Off the wire

NBA Towns, Embiid suspended

Philadelphia center Joel Embiid and Minnesota center Karl-Anthony Towns have each been suspended two games without pay for an on-court altercation and continued escalation. Kiki VanDeWeghe, the NBA’s executive vice president of basketball operations, announced the suspensions Thursday, a day after the undefeated 76ers’ 117-95 home victory over the Timberwolves. The star players were ejected after tangling with 6:42 left in the third quarter and the 76ers ahead 75-55. Embiid shoved Towns, who answered with a punch that missed as both men fell to the floor. Philadelphia’s Ben Simmons jumped in and forcefully held Towns down as other players and coaches ran onto the court.

MLB Indians bring Kluber back

The Cleveland Indians officially exercised starter Corey Kluber’s $17.5 million contract option for next season. The club formally made the move Thursday while declining options on second baseman Jason Kipnis and reliever Dan Otero for 2020. Kluber, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, didn’t pitch for the Indians after May 1, when the right-hander sustained a broken arm when he was hit by a comebacker. Kluber, 33, was nearing a return in the minor leagues before an oblique injury ended his comeback.

LeBlanc becomes free agent

The Seattle Mariners have declined Wade LeBlanc’s $5.5 million option for the 2020 season, and the left-hander will become a free agent. LeBlanc was a starter for part of last season before being moved to the bullpen as the Mariners opted to give some of its younger prospects a chance in the rotation. LeBlanc appeared in 26 games with eight starts and had a 6-7 record and 5.41 ERA. LeBlanc’s problem was giving up the long ball, allowing 28 home runs in 1211/3 innings. The veteran has pitched for seven different teams during his 11 seasons.

Yankees let Encarnacion go

The New York Yankees have declined their 2020 option for Edwin Encarnacion, making the veteran slugger a free agent. New York announced the move Thursday. Encarnacion was due $25 million in 2020, but the Yankees bought out the remaining year of his contract for $5 million. Encarnacion led the AL with 21 home runs at the time, but a strained left oblique limited the 36-year-old down the stretch. He hit .249 with 13 home runs, 37 RBI and an .856 OPS in 44 regular-sea- son games with New York.

D-backs decline options on two

The Arizona Diamondbacks have declined the 2020 options for second baseman Wilmer Flores and left-handed pitcher T.J. McFarland. Flores, 28, hit a career-high .317 with nine home runs in 89 games during his only season with the D-backs, when he made $3.75 million. The 30-yearold McFarland pitched the past three seasons for the D-backs and had a 4.82 ERA in 51 games this year, when he had a $1.4 million salary.

A’s pick up Petit’s contract

Versatile Oakland reliever Yusmeiro Petit had his $5.5 million contract option for the 2020 season exercised by the Athletics on Thursday. The A’s declined their half of a $5.75 million mutual option on left-handed pitcher Jake Diekman, who came to Oakland in a trade from Kansas City on July 27 and went 1-1 with a 4.43 ERA in 28 outings for Oakland after beginning 0-6 with the Royals. Diekman gets a $500,000 buyout. Petit made an AL-leading 80 appearances in 2019, when the 97-win A’s lost for a second consecutive year in the AL wild card game.

Rangers trade for Castillo

The Chicago White Sox have traded catcher Welington Castillo to the Texas Rangers, who might not exercise an $8 million option for next season and allow him to become a free agent. Texas also got an international signing bonus pool slot worth $250,000 in the deal while sending minor league infielder and outfielder Jonah McReynolds to the White Sox. Castillo’s deal includes a $500,000 buyout for 2020. The 32-year-old catcher hit .209 over 72 games last season — his second with the White Sox and 10th in the majors.

NFL Williams reveals cancer scare

Washington Redskins tackle Trent Williams revealed a cancer diagnosis that played a part in his lengthy holdout and distrust of the team’s medical staff and the organization. Williams on Thursday said he told the team of the medical issue six years ago, and the growth on his head grew substantially over time. The 31-year-old said he had a tumor removed from his skull and needs to get checked out every six months to make sure he’s OK. The seven-time Pro Bowl selection had multiple surgeries during the offseason related to the tumor’s removal and remained away from the team during that time. Williams said it got pretty serious and he was “told some scary things” by doctors that changed his outlook on life. The riveting almost 20-minute discussion with reporters unfolded with Williams, selected fourth overall by Washington in the 2010 draft, seated by his corner locker stall.

Jets’ Cashman out for season

New York Jets rookie Blake Cashman will miss the rest of the season because of a shoulder injury. The fifth-round pick out of Minnesota suffered a torn labrum during practice Wednesday. Cashman had started the Jets’ last five games because of other injuries at inside linebacker, including C.J. Mosley, Avery Williamson and Neville Hewitt.

TENNIS Nadal reaches Paris quarterfinals

Rafael Nadal beat Stan Wawrinka for the 19th time in 22 meetings, winning 6-4, 6-4 Thursday to reach the Paris Masters quarterfinals. The two players share 22 Grand Slams, but Nadal has 19 of them and once again established a stranglehold on his Swiss opponent. Wawrinka’s blistering one-handed backhand was as erratic as it was occasionally superb, but Nadal was almost always in control. Nadal next faces 2008 champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga as he chases a first Paris title, which would guarantee him the year-end No.1 ranking for the fifth time. Tsonga saved two match points in a grueling 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (6) win against big-hitting German Jan-Lennard Struff.

GOLF Scheffler leads in Bermuda

Scottie Scheffler closed with a bogey for a 9-under 62 and a one-stroke lead Thursday after the first round of the PGA Tour’s inaugural Bermuda Championship in Southhampton, Bermuda. Scheffler played his opening nine at hilly Port Royal Golf Club in 6-under 29, making an eagle on the par-5 17th. He added birdies on Nos. 2, 4, 6 and 7. In position to birdie in for a 59, he parred the par-3 eighth and dropped the stroke on the par-4 ninth. Wes Roach was second. He eagled the par-5 seventh, but also finished with a bogey on No. 9.