Update on the latest sports
APMLB-SCHEDULE
Kershaw vs Darvish meet again
UNDATED (AP) — Clayton Kershaw starts for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second game of the big series at Dodger Stadium against the San Diego Padres. Yu Darvish takes the mound for the Padres in a rematch of last Saturday’s meeting at Petco Park.
Kershaw has thrown 18 consecutive scoreless innings after blanking the Padres for six, while Darvish took the loss against his former teammates despite throwing seven innings of one-hit, one-run ball.
In other highlights of Friday’s schedule:
— Zack Greinke (GREHN’-kee) starts for the Houston Astros after allowing four hits over eight shutout innings to win at Seattle, a game in which he reached 2,700 strikeouts. Andrew Heaney starts for the visiting Los Angeles Angels.
— Jacob deGrom of the Mets is 1-1 with a 0.45 ERA, 35 strikeouts and three walks in 20 innings going into a homestand opener against Washington and Erick Fedde (FEH’-dee). While deGrom has a 2.03 ERA in 79 starts since the start of the 2018 season, New York is 37-42 in those games.
— Cincinnati’s Sonny Gray seeks his first win at Busch Stadium, where he is 0-1 despite a 2.04 ERA in three starts. Kwang Hyun Kim starts for the Cardinals.
— Jorge López starts for the Baltimore Orioles against Oakland. He’s coming off three starts in which he allowed five home runs in 13 2/3 innings. Cole Irvin starts for the visiting Athletics.
— Left-hander Steven Matz, coming off wins over Texas, the Los Angeles Angels and Kansas City in the start of his first season with Toronto, starts at the rival Tampa Bay Rays, who go with Tyler Glasnow.
— Blue Jays outfielder George Springer will play in an intrasquad game, the next step on his return from two strained muscles that have delayed his Toronto debut. Springer signed a team-record $150 million, six-year deal with the Blue Jays this offseason but missed time in spring training, first because of a strained oblique and later because of a right quadriceps strain. Springer, the World Series MVP when Houston won its first title in 2017, could return in this weekend’s road series against the Tampa Bay Rays, according to general manager Ross Atkins.
NFL-BROWNS
Browns exercise 5-year option for Mayfield and Ward
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Browns have exercised the fifth-year option on quarterback Baker Mayfield’s rookie contract. The move was expected after his strong 2020 season.
The team also did the same with top cornerback Denzel Ward’s contract.
Mayfield had 30 touchdown passes last season and led the Browns to their first playoff appearance in nearly 20 years. Cleveland won its first postseason game since 1994, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers in the wild-card round before losing to Kansas City.
The team had until May 3 to exercise the option. The No. 1 overall draft pick in 2018, Mayfield is under contract for 2021 and 2022.
Ward was drafted three picks after the Browns selected Mayfield three years ago. The former Ohio State standout has developed into one of the NFL’s better coverage cornerbacks. Ward, who made the Pro Bowl as a rookie, has seven interceptions in three seasons.
NFL-DRAFT
Thirteen prospects to attend NFL draft in Cleveland
CLEVELAND (AP) — Thirteen prospects will attend next week’s NFL draft in person, a year after the entire draft was conducted virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Five members of national champion Alabama will attend: quarterback Mac Jones, defensive lineman Christian Barmore, cornerback Patrick Surtain II, and receivers Jaylen Waddle and Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith.
Also accepting invitations were BYU quarterback Zach Wilson and North Dakota State QB Trey Lance; LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase; Miami edge rusher Gregory Rousseau; Northwestern tackle Rashawn Slater; Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley, Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons; and Florida tight end Kyle Pitts.
The NFL says an additional 45 prospects, including likely No. 1 overall selection quarterback Trevor Lawrence of Clemson, will participate virtually.
The draft’s first round is Thursday, with the second and third rounds next Friday and the final four rounds on May 1.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL-CLARKE DEATH
Kentucky guard Terrence Clarke dies in LA car crash
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky freshman guard Terrence Clarke has died following a car accident in Los Angeles.
The university announced 19-year-old’s death in a release Thursday night, but did not include any more details. Coach John Calipari called Clarke “a beautiful kid, someone who owned the room with his personality, smile and joy.”
Los Angeles Police Sgt. John Matassa told ESPN that Clarke was a solo occupant in a vehicle that ran a red light going “at a very high rate of speed.” He said surveillance video showed that Clarke collided with another vehicle preparing to turn left, hit a street light pole and then a block wall. Clarke was taken to Northridge Hospital Medical and later pronounced dead.
Clarke started Kentucky’s first six games and was one of its top scorers, highlighted by a career-best 22 points in a loss to Georgia Tech on Dec. 6. The injury ultimately sidelined him for the entire Southeastern Conference regular-season schedule, though he returned to post three assists and two points off the bench in the Wildcats’ SEC Tournament loss to Mississippi State that ended a 9-16 season.
Despite his limited action, Clarke announced his decision to enter the NBA draft on March 19. On Wednesday he signed with Klutch Sports Group.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-JAPAN
Japan issues 3rd virus emergency in Tokyo, Osaka area
TOKYO (AP) — Japan has issued a third state of emergency for Tokyo and three western prefectures to curb a surge in the coronavirus just three months ahead of the Olympics.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced the emergency for Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo from April 25 through May 11. He said it’s aimed at stopping people from traveling and spreading the virus during Japan’s “Golden Week” holidays from late April through the first week of May.
Japan’s third emergency since the start of the pandemic comes only a month after an earlier, toothless emergency ended in the Tokyo area. This time, authorities can issue binding orders for businesses to shorten their hours or close, with compensation for those who comply and penalties for violators.
