Update on the latest sports

MLB-SCHEDULE

Giants open series at Atlanta in battle of NL division leaders

UNDATED (AP) — The San Francisco Giants take the best record in the majors to Atlanta Friday night for the opener of a three-game series between National League division leaders.

Kevin Gausman is expected to come off the COVID-19 injured list to start for the Giants against Max Fried (freed).

The Braves should be well-rested, coming off a rare set of consecutive days off built into their schedule. San Francisco is about to get tested with a challenging stretch. The team plays its next 10 games against the Braves, the NL Central-leading Brewers and the rival Los Angeles Dodgers, who have the second-best record in the big leagues and aren’t far behind the Giants in the NL West.

In other Friday highlights:

— The Chicago White Sox open a three-game home series against the crosstown rival Cubs three weeks after sweeping a set at Wrigley Field. The AL Central-leading White Sox haven’t won a season series against the Cubs since going 3-1 in 2014 and haven’t swept the Windy City showdown since interleague play was introduced in 1997. Left-hander Dallas Keuchel (KY’-kul) is set to face Cubs righty Keegan Thompson.

— Yankees ace Gerrit Cole has been turning up the heat on his quest for a first Cy Young Award and is set to make his latest pitch against the A’s in Oakland. The right-hander will try to win his third straight start on an extra day of rest. Left-hander Sean Manaea (mah-NY’-ah) takes the mound for Oakland, trying to salvage an August win after going 0-2 with a 9.77 ERA in four starts this month — none of which has gone further than five innings. New York has the club’s longest winning streak since a run of 13 straight victories from Sept. 1-12, 1961.

NFL PRESEASON-TROPICAL WEATHER

Cardinals-Saints kickoff moved up as Ida threatens Louisiana

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Kickoff for Saturday’s preseason game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Saints at the Superdome has been moved up seven hours because of the potential for Tropical Storm Ida to hit the Louisiana coast as a strong hurricane by Sunday. The Saints announced the game will start at noon Central Time and that the change was agreed upon after consultation with city officials in New Orleans, the National Weather Service, The Department of Homeland Security and the NFL.

The National Hurricane Center warns that Ida has hallmarks of a rapidly intensifying storm that could slam into Louisiana as a Category 3 hurricane.