8:19 PM ET Jeff PassanESPN Close ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” Major League Baseball has banned all affiliated players from participating in the Venezuela winter league this year, a response intended to comply with President Donald Trump’s embargo against the country’s Nicolas Maduro-led

7:53 PM ET BALTIMORE — Somewhere, the Cincinnati Reds are toasting. On Thursday at Camden Yards, the Baltimore Orioles surrendered their 259th home run of 2019, breaking a tie with the 2016 Reds for most roundtrippers allowed by a team in a single season. The record-breaking bomb came in the top of the third inning

11:17 AM ET The Houston Astros denied a reporter access to Justin Verlander following the team’s 2-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night. At the pitcher’s request, Detroit Free Press writer Anthony Fenech was not allowed to attend Verlander’s postgame media availability, Astros vice president of communications Gene Dias told the newspaper. Verlander

12:30 AM ET NEW YORK — Yes, America, Pete Alonso has a supporting cast. With much of the national attention on the New York Mets focused on the rookie bomber’s soaring home run total — or, even just a few weeks ago, on the latest calamities and dysfunction in an organization that has tripped over

7:53 PM ET BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Orioles are MLB’s new home run kings. Kind of. On Wednesday at Camden Yards, the Orioles surrendered their 258th homer of the season, tying the 2016 Cincinnati Reds for most roundtrippers allowed by a team in a single campaign. The record-tying blast came in the top of the

11:59 AM ET The Houston Astros are poised to be one of the largest favorites in an MLB game ever when they send Justin Verlander to the mound against the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night. The Astros are listed as -500 favorites at Caesars Palace and as high as -550 at other sportsbooks. If the

3:02 AM ET LOS ANGELES — The gravity of all this will hit Clayton Kershaw someday, perhaps on a day long removed from this one. On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ longtime ace earned his 166th career victory, moving him past the Dodgers’ ultimate ace, Sandy Koufax, the man Kershaw has so often been compared

6:32 PM ET Associated Press ATLANTA — Billy Hamilton feels like Christmas came early. After being let go by one of baseball’s worst teams, Hamilton joined the first-place Atlanta Braves on Tuesday to help with their push for the playoffs. “It’s a great feeling,” Hamilton said in the clubhouse at SunTrust Park before the opener

11:39 AM ET Associated Press ATLANTA — Braves reliever Jacob Webb is likely done for the season after being placed on the 60-day injured list with an ailing right elbow. The 26-year-old Webb had been one of the most effective pitchers in Atlanta’s bullpen, with a 4-0 record, 2 saves and a 1.39 ERA in

2:11 AM ET Seattle Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez, who has been on the injured list since May, declared himself ready to return to the major leagues after another minor-league rehab start on Monday. Hernandez got the no-decision in Triple-A Tacoma’s 8-3 win over Salt Lake. He went three innings, allowing one earned run, walking three