PITTSBURGH (AP) — Logan Cooley completed a hat trick against his hometown team with a second left, Mikhail Sergachev scored at 3:27 of overtime and the Utah Mammoth stunned the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 on Thursday night.
After Ben Kindel put Pittsburgh ahead 3-2 with 25 seconds left, Cooley — playing his third NHL game in Pittsburgh — batted the puck in from the left side of the net for sixth goal in four games and seventh of the season.
Cooley became the third Pittsburgh native with a hat trick against the Penguins, joining Brandon Saad and R.J. Umberger. At age 5, Cooley took part in Sidney Crosby's first Little Penguins Learn to Play Hockey program.
Cooley scored for the first time in seven games against Pittsburgh. He had two first-period goals to give the Mammoth an early 2-0 lead, and scored in the third for his third career hat trick.
In overtime, Sergachev beat Arturs Silovs off a rebound in front.

#pittsburgh #trick #left

Bengaluru: For Tilak Varma, the number next to his name on the team sheet matters far less than the one on the scoreboard at the end of the match.

The India T20I vice-captain has seen his role evolve considerably in recent months, moving from the top order to the finisher's role as the team continues to fine-tune its combinations. While adapting to different batting positions is rarely straightforward, the 23-year-old has embraced the challenge and put the team's needs ahead of personal preference.

Having begun his T20I career near the top of the order, Tilak now often finds himself walking in at No. 5 or 6. With Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma opening, Ishan Kishan firmly established at No. 3 and skipper Shreyas Iyer occupying the next slot, opportunities higher up the order have become limited.

Rather than viewing it as a setback, Tilak sees it as another responsibility to master.

"Ishan is batting brilliantly at No. 3. So, for me, there is no option but to bat at 5 and 6 and do the job for the team. I am mentally prepared for that role and in the last few games, I have won matches from there. So, I am pretty confident," Tilak said after the rain-hit series decider against the West Indies in Bengaluru on Saturday.

The left-hander admitted that the transition from a top-order batter to a finisher has not been without its challenges.

"It's not easy to change from No. 3 to No. 5 or 6. It is slightly challenging. But I have been working on how I can finish games, and I love finishing games for the country," he said.

The demands of batting in the lower middle order are vastly different from those of a top-order role. There is little time to settle in, and the emphasis is on making an immediate impact rather than constructing an innings. Tilak said he has consciously altered his preparation to meet those demands.

"I have been working on it in the nets. Otherwise, it becomes tough. When you go in as a finisher and a slower ball comes into your arc, you need to be ready to hit it for six. In T20 cricket, if you bat at No. 5 or 6, you generally get only five or six overs, so I have had to change my approach."

Fortunately for Tilak, batting down the order is not entirely new territory.

"I batted lower down the order in my childhood as well. I have shots all around the ground and I am confident in my ability to adapt. Whether it is No. 3 or No. 5, I believe I have the technique to fit into any role for the team if I prepare well," he said.

#tilak #t20i

Markel mirrors Berkshire's three-engine model of insurance, equities, and operating businesses, with $18.84 billion in float and $429.5 million in 2025 buybacks, but its $22 billion market cap makes it a fundamentally different species.
Markel's combined ratio improved to 94.6% in 2025, yet shares are down 17% year to date while trailing Berkshire's 10-year return by 155 percentage points.
Three signals determine the Markel thesis: whether the combined ratio holds in the low 90s, buybacks sustain pace, and Markel Ventures remains inside the group.
Just released. Our **** ysts combed the entire stock market and named the ten best stocks to buy right now, and Berkshire Hathaway didn't make the cut. Enter your email to see the names that beat BRK-B. The report is free. Enter your email and see if any of your stocks made the cut.
Warren Buffett has stepped down as board chair of Berkshire Hathaway, with Greg Abel now running the company. The handoff has revived a question value investors have batted around for a decade: with the Oracle off the field, is Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) the closest thing left to early Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK-B)?

#hathaway #group #market

The Cubs lost two of three to the Braves in Atlanta back in May, scoring only five runs in the series.
That was so long ago that Pete Crow-Armstrong batted ninth, eighth and ninth in the three games and Moisés Ballesteros was the starting catcher in the series opener.
Since that series ended the Cubs are 55-51 and the Braves 58-48, only three games apart. Now both teams are trying to nail down postseason positions, the Braves the NL East ****** le and the Cubs the first wild card spot.
For more on the Braves, here's Demetrius Bell, manager of our SB Nation Braves site Battery Power.
The last time these two teams squared off, everybody invested in the Braves was hoping that what they'd seen from this team over the first month-and-a-half of the season was legit. Here we are in September and the Braves have a very tight grip on the NL East lead and they're still fighting for the second seed in the National League, so I'd say that this team has proven to be legit.

#teams

Once again the Giants offense made things interesting against the San Diego Padres, and once again they came up short.
A late outburst of power from the unlikely sources of Drew Cavanaugh (his first career HR) and Drew Gilbert forced the Padres bullpen to rally their arms with Adrian Morejon and Mason Miller stopping the buck to serve the Giants their second loss in the series, and seventh of their last nine games against San Diego.
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The afternoon didn't start with the Giants playing catch-up. Two batters into the bottom half of the 1st, Rafael Devers put San Francisco up by two with his 37th home run of the season.
The 2-run jog earned Devers his 61st and 62nd runs batted-in at the intimidating cavern that was/is Pac Bell/SBC/AT&T/Oracle Park, the second highest RBI total after Barry Bonds' 71 in 2001. Devers' 19 home runs at Oracle are the most by a player not named Barry Bonds and is tied with the '02 Bonds model for fifth most HR in a season at 3rd and King. (Fun fact: Devers never hit more than 16 in a single season at Fenway.)

