LG1 Donovan Jackson appears to be a tremendous success story. Coming off a solid rookie season, is the Vikings large lad working toward a sizzling sophomore season?
In Week 1, Mr. Jackson put together an impressive effort. Nobody is mistaking the 2026 Green Packers for the 1985 Chicago Bears, especially with edge rusher Micah Parsons out due to injury. Still, though, it’s yet another sign that the young fella is growing. Seeing him continue on his current trajectory will mean that the 2025 1st-Round selection is becoming a difference maker in the trenches.
Vikings Large Lad Donovan Jackson Coming Off Sizzling Week 1
Prior to the 2026 season officially beginning, Vikings Territory ran a piece uplifting Mr. Jackson as the team’s top breakout candidate. So much of the reason why is due to him playing solid football despite the long list of hurdles he needed to clear as a rookie.
In his debut NFL season, Donovan Jackson adjusted to life as a pro after a long college run that led to winning the CFB National Championship. Note that his final collegiate season involved needing to shuffle outside to left tackle to function as an injury fill-in.
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In that truncated offseason, he got chosen at No. 24 overall to become a Minnesota Viking. He then worked through injury — a wrist problem that he temporarily played through before needing surgery — and saw many of his teammates work through injury, as well. The player to his left (Christian Darrisaw) and player to his right (Ryan Kelly) both missed a lot of time.
Sep 13, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz (11) takes a snap during the first half against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images – Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Further complicating things for Jackson was that the quarterback play has shaky (at best). Blocking for a passer who is struggling is much more difficult than blocking for a passer who is thriving. Moreover, the lack of a run game can also make life difficult for a blocker. Offensive linemen like to fire out of their stance every so often rather than needing to continually be on their heels in pass pro.
And one more thing: OL coach Chris Kuper got shown the door following the season. Doing so evidently came due to being displeased with how the offensive lineman were playing.
So, solid football should be understood as a very impressive accomplishment.
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Against Green Bay, Donovan Jackson earned a 62.0 PFF grade. His 53.3 run blocking grade isn’t reason to throw a parade. His 88.4 pass blocking grade is fantastic, though. Jackson’s report card shows zero pressures, zero QB hits, and zero sacks. Neither did he commit a penalty. Pretty spiffy, right?
Remember that Jackson offered the strong play while working with a pair of passers, both of Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz.
Jun 10, 2025; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings guard Donovan Jackson (74) practices during minicamp at the Minnesota Vikings Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
The great task that’s before Jackson is seeing that sort of effort continue through 2026 as a whole. Indeed, that’s the great key: ongoing strong play.
Seeing a single good game arrive isn’t enough reason to insist that LG1 Donovan Jackson is working toward a breakout. What that single game helps to clarify, though, is that Jackson has long looked like a breakout candidate given the perspective we have on how he performed in 2025 alongside the sort of offseason he had in 2026.
Jackson, 23, will look to tame the Bears’ defense on Sunday, September 20th in yet another NFC North showdown. Clearing lanes for the running back while keeping the quarterback’s jersey clean is what the Vikings want out of its sophomore.
The Northwestern Wildcats are staying the course for years to come.
Northwestern announced on Thursday morning that it has extended head coach David Braun to a deal that keeps him in place through the 2031 college football season.
“David Braun is the right leader today for Northwestern Football and for the years to come,” Combe Family Vice President for Athletics and Recreation Mark Jackson said in a statement on Thursday morning about the extension. “He recruits young men of high character who embrace our elite academic environment and who compete in the most competitive conference in the country. David develops our student-athletes at a time when retaining talent has never been harder, and they choose to remain Wildcats when other options appear. He does it with a rare combination of relentless competitiveness and integrity.
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“He is everything that we need in a head coach. With our continued investments in our Football program and with the opening of New Ryan Field in just a few weeks, the future of Northwestern Football is bright with David at the helm. We look forward to having David, Kristin and their family in Evanston for the seasons ahead.”
Braun originally joined Northwestern as its defensive coordinator for the 2023 season but was promoted to interim head coach in July of that year in the wake of head coach Pat Fitzgerald’s dismissal against the backdrop of a hazing investigation into the program.
After a 1-11 season in 2022, Northwestern went 8-5 overall and 5-4 in Big Ten play in Braun’s first season at the helm, capped off by defeating the Utah Utes in the Las Vegas Bowl. Braun won 2023 Big Ten Coach of the Year honors and was named the Wildcats’ full-time head coach during the season. The eight wins, which included Northwestern snapping a 14-game road losing streak, were the most for the Wildcats since finishing 10-3 overall and 7-2 in conference play in 2017.
