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Tom Brady will have the opportunity to make another $5 million this season after renegotiating his contract with the Patriots.
Brady’s deal has been tweaked so that he has another $5 million in incentives for this season Pat McAfee Jersey , in addition to his $14 million base salary and $1 million roster bonus, according to multiple reports.
The Patriots did something similar last year with tight end Rob Gronkowski, adding incentives to his contract. There’s no word on the specific nature of Brady’s performance incentives.
Brady and Patriots owner Robert Kraft have long had a close relationship, and it’s no surprise that Kraft would be willing to give Brady the chance to earn more money without demanding more years on his contract. And despite the reports last year of friction between Brady and coach Bill Belichick, there’s no doubt that Belichick wants Brady to remain his quarterback.
Although Brady has not signed his restructured contract yet, he could do so within the next day.
WASHINGTON — In the penultimate game of the regular season, the Nashville Predators are still jockeying for playoff position Carlos Hyde Jersey , while the Washington Capitals have a division title and their postseason placement secured.
So, this showdown between two division leaders might not have as much luster as if it had been played in February, but for the Predators, who are seeking the first Central Division crown in club history, it is still a critical contest.
“We’ve clinched a playoff (berth), but there’s still a lot of goals we want to achieve, and it’s good for us that we’re trying to play desperate right now Tramaine Brock Jersey ,” Nashville defenseman Roman Josi told the team’s website on Wednesday. “We’re playing for something, and that’s definitely going to help going into playoffs.”
The Predators were still steaming about Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to the Florida Panthers, in which the apparent game-tying goal by Filip Forsberg in the final second was overturned by a controversial goaltender interference call. Now, with Winnipeg on its tail for the division title, Nashville will have to play tough against the Capitals and the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday to make some franchise history and potentially snag home-ice advantage in the Western Conference.
“You have to move on,” Forsberg told the team’s website. “You can’t do anything about it now. You just have to play the next game.”
That next game will be against the Capitals, who have surged down the stretch Greg Zuerlein Jersey , going 11-2-0 to clinch their third straight Metropolitan Division title. Washington head coach Barry Trotz isn’t planning on using this matchup against Nashville to gauge how his team looks against another title contender, however.
“I don’t think I’d use it as a measuring stick,” Trotz told reporters after practice on Wednesday. “We’ve been weighed and measured all year against teams in our own division.”
Washington is in evaluation mode at this point, mixing and matching lineups to figure out who will be in the plans once the postseason begins. To that end, the team recalled forward Travis Boyd and defenseman Madison Bowey from AHL Hershey on Wednesday.
“Coming back here, I have a lot of confidence and I’m just ready to help the guys out if needed and when I’m called upon,” Bowey said.
Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin crashed into the boards during Monday’s game at the St. Louis Blues Samson Ebukam Jersey , giving the team a slight scare. Ovechkin took a maintenance day on Wednesday and Trotz said the team would “see where he is” before a decision on his playing time.
Washington’s rotating goalie situation will also be addressed on game day. Philipp Grubauer and Braden Holtby are both coming off impressive victories against the Penguins and Blues, respectively, and with Trotz open to playing both during the playoffs, gaining valuable experience against an explosive Predators team could be key.
Nashville figures to start Pekka Rinne in net for this important contest.
“It’s a big test for us, and I think our team always shows up when there’s a big game,” Josi said.
Trae Young JerseyThe center La'el Collins Jersey , starting in place of the injured Andre Drummond and without Blake Griffin in the front court, helped the Detroit Pistons end a disappointing season on a high note with a 119-87 rout of the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night.
Moreland had career highs with 16 points, 17 rebounds, four blocks and four steals in 41 minutes, and rookie Luke Kennard added a career-high 23 points for Detroit, which won 14 of their first 20 but fell short of the playoffs.
”We also have a resilient group, everybody cares on this team, and everybody just comes to work every day,” Moreland said. ”But even coming out not making the playoffs, I knew everybody would play hard and go into the offseason with our heads high knowing we played hard.”
Anthony Tolliver had 18 points and Henry Ellenson added 14 points and 10 rebounds as the Pistons snapped a two-game losing streak and won for the ninth time in their last 13 games.
”I was really happy with the way we played,” Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said. ”Eric was outstanding. Everybody who played, played well.”
Rookie Lauri Markkanen had 20 points, and Sean Kilpatrick added 14 in his only start of the season for Chicago.