#devers #oracle

Tigers news: AJ Hinch can't imagine a rookie as good as Kevin McGonigle appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
With only 15 games left for the Detroit Tigers in the 2026 MLB regular season, it's only a matter of time before they get mathematically eliminated from the postseason hunt. With a record of 68-79 even after taking a 6-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies on the road on Friday, they are 6.5 games back of the third and final Wild Card spot with six teams ahead of them in the standings.
Nonetheless, even with the Tigers poised to miss the postseason, it's difficult not to feel excited over their prospects of being a contending team in the near future. After all, they have quite the impressive position player core — with rookie Kevin McGonigle turning plenty of heads already despite being in just his first season in the big leagues.
McGonigle did go 0-4 on the night in the Tigers' win over the Rockies. But as a whole, he has been brilliant this season for the Tigers. He ended the night with an OPS of .788 to go along with 16 home runs and 62 runs batted in — being a consistent table-setter for Detroit. And manager AJ Hinch believes that he should be the runaway favorite to win the Rookie of the Year award.
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#hinch #detroit #Rockies #first

NEW DELHI: Ishan Kishan and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi shared a fun moment after East Zone's memorable Duleep Trophy 2026/27 triumph. Kishan, who captained East Zone in the final against South Zone, had a light-hearted exchange with his 15-year-old deputy over who should get the credit for the successful DRS calls during the match.

Kishan had a memorable final, scoring more than 350 runs across the two innings, including a stunning 270 in the first innings, and was named Player of the Match.
Kishan jokingly claimed that Sooryavanshi had taken all the credit for the DRS calls, even though the captain was the one who was initially going to take the reviews.

"Yeh sab review mein credit le hi liya hai har jagah. Bhale main lene waala tha review, but aake mast bol deta tha main aapke paas aa jaata hu. Phir toh internet will be like: Vaibhav! My goodness! Vaibhav is the one! Toh bohot acche se isne woh kaarya nibhaya hai. (I am very happy (He has taken all the credit for the review everywhere. Even though I was about to take the review, he would come and say it so confidently, 'I'll come to you'. Then the internet will be like: Vaibhav!)," Kishan said in a video posted on BCCI's social media handle.

Sooryavanshi was quick with his reply.

"Aur jab field ke bahar jaa rahe the tab kon le raha tha review? Yeh bhi toh bata dijiye! (When we were going off the field, who was taking the reviews then? Tell us that too!)"

Kishan then praised the teenager's leadership qualities and suggested that Sooryavanshi could have a bright future as a captain.

"Haan, that was Vaibhav himself! Yes. Future captain, maybe? Let's see how it goes. But it's very good to have him in the team because more than a very good player, he's a very nice boy who takes care of each and every one in the team, whether it's a junior player or senior."

Kishan then jokingly corrected himself when talking about Sooryavanshi being a junior.

"Achha, junior toh tu hi hua (Oh, you are not a junior anymore now), sorry, sorry. That is one quality which I love about him. Hopefully, he'll be more dangerous than what he is today.

"I think it's not going to be his first or the last. I think he's gonna play many more like this, and he'll keep performing the way he's doing right now," he stated.
Sooryavanshi also spoke about the fun atmosphere in the East Zone camp and praised Kishan for his outstanding batting performance in the final.

"The way we were off the field and the way we were enjoying inside, it was a lot of fun. The way he batted in the final, it was unbelievable. I can't say anything much about it.

"I think the match changed from there and as a captain, a lot of people have been watching and playing under him for a long time. It was a lot of fun to play in his captaincy. We enjoyed a lot."
Kishan ended the exchange by stressing the importance of enjoying the game as a team.

"The most important thing is to enjoy. The result is not in our hands, but to enjoy as a t

Red Sox Prospect's Season In Jeopardy After Unfortunate Injury originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Kristian Campbell's bid to return to the Boston Red Sox took an unfortunate turn with little time remaining in the minor league season. The Worcester Red Sox placed Campbell on the seven-day injured list Thursday because of a left foot contusion, according to MassLive's Chris Cotillo. Infielder Max Ferguson was promoted from Double-A Portland to fill the open roster spot.
Campbell reportedly had been dealing with a sore toe before leaving Tuesday's game against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in the sixth inning. The timing makes the injury particularly frustrating. Worcester has only 10 games remaining before its season concludes Sept. 20, leaving Campbell with a limited window to return.
It also could eliminate whatever chance remained of Campbell joining Boston for its postseason push.
The 24-year-old has spent the entire 2026 campaign in Triple-A after struggling during his first major league opportunity. He batted .223 with a .664 OPS, six home runs and 21 RBIs across 67 games for the Red Sox in 2025. Campbell, once ranked as MLB Pipeline's No. 7 overall prospect, produced an encouraging opening month and earned American League Rookie of the Month honors after batting .301 with four home runs. His production dropped considerably afterward, however, and Boston optioned him to Worcester in June 2025.

