MLB-SCHEDULE
Division leaders square off in Oakland and Washington
UNDATED (AP) β The start of two excellent late-August series top the schedule in baseball today.
In Washington the National League East-leading Nationals, who have won 10 straight, open up a weekend series against the second-place Giants of the NL West. The Nationals start the day with a seven-game lead over the Braves while the Giants are 3 Β½ games back of the Dodgers. Record-wise the Nats are an NL-best 73-53 while the Giants are 67-59.
Later in the night the Angels, leaders of the American League West, open up a series with the second-place Athletics in Oakland. The Angels, who have won four straight and eight of 10, top the slumping A’s, who have lost eight of their last 10, by two games. L.A. has a mark of 76-50 while the A’s are 74-52. The Angels currently have the best record in baseball with a .603 winning percentage.
Adam Wainwright of the Cardinals is out to become baseball’s first 16-game winner of the season tonight. The Cards are in Philadelphia for a date with the Phillies. On the year Wainwright is 15-7 with a sterling 2.40 earned run average.
The rest of the schedule looks like this:
This afternoon in Chicago the Cubs are playing the Orioles. This evening the Yankees are home to the White Sox, Houston is at Cleveland, the Blue Jays are hosting the Rays, Seattle is in Boston, the Reds are entertaining the Braves, Kansas City is playing at Texas, the Twins open up a series with the Tigers, Pittsburgh is at Milwaukee, the Rockies are hosting the Marlins, San Diego is at Arizona and the Dodgers are meeting the Mets in Los Angeles.
NBA-TRADE
Love to Cleveland and more
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) β The reported Minnesota-Cleveland NBA trade that would bring Kevin Love to Cleveland and send the last two No. 1 picks in the NBA draft to the Timberwolves has taken on a new look. A person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press that the Timberwolves will receive Philadelphia 76ers power forward Thaddeus Young as part of the new three-team deal. The person requested anonymity because an official announcement has not been made.
The Wolves agreed weeks ago to send Love to Cleveland for No. 1 overall draft pick Andrew Wiggins, former No. 1 pick Anthony Bennett and a 2015 No. 1 draft choice they obtained from Miami.
The deal now includes the Sixers, who will get guard Alexey Shved (sh-VEHD’) and forward Luc Mbah a Moute (BAH’-ah MOO’-tay) along with that Miami No. 1 pick. The key for the Wolves was getting Young, who averaged a career-high 17.9 points last season.
PGA-BARCLAYS
Second round is underway
PARAMUS, N.J. (AP) β Four players share the lead in the early going of the second round of The Barclays at 6-under. Kevin Chappell (CHAP’-uhl), Brendon Todd, Matt Kuchar (KOO’-chur) and Jim Furyk (FYOOR’-ihk) are all 6-under after various stages of play.
First-round leader Bo Van Pelt is 1-over for the day and tied for second at 5-under after five holes.
Pre-tournament favorite Rory McIlroy hasn’t started his second round. He opened with a 3-over 74 yesterday.
LPGA-CANADIAN WOMEN’S OPEN
Ryu remains on top
LONDON, Ontario (AP) β South Korea’s So Yeon Ryu (soh yahn yoo), the first-round leader in the LPGA Canadian Women’s Open after a 7-under 63, remains in first place during the second round. She has completed seven holes and is 3-under for the day and 12-under for the tournament. Anna Nordqvist (NORD’-kwist) and Na Yeon Choi (nah yeoon choy) are tied for second at minus-8.
CHAMPIONS TOUR
First round in Boeing Classic
SNOQUALMIE, Wash. (AP) β The opening round of the Champions Tour Boeing Classic is being contested today. Bernhard Langer (LAHN’-gur) enters the event fresh off another win. He finished first in last week’s Dick’s Sporting Goods Open. The victory was his fifth of the year. The 56-year-old German has 23 wins on the 50-and-over tour.
NASCAR
Qualifying on tap today
BRISTOL, Tenn. (AP) β The qualifying is taking place today for Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway. The winner last year was Matt Kenseth while the winner last week in Michigan was Jeff Gordon. Once again Tony Stewart is sitting out a race. This is the third straight Cup race he’s skipped after he struck and killed dirt track racer Kevin Ward Jr. Stewart has been in seclusion since Ward’s death, his whereabouts undisclosed.
With three regular-season races left, Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson and Brad Keselowski top the series with three victories. In the standings the leader is Gordon, by three points over Hendrick Motorsports teammate Earnhardt.
