McConnell was reportedly supportive of House Democrats’ successful impeachment effort—the first time a president has ever been impeached twice—signaling to other GOP senators that they can vote against Trump in a trial over his role in last week’s deadly riot at the Capitol. Multiple news outlets reported McConnell’s acceptance of impeachment, citing unnamed sources, on Wednesday. McConnell later sent a letter to colleagues saying he has not decided and will determine how he will vote after listening to evidence in the Senate trial....

While the Kentucky Republican voted to acquit Trump, he said this was a decision based on the constitutionality of the trial and still criticized the former president—even suggesting he could face consequences through other legal means. Following this, Trump lashed out at McConnell in a scathing statement branding him a “dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack,” and suggesting he was at fault for the GOP losing its Senate majority....

Republican Senate Majority Mitch McConnell handed all responsibility to Democrats, saying simply that it’s not the GOP’s problem to find votes to pass crucial legislation. The White House has tried to work with McConnell through intermediaries like former Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson. “The debt ceiling will be raised as it always should be, but it will be raised by the Democrats,” McConnell said, despite having relied on bipartisan cooperation, which he received when Republicans needed debt limit measures approved....

Criticism has been leveled at Trump for his comments during the briefings which have included bickering with the dissemination of incorrect information about the coronavirus. Thursday, President Trump appeared to suggest that injecting a form of disinfectant such as bleach into a coronavirus patient could cure the illness. Experts disagreed with the president and encouraged the American public not to ingest any form of disinfectant. McConnell told Fox News Radio host Guy Benson on Monday that changing the format of the briefings to allow health experts more speaking time was “a good idea....

“The virus is everywhere. Every state has needed to take action to slow its spread, and that has had major effects on each of their economies,” said Michael Leachman, the senior director of state fiscal research at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP). Data from the Department of Labor shows that all 50 states have seen a spike in unemployment claims since the outbreak forced businesses across the country to close in mid-March....

The senator from Utah sent a tweet that seemed to take a dig at the president Wednesday in which he says “enough already.” “I know Joe Scarborough. Joe is a friend of mine. I don’t know T.J. Klausutis. Joe can weather vile, baseless accusations but T.J.? His heart is breaking. Enough already,” Romney wrote. Romney’s statements come days after Illinois Representative Adam Kinzinger sent out a similar tweet Sunday calling for the president to “stop spreading” those accusations about Scarborough....

MLB on Wednesday released the first round of National League balloting for the All-Star Game, and Cardinals hold starting spots at four positions, and the Nationals’ Bryce Harper leads all NL vote-getters with 1,116,582 votes. MORE: Royals dominate early AL voting St. Louis third baseman Matt Carpenter, shortstop Jhonny Peralta, catcher Yadier Molina and outfielder Matt Holliday are early leading vote-getters. Among outfielders, Holliday trails only Harper. Interestingly, the Marlins — 28th out of 30 major-league teams in attendance — have two players listed among early voting leaders....

A quarter of the way through the season, we’re starting to see the fruits of these signings. While some players – such as Trevor Story on the Red Sox – are just heating up, others have made an immediate impact. While we can’t yet discern winners and losers from the 2021-22 free agency mad scramble, there’s enough to build a progress report from some of the notable signings last offseason....

That’s a growth potential of more than 1 billion new fans, the result of a “wide-ranging partnership” announced Wednesday with China-based Le Sports in which major league games will be live-streamed in China for the first time. MORE: Ken Griffey Jr.’s pop culture impact | Bold predictions for 2016 Under the three-year deal, beginning with the 2016 season, four regular-season games per week will be live-streamed, as will the All-Star Game, the Home Run Derby and playoff games — including every game of the World Series....

Just when the Tigers were starting to climb back into contention in a crowded American League Central, Brian Dozier and the Twins broke the hearts of everyone watching in Detroit on Friday night. The Tigers entered the ninth inning with a 6-1 lead, but things turned sour fast. The combination of Bruce Rondon and closer Joakim Soria allowed seven runs, including a walkoff, three-run home run to Dozier, to give the Twins a stunning win....

