ASTROS’ MCCULLERS OUT FOR ALL OF 2019
CARLSBAD, CALIF.» Houston Astros right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. will miss all of next season following Tommy John surgery.
Houston announced McCullers had the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow repaired Tuesday.
The 25-year-old was 10-6 with a 3.86 ERA in 22 starts and three relief appearances this year, striking out 142 in 128L innings. He was 10-4 before the all-star break, then went on the disabled list from Aug. 5 to Sept. 24 because of elbow discomfort.
McCullers returned for the final week of the regular season and had three scoreless relief appearances, then had a 1.80 ERA in five relief outings during the playoffs.
He is 29-22 with a 3.67 ERA in 80 starts and three relief appearances over four seasons and was an AL allstar in 2017.
Swimmer Magnini banned four years for doping.
ROME» Two-time swimming world champion Filippo Magnini was banned for four years for doping.
Italy’s anti-doping agency issued the verdict for the retired swimmer on Tuesday, and gave the same sentence to Magnini’s relay teammate, Michele Santucci.
Both were found guilty of using and attempting to use banned substances.
The swimmers were linked to nutritionist Guido Porcellini, who was banned for 30 years for distributing illegal drugs.
Magnini, who won the 100-meter freestyle at the 2005 and 2007 world championships and a relay bronze at the 2004 Olympics, has never tested positive and maintains that he never doped. He was an outspoken critic of doping throughout his career, having taken part in an “I am doping free” initiative.
Magnini says, “I didn’t do anything. This sentence is ridiculous.”
Westbrook out at least one game.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook will miss Wednesday’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers because of a sprained left ankle.
A Thunder spokesman said the team wants to see how the ankle responds to treatment for the next few days before providing another update.
The Thunder beat the New Orleans Pelicans 122-116 on Monday but lost Westbrook in the third quarter. After coming down hard on the side of his foot, he pounded the ground in frustration before limping off the court.
Center Chandler signs with Lakers.
LOS ANGELES» Veteran center Tyson Chandler signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, two days after reaching a buyout agreement with the Phoenix Suns.
Chandler is joining his seventh team early in his 18th season in the league. He won a championship ring with Dallas in 2011, and he was the NBA’s defensive player of the year with New York in 2012 before earning an all-star selection in 2013.
Cavaliers’ Dekker out 2-4 weeks.
Cavaliers forward Sam Dekker could be out a month with a sprained left ankle.
Dekker got hurt during the third quarter of Cleveland’s 102-100 loss at Orlando on Monday night. Dekker underwent further tests that revealed the sprain. The Cavaliers said he will begin rehab and be sidelined for approximately two to four weeks.
U.S. women rout Finland.
Brianna Decker, Hilary Knight and Dani Cameranesi each had a goal and an assist to help the U.S. women’s hockey team beat Finland 5-1 to open its defense of the Four Nations Cup.
It was the first game for the Americans since topping Canada 3-2 in a shootout to win Olympic gold in February. The U.S. had lost in four straight gold medal games against Canada since winning the first Olympic women’s hockey tournament in 1998.