Hurricane Idalia makes landfall near Keaton Beach, bringing ‘catastrophic surge’ to Florida coast  —  rwebb@sunsentinel.com, ANGIE DIMICHELE |  adimichele@sunsentinel.com and VICTORIA BALLARD |  Hurricane Idalia is leaving a wake of destruction from the Gulf inland, including two storm-related deaths, as it makes its way into Georgia.

How the Angels' late-season salary dump could have MLB-wide implications  —  The Los Angeles Angels have led the big leagues in a lot of logic-defying choices over the past 15 years, from the Josh Hamilton signing before the 2013 season to their decision to cling to Shohei Ohtani last summer …

Yankees Notebook: Harrison Bader back in lineup after being placed on waivers  —  Harrison Bader was back in the Yankees starting lineup Wednesday, a day after the speedy center fielder learned he had been placed on waivers.  —  Yankees manager Aaron Boone put the 29-year-old Bader …

Angels go from all-in to folding, inexplicably placing six veterans on waivers  —  The Los Angeles Angels are the gift that keeps on giving.  —  Just when everyone questioned why they didn't trade Shohei Ohtani before his torn UCL, wondering why they decided to go for it by trading away …

Sources: Yankees calling up Jasson Dominguez, Austin Wells  —  With the New York Yankees now focused on seasons beyond the disaster of 2023, they have informed top outfield prospect Jasson Dominguez that he will be activated on Friday, sources confirmed, in time for the team's series …

Sources: D.R. investigating second complaint against Wander Franco  —  A special prosecutor in the Dominican Republic is investigating a second formal complaint that Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco engaged in a relationship with a minor, the latest of three accusations against the 22-year-old, sources told ESPN's Juan Recio.

UCLA confident in its quarterbacks but questions remain  —  Kelly says Garbers will start and Moore and Schlee will play in Saturday's opener - how much is to be determined  —  The word that shows up most frequently on the UCLA football team's depth chart ahead of its season opener against Coastal Carolina is “or.”

White House says Putin and Kim Jong Un traded letters as Russia looks for munitions from North Korea  —  WASHINGTON — The White House on Wednesday said that it has new intelligence that shows Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have swapped letters as Russia looks …

MLB Playoffs format, schedule: What to know about 2023 baseball postseason  —  The 2023 Major League Baseball regular season is scheduled to end on Sunday, Oct. 1 and the 2023 MLB Playoffs are scheduled to begin on Tuesday, Oct. 3.  —  How many teams will make the postseason?  How are they seeded?

David Ortiz says he's a ‘victim of extortion’ after apparent phone hacking  —  Charismatic Red Sox Hall of Famer David Ortiz, who has been targeted at times by various criminal elements, said Wednesday he is being extorted by people who hacked one of his old phones, accessing his bank accounts and details of his personal life.

Press-Telegram Boys Athlete of the Week: Tyree McCowen, Lakewood  —  McCowen is averaging 16.5 tackles per game this season.  —  PRESS-TELEGRAM BOYS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK  —  Name: Tyree McCowen  —  School: Lakewood  —  Sport: Football  —  Year: Senior

Velocity at what cost?  MLB's hardest throwers keep succumbing to Tommy John surgery  —  From Little League to MLB, baseball's never-ending quest for velocity runs parallel to the ‘astronomical’ frequency of Tommy John surgery.  —  The road to a 100 mph fastball is littered with ruptured ulnar collateral ligaments.

Sparks squander chance to improve playoff odds with loss to Chicago  —  The Sparks miss three potential game-winning shots in a 76-75 loss to the Sky, who close the gap in the race for the eighth seed and secure the head-to-head tiebreaker  —  LOS ANGELES — Another double-double …

MLBPA to review safety protocols after incidents in Chicago, Denver  —  CHICAGO — A shooting that likely happened inside of Guaranteed Rate Field, followed by a scary moment for Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. in Colorado.  Both in a span of four days.