HOUSTON (AP) — A key late-season matchup between pennant contenders is on tap tonight in Houston, where the first-place Astros of the American League’s Central Division play host to the National League’s East Division-leading Washington Nationals. Tanner Roark takes the mound for Washington against Houston’s Charlie Morton in the first of a three-game series.
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — In a West Coast game Monday night, Adrian Beltre hit a three-run homer and Cole Hamels pitched seven effective innings as the Texas Rangers cooled off the Los Angeles Angels with a 5-3 victory. The loss dropped the Angels, who had won nine of 11, a half-game back of Minnesota in the race for the second AL wild card.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Rookie Chris Stratton pitched six innings to run his scoreless streak to 12 2/3 innings his past two outings, and the San Francisco Giants stymied the contending Milwaukee Brewers with a 2-0 win. It was a night of missed chances as Milwaukee, which had won two in a row and six of seven, dropped 2 1/2 games back of the idle, NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Panthers coach Ron Rivera is chomping at the bit to get his full contingent of offensive players on the football field. That might just happen this week. Quarterback Cam Newton and wide receiver Curtis Samuel, the team’s rookie second-round draft pick, are on pace to play Thursday night against the Jacksonville Jaguars after missing the first two preseason games rehabbing from injuries. Two-time All-Pro center Ryan Kalli also practiced Monday after sitting out two games with a shoulder injury and could play.
CLEVELAND (AP) — Odell Beckham Jr. didn’t point fingers or make accusations. After possibly dodging a major injury, New York’s flashy wide receiver calmly moved on. Beckham sprained his left ankle on a questionable hit in the first half of the Giants’ 10-6 exhibition loss to the Cleveland Browns Monday night. After receiving an 18-yard pass from quarterback Eli Manning, Beckham was undercut by Browns cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun, who drove his shoulder and helmet into the star receiver’s left leg.
