Update on the latest sports

MLB

Cole back from COVID

UNDATED (AP) — Yankees ace Gerrit Cole will be activated from the COVID-19 injured list to start this evening against Shohei Ohtani and the Angels in a makeup game in the Bronx from a rainout July 1.

Cole tested positive for the coronavirus on Aug. 3 and said he had mild symptoms. He’s one of nine Yankees to register a positive test since the All-Star break, even though at least 85% of the club’s players and coaches are vaccinated.

Cole (10-6, 3.11) last pitched July 29, when he allowed eight runs in 5 1/3 innings in a loss at Tampa Bay. He’ll oppose Los Angeles’ José Suarez in a one-game series before the Angels depart for three games in Detroit, an unusual bit of scheduling necessitated by the July 1 rainout.

Also coming up today in Major League Baseball:

— Fernando Tatis Jr. has returned from the injured list with a new position but that same sweet swing. The Padres star homered twice in an 8-2 win Sunday against Arizona and hopes to stay hot at Coors Field for a series against the Rockies. The electrifying shortstop has been moved to right field for the time being. Righty Antonio Senzatela (2-9, 4.71 ERA) is slated to start tonight for the Rockies, while the Padres haven’t announced a starter.

— Dansby Swanson and the NL East-leading Braves are rolling into a series at Miami this evening. Swanson has four homers in his past three games, teammate Ozzie Albies has five homers in seven games, and Freddie Freeman and Austin Riley both match injured star Ronald Acuña Jr. for the team lead with 25 homers. Right-hander Touki Toussaint (1-2, 4.28 ERA) is set to face Miami’s Braxton Garrett (1-1, 4.65).

— The A’s and White Sox open a four-game series tonight that could be an AL postseason preview. Frankie Montas (9-8, 3.98) will take the ball for Oakland in the opener. His 51 strikeouts over his past six starts are the most for an A’s pitcher over six appearances since Todd Stottlemyre had 56 in 1995. Dallas Keuchel (7-6, 4.51) is up for Chicago. The veteran left-hander has a 5.79 ERA over his past four starts, all White Sox losses.

PARALYMPICS-NO FANS

Paralympics follow lead of Olympics: No fans during pandemic

TOKYO (AP) — All fans will be barred from the Paralympics because of the coronavirus pandemic just as they were from the recently-completed Tokyo Olympics.

The Paralympics open Aug. 24 with about 4,400 athletes. That is a far smaller event than the Olympics with 11,000 athletes. But the Paralympics come as new infections accelerate in Tokyo that may expose a population that is more vulnerable to COVID-19. New infections in Tokyo tripled during the 17 days of the Olympics.

Medical experts say the surge was not directly linked the Tokyo Games but they suggested an indirect effect.

AUSTRALIA-KEFU

Ex-Australia star Kefu seriously injured in home invasion

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — A former Rugby World Cup star for Australia and his family have been injured in what police are calling a “brutal and violent” break-in at their home in Brisbane.

Police say former Wallabies forward Toutai Kefu (TAH’-ty KEH’-foo) was seriously injured with knife wounds in the attack. He had surgery at a nearby hospital and is expected to survive. Kefu’s wife, a son and a daughter also were wounded and received treatment at the hospital.

Police have charged a 15-year-old with attempted murder and another teenager is in custody. Police are searching for a third teen.

Kefu won the 1999 World Cup and played 60 test matches for Australia. He has been head coach of Tonga’s national team since 2016.

BARCELONA-DEBT

Barcelona’s president says club’s debt now at $1.6 billion

MADRID (AP) — The president of Barcelona’s soccer club is presenting a grim picture of the club’s financial situation.

Joan Laporta says its debt has risen to $1.6 billion, and he’s blaming the previous administration of Josep Bartomeu for the club’s “dramatic” situation that ultimately led to star player Lionel Messi’s departure.

Laporta accuses Bartomeu of countless “lies” and says he and his board of directors must be held accountable. Laporta says the club has a negative net worth of $532 million.

The club lost star player Messi to Paris Saint-Germain because it could not give him a new contract that would fit within the Spanish league’s strict financial fair-play regulations.