Since taking over in 2023, Northwestern is a combined 20-19 overall, 11-16 in Big Ten play and has made two bowl games under Braun (2023 and 2025).
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“I am so honored to have the opportunity to lead a storied football program at an institution that demands and expects excellence, instills character, and provides a transformative experience for its student-athletes on and off the field,” Braun said in a statement about the extension. “I am grateful to President Chiang and to Mark Jackson for the continued investment into our program, for their support of my family and our tremendous staff and for sharing in our belief of what Northwestern Football can become.
“Northwestern is a special place. Kristin and I are proud to call it home for many years to come.”
Prior to landing in Evanston in 2023, Braun was the defensive coordinator and safeties coach of the North Dakota State Bison from 2019-22, a stint preceded by two years as a defensive assistant with the Northern Iowa Panthers (2017-18), among other coaching positions.
As for the present, Northwestern opened the 2026 season with a 34-18 win at home over the South Dakota State Jackrabbits on Sept. 5. Next up for the Wildcats is a Saturday night home matchup against the Colorado Buffaloes (2-0) at 7:30 p.m. ET, which can be viewed on FOX.
Trainer Chris Waller’s strategy of entering multiple fillies in feature races is a common occurrence, and his four contenders for the Tea Rose Stakes present an intriguing proposition for the third leg of the Princess Series.
The market currently favours Striking Alibi, a former Perth three-year-old, following her notable third-place finish in her Sydney debut in the Furious Stakes (1200m) last month.
This performance was the key factor that led leading jockey James McDonald to select her as his mount for the Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) on Saturday, choosing her over stablemate Sing Your Song.
“That’s the reason James opted to ride her because he’s got a very good opinion of (stablemate) Sing Your Song,” stated Charlie Duckworth, Waller’s Sydney-based assistant.
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“He was given the option as a race-by-race proposition to ride whichever one he wanted in the race, and he chose to go with Striking Alibi, so that’s a pretty good push.”
Waller’s remaining three runners – Sing Your Song, Kototo, and Sequinned – have been kept sharp with recent runs in midweek company, and Duckworth considers them all promising.
Sing Your Song, a full sister to stakes winner Matias, achieved her maiden win over 1400m at Warwick Farm in her last start.
Her primary objective remains the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m), scheduled two weeks after this Saturday’s event, but Duckworth expects a strong showing from her at Randwick.
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“She hasn’t missed a beat. She galloped really well on Tuesday morning, and 1400 on a big track will be right up her alley,” he commented.
“And beyond that, a mile in the Flight, she’ll be ready to peak. She is learning with each and every gallop, each and every race. She has just taken a bit of time to mentally put it all together.”
Kototo is also exceptionally bred, being a half-sister to last Saturday’s Sheraco Stakes winner Savvy Hallie, by Wootton Bassett. Sequinned, described as “pretty speedy,” is a half-sibling to the successful sire Bivouac.
Duckworth anticipates Kototo, who placed in stakes races in Brisbane over the winter, will be well-suited by Saturday’s 1400m journey after finishing a close fourth to Sequinned on resumption over a shorter distance.
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“She’s one we’ve always held in really high regard. She is thrown in the deep end on Saturday, but she won’t disgrace herself,” Duckworth concluded.
NEW DELHI: More than two decades after winning India’s only individual Asian Games golf gold, Shiv Kapur believes the country’s current crop of golfers has the talent to bring another medal home from Nagoya.The golf competition at the 2026 Asian Games begins on Sept 30, with India fielding a six-member contingent comprising Yuvraj Sandhu, Veer Ahlawat and Saptak Talwar in the men’s event, and Pranavi Urs, Diksha Dagar and Aditi Ashok in the women’s competition.Kapur, who scripted history with his individual gold at the 2002 Busan Games, said that medal remains the defining achievement of his career and hopes the long wait finally comes to an end. “It’s been more than 20 years since my gold medal, and I’m hoping this team breaks that jinx. Even today, that medal remains the biggest achievement of my career because it belonged to India as much as it belonged to me,” Kapur, now 44, said on the sidelines of an IGPL event in Delhi.India has steadily emerged as one of Asia’s strongest golfing nations, with multiple players competing in Asia and Ladies European Tour. Kapur feels the experience within the squad, combined with the confidence gained from recent international performances, gives India a genuine chance of challenging for medals in both team and individual events.
