Shohei Ohtani returns to the Dodgers after injury and gets a hit in his first at-bat
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani returns to the Dodgers' lineup after missing two weeks with right biceps discomfort. He's batting second as the designated hitter against the Padres. Manager Dave Roberts says it's good to have him back, though he's not expecting too much initially. Mookie Betts continues to lead off, excelling with a .366 average and six home runs in September. Ohtani last played on Sept. 7 and is hitting .277 with 30 homers this season. Josue De Paula, who impressed as the DH during Ohtani's absence, was sent to Triple-A but could return for the postseason.
Lawyer: Ex-NFL star Antonio Brown to avoid prison with reduced charge in attempted murder case
An attorney for former NFL star wide receiver Antonio Brown says he plans to accept a plea deal for a reduced charge in an attempted murder case in Miami that avoids prison. Brown is scheduled to appear in court next Wednesday to make the deal final. He could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted of the current attempted murder charge. Brown is accused of grabbing a handgun from a security staffer after a celebrity boxing match in Miami in May 2025 and firing two shots at a man he had gotten into a fistfight with earlier, according to an arrest warrant. Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu told investigators that one of the bullets grazed his neck.
Judge hopes to be ready for playoffs and Stanton could return for Yankees after 5 1/2-month absence
NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees slugger Aaron Judge hopes to return for the playoffs after straining his right calf. Manager Aaron Boone isn't counting on Judge for the AL Wild Card Series opener on Tuesday, likely against Boston. Judge, sidelined since Sept.16, received a platelet poor plasma injection Monday and feels better. Boone said Judge has a moderate strain and his return depends on healing. Giancarlo Stanton, out since April, is also working on a comeback. Boone said Stanton might be used as a pinch hitter.
Jackson Koivun goes from NCAA title to Presidents Cup debut in 112 days
MEDINAH, Ill. (AP) — Jackson Koivun is going places in a hurry. Four years ago he was part of the Junior Presidents Cup team. Just over three months ago he led Auburn to an NCAA golf title. And now he's on the Presidents Cup and part of the opening lineup as the Americans set out to try to win for the 11th straight time. Koivun told partner Justin Thomas he'll be good to go after the opening tee shot. The five fourballs matches are on tap for Thursday at Medinah. The U.S. has won the opening session eight of the last nine times.
The WNBA playoff picture sharpens as half the postseason positions are set
NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA playoff picture is sharpening as the regular season enters its final day. The Lynx have clinched the top seed and will face eighth-seeded New York in the opening round that begins Sunday. The Atlanta Dream will be the four seed after beating New York on Wednesday night. Who they play is still up in the air as it will be either Indiana or Washington. Indiana plays at Minnesota and Washington hosts Chicago on Thursday. Dallas is locked into the seventh seed and will face either Golden State or Las Vegas. The Valkyries visit Los Angeles and the Aces play at Phoenix.
Twin brothers Austin and Tyler Jones ump big league games together for the first time
BALTIMORE (AP) — Twin brothers Austin and Tyler Jones have umpired games together for the first time at the major league level. They worked both ends of a doubleheader between Toronto and Baltimore on Wednesday. Austin Jones was at first base and Tyler Jones handled second in the first game. Then they swapped spots. The two are on a list of Triple-A call-up umpires who fill in at the big league level for injuries, illnesses, vacations and other reasons of absence. Tyler Jones umpired the first game of the Blue Jays-Orioles series Monday. There are typically five umpires on a crew for a doubleheader instead of four, so Austin Jones was added when Tuesday's scheduled game was rained out.
A stunning early QB injury wave leaves up to 6 teams already turning to backups
The NFL hasn’t seen an early-season injury epidemic at quarterback quite like this in a long time. With Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Jaxson Dart all getting hurt in Week 2, there’s a good chance six teams will be forced to go with a backup quarterback as the starter because of injuries by the time the games this week are finished. This will be the first time since at least 2000 that has happened within the first three games of a season.
NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip steps back from public life for serious health concerns
FRANKLIN, Tenn. (AP) — Darrell Waltrip, a Hall of Fame NASCAR driver and longtime Fox Sports broadcaster, has stepped away from public life due to a progressive brain disease. Waltrip and his family announced Wednesday that he has been diagnosed with Frontotemporal Degeneration, possibly complicated by Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. These conditions are likely from injuries during his racing career. The 79-year-old Waltrip won 84 races and three Cup Series championships before moving to broadcasting. He was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2012. Despite the diagnosis, his family says he is happy and spending time with loved ones.
Red Sox move Sunday's game and will play doubleheader against Cubs on Friday with storm expected
BOSTON (AP) — The Red Sox are adjusting the schedule of their weekend series against the Chicago Cubs because of a significant storm that’s expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds to the Boston area. The team said Wednesday it was moving the Sunday afternoon game to Friday to create a split doubleheader. The first game is scheduled to begin at 1:05 p.m. EST. The originally scheduled 7:05 p.m. EST night game was moved up to 6:05. The Red Sox said in a press release that the change was made in consultation with Major League Baseball.
ICE detained Kentucky State basketball player from Senegal as she prepared to travel to tournament
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky State University women’s basketball player was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement when she arrived at the airport in Louisville to fly to New York for a tournament. Her attorney says 26-year-old Aminata Seck is from Senegal and is in the United States on a student visa. Sadiqa Reynolds wrote that Seck was detained on Aug. 7 at Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport. The Louisville Courier Journal, which first reported Seck’s arrest, wrote that Reynolds said Seck may have missed a student visa deadline because she was having back surgery, and that she also has an ACL injury.
