Stanford QB Costello out for a must-win Big Game
Redshirt sophomore Davis Mills will be Stanford’s starting quarterback when the Cardinal goes for its 10th straight win over Cal at the 122nd Big Game Saturday at 1 p.m.
Regular starter K. J. Costello will miss his second straight game with an undisclosed injury. The Cardinal will also be without all- conference cornerback Paulson Adebo and senior safety Malik Antoine against the Bears.
Mills will be making his fifth start this season. Mills threw for a school-record 504 yards in last Saturday’s 49-22 loss at Washington State, breaking Todd Husak’s 21-year- old record of 450 yards. But Mills’ two fourth- quarter interceptions undermined his comeback attempt for the Cardinal.
Cal may also be without its starting quarterback as Chase Garbers was hurt again in the Bears’ loss to USC on Saturday. His status for the Big Game is not yet known.
Stanford (4- 6, 3-5) needs to win its two remaining games against Cal and Notre Dame to extend its school-record 10-year bowl streak.
Baseball
MANFRED SAYS HAS BROAD
AUTHORITY FOR ASTROS DISCIPLINE >> Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred hopes the investigation into sign stealing by the Houston Astros will be completed by next season and says he has broad authority to impose discipline beyond fines, the loss of amateur draft picks and taking away international signing bonus pool allocation.
Manfred says an “allegation that relates to a rule violation that could affect the outcome of a game or games is the most serious matter — it relates to the integrity of the sport.”
Manfred says of Major League Baseball’s probe: “I have no reason to believe that it extends beyond the Astros at this point in time” and adds “I certainly would hope that we would be done before we start playing baseball again.”
JAPANESE PITCHER YAMAGUCHI TO PURSUE CAREER IN MLB >> Japanese pitcher Shun Yamaguchi, who led Japan’s Central League in wins, strikeouts and winning percentage this season, says he wants to move to the major leagues through the posting system.
The 32-year- old righthander declared his intention this week and becomes the first player from the Yomiuri Giants to pursue a career in the majors.
Yamaguchi went 15-4 this season with 188 strikeouts and a .789 winning percentage, helping Yomiuri to its first CL pennant in five years.
BREWERS BRINGING BACK
BALL-IN- GLOVE LOGO >> The
Brewers are bringing back the team’s iconic ball-inglove logo next year.
Milwaukee unveiled its new uniform designs and logo on Monday night at Miller Park. Starting in 2020, players will wear a modernized version of the ball-in-glove image first introduced in 1978 and worn until 1993.
Tennis
NADAL KEEPS SPAIN ALIVE IN DAVIS CUP FINALS >> Rafael Nadal kept Spain’s hopes alive against Russia in the inaugural Davis Cup Finals. The top-ranked Spaniard defeated Karen Khachanov 6-3, 7-6 (7) to level the series 1-1 after Andrey Rublev had rallied to beat Roberto Bautista-Agut 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (0) in the first match.
That ensured the tie will be decided in the doubles match, which was set to start after midnight local time.
In an earlier match, the United States lost to Canada for the first time in the Davis Cup after Vasek Pospisi l edged Reil ly Opelka 7- 6 (5), 7- 6 (7) and Denis Shapovalov defeated Taylor Fritz 7- 6 (6), 6-3.
The U.S. had won all previous 15 meetings with their North American neighbors, though they had not met since 1965.
Soccer
TOTTENHAM FIRES MANAGER POCHETTINO AFTER 5 ½ YEARS >> Tottenham has fired manager Mauricio Pochettino, less than six months after he led the team to the final of the Champions League.
Pochettino leaves after 5½ years in the job, during which he transformed the club into a title contender but never managed to win a trophy.
Despite Spurs reaching their first Champions League final, where they lost to Liverpool, they have been in poor form in the Premier League for most of 2019 and are currently in 14th place.