preview Page 8 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Plenty at stake as contending Rangers, Astros clash
A pair of American League West rivals that took a step in the wrong direction in their respective playoff races on Sunday get a chance to reverse course when Texas Rangers and host Houston Astros open a critical three-game series on Monday night.,Right-handers Jack Leiter (9-8, 3.81 ERA) of the Rang...

Reds need to find wins in St. Louis to stay in playoff chase
The Cincinnati Reds lost ground in the National League playoff chase while suffering an untimely three-game weekend sweep from the Athletics in West Sacramento, Calif.,The Reds (74-75) will try to regain traction Monday night when they visit the St. Louis Cardinals (73-77) in the opener of a three-g...

Orioles, White Sox eager for fresh starts in series opener
After a lost weekend for both teams, the Chicago White Sox and visiting Baltimore Orioles look to regroup when they begin a three-game series on Monday.,Chicago (57-93) lost three straight to the host Cleveland Guardians over the weekend, while Baltimore (69-80) was swept in three games by the host ...

Nationals out to extend strong month, keep Braves reeling
Two teams experiencing contrasting months meet when the Atlanta Braves open a three-day, four-game series at the Washington Nationals on Monday.,The Braves (66-83), who will soon see their streak of seven straight postseason appearances end, are limping home and sport a 4-8 September record after sn...

Blue Jays making a habit of comebacks, look for sweep of Orioles
The Toronto Blue Jays aim to take the momentum of a ninth-inning comeback win into Sunday afternoon and complete a three-game sweep of the visiting Baltimore Orioles.,The Blue Jays (86-62) maintained their three-game lead in the American League East over the New York Yankees on Saturday by scoring t...

Every game critical for contending Astros, who go for sweep in Atlanta
After posting two of their most important victories of the season to date, the visiting Houston Astros will look to earn a pivotal series sweep of the floundering Atlanta Braves on Sunday afternoon.,With 13 games left in the regular season, Houston (81-68) is tied with the Seattle Mariners atop the ...

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...