Update on the latest sports
APMLB-SCHEDULE
Yanks’ Cole faces Blue Jays with wild card in sight
UNDATED (AP) — Yankees ace Gerrit Cole makes what might be his final start of the regular season in a critical showdown against Toronto. New York opened the three-game series Tuesday night two games ahead of the Blue Jays for the top AL wild card.
Cole will try to strengthen the Yanks’ grip on a postseason spot while also solidifying his Cy Young Award candidacy. The four-time All-Star has never won the prize for baseball’s top pitchers. Cole beat Boston last Friday for his AL-leading 16th win.
José Berríos starts Wednesday night for Toronto. Berrios struck out eight and pitched two-run ball over 6 2/3 innings against the Yankees on Sept. 9.
Cole could wind up pitching again Sunday against the AL East-champion Rays on short rest if it’s critical to the Yankees’ postseason chances. If not, he’d be available on regular rest for a potential Game 163 on Monday or for the AL wild-card game Tuesday.
Boston lost to Baltimore Tuesday night to fall two games behind the Yankees and will continue a three-game set against the last-place Orioles.
In other Wednesday highlights:
— NL Cy Young contender Max Scherzer tries to recover from his first tough start since a midseason trade to the Dodgers in a showdown with San Diego. Scherzer allowed five runs in five innings to the Rockies at Coors Field last Thursday, letting his ERA rise to 1.43 in 10 starts after being acquired from Washington. The Dodgers rallied and won that game in Colorado, preserving Scherzer’s perfect 7-0 record with Los Angeles. Left-hander Ryan Weathers starts for the Padres.
— The Braves can get within striking distance of clinching the NL East with a win over Philadelphia. Atlanta took the opener of their three-game set last night to pull 3 1/2 games ahead of the second-place Phillies, trimming their magic number to secure a fourth straight division title to three. Atlanta left-hander Max Fried (freed) is set to face righty Aaron Nola for the Phillies, who were knocked out of the NL wild-card race Tuesday when St. Louis beat Milwaukee and can only make the postseason by winning the division.
— The Mariners have won 10 of 12 to charge into the thick of the AL wild-card race and enter their series finale against Oakland trailing the Red Sox by half a game for the final postseason spot. Right-hander Logan Gilbert is set to face A’s righty Frankie Montas, with Seattle seeking a critical sweep. The Mariners are also still in the AL West chase, but Houston can clinch with either a victory over Tampa Bay or a loss by Seattle.
— The Giants will continue their pursuit of an NL West title without slugger Brandon Belt, who went on the injured list Tuesday with a broken left thumb. The injury is a big blow for the NL West leaders, who began a home series with the Diamondbacks Tuesday night trying for their first division title since 2012. San Francisco and the Dodgers both won, keeping the Giants two games ahead of the eight-time defending NL West champs with five games left for each team.
MLB-NEWS
Michael A. Taylor, Royals agree to $9M, 2-year deal
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Outfielder Michael A. Taylor and the Kansas City Royals have agreed to a $9 million, two-year contract covering 2022 and ’23. Taylor can earn $250,000 annually in performance bonuses. He would have been eligible for free agency after this year’s World Series.
The 30-year-old is batting .244 in his first season with the Royals with 12 homers, 52 RBIs and 14 stolen bases in 20 attempts.
Taylor has a $1.75 million base salary this year, and has earned $900,000 of $1 million in available bonuses for plate appearances.
NFL-NEWS
Bucs add CB Richard Sherman to injury-ravaged secondary
UNDATED (AP) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed Richard Sherman, a three-time All-Pro cornerback who has been dealing with legal issues in the offseason.
Sherman got a one-year deal and said Tom Brady helped recruit him to the defending Super Bowl champions. They have been hit hard by injuries to their secondary.
Sherman was involved in several incidents during the summer, including being arrested on domestic violence charges at the home of his wife’s parents in Redmond, Washington.
A five-time Pro Bowler, Sherman spent the last three seasons with San Francisco. Before that, he was one of the NFL’s top defenders with Seattle. He helped the Seahawks win the 2013 title and go to the Super Bowl the next season.
