April 13 1914 — The first Federal League game was played in Baltimore and the Terrapins defeated Buffalo, 3-2, behind Jack Quinn. A crowd estimated at 27,000 stood 15 rows deep in the outfield to witness the return of big league baseball to Baltimore. 1933 — Sammy West of St. Louis went 6-for-6 in an 11-inning win over the Chicago White Sox. He had five singles and a double off Ted Lyons. 1953 — For the first time in half a century, a new city was represented in the American or National leagues. The Braves moved from Boston to Milwaukee and opened in Cincinnati, where Max Surkont set down the Reds, 2-0. 1954 — Henry Aaron made his major league debut in left field for the Milwaukee Braves and went 0-for-5 in a 9-8 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. Cincinnati’s Jim Greengrass hit four doubles in his first major league game. 1963 — Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds tripled off Pittsburgh’s Bob Friend for his first major league hit. 1972 — The first player strike in baseball history ended. 1984 —... [More]

April 131914 — The first Federal League game was played in Baltimore and the Terrapins defeated Buffalo, 3-2, behind Jack Quinn. A crowd estimated at 27,000 stood 15 rows deep in the outfield to witness the return of big league baseball to Baltimore.1933 — Sammy West of St. Louis went 6-for-6 in an 11-inning win over the Chicago White Sox. He had five singles and a double off Ted Lyons.1953 — For the first time in half a century, a new city was represented in the American or National leagues. The Braves moved from Boston to Milwaukee and opened in Cincinnati, where Max Surkont set down the Reds, 2-0.1954 — Henry Aaron made his major league debut in left field for the Milwaukee Braves and went 0-for-5 in a 9-8 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. Cincinnati’s Jim Greengrass hit four doubles in his first major league game.1963 — Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds tripled off Pittsburgh’s Bob Friend for his first major league hit.1972 — The first player strike in baseball history ended.1984 — Pete Rose... [More]

April 131914 — The first Federal League game was played in Baltimore and the Terrapins defeated Buffalo, 3-2, behind Jack Quinn. A crowd estimated at 27,000 stood 15 rows deep in the outfield to witness the return of big league baseball to Baltimore.1933 — Sammy West of St. Louis went 6-for-6 in an 11-inning win over the Chicago White Sox. He had five singles and a double off Ted Lyons.1953 — For the first time in half a century, a new city was represented in the American or National leagues. The Braves moved from Boston to Milwaukee and opened in Cincinnati, where Max Surkont set down the Reds, 2-0.1954 — Henry Aaron made his major league debut in left field for the Milwaukee Braves and went 0-for-5 in a 9-8 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. Cincinnati’s Jim Greengrass hit four doubles in his first major league game.1963 — Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds tripled off Pittsburgh’s Bob Friend for his first major league hit.1972 — The first player strike in baseball history ended.1984 — Pete Rose... [More]

April 101913 : President Wilson threw out the first ball as the Senators edged the New York Yankees 2-1 in Washington’s home opener. Walter Johnson allowed an unearned run in the first inning, but did not yield another run for 56 consecutive innings.1959 : Chicago’s Nellie Fox, who went 5 for 7, hit a 14th-inning opening day home run off Don Mossi to beat Detroit, 9-7. The White Sox second baseman did not homer in 623 at-bats the previous season.1962 : The Houston Colt .45s, in the first major league game played in Texas, beat the Chicago Cubs 11-2 before 25,000. Roman Mejias led Houston’s offense with two three-run homers.1969 : Tommy Agee of the New York Mets hit a home run into the upper deck in Shea Stadium’s left field. It was the longest home run to reach the seats in the history of the stadium.1982 : Under icy conditions, the Cleveland Indians opened the season at Municipal Stadium with an 8-3 loss to the Texas Rangers before 62,443 fans. Five hundred tons of snow had to be removed... [More]

