SPORTS HEADLINES

Skubal to Dodgers, Peralta to Rays as MLB teams add pitching at trade deadline

Two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal is on the move to the Los Angeles Dodgers, giving the two-time defending champions even more talent on a loaded roster. Right-hander Freddy Peralta is switching teams, too, as the Tampa Bay Rays beef up their rotation. Major League Baseball’s trade deadline is less than 24 hours away on Monday at 6 p.m. EDT and two of the biggest prizes are already off the board. But other enticing options still remain, including Padres closer Mason Miller, Giants second baseman Luis Arraez and Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho.

The Tigers face a difficult challenge after trading ace Tarik Skubal to the Dodgers

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The Detroit Tigers said their goodbyes to ace Tarik Skubal and now must turn their focus to an uncertain final two months of the season as they try to make a playoff push without their best player. The Tigers traded the two-time reigning AL Cy Young Award winner to the Los Angeles Dodgers for three minor league prospects. Moving on without Skubal is the ultimate challenge. The ninth-round draft pick in 2018 developed into one of the best pitchers in baseball, winning the Cy Young in 2024 and ’25 and posting a 2.40 ERA over the past three seasons.

Shiho Kuwaki of Japan wins the Women’s British Open on second playoff hole

LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England (AP) — Shiho Kuwaki has added her name to the growing list of Japanese players to win LPGA majors. The 23-year-old Kuwaki won the Women’s British Open with a par on the second playoff hole over Esther Henseleit of Germany on Sunday. Kuwaki shot a 70 in the final round at Royal Lytham & St. Annes. She looked like a winner until Henseleit dramatically holed a 40-foot birdie putt on the 18th for a 70 to force only the second playoff since the Women’s British Open became a major in 2001. Henseleit hit under a gorse bush and made bogey on the second hole.

British prime minister says Infantino is not the right man to lead FIFA

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham says FIFA President Gianni Infantino is not the right man to lead world soccer’s governing body in the latest fallout from the now abandoned plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. On Saturday European soccer’s governing body UEFA said it had lost confidence in FIFA’s leadership. The governing body for North and Central American and Caribbean soccer said FIFA leadership had “stopped putting football first.” Infantino was forced into a backdown over his controversial plans to sell World Cup profits through a commercial subsidiary that would run its top competitions.

Mets trade pitcher Freddy Peralta to Rays for 3 minor leaguers

NEW YORK (AP) — The first-place Tampa Bay Rays gave their starting rotation a boost, acquiring pitcher Freddy Peralta from the struggling New York Mets for three minor leaguers. Peralta is a two-time All-Star who can become a free agent this fall. He has been a disappointment for the last-place Mets after they acquired him from Milwaukee in a January trade. But he could help a strong pitching staff with the Rays, who have the best record in the American League. The Mets receive outfielder Aidan Smith, infielder Émilien Pitre and right-hander Gary Gill Hill in exchange for Peralta. The move came a day before baseball’s trade deadline at 6 p.m. EDT on Monday.

Sparks send Kelsey Plum to Mercury for a 2026 1st-round pick and Monique Akoa Makani

The Los Angeles Sparks have traded All-Star guard Kelsey Plum to the Phoenix Mercury for a first-round pick next year, Monique Akoa Makani and a second-round draft choice in 2028. The deal went through late Saturday night ahead of Sunday’s trade deadline. It’s the fourth time a WNBA All-Star has been traded in the middle of the season. Plum will wear No. 0 for the Mercury. She is a free agent at the end of this season and has been sidelined since June 21 because of a lower leg injury. She had been expected to play Sunday in the Sparks’ game against Portland before getting traded.

The Steelers want a physical camp. Mike McCarthy’s answer: Thud up, no tackling

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy is bringing a different mindset to his first training camp in Pittsburgh. McCarthy is banning tackling during practice, a marked departure from former Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. McCarthy says the decision is about minimizing injury risk, adding that his philosophy has evolved in lockstep with changes in the NFL over the years. McCarthy believes in refining tackling techniques without full contact, using tools like GPS and video analysis to help players learn how to tackle the right way. The players say they’re on board with the decision, adding they can still be physical without taking each other to the ground.

Alex Palou, Alexander Rossi provide rave reviews after 1st weekend of testing the new IndyCars

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Alex Palou and Alexander Rossi were sold on the new IndyCar at first glance. Then they climbed inside the cockpit, took it around Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course and were even more impressed. Palou, the four-time series champ, and Rossi, the 2016 Indianapolis 500 winner, became the first drivers to test the new IndyCar models this weekend, and both gave the car rave reviews.

A’s slugger Nick Kurtz will see a specialist about his injured right thumb

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Athletics slugger Nick Kurtz will see a hand specialist in Los Angeles on Monday about his injured right thumb and could be headed to the injured list. Kurtz went on the injured list with a sprained right thumb on July 11 and returned two weeks later. But he has struggled at the plate since then, going 1 for 18 in seven games since returning to the lineup. Kurtz was also hit on the left forearm with a pitch on Wednesday night but was able to return to the lineup for the next two games.

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