Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs are in a precarious spot after learning that a player from the Patriots, whom they played on Monday night, tested positive for COVID-19. Perhaps the biggest concern lies with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who spent about 30 seconds face-to-face after the game speaking with New England defensive back Stephon Gilmore, the player that reportedly tested positive Wednesday. The Raiders, their opponent this Sunday, also had to place a player on the COVID-19 list for players that test positive or who have been in close contact with someone else that tested positive.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Saturday's game between Missouri and No. 17 LSU has been moved to Missouri's home stadium and will be played in the morning because of Hurricane Delta. The Southeastern Conference announced the move on Wednesday. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement that moving the game was in the best interest of safety for Louisiana. The game will be played at 11 a.m. Central time in Columbia, Missouri, after being previously scheduled for Saturday night in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The conference is monitoring the hurricane's path and communicating with schools about its potential impact on other sports.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — New Iowa starting quarterback Spencer Petras grew up in the San Francisco Bay area and loves the Grateful Dead. When he's not trying to recruit teammates to be a Deadhead like him, he's preparing to take over for three-year starter Nate Stanley. With no spring practice because of the pandemic, Petras and his receivers went to local high school fields to work on passing drills and build chemistry. Petras has seen only mop-up duty the past two seasons, but the receiving corps returns 95 percent of its production from 2019. The Hawkeyes open Oct. 24 at Purdue.
UNDATED (AP) — Oklahoma and Texas are struggling on defense again, and it's cost both programs and the Big 12 Conference. The league's two marquee teams started off with national title hopes. Neither are where they expected to be as they prepare to meet Saturday at the Cotton Bowl. Texas is barely ranked at No. 22 and Oklahoma is out of the Top 25 for the first time since 2016. Oklahoma probably has no shot at the College Football Playoff after getting there the past three years and Texas likely would be out of the running with a loss.
UNDATED (AP) — The Red River rivalry game between No. 22 Texas and Oklahoma goes on even without the State Fair of Texas. The game will be played at Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas as usual, even with this year's fair called off because of the pandemic. The Longhorns and Sooners are both coming off a loss. That is one of only three Big 12 games being played Saturday. Big 12 rushing leader Breece Hall and No. 24 Iowa State are home against Texas Tech after beating the Sooners last week. Kansas State is at TCU. No. 10 Oklahoma State is one of four teams with an open date.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Winston Reid scored his first MLS goal in the 67th minute and Sporting Kansas City beat the Chicago Fire 1-0. Sporting Kansas City has won two straight matches. The Fire have lost two in a row. Goalkeepers Bobby Shuttleworth of Chicago and Tim Melia of Sporting KC each finished with two saves.
UNDATED (AP) — Southeastern Conference quarterbacks and receivers have been the big stars through two weekends of games. Not the ground games SEC teams have been know for. A look around the league shows only five running backs with 150-plus rushing yards. There are 14 players with at least that many receiving yards. Granted, the Big Ten and Pac-12 and others haven't started playing yet but the SEC still has five of the nation's top six quarterbacks in passing yards per game.
NEW YORK (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers and Buffalo Bills are the top four teams in the latest AP Pro32 poll. That's the same as last week. All four teams are 4-0. The Baltimore Ravens slipped a spot to round out the top five. Next are the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 6 and the Tennessee Titans at No. 7. Those teams had been scheduled to play each other last week but the game was postponed because of the Titans' COVID-19 outbreak.
Update on the latest sports
MLB-PLAYOFFS
Braves blank Marlins, Rays take control, A's avoid sweep
UNDATED (AP) — The Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers have moved within one victory of a showdown for the National League pennant.
Rookie Ian Anderson combined with four relievers on a three-hitter as the Braves blanked the Marlins, 2-0. Anderson struck out eight over 5 2/3 innings before the Atlanta bullpen tossed no-hit ball the rest of the way.
Atlanta is the third team in major league history and first since the 1966 Orioles to open a postseason with three shutouts in its first four games.
Dansby Swanson and Travis d'Arnaud (dahr-NOH') both homered for the second straight day to help the Braves take a 2-0 lead in the NL Division Series.
Marlins starter Pablo Lopez struck out eight and gave up three hits over five innings, including the two home runs.
The Braves can wrap up the series on Thursday.
The Dodgers also can finish up a three-game sweep on Thursday following a 6-5 win over the Padres.
Corey Seager delivered three hits for Los Angeles, including a two-run double in the third inning to put the Dodgers ahead to stay. Cody Bellinger padded the lead with a solo shot in the fourth and also robbed Fernando Tatis (tah-TEES') Jr. of a potential go-ahead, two-run home run in the seventh.
