Baseball

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Paul Skenes needed nearly three innings to warm up Wednesday, then struck out six over seven innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2 at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — All-Star outfielder Jackson Merrill and the San Diego Padres agreed Wednesday to a $135 million, nine-year contract covering 2026-34.

CINCINNATI (AP) — Jack Leiter shut the Cincinnati Reds down for the second game in a row on Wednesday and the Texas Rangers won 1-0 to take the three-game series. The Rangers were outscored 14-5 in the three games but still won the series.

BALTIMORE (AP) — Kristian Campbell agreed to a $60 million, eight-year contract with the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, less than a week after his major league debut.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Marc Fogel, a Pittsburgh-area school teacher who was deemed wrongfully held in a Russian prison for years before being freed in February , will throw out the first pitch at the Pittsburgh Pirates home opener against the New York Yan

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds was limited to designated hitter duties for the third consecutive game on Wednesday because of right arm discomfort.

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball’s average salary broke the $5 million barrier on opening day for the first time, according to a study by The Associated Press. The New York Mets, with Juan Soto's record $61.

Kansas City Royals (2-3) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (1-4) Milwaukee; Wednesday, 1:10 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Royals: Cole Ragans (0-0, 5.40 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, three strikeouts); Brewers: Freddy Peralta (0-1, 3.60 ERA, 1.

San Francisco Giants (4-1) vs. Houston Astros (2-3) Houston; Wednesday, 4:10 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Giants: Landen Roupp (0-0); Astros: Framber Valdez (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.

Colorado Rockies (1-3) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (3-1) Philadelphia; Wednesday, 6:45 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Rockies: Kyle Freeland (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.33 WHIP, seven strikeouts); Phillies: Zack Wheeler (0-0, 1.50 ERA, 0.