w Page 23 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

With final AL wild card up for grabs, Guardians visit Rays again
The race for the third and final wild-card spot in the American League is narrowing, with both the Cleveland Guardians and Tampa Bay Rays moving back into contention.,The teams entered their four-game series in Tampa seeking a knockout punch but have split the first two games. The Rays won 4-2 on Th...

Dodgers hope to end skid vs. streaking Orioles
The Los Angeles Dodgers have hit a rough patch at an inopportune time. They've lost four games in a row going into Saturday night's matchup with the host Baltimore Orioles.,"There's no sugar-coating this," Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman said. "We need to figure this out and figure this out qu...

Brewers rely on next-man-up philosophy against Pirates
As the Milwaukee Brewers chase home-field advantage throughout the postseason, they are dealing with a bullpen ravaged by injuries as well as the absence of other key lineup contributors.,But the Brewers continue to have pitchers and players step up when needed, as Quinn Priester and Jake Bauers did...

NFC West Primer: Are 49ers still a threat?
The San Francisco 49ers were ravaged by injuries last season and went 6-11 just one year after reaching the Super Bowl.,It's not hard to forecast that a healthy Christian McCaffrey is the big ingredient needed for a turnaround. But the 49ers did shake up the roster a bit and that also can reignite t...

Mets look to take series vs. Reds after Edwin Diaz's escape
Edwin Diaz probably won't be available to save a potential win for Jonah Tong on Saturday night.,But at least the All-Star closer's eventful outing Friday night ensured the weekend will not be disastrous for the New York Mets. ,Tong will make his second career start Saturday, when the visiting Mets ...

Tigers' Tarik Skubal looks to make more history in clash vs. hot White Sox
Tarik Skubal made franchise history in his most recent start. ,The Detroit Tigers' ace will look to continue his case for a second straight American League Cy Young Award when he faces the improving Chicago White Sox on Saturday afternoon at home.,Skubal, a left-hander, threw seven scoreless innings...

Finding form, Marlins' Sandy Alcantara aims to stifle Phillies
The Miami Marlins certainly are enjoying Sandy Alcantara's resurgence, and the former National League Cy Young Award winner hopes to deliver another strong outing Saturday afternoon when his team hosts the Philadelphia Phillies. ,After missing all of 2024 following Tommy John surgery in October of t...

Cubs chase third straight series win in encounter vs. Nationals
The Chicago Cubs will try to continue taking advantage of a soft part of their schedule when they host the Washington Nationals on Saturday afternoon.,After taking two of three games from the Colorado Rockies and Atlanta Braves, the Cubs have a chance to win their third straight series with another ...

Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays look to jolt Yankees again
Although Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has produced big games against the New York Yankees in his career, he has never done so as a member of a division-leading team in September.,Guerrero is among many who assured the Blue Jays will exit New York in sole possession of first place in the American League Eas...

Legendary Habs G Ken Dryden, 6-time Cup winner, dies at 78
Hall of Fame goaltender Ken Dryden, a six-time All-Star, six-time Stanley Cup winner and an integral part of Montreal's dynasty of the 1970s, died Friday after a battle with cancer, the Canadiens announced. He was 78.,Known for his intellectual pursuits off the ice, Dryden played only eight seasons ...

Angels prospect Rio Foster in critical condition after car accident
Los Angeles Angels outfield prospect Rio Foster was injured in an early-morning car accident and was in critical condition in a Washington state hospital, the club announced Friday evening.,According to the statement, Foster was a passenger in a vehicle involved in a "serious car accident" in Richla...

OF Dominic Fletcher, RHP Dan Altavilla join White Sox
Outfielder Dominic Fletcher and right-handed reliever Dan Altavilla were added to the White Sox's roster on Friday, and they contributed to Chicago's 7-5 road win over the Detroit Tigers.,Fletcher, 28, had his contract purchased from Triple-A Charlotte. In his first major league game of the season, ...

Taylor Trammell to face no additional sanctions for 'illegal' bat
The bat Major League Baseball confiscated from Taylor Trammell is against league rules, but the Houston Astros outfielder won't face any additional discipline for the lumber.,A day after umpires confiscated the at the behest of New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone, Trammell said on Friday that the l...

Reports: Spurs rookie Dylan Harper has thumb surgery
San Antonio Spurs rookie Dylan Harper underwent surgery to repair a partially torn collateral ligament in his left thumb in an attempt to make it back in time for the season opener, per multiple reports on Friday.,The 19-year-old injured his thumb in a preseason workout on Wednesday. He competed in ...

Northwestern rings up 526 yards in rout of Western Illinois
Preston Stone passed for 245 yards and three touchdowns and Cam Porter rushed for 91 yards and a score as host Northwestern thumped Western Illinois 42-7 on Friday in Evanston, Ill.,Northwestern (1-1) outgained Western Illinois 526-181. Carmine Bastone collected 1 1/2 sacks for the Wildcats.,Northwe...

Maikel Garcia belts 2-run homer to power Royals past Twins
Maikel Garcia hit a two-run homer and Michael Wacha yielded a run while pitching into the sixth inning, and the Kansas City Royals beat the visiting Minnesota Twins 2-1 despite star Bobby Witt Jr. exiting late due to low back spasms Friday night.,Though the Royals have won two straight and improved ...

Royals SS Bobby Witt Jr. (back spasms) leaves game vs. Twins
Kansas City Royals star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. exited Friday night's game against the visiting Minnesota Twins due to low back spasms.,Witt did not come out for the top of the seventh inning in a game the Royals won 2-1. Maikel Garcia shifted from third base to shortstop and Nick Loftin entered at...

Brewers get much-needed start, win from Quinn Priester
Quinn Priester delivered a quality start the Milwaukee Brewers needed on Friday night, allowing two runs over seven innings in a 5-2 victory over the host Pittsburgh Pirates.,Priester (12-2) struck out six, walked one and allowed six hits on 96 pitches to help the Brewers (87-55) avoid using their a...

49ers star RB Christian McCaffrey (calf) questionable for Week 1
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is questionable for the team's season opener at the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday due to a lingering calf issue.,After McCaffrey appeared on Thursday's injury report as a limited practice participant with a calf injury, he sat out practice on Friday....

Rhyne Howard, Dream damage Sparks' playoff hopes
Rhyne Howard scored 29 of her season-high 37 points in the first half on Friday to help the surging Atlanta Dream post a 104-85 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Sparks in College Park, Ga.,The result leaves ninth-place Los Angeles on the verge of elimination from playoff contention. Atlanta mov...