The rebuilding Bulls maintained their seventh position heading into the draft lottery on May 15, losing their fourth straight. It was also Chicago’s 11th loss in 14 games.
”We learned a lot as a team and I learned a lot as an individual Mike Glennon Jersey ,” Markkanen said. ”When I look back now, I don’t know what I was thinking when I was coming in. I know a lot more now, even though it’s only one season. I’m a lot better player than when I was coming in, but I have a lot of work ahead of me.”
Tolliver made his first five shots and also keyed an early 22-4 run as Detroit took a 35-21 lead after one quarter.
The Pistons shot 26 of 45 (57.8 percent), including 10 of 19 (52.6 percent) on 3-pointers, to take a 66-50 halftime lead.
The Bulls had a 13-5 run early in the third quarter and got the margin down to 71-63 after six straight points from Markkanen. But Ish Smith had six points during an 11-0 run that re-established a 20-point margin for Detroit, which led by as many as 34 in the fourth quarter.
”Throw this game out,” Chicago coach Fred Hoiberg said. ”It was a team that was a lot of fun to coach. It was a group that whether we were going through good times or bad, they came in with the right approach.”
The final margin of victory was the second-largest of the season for Detroit, behind a 114-80 win on Jan. 10 against Brooklyn.
TIP-INS
Pistons: Starters Reggie Bullock (left knee swelling), Drummond (sore Achilles tendon) and Griffin (right ankle contusion) were again held out with minor injuries. … The Pistons (39-43) finished under .500 for the ninth time in the last 10 seasons.
Bulls: Justin Holiday and Robin Lopez were held out by the Bulls, and injured Kris Dunn, Zach LaVine, Antonio Blakeney Matt Paradis Jersey , Denzel Valentine, Paul Zipser and Noah Vonleh were on the inactive list. … The Bulls (27-55) finished under .500 for the first time since 2007-08.
EVEN MATCH
Detroit evened the all-time series with Chicago at 129-129.
HOMETOWN HERO
Kay Felder had his first basket for Detroit with a late jump shot, scoring two points. The Detroit native and former star at nearby Oakland University played 3 minutes in one previous game this season after being acquired Jan. 15 as a two-way player with the Grand Rapids Drive of the G League.
ANOTHER MARK
Markkanen hit three 3-pointers, setting a record with 145 3-pointers made as a rookie, breaking Kirk Hinrich’s franchise mark of 144 set in 2003-04.
The 20-year-old from Finland recently became the fourth Bulls rookie with 1,000 points and 500 rebounds, joining Elton Brand, Michael Jordan and Dave Greenwood.
QUOTABLE
”The Bulls won 72 (in 1995-96), how many games did (Michael) Jordan play? He played 82, all six years. It wasn’t, `We’re five games up, so we need a rest.’ And he seemed to have something left in the playoffs to me,” Van Gundy said, while holding court for more than 10 minutes in a pregame media session about NBA teams tanking and resting players down the stretch.
On tanking: ”To me Kerryon Johnson Jersey , it’s a lack of integrity in your league and a lack of respect for your fans,” Van Gundy said.
Owner Tom Gores said Monday he expects to meet with Van Gundy next week about the future of the franchise.
”I’ve seen enough from our team, in terms of results and the way guys have played, that I know this is a good team if we’re healthy,” Van Gundy said. ”We’re just disappointed. When you get to the end of any year. We had high expectations for this year and to not be in the playoffs and to have it done tonight, it’s disappointing, there’s no question about it.”
UP NEXT
Pistons: Season over.
Bulls: Season over.
All-America defensive tackle Maurice Hurst has been given the OK by doctors to participate fully at Michigan's pro day, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke Thursday night to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the clearance wasn't announced.Hurst, a potential first-round pick, was held out of drills at the combine three weeks ago after doctors red-flagged a heart condition.
NFL teams will have an opportunity to watch Hurst and other former Wolverines go through drills, run and lift weights on Friday.
The 6-foot-2, 280-pound Hurst had 59 tackles, including 13 for losses and 5 1/2 sacks last season. Hurst, who is from Westwood Max Garcia Jersey , Massachusetts, is regarded as one of the top prospects at defensive tackle available in the draft. His father played for the New England Patriots as a cornerback for seven seasons, starting 102 games.
At the combine earlier this month, Hurst told Utah defensive lineman Lowell Lotulelei he had been diagnosed with the same heart condition as Lotulelei's older brother, Star.
