players.

Justin Verlander struck out 10 in six scoreless innings to post his MLB-leading 12th win as the Houston Astros beat the Oakland Athletics 5-0.

The All-Star Game festivities start in earnest with the Futures Game, where some of the best prospects in Major League Baseball will play a seven-inning matchup at Dodger Stadium on Saturday.

Los Angeles Angels sensation Shohei Ohtani repeated as a two-way All-Star when he was picked for the AL pitching staff, two days after he was elected to start at designated hitter.

Tony Gonsolin pitched seven strong innings for his 11th victory in the Los Angeles Dodgers' 5-3 win over the Chicago Cubs.

Justin Verlander got his MLB-leading 11th win, Yordan Alvarez hit his 26th homer and the Houston Astros beat the Kansas City Royals 5-2 to take the series 3-1.

Justin Verlander looks to become the first 11-game winner in the majors when Houston hosts the last-place Royals in the finale of a four-game series Thursday afternoon.

Washington star Juan Soto is being checked out after exiting a game early because of an injured left calf.

The New York Yankees and Houston Astros will meet Thursday in a one-game series between AL division leaders at Minute Maid Park.

Justin Verlander pitched two-hit ball for eight innings, light-hitting backup catcher Jason Castro lined a two-run homer in the ninth and the Houston Astros beat the Mets 2-0 to send New York to its first three-game losing streak this season.

Mets ace Max Scherzer will make a minor league rehab start for Double-A Binghamton on Wednesday.

Justin Verlander pitched four-hit ball over seven innings, Kyle Tucker hit a three-run homer and the Houston Astros beat the Yankees 3-1 to stop New York’s 15-game home winning streak.

Freddie Freeman is sure to get a huge ovation when he returns to Truist Park for the first time since helping lead the Atlanta Braves to the World Series championship.