July 15, 2026 4:30 am
SOUTHPORT, England (AP) — Scottie Scheffler had to figure out what to do with himself after missing the cut in the Scottish Open for the first time in four years. But it’s not all bad. It has given the world’s No. 1 player a chance to hit the reset button. And it gave him an extra day to get to know Royal Birkdale. What he saw was a yellow links course that is fast and firm. Scheffler and Justin Rose are among those who believe learning the right bounces on the fairway are going to be key to winning the silver claret jug.
July 14, 2026 4:19 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jordan Walker silenced Philadelphia’s boo birds by homering on his last six swings, chasing down Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber in the final round and becoming the first St. Louis Cardinal to win the Home Run Derby. Schwarber hit 11 homers during his 15-swing turn in the final round. Philly fans, who loudly booed everyone but Schwarber and Bryce Harper throughout the night, quietly headed toward the exits when Walker’s winning shot soared over the left field wall. The 24-year-old Walker seemed nonplussed by the jeers and the massive stage during All-Star Game festivities.
July 14, 2026 4:20 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Major League Baseball is facing a potential work stoppage over management’s proposed salary cap. The current labor contract expiries Dec. 1 and a lockout is expect. The proposal aims to reduce payroll disparities, but All-Stars like Juan Soto, Bryce Harper and Paul Skenes oppose it. They argue it would limit earnings and opportunities for young players. Negotiations began in May and will continue after the All-Star break. Players are seeking expanded free agency and arbitration rights. Concerns are growing about a possible shortened or lost 2027 season.
July 14, 2026 4:23 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies All-Star Bryce Harper says FanDuel SportsBook had “no right” to use its logo on a Cameo video he made. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported last week that Harper’s video was sent to a fan with a gambling addiction. The fan, Terry Thompson, had wagered $18.5 million with FanDuel. Harper says he was unaware of FanDuel’s intentions or Thompson’s situation. The video was marked with FanDuel’s logo, and Harper says he did not consent to this use. He addressed the issue on social media Monday, hours before the Home Run Derby.
July 14, 2026 4:22 am
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Kylian Mbappé and France haven’t trailed at all in this year’s World Cup. Neither has Spain with teenage sensation Lamine Yamal. Only one can reach the final. France and Spain play Tuesday in the first of two powerhouse semifinal matches. France has outscored its opponents 14-2, with Mbappé matching Lionel Messi’s eight goals for the scoring lead at the tournament. Spain has outscored opponents 10-1, with Mikel Merino scoring decisive goals as a substitute in the past two games. This is the first World Cup since 1990 that each of the final four teams are former champions. Defending champion Argentina and England play in the other semifinal match.
July 13, 2026 4:33 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Paul Skenes won his second straight start after going winless for nine in a row as the Pittsburgh Pirates scored 10 runs in the fourth inning to rout the Milwaukee Brewers 14-5 and head into the All-Star break with a three-game sweep. What was slated to be a high-profile matchup lost some of its luster when Milwaukee scratched hard-throwing Jacob Misiorowski on Saturday because of arm fatigue. While Skenes and Misiorowski are All-Stars, both will skip pitching in Tuesday’s showcase. Skenes (8-8) allowed two runs and three hits over 5 1/3 innings with one walk and seven strikeouts.
July 13, 2026 4:37 am
Cristopher Sánchez of the Philadelphia Phillies will start Tuesday night’s All-Star Game in his home ballpark. He’ll take the mound for the National League against Dylan Cease of the Toronto Blue Jays. The Blue Jays announced Sunday that Cease will be the American League’s starter. Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who is managing the NL, said Sanchez is his starter. Also Sunday, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said New York’s Cam Schlittler was not planning to pitch in the All-Star Game. Then hours later Boone and Schlittler said the right-hander could be available after all.
July 13, 2026 4:36 am
ATLANTA (AP) — It’s a World Cup semifinal lineup for the ages. Four previous champions and the four top-ranking teams in the world. Five of the six top scorers, one GOAT and one of the bitterest rivalries in soccer. France, Spain, England and Argentina are two wins away from being crowned champion of the world again and it is just too close to call either semifinal matchup. Not since 1990 has the final four of a World Cup been made up entirely of previous winners. England and Argentina were involved then, although they didn’t play each other. They will on Wednesday. Kylian Mbappé’s France plays Lamine Yamal’s Spain in the first semifinal on Tuesday.
July 13, 2026 4:37 am
LONDON (AP) — Top-ranked Jannik Sinner beat Alexander Zverev 6-7 (7), 7-6 (2), 6-3, 6-4 for his second consecutive Wimbledon title and fifth Grand Slam overall. Zverev appeared bothered by a knee issue after a slip to the grass on a key point in the third set. Sinner’s latest title came in his first tournament since a meltdown at the French Open. It was Sinner’s 10th straight victory over Zverev. Zverev was coming off his first Grand Slam title at the French Open. Linda Noskova beat Karolina Muchova in an all-Czech women’s final on Saturday for her first Grand Slam title.
July 13, 2026 4:35 am
HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) — Ryan Blaney emerged from a three-wide battle on the final lap of overtime to cap a dominant victory in the weather-delayed NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta. Blaney won every stage of the race after starting on the pole, but the Team Penske Ford driver had to fight off challenges from Bubba Wallace and Christopher Hill, who finished second, on the final lap. Carson Hocevar and Ty Gibbs rounded out the top four. Wallace was penalized for passing below the double yellow lines and finished 29th instead of second. There was a delay of 3 hours, 9 minutes because of rain and lightning.
