September 24, 2026 4:40 pm
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates have secured their first non-losing season in eight years with a 2-1 win over St. Louis. Ronny Simon scored the winning run on Spencer Horwitz’s sacrifice fly in the eighth inning. Mason Montgomery closed out the game for Pittsburgh by picking up his 17th save of the season. Pirates ace Paul Skenes ended his season with 6 1/3 strong innings, including earning his 200th strikeout. St. Louis fell to 77-82, marking consecutive losing seasons for the first time since the mid-90s. Pittsburgh now heads to Detroit, while the Cardinals face Philadelphia.
September 23, 2026 4:15 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Matthew Liberatore ended an 11-start winless stretch and Alec Burleson got his major league-best 112th RBI as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1. Liberatore gave up one run and six hits in 5 2/3 innings with six strikeouts and no walks. His previous win came on July 11 against Atlanta in the left-hander’s last start before the All-Star break. Liberatore had lost eight straight decisions. Burleson singled in the first run in a three-run third that put the Cardinals ahead 3-1. Iván Herrera scored on a wild pitch and Leo Bernal hit an RBI single.
September 24, 2026 4:17 am
The NFL hasn’t seen an early-season injury epidemic at quarterback quite like this in a long time. With Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Jaxson Dart all getting hurt in Week 2, there’s a good chance six teams will be forced to go with a backup quarterback as the starter because of injuries by the time the games this week are finished. This will be the first time since at least 2000 that has happened within the first three games of a season.
September 24, 2026 4:19 am
BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Deshaun Watson isn’t sure how Browns fans will react on Sunday as he makes his first regular-season home start in Cleveland in nearly two years. Watson is focused on avoiding any tension with fans before facing the Carolina Panthers. He was booed during an August exhibition game and called the reaction “personal.” Watson says he wants to move forward and feel the fans’ support. Cornerback Denzel Ward also hopes for team support from fans. Watson has been performing well, with a high completion rate and effective short passes. He could have a favorable matchup against Carolina’s defense.
September 23, 2026 4:20 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jared Jones allowed one hit in seven innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates inched closer to their first winning season in eight years with a 2-0 victory over St. Louis. Jones retired the first 16 batters before Nathan Church’s double in the sixth. Jones tied a season-high with nine strikeouts in seven innings. Ryan O’Hearn delivered an RBI-single for the Pirates and Bryan Reynolds hit his MLB-leading 40th double. Andre Pallant (12-8) worked six solid innings for the Cardinals.
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
