September 21, 2023 4:41 am
CHICAGO (AP) — Joshua Palacios hit a three-run homer in a seven-run fourth inning and the Chicago Cubs’ postseason drive remained stalled with their sixth loss in seven games, 13-7 to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Connor Joe hit a two-run homer in the sixth as All-Star Justin Steele lost his second straight start, allowing six runs and eight hits in three-plus innings. Chicago, which has lost nine of 12, remained a half-game ahead of Miami for the third NL wild card spot, with Cincinnati another half-game back.
September 21, 2023 4:42 am
The Tampa Bay Rays are finalizing plans for a new ballpark in downtown St. Petersburg, which is a positive development for baseball fans in Florida. Indirectly, it could also mean great things for baseball fans in a couple of other cities. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has made it clear several times over the past few years that he’s interested in expanding to 32 teams. But he’s said that wouldn’t happen until all current 30 big league teams had stable stadium situations. Now that the Rays are settled, expansion could be on the horizon for the first time since 1998.
September 20, 2023 4:35 am
CHICAGO (AP) — Rookie Alexander Canario hit a grand slam for his first major league home run in an eight-run eighth inning, and the Chicago Cubs ended a five-game losing streak with a 14-1 rout of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Cody Bellinger hit a three-run homer later in the eighth for the Cubs, who are a half-game ahead of Miami for the final NL wild card, with Cincinnati one game behind Chicago. Canario, a 23-year-old who debuted on Sept. 6, had five RBIs. He hit an RBI double in the sixth for his first big league hit.
September 20, 2023 4:33 am
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani had elbow surgery Tuesday, and his doctor said he expects the two-way star will be available as a hitter on opening day next season and will return to the mound as a pitcher in 2025. Ohtani tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow on Aug. 23, ending his pitching season. He continued as a batter through Sept. 3 until an oblique strain. Los Angeles Dodgers head team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache operated Tuesday at the Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles. He said in a statement that the sides decided to “reinforce the healthy ligament in place,” suggesting the UCL wasn’t reconstructed via Tommy John surgery. ElAttrache performed Tommy John surgery on Ohtani on Oct. 1, 2018.
September 20, 2023 4:31 am
CLEVELAND (AP) — Cleveland Browns star running back Nick Chubb will undergo surgery on his left knee after suffering a gruesome season-ending injury Monday night in Pittsburgh. A four-time Pro Bowler, Chubb got hurt when Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick tackled him low on a carry in the second quarter. The impact buckled the same knee that Chubb injured in 2015 at Georgia and had reconstructed. Coach Kevin Stefanski did not have any specifics on Chubb’s injury or when he’ll have the operation. The 27-year-old Chubb has rushed for 6,511 yards and scored 48 touchdowns since being drafted in 2018. As Cleveland regroups, the team brought in former Brown Kareem Hunt for a tryout.
September 19, 2023 4:37 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — T.J. Watt returned a fumble 17 yards for the go-ahead touchdown midway through the fourth quarter as the Pittsburgh Steelers edged the Cleveland Browns 26-22. The game was overshadowed by a gruesome left knee injury to Browns running back Nick Chubb. The four-time Pro Bowler left on a cart after getting hit low by Pittsburgh safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. The Steelers improved to 1-1, beating Cleveland at home during the regular season for the 20th straight time. The Browns fell to 1-1 and likely will be without one of their best players for a while.
September 19, 2023 4:39 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Cleveland Browns star running back Nick Chubb was carted off the field with a serious left knee injury against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh safety Minkah Fitzpatrick came in low for a tackle at the end of a 5-yard run early in the second quarter and delivered a hit to Chubb’s legs. Chubb’s knee buckled underneath him. After the play, a teammate grabbed Chubb’s hand to try to help him to his feet, and Chubb shook his head while clutching his left knee. He undid his chinstrap and rolled over onto his side. Chubb suffered a major injury to the same knee in 2015 while in college at Georgia — a dislocation with three torn ligaments.
September 19, 2023 4:40 am
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Tony Jones Jr. ran for two touchdowns, rookie Blake Grupe kicked two field goals and the New Orleans Saints defeated the Carolina Panthers 20-17 on Monday night to improve to 2-0 for the first time since 2013. Jones, a practice squad elevation, replaced the injured Jamaal Williams late in the first half and ran for 34 yards on 12 carries. The Saints defense did the rest, holding the Panthers rookie quarterback Bryce Young to 153 yards passing in his Monday Night Football debut. The New Orleans defense limited Carolina to just 239 yards and sacked Young four times. The Saints nearly made it two full games without allowing a touchdown.
September 18, 2023 4:57 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Two of the NFL’s elite pass rushers will be on display when Myles Garrett and the Cleveland Browns visit T.J. Watt and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Garrett and the Browns are 1-0 after a dominant win over Cincinnati in Week 1. Watt and the Steelers are smarting after getting blown out by San Francisco in the opener. Garrett comes in with 75 1/2 sacks in six-plus seasons. Watt is at 80 1/2 over the same time span. Watt’s next sack will break the franchise record for sacks, a mark he currently shares with James Harrison.
September 18, 2023 4:53 am
CINCINNATI (AP) — Joe Burrow’s calf is sore again, and that means this year’s 0-2 start may not be like last year’s for the Bengals. Cincinnati lost its first two games in 2022 but rallied behind Burrow to finish 12-4 and win the AFC North. This year has been even rougher thus far. Burrow missed training camp with a calf injury, then came out with a dud in a season-opening loss to Cleveland. Burrow was better Sunday in a 27-24 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, but he was seen massaging his calf on the sideline late in the fourth quarter. He says he’ll have to see how it feels in the next couple of days.
