Lionel Messi suffers knee injury

Saints QB Brees to miss Sunday's game at Carolina (Yahoo Sports)

Drew Brees will be sidelined for New Orleans’ game at Carolina on Sunday, when the Saints will try to avoid falling to 0-3. Brees, who is recovering from a bruised rotator cuff in his right (throwing) shoulder, will be replaced in the lineup by 12-year veteran Luke McCown, Saints coach Sean Payton said Friday. Payton said resting Brees this weekend was not a difficult decision.

Saints QB Brees to miss Sunday's game at Carolina (Yahoo Sports)

Drew Brees will be sidelined for New Orleans’ game at Carolina on Sunday, when the Saints will try to avoid falling to 0-3. Brees, who is recovering from a bruised rotator cuff in his right (throwing) shoulder, will be replaced in the lineup by 12-year veteran Luke McCown, Saints coach Sean Payton said Friday. Payton said resting Brees this weekend was not a difficult decision.

World Series champ Giants lose to A's, out of wild-card race (Yahoo Sports)

The San Francisco Giants ate their postgame meal in an eerie silence, the defending World Series champions’ playoff hopes all but over. San Francisco was eliminated from wild-card contention Friday night, losing to Sonny Gray and the Oakland Athletics 5-4 and helping send the Chicago Cubs into the postseason for the first time since 2008. The Giants trail the NL-West leading Dodgers by eight games with nine to go, and

World Series champ Giants lose to A's, out of wild-card race (Yahoo Sports)

The San Francisco Giants ate their postgame meal in an eerie silence, the defending World Series champions’ playoff hopes all but over. San Francisco was eliminated from wild-card contention Friday night, losing to Sonny Gray and the Oakland Athletics 5-4 and helping send the Chicago Cubs into the postseason for the first time since 2008. The Giants trail the NL-West leading Dodgers by eight games with nine to go, and

Barcelona's Messi hurts left knee, asks to be substituted (Yahoo Sports)

Lionel Messi asked to be substituted in the eighth minute after hurting his left knee during Barcelona’s Spanish league match against Las Palmas on Saturday. Messi went down after colliding with Las Palmas defender Pedro Bigas in the third minute. Following medical attention, the Argentina star went back on, but two minutes later asked to be replaced.

Barcelona's Messi hurts left knee, asks to be substituted (Yahoo Sports)

Lionel Messi asked to be substituted in the eighth minute after hurting his left knee during Barcelona’s Spanish league match against Las Palmas on Saturday. Messi went down after colliding with Las Palmas defender Pedro Bigas in the third minute. Following medical attention, the Argentina star went back on, but two minutes later asked to be replaced.

Ex-top pick Bennett expected to join Raptors, report

Former first overall draft pick Anthony Bennett is expected to sign a deal with his hometown Toronto Raptors after clearing NBA waivers on Friday, American sports network ESPN reported. Bennett, who became the first Canadian to be taken number one overall when he was picked by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2013 draft, could join the Raptors next week after being waived by the Minnesota Timberwolves. The 22-year-old was scheduled

Ex-top pick Bennett expected to join Raptors, report

Former first overall draft pick Anthony Bennett is expected to sign a deal with his hometown Toronto Raptors after clearing NBA waivers on Friday, American sports network ESPN reported. Bennett, who became the first Canadian to be taken number one overall when he was picked by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2013 draft, could join the Raptors next week after being waived by the Minnesota Timberwolves. The 22-year-old was scheduled

Cubs reach postseason despite losing to Pirates

The Pirates (94-60) moved 4 1/2 games ahead of the Cubs (89-64) with eight regular-season games to play, but Chicago clinched a postseason berth when the Oakland A’s defeated the San Francisco Giants 5-4 later that night. Pirates right-hander Gerrit Cole (18-8) worked seven full innings for the win in a tight duel with Cubs left-hander Jon Lester, who also worked seven innings and fell to 10-12 with the loss.