MLB-SCHEDULE

Dodgers host Brewers in possible playoff preview

UNDATED (AP) — Clayton Kershaw starts at Dodger Stadium against Milwaukee Friday night to begin a season-ending, three-game series in a possible playoff preview.

The Brewers already have clinched the NL Central. The Dodgers are assured at least a wild-card spot. They’re trying to overtake San Francisco in the NL West.

Kershaw is 1-1 in three starts since missing more than two months with inflammation in his left forearm. Lefty Eric Lauer starts for Milwaukee. He’s 6-0 with a 1.89 ERA in eight career starts against the Dodgers.

Also on Friday night, the Yankees open a three-game series in the Bronx against the AL East-champion Rays. New York has a two-game wild-card lead over Boston, with Seattle and Toronto three games back. The Yankees’ magic number to clinch a postseason spot is two.

The Yankees have several stars on the mend as they jostle for a playoff spot. First baseman Luke Voit went on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a sore left knee. Infielder DJ LeMahieu (leh-MAY’-hyoo) was lifted in the sixth inning of Thursday night’s 6-2 win over the Blue Jays with right hip soreness. Outfielder Joey Gallo didn’t start the game after being hit by a pitch on the left forearm a day earlier.

T25 COLLEGE FOOTBALL-SCHEDULE

No. 5 Iowa faces test at Maryland; No. 13 BYU and Utah State battle for Wagon Wheel

UNDATED (AP) — Maryland can start 5-0 for the first time since 2001 when it hosts No. 5 Iowa on Friday night. The Terrapins also have a chance for their first 2-0 start in Big Ten play since joining the conference before the 2014 season.

Iowa will try to continue an impressive start to the season that has landed the Hawkeyes in the top five and given them legitimate playoff hopes. Maryland hasn’t beaten a top-five team since a victory over No. 5 Florida State in 2004.

No. 13 BYU and Utah State play for in-state bragging rights Friday night in Logan, Utah, and the coveted “Old Wagon Wheel.” It’s become an iconic part of this rivalry since 1948. The Cougars have been in control of the wagon wheel the last two seasons. The two teams didn’t play last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Utah State is 5-62 all-time against AP-ranked teams. The Cougars are the highest-ranked team to pay a visit to Maverik Stadium since No. 6 Boise State in 2009.

NFL-NEWS

Julio Jones, A.J. Brown, among 6 Titans out vs NY Jets

UNDATED (AP) — Wide receivers Julio Jones and A.J. Brown are among at least six Titans who won’t play Sunday against the New York Jets.

The Titans declared both of the Pro Bowl receivers out along with outside linebacker Bud Dupree, who didn’t play despite being dressed last week against the Colts.

Also out are three-time Pro Bowl punter Brett Kern, rookie cornerback Caleb Farley and defensive lineman Larrell Murchison, who was placed on injured reserve.

Running back Jeremy McNichols became the 14th player on the injury report Friday when limited at practice by a hamstring issue.

In other NFL news:

— The Chicago Bears will wait until game time to announce whether Andy Dalton or Justin Fields will be their starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against Detroit. Dalton is suffering from a bone bruise to his left knee while Fields wore a brace on his right hand all week at practice. Fields injured his right thumb during last weekend’s 26-6 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Dalton got hurt right before halftime in Week 2 against Cincinnati. The Bears are last in the NFL in offense and passing.

— The Buffalo Bills will be without safety Jordan Poyer and left guard Jon Feliciano for their game against the Houston Texans on Sunday. Poyer is sidelined by a left ankle injury, and Feliciano is out due to a concussion. Buffalo’s secondary also could be without nickel cornerback Taron Johnson, who is listed as questionable due to a groin injury.

— New York Jets fans have been clamoring the last few weeks for Denzel Mims to see the field again. The second-year wide receiver will get that opportunity Sunday against Tennessee. Coach Robert Saleh says Mims will be active for the game after the second-round pick from last year was a healthy scratch the past two weeks. Veteran wide receiver Jamison Crowder is also expected to make his season debut after missing the first game with COVID-19 and the last two with a groin injury. Elijah Moore and Jeff Smith were ruled out with concussions.

OHIO STATE-TEAM DOCTOR

Ohio State tallies over 2,800 instances of abuse by team doc

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio State University has now tallied over 2,800 instances of alleged, decades-old sexual misconduct by the late team doctor Richard Strauss, according to its latest campus crime data released Friday.

The school says more than 170 total instances of rape and more than 2,600 instances of fondling attributed to Strauss came to light between 2018 and 2020, much of that through a law firm investigation for the university and lawsuits filed against OSU. The 2020 data in the report adds dozens of instances of rape and about 470 instances of fondling attributed to Strauss, who died in 2005.

Hundreds of men allege he abused them at campus athletic facilities, a student health center, his home and or an off-campus clinic, and some of those men reported multiple instances. They say the school failed to stop Strauss despite students raising concerns during his 20 years at the university.

Ohio State has apologized, and it announced settlements with 185 plaintiffs totaling nearly $47 million and with dozens more people for amounts not yet disclosed.

A judge recently dismissed some of the biggest unsettled lawsuits, citing legal time limits. Other cases involving dozens more men are pending.

NWSL TURMOIL

NWSL calls off weekend games after allegations against coach

UNDATED (AP) — The National Women’s Soccer League won’t play the games scheduled for this weekend as it deals with the fallout from allegations of sexual misconduct against a former coach. The league did not specify whether the games were canceled or postponed.

North Carolina Courage coach Paul Riley was fired by the team following a report in The Athletic that detailed the alleged misconduct, which included claims from two former players of sexual coercion. Riley told The Athletic the allegations were “completely untrue.”

Riley was WPS Coach of the Year in 2011 and earned the same honors in the NWSL in 2017 and 2018. The Courage won the NWSL championship in 2018 and 2019.

The NWSL Players’ Association said Friday that it requested that this weekend’s games be postponed.

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