"I just found out in the NFLPA meeting that we just had. He just said, 'Star was your brother?' And I said yeah. He's like, 'Man, I just got the same thing that he did,'" Lowell Lotulelei told reporters. "Obviously I didn't go through it, so I don't really know what he's feeling like. But I kind of understand the disappointment just because my brother trained just like he trained and you're expecting one thing and getting another. I feel for him. It sucks. But I think he'll be fine just like my brother was."
Five years ago, Star Lotulelei arrived at the combine as the expected first pick in that year's draft. Things changed dramatically after doctors identified an "abnormal" test on his heart. Lotulelei sought additional opinions and was eventually cleared to exercise. He was taken by Carolina with the 14th overall selection in the 2013 draft. And has missed just four games over five NFL seasons.
Devonte Graham JerseySeattle announced both of the signings on Saturday. Brown spent all five of his NFL seasons with the Arizona Cardinals Randy Gregory Jersey , while Alexander is joining the Seahawks after parts of four seasons with the Rams.
Brown could essentially end up being a replacement for Paul Richardson, who left in free agency and signed with Washington. Brown had a career-high 31 receptions and four touchdowns last season with the Cardinals. He averaged 15.4 yards per reception and at 6-foot-2 is a taller receiver than Seattle's had previously.
Alexander started 18 games the past two seasons for the Rams, but was surprisingly cut after four games last season. Alexander has played both safety positions in the past and could be added insurance if Kam Chancellor is unable to return from a neck injury suffered last season.
The Milwaukee Bucks have officially announced the hiring of Mike Budenholzer as their new coach.A person familiar with the search had told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the Milwaukee Bucks had reached an agreement with Budenholzer, the former Atlanta Hawks coach. The Bucks made the official announcement Thursday.
”The tremendously supportive fans in Milwaukee and throughout Wisconsin are waiting and ready,” Budenholzer said in a statement released by the team. ”Now it’s up to us to put all the pieces together Jim McMahon Jersey , and I can’t wait to get started.”
Budenholzer replaces Joe Prunty, the former assistant who went 21-16 in the regular season after replacing the fired Jason Kidd in late January. The Bucks lost to Boston in seven games in the first round of the playoffs.
The 48-year-old Budenholzer went 213-197 in five seasons with the Hawks. Budenholzer was named the NBA coach of the year in 2015, when he led the Hawks to a franchise-record 60 wins and an appearance in the Eastern Conference finals.
He and the Hawks mutually agreed to part ways last month with two years remaining on his contract, allowing Budenholzer to pursue other opportunities.
Before joining the Hawks, Budenholzer spent 19 seasons with the San Antonio Spurs Logan Woodside Jersey , including a 17-year stint as an assistant coach. The Spurs won NBA titles in 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007 during Budenholzer’s tenure as an assistant coach.
”Mike has played a key role in building successful teams throughout his career,” Bucks general manager Jon Horst said in a statement. ”He’s widely respected and has shown a special ability to teach and develop players. His leadership, basketball intellect Curtis Samuel Jersey , championship-level experience and communication skills make him the right fit to take our team to the next level.”
Budenholzer takes over a team that has a legitimate star in Giannis Antetokounmpo but is attempting to take the next step after making first-round playoff exits each of the last two years. The Bucks, who will be moving into a new arena in the fall, haven’t advanced beyond the first round of the postseason since reaching the Eastern Conference finals in 2001.
”There are terrific people throughout the organization, and together we have a tremendous opportunity to take the Bucks to the next level,” Budenholzer said in a statement. ”I look forward to working with our group of young and exciting players and helping us evolve in many ways to succeed on the court.”
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Dominating the penultimate slalom of the season Alfred Blue Jersey , the two-time Olympic champion from Austria stretched his lead over his only remaining rival, Henrik Kristoffersen, to 289 points. The Norwegian, a specialist in technical races, cannot overtake Hirscher because he will only compete in two more events this season.
”This is so surreal, I can’t believe it,” said Hirscher, who also locked up the slalom and GS titles this weekend, two weeks before the season-ending races in Sweden.
”Now I am going for one week vacation to Are,” he quipped. ”That is always really nice because the stress has gone away.”
Building on a big first-leg lead of 0.82-seconds over Kristoffersen, Hirscher did not hold back in his final run and extended the margin to 1.22 seconds Micah Hyde Jersey , a country mile in the sport. Ramon Zenhaeusern of Switzerland was 1.61 behind in third, while Olympic champion Andre Myhrer, who was third after the opening run, dropped to 24th.