April 71925 — Babe Ruth collapsed in a railroad station in Asheville, N.C. He would be hospitalized in New York and operated on 10 days later for an ulcer.1964 — Shea Stadium in New York opened for the first regular season game. The Mets lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-3.1969 — The Yankees spoiled the managerial debut of Ted Williams by defeating the Senators 8-4 in the opener at Washington's RFK Stadium. President Nixon and a crowd of 45,000 attended.1970 — Three weeks after moving from Seattle to Milwaukee, the former Pilots played their first game as the Brewers and lost 12-0 to the visiting California Angels.1973 — Cleveland set an attendance record for day games and opening-day games by attracting 74,420 fans. The Indians beat the Detroit Tigers, 2-1.1977 — The expansion Toronto Blue Jays began their major league odyssey with a 9-5 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Toronto's Exhibition Stadium. Al Woods, pinch hitting for Steve Bowling in the fifth inning, became the 11th pinch... [More]

Capsules of American League Central teams, listed in order of finish last year:___Cleveland Indians2017: 102-60, first place, lost to Yankees in ALDS.Manager: Terry Francona (sixth season).He's Here: 1B-DH Yonder Alonso, LF Rajai Davis, RHP Alexi Ogando.He's Outta Here: 1B Carlos Santana, OF Jay Bruce, RHP Bryan Shaw, RHP Joe Smith, OF Austin Jackson, LHP Boone Logan.Projected Lineup: SS Francisco Lindor (.273, 33 HRs, 89 RBIs, 44 2Bs, 15 SBs, 10 errors), 2B Jason Kipnis (.232, 12 HRs, 35 RBIs in 90 games), 3B Jose Ramirez (.318, 29, 83, AL-leading 56 2Bs), DH Edwin Encarnacion (.258, 38, 107), 1B Yonder Alonso (.266, career-high 28 HRs, 67 RBIs with Athletics and Mariners), RF Lonnie Chisenhall (.288, 12, 53 in 82 games), C Roberto Perez (.207, 8, 38, club went 44-22 in his starts) or Yan Gomes (.232, 14, 56), CF Bradley Zimmer (.241, 8, 39, 18 SBs, 0 errors), LF Michael Brantley (.299, 9, 52 in 90 games) or Rajai Davis (.235, 5, 20, 29 SBs with Oakland and Boston).Rotation: RH Corey Kluber... [More]

A team-by-team look at the American League Central entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad:___Cleveland IndiansManager: Terry Francona (sixth season).2017: 102-60, first place, lost to New York Yankees in ALDS.Training Town: Goodyear, Arizona.Park: Goodyear Ballpark.First Workout: Feb. 15/19.He's Here: 1B-DH Yonder Alonso, OF Melvin Upton Jr., RHP Alexi Ogando.He's Outta Here: 1B Carlos Santana, OF Jay Bruce, RHP Bryan Shaw, RHP Joe Smith, OF Austin Jackson, LHP Boone Logan.Going campin': Poised to possibly end their 70-year-old World Series title drought, the Indians, who reeled off 22 straight victories in 2017, didn't even make it back to the AL Championship Series after squandering a 2-0 playoff lead against the Yankees. Unlike last winter, when the club signed DH Edwin Encarnacion in free agency, the Indians were relatively quiet, counting on their core to carry them in... [More]

RHP Mike Pelfrey had a brief but nightmarish start Friday. Pelfrey (3-12) gave up all 10 of Cleveland's runs in 2 2/3 innings, although three of the runs were unearned. Pelfrey allowed six hits and walked six. "It was a little rough for him," manager Rick Renteria said. "We wanted him to give us as many innings as he could, but we had to go get him."

RHP Mike Pelfrey, who began spring training with Detroit, is working mop-up duty with Chicago as the White Sox look at their younger pitchers. Pelfrey pitched the last 2 1/3 innings for Chicago in Detroit's 12-0 victory Sunday. He allowed a three-run home run to rookie 3B Jeimer Candelario in the eighth. He has a 5.64 ERA for the season.

RHP Mike Pelfrey made his first start since Aug. 6 on Thursday night, when he posted season-highs for runs (seven) and home runs (three) allowed. He lost his fourth straight start and is 0-5 with a 7.15 ERA over his last eight starts.

