July 31, 2026 4:21 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani was set to return as the leadoff hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, a day after he wasn’t in the lineup because of lingering soreness in his left knee that is keeping him off the mound. The team decided to rest him Thursday due to lingering soreness in his left knee. Manager Dave Roberts says Ohtani wanted to play, but the decision was made after Ohtani told the training staff about his discomfort. He hasn’t pitched since July 3 because of the knee issue, but he continues to serve as the designated hitter. The Dodgers open a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox on Friday.
July 31, 2026 4:22 am
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Baker Mayfield feels “disrespected” by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and is focused on playing his best football. The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback didn’t get the contract extension he sought and plans to play out the final season of his three-year, $100 million deal. Mayfield, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft by Cleveland, revived his career in Tampa Bay after replacing Tom Brady in 2023. He made the Pro Bowl in each of his first two seasons while leading the Bucs to consecutive NFC South titles.
July 30, 2026 4:27 am
LATROBE, Pa. (AP) — Mason Rudolph is familiar with competition as the Pittsburgh Steelers open training camp. The longtime backup quarterback, now in his ninth NFL season, faces another year of uncertainty about his roster spot. While Aaron Rodgers is firmly atop the depth chart, the spots behind him are up for grabs, with Rudolph jockeying with youngsters Will Howard and Drew Allar for position. First-year coach Mike McCarthy must decide whether to rely on Rudolph’s experience or opt for a fresh approach. The 31-year-old Rudolph remains focused, saying he’s ready to prove himself once again.
July 30, 2026 4:29 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Eduardo Rodríguez pitched eight shutout innings, Gabriel Moreno hit a two-run homer and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0 on Wednesday, clinching the three-game series. Arizona now sits two games up on the Pirates for the final NL wild card. Rodríguez struck out two while giving up five hits on 105 pitches before Brandyn Garcia closed out a hitless ninth inning for his second save of the year. Max Kepler drove in the only other score with an RBI single in the sixth inning.
July 30, 2026 4:31 am
DETROIT (AP) — Trade deadline target Tarik Skubal and Detroit fans gave each other a warm farewell Wednesday, just in case this was the two-time Cy Young Award winner’s final appearance in a Tigers jersey. Skubal was cheered at every opportunity by a crowd of 34,406 while taking a shutout into the seventh inning against Baltimore. His first standing ovation came when he struck out leadoff hitter Taylor Ward on a 3-2 changeup to record his 1,000th career strikeout. He reached the mark in 857 innings, breaking Max Scherzer’s franchise-best mark of 944 2/3 innings.
July 29, 2026 5:41 pm
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Eduardo Rodríguez pitched eight shutout innings, Gabriel Moreno hit a two-run homer and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0 on Wednesday, clinching the three-game series. Arizona now sits two games up on the Pirates for the final NL wild card. Rodríguez struck out two while giving up five hits on 105 pitches before Brandyn Garcia closed out a hitless ninth inning for his second save of the year. Max Kepler drove in the only other score with an RBI single in the sixth inning.
July 28, 2026 4:26 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — James McCann singled in the winning run in the 12th inning with his fourth hit of the game and the Arizona Diamondbacks held on for an 8-7 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates despite blowing a six-run lead. Brandon Lowe and Bryan Reynolds hit back-to-back home runs for the Pirates to spark a three-run rally against closer Paul Sewald in the ninth to tie the game at 6-all and force extra innings. Geraldo Carillo (1-0) got his first major league win as the Diamondbacks won for the 11th time in 17 games. McCann’s game-winning hit came off Wilbur Dotel (1-3).
July 29, 2026 4:27 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates rookie slugger Esmerlyn Valdez is back in the lineup against the Arizona Diamondbacks a day after getting hit in the hand by a pitch. Valdez was forced from Monday night’s game after being hit on the left hand by a fastball. X-rays and other tests showed only a bruise, not broken bones. The 22-year-old right fielder is off to an outstanding start to his career. He is hitting .290 with 14 home runs and 36 RBIs in 38 games to go with a 1.008 OPS.
July 29, 2026 4:32 am
LATROBE, Pa. (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers says there’s “zero debate” that this season will be his last. The four-time MVP’s status beyond 2026 is one of the few certainties for the Steelers as training camp begins. They have a new head coach, Mike McCarthy, who brings fresh ideas to the team. The team will practice earlier in the day and tackling will be limited. Pittsburgh will begin camp with defensive backs Joey Porter Jr. and Jalen Ramsey on the physically unable to perform list.
July 29, 2026 4:30 am
Miami is the preseason favorite to win the Atlantic Coast Conference football championship. The Hurricanes have never won the ACC title since joining the league ahead of the 2004 season. Miami is coming off a run to the College Football Playoff title game. The Hurricanes were the runaway choice in voting by media members at the league’s football media days earlier this month. SMU was picked second, followed by Louisville and Clemson among the top teams. Duke is picked 10th after last year’s unexpected run to the program’s first outright ACC title since 1962. Georgia Tech was picked fifth, followed by Virginia, N.C. State, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh and reigning champion Duke.
