The Yankees have a magic number of one to clinch their 21st playoff berth in 25 years after Luis Severino worked four innings in his season debut, an 8-0 pounding of the Angels.
The two-time All-Star injured his shoulder while warming up before his first scheduled spring training appearance on March 5. Gleyber Torres belted a three-run homer and Didi Gregorius delivered a two-run double while New York put together a six-run fourth.
Marcus Stroman pitched seven shutout innings of four-hit ball and the Mets belted three homers in the sixth en route to a 6-1 victory at Colorado. Pete Alonso slammed his major league-leading 48th home run for New York, which also received round-trippers from Amed Rosario and Brandon Nimmo. The Mets won for the second time in five games and moved four games out of an NL playoff berth with 11 to play.
Mike Yastrzemski hit a solo homer in his first game where his grandfather played, and Alex Dickerson lifted a pinch-hit sacrifice fly in the 15th inning to send the Giants past the Red Sox, 7-6 in Boston. The 5-hour, 54-minute game featured a major-league record-tying 24 pitchers, including a team-record 13 by the Giants.
Rhys Hoskins and Jose Pirela hit two-run homers off Dallas Keuchel in a five-run fourth before the Phillies withstood a chaotic ninth inning to beat the Braves, 5-4. Vince Velasquez gave up two runs in the first before recovering with four straight scoreless innings to get the win. Adam Duvall led off the ninth with a homer off Phillies closer Héctor Neris, who later put runners on first and third with one out before posting his 27th save.
In St. Louis, Howie Kendrick fell a triple shy of the cycle and Patrick Corbin struck out 11 over six innings of the Nationals’ 6-2 decision over the Cardinals. Corbin didn’t allow an earned run and helped Washington open a 1 ½-game lead over the Cubs and Brewers for the first NL wild card. Victor Robles supplied a pair of RBI singles for the Nats.
In MLB news, Dellin Betances' season appears over after just eight pitches because of a partially torn the Achilles tendon in his left foot, an injury sustained when he hopped on the mound after striking out Brandon Drury on Sunday in his season debut at Toronto. The 31-year-old right-hander felt sore Tuesday and was sent for a scan that revealed the injury. He had been out since mid-March with shoulder and lat injuries.
The Yankees plan to activate Giancarlo Stanton on Wednesday or Thursday in an attempt to get the oft-injured outfielder ready for the playoffs. Stanton has been limited to nine games this season because of a strained biceps, shoulder, calf and knee. The four-time All-Star is hitting .290 with one home run and seven RBIs.
Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star closer Felipe Vázquez has been arrested on charges of pornography and soliciting a child. Vázquez was taken into custody by State Police on one count of computer pornography/solicitation of a child and one count of providing obscene material to minors. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement says it began investigating Vázquez in August after learning of an alleged sexual relationship between Vázquez and a 15-year-old girl living in Lee County, Florida. The girl allegedly received a video text message from Vázquez in July in which he was performing a sex act. Vázquez also allegedly texted the girl to ask if she wanted to meet for a sexual encounter after the baseball season. The Pirates said they have informed the MLB commissioner's office and expect Vázquez to be placed on administrative leave.
Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis has a broken hand and will miss the remainder of the season. The loss of Kipnis is another blow to Cleveland, which is chasing a wild-card playoff berth and has been ravaged by injuries all season. The Indians said Kipnis will need surgery and could take up to six weeks to recover.
The Braves have placed infielder Charlie Culberson on the 60-day injured list. Culberson's season ended when he was hit in the face by a pitch from Washington's Fernando Rodney.
Hall of Fame manager Whitey Herzog is recovering from a minor stroke. The 87-year-old Herzog became ill Monday at his charity golf tournament at Forest Hills Country Club in suburban St. Louis. The Cardinals say Herzog is "currently resting and doing well."
