August 3, 2026 4:34 am
CINCINNATI (AP) — Chase Burns won his 12th straight decision and Sal Stewart hit his 24th home run as the Cincinnati Reds beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 10-2. Stewart tied Joey Votto for second-most homers by a Reds rookie. Votto hit 24 in 2008. Frank Robinson holds the franchise’s rookie mark with 38 homers in 1956. Burns (13-1) is the first Reds pitcher to win 12 straight decisions since Brooks Lawrence won 13 straight in 1956. Burns allowed one run on two hits with two walks and nine strikeouts in six innings and lowered his ERA to 2.35. Pirates starter Mitch Keller (6-8) allowed seven earned runs and walked four in two innings.
August 3, 2026 4:36 am
Two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal is on the move to the Los Angeles Dodgers, giving the two-time defending champions even more talent on a loaded roster. Right-hander Freddy Peralta is switching teams, too, as the Tampa Bay Rays beef up their rotation. Major League Baseball’s trade deadline is Monday at 6 p.m. EDT and two of the biggest prizes are already off the board. But other enticing options still remain, including Padres closer Mason Miller, Giants second baseman Luis Arraez and Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho.
August 3, 2026 4:35 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy is bringing a different mindset to his first training camp in Pittsburgh. McCarthy is banning tackling during practice, a marked departure from former Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. McCarthy says the decision is about minimizing injury risk, adding that his philosophy has evolved in lockstep with changes in the NFL over the years. McCarthy believes in refining tackling techniques without full contact, using tools like GPS and video analysis to help players learn how to tackle the right way. The players say they’re on board with the decision, adding they can still be physical without taking each other to the ground.
August 2, 2026 7:16 am
CINCINNATI (AP) — Braxton Ashcraft gave up two hits over five innings, while a pair of bases-loaded walks during a three-run third helped the Pittsburgh Pirates snap a four-game losing streak with a 4-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Steady rain was falling in the third inning when Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott issued four walks including two with the bases loaded to Brandon Lowe and Esmerlyn Valdez to help the Pirates take a 2-0 lead. Ashcraft (11-4) retired the first eight batters and didn’t allow a hit until Nathaniel Lowe’s single with one out in the fourth.
August 2, 2026 7:25 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates are acquiring reliever Camilo Doval from the New York Yankees to boost their struggling bullpen. Pittsburgh is sending prospects Omar Alfonso and Luis Cruz to New York for Doval. The 29-year-old former All-Star provides a much-needed experienced arm as the Pirates compete for a National League wild-card spot. Pittsburgh’s bullpen has been an issue all season, with 20 blown saves contributing to their 55-56 record. Doval went 3-1 with a 4.54 ERA in 44 games this season for the Yankees. Pittsburgh hopes a new setting provides Doval with a fresh start.
August 2, 2026 7:31 am
PITTSBURGH — The Steelers have revealed the 2026 Hall of Honor class. The team announced on Saturday morning that general manager Kevin Colbert, cornerback J.T. Thomas, and offensive lineman turned broadcaster Craig Wolfley are all Hall of Honor members. Colbert was at the ceremony at the Fred Rogers Institute on the Saint Vincent College campus. The 2026 Steelers Hall of Honor induction ceremony is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 25 at Acrisure Stadium, the weekend the Steelers host the Bengals. Each inductee will receive a replica of a solid steel football, a model of the original given to Steelers founder Arthur J. Rooney Sr. by the United States Steel Corporation and United Steel Workers in 1982 on the team’s 50th season. The Steelers’ Hall of Honor was established in 2017 to recognize former players, coaches, and front office personnel who were integral to the franchise’s success. To be considered, a player must be retired for at least three years and have played a minimum of three seasons for the Steelers. Former coaches and contributors had to make significant contributions to the team and community. Previous inductees include Terry Bradshaw, Bill Cowher and Arthur J. Rooney Sr. Click here to find a full list of inductees.
August 2, 2026 7:26 am
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Women’s Professional Baseball League has started its inaugural season. Mo’ne Davis and the Los Angeles Queens rallied for a wild 10-8 victory over Denae Benites and the New York Heights on opening day for the first women’s professional baseball league in the United States in almost 30 years. A steady rain delayed the start of the game at a soaked Robin Roberts Stadium, the 101-year-old home of the WPBL’s first season. But much of the crowd started lining up hours before the first pitch, hoping to grab a Davis bobblehead. The line for the main merchandise booth stretched all the way to the outfield along one side of the ballpark.
August 2, 2026 7:28 am
GENEVA (AP) — Gianni Infantino has abandoned his plans to invite investors to buy a stake in future profits from the World Cup and all FIFA events. Infantino was at risk of losing his job as FIFA president two weeks after seeming untouchable following a financial bonanza of a World Cup. Infantino’s proposal sought to create a subsidiary known as FIFA Forward Enterprise for the money-making parts of the not-for-profit soccer body’s work: Running tournaments like the World Cup, selling broadcasting and sponsorship, tickets and hospitality. Private equity and petrostate sovereign wealth money has been normalized in European club soccer yet they still seem unthinkable for many observers in the World Cup.
August 1, 2026 4:49 am
The Pittsburgh Pirates aim to end a four-game skid with a win over the Cincinnati Reds after losing 8-7 Friday. Cincinnati is 52-57 overall and 25-30 in home games. The Reds have a 21-12 record in games when they did not allow a home run. Pittsburgh has gone 26-28 on the road and 55-56 overall. The Pirates are sixth in the NL with 139 total home runs, averaging 1.3 per game. Saturday’s game is the 12th time these teams match up this season. The Pirates are up 6-5 in the season series.
August 1, 2026 5:02 am
GENEVA (AP) — FIFA President Gianni Infantino is abandoning his divisive plan to sell World Cup profits to private equity after receiving pushback from all corners of the soccer world. Infantino’s decision came after his senior adviser who sat on a White House panel resigned and Asia’s soccer body joined Europe and North America in opposing it. Infantino had proposed creating a $20 billion company to run the World Cup with private investors including the Kushner family, but drew backlash that grew every day. UEFA’s 55-member nations agreed to boycott the World Cup and all other FIFA competitions over Infantino’s plan, followed by CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation.