Do you believe India will win a gold medal in golf at the 2026 Asian Games?
Having represented India across multiple editions of the Asian Games, Kapur said the tournament carries a unique emotional weight that is unlike any professional event. “When you’re playing for India, it’s completely different. Every shot means more because you’re representing the country, not just yourself. That’s what made Busan so special for me,” he said.The former Asian Games star also believes Indian golf is entering an encouraging phase, with a stronger domestic structure producing players capable of competing consistently at the highest level.As Nagoya approaches, Kapur hopes the next chapter of India’s Asian Games story will belong to a new generation, as he concluded, “Records are meant to be broken. I’d be happier than anyone if one of these boys or girls comes back with the gold. That’s how Indian golf moves forward.”
Man United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo did not play a single minute for England during this summer’s World Cup
England head coach Thomas Tuchel admitted it “hurt him” not to play Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo at this summer’s World Cup. Mainoo was called up to the Three Lions’ squad but did not play a single minute of the tournament. The 21-year-old was meant to feature against France in the third-place play-off but was injured in the build-up to the game.
Tuchel has called the midfielder up for the upcoming international break for fixtures against Spain, Czechia and Croatia in the Nations League. When asked about the summer and Mainoo’s limited role in the England squad, Tuchel explained why the United man was overlooked.
“I expect him to be on the pitch and it’s my duty to get him on the pitch. That was totally on me,” the England boss said. “He didn’t put a foot wrong during the World Cup. He was class in behaviour on the training pitch.
“There was big competition; we played Reece [James] in central midfield also. Elliot Anderson is amazing for us, Declan Rice is a very unique player. We trusted them more than we trusted Kobbie. It was difficult for him. It was on me.
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“He got injured before the France game so we couldn’t even give him minutes there, which hurt me. Maybe he was more hurt than me but it was my responsibility and it’s my responsibility to reward him for that.”
Since returning from the World Cup, Mainoo has cemented his spot in United’s midfield. He was excellent on his first start against Ipswich and has started to strike a good partnership with Youri Tielemans in the middle.
Mainoo is expected to start again for the Reds at Fulham on Sunday, before linking up with his England colleagues. The Three Lions’ first match of the extended international break will be against Spain on September 26.
Manchester United are desperate for three points on Sunday when they travel to Fulham in the Premier League
Fulham head coach Alvaro Arbeloa believes Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick is always under pressure due to the scale of the job at Old Trafford. Carrick has been under scrutiny this week after back-to-back defeats against Manchester City and Brighton.
Those defeats come after the Reds lost to Hull City on the opening day of the season and conceded a last-minute goal to draw at Everton. United’s only win in the top flight came against Ipswich Town, who, for 40 minutes, were arguably the better side at Old Trafford.
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Carrick’s men now travel to Craven Cottage to face a Fulham side that have not won a Premier League game so far this season. However, Arbeloa’s side were good in a goalless draw at Liverpool last weekend and did beat West Ham in the Carabao Cup in midweek. When asked about the pressure Carrick finds himself under, Arbeloa admitted that such demands are to be expected when managing United.
“Every Premier League manager is under pressure,” Arbeloa said in his pre-match press conference. “It’s not because [of] what comes from outside, it’s because you have to be really demanding of yourself. All the managers want to win every weekend.
“For sure, when you are a coach of a big team you are always under pressure, but same for me because I need to win games. Both teams will want to win the game on Sunday, so it’s going to be a good battle.”
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Despite United’s indifferent form in recent weeks, Arbeloa insisted that his team needed to be at their ‘best level, the same level we saw at Anfield’. “We are facing one of the best teams in the world and we know that and we need to be ready,” Arbeloa added.
This will be United’s final match before the three-week international break. Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo are among the United players who will be joining up with their countries over the next few weeks.
After this weekend, the Reds will return to Premier League action against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on October 10.
AEW is currently preparing to host All Out 2026. The upcoming pay-per-view will take place at the Now Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, on September 26, 2026. It will feature several title matches. The Don Callis Family’s Kazuchika Okada will defend the International Title against a popular former WWE star.
Tommaso Ciampa will challenge Kazuchika Okada for the AEW International Championship at All Out. The Psycho Killer is hell-bent on dethroning the Rainmaker. He recently sent a message to Okada on Instagram. Furthermore, he seemingly took shots at reigning World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns and Kenny Omega in this message.
