Week Ahead

THURSDAY 8/16
Tigers at Yankees
When the second half began, Detroit was in first in the AL Central, New York was 8 1/2 games out in the wild-card race, and this series looked like another meaningless mid-August matchup. Things have changed: The Tigers' Central lead has shrunk to a half game, and the Yankees are atop the wild-card hunt. New York, meanwhile, has the hottest bats in the game. Since the All-Star break, the Yanks are hitting .329 and second baseman Robinson Cano (left) has a .416 average, third best in the AL.
Check listings 7 p.m.

FRIDAY 8/17
Little League World Series
There's no crying in baseball—except when 16 teams of preadolescents from around the globe descend on Williamsport, Pa., every August. Pay attention to Kyle Cotcamp, who could be bringing tears to the eyes of more than a few hitters. The 12-year-old lefthander from Hamilton, Ohio, struck out 33 in three games in the Great Lakes regional. Today Hamilton takes on Walpole, Mass., in the first of 32 series games.
ESPN 2 p.m.

SATURDAY 8/18
Chargers at Rams
San Diego coach Norv Turner says he wants to see QB Philip Rivers throw to running back LaDainian Tomlinson more this season. Doesn't LT do enough? The NFL's leading rusher (1,815 yards) was the Chargers' third-leading receiver (508 yards) in 2006. Maybe by the time the preseason ends—this game against St. Louis marks the halfway point—Turner can concoct a way for Tomlinson to snap to himself and throw his own blocks, too.
CBS 8 p.m.

SI PICK OF THE WEEK

SATURDAY 8/18
Visa Championships
Nastia Liukin, a grizzled gymnastics veteran at age 17, can barely remember a time when she hasn't held a national title. From 2003 to '05 the Parker, Texas, native (above) was the U.S. junior champ, and last year she won the senior national all-around crown. In San Jose her toughest competitor should be Shawn Johnson. The 15-year-old won golds in the all-around, beam and uneven bars at the Pan Am Games last month, beating Liukin in each event.
Saturday NBC 8 p.m.; Sunday NBC 7 p.m.

SUNDAY 8/19
ATP: Cincinnati Masters Final
The tennis community is buzzing about John Isner, the 22-year-old rookie who in his second ATP event won five matches at the Legg Mason Classic in Washington, D.C., this month before falling to Andy Roddick in the final. That performance earned the Georgia grad and 2007 NCAA singles runner-up (left) a wild-card bid to Cincy, the last major warmup before the U.S. Open.
CBS 4 p.m.

WEDNESDAY 8/22
FIBA Americas Championship
Team USA has a new look: Four players have no international experience. If they have questions, they should see Jason Kidd. The Nets guard (right), the only U.S. player older than 30 and the only one with an Olympic gold, is 28--0 in foreign competition. To keep him perfect, Team USA must win 10 games in 12 days in Las Vegas, beginning today against Venezuela.
ESPN2 8 p.m.