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Justin Verlander, who went a team-record 16 starts this season for the San Francisco Giants before registering a win, has fixed whatever wasn’t working, is riding a hot streak and reiterated that he wants to return — after he turns 43 in February — for a 21st season in 2026.

“I would hope somebody would offer me a contract now,” Verlander told USA Today Sports on Wednesday.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner was 0-8 through his first 16 starts, but he has given up only three runs over 31 innings (0.87 ERA) in his past five starts. Beginning with his first win on July 23, he is 3-2 with a 2.17 ERA in his past 11 games to lower his season ERA to 3.75.

“Every day you come to the field for four months, and it’s like, ‘What’s the way out of this?”’ Verlander told USA Today Sports about his first-half struggles. “How do I make the adjustment? What do I need to do? What’s wrong? Because clearly something’s wrong. I just have to try to find it.

“I had a new thought in the bullpen, I took that into the game, and the game results have been what you see. So I’m glad I didn’t give up.”

Verlander, who pitched seven scoreless innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday but still wound up with a no-decision, has 265 career wins — one behind Hall of Famers Bob Feller and Eppa Rixey for 34th on the all-time list.

San Francisco had scored three runs or fewer in all but six of his 27 starts this season, and the bullpen has blown a lead in nine of his starts.

Verlander knows, at age 42, that reaching 300 might not be possible.

“I mean, I’m human,” Verlander said. “I think we all know. Like everybody in this locker room, all of you guys [reporters], and most of baseball kind of understand where I’m at. So, it would have been nice if possible, but again it’s that point of the year where we’re not playing for individual [stats]. We’re at that course of the season where I don’t care if I win or lose, I want to give us the best chance to win this, the best chance to sneak into the playoffs.”

ESPN Research and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Sources: ASU’s top WR Tyson expected back

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Sources: ASU's top WR Tyson expected back

Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State‘s leading receiver, is expected to return from a hamstring injury and play Saturday when the Sun Devils visit the Colorado Buffaloes, sources tell ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Tyson is expected to participate in pregame warmups, and barring any setbacks, he’ll be cleared to play against his former team.

Tyson suffered the injury Oct. 18 in Arizona State’s upset win over then-undefeated Texas Tech. He finished that game with 10 catches for 105 yards and a touchdown but has not played since.

Despite missing the past three games, Tyson leads the Sun Devils in catches (57) and yards receiving (628), and he is the team leader with eight touchdowns.

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UAB: Player arrested after stabbing 2 teammates

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UAB: Player arrested after stabbing 2 teammates

A UAB football player stabbed two of his teammates Saturday morning at the football facility ahead of the Blazers’ home game against USF, a university spokesperson told ESPN.

The suspect has been arrested, and both injured players are in stable condition after being taken to UAB hospital. The school has not released the names of any of the players involved.

UAB’s game against USF began as scheduled at 3 p.m. ET.

A UAB official said an investigation is ongoing.

“UAB’s top priority remains the safety and well-being of all of our students,” the school said in a statement.

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Sources: Ohio St. to be without WRs Tate, Smith

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Sources: Ohio St. to be without WRs Tate, Smith

Ohio State wide receivers Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith are not expected to play against Rutgers on Saturday due to lower-body injuries, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Tate will miss his third straight game. Smith played in last week’s win over UCLA but missed the second half after being seen limping before halftime. Both are considered day-to-day, sources said, ahead of a potential return next week against rival Michigan.

On Tuesday, coach Ryan Day would not rule out either wide receiver but also did not want to go into specifics on their availability.

“Our policy is we don’t discuss specifics on injuries, and once you start going down a little bit here, a little bit there, you can create a problem,” Day said. “So for a number of reasons, we don’t discuss those things.”

Smith leads the Big Ten and ranks third in the nation with 10 touchdown catches while ranking third in the conference in receiving yards per game (90.2) and second in catches per game (6.9). Tate is fifth in the Big Ten with 88.9 receiving yards per game.

Brandon Inniss started in place of Tate against UCLA and led No. 1 Ohio State with six catches for 30 yards during a 48-10 win.

The 5-5 Scarlet Knights are looking to beat Ohio State for the first time in their 11th try since joining the Big Ten in 2014.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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