#boston #return

It really just feels like each series the Atlanta Braves have been in lately has been like them leaving a snake pit for a lion's den only to realize that they've stepped into a piranha's pond and escaped that just to find out that the dry land was quicksand. "I don't know how much more battle-tested we need to be," quipped Walt Weiss when he was asked by the media during Tuesday's pregame press conference about the tough schedule that the Braves have been dealing with as of late — and still have to navigate going forward.
Indeed, one of the takeaways from this patch is that the Braves will have faced some of the toughest teams that baseball currently has to offer once they eventually reach the Postseason and they should be more-than-ready to handle whatever's in front of them. With that being said, the Braves had to deal with another serious test in the form of the Tampa Bay Rays and once the smoke cleared, it was less about acing the test and more like simply doing enough to pass the test. Did Atlanta manage that? Let's get into it.
This one was competitive for two innings, as the Braves matched Junior Caminero's two-out dinger off of AJ Smith-Shawver in the first inning with a run of their own in the bottom half of that frame. The deadlock didn't last long at all, as the Rays made the third inning a long one for Smith-Shawver. AJSS was one out away from potentially putting two outs on the board against the Rays in that inning. Instead, Liam Hicks sent one flying into the Georgia night sky for a two-run shot. Smith-Shawver was one out away from keeping it at 3-1 before Victor Mesa Jr. hit a bouncer that eluded the glove of Ozzie Albies and dribbled into the infield for an RBI single that made it 4-1.
AJ Smith-Shawver was only able to make it through 3.1 innings with those four runs allowed, but credit is due to Brent Suter for going 3.2 innings while only giving up a single run while he was out there. Elieser Hernández wasn't as fortunate, as he surrendered two runs across his two innings of work and then got the DFA treatment once the next morning rolled around. It really felt like the Rays were either ****** ing and dunking or hitting moonshots, there was no in-between in this one.
Meanwhile, a nasty trend for the Braves was emerging while they were on the mound. It's not particularly shocking that Freddy Peralta ended up going six innings with just one run allowed since he'd done pretty well in two previous starts against Atlanta with the Mets. It wasn't shocking either to see the Rays bullpen clamp down on the Braves they did on Tuesday, either. What was shocking is that the Braves came out of this game with 11 batted ****** that were at least 95-mph that ended up turning into outs. Folks, that's tough!

#Braves #smith #shawver #going

The first full weekend of college football is behind us and, man, there's a lot to unpack. There weren't many marquee games (one to be exact) but we learned a little bit. The off season noise seems to be just that, noise. Are there already coaches on the hotseat? Definitely. A conference has some explaining to do. Finally, look at all those quarterbacks. The draft next year will be historic.
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - SEPTEMBER 05: Running back Dilin Jones #13 of the LSU Tigers is defended by safety Corey Myrick #22 of the Clemson Tigers during the first half of a game at Tiger Stadium on September 05, 2026 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)
"I want to announce my presence with authority!"- Nuke Laloosh
They were already dominating the news cycle but LSU threw a fastball to the ear flap of college football Saturday night. Lawsuits, injunctions, talk of expulsion all went by the wayside. As if all that wasn't enough, Mother Nature decided to prolong the mess with a two-hour weather delay. No matter, Lane Kiffin had the most prepared team in the country. Say what you will about Kiffin (and you can say plenty). He's smug, petty and can't resist poking anyone, anytime. He can also coach the ****** out of a football team and Saturday was Exhibit A. LSU made Clemson look absolutely inferior for 60 minutes, racking up 644 yards making everyone embarrassed for the ACC Tigers.
LSU was crisp, efficient, disciplined and out to make a point. They'll only get better. Sam Leavitt was the weak spot if you want to call it that. Yes, he ran and threw it all over the field but he had batted ****** , missed a few throws and had an interception. If this is his least efficient game of the season, put him on the Heisman watchlist now. I see LSU jumping a few teams when the rankings come out. Look for them around number six. LSU is coming.

#Football #september #saturday

The Washington Huskies started three true freshmen on defense in their 24-10 Apple Cup win on Saturday, a fact that surprised some when the two-deep depth chart was released earlier this week. Defensive tackle Derek Colman-Brusa was the No. 158 player in the country and listed as an edge, but was the Huskies' third-highest-rated defensive recruit in the 2026 class.
Edge rusher Ramzak Fruean just barely edged his way into being a four-star as the No. 293 player in the country, but was listed at linebacker and didn't commit until December after a brief pledge to UCLA. Cornerback Jeron Jones was the lowest-rated four-star in the class, clocking in at No. 438, and was the second-highest-rated cornerback in the class.
And yet, Saturday showed why the Huskies haven't been able to keep their freshman trio off the field.
After Fruean jumped offside on a second-and-12 deep in Washington State's territory in the second quarter, he responded with a hit to Washington State quarterback Caden Pinnick's arm that forced an incompletion. On third down, Colman-Brusa came free on a looping rush around the edge and batted Pinnick's pass into the arms of Jones, who returned it 9 yards to put the Huskies on Washington State's 21-yard line.
Washington scored their first touchdown of the season on a 5-yard Demond Williams Jr. run five plays later.

