Schlittler strikes out 12 in postseason debut as Yankees beat Red Sox 4-0 to win Wild Card Series
NEW YORK (AP) — Rookie right-hander Cam Schlittler struck out 12 in eight dominant innings and the New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 4-0 to win their AL Wild Card Series in a deciding third game. Taking his place in Yankees-Red Sox rivalry lore, the 24-year-old Schlittler overpowered Boston with 100 mph heat in his 15th major league start and pitched New York into a best-of-five Division Series against AL East champion Toronto beginning Saturday. The Yankees became the first team to lose the opener of a best-of-three Wild Card Series and come back to advance since Major League Baseball expanded the first round in 2022.
Cubs beat Padres 3-1 to win Wild Card Series, advance to NL Division Series against Brewers
CHICAGO (AP) — Pete Crow-Armstrong hit an RBI single off a shaky Yu Darvish, and the Chicago Cubs shut down Fernando Tatis Jr. and the San Diego Padres for a clinching 3-1 victory in Game 3 of their NL Wild Card Series on Thursday. Backed by a raucous crowd of 40,895 at Wrigley Field, Chicago used its stellar defense to advance in the postseason for the first time since 2017. Michael Busch hit a solo homer, and Jameson Taillon pitched four shutout innings before manager Craig Counsell used five relievers to close it out. Next up for Chicago is a matchup with the NL Central champion Brewers in a compelling Division Series, beginning with Game 1 on Saturday in Milwaukee.
Short-handed 49ers stop Rams on downs in overtime, preserving a 26-23 victory
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Eddy Piñeiro hit a 41-yard field goal in overtime before the San Francisco defense stopped Kyren Williams on fourth down with 3:36 to play, and the short-handed 49ers hung on for a thrilling 26-23 victory over the Los Angeles Rams, Mac Jones passed for 342 yards and two touchdowns for the 49ers, who won it in OT after a frantic fourth quarter featuring Piñeiro’s tiebreaking 59-yard field goal with 2:52 left, Williams’ subsequent goal-line fumble and Joshua Karty’s tying 48-yard field goal for the Rams with 2 seconds to play. Matthew Stafford passed for 389 yards and three touchdowns for the Rams.
Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler takes down hometown Cleveland Guardians in Wild Card Series clincher
CLEVELAND (AP) — Dillon Dingler grew up rooting for the Cleveland Guardians. But on Thursday, he sent them home. Playing in the ballpark where he attended many games as a youngster, the second-year catcher hit a tiebreaking homer in the sixth inning to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 6-3 victory over Cleveland in the decisive Game 3 of their AL Wild Card Series. Dingler also threw out José Ramírez trying to steal second at a pivotal juncture, helping the Tigers reach the Division Series for the second consecutive season. Dingler was raised about 55 miles from Cleveland in Massillon, Ohio. Detroit manager A.J. Hinch praised Dingler's stability and presence for the team. The Tigers now prepare to face Seattle in a best-of-five Division Series starting Saturday.
Caitlin Clark says Collier made 'valid' points and Commissioner Engelbert hasn't contacted her
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Caitlin Clark says WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert hasn’t reached out to her in the aftermath of Napheesa Collier’s statement about an alleged private conversation in which the league’s leader made comments about Clark. The Indiana Fever guard spoke publicly Thursday for the first time since the league’s All-Star Game in July. Clark said Minnesota Lynx star Collier made valid points in her lengthy statement that criticized league officials, particularly Engelbert, for what Collier portrayed as a lack of accountability and care for WNBA players.
US will increase staffing at embassies and consulates to handle visas for World Cup fans
WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department will increase staffing at certain U.S. embassies and consulates to accommodate an expected major jump in visa applications from soccer fans wanting to attend World Cup matches in the United States next year. The department will send hundreds of additional consular officers to “designated countries” to handle the demand for visa interviews. The number of staffers and the countries where they will go have yet to be determined because the 48-team field for the 2026 World Cup hasn't been finalized. Fans from the mainly European and Asian countries in the Visa Waiver Program won't likely require an interview.
Still no Lamar Jackson, but Nate Wiggins and Ronnie Stanley return to practice for the Ravens
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley and cornerback Nate Wiggins were back at practice for the Baltimore Ravens, but star quarterback Lamar Jackson and safety Kyle Hamilton were absent during the portion open to reporters. Hamilton did not seem injured during last weekend’s loss at Kansas City, but he showed up on Wednesday’s injury report as limited in that day’s practice because of a groin issue. He was not on the field early in Thursday’s session. Neither were linebacker Roquan Smith and cornerback Marlon Humphrey. The returns of Stanley and Wiggins were encouraging, however, for a depleted Baltimore team that needs all the healthy players it can find this weekend against Houston.
Aces and Mercury overcame challenges to reach the WNBA Finals
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Las Vegas and Phoenix have both reached the WNBA Finals after overcoming significant challenges. The Aces narrowly defeated Seattle and Indiana, while the Mercury staged a comeback against Minnesota. The Finals, starting Friday, will be a best-of-seven series for the first time. Las Vegas aims for a third title in four years, while Phoenix seeks to tie the record for most championships. Despite regular-season results, both teams emphasize the unpredictability of playoff basketball. The Aces-Fever series drew record viewership, highlighting the growing interest in the league.
Darvish exits early, bats go quiet as Padres get bounced from playoffs with Game 3 loss to Cubs
CHICAGO (AP) — Yu Darvish made an early exit against his former team, and San Diego’s big bats were a bust. It all added up to the Padres getting knocked out of the playoffs yet again, this time courtesy of the Chicago Cubs. San Diego won 90 games and made the playoffs for the fourth time in six seasons, only to bow out to the Cubs in the deciding Game 3 of their Wild Card Series with a 3-1 loss at raucous Wrigley Field on Thursday. The Padres have not made it past the NLCS during this recent run. San Diego captured the pennant in 1984 and 1998 but has never won the World Series.
Ranking baseball's managerial openings, from the Braves to the Rockies
With Brian Snitker stepping down in Atlanta, there are now eight major league teams with a managerial opening. Five of those spots became vacant since the end of the season, and three teams have had interim managers in place for a while. With the dust seemingly settling, it’s time to take a look at which of these jobs are the most attractive. It’s a subjective exercise of course, and it depends on what a prospective manager values. Some teams can offer a talented current roster, while others might have a better long-term outlook.
