Ned Yost wouldn't let James Shields try for a 1-0 complete-game win. Terry Francona has already let Justin Masterson do it twice this year. ...more

On the first two stops of a challenging road trip, the Kansas City Royals ended the Atlanta Braves' 10-game winning streak, and then ended the Boston Red Sox's seven-game winning streak. Next up is Detroit, and while the Tigers don't have a winning streak, 3 to Watch points out that they are the team the Royals must prove themselves against in the American League Central. ...more

Scouts who have been following Team Japan through the World Baseball Classic have been told that pitcher Kenta Maeda, who started Sunday night against Puerto Rico, will not be posted to MLB after the 2013 season. They expect that Masahiro Tanaka, who would have started the championship game if Japan had advanced, will be posted and make the move to the major leagues next winter. ...more

The Royals went out and found much-needed pitching, but with a team that has lost for as long as this one has, there will always be skepticism. ...more

Drug testing was supposed to catch cheaters, but it was also supposed to help us trust that we could believe what we were watching. Now, with more questions raised about Ryan Braun and others, we're heading back to the uncomfortable zone of steroid uncertainty. ...more

In a year where shouting about the MVP became popular, no one shouted about Buster Posey. No one had to. It was obvious. Catchers don't often win the MVP, but they should. Posey should have won. And he did win. ...more