Update on the latest sports
APMLB-SCHEDULE
Giants try to protect division lead
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Kevin Gausman returns to the mound — and plate — as he tries to help the Giants protect their lead in the NL West. Gausman is lined up to start at Petco Park against the wild card-contending Padres. San Francisco holds a one-game edge over the Dodgers for the division lead. As a pinch-hitter for a rookie reliever who’d never batted as a pro, Gausman delivered a game-ending sacrifice fly in the 11th inning Friday night to beat Atlanta.
Among the other games on the schedule:
— MLB wins leader Julio Urías and the Dodgers open a series at Coors Field, hoping to gain ground in the NL West chase. Urías, who’s 18-and-3, is 9-and-0 in his last 13 starts, a big reason Los Angeles is only one game behind San Francisco in the division race.
— The high-flying Cardinals seek their 10th straight win when they continue their series at Milwaukee. St. Louis has won nine in a row for the first time since 2004 to solidify its grip on the second NL wild card. The Cardinals are three games ahead of Cincinnati for the final postseason spot.
NBA-76ERS-SIMMONS
AP source: Simmons won’t report to 76ers’ training camp
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A person with direct knowledge of Ben Simmons’ plans tells The Associated Press the All-Star guard won’t report to training camp next week. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because discussions of Simmons’ plans with the franchise have been private.
The 25-year-old guard from Australia was the No. 1 pick of the 2016 draft. He is a three-time All-Star and had been paired with Joel Embiid as the franchise cornerstones as the Sixers chase their first NBA championship since 1983. But Simmons took the brunt of the blame for the top-seeded Sixers’ second-round exit in last season’s playoffs.
NBA-REDICK RETIRES
‘It’s time’: After 15 NBA seasons, guard JJ Redick retires
UNDATED (AP) — J.J. Redick, the sharpshooter who was The Associated Press college player of the year at Duke before embarking on a 15-season NBA career, has announced his retirement.
The 37-year-old Redick played with six NBA teams. He spent time with Orlando, the Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Milwaukee and Dallas. He averaged 12.8 points in 940 regular-season games. His 1,950 career makes from 3-point range rank him 15th in NBA history in that category.
NFL-INJURIES
Landry to miss at least three games
CLEVELAND (AP) — Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry will miss at least Cleveland’s next three games after being placed on injured reserve with a sprained knee ligament.
A model of consistency and durability in his NFL career, Landry got hurt after catching a pass on the second play from scrimmage in Sunday’s 31-21 win over Houston. The 28-year-old Landry must sit out the next three games, and it’s possible he could be out longer.
Landry has never missed a game in his career because of injury. He was forced to sit out once last year because of COVID-19 protocols.
Elsewhere in the NFL:
— Rookie Davis Mills will start at quarterback for the Houston Texans on Thursday night against the Carolina Panthers with Tyrod Taylor out with a hamstring injury. Coach David Culley announced the decision Tuesday and said Taylor would be inactive. Culley said the 1-1 Texans plan to elevate Jeff Driskel from the practice squad to back up Mills against the 2-0 Panthers. Mills is a third-round draft pick from Stanford. He took over Sunday when Taylor was injured and threw for 102 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
NFL-INTERNATIONAL COMBINE
NFL to hold international combine in October in London
LONDON (AP) — The NFL will stage an international combine for 50 athletes from 15 countries next month in London.
The invitational scouting showcase is mirrored after the annual NFL combine usually held in Indianapolis. The idea is to find international athletes who have the skillset and potential to play in the league. It will take place Oct. 12 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Invited are athletes from Britain, Germany, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand, France, Nigeria, Austria, Slovakia, Italy, Switzerland, Japan, Finland, Sweden and Hungary.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL-UTAH-BREWER
Brewer leaves Utes
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Quarterback Charlie Brewer has left the Utah Utes after losing his starting job to Cameron Rising. Brewer was a four-year starter at Baylor who transferred to Utah for his final season. He won the starting job following a heated competition with Rising in the preseason camp. But the Utes struggled with Brewer under center.
Elsewhere in college football:
— Vanderbilt running back Ra’Mahn Davis will have season-ending surgery to repair a torn toe ligament on his right foot. Coach Clark Lea confirmed Davis’ injury Tuesday. Vanderbilt hosts No. 2 Georgia on Saturday.
— Kansas running back Velton Gardner, who led the Jayhawks in rushing last season, has entered the transfer portal. The junior saw his playing time decrease over the first three games under new coach Lance Leipold.
— Two Rutgers players have been suspended from the football team after they were charged in an incident in which three people were struck by paintballs fired from a passing vehicle. Coach Greg Schiano took the action after defensive backs Malachi “Max” Melton and Chris Long were each charged with three counts of aggravated assault and a weapons count.
NHL-FLYERS-HAYES
Flyers’ Hayes has abdominal surgery, to miss start of season
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia Flyers center Kevin Hayes has had abdominal surgery and is expected to miss six to eight weeks. The Flyers are set to open training camp this week, the preseason starts next week and Philadelphia plays the season opener Oct. 15 at home against Vancouver.
The 29-year-old Hayes could miss roughly the first 10 games of the season. He scored 12 goals and had 31 points in 55 games last season in his second year with the Flyers. They could turn to 22-year-old Morgan Frost to take Hayes’ spot and strengthen the team in the middle.
