The National League Central Division race remains nearly airtight. The Cardinals beat the Reds 13-4 for their fourth straight win and sixth out of the last seven games. Paul DeJong hit his 22nd home run and Yadier Molina collected three RBIs to keep the Cardinals just two games behind the Cubs in the division race. The Reds send out Tyler Mahle tonight as the Cardinals counter with Jack Flaherty.

The Cubs topped the Mets 8-3 behind a three-run homer from Kris Bryant to support seven strong innings by Jose Quintana. The teams square off again tonight at Wrigley Field as Matt Harvey starts for the Mets against Cubs lefty Jon Lester.

The Royals beat the White Sox 4-3 with a first-inning grand slam by Brandon Moss. Lucas Giolito is on the hill tonight for the Sox against Royals lefty Eric Skoglund in Kansas City.

The Cleveland Indians have won 20 straight games with last night defeat of the Tigers. The Tribe tied the American League record set by the 2002 Oakland As and can break the mark this afternoon.

The Dodgers have clinched a playoff spot by breaking an 11-game losing streak.

Schaumburg won Game 1 of the Frontier League Championship Series 16-2 over Florence. Game 2 of the best-of-five series is tonight in Schaumburg.

Illinois State volleyball lost in four sets at Northern Illinois, staying alive in six match points before the Huskies cashed in on the seventh.

Illinois Wesleyan volleyball won in straight sets over Chicago. Titans Tyler Brown and Caitlin Meyer swept the CCIW Volleyball Players of the Week.

The Bears have placed inside linebacker Jerrell Freeman on injured reserve. The sixth-year pro suffered a pectoral injury and concussion in a season-opening loss to Atlanta on Sunday.

Former Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher joins Ray Lewis, Randy Moss and 11 others who are first-year eligible players for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.