#washington

The Pittsburgh Pirates had a terrible month in August. Their odds of making the playoffs on July 22 were about 50/50, coming in at 47.2%. A month later, on August 22, their playoff odds had fallen to just 2%. However, the Pirates are making one last push to put themselves back into playoff contention. At the time of this writing, they've won five of their last six series and have put themselves 4 1/2 games out of a Wild Card spot. It's still a long shot, but the Pirates' playoff hopes are not completely dead, even if they are on life support. If they want to keep them alive and make a late-season push for the last Wild Card spot, they need a few players to lock in.
Jared Jones was one of the many Pirates players who went into a massive slump in August. Going into the month, he owned a quality 3.81 ERA, 3.43 FIP, and 1.02 WHIP over his first 11 starts and 52 innings coming off the injured list. In that time, he struck out 27.9% of batters, with just a 7.2% walk rate. Opposing hitters also batted below the Mendoza Line against him at .197.
Aug 4, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones (17) delivers a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers in the first inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
Then, in five starts during August, Jones allowed 17 earned runs over just 20 2/3 innings of work. His K% fell to 24%, and his walk rate rose to 11.5%. Sure, a .383 batting average on ***** in play didn't do him any favors, but opponents owned a 91.3 MPH exit velocity, 9.2% barrel rate, and 2.18 HR/9 ratio against him.
If his first start of September says anything, Jones is starting to lock back in again. He pitched six scoreless frames against the Los Angeles Angels. He allowed just three hits, with nine strikeouts, and just one walk allowed. While it was against a team with a combined OPS of .677, it is a step in the right direction for Jones. Returning to his July form, where he had a 2.00 ERA, 33.7% K%, and 6.1% BB%, would give the Pirates' rotation a much-needed boost of energy, giving them just enough to be playoff-ready.

#month #first

Brandon Lowe and Yordan Alvarez didn't hit home runs yesterday. As a result, the season's record for best home run bets slid to 21-84, with three no-bets. Hitting on long-shot bets is challenging, and that's reflected in the season's record for home run props.
Unfortunately, the two losses yesterday drained the middling profits. Anyone who bet $100 on each of this year's touted home run props is down $146, which is a disappointing outcome for grinding them all season.
Gamblers must have a short memory with losing bets and avoid holding grudges against players who failed to deliver a winning bet. Today's suggestions for the best home run bets are a perfect example of short memory. For the first time all season, I'm suggesting home run props for the same players as in the previous article. Lowe and Alvarez have favorable matchups and compelling betting odds for their home run props. Thus, they get the nod for the best home run props on Friday.
Over 0.5 Home Runs (+420) at FanDuel Sportsbook
Brandon Lowe has hit 23 of his 29 home runs this year against right-handed pitching, popping 15 at home and nine at home against righties. In four plate appearances yesterday, Lowe walked once and had flyouts on his three batted ******* . It's disappointing he didn't hit a home run yesterday, but he had no problem lifting the ball.

#lowe #didn 't

The top pro pitching prospect in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League of New England has been revealed, and he hails from Connecticut.
Wallingford native Shaun Flannery Jr., a 2026 graduate of Choate Rosemary Hall, was selected for the award, according to a Tuesday morning release from the FCBL. Flannery, who is enrolled at UConn and will play baseball there, was the closer for the Norwich Sea Unicorns.
Flannery finished the game in a league-leading 15 of his 17 appearances, ranked second in saves (five) and wound up with a 3-2 record and 3.00 ERA. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound right-hander recorded 22 strikeouts in 21 innings during the regular season, then threw 4 ⅔ innings and yielded a single hit, picking up the win in his lone postseason appearance.
Flannery is the fourth UConn pitcher to get the top FCBL prospect honor, joining Ben Casparius and Reggie Crawford (both 2020), and Garret Garbinski (2025).
It's the second big award for Flannery in recent months. He was also the Founders League Player of the Year as a senior at Choate, where he was 3-0 with 36 strikeouts in 26 innings on the mound and batted .429 with 24 hits, a .549 on-base percentage and a 1.210 slugging percentage.

#choate

A senior member of Pakistan's selection committee has questioned the seriousness of Imam-ul-Haq's calf injury and called for an inquiry after the opener did not bat in either innings during Pakistan's 194-run defeat to England in the second Test at Lord's.

Aaqib Javed, who is part of Pakistan's four-member selection panel, said the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will investigate how Imam was managed after suffering the injury during the match.

"An inquiry will be conducted into this matter," Aaqib Javed told Pakistan's private news channel Geo TV during an interview aired on Tuesday night, as quoted by news agency AP.

Javed questioned how a player could miss both innings because of a muscle injury.

"How is it possible that you failed to come out to bat in both innings after pulling up a muscle?" Javed said.
He added that players have batted through injuries in the past and described Imam's case as a matter of concern.

"Injuries do occur and we have seen instances in the past where players -- even with casts -- have gone out and made an effort. This situation is different. It is a matter of great concern, and action will be taken regarding it."

Imam injured his calf while fielding on the opening day of the Lord's Test and took no further part in the match.

After former chief selector Mohammad Wasim questioned Imam's absence, the opener appeared on the outfield before play on the fourth day. He was seen shadow batting with his left calf heavily strapped but was visibly limping.

Imam was one of seven players recalled from England after Pakistan lost the first two Tests at Headingley and Lord's. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were also sent back by the PCB.

Pakistan have appointed white-ball head coach Mike Hesson and bowling coach Ashley Noffke to take charge of the team for the third Test, which starts in Birmingham on September 9.

The selectors have picked five uncapped players for the final Test, along with openers Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal, who have played a combined 10 Tests.

Javed also addressed reports of differences between the selectors and the team management over the playing XI for the Lord's Test.

According to Javed, he wanted the team to include fast-bowling all-rounder Ubaid Shah, wicketkeeper-batter Ghazi Ghori and another pace option instead of Mohammad Rizwan. Instead, only Salman Ali Agha was dropped after leading Pakistan in the first Test in Babar Azam's absence.

