Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals are on a remarkable run during the dog days of August. They swept the Dodgers to win their eighth consecutive series and have gone 17-4 so far this month to pull within 2 ½ games of the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs. St. Louis visits Colorado on Friday.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs will remain without three defensive starters, including star safety Eric Berry, when they visit the Chicago Bears for their third preseason game this weekend. Berry is dealing with a heel injury, while defensive end Allen Bailey is out with a knee injury and cornerback Steven Nelson with a concussion.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — A throwing error on Kevin Kiermaier’s bases-loaded grounder in the ninth inning helped the Tampa Bay Rays complete a four-game sweep by beating the Kansas City Royals 4-3. Tampa Bay improved to a season-high six games over .500 with its fifth consecutive victory. Kansas City, which has lost 17 of 21, fell 52 games under .500 and was eliminated from the playoff race.

ANKENY, Iowa (AP) — Forward Cameron Lard is back with Iowa State’s basketball team. Lard enrolled at a wellness center in early June instead of joining his teammates for summer workouts. Coach Steve Prohm says Lard rejoined the Cyclones earlier this month after some off-court problems.

UNDATED (AP) — IndyCar drivers have been waiting patiently for updates on Canadian Robert Wickens since he suffered a spinal injury in a crash at Pocono Raceway. Wickens remains hospitalized in Pennsylvania and the series moves on to race Saturday night at Gateway Motorsports Park near St. Louis. The drivers will push Wickens’ crash out of their minds as they focus on the racing.