MLB Data Before writing queries, consult references/api-reference.md for endpoints, ID conventions, and data shapes. Setup Before first use, check if the CLI is available: which sports-skills || pip install sports-skills If pip install fails with a Python version error, the package requires Python 3.10+. Find a compatible Python: python3 --version

check version

If < 3.10, try: python3.12 -m pip install sports-skills

On macOS with Homebrew: /opt/homebrew/bin/python3.12 -m pip install sports-skills

No API keys required.

Quick Start

Prefer the CLI — it avoids Python import path issues:

sports-skills mlb get_scoreboard

sports-skills mlb get_standings

--season

=

2025

sports-skills mlb get_teams

CRITICAL: Before Any Query

CRITICAL: Before calling any data endpoint, verify:

Season year is derived from the system prompt's

currentDate

— never hardcoded.

If only a team name is provided, call

get_teams

to resolve the team ID before using team-specific commands.

Choosing the Season

Derive the active season from the system prompt's date — not just the calendar year.

If the user specifies a season

, use it as-is.

If the user says "current", "this season", or doesn't specify

The MLB season runs late March/April through October. If the current month is January–March, the last completed season was the prior calendar year. From April onward, use the current calendar year. Commands Command Description get_scoreboard Live/recent MLB scores get_standings Standings by league and division get_teams All 30 MLB teams get_team_roster Full roster for a team get_team_schedule Schedule for a specific team get_game_summary Detailed box score and scoring plays get_leaders MLB statistical leaders get_news MLB news articles get_play_by_play Full play-by-play for a game get_win_probability Win probability chart data get_schedule Schedule for a specific date or season get_injuries Injury reports across all teams get_transactions Recent transactions get_depth_chart Depth chart for a team get_team_stats Team statistical profile get_player_stats Player statistical profile See references/api-reference.md for full parameter lists and return shapes. Examples Example 1: Today's scores User says: "What are today's MLB scores?" Actions: Call get_scoreboard() Result: All live and recent MLB games with scores by inning and status Example 2: Division standings User says: "Show me the AL East standings" Actions: Derive season year from currentDate Call get_standings(season=) Filter results for American League East Result: AL East standings with W-L, PCT, GB, run differential Example 3: Team roster User says: "Who's on the Yankees roster?" Actions: Call get_team_roster(team_id="10") Result: Full Yankees roster with name, position, bats/throws, height, weight Example 4: Game box score User says: "Show me the full box score for last night's Dodgers game" Actions: Call get_scoreboard(date="") to find the event_id Call get_game_summary(event_id=) for full box score Result: Complete box score with batting/pitching stats per player Example 5: Injury report User says: "Who's on the IL for the Yankees?" Actions: Call get_injuries() Filter results for New York Yankees (team_id=10) Result: Yankees IL list with player name, position, IL type, and injury detail Example 6: Player statistics User says: "Show me Shohei Ohtani's stats" Actions: Derive season year from currentDate Call get_player_stats(player_id="39832", season_year=) Result: Season stats by category (batting, pitching) with value, rank, and per-game averages Commands that DO NOT exist — never call these get_odds / get_betting_odds — not available. For prediction market odds, use the polymarket or kalshi skill. search_teams — does not exist. Use get_teams instead. get_box_score — does not exist. Use get_game_summary instead. get_player_ratings — does not exist. Use get_player_stats instead. If a command is not listed in the Commands table above, it does not exist. Error Handling When a command fails, do not surface raw errors to the user . Instead: Catch silently and try alternatives If team name given instead of ID, use get_teams to find the ID first Only report failure with a clean message after exhausting alternatives Troubleshooting Error: sports-skills command not found Cause: Package not installed Solution: Run pip install sports-skills Error: Team not found by ID Cause: Wrong or outdated ESPN team ID used Solution: Call get_teams to get the current list of all 30 MLB teams with their IDs Error: No data returned for a future game Cause: ESPN only returns data for completed or in-progress games Solution: Use get_schedule to see upcoming game details; get_scoreboard only covers active/recent games Error: Offseason — scoreboard returns 0 events Cause: No games scheduled during the offseason (November–March) Solution: Use get_standings or get_news instead; MLB offseason transactions are available via get_transactions