Shortly after finishing and with his skis still clipped on, Hirscher fell on his back and celebrated the victory.
”Incredible. You can’t believe it’s possible,” he said after becoming the first skier in the 51-year history of the World Cup to win seven overall titles. No other male skier has won more than five, and fellow Austrian Annemarie Moser-Proell won six times on the women’s circuit in the 1970s.
Sunday’s victory also gave Hirscher this year’s slalom title with a race to spare, a day after he also locked up the season-long title in the giant slalom.
”With all the problems before the season started, with the broken ankle, it is… I can’t find the right words. It is very surreal,” said Hirscher Billy Turner Jersey , who missed all of his pre-season preparation after fracturing his ankle while straddling a gate on his first training day on snow in August.
”The summer really wasn’t easy. It went from a possible end of career to my best season,” Hirscher said after Sunday’s win, his 12th of the World Cup season and 57th overall.
Last month in Pyeongchang, Hirscher crowned his illustrious career by adding the only prize he was missing – Olympic gold. He won the combined event and the giant slalom, but came up short as clear favorite in the slalom, where he went out in the opening run.
”I don’t know, to be honest,” Hirscher said when asked about his next goals. ”I am happy to go home now and enjoy this. I have to make up my mind where my journey goes next.”
Hirscher said the ongoing rivalry with Kristoffersen, who beat the Austrian for the slalom title two years ago, has enabled him to further raise his level.
”Hats off, the future belongs to this young man Taven Bryan Jersey ,” Hirscher said about the 23-year-old Norwegian. ”He has made it really tough. He performed, performed, performed, and made no mistakes so I had to bring something extra all the time.”
Kristoffersen, who performed a deep bow to Hirscher at the prize giving ceremony after Sunday’s race, called the Austrian ”the best ski racer in the world.”
”So it’s OK for me to be second. At the moment he is just better, so it’s OK when he wins the slalom globe, the GS globe, the overall globe,” Kristoffersen said.
The men’s World Cup continues with a downhill and a super-G in Kvitfjell, Norway Marvin Jones Jr Jersey , next weekend.
The San Francisco 49ers have signed three of their draft picks to four-year contracts.The team announced Saturday that third-round defensive back Tarvarius Moore and seventh-rounders Richie James Jr. and Jullian Taylor have all signed contracts.
Moore was drafted 95th overall out of Southern Mississippi. He played 26 games in college with 104 tackles, five interceptions, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and 12 passes defensed.
Taylor was taken 223rd overall as a defensive tackle out of Temple. He had 52 tackles, including 11 for loss, in 20 games in college.
James was taken 240th as a receiver out of Middle Tennessee State. He had 244 catches for 3,261 yards and 23 TDs in 31 games.
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The fifth set alone lasted nearly 3 hours as the match became a test of endurance more than skill. Anderson finally earned the must-have, go-ahead service break with the help of a point in which the right-hander tumbled to his backside, scrambled back to his feet and hit a shot lefty.
Only one match at the All England Club has been longer: Isner’s 2010 first-round victory over Nicolas Mahut, which went more than 11 hours over three days and finished 70-68 in the fifth. That was played over on Court 18, which now bears a plaque commemorating the record-setter.
The contest lasted so long, the day’s second semifinal didn’t finish. Novak Djokovic was leading Rafael Nadal 6-4 Braden Smith Jersey , 3-6, 7-6 (9) in a compelling showdown filled with entertaining points that was suspended as soon as the third set concluded at just past 11 p.m., the curfew at the All England Club.
NFL
PLANO, Texas (AP) – Walt Coleman doesn’t see the revamped catch rule as a big change for NFL game officials because the veteran referee believes they’ve already been calling catches the new way.
If anything, Coleman said he figure there will be fewer reviews of their rulings.
Officials gathered for their annual preseason meeting in the Dallas area.
League owners unanimously approved the changes in April – more than three years after Dez Bryant’s infamous catch that wasn’t in Dallas’ playoff loss at Green Bay, and just a few months since Pittsburgh’s Jesse James had a late go-ahead touchdown taken away in a loss to New England that damaged the Steelers’ hopes for the AFC’s top seed.
