Update on the latest sports
MLB SCHEDULE
MLB strikeout leader Ray vs Rays newcomer Baz
UNDATED (AP) — Toronto left-hander Robbie Ray leads the majors with 233 strikeouts, tops the AL with a 2.64 ERA and is 12-5 going into this start at Tampa Bay.
Shane Baz, who will be making his major league debut after pitching for the United States at the Olympics, starts for Tampa Bay this evening.
The Blue Jays hold the second spot in the AL wild-card race, 1 1/2 games ahead of the Yankees. The Rays lead the AL East. Ray is 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA in 10 starts since a July 21 loss to Boston.
Among the other games on the schedule:
— Ranger Suárez has provided a huge boost to the Phillies since moving into a starting role, and looks to build on that success against the Orioles at Camden Yards this evening. Suarez is 6-and-4 with a 1.50 ERA. He’s a big reason the Phillies are going into the final two weeks close to the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves.
— The Atlanta Braves continue their Western swing by opening a four-game series at Arizona. The Braves have a two-game lead over the Phillies in the NL East, after ending a four-game losing streak yesterday with a 3-0 win over the Giants.
— Christian Yelich and the Milwaukee Brewers can clinch their first NL Central title since 2008 with even a split of their four-game series at home against St. Louis. The Brewers’ magic number for winning the division is three. They’ve already sealed their fourth consecutive playoff berth. Freddy Peralta starts the opener for Milwaukee. Jake Woodford pitches for the Cardinals, who hold the second spot in the NL wild-card race.
— White Sox left-hander Carlos Rodón has won four straight starts for the second time this season as the AL Central leaders begin a series at Detroit this evening.
MLB-YANKEES-SEVERINO
Yankees activate Severino
NEW YORK (AP) — Pitcher Luis Severino has been activated by the New York Yankees and is in position to make his first major league appearance in nearly two years. Yankees manager Aaron Boone says he plans to use Severino out of the bullpen.
The 27-year-old right-hander has completed his rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery on Feb. 27, 2020. He made four minor league appearances totaling 10 2/3 innings for Tampa, Hudson Valley and Somerset. A two-time All-Star and a 19-game winner in 2018, he was limited by shoulder soreness to three appearances in 2019. Right-hander Sal Romano was released by the Yankees.
The Yankees were 1 1/2 games behind Toronto for the second AL wild-card spot going into the series opener Monday night against Texas.
NFL-PACKERS-LIONS
Packers hope to win another home opener
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Coming off of a lopsided loss to start the season, the Green Bay Packers face the Detroit Lions in a Monday night home opener.
Green Bay’s string of six straight season-opening victories ended with a thud when the Packers fell 38-3 to the New Orleans Saints. The Packers now will try to win their home opener for a ninth consecutive season.
The Lions opened their season by losing 41-33 to the San Francisco 49ers.
NFL-NEWS
Landry is week-to-week
CLEVELAND (AP) — Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry could miss multiple games after spraining his knee in Sunday’s win over Houston. Landry hurt his medial collateral ligament while being tackled at the end of a 9-yard completion on Cleveland’s second offensive play. Coach Kevin Stefanski said Landry will be “week to week” but provided no other specifics on a timeline for his return.
Elsewhere in the NFL:
—Houston quarterback Tyrod Taylor is day to day with a hamstring injury as the Texans face a quick turnaround with a Thursday night game against Carolina. If Taylor can’t play, Deshaun Watson won’t be an option. Coach David Culley says Watson will be inactive for Thursday’s game just as he has been for the first two games. Watson has been listed as inactive/not injury-related following his trade request and after 22 women filed lawsuits alleging sexual assault or harassment.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Miami waiting to see status of QB King’s injured shoulder
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Miami quarterback D’Eriq King has a shoulder injury that will need further evaluation this week in the latest blow to the reeling Hurricanes. Coach Manny Diaz says King will meet with doctors again on Tuesday.
The Hurricanes fell out of the AP Top 25 on Sunday for the first time this season. They play lower-division Central Connecticut State on Saturday before opening Atlantic Coast Conference play against Virginia on Sept. 30.
Elsewhere in college football:
— Nebraska running back Gabe Ervin Jr. is out indefinitely and possibly the season with a knee injury sustained in the loss at Oklahoma. Coach Scott Frost says Ervin has an injury to his right patellar tendon.
— Purdue coach Jeff Brohm says David Bell is in the concussion protocol and his status for Saturday’s Big Ten opener against Illinois is uncertain. Bell was carted off the field after taking a hard hit that led to his head bouncing off the ground during Saturday’s loss at No. 12 Notre Dame.
— Indiana quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is the starter for Saturday’s game against Western Kentucky. Penix has struggled early this season. He has thrown three interceptions in each of Indiana’s two losses. Coach Tom Allen says he is confident enough in the fifth-year senior to keep him as the starter.
NHL-DEVILS-ZAJAC
Travis Zajac signs 1-day deal to retire a New Jersey Devil
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Longtime New Jersey Devils center Travis Zajac is retiring. Zajac signed a one-day contract with the Devils so he could retire as a member of the organization where he spent all but 27 games of his 15-year career. The 36-year-old Zajac plans to remain with the Devils in a number of roles on and off the ice.
Zajac played in 1,037 career regular-season games and had 203 goals and 349 assists. He finished his career with the New York Islanders following a trade in April and played 13 regular-season games and 14 playoff games.
