Sports on TV for Tuesday, August 5
Schedule subject to change and/or blackouts
Tuesday, August 5
LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL
11 a.m.
ESPN — Little League World Series Regional: TBD, Mid-Atlantic Region, Bristol, Conn.
1 p.m.
ESPN — Little League World Series Regional: TBD, Great Lakes Region, Whitestown, Ind.
3 p.m.
5 p.m.
ESPN — Little League World Series Regional: TBD, Northwest Region, San Bernardino, Calif.
7 p.m.
ESPN — Little League World Series Regional: TBD, Southwest Region, Waco, Texas
9 p.m.
LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL
10 a.m.
ESPN2 — Little League Softball World Series: TBD, Elimination Game
7 p.m.
MLB BASEBALL
8 p.m.
TBS — Cincinnati at Chicago Cubs
TRUTV — Cincinnati at Chicago Cubs
10 p.m.
MLBN — Regional Coverage: St. Louis at L.A. Dodgers (10:10 p.m.) OR San Diego at Arizona (9:40 p.m.)
SOCCER (MEN'S)
7:30 p.m.
FS1 — Leagues Cup Group Stage: Leon at Columbus, Phase One
TENNIS
6 p.m.
TENNIS — Canada-ATP/WTA Quarterfinals
WNBA BASKETBALL
7 p.m.
NBATV — Dallas at New York
10 p.m.
CBSSN — Indiana at Los Angeles
_____
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
11 minutes ago
- New York Times
Venezuelan Little League World Series team gets exemption to President Trump's travel ban
Youth baseball players from Venezuela, one of 19 countries on President Trump's travel ban list, have been granted a 'national exemption' to participate in this month's Little League World Series, an event official told The Athletic. Securing the exemption last week required the intervention of a Trump-aligned U.S. senator and the personal sign-off of Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Advertisement Before then, the Venezuelan team's participation had been in limbo thanks to a visa process that had often been complicated by strained diplomatic relations with the United States. Venezuela's recent inclusion in the travel ban only added another layer of complexity. Last month, the policy blocked another youth baseball team from Venezuela from playing in a less prominent tournament in South Carolina, a situation that drew the ire of the St. Louis Cardinals' Willson Contreras. In an interview on Monday, Contreras, a three-time All-Star and one of baseball's most prominent Venezuelan players, lamented the perceived fallout from the travel restrictions. 'To be treated like we are criminals here, we're not,' Contreras told The Athletic. 'We're here to provide for our family, to chase our dreams, to do the right things.' The Venezuelan Little League team learned of its exemption from the travel ban on Friday, just six days before it was scheduled to play in the tournament, which showcases players ages 10-12 and remains a signature event that is nationally televised on ESPN. 'The dream of our children will soon come true,' the team said in a translated Instagram post. 'Williamsport, here we come.' In a statement, Little League spokesman Brian McClintock said, 'We are grateful for all those who supported these players throughout this process, including the U.S. Department of State.' While the exemption was ultimately granted, it highlighted a shifting landscape for some international athletes entering the U.S. under the Trump Administration. Under the travel ban instituted in June, exemptions have been made for certain high-profile sporting events, such as the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and next year's World Cup. But those carve-outs did not cover other events like the Little League World Series. Advertisement Sen. David McCormick, a Republican elected from Pennsylvania in 2024 and a political ally of Trump's on immigration policy, offered the Venezuelan team an assist. A native of central Pennsylvania who lives less than an hour's drive from the longtime site of the tournament, Williampsort, McCormick worked with the State Department to help ensure approval of the visas. 'I am thrilled my team and I were able to play a small role in making sure young athletes are able to chase their dreams and participate in this timeless Pennsylvania tradition,' McCormick said in a statement to The Athletic. But even with McCormick's backing, securing an exemption ultimately required a green light from Rubio. 'In very limited circumstances, the Secretary may find an individual's travel would serve a United States national interest, consistent with Executive Order 14150, 'America First Policy Directive to the Secretary of State,'' a state department spokesperson said in a statement. 