The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox were scheduled to be the first two teams playing after the All-Star break. Instead, they could be the last. The clubs were supposed to open a four-game series Thursday in the Bronx, but the game was postponed following positive COVID-19 tests among three Yankees pitchers.Jonathan Loaisiga, Nestor Cortes Jr. and Wandy Peralta were the players who tested positive. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said all three pitchers are fully vaccinated. Cashman expects three other players to test positive. Friday's game is also in jeopardy. This was the eighth COVID-related postponement this season but the first in nearly three months.
In other MLB news:
Seattle Mariners pitcher Héctor Santiago's 10-game suspension has been upheld by MLB special adviser John McHale Jr. Santiago will start serving the suspension Friday, when the Mariners open their post-All-Star break schedule at the Los Angeles Angels. Santiago became the first player suspended under MLB's crackdown on unauthorized sticky substances. Santiago also was fined.
Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale had an encouraging outing Thursday as he tries to return to the majors for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery in March 2020. He threw three scoreless innings for the FCL Red Sox at the FCL Orioles Orange, his first competitive action in almost two years. The 32-year-old left-hander allowed four hits and struck out five.
Canada's deputy chief public health officer says the Blue Jays' return to their home ballpark is "trending in a very good direction," although he would not say when an announcement would be made about the Blue Jays' return to Rogers Centre. The Blue Jays have played their home games this year in Dunedin, Florida, and Buffalo, New York, because the U.S.-Canada border remains closed to nonessential travel. Major League Baseball needs an exemption for games to be played in Canada because not all players and team staff have been vaccinated against COVID-19.
GOLF
Louis Oosthuizen is the first-round leader at the British Open, one shot ahead of Jordan Spieth and Brian Harman. Oosthuizen opened with a 6-under 64, saving par from a fairway bunker on No. 18 to tie the Royal St. George's record. The South African opened with seven straight pars and followed with six birdies in his next nine holes. Stewart Cink and Webb Simpson are at minus-4, as are Mackenzie Hughes, Dylan Frittelli, and Benjamin Hebert. PGA champion Phil Mickelson opened with an 80. That's his worst start in 27 appearances at the British Open and it left him in a tie for last place.
OLYMPICS
Friday's Olympic men's basketball tuneup between the United States and Australia in Las Vegas has been canceled due to health and safety protocols. USA Basketball cited "an abundance of caution" in making the decision. The news followed word that Washington Wizards All-Star guard Bradley Beal would miss the Tokyo Games after being placed into health and safety protocols. USA forward Jerami Grant has also been placed in health and safety protocols. The Americans are still slated to play Spain on Sunday. Friday's women's game between the US and Australia will be played as scheduled.
THOROUGHBRED RACING
New York Racing Association CEO David O’Rourke says NYRA is still deciding how to respond to a federal judge’s decision to nullify NYRA’s suspension of trainer Bob Baffert. Baffert was suspended after Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit failed a postrace drug test, but a judge found NYRA failed to let Baffert adequately respond to the claims before doling out the suspension. The decision came on the eve of Opening Day at Saratoga Race Course Thursday.
"Obviously we were all here trying to get this place open. [The ruling is] 28 pages. Once we get going here, we're gonna go through it with the legal team, and we'll figure out what next steps are," says O'Rourke.
On Thursday, Golden Pal won the Grade III, $120,000 Quick Call, while Pretty Birdie took the $150,000 Schuylerville.
NFL
The Carolina Panthers have agreed to a four-year, $72 million deal with offensive tackle Taylor Moton, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person told The Associated Press that the deal includes $43 million in guaranteed money. The deal was reached about an hour before the 4 p.m. league-wide deadline for signing franchise players to long-term deals. If a deal had not been reached, Moton would have had to play the season under a one-year contract worth $13.7 million under the franchise tag. Moton has started all 16 games in each of the past three seasons at right tackle and has been the team's top offensive lineman during that span.
In other NFL news:
A King County District Court Judge has ordered free agent defensive back Richard Sherman released from jail without bail following his arrest on suspicion of trying to break in to his in-laws' home. The judge found probable cause that Sherman committed criminal trespassing, malicious mischief, driving under the influence and resisting arrest. A police report obtained by The Associated Press says Sherman's father-in-law armed himself with a handgun and fired pepper-spray at the NFL cornerback to protect his family as Sherman tried to bust in the door of his in-laws' home.
Four NFL teams remain under 50% vaccinated less than two weeks from the start of training camp. That's according to a person familiar with the vaccination rates who tells The Associated Press that Washington, Indianapolis, Arizona and the Los Angeles Chargers had the four lowest COVID-19 vaccination rates in the league as of Thursday. Pittsburgh, Miami, Carolina and Denver have the highest vaccination rates and are among seven teams that have achieved at least 85%. About 70% of players have been vaccinated.
NHL
Dallas Stars goaltender Ben Bishop has waived his no-movement clause to be exposed in the Seattle expansion draft after approaching the team with the idea. The move allows Dallas to protect veteran goalie Anton Khudobin from the Kraken. Young goalie Jake Oettinger is exempt from the draft. Bishop missed last season recovering from right knee surgery. The 34-year-old Bishop is signed for two more seasons at an annual salary cap hit of $4.9 million.
In other NHL news:
The Panthers have bought out the remainder of veteran defenseman Keith Yandle's contract. Yandle was signed for two more seasons at a salary cap hit of $6.35 million. The 34-year-old holds the longest active ironman streak in the NHL at 922 consecutive regular-season games played.
The Avalanche have sent veteran defenseman Ryan Graves to the Devils for forward Mikhail Maltsev and a second-round selection this year. With Graves gone and Erik Johnson agreeing to waive his no-movement clause, the Avalanche can protect defensemen Devon Toews, Cale Makar and Samuel Girard in next week's expansion draft.
Blue Jackets goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks was hailed as a friend and hero during a memorial service for the player who died on the Fourth of July from an errant fireworks mortar blast. Authorities have said the firework at a private home northwest of Detroit tilted slightly and started to fire toward people nearby. Kivlenieks was in a hot tub and was trying to move out of the way of the firework when he was struck.
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