José Soriano has one of baseball’s best sinkers. He’s becoming a star by using it less Plus more on Craig Kimbrel's Hall of Fame chances and a combo Off the Grid this week.

How did Jose Soriano, master of the sinker, elevate his game? This week's Sliders column visits with the Angels' ace, who is MLB's best pitcher so far this season www.nytimes.com/athletic/720...

Phil Garner, a feisty baseball lifer with an endearing soft side, dies at 76 A three-time All-Star who managed for 15 years, the man known as "Scrap Iron" made a lasting impact as a teammate and manager.

Phil Garner, a feisty baseball lifer with an endearing soft side, dies at 76 www.nytimes.com/athletic/719...

How Jason Benetti, the voice of NBC’s return to baseball, managed a full opening week

For Jason Benetti, the voice of NBC’s return to baseball, scoring a game has a new meaning — plus “pitchergami”, ranking New Jersey patches and more Sliders! www.nytimes.com/athletic/716...

For rookies in 2026, a spectacular first impression that could have staying power

For MLB rookies in 2026, a spectacular first impression that could have staying power www.nytimes.com/athletic/715...

The Pirates and Paul Skenes looked sharp off the field. On it? Not so much. The NL Cy Young winner exited his first start of 2026 after giving up five runs in the first inning on 37 pitches.

The Pirates and Paul Skenes looked sharp off the field. On it? Not so much. www.nytimes.com/athletic/715...

Whatever happened to the .300 hitter? Why the benchmark of batting is going extinct (Gift Article) In 2016, Francisco Lindor was one of 25 qualified major-league hitters to bat .300 or better. Only seven players did so in 2025.

Whatever happened to the .300 average? Only one NL hitter did it last season. No lefty in either league did it. Here's why the benchmark of batting is going extinct -- unlocked and free for all www.nytimes.com/athletic/714...

After walking away from the majors, Orioles’ Mike Shildt is living his purpose in the minors Shildt retired as Padres manager after the 2025 season, returning to the Orioles as their upper-level coordinator of instruction.

After walking away from the majors, the Orioles' Mike Shildt is living his purpose in the minors www.nytimes.com/athletic/714...

Baseball’s math problem: Filling all those innings in an era when less is more for starting pitchers

A look at MLB's math problem: filling the same number of innings as ever, with pitchers engineered to do less www.nytimes.com/athletic/712...

7 questions with the Cardinals’ Chaim Bloom: Offseason trades, what he learned in Boston and more The Cardinals' president of baseball operations talks to The Athletic about his first official offseason on the job.

A conversation with the Cardinals’ Chaim Bloom, on the team’s new direction, lessons from Boston and more www.nytimes.com/athletic/712...

How undefeated Team Italy became the ‘shot’ heard ’round the World Baseball Classic The way the players see it, they are doing their part to spread the sport they love to their ancestral home.

How undefeated Team Italy became the ‘shot’ heard ’round the World Baseball Classic www.nytimes.com/athletic/712...

Fun? Kind of. After a challenging week, wobbly Team USA earns fresh start at WBC The Americans look vulnerable at the World Baseball Classic. And now the bat-flipping, high-energy Dominican Republic awaits.

Fun? Kind of. After a challenging week, wobbly Team USA earns fresh start at WBC www.nytimes.com/athletic/711...

Team Italy embraces the cliche – and the deeper meaning – as upstart darlings of the WBC

Team Italy embraces the cliche – and the deeper meaning – as upstart darlings of the WBC www.nytimes.com/athletic/711...

Why the Nationals went young with their leaders, and why it just might work

Why the Nationals went young with their leaders, and why it just might work www.nytimes.com/athletic/711...

The Mariners' anchor at first: How Josh Naylor got Seattle's successful offseason started early

The Mariners’ anchor at first: How Josh Naylor got Seattle’s successful offseason started early www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

“I mean, it’s unbelievable.”

It’s the must read baseball story of the day from Tyler.

Incredible to learn what went into the series of bold managerial moves by Dave Roberts that won his team a World Series.