"We can't just keep waiting," Javed said. "I had actually spoken to both the captain and the coach after the first Test, suggesting they include Ubaid, who bowls at 140 kph. Agha was rightly rested, Ghazi Ghori was available on the tour and should have played instead of Rizwan."

#Pakistan #coach

The Milwaukee Brewers didn't close August on a great note, but they're in amazing shape for a playoff spot and division ****** le with one month of baseball still to play.
Here are some statistical curiosities that may have caught your attention, or not, as we hit the home stretch:
Brice Turang batted .175 with a .266 on-base percentage and a .247 slugging mark in August 2026, with one home run and three stolen bases (but two caught stealing). It was the worst month of his past two seasons and second-worst monthly stat line in his career, except for a bleak July 2024, when he batted .169 with a .221 on-base mark and a .191 slugging percentage.
But Turang's streakiness has been pretty noticeable over the past two years. Last August, he was a monster, with a .343 average, .398 on-base mark, .594 slugging and 10 (!) home runs. In July, though, he batted .209, slugged .302 and had one homer.
Monthly splits are obviously crude measures, but it's kind of remarkable how Turang has more or less alternated good and bad months over the past two years. His slash marks since the start of 2025:

#batted #base

After watching the entirety of spring practice and the majority of fall camp from the sidelines while recovering from a torn ACL, defensive tackle Kai McClendon says he's back at 100 percent and ready to make an impact for the Washington Huskies this fall.
The former Mississippi State starter, who played in 12 games for the Bulldogs as a true freshman in 2024, didn't need long to make an impact after he was cleared to return to action. On one of his first reps in a team period during Tuesday's practice, the 6-foot-2, 320-pound junior batted a Demond Williams Jr. pass into the air, which turned into an interception for linebacker Buddah Al-Uqdah.
Moving forward, the Huskies are hoping he can develop into a disruptive piece in the middle of defensive coordinator Ryan Walters' scheme, which was one of the biggest factors in him choosing Jedd Fisch's program out of the transfer portal.
"They told me they like my game and my physicality and my experience," McClendon said on Friday. "They just want me to keep going and keep elevating off that so I can be a good part of Washington."
A big part of McClendon continuing to elevate his game comes down to defensive line coach Jason Kaufusi's plan for his development, and the Mississippi State transfer has placed all his faith in his position coach.

#fall #impact

Roman Anthony's Red Sox Return Delayed Before Crucial Yankees Series originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Red Sox will begin one of their biggest series of the season without Roman Anthony. Anthony remained with Triple-A Worcester on Friday instead of joining Boston for its series opener against the New York Yankees, according to Tommy Cassell of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette.
The development might disappoint Red Sox fans who hoped Anthony's two-hit performance Thursday would serve as the final step in his rehab **** ignment. However, there is no indication the 22-year-old suffered a setback with the torn ligament in his finger that has sidelined him since May.
Instead, the Red Sox appear to be exercising patience with one of their most important players.
Anthony went 2-for-4 with an RBI double and a single Thursday. He has batted .304 across rehab stops with Double-A Portland and Worcester while hitting two home runs. Those numbers suggest Anthony is close. His own evaluation explained why Boston might want to give him more time.

#worcester #series #double

Sri Lanka batter Sonal Dinusha emerged as one of the biggest positives from the drawn two-Test series against India, producing a remarkable display of resilience and consistency to thwart the visitors' hopes of a series clean sweep.

Dinusha scored three centuries across his four innings in the series, finishing as the leading run-scorer with 420 runs at an average of 140.00. He also faced 722 deliveries, the most by any batter in the series, underlining the patience and endurance that made him such a difficult player for India to dislodge.

His performance has now earned high praise from former India Test batter Cheteshwar Pujara, who believes the young Sri Lankan has shown glimpses of two of the country's greatest modern-day batters, ****** ar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.

"The way he has batted throughout the series has been phenomenal. He takes me into that era of batters like ****** ar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. When I was growing up, I used to look up to those Sri Lankan players," Pujara said in a video on ESPNcricinfo.

Pujara believes Dinusha has the potential to become one of Sri Lanka's leading batters in the years to come.

"In five to 10 years, Sonal Dinusha can be one of the greats of Sri Lankan cricket. He has shown that potential. The way he batted on the last day of the second Test match, it was a commendable effort," he added.

Dinusha's finest contribution came in the second Test at Colombo, where his unbeaten 133 off 264 ****** ensured Sri Lanka held India to a draw and denied the visitors a series clean sweep.
Coming to the match, India opted to bat first, with centuries from Padikkal (117 in 193 ****** , with 12 fours), Dhruv Jurel (115* in 177 ****** , with nine fours and two sixes) and half-centuries from Rishabh Pant (63 in 89 ****** , with six fours and two sixes) and skipper Gill (50 in 108 ****** , with six fours) taking India to 503/9, with Asitha Fernando taking four-fer.

In their first innings, SL was skittled out for 290, with Dinusha's second century (103 in 162 ****** , with eight fours and three sixes) and a fine 80 from Pasindu Sooriyabandara (in 133 ****** , with nine fours) standing out. Prasidh Krishna and Suthar were among the wickets for India with three each.