Ciampa wrote that the Don Callis Family member is an expert at collecting titles, which some believe is a jab at Kenny Omega’s belt collector gimmick. Additionally, he called the Japanese star the epitome of a ‘main event player,’ which was probably a shot at WWE icon Roman Reigns.
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“Ciampa vs Okada: I would say it’s nothing but respect, but truth is… it’s so much more. I’ve said since coming to AEW that I want to collect titles and become a main event player. I can’t think of a single guy in this business who defines “collecting titles and being a main event player” more than Kazuchika Okada,” wrote Ciampa.
AEW All Out 2026 entire match card
Many titles like the World Championship, the International Championship, the World Trios Championship, and more will be defended at All Out 2026.
Here is the upcoming pay-per-view’s entire lineup:
Will Ospreay (c) vs. Jon Moxley – World Championship match
Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Tommaso Ciampa – International Championship match
Swerve Strickland and The New Level (Austin Creed and Kofi) (c) or The Demand (Ricochet, Bishop Kaun, and Toa Liona) vs. “Hangman” Adam Page and Brodido (Brody King and Bandido) – World Trios Championship match
Thekla vs. Willow Nightingale – Women’s World Championship #1 contender match
Darby Allin and Steven Borden vs. The Don Callis Family (Kevin Knight and Kyle Fletcher) – World Tag Team Championship #1 contenders match
The Brawling Birds (Alex Windsor and Jamie Hayter) (c) vs. Divine Dominion (Lena Kross and Megan Bayne) – Women’s World Tag Team Championship Chicago Street Fight
Cage and Cope (Christian Cage and Adam Copeland) (c) vs. FTR (Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood) vs. The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) – World Tag Team Championship three-way ladder match
All Out has the potential to be an historic show. Hopefully, it will deliver.
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Nigeria’s Falconets have reached the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after a convincing 3-0 win over England in their Round of 16 match in Bielsko-Biała, Poland.
Tosin Rafiu gave Nigeria an early lead in the eighth minute with her second goal of the tournament.
England had a chance to equalise before half time after being awarded a penalty, but Falconets captain Christiana Uzoma saved Rachel Maltby’s effort to keep Nigeria ahead at the break.
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The Falconets doubled their lead just two minutes after the restart when Seimeyeha Janet Akekoromowei scored in the 47th minute.
Mary Mamudu then completed the scoring in the 73rd minute as Nigeria secured a comfortable 3-0 victory and a place in the last eight.
The win also extended Nigeria’s unbeaten record against England at the U-20 Women’s World Cup. The two teams had previously met three times, with Nigeria winning once and the other two matches ending in draws.
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Coach Moses Aduku’s side have now recorded two wins in the tournament. Nigeria started with a 2-0 defeat to Spain, followed by a goalless draw against China before they produced a 10-1 win over New Caledonia to finish second in Group F.
The Falconets have scored 13 goals in four matches and kept two clean sheets.
The victory also marks an improvement in Nigeria’s defensive performance after conceding three goals in their first three group matches.
Nigeria will now face either hosts Poland or Colombia in the quarterfinals on September 20 at Stadion Miejski ŁKS Łódź in Łódź.
The Real Madrid full-back receives his first call-up since June 2025, joining a 27-man squad for a three-week, four-game Nations League camp. Cole Palmer also returns after his omission from the World Cup.
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Alexander-Arnold’s international prospects appeared uncertain under Tuchel, who previously preferred alternative options over the last 15 months. However, an impressive start to his club campaign earned his recall.
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“He was never off the list. He was never non-selectable for us, and it’s his chance to show, come to camp, and be the best version of himself,” Tuchel said at his first media appearance since the World Cup.
“He had a good start in two positions for Real Madrid, and he comes as a right-back for us.”
Tuchel wants Alexander-Arnold to fight for his place (PA Wire)
Asked what Alexander-Arnold must do to win him over, the German said: “Perform. That’s just what it is.
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“It’s a competition, and I understand your question because he was not with us at the World Cup. I chose other players. I still stick with this decision, and this is now time to fight for his place.
“He always said he’s up for a fight. He always said he’s up to fight for his place, especially for England. So, it’s on him to prove, and he’s more than welcome in camp. We have a long camp. I’m sure he will show up.”
Palmer featured in Tuchel’s plans until an inconsistent campaign cost him his World Cup spot.
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The 24-year-old has started the season strongly to earn his recall, but Tuchel issued a firm reminder to the Chelsea player.
