KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Paul DeJong hit a two-run homer, Seth Lugo allowed four hits over seven innings and the Royals beat the Angels 5-3 on Monday night. That extended Kansas City's streak to five consecutive wins. Salvador Perez had a pair of hits and also drove in three runs for the Royals. Lugo won his 14th game to move into a tie with the Braves’ Chris Sale and the Tigers’ Tarik Skubal for the big league lead. Carson Fulmer took the loss for the Angels, allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits and three walks in just four innings. Zach Neto homered and Jo Adell drove in a pair of runs for Los Angeles.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals reinstated right-hander John Schreiber from the injured list and optioned fellow reliever Carlos Hernandez to Triple-A Omaha before their series opener against the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night. Schreiber is 3-3 with a 4.13 ERA. He's been out since hurting the patellar tendon in his right knee while recording the third out of an inning against the Cubs on July 28. Schreiber was placed on the IL the following day. Hernandez has appeared in 15 games for Kansas City this season, going 0-1 with a 3.45 ERA. He pitched an inning apiece on Friday and Saturday as the Royals swept the Reds in Cincinnati.
NEW YORK (AP) — Francisco Alvarez hit a solo home run with one out in the ninth inning to give the New York Mets a 4-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. J.D. Martinez launched an early two-run shot and Tyrone Taylor had an RBI single as the Mets moved within 1 1/2 games of idle Atlanta for the last National League wild card. Ramón Urías hit a tying homer in the seventh for the Orioles, who dropped a half-game behind the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. The slumping Alvarez connected on a 3-0 fastball from Seranthony Domínguez for his first home run since July 26.
ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley will miss at least the rest of the regular season after breaking his right hand. Riley was struck Sunday by a 97 mph fastball from Los Angeles Angels starter Jack Kochanowicz in the first inning of Atlanta’s 3-1 victory. An MRI confirmed the fracture. The Braves said Monday that Riley will miss six to eight weeks, which knocks him out through the regular season and likely into the playoffs should the Braves qualify. The Braves have won six straight NL East titles, but that streak is in jeopardy after a rash of injuries. They trail Philadelphia by seven games.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs expect to have All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones, starting right guard Jawaan Taylor and All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney on the field when they open the regular season against the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 5. Jones and Taylor have been dealing with shoulder injuries and Thuney is coming back from a torn pectoral muscle. Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Monday none of those players will play in the preseason finale Thursday night against Chicago. Most of the starters played the first half in Saturday's preseason loss to Detroit.
UNDATED (AP) — The NFL’s new dynamic kickoff is achieving its goals in the preseason of raising the rate of return and the threat of big plays after years of increasing touchbacks. Whether that will carry over to the regular season when coaches might be more concerned with avoiding risk than testing out the new rule remains an open question. With the average start after kickoffs nearly reaching the 30, teams might opt to kick it deep and give up touchbacks to the 30 instead of risking giving up a long return. The NFL says it is “not likely” that the touchback will be moved to the 35 this season.
STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy has had enough of the distractions that come with this new era of college football. There’s so much to navigate now with the transfer portal and name, image and likeness deals. Gundy has drawn the line, and he’s excited to turn the focus to the Aug. 31 opener against South Dakota State. He told his players, "Tell your agent to quit calling us and asking for more money," and said negotiating time is over until December. No. 17 Oklahoma State should be a contender for the Big 12 title and a spot in the College Football Playoff.
UNDATED (AP) — Conference realignment has brought Oklahoma and Texas into the SEC, Oregon, Washington, UCLA and USC into the Big Ten and Utah, Arizona, Arizona State and Colorado into the Big 12. Because the conferences at the top are so loaded now, there will be more big games in league play. And with the new 12-team playoff, more late-season games will affect the national championship race than ever. No. 1 Georgia has three games against top six opponents and two more against the top 15. Defending champ Michigan plays Texas in the first truly huge matchup of the season.
UNDATED (AP) — Ohio State safety Caleb Downs is one of the second-ranked Buckeyes’ high-profile transfers. He and three of his new teammates have been selected to The Associated Press preseason All-America team. Downs was joined by guard Donovan Jackson, receiver Emeka Egbuka and cornerback Denzel Burke to give Ohio State the most first-team selections. No. 1 Georgia and No. 9 Michigan each had three players picked for the first team, including Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck.
BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) — Tyler Reddick took the lead on a restart in the second overtime to win at Michigan International Speedway, opening up another spot for a driver in NASCAR’s playoffs. Reddick is one of 12 drivers with a place secured in the postseason, leaving four spots available with races remaining at Daytona and Darlington. He also won at Talladega four months ago in his No. 45 Toyota for 23XI, the team owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan. The race at Michigan was suspended on Sunday after 51 laps because of rain and concluded Monday. William Byron was second and Ty Gibbs finished third.
MONDAY SCORES
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
INTERLEAGUE
Final N.Y. Mets 4 Baltimore 3
Final Cincinnati 6 Toronto 3
Final Texas 4 Pittsburgh 3
Final San Diego 5 Minnesota 3
Final San Francisco 5 Chicago White Sox 3
Final L.A. Dodgers 3 Seattle 0
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Kansas City 5 L.A. Angels 3
Final Houston 5 Boston 4
Final Oakland 3 Tampa Bay 0
NATIONAL LEAGUE