During the follow-on, India had SL down for 218/6, but a 112-run stand between Dinusha and Keshara Nuwantha (46 in 150 ****** , with four boundaries) pushed Sri Lanka towards a sizeable lead. Dinusha (133* in 264 ****** , with eight fours and two sixes) reached his third ton of the series, with the resistance from lower order, who soaked in deliveries to support him. SL ended at 429/9, drawing the Test.
133591870

#dinusha

Matt Shaw is back with the Chicago Cubs after missing the past two months with a left-hand sprain.
The 24-year-old infielder/outfielder was reinstated from the injured list Friday as the Cubs open a seven-game homestand beginning with the Cincinnati Reds.
Outfielder Kevin Alcántara was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.
In five rehab games in with Triple-A Iowa, Shaw batted .316 with 6 hits, 4 RBI and 1 stolen base in 19 at-bats. Prior to his injury, he had 20 RBI and 4 home runs while batting .246 through 56 games with the Cubs.
While in Iowa, Shaw saw time at second base, giving Cubs manager Craig Counsell a potential option in the infield. With Dansby Swanson out until at least late September, Nico ******* ner could remain at shortstop while Shaw gets time at second base.

#base #time #second

NEW DELHI: India captain Shubman Gill on Thursday ruled out any injury concern for Mohammed Siraj after the pacer appeared to be below his best during the drawn second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo.

Siraj bowled at a reduced pace and often used a shorter run-up during the Test. His fitness also came under the scanner after he landed heavily while trying to take a catch in Sri Lanka's first innings.

Gill, however, made it clear that Siraj was not carrying an injury.
Gill said Siraj had not been feeling his best even during the first Test in Galle and was also returning to international cricket after a break.

"Firstly, Siraj is not injured. He didn't feel well even in the first match (at Galle). He last played against Afghanistan in June…so he was playing almost after a couple of months. It takes time for someone to come back to the rhythm.

"Even in the first Test, we felt that his pace was slow. But sometimes when you play more, you come back to the rhythm. But as far as the injury is concerned, there is nothing," he said.

Siraj's lack of his usual pace was noticeable as India struggled to finish off Sri Lanka on the fifth day. The hosts batted through the final day, with Sonal Dinusha scoring an unbeaten 133 to secure a draw.
India had reduced Sri Lanka to 229/6 by the end of the fourth day but could not force the remaining wickets on the final day.

"It gets very frustrating. We attacked a lot in the beginning. But I think as the match went on, the wicket got slower. It was not like the ball was not moving and when the ball was spinning, the wickets were not in play. It was not like the wicket was very flat," said Gill at the post-match press meet.

The India captain said Sri Lanka's defensive approach made it difficult for his bowlers to create chances.

"Unless you are playing a shot and looking to make a run, then it is difficult to take a wicket. We tried all that we could, and I don't think there was any lack of intensity or the efforts that we put in. The spinners bowled 50-60 overs on the trot for three days.

"Fielding for three days is not an easy task in these conditions. I would say 10 out of 10 for the effort and the intent. They also played really well," he added.

Gill also felt India could have been in a better position if they had taken their chances on the fourth day.

"On day 4, we thought we had created chances. If there was a little more pressure, the wickets would have come and then maybe the result would have been better. But as long as we still have a chance to qualify for the World Test Championship (final), it's fine."
Gill was pleased with the progress made by Prasidh Krishna.

"I think he's been in the pick of our bowlers. When things are not happening, he's been our go-to bowler, especially this season. He's created chances, which is what I want as a captain. We want a go-to bowler when wickets are not guaranteed. I think he did that brilliantly," he said.

#India #siraj

With the Washington Huskies set to kick off the 2026 season in less than two weeks against the Washington State Cougars in the Apple Cup, Jedd Fisch's team got an influx of reinforcements back during Tuesday's practice.
As ******* ps and bruises accrue over the course of fall camp, Fisch's coaching staff has been a big proponent of playing things safely. Cornerback Dylan Robinson, linebacker Zaydrius Rainey-Sale, and offensive lineman Champ Taulealea have missed time over the last few weeks, and all three made their return to the team portions of practice, while defensive tackle Kai McClendon took his first reps with the Huskies after spending the entirety of spring and most of the fall recovering from a torn ACL.
"Right now we're just trying to see where he fits in," defensive coordinator Ryan Walters said of the Mississippi State transfer on Tuesday. "We've just got to put together a good week of practice, and follow that up with a good week of game prep, and we'll see where he's at."
If his first practice is any indicator of that, the third-year player could be a strong addition to the interior. He batted a Demond Williams Jr. pass into the air during an early team period, which turned into the day's only turnover, a diving interception for linebacker Buddah Al-Uqdah.
"Obviously his size and his experience," defensive tackle Elinneus Davis said of what McClendon brings to the interior. "He comes from an SEC school, but his style, he brings everything you want in a nose tackle, (3-technique), so we're trying to get him in the scheme and understand the blocking schemes, and that'll help him go a lot longer."

#practice #defensive #huskies #fall

Dillon Dingler's 26 homers in 2026 are twice as many as he hit last year.
The second half of the MLB season has been a disaster for the best home run bets. Entering the MLB All-Star break, the best home run bets generated $642 in profit for anyone who bet $100 on each of the touted home run props at the listed odds.
In the second half, the best home run bets have cost bettors $892. The best home run props have a 20-81 record, with three no bets over the course of the entire season, and they're $250 in the red.
There is still time to salvage the season and generate a profit. Fortunately, home run props being long-shot wagers cuts both ways. While they're difficult to hit, correctly selecting a few home run bets can pull the best home run bets out of their funk and lift them back into the black.
A power-hitting catcher and one of MLB's best sluggers have eye-catching odds to hit a home run today. The first has an excellent matchup, and the second has an adequate matchup and blistering batted-ball data.

