—–(Baseball)——

Cubs-W-Pirates (4-0)….Dexter Fowler HR-3RBI-3Runs Scored…Kyle Schwarber HR-Single…..Jake Arrieta throws 4-hit shutout-11 K…..Gerrit Cole roughed up early by Cubs batting order…..Game stopped after 3-batters hit by pitch….Pirates retaliated by hitting Arrieta then rushing out of dugout to get at Arrieta……SS-Sean Rodriguez ejected from game….4th straight year Pirates eliminated in either wildcard play-in game or lst round.

(Schedule)

Royals-Astros…Game 1-AL Divisional series…..Royals will start Ace Ventura (13-8) starts vs Collin McHugh (19-7) for Astros….KC rested-led by Mike Moustakas-Eric Hosmer-Sal Perez….Astros grinded thru end of season schedule-then beat Yankees in play-in game…Houston (232HRs) this season….1,392 strikeouts.

Rangers-Blue Jays….Game 1-AL Divisional series…Yvoni Gallardo (13-11) starts for Texas-vs-David Price (19-5) for Jays….Price (9-1) since coming to Toronto at trading deadline…Jays hit 232-HRs..drew 570-walks…scored over 800-runs….Power laden batting order featuring Jose Bautista-Troy Tulowitzki-Josh Donaldson-Russell Martin…..Rangers scored 751-runs this season…P-Tanner Scheppers-Texas-5-stitches in pitching index finger-injured in pennant clinching celebration.

Dodgers-Mets…NL Divisional series opens on Friday in Los Angeles…Clayton Kershaw-vs-Jacob deGrom….Mets SS-Wilmer Flores-lost 10-pounds-weeklong battle with strept throat….Dodgers not put P-Jim Johnson on playoff roster after (10.13) ERA end of season after trade from Atlanta.

Cardinals-Cubs…NL Divisional series starts in St. Louis on Friday also…John Lackey to start for St. Louis….Redbirds C-Yadier Molina will attempt to catch-hit with splint on an injured thumb.

Rockies…Decide to retain Walt Weiss as manager after dismal season ruined by bad Colorado pitching.

—-(Football)——-

Chargers…TE-Antonio Gates returns to practice after 4G-suspension for tainted supplement….will add fresh legs and another offensive weapon to arsenal…..C-Chris Watt-S-Jahleel Addae..CBs-Jason Verrett-Brandon Flowers also return to practice from injuries….Stevie Johnson (hamstring)…Orlando Franklin (ankle)…King Dunlop (concussion) remain out.

Steelers..QB-Ben Roethlisberger still has significant pain in knee from bone bruise suffered two weeks ago.

Redskins..WR-DeSean Jackson returns to practice after shoulder injury.

Texans..WRs-Cecil Shorts-shoulder..Nate Washington-hamstring-miss practice.

(Roster)

Bills..Sign FA-K-Billy Cundiff-Cowboys…WR-Danarius Moore-ex Raiders.

Lions..Sign FA-DT-Andre Fluellen.

Rams..Sign FA-LB-JoLonn Dunbar

Saints..Release S-Kenny Phillips.

(Teams)

Miami..Interim coach Dan Campbell hires Al Saunders-ex Raiders-Rams-Chargers coach as offensive consultant….talks to Jim Schwartz-Greg Schiano-Mike Smith about coming on board as assistants….Campbell inserts “Oklahoma” nutcracker drill as part of Wednesday practice.

Miami..Report mouthy QB-Ryan Tannehill insulted players on Taxi Squad-saying he would build them a trophy case for big plays they make in practice…derogatory comment about their small paychecks on developmental squad.

Eagles..Chip Kelly-critical of his own play-calling…’not working’.

Giants..WR-Odell Beckham faces fine for punching Buffalo players last weekend.

Patriots..Coach Bill Belicheck gives Media 8-minute lecture on rules-video replays.

(Schedule)

Colts-Texans…Thursday Night Football…Andrew Luck-Matt Hassleback both ailing at QB-Indianapolis….Houston will start struggling Ryan Mallett.

(NFL)

Owners end two days of meetings….NBC reporting Dean Spanos-Stan Kroenke will both file applications to move to Los Angeles in January…NFL decides not to move up date for ‘application to move’…will stay in January-with NFL decision likely end of January.

St. Louis…Newly proposed Rams Stadium comes up with title sponsor “National Car Rental Stadium”….158M-deal-covering 20Y.

(Basketball)

Derek Fisher-Matt Barnes….NY Knicks coach gets into fight at party over weekend with ex-Lakers player….report Fisher is having relationship with Barnes ex-wife.

Lakers-Toronto….LA (0-2)…plays Raptors tonite in Ontario, California arena…..Kobe Bryant (6-14) shooting in 2-preseason games.

Clippers….In China for 2-preseason games.

Pacers…G-Paul George scores 20P-in one quarter…coming off severely broken leg a year ago.

Cavaliers…G-Iman Shumpert-out 3-months-wrist injury….F-Kevin Love takes part in lst practice since shoulder injury last postseason….C-Tristan Thompson continues bitter holdout.

—–(Hockey)——

San Diego Gulls….send G-Ryan Faragher to ECHL-Salt Lake City….will likely cut a couple of more players from 26-man roster before Saturday night opener.

Gulls…Reaching 3,000-season ticket plateau for opening of season.

Kings..Negotiating buyout of Mike Richards 22M-contract to avoid costly grievance case….Richards facing charges possession of painkillers-arrest last spring at Manitoba border crossing.

Red Wings…put veteran F-Dan Cleary on waivers.

Sabres….D-Brian Gionta goes down with hip injury…3-Buffalo blueliners out with injuries.

(NHL Scoreboard)

Montreal-W-Toronto…Carey Price 36-saves for Habs spoiling debut Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock.

Rangers-W-Chicago..New York scores 3-goals in lst period-beat Hawks-spoil Stanley Cup banner raising ceremony.

NHL-Thursday schedule…..Ottawa-at-Buffalo-debut of Sabres lst round pick Jack Eichel…..Penguins-Dallas-debut of Phil Kessell in Pittsburgh….Edmonton-St. Louis-debut of top player in draft Connor McDavid.

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