AP – Sports
July 13, 2026
Neither France nor Spain has trailed at this year’s World Cup, but only one can reach the final
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Kylian Mbappé and France haven’t trailed at all at this year’s World Cup. Neither has Spain with teenage sensation Lamine Yamal. Only one can reach the final. France and Spain play Tuesday in the first of two powerhouse semifinal matches. France has outscored its opponents 14-2, with Mbappé matching Lionel Messi’s eight goals for the scoring lead at the tournament. Spain has outscored opponents 10-1, with Mikel Merino scoring decisive goals as a substitute in the last two games. This is the first World Cup since 1990 that each of the final four teams are former champions. Defending champion Argentina and England play in the other semifinal match.
Kyle Schwarber of host Phillies will lead off for NL in All-Star Game
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Kyle Schwarber of the host Philadelphia Phillies will lead off for the National League in Tuesday night’s All-Star Game as the replacement for designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, who is skipping the showcase to have a knee procedure ahead of the season’s second half. New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice and outfielder Cody Bellinger, and Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene gained American League starting spots because of injuries. Rice, third in the major leagues with 29 home runs, starts at first base because Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is skipping the game to rest a bad back. Guerrero’s initial replacement, the Athletics’ Nick Kurtz, sprained a thumb.
The heat is on: The average MLB fastball velocity is up for the 6th straight year to 94.7 mph
NEW YORK (AP) — Major league pitchers are throwing harder than ever. Four-seam fastballs averaged 94.7 mph through Saturday, up from 94.5 mph last year, 93.7 mph in 2021 and 91.9 mph when Major League Baseball first started tracking in 2008. The average was 94.4 mph for the first half of 2025, and this year’s final figure could increase by a tick. Six pitchers are at 100 mph in average four-seam velocity led by a pair of relievers, the Athletics’ Mason Miller (101.3 mph) and the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Edgardo Henriquez (100.6 mph).
Josh Allen is voted the NFL’s top quarterback by AP writers
Josh Allen was voted the NFL’s top quarterback by The Associated Press in a preseason survey. The 2024 AP NFL Most Valuable Player beat out Patrick Mahomes, who earned the top spot each of the three previous seasons. Allen received five first-place votes from a panel of eight AP pro football writers, who ranked the top five quarterbacks entering the 2026 season. First-place votes were worth 10 points. Second through fifth-place votes were worth 5, 3, 2 and 1 points.
A midseason mystery for the New York Liberty, despite a 2nd Commissioner’s Cup title
NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA season is at its midway point and no team has been more of a mystery than the New York Liberty. The Liberty have proven they can beat the elite teams in the league with victories over Minnesota and Las Vegas. New York became the first team to win the Commissioner’s Cup championship twice. They’ve also shown inconsistencies with losses to Seattle, Toronto and Portland. Injuries have caused problems again for New York as prized free agent acquisition Satou Sabally has been limited to 13 games so far. The Liberty also missed guard Sabrina Ionescu for the early part of the season.
Jordan Spieth returns to Royal Birkdale looking for the magic that made him a British Open champion
SOUTHPORT, England (AP) — Perhaps even more astonishing than the way Jordan Spieth won the British Open at Royal Birkdale is what followed. He won the claret jug nine years ago. He was still 23 and had three legs of the career Grand Slam. Spieth is still stuck on three majors in his return to Royal Birkdale this week. And he has won only two times on the PGA Tour. Spieth says that Open victory gave him a blueprint of how to be his best. And he still believes he can get back to that level. The frustration has been waiting on the results.
Jannik Sinner keeps evolving his game. Just like Federer, Nadal and Djokovic before him
LONDON (AP) — Jannik Sinner’s Wimbledon triumph over Alexander Zverev showcased the new variety in his game. He keeps evolving just like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic did before him. The variety of shots were what Sinner’s two coaches appreciated most from their player. Co-coach Darren Cahill says “we saw a lot of the stuff he doesn’t normally like doing” like “sliced backhands, a couple lobs, couple drop shots. Really stepping up when he needed to in the big moments.” It was Sinner’s fifth Grand Slam title so he narrowed the gap to Carlos Alcaraz’s seven.
Ryan Blaney is only 65 points out of NASCAR’S points lead following dominant weekend in Atlanta
HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) — Ryan Blaney raced like Richard Petty in a dominant performance at EchoPark Speedway. Blaney drove like NASCAR’s King while ruling the Cup Series race from qualifying through every stage in a weather-delayed victory which left the Team Penske Ford driver in contention for the points championship. Blaney won every stage after starting on the pole and led 171 laps in his win. The 171 laps led are the most at a drafting-style track since Petty led 184 of 200 laps for his first Daytona 500 win in 1964. Blaney is third in the points race, only 65 behind Denny Hamlin.
Struggling Athletics dismiss pitching coach Scott Emerson following 9th straight loss entering break
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The struggling Athletics have dismissed pitching coach Scott Emerson. The team announced bullpen coach Dan Hubbs will serve as interim pitching coach for the remainder of the season. Sunday’s 9-1 loss at the Chicago White Sox left the Athletics with a nine-game losing streak entering the All-Star break. The Athletics’ 5.21 ERA ranks next to last in the major leagues, ahead of only Colorado’s 5.44 mark. At 41-55, the Athletics are fourth in the AL West. Emerson joined the Athletics in 2014 as bullpen coach and was promoted to pitching coach in 2017.
McGregor outlines plan for surgery, rehab and another fight following knee injury against Holloway
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Conor McGregor has disclosed his plan for surgery, rehabilitation and another fight following his knee injury in his shortened UFC 329 fight with Max Holloway. McGregor outlined his play to “Go again” to the final fight of his contract in his post on Instagram. McGregor’s first fight in five years lasted only a little longer than one minute because of a knee injury sustained while attempting an opening roundhouse kick on Saturday. McGregor’s return to the octagon was highly anticipated but ended in disappointment when he awkwardly landed on his right knee in the opening seconds.
