September 23, 2026 4:25 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Playing in perhaps baseball’s toughest division, the Tampa Bay Rays were the class of the field this season. The thrifty Rays clinched their fifth AL East title with a 6-1 victory over the New York Yankees in the second game of a day-night doubleheader as Drew Rasmussen allowed one hit in 6 2/3 innings and Yandy Díaz hit a pair of two-run singles. Tampa Bay took the AL East for the first time since 2021 and surpassed that team by three days with the earliest division clincher in team history. The club also won division crowns in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season along with 2010 and 2008, when it reached the World Series and had the franchise’s first winning season.
September 23, 2026 4:24 am
Jaxson Dart’s injured left knee is being evaluated and no decisions have been made, New York Giants coach John Harbaugh said after the starting quarterback exited the game at Los Angeles on Monday night. Harbaugh on Tuesday refused to confirm an ESPN report that Dart’s injury is worse than the initial diagnosis of a sprained medial collateral ligament. Harbaugh said the team would reveal details and a timeframe in due time after the evaluation is complete. Harbaugh expressed confidence in backup Jameis Winston’s ability to step in for however long Dart is out.
September 23, 2026 4:22 am
The Metropolitan Division looks like a free-for-all after the reigning Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes at the top. Washington and New Jersey had active offseasons to try to return to the playoffs, while Philadelphia is a team on the rise and Pittsburgh is looking to hang on to a spot. Columbus, the New York Rangers and the Islanders need things to go right to climb the standings. The Hurricanes remain unquestionably the team to beat after finishing first in four of the past six seasons.
September 22, 2026 4:19 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers are on shaky ground after a miserable loss to New England. The 42-year-old Rodgers was sacked four times to boost his career total to 606, the most ever taken by an NFL quarterback. Rodgers attributed the sacks to communication lapses, a recurring issue for the Steelers. Rodgers stressed afterward there was no need to panic. Coach Mike McCarthy believes the offense has the talent but needs to play above its standard. The Steelers are 1-1 heading into a stretch where they face two AFC North rivals in the span of five days. Unbeaten Cincinnati visits Pittsburgh in Week 3, with a Thursday night trip to Cleveland on the horizon in Week 4.
September 22, 2026 4:20 am
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams have beaten the New York Giants 28-6. Davante Adams made eight catches for 195 yards and hauled in two of Matthew Stafford’s four touchdown passes. Stafford passed for 327 yards for the Rams, who capitalized after the Giants lost Jaxson Dart to a left knee injury on their first offensive series. The Rams played without injured All-Pros Puka Nacua and Myles Garrett, but Stafford and Adams put on a vintage performance. Jameis Winston passed for 111 yards with an interception
September 22, 2026 4:23 am
Major League Baseball’s postseason is rapidly approaching, with the Los Angeles Dodgers seeking a third straight World Series title. It remains to be seen how much some of the game’s biggest stars will be able to participate in the playoffs, though. The Dodgers are once again among the best teams in the big leagues, and they’ll have several challengers in October, including the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays. All three teams could finish the regular season with 100 wins or more. Los Angeles is rolling even though four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani’s health is a concern.
September 21, 2026 4:29 am
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — TreVeyon Henderson ran for a 39-yard touchdown in his season debut, Elijah Ponder added a 19-yard fumble recovery for a score and the New England Patriots’ defense smothered Aaron Rodgers on the way to a 20-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. With the victory, Patriots coach Mike Vrabel avoided just the second 0-2 start of his eight-year coaching career. Romeo Doubs had a 63-yard catch in the third quarter to set up Andy Borregales’ second field goal of the game. Drake Maye finished 14 of 22 for 208 yards and an interception. Rodgers struggled to deal with the Patriots’ defensive pressure. The 42-year-old quarterback fumbled twice, including the one that led to Ponder’s score.
September 21, 2026 4:30 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Rafael Flores Jr. hit the go-ahead two-run home run in the eighth inning to help the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 4-3 win over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday and complete a series sweep. After Ryan O’Hearn led off with a single to center, Flores sent a slider from Nate Pearson (2-3) into the left-field bleachers for his 10th homer this season. Pittsburgh rallied with a two-run homer in the eighth for a second straight day. Brandon Lowe had his 33rd of the season in a 6-5 win Saturday. Carmen Mlodzinki (8-7) got the win. Mason Montgomery earned his 16th save
September 21, 2026 4:36 am
The season has come to an end for the Washington Wild Things. They fell to Evansville 9-6 defeat in a decisive Game 5 of the Frontier League Midwest Conference Finals at EQT Park. Evansville built a 6-0 lead against starter Kelvin Perez. Washington was able to respond quickly, scoring on an RBI single by Jeff Liquori in the third inning and on an RBI single by Antonio Monroy in the fourth to cut it to 6-2. The Otters grabbed two more in the sixth before an Isaias Quiroz solo homer made it 8-3 Evansville in the bottom of the sixth. Washington pounded out 14 hits and had the tying run on deck but couldn’t get closer. Jeff Liquori led the offense with four singles, capping his playoff run at 19-for-32 with 16 RBI.
September 21, 2026 4:32 am
Mississippi has moved into the top five of the AP Top 25 college football poll with its win over LSU. The Tigers remain in the top 10, and Florida and Mississippi State joined the rankings, giving the SEC 10 teams in the latest poll. The Rebels jumped to No. 4 after defeating LSU 32-24. LSU slipped to No. 10. Texas holds the top spot for the second week, followed by Georgia, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, and Indiana. Louisville made the biggest gain, rising to No. 16. Texas A&M fell to No. 23 after losing to Kentucky.