In other NFL news:
— New York Jets wide receiver Jeff Smith has a concussion after being involved in a car accident. The head injury leaves his availability for the Jets’ game Sunday against the Tennessee Titans in doubt. The 24-year-old Smith was driving to the team’s facility when the crash occurred. When he arrived at the facility, he went through tests that revealed the concussion. Smith was held out of practice and will now be in the NFL’s concussion protocol.
— A person with direct knowledge of the situation says New York Jets safety Marcus Maye will be sidelined three to four weeks with an ankle injury. The exact nature of the injury is uncertain, but it is believed Maye was hurt in the 26-0 loss at Denver on Sunday although he played every snap on defense. Maye was surprisingly listed on the Jets’ injury report Wednesday as having not practiced.
— The Cincinnati Bengals will be without receiver Tee Higgins and safety Jessie Bates for their Thursday night matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars, as well as kicker Josh Lambo and defensive tackle Roy Robertson-Harris. But cornerback Trae Waynes is expected to make his Bengals debut. Waynes signed a three-year, $42 million deal with the team before the 2020 season, but missed the entire year with a pectoral injury. He’s been bothered this season by a hamstring injury.
— The Tennessee Titans may not have either of their two Pro Bowl wide receivers as they start a two-game road swing Sunday at the New York Jets. A.J. Brown played only eight snaps before hurting a hamstring in last week’s win over Indianapolis. Julio Jones played half of the offensive snaps. The Titans used Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Chester Rogers, Cameron Batson and Racey McMath in the fourth quarter. Neither Brown nor Jones practiced Wednesday.
— Browns rookie cornerback Greg Newsome II will miss this week’s game at Minnesota with a calf injury.
— The Baltimore Ravens have activated receivers Rashod Bateman and Miles Boykin from injured reserve. They also activated defensive lineman Justin Madubuike and linebacker Justin Houston from the reserve/COVID-19 list, leaving only linebacker Jaylon Ferguson on the list. The Ravens play at Denver this weekend.
— Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid says he is “feeling great,” three days after he was taken to the hospital with an illness and dehydration following a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers although he declined to discuss details of his health with reporters. The Chiefs head to Philadelphia on Sunday trying to snap a two-game skid.
— The Chicago Bears have taken a major step toward moving out of their longtime home at Soldier Field and into the suburbs by signing a purchase agreement for Arlington Park, about 30 miles northwest of the city. Churchill Downs Incorporated, which owns the property officially known as Arlington International Racecourse, announced that the sale price was $197.2 million. Team president Ted Phillips says that “much work remains to be completed” before the deal can be finalized.
— Indianapolis Colts coach Frank Reich isn’t sure who he’ll have for Sunday’s game at Miami. Quarterback Carson Wentz played last week with two sprained ankles that are still healing. 2020 All-Pro left guard Quenton Nelson’s streak of 51 consecutive starts is in jeopardy because of his own sprained ankle. Right tackle Braden Smith has missed the last two games with a strained right foot. And that’s just the start for the winless Colts.
NLRB-COMPENSATING ATHLETES
NLRB: College football players are employees, can unionize
UNDATED (AP) — The National Labor Relations Board says college football players and some other athletes in money-making sports are employees of their schools. The guidance in a memo from the board’s top lawyer could lead to expansive rights for players to unionize and negotiate over their working conditions.
NLRB General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo also threatened action against schools, conferences and the NCAA if they continue to use the term “student-athlete.” She says the term was designed to obscure the employment relationship with college athletes and discourage them from pursuing their rights.
TENNIS-INDIAN WELLS
Djokovic is latest big name to drop out of Indian Wells
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — Top-ranked Novak Djokovic is the latest big name to drop out of the BNP Paribas Open set for next month in the Southern California desert. He joins women’s No. 1 Ash Barty in skipping the tournament set to run Oct. 4 to Oct. 17 in Indian Wells.
Djokovic didn’t provide a reason when he announced his change of plans on Twitter.
He came up one victory short of claiming all four Grand Slam titles this year, losing in the U.S. Open final in September. He won the Australian, French and Wimbledon titles. Also not playing in the tournament are Naomi Osaka and Roger Federer.
