Major League Baseball

Braves' Strider goes 5 in return; Blue Jays fan 19

Braves pitcher Spencer Strider allowed two runs and five hits in five-plus innings vs. the Blue Jays in his first start in more than a year after having UCL surgery.

Nats' Lopez ejected vs. Pirates; benches clear

Nationals pitcher Jorge Lopez was ejected from Wednesday's loss to the Pirates after a pitch near Andrew McCutchen's head led to the benches clearing.

Umpire hit in face by line drive, taken to hospital

Umpire Hunter Wendelstedt left the Mets-Twins game on Wednesday after being struck in the face by a line-drive foul ball. He was taken to a hospital for tests.

White Sox calling up catcher Quero for MLB debut

The White Sox are set to call up catcher Edgar Quero, the No. 54-ranked prospect in ESPN insider Kiley McDaniel's top 100 list, and start him Thursday for his MLB debut.

Nats' DeJong to IL with fractured nose after HBP

A day after he was struck in the face by a pitch, Nationals third baseman Paul DeJong was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a fractured nose.

Slow-healing lat strain delays Yanks P Gil's rehab

An MRI showed Yankees pitcher Luis Gil needs more time before beginning his throwing program as he rehabs from a strained right lat, manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday.

Ex-Marlins GM Ng hired as AUSL commissioner

Athletes Unlimited Softball League has named Kim Ng as its commissioner after the former Marlins general manager served as a senior adviser to the league.

Kershaw tosses 3 scoreless innings in rehab start

Clayton Kershaw's road back to the Dodgers' rotation began Wednesday afternoon when he threw three scoreless innings in his first rehab start.

Ranking the 12 true aces in the game

Who is the sport's most dominant pitcher right now? We rank the elite.