'These exceptions may only be approved by the Secretary of State or his designee in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security or her designee.' The visa process has typically been more complicated for Venezuela than for other teams attending the Little League World Series. In 2019, political and diplomatic tensions in the country prompted the U.S. to suspend operations at its embassy in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas. Teams seeking entry to the U.S. have instead had to travel to a neighboring country, Colombia, where the capital Bogotá is hosting the diplomatic mission to Venezuela. Once there, players and staff are subjected to interviews ahead of approval. The travel ban has introduced another layer of uncertainty. On July 18, Cacique Mara, a different youth team from Venezuela, could not travel to South Carolina for the Senior League Baseball World Series (ages 13-16) after its visas were denied. In a photo of a letter from the U.S. government to the team from Cacique Mara — posted to the team's since deactivated Instagram account — the reason given was the 'Immigration and Nationality Act,' which the letter said serves to restrict 'the Entry of foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.' Advertisement 'What pisses me off is they earned the right to be here,' Contreras said of the team that was barred last month. 'They are little kids chasing dreams. I put myself in their shoes because I was a kid once, and I dreamed of being in the Little League World Series once.' Major League Baseball, which has been officially partnered with Little League International since 2017, declined to comment on that case. So did the state department, though a spokesperson noted the ability to 'make a determination regarding a national interest exception on a case-by-case basis.' Another recent exception, McClintock said, cleared the way for a different youth baseball team from Venezuela, this one from the city of Valencia, to secure visas ahead of a Little League Intermediate Tournament in Livermore, Calif. Since Trump's return to office, the Dodgers have made an official visit to the Oval Office. The league also reinstated Pete Rose from its permanently ineligible list, a move that came after Trump publicly called for it. And in the wake of Trump administration policy changes targeting such programs, MLB removed official language surrounding Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives from the league's website. Still, MLB remains the largest and most diverse baseball league in the world. Its teams employ dozens of Venezuelan players. And when the league hosts the Little League Classic between the Mets and Mariners in Williamsport on Aug. 17, the game will feature Venezuelan players like Eugenio Suárez and Francisco Alvarez. MLB officials were in communication with their Little League counterparts regarding the visa process for the Little League World Series, according to a source briefed on the matter, and offered assistance if needed. On Monday, with the Barquisimeto-based Venezuelan team now bound for historic Williamsport, Contreras made a similar offer. Advertisement 'I'm here for them,' Contreras said. 'If something happens, I want them to know not to hesitate to reach out to me. I'm outspoken for justice. They are kids chasing the dream. Their dream is to come to Williamsport. That could be my brother out there. But I'm glad everything worked out and I'm glad they're going to be allowed to come to the United States.' (Photo of 2024 LLWS signage: Dylan Buell / Getty Images)
USA Today
40 minutes ago
- USA Today
Lionel Messi injury: Inter Miami star will miss Leagues Cup game vs Pumas UNAM
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – Lionel Messi won't play in Inter Miami's Leagues Cup match against Pumas UNAM on Aug. 6, coach Javier Mascherano said a day before the game. Messi, who Inter Miami announced has a minor muscle injury in his upper right leg, did not practice with teammates during their training session before their final Leagues Cup group match. Mascherano did not divulge a timetable for Messi's potential return, but said the club's diagnosis of Messi's injury is 'good news.' 'He's a special player, and he normally recovers from the injuries quickly,' Mascherano said. 'Once he's ready, he'll come back.' Inter Miami has a prime opportunity to advance to the Leagues Cup knockout stage with a win against Pumas. They are in third place on the MLS side of the Leagues Cup table, where the top four clubs from MLS and Liga MX will advance to the quarterfinals. However, they'll have to do so without one of the greatest players of all time. 'This is a competition that brings very good memories for the club,' Mascherano said, referring to Inter Miami's 2023 Leagues Cup title won shortly after Messi's arrival to MLS. 'We'll try to play the best game that we can, and try to win the game.' Watch Leagues Cup matches on MLS Season Pass When is Inter Miami vs. Pumas UNAM in Leagues Cup match? The match is Wednesday, Aug. 6, and begins at 7:30 p.m. ET (8:30 p.m. in Argentina). How to watch Inter Miami vs. Pumas Leagues Cup match? The match is available on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV. Is Messi playing vs. Pumas UNAM? No, Messi is not expected to play against Pumas. What does Inter Miami need to advance in Leagues Cup? The scenario is simple for Inter Miami without Messi: Win vs. Pumas, and they'll advance to the quarterfinals (Aug. 19-20). Inter Miami would be among the Top 4 clubs in the MLS table to reach the knockout stage. Any other result, and Inter Miami would need some help from the LIGA MX sides to beat their MLS counterparts to ensure a top-four finish in the MLS side of the Leagues Cup table. How did Inter Miami get to this point in the Leagues Cup? Inter Miami is third with five points in the MLS Leagues Cup standings, after a 2-1 win vs. Atlas on July 30, and a penalty shootout win vs. Necaxa on Aug. 2. They trail only the Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers (six points each). Inter Miami sits above a group of six other MLS clubs with four points in the standings: Minnesota, L.A. Galaxy, Columbus, Orlando City, Cincinnati and New York Red Bulls. Inter Miami upcoming schedule