NFL
Eli Manning’s NFL career began when he took over for Hall of Famer Kurt Warner midway through the New York Giants’ 2004 season. Giants coach Pat Shurmur is making a quarterback change following the team’s 0-2 start, announcing that Daniel Jones is replacing Manning under center. Jones was taken by the Giants with the sixth overall pick in this year’s NFL draft and looked impressive during preseason. He started three seasons at Duke, completing 60% of his passes for 8,201 yards, 52 touchdowns and 29 interceptions before turning pro after his junior year. Manning led the Giants to Super Bowl titles following the 2007 and '11 seasons, beating Tom Brady and the Patriots both times. He’s broken every Giants career record for quarterbacks and has started all but one game since taking over for Warner 15 years ago.
Jets quarterback Trevor Siemian is out for the rest of the season with an ankle injury and Luke Falk will be New York's starter until Sam Darnold returns from mononucleosis. Siemian was injured in the second quarter of the Jets' 23-3 loss to the Browns on Monday night. Darnold hopes to return in Week 5 against the Eagles.
Saints quarterback Drew Brees says he is scheduled to undergo surgery on his throwing thumb tomorrow, adding that he'll dedicate himself to a rehabilitation process to get back to playing as quickly as he can. Brees tore a ligament in the right thumb when he made contact with Los Angeles defensive tackle Aaron Donald during the follow-through of a throw in Sunday’s loss to the Rams. Rehabilitation is estimated to take about six weeks, but that timeline could change after surgery.
Panthers quarterback Cam Newton sat out Tuesday’s practice and could miss Sunday's game at Arizona after the 2015 league MVP reaggravated a mid-foot sprain. Carolina coach Ron Rivera gave no timetable Tuesday for Newton’s potential return. Rivera said backup Kyle Allen would make his second career NFL start Sunday if Newton isn't able to play.
Two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey confirmed he wants out of Jacksonville and took shots at Jaguars coach Doug Marrone in a 16-minute interview session that added more confusion to an already-awkward situation. Ramsey insists he doesn't want to be a distraction as the Jaguars prepare to host Tennessee on Thursday night.
The Texans are changing punters after just two games, releasing Trevor Daniel and re-signing Bryan Anger. Daniel played all 16 games for Houston as a rookie last season and ranked 25th in yards per punt this year, averaging 43.5 yards. Houston signed Anger in the offseason but released him just before the start of the regular season.
The Lions have picked up Paul Perkins off waivers from the Giants and released fellow running back C.J. Anderson, who helped the Rams reach the Super Bowl last season. Anderson ran for 43 yards on 16 carries in two games as a backup to Kerryon Johnson. He has 3,497 yards rushing and 22 touchdowns in his career in Denver, Carolina, Los Angeles and Detroit.
A Guatemalan man convicted of drunken driving in a crash that killed Indianapolis Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson and his Uber driver has been sentenced to an additional 42 months in prison for illegally re-entering the U.S. after being deported. Federal prosecutors announced Tuesday that 38-year-old Manuel Orrego-Zavala will serve the additional time after he completes a 16-year state sentence handed down last September. He was convicted for the February 2018 crash that killed Jackson and Jeffrey Monroe.
NHL
Defenseman Brandon Carlo has signed a two-year extension to remain with the Boston Bruins. The deal will pay the 22-year-old $2.85 million per season. He had not been in camp since it opened last week and was the Bruins' last remaining unsigned free agent after Charlie McAvoy agreed to a three-year contract with an average annual value of $4.9 million.
NWHL
Miles Arnone and a group of investors have purchased the Boston Pride from the National Women's Hockey League, making it the only club with a private owner. The Buffalo Beauts previously were the only team with a private owner until Terry and Kim Pegula sold it back to the league in May. The NWHL hired a firm to help find owners for all five of its teams, which had been league-owned and managed.
WNBA
Alyssa Thomas had 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead a balanced Connecticut offense and the Sun opened the WNBA semifinals with an 84-75 win over the Los Angeles Sparks. Jasmine Thomas scored 19 points, Jonquel Jones had 16 and and Courtney Williams had 15 for the Sun, who won their first playoff game since 2012.
In WNBA news, the New York Liberty won the WNBA lottery on Tuesday night and will have the first pick in next spring's draft. It's the first time in franchise history that the Liberty will have the first pick. The team had a 44.2% chance of winning the lottery after finishing with the worst combined record over the past two years. New York had the No. 2 pick last season and drafted Asia Durr. Dallas will pick second, Indiana third and Atlanta fourth.
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