#season #props #profit

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Cincinnati Reds infielder/outfielder Michael Toglia will undergo season-ending surgery Tuesday on his right shoulder after he was injured Friday making a diving catch against Arizona.
Manager Terry Francona made the announcement Monday before the opener of a three-game series at San Francisco. Team orthopedist Dr. Tim Kremchek will perform the surgery to repair a torn labrum and Toglia will do his rehabilitation in San Diego to be close to family, Francona said.
The switch-hitting Toglia suffered a dislocated shoulder on the play in the first inning of the 9-0 loss at Chase Field when, playing left field, he caught the ball by Geraldo Perdomo.
"That kid, he swore he was going to play. I saw him in the training room the next day, he was trying to do stuff," Francona said. "That's pretty amazing to me."
Toglia was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday, a move retroactive to Saturday. The 28-year-old Toglia batted .115 with an RBI over 10 games with eight starts. He was a top prospect with Colorado after the Rockies selected him 23rd overall in the first round of the 2019 draft out of UCLA.

#first

NEW DELHI: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's much-anticipated Duleep Trophy campaign got off to a disappointing start on Sunday as the teenage batting sensation was dismissed for just eight against North East Zone at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 2 in Bengaluru.

Opening the innings for East Zone alongside Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sooryavanshi began brightly, smashing back-to-back boundaries before his brief stay at the crease came to an abrupt end.

The 15-year-old attempted to continue his aggressive approach but edged Bishworjit Konthoujam's delivery to Joseph Lalthankhuma at gully. The North East pacer had the last laugh with the final delivery of his first over, leaving Sooryavanshi walking back after just six ***** .

WATCH:
North East Zone won the toss and opted to bowl first, giving Sooryavanshi an opportunity to make an impact in a format in which he is yet to establish himself.

The teenager was named East Zone's vice-captain, with Ishan Kishan leading the side, and entered the quarterfinal with considerable attention on him following his exploits in T20 cricket.

However, his first-class numbers remain modest. Sooryavanshi has played eight first-class matches for Bihar and has batted in 12 innings, scoring at an average of just over 17 with a highest score of 93.
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The Duleep Trophy represented a significant opportunity for the youngster to gain valuable experience in red-ball cricket, particularly against a North East Zone side featuring an inexperienced attack.
East Zone boast considerable experience elsewhere in their lineup, with skipper Kishan joined by India pacer Mohammed Shami, Abhimanyu Easwaran, ***** ar Kushagra, Shahbaz Ahmed and Mukesh ***** ar.

Sooryavanshi's inclusion and appointment as vice-captain had nevertheless made him one of the biggest talking points surrounding the quarterfinal.

East Zone will face either Central Zone or South Zone in the semifinal at the same venue from August 30 if they progress.

#north #duleep #trophy #easwaran

The WooSox didn't get much offense in Syracuse (Mets AAA) and, as a result, got walked off with two outs. But it shouldn't have even gotten to that point since they were getting outhit 11-3, so there's some people on the squad we need to tip our caps to. Blake Wehunt didnt' quite make it five innings but kept all but one run off the board despite allowing seven total baserunners. Allen Castro drove a late run in to make this a tie game in the 9th, and Franklin Arias and Romy Gonzalez hit doubles; Arias' scored a pair of runs.
Don't look now, but Arias already has 22 RBIs since his call up to Triple-A a month ago, and his total in 2026 sits at 74. That's a good season by any account, but keep in mind that Arias batted first for a lot of his time in Double-A so that total might be even higher if he wasn't hitting so many solo shots to start the game. That he's consistently been the youngest at his level and hasn't gone more than three days before finding a groove are very, very good signs going forward (as in, after the lockout, in this writer's humble opinion.) Still, Arias is slashing .291/.357/.488(!) in a sample size that is growing bigger and bigger against guys who are getting better and better. And maybe, just maybe, it was all part of Breslow's plan to waltz straight from the Trevor Story (0-4, 2 K's on Friday) contract into Franklin Arias mowing down big league pitching. (And it was just how he drew it up, even down to Andruw Monasterio playing so well this year, right?)
Yes, it was Roman Anthony rehab night against the Fightin Phils (Phillies AA.) Yes, he drove in a run, his third in as many games. Devin Futrell also had a good night on the mound and shoved through six innings even after allowing a first-run home run, displaying a line that could have been plenty enough to take a decision win with a bit more pop at the plate: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K.
But the real story of the night – aside from Anthony getting closer to beign back with the big league club just in time to be one of the team's "September call-ups" – has got to be how good Justin Gonzales has looked in general this year, but especially since his promotion to Double-A. He hit a triple and his OPS stands at over 1. These are numbers that folks made a big deal out of when Arias started the season hot this year, and there's reason to believe that it's time to pay attention to the outfielder, who won't turn 20 until New Years Eve.
I will not jinx the Drive into saying they might be able to sleepwalk into a win Saturday following a rain delay in which they had a lead. The last time I did that, they sweated out a 7-run performance in the remaining innings and gutted a win out by the skin of their teeth. What I will say is that it's looking good in the third against Winston-Salem (White Sox High-A.) "First" pitch of the double-header is today at 4:30.