USA Today
40 minutes ago
- USA Today
The Bengals will pretend August is September to reach October levels sooner
There have been two dueling trends that have defined the Cincinnati Bengals since making it to Super Bowl 56 three seasons ago. The first is the explosiveness and excitement of Joe Burrow's offense. The second is Cincinnati's reliance on that efficient passing game to dig itself out of the hole it digs to start the season. Since 2022, the Bengals are just 4-8 in their first four games of the regular season. They're 28-13 in the games that follow -- a mark that includes a 2-1 playoff record and seven games started by Burrow backup Jake Browning. Cincinnati has started out 1-3 with embarrassing losses along the way, in each of the past two seasons. 2023 was backdrop to a 27-3 stomping at the hands of a six-win Tennessee Titans team. 2024 saw the Bengals allow a four-win New England Patriots team to start its season with a victory in a 16-10 slog. Each year, Cincinnati finished 9-8. Last winter, a 10th win was the difference between getting Burrow to the playoffs and staying home in January. So, in an effort to prevent this from becoming a full-on trend, head coach Zac Taylor is trying something new. He's gonna press his starters into action early and often this preseason. 'Several series is what we'll give those starters,' Taylor told the press when talking about Thursday's preseason matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles. That means season ticket holders in eastern Pennsylvania, roped into buying seats for meaningless games at full price, will actually get to see something resembling real NFL football for a stretch this August. It's also a departure from Taylor's past. The Bengals traditionally rested their starters more than other teams when it came to these warm-up games. Burrow threw a single preseason pass between 2021 and 2023. He threw seven passes last preseason, in part because he was adjusting back to game speed after missing the tail end of the season due to a wrist injury. Ja'Marr Chase, coming off a triple crown season in which he led the league in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns, hasn't played a preseason game since 2021 (he had one reception that August). Tee Higgins has appeared in a single preseason game in the same stretch. Getting that trio on the field is a chance to warm up an offense that averaged 18.9 points per game in those back-to-back 1-3 starts the last two seasons and 23.1 points per game in the weeks that followed when Burrow was healthy. It's also vital for an eternally-in-flux offensive line to get up to speed. Burrow faced one of the NFL's worst pass rushes in Week 1 last fall and was still sacked thrice by the Patriots, who limited his time to throw to 2.54 seconds -- about two-tenths of a second less than his season-long average. In 2023's season opener, the Browns sacked him twice and hit him 10 more times as he gained only 67 net yards on 33 dropbacks. This has an effect on the run game as well. Cincinnati didn't crack 100 total rushing yards in a 2023 game until after its Week 7 bye. In 2024, the team's running backs gained 144 total yards on the ground (3.8 yards per carry) while going 0-2. Taylor also had to consider his defense could be a concern once again. Formerly feted coordinator Lou Anarumo was fired after his unit dropped to 27th-best last fall. Trey Hendrickson, responsible for nearly 50 percent of the team's total sacks, remains locked in a contract standoff as he searches for one last massive payday. The team's secondary is loaded with young, high ceiling players who have yet to reach their potential. Thus, it's important to have a contingency plan. In the Bengals' case, it's ensuring an offense capable of dropping 30-plus points any given matchup is working like a well-oiled machine from Week 1 onward. That comes with the chance of losing one of the highly paid players behind that dynamic offense -- Burrow has already missed at least at least six games due to injury in two of his five NFL seasons so far -- but it at least suggests Taylor is willing to learn from the team's past and proactively address a concern that helped sink his last two years. Time will tell if it works, but it was clear a change had to be made. Taylor is taking a risk by playing his starters multiple series in the preseason. He was taking a different kind of risk by sitting them and hoping they'd get up to speed quickly in the games that mattered. After two playoff-less seasons in southwestern Ohio, the Bengals are feeling the heat -- and as a result, imploring more of their stars to play in it.
