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9:45 AM ET, March 17, 2026

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Gabe Lacques / USA Today:
Venezuela rallies past Italy, will meet Team USA in World Baseball Classic final  —  It took them six tries, a stomach-turning semifinal and a triumphant three-run rally, but Venezuela is finally going to the World Baseball Classic championship game.  —  Standing in its way …
RELATED:
Jaylon Thompson / Kansas City Star:
How Vinnie Pasquantino, Jac Caglianone fared against Seth Lugo in WBC matchup  —  AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.  — Pasquantino and Caglianone delivered early RBIs, fueling a four-run first inning.  — Seth Lugo exited after 1/3 inning, charged with four earned runs and a 8.31 ERA.
Discussion: Into the Fountains
Gabe Lacques / USA Today:
Italy holds off Puerto Rico rally, reaches WBC semifinals: Highlights  —  Italy is heading to the World Baseball Classic semifinals for the first time.  And at this point, it's pure folly to doubt that the Italians are merely espresso-chugging curiosities.  —  Thanks to sterling relief pitching …
Gabe Lacques / USA Today:
Dominican Republic mercy-rules South Korea to reach WBC semifinals: Score, highlights
Discussion: Yahoo Sports
Eric Longenhagen / FanGraphs Baseball:
Exclusive: MLB To Implement Experimental Minor League Rule Changes for 2026  —  Several times during the last half decade, Major League Baseball has piloted rule changes in the minor leagues, some that have already been implemented at the highest level and others that remain purely experimental.
MLB.com:
MLB Gameday: United States 2, Dominican Rep. 1 Final Score (03/15/2026)  —  Follow MLB results with FREE box scores, pitch-by-pitch strikezone info, and Statcast data for United States vs. Dominican Rep. at loanDepot park
RELATED:
Jake Rill / MLB.com:
Who bats leadoff for O's?  No answer yet, but Ward emerging as option  —  SARASOTA, Fla. — MLB managers often caution to not read too much into Spring Training lineups.  Teams aren't worried about winning games, so the construction of the batting order is more about getting players their work in …
Discussion: Yahoo Sports and MASN
Katie Woo / The Athletic:
Dodgers agree to deal with Uniqlo as official field presenting partner: Sources  —  Share full article  —  At a time when the presence of Shohei Ohtani has transformed the global branding of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the team has agreed to a deal with fashion giant Uniqlo …
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Lindor feels ‘pretty much like myself’ in reassuring spring debut  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — At one point Sunday, Francisco Lindor dived to his left in hopes of corralling a Jesús Sánchez single.  An inning later, Lindor hit a foul ball a projected 391 feet down the right-field line …
Chandler Rome / The Athletic:
Injured Jeremy Peña is Dominican Republic's ‘biggest fan’ ahead of showdown with Team USA  —  Share full article  —  WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — On the eve of a showdown he should be starting, Jeremy Peña baked on a back field in the south Florida sun.
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Andrew McCutchen needed to impress Rangers quickly.  It only took him a week to stand out  —  If Week 2 of McCutchen's spring with the Rangers goes as well as the first, the question may not be whether he will make the club's roster. … SURPRISE, Ariz. — He understood the assignment.
Discussion: MLB.com and MLB Trade Rumors
Associated Press:
New union head says 2027 MLB work stoppage could disrupt plans for big leaguers at 2028 Olympics  —  MIAMI — A work stoppage that leads to canceled games during the 2027 Major League Baseball season could disrupt plans under discussion to have big league players participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Discussion: The Athletic and USA Today
Davy Andrews / FanGraphs Baseball:
2026 Positional Power Rankings: Catcher  —  This season has the potential to be an odd one for catchers.  None of us knows exactly how the ABS challenge system will affect the way they go about their job, but all of us will be paying close attention.  We're a couple years into the one-knee …
Discussion: Yahoo Sports and Pinstripe Alley
Ty Daubert / Phillies Nation:
Phillies' Johan Rojas suspended 80 games after failing drug test  —  Phillies outfielder Johan Rojas has officially been suspended 80 games after failing a a performance-enhancing-drug test, Major League Baseball announced Monday.  —  Rojas tested positive for Boldenone, a banned substance.
Jorge Castillo / ESPN:
WBC 2026: Team Japan players who could be MLB's next stars  —  Three years ago, Japan toppled the United States to win the World Baseball Classic thanks to Shohei Ohtani's two-way exploits, punctuated by his strikeout of Mike Trout to seal the victory.  Ohtani was the star of the show, but he wasn't the only star.
Alex D'Agostino / Sports Illustrated:
D-backs' Corbin Burnes Reaches Major Recovery Milestone  —  An encouraging step forward. … Arizona Diamondbacks' rehabbing ace Corbin Burnes threw his first bullpen session since sustaining an elbow injury that would require Tommy john surgery in 2025 on Friday, according to a report …
 
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TMZ.com:
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