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“Cole has his starts that he always had, but he has his numbers back, he has assists back, he has decisive goals back.
“So that’s why he’s in the squad, and I think he has a point to prove.
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Cole Palmer has also earned an England recall after a strong start to the season (PA Wire)
“It is one thing to be nominated, by the way, like with Cole and getting your ticket back in the squad, but it’s another thing to perform for England.
“And this also comes so especially also Cole needs to step up when he comes and needs to show these kind of numbers, and these kind of performances, to get his place, to keep his shirt, and to justify the nomination.”
Kobbie Mainoo keeps his spot despite failing to play a single minute during a frustrating World Cup, where Jordan Henderson and Reece James were selected ahead of him.
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Tuchel promised to grant Mainoo game time during a camp featuring fixtures against Spain, Croatia, and Czechia twice.
“I expect him to be on the pitch, and it’s my duty to put him on the pitch,” Tuchel said.
“That was totally on me. He didn’t put a foot wrong in the World Cup. He was class in behaviour and on the training pitch.
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Kobbie Mainoo is in the squad after not playing a single minute at the World Cup (PA Wire)
“It was a big competition. We also played Reece in central midfield. Elliot Anderson is fantastic for us. Declan Rice is a very unique player, so we trusted them more than we trusted Kobbie.
“It was difficult for him. It was on me.
“He got injured before the France game, so we could not even give him minutes there, which hurt me.
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“Maybe he was more hurt than me, but it was my responsibility, and it’s my responsibility to reward him for that.”
Abhishek Sharma lit up a dead rubber with a 30-ball century as India completed a 3-0 series sweep over Afghanistan with a 127-run win in the third and final T20I in Delhi on Thursday.Abhishek tore into the Afghanistan bowling attack, scoring 108 off just 34 balls with 11 sixes. His innings took India to 221 for 7 after Afghanistan chose to field first.Afghanistan’s batting struggled once again, just as it had in the first two matches, and the visitors were bowled out for 94 in 14.1 overs.After the match, BCCI posted a video of Abhishek giving a passionate pre-match speech during the team huddle.In the video shared by the BCCI, Abhishek can be seen addressing his teammates during the pre-match huddle in Punjabi and urged them to finish the series strongly.“I’m going to speak Punjabi,” Sharma declared to his assembled teammates. “So boys, today we are going to play like soormas. Soorma means warriors. The way we’ve been playing this entire series, that’s exactly how we need to finish it today.”“Warriors never show mercy to anyone. We aren’t letting them off the hook today. It’s the last match of the series, look at the crowd, we are going to give them full entertainment. Alright? Otherwise, let’s smash it. Chak de phatte, nap de killi, subah Jalandhar, shaam nu Dilli,” he added.Abhishek’s hundred was the fastest by an Indian in T20Is, breaking Rohit Sharma’s 35-ball record set in 2017.It was also the fastest T20I century by a player from a Test-playing nation against another Test-playing nation, going past New Zealand’s Finn Allen, who had reached the milestone in 33 balls against South Africa earlier this year.With India having already wrapped up the series, Abhishek’s innings added excitement to the final game and capped off a dominant performance before the team heads to the Asian Games.
With just over one week to go in the season, the Toronto Blue Jays are in a battle with four other teams for the third wild-card spot.
But those four other teams have one advantage the Blue Jays do not: A path into the playoffs by winning their division.
Three of those teams were in action on Thursday and the race is still tight after those results.
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The Houston Astros (77-76) moved into the AL West lead with a win over the Kansas City Royals. The Texas Rangers (76-77) lost to the Boston Red Sox to miss a chance to pull into a tie with the Astros, although Houston owns the tiebreaker.
In the Central, the Chicago White Sox (78-75) moved ahead of the idle Cleveland Guardians (78-75) for the division lead via a tiebreaker after a win over the Detroit Tigers. The Guardians remain in the third wild-card spot, two games up on the Rangers and Blue Jays.
All of that sets up a huge series as the Blue Jays travel to Arlington for three games against the Rangers this weekend. Here is how the American League standings look ahead of that crucial series.
Cleveland: vs. Athletics, 7:10 p.m., Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet+ Chicago White Sox: vs. Detroit Tigers, 7:40 p.m., Sportsnet+ Toronto: at Texas, 8:05 p.m., Sportsnet, Sportsnet+ Houston: vs. Atlanta, 8:10 p.m. Baltimore: vs. Brewers, 7:05 p.m.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Trevor Story hit a three-run home run off All-Star closer Jacob Latz in the eighth inning, capping a comeback from a three-run deficit as the Boston Red Sox beat Texas 4-3 on Thursday night and dropped the Rangers out of the AL West lead.