CHICAGO -- Left-handed pitcher Carlos Rodon was scratched from his start for the Chicago White Sox on Thursday night against the Cleveland Indians with left shoulder soreness. Rodon (2-5, 4.15 ERA) was seen in the White Sox clubhouse and was in good spirits prior to Thursday's game before an announcement regarding his availability was made 15 minutes before first pitch.Right-hander Mike Pelfrey started in Rodon's place.

RHP Mike Pelfrey's move to the bullpen had been successful before running into his former team in Target Field on Wednesday. Pelfrey relieved starter Derek Holland and gave up three runs on five hits in 1 1/3 innings. Pelfrey had allowed just two earned runs in eight innings over five games since moving to the bullpen. Chicago is using Pelfrey in short outings to raise his effectiveness while seeing opponents one time through the order.

RHP Mike Pelfrey will move from the starting rotation to the bullpen, general manager Rick Hahn told reporters Tuesday. Hahn's decision creates a rotation spot for RHP Reynaldo Lopez, who is expected to be promoted from Triple-A Charlotte on Friday to start against the Royals. Pelfrey, 33, is 3-10 with a 5.31 ERA in 21 appearances (19 starts) this season.

RHP Mike Pelfrey had trouble with the long ball Sunday against the Red Sox, coughing up three homers -- two from Chris Young -- in his 5 2/3-inning defeat. Pelfrey (3-10, 5.31 ERA) allowed six runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out two. "Made a lot of mistakes today, from the first inning with a couple of fastballs, that's a good team over there and they put some good swings on it, obviously. Ended up being a rough day," Pelfrey said.

RHP Mike Pelfrey, 1-1 with a 2.61 ERA (and a .223 opponent batting average) in five career starts against Boston, pitches the series and season series finale for the White Sox in Boston Sunday. Pelfrey, just 3-9 with a 5.04 ERA, was strafed for six runs on seven hits, including two home runs, in 5 2/3 innings for his ninth loss. He is 0-1 with a 3.79 ERA in three career starts at Fenway.

RHP Mike Pelfrey (3-9) lost his fourth decision in a row Tuesday night against the Blue Jays. Pelfrey allowed six runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings. He described his command as "terrible" during a postgame interview in front of his locker.

RHP Mike Pelfrey (3-8) allowed five runs to match a season high in a 6-3 loss against the Cubs on Thursday night. Pelfrey dropped to 0-3 with a 6.18 ERA in his past six starts. He said after the game that he was disappointed he lasted just five-plus innings. "Obviously, I'd like to go a lot deeper," Pelfrey said. "It's been kind of a concern all year."

RHP Mike Pelfrey left after five innings, plus one batter. He allowed only two singles, but walked six. "Six walks isn't ideal," Pelfrey said. "I thought I was pretty erratic."I think fastball command was good. I thought the curveball and slider command was pretty bad. The only thing I had that was fairly decent was the split. I got into the sixth, given up two hits, but I had a lot of, obviously, tough spots because of six walks. That's a good team over there and if you give them too many opportunities eventually they're going to come through and obviously they did."

RHP Mike Pelfrey, who starts Saturday, is 1-5 with a 6.33 ERA in 10 career games against Kansas City. He received a no-decision in his last start on July 15 at Seattle, allowing one earned run on four hits over 4 2/3 innings.

RHP Mike Pelfrey (3-7) allowed four runs on five hits over 3 1/3 innings in a 7-4 loss to Oakland at the Oakland Coliseum. Pelfrey struck out five, walked three and threw 99 pitches. He fell to 0-6 with a 7.94 ERA in six career starts against Oakland, two of those losses coming this season. "These guys kept fouling balls off and fouling balls off," Pelfrey said. "I had a lot of pretty long at-bats and that's how you throw (99) pitches in 3 1/3. I obviously killed the bullpen and you know these guys played good defense behind me. We obviously didn't give up, we kept fighting and I didn't do my part especially going up against somebody like Sonny Gray on the other side."