JASON CASTRO

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

Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel will miss the rest of the World Series after spraining his right knee in Game 5.

Two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani pitched no-hit ball into the eighth inning and extended his hitting streak to 14 games as he led the Los Angeles Angels over the Oakland Athletics 4-2.

Cristian Javier pitched another gem, striking out a career-high 14 while allowing just one hit in seven innings to lead the Houston Astros to an 8-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels.

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.

Aaron Judge drove a three-run homer in the 10th inning for his second walk-off hit against Houston in four days, and the New York Yankees recovered after nearly being no-hit for the second consecutive game, beating Houston 6-3 to split a four-game series between the AL’s best teams.

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.

Two-way star Shohei Ohtani pitched perfect ball into the sixth inning, tied a career-best with 12 strikeouts and also had two hits and two RBIs to lead the Los Angeles Angels over the Houston Astros 6-0.

Baseball players maintained unity throughout labor negotiations, yet were divided when it came time to vote on the deal.

Now comes the test: Will baseball players be happy with their new collective bargaining agreement in 2026.

Major League Baseball gave locked out players five days to salvage March 31 openers and a full season, telling the union that games would be canceled if a labor contract is not agreed to by the end of Monday.

Baseball negotiations have resumed with new intensity in an effort to salvage opening day.

Baseball’s most influential agent said the sport was the victim of a “competitive cancer” caused by teams unloading veterans to accumulate draft picks and said the Atlanta Braves’ World Series title was a direct result of others' tanking.

Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker appreciates his star players.

Once again, in a key spot in October, the Boston Red Sox summoned Nathan Eovaldi from the bullpen in a tight game.

Jose Altuve hit a tying home run in the eighth inning and the Houston offense awakened with seven runs in the ninth on Tuesday night as the Astros came back to beat the Boston Red Sox 9-2.

The Boston Red Sox became the first team to slug two grand slams in a postseason game, with J.

Jose Altuve hit a two-run double in the 12th inning and the Houston Astros, after throwing out Shohei Ohtani at the plate to preserve a tie, broke away to defeat the Los Angeles Angels 9-5.

Ty France tied the game with a solo home run in the ninth inning and put the Seattle Mariners on top with an RBI single in the 11th before Kyle Seager belted a three-run homer in a 6-3 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.

Jose Altuve hit a three-run homer to cap a startling six-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning, setting off a frenzied celebration and lifting the Houston Astros over the New York Yankees 8-7.

Jose Altuve belted a grand slam in the 10th inning and the Houston Astros, saved by Carlos Correa’s tying homer in the ninth, beat the Texas Rangers 6-3 to give manager Dusty Baker quite an exciting birthday gift.

Michael Brantley had his second four-hit game of the series and drove in four runs, and the Houston Astros had a season-high 20 hits and routed Minnesota 14-3 to take two of three from the Twins.

Kent Emanuel worked 8 2/3 innings in relief in his major league debut, saving Houston’s bullpen after Jake Odorizzi left early with an injury, and the Astros routed the Los Angeles Angels 16-2.

The average Major League Baseball salary dropped for an unprecedented third straight year, even before the shortened season caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic. The average fell despite Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg, Anthony Rendon and Christian Yelich all starting long-term contracts guaranteeing $215 million or more. The average Major League Baseball salary dropped for an unprecedented third straight year, even before the shortened season caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The players’ association calculated the 2020 average would have been $3.89 million if a full season had been played. Because the pandemic caused players to receive roughly 37% of pay last year, the actual average plunged to $1.59 million, its lowest since 1998.

(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)NEW YORK – A work stoppage at the start of spring training 2022 seems increasingly likely after baseball players refused to negotiate with owners over a one-month delay for this spring training and regular season. “I hope we don't have a work stoppage. Clark said in an email he was not more worried about a work stoppage because of the current state of relations and that player anger at club behavior did not frame the relationship. AdSince the last baseball work stoppage, the NFL had a preseason lockout in 2011, and the NBA had lockouts that cut 1998-99 to 50 games per team and 2011-12 to 66 games per team. Publicly, baseball players and owners say they have to work together.

(AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)HOUSTON – Catcher Jason Castro has agreed to a $7 million, two-year contract with the Houston Astros, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Thursday because the deal had not been announced. Castro played for both the Angels and the Padres last season where he appeared in 27 games and hit .188 with two homers and nine RBIs. He spent the previous three seasons with the Twins where he played 208 games and hit .229. Castro had his best years with the Astros where he 617 games and was named to the All-Star game in 2013.

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Dylan Floro works against the Colorado Rockies during the sixth inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020, in Denver. While Clevinger was among the 15 pitchers on the Padres roster released Tuesday, fellow starter Dinelson Lamet was again left off because of injury. The Dodgers added a pitcher to their roster for the NLDS, where they will have 14 pitchers and 14 position players after carrying only 13 pitchers for the first round series against Milwaukee. Right-handed reliever Dylan Floro (3-0, 2.59 ERA) was the pitcher added for the longer NLDS. The Padres last week became the first team to use eight or more pitchers in three consecutive playoff games.

The Los Angeles Dodgers bench claps for Will Smith after he hit a two-run double against the San Diego Padres in the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)SAN DIEGO – The Los Angeles Dodgers became the first team to clinch a playoff spot in the pandemic-shortened season, beating the San Diego Padres 7-5 Wednesday behind Dustin May's gutty effort out of the bullpen and home runs from AJ Pollock and Chris Taylor. Los Angeles is seeking its first World Series title since 1988. Grisham angered the Dodgers by briefly posing at the plate after homering off Clayton Kershaw in the Padres' 7-2 win Monday night. He was scheduled to have an MRI in Los Angeles on Wednesday after facing just one batter Tuesday night.

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws against the Los Angeles Angels during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)ANAHEIM, Calif. Clayton Kershaw allowed one hit over seven brilliant innings, Cody Bellinger hit a pair of two-run homers and the Los Angeles Dodgers opened the Freeway Series with a 7-4 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night. Rendon also drew two walks from Kershaw (2-1), but he was the only Angels hitter to reach base against the Dodgers longtime ace. The Dodgers have won seven straight NL West titles, while the Angels have posted four straight losing seasons. Patrick Sandoval (0-2) pitched six-hit ball into the seventh inning for the Angels, but remained winless in 12 career major league starts. Kershaw faced the minimum 12 Angels through four innings, but Rendon led off the fifth with a homer into the short left field porch.

Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout waves to the dugout after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)ARLINGTON, Texas Mike Trout homered again on his birthday, but Robinson Chirinos drove in two runs without a hit and the Texas Rangers snapped a three-game losing streak with a 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night. Trout turned 29, and homered for the fifth time in the seven big league games he has played on his birthday. The three-time AL MVP put the Angels up 2-0 in the first with his 444-foot drive over their bullpen in left-center. Castro was upset after striking out on a check swing in the second inning and got tossed by Edwin Moscoso, the rookie fill-in umpire who made the call from third base.

Oakland Athletics players celebrate after Matt Olson, center left, hit a grand slam home run against the Los Angeles Angels in the tenth inning a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Friday, July 24, 2020. According to STATS, Olson became the third player to hit a walkoff grand slam on opening day. The game went to the 10th tied at 3 after Jason Castros tying homer in the ninth against As closer Liam Hendriks. The Angels didn't deliver a win for Maddon in his Angels managerial debut. UP NEXTLHP Sean Manaea, who went 4-0 last season in September after returning from shoulder surgery before losing the wild card game, pitches Saturday opposite Angels RHP Dylan Bundy.