Inside a managing master class: Dave Roberts breaks down a World Series Game 7 for the ages “The pressure points in that World Series,” Roberts said. “There were so many different things. It's unbelievable when you unpack it.”

Inside a managing master class: Dave Roberts breaks down a Game 7 for the ages

www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

In a system stacked against them, the Guardians double down on their identity — with no apologies Despite one of MLB's lowest payrolls, the Guardians are expected to once again be in the mix for an AL Central title.

In a system stacked against them, the Guardians double down on their identity — with no apologies www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...

Rick Rizzs, ever-faithful voice of Seattle baseball, will retire after one last pennant chase 'He is Mariners, through and through,' said Dave Sims. 'If he could snap his fingers, that franchise would have five or six rings.'

'He is Mariners, through and through': Rick Rizzs, ever-faithful voice of Seattle baseball, will retire after one more pennant chase www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...

Carlos Beltrán, a man of many hats, ponders a career-capping question in Cooperstown

Carlos Beltran, a man of many hats, ponders a career-capping look for Cooperstown

Knuckleballer Wilbur Wood, a tireless titan of the 1970s, dies at 84 In 1972, Wood worked 376 ⅔ innings, the most by any pitcher since Grover Cleveland Alexander in 1917.

Farewell to Wilbur Wood, a knuckleball legend for the White Sox

Tyler Kepner's HOF Ballot: Beltrán, Andruw, Pettitte, Rollins, Utley, Wright

Ballot #204 is from Tyler Kepner. No adds, drops or first-year selections. With more than half the ballots still remaining, David Wright has his 40th vote (received 32 all of last cycle). Pettitte has 119 (110 last year).

Kepner's column: www.nytimes.com/athletic/696...

In the Tracker: tracker.fyi

There won’t be a new pitcher in Cooperstown in 2026. But King Félix and Cole Hamels are warming up Both pitchers will eventually prove to be a case study on Cooperstown's evolving standards for starting pitchers.

There won't be a new pitcher in Cooperstown this summer. But Felix Hernandez and Cole Hamels are warming up. www.nytimes.com/athletic/695...

I don't think so. I'd bet about 90% of the position players in Cooperstown slid like that!

How Chase Utley’s surging support reflects an evolution in Hall of Fame voting

Chase Utley's Hall case is gaining momentum among public ballots. Here's what it signifies as voting evolves.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/695...

It’s the most wonderful quiz of the year: The Athletic’s annual MLB trivia extravaganza! In Major League Baseball, 2025 was the year to run it all back. Let's see how well your mind can do that with these 50 questions.

It’s the most wonderful quiz of the year: The Athletic’s annual MLB trivia extravaganza!

These are the 12 newcomers to the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot. Here’s our salute to each one Alex Gordon, Matt Kemp, Ryan Braun and Cole Hamels are among the dozen new players up for consideration in Cooperstown.

These are the 12 newcomers to the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot. Here’s our salute to each one www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...

Why the Dodgers and Blue Jays just played the greatest Game 7 in World Series history What made it so compelling was not a standout moment or singular performance but a confluence of chaos.

The case for 2025: Why the Dodgers and Blue Jays just played the greatest Game 7 in World Series history www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...

Gangster. Gutsy. Greatness. Yoshinobu Yamamoto authors a World Series for the ages The Dodger pitcher's three-win MVP effort left his teammates astounded.

Gangster. Gutsy. Greatness. Yoshinobu Yamamoto authors a World Series for the ages

After missing their Joe Carter moment, these Blue Jays are set for a Game 7 classic all their own

After missing their Joe Carter moment, these Blue Jays are set for a Game 7 classic www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...

After dominant Game 5, the Blue Jays head home for a moment 32 years in the making Nobody in the Blue Jays’ lineup for Game 5 of the World Series, an emphatic 6-1 thumping of the Dodgers, was alive in 1993.

After dominant Game 5, the Blue Jays head home for a moment 32 years in the making