NFL-VIKINGS-CASSEL
Cassel out for season
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) β Minnesota has lost starting quarterback Matt Cassel for the season after he suffered broken bones in his left foot during Sunday’s loss to New Orleans.
Cassel has been put on injured reserve.
Rookie Teddy Bridgewater replaced Cassel after he was hurt.
The Vikings also say guard Brandon Fusco is out for the season with a pectoral muscle injury in the same game.
MLB-SCHEDULE
Pirates streak into postseason, climb within game and a-half of Cardinals…Cueto wins 19th as Reds eliminate Brewers
UNDATED (AP) β The Dodgers can put the finishing touches on the NL West tonight at home against the rival Giants.
Los Angeles sends 20-game winner Clayton Kershaw, which bodes well for the prospects of clinching the division. The left-hander is the major league leaders with a 1.80 ERA, is 9-2 in 13 home starts with a 1.75 ERA and owns four shutouts against the Giants.
Before that game ends, San Francisco could still wrap up the final playoff berth in the National League even if it loses. The Giants would clinch at least a wildcard spot should Milwaukee lose to Cincinnati.
There’s a good pitching match-up in Detroit this afternoon when the Tigers take on the White Sox trying to protect their slim one-game lead over Kansas City in the AL Central. Justin Verlander puts his 14-12 mark on the line against Chicago’s Chris Sale, who is 12-4 with a 2.20 ERA.
Kansas City tries to keep the pressure on the Tigers when it plays at Cleveland tonight. The Royals are tied with Oakland for the two wild card spots in the American League.
The Athletics send 16-game winner Jon Lester to the mound at home against the AL West champ Angels tonight.
Seattle finds itself three games out of the AL wild card hunt with five games to play. The slumping Mariners try to keep their faint hopes alive when they visit Toronto.
Retiring Derek Jeter and the Yankees have their playoff hopes ended when they host Baltimore this afternoon. The Yankee captain and his mates find themselves five games out of the wild card race with five to play, and a loss would assure that Jeter’s playing days will come to an end later this week.
GOLF-RYDER CUP
Europeans, US gearing up for start
GLENEAGLES, Scotland (AP) β Preparations continue for the start of the Ryder Cup on Friday.
The Europeans got a little inspiration from Sir Alex Ferguson, the longtime manager of Manchester United’s soccer powerhouse. Ferguson spoke to the Europe team for about 30 minutes on Tuesday night, and had No. 1-ranked Rory McIlroy in what he describes as a “trance.” McIroy is a big United fan.
The Europeans have won seven of the last nine Ryder Cups, including two years ago when they staged a final day rally at Medinah to stun the Americans.
The last time the U.S. won on foreign soil was in 1993, when Tom Watson was captain. The 65-year-old, five-time British Open champ is back as the captain again.
GOLF-JOHNSON-GRETZKY
Johnson, Gretzky expecting
UNDATED (AP) β Golfer Dustin Johnson and fiancee Paulina Gretzky are having a baby.
Gretzky shared the news on Instagram and Johnson’s agent later confirmed it. The daughter of hockey great Wayne Gretzky did not say when they were expecting.
Johnson has taken a “voluntary leave” from golf to seek professional help for “personal challenges.” Golf.com cited an unnamed source as saying Johnson failed a drug test for the third time. The PGA Tour said only that he was not suspended.
Johnson gave up his spot on the Ryder Cup team during his leave.