Clayton Kershaw was sailing until Manny Machado and Eric Hosmer hit back-to-back homers in the sixth. Kershaw got the win after allowing three runs and six hits over six innings.
Kenley Jansen gave up a pair of ninth-inning runs and Joe Kelly walked a pair before retiring Eric Hosmer with the bases loaded to end it.
Losing pitcher Zach Davies was reached for four runs and nine hits over five frames.
The Rays are up 2-1 in their AL Division Series after blasting three more home runs in an 8-4 trouncing of the Yankees.
Kevin Kiermaier provided the big blow with a three-run homer off losing pitcher Masahiro Tanaka to break a 1-1 tie. Randy Arozarena (ah-roh-zah-RAY'-nah) added a solo shot to chase Tanaka an inning later, and Michael Perez smacked a two-run shot against Chad Green in the sixth.
Charlie Morton gave Tampa Bay five strong innings, striking out six and allowing one earned run and four hits.
Giancarlo Stanton slammed a two-run blast in the eighth for the Yankees. He's the first player in major league history to homer in each of his first five games of a postseason.
The Rays can finish off the Bombers on Thursday.
The Oakland Athletics forced a Game 4 in their AL Division Series by downing the Houston Astros, 9-7. Chad Pinder supplied the Athletics' fifth and final home run of the day, a three-run blast in the seventh. The A's went ahead to stay in the eighth when Sean Murphy and Pinder lifted sacrifice flies.
Tommy La Stella, Mark Canha (KAN'-ah), Matt Olson and Marcus Semien also homered for the Athletics.
The Astros suffered their first loss of this postseason despite longballs from Jose Altuve (al-TOO'-vay) and Aledmys (ah-LEHD'-mees) Diaz.
MLB-PADRES
Clevinger taken off Padres' roster
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Mike Clevinger has been replaced by fellow pitcher Dan Altavilla on San Diego's playoff roster because of his elbow injury.
The move will keep Clevinger from pitching again this postseason unless the Padres make it to the World Series. That would also depend on if his ailing right elbow is healthy enough to get back on the mound. He went only two pitches into the second inning of the NL Division Series opener against the Dodgers on Tuesday night.
MLB NEWS
MLB to eliminate minor's ruling body
UNDATED (AP) — Major League Baseball will eliminate the separate ruling body of minor league baseball. It is moving governance of the farm teams to the commissioner's office in New York as it moves forward with plans to shrink affiliations from 160 to 120.
The Professional Baseball Agreement between MLB and the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues expired Sept. 30 without a successor deal following a year of acrimonious negotiations.
The National Association was founded in 1901.
In other baseball news:
— Indians manager Terry Francona has revealed he underwent several surgeries in a four-day span and spent time in intensive care while dealing with major health issues that sidelined him for most of this season. Francona missed 48 of Cleveland's 62 games during the pandemic-shortened season. The 61-year-old Francona hopes to manage next season.
— Reds president Dick Williams has resigned to pursue interests outside of baseball. The 50-year-old worked in Reds baseball operations for 15 years and has been president since 2016.
VIRUS OUTBREAK NFL
NFL investigates Titan's outbreak
UNDATED (AP) — The NFL's investigation into how Tennessee turned into the league's first COVID-19 outbreak found "several specific incidents" of the Titans possibly breaking protocols dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. That's according to a person with knowledge of the probe.
Also, the headmaster of a private school in Nashville confirmed to the AP that several Titans, including quarterback Ryan Tannehill, practiced there a day before the NFL first postponed Tennessee's game with Pittsburgh before rescheduling the game to Oct. 25.
The Titans' outbreak is now up to 22 people, with 20 positive tests returned since Sept. 29. Tennessee is set to host Buffalo next and already has had a game with Pittsburgh rescheduled.
Commissioner Roger Goodell warned all 32 teams that protocol violations forcing changes in the schedule could lead to forfeiting games.
The NFL is trying to play a full schedule amid the pandemic without isolating teams in bubbles as other sports have done.
In other virus-related developments in the NFL:
— The Chiefs are in a precarious spot after learning that a player from the Patriots tested positive for COVID-19, two days after Kansas City beat New England. Perhaps the biggest concern lies with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (mah-HOHMZ') , who spent about 30 seconds face-to-face after the game speaking with New England defensive back Stephon Gilmore, the player that reportedly tested positive Wednesday. The Raiders are the Chiefs' scheduled opponent this Sunday, but Las Vegas also had to place a player on the COVID-19 list.
