AP National Sports

By FRED GOODALL AP Sports Writer ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays have won more games than any other team in the American League over the past two seasons, going about their business with a quiet confidence that has the full attention of the Boston Red Sox. The AL East rivals meet

By MAURICIO SAVARESE AP Sports Writer SAO PAULO (AP) — Not having star playmaker Neymar or midfielder Casemiro available for selection will allow Brazil coach Tite to experiment with his lineup in Thursday’s World Cup qualifying match at Venezuela. Neymar is serving a suspension after picking up two yellow cards in Brazil’s previous game and

By DAVE CAMPBELL AP Pro Football Writer EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Anthony Barr has been cleared to rejoin the Minnesota Vikings. The four-time Pro Bowl linebacker is back in action after an 18-game absence to give a lagging defense a boost. Barr was sidelined by a balky knee early in training camp. He said he

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — Sloane Stephens outlasted Heather Watson 6-7 (5), 7-5,  6-1  in her opening match at the BNP Paribas Open in Southern California. Stephens won 7 of 18 break points against Watson on the hard courts at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Stephens advanced to a second-round match against fellow American Jessica

By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer Jimmie Johnson and Romain Grosjean turned their first laps on the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval on Wednesday as part of a test session for approval to race the Indianapolis 500. Rain shortened the session so neither driver completed the testing phase. Johnson said he fulfilled a childhood

By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Baker Mayfield was only accurate after his poor performance Sunday in Minnesota. Cleveland’s quarterback said he was terrible and he won’t get much argument. He finished 15 of 33 for 155 yards and missed on some potentially big plays, including a game-sealing touchdown pass to

By KRISTIE RIEKEN AP Sports Writer HOUSTON (AP) — Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa is back in the playoffs with the Chicago White Sox as they prepare to open their best-of-five AL Division Series on Thursday against the Houston Astros. It’s his first postseason since winning the 2011 World Series with the St.

NEW YORK (AP) — Thoroughbred horse trainer Bob Baffert will have to face an administrative hearing scheduled for Monday by the New York Racing Association to address his suspension. Brooklyn Judge Carol Bagley Amon ruled that a hearing was required for Baffert to challenge NYRA’s suspension. Judge Amon nullified the suspension in July because it

By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s injured calf hasn’t healed enough for him to be able to practice but isn’t injured enough to rule him out of this week’s game for the San Francisco 49ers. The Niners began their practice week before a division showdown against

By JANIE McCAULEY AP Baseball Writer SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Logan Webb will start for the San Francisco Giants in Game 1 of their NL Division Series on Friday night against the rival Dodgers. Fellow right-hander and 14-game winner Kevin Gausman will go Saturday night in Game 2 for the NL West champions, having thrived

CINCINNATI (AP) — Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon didn’t practice Wednesday and is day to day with an ankle sprain. Coach Zac Taylor said he wanted to see Mixon at full speed in practice on Thursday before he can make a judgment about his fitness for Cincinnati’s game against the Green Bay Packers on

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — The Detroit Lions put standout center Frank Ragnow on injured reserve, another setback for a banged-up winless team. The Lions made the move along with signing linebacker Jessie Lemonier off the practice squad and activating kicker Austin Seibert from the COVID-19 reserve list. Detroit was without tight end T.J. Hockenson

By ANNE M. PETERSON AP Sports Writer CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) — The surprising Oregon State Beavers are the only undefeated team in conference play in the Pac-12 North. It’s the first time the Beavers have ever been in sole possession of the division’s top spot. The Beavers are riding their first four-game winning streak since

By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey returned to practice on a limited basis after missing Carolina’s 36-28 loss to the Dallas Cowboys with a hamstring injury. Coach Matt Rhule said McCaffrey had a “good practice,” but added that it’s too early in the week to know

By SCHUYLER DIXON AP Pro Football Writer FRISCO, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys are moving on from linebacker Jaylon Smith without getting into the specifics of the decision to release their leading returning tackler four games into 2021. One of the factors was a looming $9.2 million guarantee on Smith’s 2022 salary if he

By RONALD BLUM AP Sports Writer AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna are missing from the U.S. lineup because of injuries but Weston McKennie will start in a World Cup qualifier against Jamaica after missing two games for violating team COVID protocols. The Reggae Boyz are without top forward Michail Antonio, who

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins have reassigned hitting coach Edgar Varela to a minor league role. They now have three openings to fill on manager Rocco Baldelli’s staff. Varela held the position for two seasons. He was the club’s minor league field coordinator for the two years prior to that. Major league coach Bill

By NOAH TRISTER AP Sports Writer OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — The Baltimore Ravens don’t have another road game until Nov. 11. Between now and then, they’ll play four consecutive games at home, with an open date in the middle of that. Since the 1970 merger — and not including the strike-shortened 1982 season —

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. AP Pro Football Writer FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — C.J. Mosley missed all but two games the last two seasons and that left many wondering if the New York Jets linebacker would ever be close to the same player he was in Baltimore. He remade his body, refocused and is rejuvenated.