AP National Sports

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons have placed cornerback Isaiah Oliver and punter Cameron Nizialek on injured reserve. Atlanta promoted punter Dustin Colquitt and defensive lineman Mike Pennel from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. Colquitt is expected to take over punting duties when the Falcons play the New York Jets in

By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin’s confidence in quarterback Ben Roethlisberger remains strong despite a 1-3 start. Tomlin says the 39-year-old Roethlisberger is “absolutely” the right quarterback for the Steelers. Roethlisberger has struggled with accuracy at times this season and has thrown as many interceptions as touchdowns.

HOUSTON (AP) — Left-hander Framber Valdez will start for the Houston Astros in Game 2 of the AL Division Series against the Chicago White Sox. Manager Dusty Baker announced the decision Tuesday but did not reveal his rotation past Game 2. He previously said Lance McCullers Jr. will start in the series opener Thursday. Valdez

By SIMMI BUTTAR AP Pro Football Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The Arizona Cardinals, the only unbeaten team remaining in the NFL, have climbed all the way to the top of the latest AP Pro32 poll. The Cardinals moved up four spots after routing the NFC West rival Los Angeles Rams 37-20. The Buffalo Bills

By RONALD B:LUM AP Baseball Writer Two missing Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers earn nearly as much as the entire Tampa Bay Rays’ major league roster heading into the playoffs. The defending champion Dodgers enter the postseason with more than three times the payroll of the Rays, the team they beat in last year’s World Series.

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer The LPGA major with the most tradition is leaving the California desert. The LPGA says Chevron has agreed to a six-year deal as title sponsor of the event currently known as the ANA Inspiration. Chevron takes over starting in 2023 and plans to move the tournament near company headquarters

WASHINGTON (AP) — Shortstop Alcides Escobar has agreed to a one-year, $1 million contract to stay with the Washington Nationals. The team announced the deal Tuesday. Escobar will turn 35 in December. He batted .288 with 21 doubles, two triples, four homers and 28 RBIs in 75 games with the Nationals after signing with the

By PAT GRAHAM AP Sports Writer DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies have agreed to deals with right-hander Antonio Senzatela and first-baseman C.J. Cron. Senzatela’s $50.5 million, five-year contract includes a club option for 2027. Cron will return on a $14.5 million, two-year deal. Senzatela is coming off a season in which he made 28

By DAVE CAMPBELL AP Sports Writer ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The MLS All-Star Game will have another first-time host next season in Minnesota. Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber announced the award of the summer showcase at a ceremony at Allianz Field. The 19,600-seat soccer specific home of Minnesota United opened in 2019. Minnesota

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs are adding Josh Gordon to their 53-man roster and the wide receiver is expected to play in Sunday night’s AFC title game rematch against the Buffalo Bills. The Chiefs signed Gordon to the practice squad last week with the assumption

By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Basketball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Kyrie Irving didn’t practice with the Brooklyn Nets, again remaining away from the team amid questions about his availability to play in New York because of the city’s vaccine mandate. Coach Steve Nash had no further update about the status of his All-Star guard but

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay left-hander Shane McClanahan will start Game of 1 of the Rays’ AL Division Series on Thursday night. Rays manager Kevin Cash made the announcement before a team workout on Tuesday. Rookie Shane Baz will take the mound for Game 2 on Friday night. Depending on bullpen use in

NYON, Switzerland (AP) — UEFA has opened investigations into allegations of racist abuse by Czech children and antisemitism by German fans at Europa League games. Thousands of young fans booed Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara during the team’s visit to Sparta Prague last Thursday. However, Sparta denies allegations of racism. Union Berlin already apologized for “shameful

By The Associated Press The NCAA Division I Council has approved a one-year waiver that will allow football teams to sign up to seven players to replace those that leave the program. The move is intended to address a growing number of transfers. Current NCAA rules state a team can sign no more than 25

SAO PAULO (AP) — A Brazilian soccer player was arrested after kicking a referee in the head during a second-division game, knocking him unconscious. William Ribeiro kicked referee Rodrigo Crivellaro twice during Monday’s match between Sao Paulo de Rio Grande and hosts Guarani de Venancio Aires, the second time when the official lay on the

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Notre Dame’s head swimming coach has resigned one week after a federal judge dismissed a gender discrimination lawsuit that had accused him of degrading and demoting a female assistant because of her pregnancy. The university announced Monday that head coach Michael Litzinger had resigned from the school’s swimming program and

By PETE IACOBELLI AP Sports Writer CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Clemson is struggling to score points, is no longer a contender for the national title and has fallen out of the Top 25. It marks an end to the Tigers’ domination of opponents, being part of the national picture and in the rankings for almost

BOSTON (AP) — Designated hitter J.D. Martinez was left off the Red Sox roster for their one-game wild-card playoff against the New York Yankees. The move comes two days after Martinez twisted his ankle running out to the field in a rare defensive appearance. Playing the outfield because Boston finished the regular season in Washington,

By JAKE SEINER AP Baseball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball’s postseason is returning to its pre-pandemic format a year after COVID-19 confined most of last October’s action to empty stadiums in neutral sites. Seeing and hearing fans is a welcome change for players who pushed through last year’s playoffs supplying their own energy on

By NOAH TRISTER AP Sports Writer COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Maryland receiver Dontay Demus is expected to miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. It’s a blow to one of the Big Ten’s top passing offenses. Coach Michael Locksley updated Demus’ status Tuesday. Demus leads the Big Ten with 507 yards