— Aaron Rodgers and his Packers teammates won't get a chance to celebrate their fast start by leaving town during their week off. Players and coaches aren't allowed to leave the city where the team is located during the off week because they must provide daily specimens for COVID-19 testing. The rule also affects the Detroit Lions, who are in their bye week.
NFL NEWS
Washington benches Haskins for Allen
UNDATED (AP) — Dwayne Haskins is being benched by the Washington Football Team and replaced at quarterback by Kyle Allen for this week's game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Washington's team Twitter feed announced the QB switch, which comes after just four games under new head coach Ron Rivera. Washington is off to a 1-3 start and currently on a three-game losing streak.
Haskins was a first-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft out of Ohio State. He has thrown for 939 yards and has completed 61% of his passes this season, with four touchdowns and three interceptions.
In other NFL news:
— Broncos quarterback Drew Lock returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since injuring his throwing shoulder in a Week 2 loss at Pittsburgh. Brett Rypien (RIH'-pehn) who took the snaps with the starters while Lock eases his way back in after a 17-day layoff.
— Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (gah-RAH'-pah-loh) has returned to practice on a limited basis for the 49ers after missing two games with a sprained ankle. Head coach Kyle Shanahan isn't ready to reveal which backup will start in his place if Garoppolo isn't ready to play Sunday against the Dolphins.
— Jets quarterback Sam Darnold will sit out against the Cardinals on Sunday with his sprained right shoulder. Darnold was injured last Thursday night against Denver and is week to week. Coach Adam Gase says veteran Joe Flacco will get the start at home in Darnold's place.
— The NFL and the Saints are working on contingency plans for Monday night's scheduled game against the Los Angeles Chargers in New Orleans. The planning comes as forecasts indicate Hurricane Delta will come ashore on Louisiana on Friday. But some predictions take the storm as far west as the Texas border.
— The Jaguars have placed cornerback D.J. Hayden on injured reserve because of a hamstring injury.
— The Bills have put starting cornerback Levi Wallace on injured reserve and signed cornerback Cam Lewis off their practice squad.
NHL-MOVES
Trades start heating up at NHL draft as Penguins deal Murray
UNDATED (AP) — Trade action is heating up on the second day of the NHL draft.
The Pittsburgh Penguins got the action started by trading goaltender Matt Murray to the Ottawa Senators for forward prospect Jonathan Gruden and a second-round pick in the 2020 draft.
Murray became expendable when Pittsburgh rewarded All-Star Tristan Jarry with a three-year contract over the weekend.
Murray went 117-53-19 with a 2.67 goals against average and a .914 save percentage in five seasons with the Penguins, winning Stanley Cups in 2016 and '17.
In other NHL news:
— The Predators have traded center Nick Bonino to the Wild for forward Luke Kunin (KOO'-nihn). The swap also sends two picks to the Wild and one back to the Predators. Bonino tied for second on the Predators with 18 goals in 67 games this past season, while Kunin had 15 goals in 63 games for the Wild.
— Promising young forward Dominik Kahun (kah-HOON') is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent after the Sabres chose not to issue a qualifying offer to retain his rights. Kahun's agent told The Associated Press his client hasn't ruled out rejoining the team.
— Hockey Hall of Famer Guy Lafleur is facing a recurrence of lung cancer. The former Montreal Canadiens star underwent an operation in November 2019 to remove the upper lobe of a lung and lymph nodes. He's been closely monitored since by his medical team.
TENNIS-FRENCH OPEN
Kvitova serves up storm to reach 1st semifinal since 2012
PARIS (AP) — Fourth seed Sofia Kenin and No. 7 Petra Kvitova (kuh-VIH'-toh-vah) have advanced to the French Open semifinals.
Kenin was pushed to a third set for the fourth time in five matches at Roland Garros before coming away with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-0 win over fellow American Danielle Collins.
Kvitova rained down aces to earn a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Laura Siegemund and her first semifinal spot at Roland Garros since 2012.
On the men's side, Novak Djokovic (JOH'-koh-vihch) overcame a bothersome left arm and an early deficit to reach the semifinals at Roland Garros for the 10th time. The tournament's top-seeded man came back to beat Pablo Carreño Busta (seh-RAHN'-yoh BOOS'-tah), 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4
Stefanos Tsitsipas is into his first French Open semifinal. The fifth-seeded Greek player beat 13th-seeded Andrey Rublev 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 to avenge a loss in the Hamburg final less than two weeks ago.
Rafael Nadal faces Diego Schwartzman in the other men's semifinal.