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Texas (76-77) had won four straight games to gain a share of the lead but dropped one game behind Houston (77-76), which holds the tiebreaker. The Rangers trail by two games for the last AL wild card.
Boston (83-70) has a five-game lead for the top AL wild card and improved to 8-59 when trailing after seven innings. Texas dropped to 63-2 when leading after seven innings.
Latz (3-3) entered after Wilyer Abreu walked starting the eighth and Willson Contreras was hit by a pitch from Jakob Junis.
Latz struck out Adley Rutschman and Story, who is from nearby Irving, reached down for Latz’s second straight low curveball and drove the ball over the left-field wall for his fourth home run this season.
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Boston’s Wyatt Olds (2-0) got three outs and Garrett Whitlock pitched the ninth for his fourth save in eight chances, getting Jake Burger to ground into a game-ending double play.
Josh Jung hit a first-inning homer off Sonny Gray, and Texas opened a 3-0 lead in the second on Danny Jansen’s RBI single and Evan Carter’s safety squeeze bunt.
Roman Anthony hit into a run-scoring forceout in the seventh.
Texas’ Cody Bradford followed a one-inning opener with 4 1/3 shutout innings, seeking his first major league since Sept. 18, 2024. He missed last season following elbow surgery.
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Gray gave up three hits in 6 1/3 innings, throwing a season-high 102 pitches.
HOUSTON — Yordan Alvarez hit his 40th home run, one of five Houston long balls, and the Astros beat the Kansas City Royals 6-2 on Thursday night to move back over .500 and open a one-game lead over Texas in AL West.
Jeremy Peña hit a first-inning homer for Houston, and Daulton Varsho, Lamonte Wade Jr. and Taylor Trammell also had solo home runs as the Astros hit a season-high five.
Houston (77-76) moved back into sole possession of the lead when Texas (76-77) wasted an eighth-inning lead in a 4-3 loss to Boston. The Astros hold the tiebreaker.
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Peña reached 20 homers for the first time since his rookie season in 2022, connecting on the first pitch from Seth Lugo for his sixth leadoff home run this season. Peña added an RBI single in the sixth.
Varsho homered in the second, and Wade and Alvarez in a three-pitch span in the fifth. Alvarez is one home run behind Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero, the AL leader.
Bryan King (3-5) retired four straight batters. Ethan Pecko entered to start the third and allowed one run and three hits over 5 2/3 innings, retiring 15 of his first 16 batters.
Josh Hader pitched a 1-2-3 ninth, finishing a three-hitter and lowering his ERA to 0.83.
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Maikel Garcia hit a first-inning, run-scoring double play grounder for the Royals following a pair of walks and a hit batter.
Lugo (7-9) tied his career high by allowing four homers, all solo shots.
CHICAGO — Munetaka Murakami hit his team-leading 32nd home run and Chicago moved into a tie with idle Cleveland for first place in the AL Central with a win over Detroit.
Bryan Hudson (5-4), the second of four White Sox pitchers, got four outs for the win. Grant Taylor went the final 2 1/3 innings for his ninth save.
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Chicago rebounded from a 6-3 loss at Cleveland on Wednesday that knocked them out of a share of first for the first time since July 4. Both the Guardians and White Sox are 78-75.
The White Sox are trying to become the first team in MLB history to make the postseason after losing 100-plus games in each of the previous two seasons.
Gleyber Torres drove in the Tigers’ run in the third inning on a fielder’s choice.
Murakami’s three-run homer, a 423-foot three-run drive to center in the first, was just the Japanese rookie’s third in his last 28 games. He launched the first pitch he saw, a high sinker from Framber Valdez.
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Murakami also had a triple and struck out twice and is batting .111 in his last 28 games.
White Sox starter Erick Fedde allowed one run on four hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out six, walked two and hit a batter before Hudson relieved.
Valdez (10-11) yielded three runs on three hits in five innings. He struck out eight and walked four.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Drew Rasmussen pitched five scoreless innings and the Tampa Bay Rays opened a five-game AL East lead with a 10-1 win over the Athletics on Thursday that extended their winning streak to six.
