HOUSTON (AP) — Backs against the wall — occasionally by their own doing — these Boston Red Sox proved hard to pin down.

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves know what happened last October and want to avoid a repeat. The Los Angeles Dodgers plan on an encore.

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (AP) — Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby still isn’t sure when he will be cleared to return after he had left wrist surgery last month.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Tensions are high at every level of NASCAR as its grueling, 11-month season enters the homestretch with three weeks remaining to crown three series champions.

All Times Eastern NASCAR CUP SERIES Hollywood Casino 400

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Matt Canada keeps insisting he’s got the best job in America. The first-year Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator has quickly learned it might also be among the most scrutinized, at least in his chosen profession.

For the NBA’s 75th anniversary team, 75 players weren’t enough.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Penn State coach James Franklin originally planned to practice with two quarterbacks this week, neither named Sean Clifford.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Kenny Pickett didn’t return to Pittsburgh for one last run to launch a dark horse Heisman Trophy campaign. Or to zoom past the likes of Hall of Famer Dan Marino in the school record books. Or to cash in on name, image and likeness deals so he could treat his offensive linem…

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dodgers opener Joe Kelly gave up a two-run homer to Atlanta’s Freddie Freeman in the first inning and soon exited with tightness in his right biceps Thursday night as Los Angeles tried to avoid elimination in Game 5 of the NL Championship Series.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin says he still hasn’t received any “clarity” on why replay officials halted play in the final seconds of regulation last Sunday against Seattle.

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Kyle Larson was willing to play it smart in the closing laps at Texas. He also had a fast car that stayed in front through all of the restarts to secure the first of the four championship-contending spots in NASCAR’s season finale.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin insists there is nothing “mystical” to the way outside linebacker T.J. Watt goes about his business.

BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — Kenny Pickett threw two touchdown passes and rushed for a score to lead Pittsburgh to a 28-7 victory over Virginia Tech on Saturday.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Trailing 2-0 in the NL Championship Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers have the Atlanta Braves right where they want them. At their house.

Adam Silver, the basketball fan, would prefer to see Kyrie Irving on the court again with the Brooklyn Nets as soon as possible.

Cincinnati moved up to No. 2 behind Georgia in The Associated Press college football poll Sunday, the first time a team from outside the traditional power conferences has been ranked that high since 2010.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — It only took about a day after Chase Elliott wished Kevin Harvick “a merry offseason and Happy Christmas” for NASCAR’s reigning champion to get the zinger on merchandise on his official website.

First things first for Mikaela Shiffrin: She is certain she wants to participate in every individual women’s Alpine ski race at the Beijing Olympics.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Bobby Wagner has seen the highlights of what happens when Najee Harris gets in space and there’s a defender within arm’s reach.

The Pittsburgh team playing at Virginia Tech on Saturday looks nothing like the one that was blanked 28-0 in its last visit two seasons ago.

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — First came the woman, then the fastest cars in racing.

A professional race car driver by day and drummer in a band by night, California surfer Colton Herta is as Gen Z as you ever will see.

All Times Eastern NASCAR CUP SERIES Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A wide receiver will line up in the slot for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night against Seattle. They will find a pass headed their way on third down. They will go over the middle looking to deliver as much punishment as they receive.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Tim Weah scored on a shot that deflected off the goalkeeper in the 66th minute after Sergiño Dest started the comeback from a first-minute deficit, and the United States rallied past Costa Rica 2-1 on Wednesday night to ease pressure as World Cup qualifying neared the h…

CHICAGO (AP) — It was Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and Alex Bregman once again.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — JuJu Smith-Schuster’s combination of tenacity and almost theatrical joy endeared the wide receiver to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ coaching staff since the moment he arrived in 2017 as the youngest player in the NFL.

The NFL schedule isn’t even a quarter complete, thanks to the expansion of the season to 17 games. Already, though, there’s all sorts of chatter — some of it actually reasoned — about what’s ahead. And what’s occurred.

Drew Doughty needs a refresher going into his 13th NHL season.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Ricardo Pepi and the young Americans saw a red, white and blue crowd, a scene seldom at past U.S. World Cup qualifiers, then dominated Jamaica behind the new 18-year-old sensation and moved into first place.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Ryan Blaney wanted a leadership role at Team Penske, a request granted when Roger Penske invited the driver to participate in interviews for Blaney’s new crew chief.

Jimmie Johnson’s “childhood dream came true” on Wednesday when he drove an Indy car on the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval for the first time.

All Times Eastern NASCAR CUP SERIES Bank of America Roval 400

MONTREAL (AP) — Canadiens goaltender Carey Price has voluntarily entered the NHL/NHL Players’ Association joint player assistance program, a stunning announcement Thursday less than a week before start of the season and just three months after the former NHL MVP backstopped Montreal to the S…

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The last time Penn State and Iowa met at Kinnick Stadium, both were among the top three teams in the nation in scoring defense and the Nittany Lions won 17-12.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The number of Ben Roethlisberger doubters is growing by the week. Roethlisberger isn’t among them. Neither is Denver Broncos coach Vic Fangio.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Zach Banner’s mind is eager to get back to work and help the Pittsburgh Steelers’ completely retooled offensive line find some semblance of identity.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ben Roethlisberger’s left pectoral remains tender. His hip is apparently some unidentifiable shade of black and blue. His numbers aren’t great. His team’s record is even worse.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington believes the franchise is starting to take the shape he envisioned when he took over two years ago.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mike Tomlin admits Ben Roethlisberger can’t move around and extend plays like he used to. The Pittsburgh Steelers coach doesn’t believe that’s reason enough to move on from his team’s longtime quarterback during a 1-3 start.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Derek Shelton believes the Pittsburgh Pirates are already winning in the clubhouse.

TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) — The hard part wasn’t dodging his way around a crash and then driving to the front of the field at Talladega Superspeedway. That was just instinct for Bubba Wallace.

NEW YORK (AP) — The major league batting average dropped to .244 this season, its lowest since the year of the pitcher in 1968, though offense picked up markedly following baseball’s midseason crackdown on grip-enhancing substances for pitchers.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers and Ben Roethlisberger made very intentional choices last winter.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jacksonville Jaguars coach Urban Meyer apologized to his family, his team and owner Shad Khan for actions he called “just stupid.”

ATLANTA (AP) — Kenny Pickett pumped his Heisman Trophy candidacy as Pitt dominated Georgia Tech 52-21.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Denny Hamlin will reach the third round of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs next month having faced the make-or-break pressure of the postseason only twice.