Dodgers’ Roberts says Bauer being singled out

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he believes right-hander Trevor Bauer is being “singled out” by Major League Baseball after umpires in Oakland collected several baseballs he threw in his last start, apparently to examine for foreign substances.

Roberts also acknowledged Friday that he has noticed umpires collecting sample balls from every pitcher as part of the sport’s crackdown this season on pitchers tampering with balls.

But the World Series-winning manager openly wondered why only Bauer’s name appeared as an apparent target of MLB’s investigation in a report by The Athletic on Thursday.

When asked directly if he felt Bauer is being singled out, Roberts replied: “At this point, yeah . ... I don’t know (why). That’s the only name I’ve heard floated around.”

College basketball:

Cincinnati has fired men’s basketball coach John Brannen following an investigation into reports of a rift with Bearcats players. The school fired Brannen on Friday, six days after he was put on paid leave after six Cincinnati players decided to transfer last month. Tim Morris will be the interim coach. NHL: The Canucks are recovering from the NHL’s worst COVID-19 outbreak and believe they can complete the season. An outbreak has ripped through the team over the past week and a half with 25 people testing positive, and one additional player being deemed a close contact. General manager Jim Benning said Friday many of the players are feeling better.

Swimming: Katie Ledecky won the 200-meter freestyle at the TYR Pro Swim Series meet with the world’s fastest time this year. Ledecky touched first in 1 minute, 54.40 seconds in the outdoor pool Friday. She was well ahead of three-time Olympian Allison Schmitt, who was second in 1:58.04. Ledecky’s time tied Schmitt’s U.S. Open record set in 2012.