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Liam Hicks, Chandler Simpson, Richie Palacios and Taylor Walls had two RBIs each for the AL-best Rays (93-59), who are assured of no worse than a wild card and are nearing their first AL East title since 2021. Simpson hit a go-ahead, two-run single in a six-run fourth.
Tampa Bay took three games from the A’s in its 16th series sweep, the most by a team since the 2022 Los Angeles Dodgers had 16. The Rays have 10 games left, including a four-game series next week at the second-place New York Yankees. They have won 10 of 12 and 16 of 23, moving 34 games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 2023 season.
Simpson had two hits and raised his batting average to an AL-best .311. He stole two bases, raising his AL-high total to 44.
Rasmussen (15-5) allowed four hits and two walks, stranding runners in scoring position in the third and fifth innings. Tampa Bay has won his last 11 starts, the most for a team behind an AL pitcher coming out of the All-Star break since Minnesota’s Johan Santana had 12 in 2006.
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Former Rays pitcher Jeffrey Springs (4-14) gave up six runs and five hits in 3 1/3 innings. He is 1-14 in 24 starts since opening 3-0 in his first four outings.
Athletics outfielder Lawrence Butler had two hits and homered in the sixth off Casey Legumina. A’s reliever Joe Rock became the team’s 60th player this season.
NEW YORK — Aaron Nola allowed three hits over seven innings and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Mets 3-0 Thursday night to tie the Chicago Cubs for the top NL wild card in a game interrupted by a scary collision that led to New York first baseman Jared Young being carted off the field.
Young was knocked down when pitcher Nolan McLean struck him on the head with a knee when the two converged for Justin Crawford’s slow grounder in the sixth. Young was motionless on the field after the collision and taken to a hospital. New York manager Andy Green said a CT scan was negative and Young had concussion symptoms.
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Nola (7-10) didn’t allow a hit until Nick Morabito singled with one out in the sixth. He struck out four and walked three, improving to 4-2 with a 2.07 ERA in his last 10 starts.
Jonathan Bowlan got two outs in the eighth before exiting due to right groin tightness with a 2-2 count on Francisco Lindor. Phillies manager Don Mattingly said Bowlan would be re-evaluated Friday.
Jhoan Duran pitched a one-hit ninth for his 32nd save in 34 chances, finishing the Phillies’ major league-high 19th shutout, the team’s most since 21 in 2011.
Philadelphia is 85-68, the same as the Cubs. The Phillies closed within four games of NL East-leading Atlanta (89-64).
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New York has been blanked 15 times, second-most in the major leagues behind Cincinnati’s 17.
Bryce Harper had an RBI single and Luis Arraez and Crawford had sacrifice flies.
McLean (11-10) allowed one run, seven hits and three walks in five innings while striking out five.
CINCINNATI — The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched their fifth consecutive NL West division title and 13th in the 14 seasons, sparked by four hits from Kyle Tucker that included a first-inning home run in an 8-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday.
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The two-time World Series champions already were assured of their 14th straight postseason appearance, trying the record Atlanta set from 1991 to 2005. Los Angeles (93-60) had clinched no worse than a wild-card berth on Monday.
Los Angeles opened a 9 1/2-game lead over second-place San Diego and has the second-best record in the NL as they try to overtake Milwaukee (95-58) for the top NL seed. The division clinching was the fourth earliest for the Dodgers after Sept. 10 in 2019, Sept. 13 in 2022 and Sept. 16 in 2023.
Tucker fell a triple short of the cycle and had three RBIs, hitting a single and a pair of doubles. He hit his 16th homer, a two-run drive in the first off Brady Singer, who allowed seven runs, nine hits and four walks in 3 1/3 innings.
Freddie Freeman’s sacrifice fly and Tucker’s RBI double boosted the lead in the second, and the Dodgers opened a 7-0 lead in the fourth on Max Muncy’s two-run double and Josue De Paula’s RBI single.
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Dodger left-hander Justin Wrobleski, making his 22nd start this season and first since Sept. 6, did not allow a baserunner in three innings while striking out three.
Wrobleski and Blake Treinen combined to retire their first 11 batters before Sal Stewart’s 32nd homer.
Landon Knack (1-0) allowed four hits over four scoreless innings for his first big league win since May 31 last year.
Miguel Rojas homered off Brandon Williamson in the ninth.
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Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said reliever Edwin Díaz (neck inflammation) finished his minor league injury rehabilitation assignment and will be activated this weekend.
