BENGALS BENCH QB DALTON FOR FINLEY
» With no wins at the season’s midpoint, the Bengals figured it was time to end Andy Dalton’s tenure and see if rookie Ryan Finley is their quarterback of the future.
Coach Zac Taylor decided Tuesday to bench Dalton, ending his nine-season run as a starter. The move came two days after a 24-10 loss to the Rams in London left Cincinnati 0-8 for the first time in 11 years .
The first-year coach decided to use the bye week to get Finley — a fourth-round pick from North Carolina State — ready to face the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 10 at Paul Brown Stadium. It’s less a referendum on Dalton than an indication that the franchise is looking long term now that the season has slipped away.
Finley looked good in preseason with backups but hasn’t taken a snap in the regular season.
NCAA investigates Seton Hall.
N.J.» The NCAA has
S O UT H O R ANG E , launched an investigation into the basketball program at No 12 Seton Hall.
The university announced the probe Tuesday, saying coach Kevin Willard is sitting out the Pirates’ exhibition against Misericordia that night and the season opener on Nov. 5 against Wagner.
Seton Hall didn’t say what the NCAA enforcement staff was investigating, but it was working with the ruling body for college sports. Assistant coach Grant Billmeier will coach the team for the two games Willard is out.
Twins exercise option with Cruz.
» Nelson Cruz’s $12 million MINN E A P OLI S option for next season was exercised by the Minnesota Twins.
The 39-year-old designated hitter agreed in January to a contract with a $14 million salary for 2019 and the club option.
He hit .311 with a team-high 41 homers and had 108 RBIs in 120 games.
Padres name Tingler manager.
The San Diego Padres officially announced the hiring of Jayce Tingler as their new manager.
Tingler, who has most recently been on the Texas Rangers’ coaching staff as major-league player development field coordinator, has agreed with the Padres on a three-year contract, San Diego executive vice president and general manager A.J. Preller said.
Tingler replaces Andy Green, who was blamed for the Padres’ secondhalf collapse when he was fired with eight games left in the season.
Landeskog out of Breeders Cup.
» Avalanche defenseman A RC A D IA, C ALI F . Erik Johnson won’t have a rooting interest in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
Landeskog, a 3-year-old gelding co-owned by Johnson, has been scratched from the six-furlong race because trainer Doug O’Neill wasn’t happy with how he trained Tuesday.
O’Neill says a nuclear scan and X-rays on Landeskog came back clean, but he still decided to pass on Saturday’s race.
Landeskog, of course, is named for Avs captain Gabe Landeskog, who is not quite as healthy as his namesake. He is out indefinitely with a lowerbody injury.
Barty upset in WTA Finals
HINA» World No. 1 Ashleigh
S H E N Z H E N, C Barty was upset by late substitute Kiki Bertens 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 at the WTA Finals.
Bertens arrived at the elite tournament as an alternate, and has suddenly jumped into title contention with the other seven players in the draw. She took the place of Naomi Osaka, who withdrew from the finals on Tuesday with a right shoulder injury ahead of her second round-robin match.
Predators keep Josi in fold.
The Nashville Predators signed captain Roman Josi to an eight-year, $72.4 million deal worth $9.05 million a season.