October 7, 2026 4:21 am
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres avoided playoff elimination with a 4-3 victory over the Brewers in Game 3 of their NL Division Series. Jake Cronenworth hit a tiebreaking homer, and Game 2 starter Michael King pitched the final two innings on one day of rest. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado drove in runs for the Padres, who trimmed Milwaukee’s series lead to 2-1 with a tense, back-and-forth victory over the MLB-best Brewers. San Diego’s bullpen didn’t have star closer Mason Miller, who went on the paternity list about 45 minutes before the first pitch, so King stepped up and coolly shut down the Brewers to seal it.
October 7, 2026 4:22 am
ATLANTA (AP) — Yoshinobu Yamamoto struck out 10 in seven brilliant innings, Kiké Hernández hit a two-run homer and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves 3-1 to take a 2-1 lead in their NL Division Series. Yamamoto dominated the much-anticipated matchup with Atlanta ace Chris Sale, who allowed three runs and seven hits in five innings. Yamamoto, the MVP of the 2025 World Series, permitted only four hits with one walk while improving to 8-1 with a 2.14 ERA in 11 postseason outings, including 10 starts. Freddie Freeman also homered against his former team for the Dodgers, who can win the best-of-five series Wednesday night in Atlanta.
October 7, 2026 4:20 am
CLEVELAND (AP) — Sam McDowell, a six-time All-Star and former major league pitcher, has died. He was 84. Known for leading the American League in strikeouts four times, McDowell played 15 seasons, including 11 with Cleveland. He was a key figure in baseball, with a 141-134 record and 2,453 strikeouts. His life inspired the Sam Malone character on the sitcom “Cheers.” After battling addiction, McDowell became a counselor for athletes. He quit drinking in 1980 and earned a degree in sports psychology. He was recognized with the B.A.T Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022 for his contributions to recovery support.
October 6, 2026 4:18 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Alex Iafallo scored a goal and an assist, leading the Winnipeg Jets to a 3-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Clay Stevenson makes 29 saves for the Jets. Declan Carlile tied the game for Pittsburgh in the third period, but Cole Perfetti quickly responded with the winning goal. Adam Lowry also scored for the Jets, who have now won two straight games. Benjamin Kindel scored for the Penguins, and Sergei Murashov made 30 saves. The Jets outhit the Penguins 23 to 11. The Jets host the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday, while the Penguins visit the Washington Capitals.
October 6, 2026 4:19 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers have placed defensive tackle Derrick Harmon on injured reserve after he injured his foot in a game against Cleveland. This move means Harmon will miss at least four weeks. His absence is a significant blow to a defense already struggling with big plays in the run game. Harmon, a first-round pick in 2025, had been showing promise this season. Steelers defensive coordinator Patrick Graham says replacing Harmon will be a challenge. The also team signed veteran Sean Murphy-Bunting from Tampa Bay’s practice squad to bolster their secondary less than a week after trading Joey Porter Jr. to Dallas.
October 6, 2026 4:21 am
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Bijan Robinson has led the Atlanta Falcons to a dominant win over the New Orleans Saints. Robinson rushed for 145 yards and two touchdowns as the Falcons won 45-24 on Monday night. Brian Robinson ran for three short touchdowns for the Falcons, who never trailed and controlled the line of scrimmage while outgaining the Saints on the ground, 207 yards to 50. Atlanta continued rolling behind quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who has won both of his starts since returning from a knee injury. The Saints commemorated the 20th anniversary of the Superdome’s reopening after Hurricane Katrina.
October 6, 2026 4:22 am
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Sloppy defense has put the New York Yankees on the brink of postseason elimination. Four errors and another defensive miscue led to three unearned runs that a lineup missing three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge couldn’t overcome during a 5-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 2 of their AL Division Series. The Yankees are one defeat from falling short of a 28th World Series title for the 17th straight season. Even with likely AL Cy Young Award winner Cam Schlittler on the mound, the Yankees couldn’t even the best-of-five series against the pesky Rays.
October 6, 2026 4:23 am
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Chicago White Sox beat the Cleveland Guardians 4-3 to take a 2-0 lead in their AL Division Series. Braden Montgomery hit a two-run double and Sean Burke allowed just one hit in 5 1/3 innings of relief. The surprising White Sox improved to 4-0 in these playoffs — all on the road — and are one win from advancing to the American League Championship Series for the first time since 2005. Jo Adell had an RBI triple for the Guardians, but their offense struggled again. Grant Taylor secured his second save of the series, permitting one hit in 1 1/3 innings. The best-of-five series shifts to Chicago for Game 3 on Wednesday.
October 5, 2026 4:34 am
Missouri rose 11 spots to No. 14 in The Associated Press Top 25 following its rout of Florida and the Gators dropped eight to No. 16 and were replaced by LSU in the top 10. Texas will go into Saturday’s Red River Rivalry game against Oklahoma as the No. 1 team for the fourth straight week. The rest of the top five stood pat with Georgia, Notre Dame, Miami and Ohio State. The Longhorns received 61 of the 70 first-place votes from the media voting panel. Georgia got six first-place votes and Miami got two. After beating Virginia Tech, Pitt is 5-0 and checks in at No. 25.
October 5, 2026 4:48 am
BALTIMORE (AP) — Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has a sprained left ankle. The two-time MVP was hurt when he was sacked at the end of the first half of Sunday’s 24-18 win over the Tennessee Titans. Immediately after Jackson was hurt, Ravens kicked a field goal on the final play of the first half to go ahead 24-7. Baltimore didn’t score in the second half with Tyler Huntley at quarterback. Jackson did not speak to reporters after the game. Coach Jesse Minter says it’s too early to tell whether Jackson will be healthy enough to play next Sunday night at Atlanta.
