The Pittsburgh Pirates signed free-agent catcher Ali Sanchez to an undisclosed one-year major-league deal on Friday. The team also claimed right-hander Roddery Munoz off waivers from the Washington Nationals. Sanchez made his big-league debut in 2020 with the New York Mets but hasn't appeared in the majors since 2021 with the St. Louis Cardinals. The 26-year-old Venezuelan backstop played in 67 games at Triple-A Reno with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2023 and looked good with a .311/.375/.492 slash line, an .866 OPS, career-high 11 home runs and 43 RBI in 267 plate appearances. Sanchez will most likely begin the 2024 season at Triple-A Indianapolis while providing catching depth behind Henry Davis, Endy Rodriguez and Jason Delay at the major-league level.

Shohei Ohtani figured he’d be careful in his return to the mound after two injury-spoiled seasons. A few batters in, the Los Angeles Angels’ two-way sensation reached back for a little extra — and brought back some of the buzz that surrounded his major league debut three years ago. Ohtani reached 100 mph with his fastball and showed off his signature splitter while striking out five over 1 2/3 innings in the Angels’ 7-3 win over the Oakland Athletics on Friday. The right-hander allowed a run, three hits and two walks, struggling to command his slider but showcasing the arm strength and stuff that allowed him to dominate in the majors before Tommy John surgery in 2018. “Since this was my first game, I wasn’t planning on letting it go in the beginning, especially early in counts,” Ohtani said via translator. “As the game went on, I felt better and I started throwing harder, but I think that led to me cutting the ball a couple times, so it’s something I have to work on.” The 26-year-old Japanese... [More]

Orioles first. Cedric Mullins singles to shallow infield. Anthony Santander pops out to shallow infield to Luis Guillorme. Jose Iglesias doubles to deep right center field. Cedric Mullins to third. Renato Nunez homers to center field. Jose Iglesias scores. Cedric Mullins scores. Chance Sisco doubles to deep right field. Ryan Mountcastle strikes out swinging. Rio Ruiz flies out to left center field to Brandon Nimmo.3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Orioles 3, Mets 0.Mets second. Robinson Cano singles to right field. Jeff McNeil doubles. Robinson Cano to third. Pete Alonso out on a sacrifice fly to right center field to Cedric Mullins. Robinson Cano scores. Luis Guillorme singles to shallow center field. Jeff McNeil scores. Andres Gimenez strikes out on a foul tip. Luis Guillorme steals second. Ali Sanchez walks. Brandon Nimmo grounds out to shallow infield, Pat Valaika to Renato Nunez.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Orioles 3, Mets 2.Orioles second. Pat Valaika singles to deep center... [More]

Yankees third. Tyler Wade homers to center field. Thairo Estrada grounds out to shortstop, Amed Rosario to Dominic Smith. DJ LeMahieu called out on strikes. Luke Voit strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Yankees 1, Mets 0.Mets sixth. Jeff McNeil reaches on error to shallow right field, advances to 2nd. Fielding error by Luke Voit. Michael Conforto pops out to shallow infield to Gio Urshela. Dominic Smith singles to left center field. Jeff McNeil scores. J.D. Davis grounds out to shallow infield. Dominic Smith out at second.1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 0 left on. Yankees 1, Mets 1.Yankees eighth. Clint Frazier walks. Gio Urshela flies out to deep left field to Jeff McNeil. Clint Frazier to second. Brett Gardner to third. Mike Tauchman is intentionally walked. Gary Sanchez pinch-hitting for Erik Kratz. Gary Sanchez homers to center field. Mike Tauchman scores. Clint Frazier scores. Brett Gardner scores. Tyler Wade called out on strikes. Jordy Mercer pops out to shallow left field... [More]

Mets first. Brandon Nimmo grounds out to shallow infield, Jonathan Loaisiga to Luke Voit. Michael Conforto doubles to left field. J.D. Davis grounds out to shortstop, Jordy Mercer to Luke Voit. Dominic Smith singles to deep left field, tagged out at second, Mike Tauchman to Thairo Estrada to Luke Voit to Jordy Mercer. Michael Conforto scores.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Mets 1, Yankees 0.Yankees third. Jordy Mercer walks. Thairo Estrada singles to deep right field. Jordy Mercer to third. Erik Kratz singles to left field. Thairo Estrada to second. Jordy Mercer scores. Luke Voit pops out to shallow left field to Luis Guillorme. Clint Frazier walks. Erik Kratz to second. Thairo Estrada to third. Aaron Hicks singles to right center field. Clint Frazier to second. Erik Kratz to third. Thairo Estrada scores. Gary Sanchez walks. Aaron Hicks to second. Clint Frazier to third. Erik Kratz scores. Mike Tauchman grounds out to shallow infield. Gary Sanchez out at second.3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors,... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — New York Mets infielder Andres Gimenez and catcher Tomas Nido were placed on the injured list for undisclosed reasons Tuesday, hours before the Mets were scheduled to resume play following a five-day shutdown after a player and a coach tested positive for the coronavirus.In addition, third base coach Gary DiSarcina and bench coach Hensley Meulens are also away from the team for undisclosed reasons.The Mets have said they will not identify their players and staff members who test positive for the coronavirus. General manager Brodie Van Wagenen said Monday that the player and coach, who tested positive Wednesday, developed symptoms but are feeling better. He also said there were four players or coaches who tested negative but were in close contact with the infected men. That quartet was scheduled to travel back to New York on Monday.To replace Gimenez and Nido on the active roster, the Mets recalled outfielder Juan Lagares and catcher Patrick Mazeika from their alternate training site in Brooklyn. Catcher Ali Sanchez was also recalled to serve as the 29th man for the doubleheader against the Miami Marlins.The Mets also announced Tony DeFrancesco will serve as the third base coach and quality control coach Brian Schneider will add bench coach to his duties.

Nationals second. Juan Soto grounds out to shallow infield, Steven Matz to Pete Alonso. Howie Kendrick grounds out to shortstop, J.D. Davis to Pete Alonso. Asdrubal Cabrera homers to center field. Carter Kieboom strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Nationals 1, Mets 0.Nationals third. Yan Gomes singles to right field. Victor Robles strikes out swinging. Trea Turner homers to left field. Yan Gomes scores. Josh Harrison grounds out to shallow infield, J.D. Davis to Pete Alonso. Starlin Castro reaches on third strike. Juan Soto homers to center field. Starlin Castro scores. Howie Kendrick flies out to right center field to Michael Conforto.4 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Nationals 5, Mets 0.Nationals fifth. Trea Turner singles to shallow center field. Josh Harrison singles to shallow center field. Trea Turner to second. Starlin Castro reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow left field. Josh Harrison out at second. Trea Turner to third. Juan Soto doubles to deep center... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Wacha has been placed on the injured list because of right shoulder inflammation three starts into his one-year contract with the New York Mets.Manager Luis Rojas said before Sunday’s game with Miami that Wacha felt pain in his shoulder after allowing four runs in five innings on Friday. Wacha is 1-2 with a 6.43 ERA this season. He pitched five innings of one-run ball in his debut July 27 in Boston, but has allowed nine runs over nine innings in his past two starts.Rojas said an MRI showed the inflammation and he is not sure how much time Wacha will miss.“I had a conversation with him about it, we’re not too overly concerned,” Rojas said. “It’s in the back of the shoulder.”Wacha joined Marcus Stroman as the second Mets starter to get injured. Stroman tore his left calf during summer camp, threw more than 80 pitches over five innings in a simulated game at the team’s alternate site in Brooklyn and Rojas said he will throw at least one more simulated game.Rojas did... [More]