Matt Carpenter sent a ball into the stratosphere that eventually touched down somewhere in the right field bleachers, helping the Cardinals to a franchise-best 20-6 start. Elsewhere, Mookie Betts homered twice, and Bartolo Colon proved he’s the best journeyman pitcher in baseball in yet another interesting night in MLB. MORE: Carpenter building MVP case | Fantasy rankings, sleepers for Wednesday | Report: Samardzija to drop appeal Wednesday More of Tuesday’s highlights:...

Actually, he had a few of them in the Yankees’ 8-1 win, leaping, diving and swinging his way to the most impressive postseason performance of his young career. Twice he made highlight-reel plays in right field, further proof that his worth exceeds his bat. MORE: Three takeaways from Yankees’ Game 3 win First it was Houston’s Yuli Gurriel who was robbed of extra bases as Judge crashed into a prophetic PlayStation sign reading “Greatness Awaits....

As he walked off the mound after his final out of the night — the eighth inning was his sixth consecutive 1-2-3 frame — Cueto gave a single, emphatic fist pump. As he strode toward the Royals’ dugout, he took off his hat and tucked it, along with his glove, under his left arm. MORE: Best ALDS photos | Royals-Blue Jays ALCS schedule | Jays have arms to match their bats...

The Los Angeles Dodgers aim to become only the first time to reach the World Series three years in a row since the New York Yankees achieved the feat between 1998 and 2001. The Dodgers will also hope to go one better than they did in the last two seasons, when they lost the World Series to the Houston Astros and the Boston Red Sox respectively. The Astros are one of four teams to have won 100 regular season games this year and arrive into the postseason looking to win a second title in three years....

For those who don’t know, those who are eligible to be selected in this year’s draft include international prospects or high school players signed or drafted in 2014, or college players taken in 2015. Only players who are not on their team’s 40-man rosters can be selected. Teams pay $100,000 to select a player, and they have to keep him on their 25-man roster throughout the entirety of the 2019 season, otherwise, he will be returned to his former team for $50,000....

Quick things to know: Opening day is April 2, with two games, and everyone else plays the next day; Core interleague matchups: AL East vs. NL Central, AL Central vs. NL West and AL West vs. NL East; final regular-season games are October 1 (which means the World Series could end before November starts). The day-by-day schedule is here. Now, on to 10 things you need to know about the 2017 slate....

It took three starts, but Johnny Cueto finally got his first win as a member of the Royals. Cueto was dominant Monday night in his home debut against the Tigers, tossing a complete-game shutout while scattering four hits and striking out eight in a 4-0 win. Cueto was traded to the Royals from the Reds on July 26. His first start in a Royals uniform July 31 against the Blue Jays resulted in a no-decision....

It’s a move with a big backstory. Morales played for Seattle in 2013, hitting 23 homers with a .277 average and .785 OPS. The Mariners extended a qualifying offer after the season, but Morales didn’t accept and instead became a free agent. With the draft-pick compensation attached, though, no team signed him, and he stayed on the market until after June’s draft and teams no longer had to give up a pick to sign the slugger....

One, according to a report from The Athletic, which cited unidentified league sources, is to trade Syndergaard and re-sign Zack Wheeler. Wheeler, who has spent the last six seasons with the Mets, would likely leave New York if a deal is not reached, the report noted. Wheeler is 6-6 on the year with a 4.69 ERA. He has been dealing with right shoulder fatigue but is expected to return later this week....

The highest percentage of home runs per hit in a single season is 14.5%, which was set in 2017. Coming into the day, balls were flying out on 14.7% of all base hits. But as crazy as the home run numbers are, Jacob deGrom is still dominating, and he’s not alone. The ace tossed seven innings of scoreless baseball with 14 strikeouts in New York’s 6-4 win over the Marlins — his 26th straight quality start — and he was joined by several other starters who posted not only quality starts, but fabulous stat lines....