preview Page 21 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Red-hot Phillies can clinch NL East in series finale vs. Royals
For most of the season, the National League East race looked like it would come down to the wire. However, everything changed in the last 10 days.,The surging Philadelphia Phillies can clinch the division for a second straight year Sunday afternoon in the finale of their weekend series with the visi...

Aces host gritty Storm in Game 1 with eyes on the championship
Pursuit of a third WNBA championship begins for the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday when they host the Seattle Storm in Game 1 of their best-of-three opening-round playoff series.,Closing the regular season on a 16-game winning streak, just two shy of matching the league all-time record, Las Vegas climbed ...

Liberty finally at full health as WNBA title defense begins vs. Mercury
The New York Liberty are healthy at the right time. The Liberty will begin defense of their WNBA title in a first-round playoff series against the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday with a full complement of players, a rarity this season.,Breanna Stewart, the 2023 MVP in her first season in New York, missed ...

Struggling Timbers welcome road-averse Red Bulls
The Portland Timbers are above the playoff line in the Western Conference but have done little lately to improve their positioning.,The New York Red Bulls are trying to chase down a playoff spot in the East but have struggled to win road games.,Portland attempts to halt a season-worst four-game winl...

Sporting KC, RSL aim to improve playoff chances
Two clubs desperate to get back into the postseason picture meet Saturday when Sporting Kansas City visit Real Salt Lake in Sandy, Utah.,Salt Lake (9-14-4, 31 points) is four points behind the San Jose Earthquakes for the final Western Conference wild-card slot. The situation is even more dire for S...

Whitecaps on verge of playoff spot as East-leading Union visit
The Philadelphia Union have already qualified for the MLS Cup playoffs. Now, the Vancouver Whitecaps will try to claim their own spot in the postseason as they host the Supporters' Shield leaders on Saturday night.,Vancouver, currently third in the Western Conference with seven matches to go, has se...

Dynamo have chance to climb over Rapids in standings
As the clock ticks toward the end of the MLS regular season next month, the Houston Dynamo head to Commerce City, Colo., on Saturday night to try to jump into a playoff position over the Colorado Rapids. , ,With five matches remaining, the Dynamo (8-12-9, 33 points) sit in 10th place -- but just thr...

Before U.S. Open Cup semis, Austin FC turn focus to rival Dallas
Austin FC will work to keep their focus on the challenge at hand and not look ahead when they visit rival FC Dallas on Saturday in Frisco, Texas.,The Verde and Black will play in the semifinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Minnesota United on Wednesday, but first comes their Copa Tejas match.,...

Roughriders can clinch playoff berth vs. struggling Alouettes
With nearly two months before the CFL playoffs begin, the Saskatchewan Roughriders are one win away from punching their postseason ticket.,Saskatchewan can make it happen Saturday night when it welcomes the struggling Montreal Alouettes to Regina.,At 10-2, the Roughriders hold a two-game lead on idl...

Nick Arbuckle's starting stint winding down as Argos battle Elks
Nick Arbuckle was MVP of last season's Grey Cup and he leads the CFL in passing yardage this season, but he might be making his last start of the season for the Toronto Argonauts.,With former CFL Most Outstanding Player Chad Kelly removed from the six-game injured list, Arbuckle's hold on the starti...

Fire clash with NYCFC, each hoping to remain in playoff picture
The Chicago Fire will try to move a step closer to their first MLS Cup playoff appearance since 2017 on Saturday when they host a New York City FC side that is also in the mix for the last Eastern Conference postseason places.,Chicago (12-10-6, 42 points) enters the weekend holding the ninth and fin...

Tied atop AL West, Astros try to regroup against Braves
The Houston Astros, no longer in sole possession of first place in the American League West, stumble into a three-game series against the Braves that begins Friday in Atlanta.,Houston held a four-game division lead over the Seattle Mariners after beating the New York Yankees 8-7 on Sept. 3.,Since th...

Dodgers rediscover winning form heading into series with rival Giants
The Los Angeles Dodgers appear to have regained their edge as they try to solidify their hold on first place Friday when they hit the road to face the San Francisco Giants for a three-game series.,The heated rivals each have 16 games remaining in the regular season, which includes seven against each...

Harbaugh-Carroll rivalry renewed as Chargers meet Raiders
Justin Herbert put on a prime-time show to open his season and now receives a chance to dazzle on the Monday night stage.,After Herbert excelled in Brazil, he'll try for another show-stopping display in Las Vegas when the Los Angeles Chargers visit the AFC West rival Raiders in Week 2.,Herbert outpl...

Offensive line still Texans' issue as they prepare for Bucs
Following an offseason of personnel changes on the offensive line, the Houston Texans opened the season last week against the Los Angeles Rams and looked like nothing changed.,Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud was sacked three times and pressured on more than 41 percent of his dropbacks, perNextGen Sta...

'Hungry' Reds in playoff chase going into road series against Athletics
The Cincinnati Reds are in the hunt for a playoff berth with just 10 percent of their regular season remaining.,Cincinnati has missed the postseason in 10 of the past 11 seasons, but the Reds can rev up their hopes Friday night when they open a three-game series against the Athletics at West Sacrame...

Starting pitchers return from IL for Nationals, Marlins
When the season started in late March, the Washington Nationals and Miami Marlins were regarded as two young teams not ready to contend for playoff berths.,Five-plus months later, that's exactly how it's played out for the clubs that are set to meet for the final time this year on Thursday in Miami....

Arizona State working on identity with Texas State gunning for upset
Arizona State tumbled out of the AP Top 25 after losing at Mississippi State last week. The Sun Devils must turn their attention to a Texas State team that gave them trouble a year ago when they meet Saturday in Tempe, Ariz.,The Sun Devils (1-1) scored the final 10 points to hold off the Bobcats (2-...

All-Star 2B Ketel Marte expected back for Diamondbacks against Twins
The Arizona Diamondbacks admittedly have an uphill climb in their quest to secure the final wild-card spot in the National League.,Fortunately for the Diamondbacks, they appear to have avoided another obstacle with respect to the health of second baseman Ketel Marte.,The three-time All-Star likely w...

Minnesota's big tests: Cal's QB and the time zone change
It will be a rare edition of Late Night with Gopher Football on Saturday when Minnesota faces Cal in Berkeley, Calif.,Make that a very late night.,The contest will kick off at 7:30 p.m. local time -- 9:30 p.m. CT -- and likely will not end much before 1 a.m. for folks watching back home in the Twin ...