#even #time #getting

The Minnesota Vikings hosted the Baltimore Ravens at TCO Performance Center in Eagan, MN, on Wednesday for their first of two joint practices. Fans couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day in the middle of August. Unfortunately, the on-field product didn't reflect the picture-perfect backdrop.
Both Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy struggled throughout the day. The Ravens defense was blanketing receivers, testing the likes of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison with physicality before, during, and after the pass. It was a frustrating day for the passing game, providing little clarity of what this offense can look like with Murray under center.
But that was just one phase of practice. The Vikings defense flexed its own muscles, with Brian Flores capping practice in his truest form. It reminded everyone that this team will have a chance as long as Flores is coordinating the defense. If the Vikings' offense can keep up, opponents will be in trouble.
Here are the three main takeaways from Wednesday's practice. The Ravens return for the second day of joint practices on Thursday.
Murray and McCarthy were the only Vikings quarterbacks to take snaps during 7-on-7 and team drills, and neither looked sharp. Passes sailed over receivers' heads. They were underthrown. There were several batted passes. Yet it was hard to pin all the blame on Minnesota's signal-callers.

#murray #practice #mccarthy

India's crushing victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test in Galle unearthed two potential long-term ****** ets in different departments — left-arm spinner Manav Suthar and batter Devdutt Padikkal.

Suthar, in particular, looks every bit a Test star in the making. In just two Tests, the 24-year-old has claimed 17 wickets at an average of 11.35, including two five-wicket hauls and his maiden 10-wicket match haul. In Galle, he showcased the classical virtues of left-arm spin, extracting loop, drift, turn and bounce.

Padikkal, meanwhile, grabbed his opportunity with both hands. Playing his first Test in 19 months after replacing the injured Sai Sudharsan at No. 3, the stylish left-hander marked his return with a majestic 167, the standout innings of the match, followed by a useful 44 in the second innings. Comfortable against spin on both the front and back foot, Padikkal has strengthened his case to retain the No. 3 slot.

Suthar made an impact from his very first ball, trapping Dinesh Chandimal with a beauty that pitched, bounced and turned away before finding the edge to Rishabh Pant. On the final day, he wrapped up Sri Lanka's tail with smart variations in pace and an effective straighter delivery.

Former India left-arm spinner and selector Venkatapathy Raju believes familiarity with subcontinental conditions and a recent county stint with Warwickshire have played a key role in Suthar's rapid rise. The youngster took 11 wickets in two county matches, including a maiden five-for against Somerset.

"I was very impressed by Suthar's attitude. He has a high-arm action, bowls close to the wicket and possesses the aggression needed to succeed as a left-arm spinner. Playing his first two Tests in familiar conditions has helped, while county cricket gave him valuable red-ball experience," Raju told TOI.

"This will do wonders for his confidence. He can bowl long spells, challenge both right-handers and left-handers and has shown all the signs of becoming a very good bowler."

India vice-captain KL Rahul credited Suthar's accuracy, subtle changes in pace and ability to exploit drift for making him such a potent threat.

"It's the subtle variations from the same action and angle. He can bowl slower or quicker without changing his arm speed. In Galle, he used the wind beautifully to get drift before the ball either straightened or came back in," Rahul said.

Rahul also praised Suthar's consistency in hitting the right areas.

"His greatest strength is his pace through the air and his ability to challenge every mode of dismissal. The line he bowls brings LBW into play, while any turn can produce catches behind. That's a special skill."

The vice-captain was equally effusive about Padikkal, with whom he shared a 150-run partnership in the first innings.

"That innings defined the Test," Rahul said. "The tempo he batted at and the fact that he converted it into a big hundred really set the game up for us. The conditions were physic

Seven first-team selections are among 27 Section 4 players who have been chosen to the New York State Sports Writers **** ociation all-state baseball team for the 2026 season.
The first-team picks from the Elmira, Corning, Ithaca and greater Binghamton regions:
Aedan Palmer, Elmira, senior: Earning first-team honors in Class AAA was senior outfielder/pitcher Aedan Palmer, who was a third-team all-state pick last season. Palmer helped the Express repeat as Section 4 Class AAA champion and posted a 6-2 pitching record with a 1.50 ERA, 85 strikeouts, and 30 hits allowed in 51 1/3 innings. The left-hander tossed three one-hitters and is a LeMoyne College commit.
Nolan Stark, Oneonta, senior: Stark was a repeat first-team all-state selection in Class B. He helped the Yellowjackets to a third consecutive Section 4 **** le and the Southern Tier Athletic Conference tournament championship. Stark batted .414 with seven homers, seven triples, 19 stolen bases, 31 RBIs, and 31 runs. On the mound, he went 9-1 with a 0.75 ERA and two no-hitters that included a perfect game. Stark committed to UNC-Wilmington for baseball.
Dasch Benson, Lansing, senior: Benson, a first-team Class B pick, batted .540 with 14 doubles and two homers while earning Interscholastic Athletic Conference South Large School Division Most Valuable Player honors. His pitching numbers included a 5-1 record, a 1.27 ERA, 76 strikeouts, and two no-hitters.

#first

Did India delay in declaration? Cheteshwar Pujara slams Shubman Gill for delaying declaration on Day 4 in Galle originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Cheteshwar Pujara believes India should have declared five to six overs earlier in Galle.
India were bowled out for 193, setting Sri Lanka a target of 372.
Rain is forecast for Day 5, which could cost India valuable overs.
India ended Day 4 in Galle with one hand on the Test, but Cheteshwar Pujara has questioned whether they left themselves enough time to finish the job. The former India number three believes the tourists batted on too long in their second innings, a decision that could prove costly if the weather intervenes.

#Pujara #overs #gill