Essentially, the new rule eliminates the ground as a factor on catches while establishing three main criteria: having control of the ball; getting two feet down or another body part; and making a football move, such as taking a third step or extending the ball.
NEW YORK (AP) – DeMarco Murray is retiring from the NFL.
The 2014 Offensive Player of the Year made the announcement four months after being released by the Tennessee Titans.
Murray, 30, lost his job to Derrick Henry last season and was due to make $6.25 million in 2018 when the Titans let him go. He ran for 659 yards and six touchdowns last season Malik Jefferson Jersey , dealt with a knee injury late in the year, and missed the Titans’ final regular-season game and two playoff contests.
The Titans acquired Murray in a March 2016 trade with the Eagles. Murray had spent one year with Philadelphia after playing four seasons with the Cowboys. Murray was playing for Dallas in 2014 when he won the NFL rushing title and Offensive Player of the Year honors.
He was a dominant force that season for the Cowboys, who went 12-4 to win the NFC East. Murray ran for a league-best 1,845 yards, then signed a five-year, $40 million deal as a free agent with Philadelphia in 2015.
BASEBALL
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Chase Utley will retire from baseball at the end of this season, capping a 16-year career that included a World Series championship with Philadelphia and an elder-statesman role with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The six-time All-Star said he’s leaving to spend more time with his wife and two young sons.
Utley announced his decision at a jammed news conference in the basement of Dodger Stadium, with several of his teammates surprising him by crowding into the small, steamy room.
Three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw sat on the floor in a corner, with Matt Kemp Ryan Hewitt Jersey , Rich Hill, Corey Seager, Austin Barnes and Kenta Maeda joining him. Pitching coach Rick Honeycutt looked on, while hitting coach Turner Ward used his phone to capture video. Yasiel Puig hung in the back, and 92-year-old Dodgers pitching great Don Newcombe listened in.
AUTO RACING
SPARTA, Ky. (AP) – Christopher Bell rallied from the rear of the field after a tire change due to a spin during qualifying, steadily worked his way up the field and passed Justin Allgaier with 17 laps remaining before holding off Daniel Hemric to win the 300-mile NASCAR Xfinity race at Kentucky Speedway.
Bell drove his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota to his second victory this season.
Bell, who has three career victories in the Xfinity Series, moved within 17 points of co-leaders Elliott Sadler (12th) and Hemric. He trails third-place Cole Custer by 14.
Cup Series regular Kyle Busch (Toyota) led three times for a race-high 111 laps and won the first stage but finished third. Allgaier was fourth in a Chevrolet and pole winner Custer (Ford) fifth. John Hunter Nemechek won the second stage but finished seventh in a Chevrolet.
NBA
NEW YORK (AP) – Jeremy Lin’s injury-plagued stint in Brooklyn is over as the Nets agreed to trade him to Atlanta.
The move helps clear up the Nets’ logjam at point guard and sends Lin to another team that is also pretty crowded at the position. The Hawks announced they also acquired a 2025 second-round pick and the right to swap second-round picks in 2023 with the Nets, who acquired the draft rights to shooting guard Isaia Cordinier and a protected 2020 second-round pick.
Lin has a year and $12.5 million left on the contract he signed two summers ago.
NEW YORK (AP) – The Brooklyn Nets acquired forwards Kenneth Faried and Darrell Arthur along with a 2019 first-round pick from the Denver Nuggets.
The Nets also received a second-round pick in 2020 in the trade and sent guard I
Washington running back Chris Thompson will practice with his teammates when the team begins training camp Joel Bitonio Jersey , he told SiriusXM NFL Radio on Monday.
“I’m feeling pretty good right now,” Thompson said. “I will start practicing with the guys from day one but just taking it slowly. The focus is to really be ready by that first regular-season game.”
Thompson found his role as a third-down back before fracturing his fibula, catching 39 passes for 510 yards and four touchdowns in 10 games. The addition of Derrius Guice in the draft is not expected to change anything for Thompson.
Thompson, a fifth-round pick in 2013, played little his first two seasons. But he’s played 39 games the past three seasons, with 123 catches and 167 rushing attempts.
Robert Williams JerseyTheir contributions to this struggling team on Thursday night were sure worthy of a longer stay.
Slegers picked up his first major league win with six smooth innings, Cave reached base all four times he batted, and the Twins stopped their six-game losing streak by hanging on for a 5-2 victory over the lowly Baltimore Orioles.