DENVER — Xander Bogaerts homered and had an RBI triple during a seven-run second inning to help the San Diego Padres beat the reeling Colorado Rockies 9-2 on Thursday.
Bogaerts finished a single shy of the fourth cycle in Padres history. He had two chances but struck out looking in the sixth and swinging to lead off the ninth.
His big game was part of a 15-hit afternoon for the Padres, who took three of four from Colorado. San Diego moved four games ahead of idle Arizona for the last National League wild-card spot.
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Michael King (12-9) settled in after giving up a leadoff triple to Jake McCarthy and a run-scoring single to Connor Norby. King went six innings and allowed two runs in his staff-leading 31st start of the season.
Dustin Harris had three singles and drove in three runs to help the Padres win for the 10th time in 11 games. They finished with eight extra-base hits.
Colorado’s Tanner Gordon (1-5) allowed 10 hits and seven runs over three innings. His rough outing extended a streak of a Rockies starter failing to notch the win to 20 games.
It was an adventurous second inning for right fielder Zac Veen, who saw back-to-back hits to him turn into triples. He slid to catch Jackson Merrill’s looping ball near the line only to have it bounce off him. Bogaerts followed with a sinking liner and Veen trying to make a diving catch. The ball got by him and rolled to the wall.
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Colorado needs to go 7-2 the rest of the way to avoid becoming the first team with four straight 100-loss seasons since the 1962-65 New York Mets.
PITTSBURGH — Konnor Griffin hit a two-run single to key a five-run second inning and Henry Davis tacked on a two-run homer to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates over the NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers 7-4 on Thursday.
Milwaukee, a major league-best 95-58, leads the Los Angeles Dodgers by two games for the top NL seed and holds the tiebreaker.
Pittsburgh (76-77) is closing in on missing the playoffs for the 11th consecutive season. Since 1992, the Pirates’ only postseason appearances were from 2013-15.
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Griffin’s opposite-field liner to left to put the Pirates ahead 2-1. Oneil Cruz followed with a two-run single and Brandon Lowe was hit by a Kyle Harrison pitch with the bases loaded.
Bo Naylor hit into a run-scoring forceout in the sixth and had a solo homer in the eighth off Luke Weaver that followed Sal Frelick’s sacrifice fly.
Davis homered in the eighth against Andy Ashby.
Mason Montgomery got four outs for his 14th save in 16 chances, extending his scoreless innings streak to 21 2/3 innings.
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Harrison (10-5) allowed five runs — four earned — in 1 2/3 innings and in his last four outings has given up 24 runs over nine innings.
Khristian Curtis (2-0) gave up one run in 3 1/3 innings.
Brewers center fielder Garrett Mitchell was not in the lineup for a second straight game because of stiffness in the left side of his neck. He doubled as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning.
ANGELS 5, TWINS 4, 10 INNINGS
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ANAHEIM, Calif. — Mike Trout hit a tying RBI single in the 10th inning, and Wade Meckler followed with a winning RBI single to give the Los Angeles Angels a 5-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday night.
Minnesota rookie Walker Jenkins hit a two-out, two-run homer in top of the ninth for a 3-3 tie, and the Twins took a 4-3 lead in the 10th on Brooks Lee’s RBI single.
Kody Clemens’ sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third with one out, but Angels left-hander Blake Weiman (1-10) got Josh Bell to pop to second and, after intentionally walking pinch-hitter Ryan Jeffers, struck out Royce Lewis to end the inning.
Automatic runner Jose Siri took third on pinch-hitter Vaughn Grissom’s fly to left to open the bottom of the 10th. Zach Neto walked, Trout singled off Yoendrys Gomez (2-4) for a 4-4 tie, and Meckler singled off left-hander Kody Funderburk for the win.
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The Angels were one out away from a 3-1 victory after hard-throwing closer Ben Joyce struck out Emmanuel Rodriguez and Lewis to open the ninth, but Twins catcher Victor Caratini kept the inning alive with a single to center.
Jenkins, who entered Thursday with an .089 average and one homer in 16 big-league games, then drove a 101-mph fastball just beyond the glove of leaping center fielder Siri for a two-run shot that tied it at 3.
Minnesota’s late rally spoiled a superb start by Angels right-hander Walbert Ureña, who allowed four hits, struck out a career-high nine and walked none over seven shutout innings to lower his ERA to 2.74.
Twins starter Taj Bradley allowed three runs and five hits in seven innings, striking out nine and walking one, but the right-hander gave up four of those hits in a three-run first.
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