”I know that I think, and I know Slegers thinks the same thing, that we can play big league baseball,” Cave said. ”We’re ready to go anytime the team needs us, and that’s just kind of how you’ve got to think of it.”
Logan Morrison homered and Cave drove in an eighth-inning insurance run with one of his two doubles for the Twins, who turned to Fernando Rodney in the ninth for his 18th save following two consecutive blown chances. Slegers (1-0) gave up only one run, on the first of two homers by Jonathan Schoop.
”It’s fun to have that in the stat column Carl Lawson Jersey , to be a major league winner,” Slegers said. ”I can say that for the rest of my life.”
With eight right-handers in the Orioles lineup, except for Chris Davis, Slegers put his sinker to good use against the second-lowest scoring team in MLB. The Orioles managed just three hits against the 6-foot-10 Slegers, who was the latest to fill the recently revolving fifth spot in the rotation. Manager Paul Molitor stopped short of a commitment, but he indicated Slegers earned another turn after needing only 72 pitches to complete those six innings in his first major league start this season.
”Sometimes you make tough decisions to protect those young guys when they’ve had good outings and make sure they feel good when they come out of the game,” Molitor said.
The Orioles squandered another quality start by Andrew Cashner (2-9) and lost for the 10th time in 11 games. They have the worst record in the major leagues at 24-62, just the team the Twins needed to face to start a season-long 11-game homestand after a pivotal 1-8 road trip.
Trailing AL Central-leading Cleveland by 11 1/2 games, Minnesota has become a probable seller before the non-waiver trade deadline on July 31 with several accomplished players on expiring contracts. Baltimore has essentially been in that boat since April Corey Coleman Jersey , with slugging shortstop Manny Machado widely considered the best asset on the market this summer.
CASHED OUT
Cashner, one of the offseason acquisitions by the Orioles that suggested their commitment to contending in the daunting AL East, has had more than three runs scored for him in only one of his 17 starts this year. He gave up three runs, two earned, and six hits.
”It’s not like we didn’t want to score for him,” Schoop said. ”I hope things start changing.”
Orioles starters have received the least amount of run support in the major leagues this season.
”I probably had the worst stuff I’ve had this season, but I thought I just grinded throughout the game,” Cashner said. ”When you’re not scoring runs, I feel like I keep my mind sharp on what I want to do out there and thinking pitch to pitch.”
WHOOPS
Cashner was charged with an error in the third Britton Colquitt Jersey , when he was covering first base on a chopper hit by Bobby Wilson to Davis and fumbled the relay toss to let Cave score from second. Wilson eventually scored on a single by Eddie Rosario.
WHIFFS
Rodney struck out Davis to start a perfect ninth, pushing the sputtering slugger into a first-place tie on the Orioles list for strikeouts with 1,305. He is tied with Cal Ripken Jr., who played 3,001 games for Baltimore. Davis has appeared in 972 contests.
MAN, CAVE
Cave, who was recalled from Rochester last week, made a fully extended catch at the wall in right-center to take a potential extra-base hit away from Davis in the fourth inning. Cave doubled twice, driving in one run Jamon Brown Jersey , to go with a single and an intentional walk.
”He can really flash it out there,” Slegers said.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Orioles: RHP Darren O’Day (strained left hamstring) has been scheduled for his season-ending surgery on July 12. He’ll need six months to recover.
DOZIER’S DAY
Twins second baseman Brian Dozier, who has started 80 of 84 games and appeared in all but one this season, went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts. He’s batting .218.
UP NEXT
Orioles: RHP Dylan Bundy (6-7, 3.75 ERA) will come off the DL to start Friday night. Bundy has been sidelined by a sprained left ankle.
Twins: RHP Lance Lynn (5-7, 5.49 ERA) will take the mound in the second game of the series, coming off his worst turn of the season. He gave up seven runs in Chicago to the Cubs in just 1 2/3 innings.
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The Chiefs were missing both starting safeties for the final practice ahead of their preseason opener with Eric Berry getting a planned day off and Daniel Sorensen leaving with a knee injury.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid is being cautious with Berry after the star safety missed nearly all of last season with a torn Achilles tendon. The extent of Sorensen's injury was still being evaluated.
There is little depth behind the starters, especially with rookie Armani Watts missing part of camp with an injury. He got first-team reps Tuesday alongside Eric Murray.
The Chiefs play their preseason opener against Houston on Thursday night at Arrowhead Stadium.
Jevon Carter JerseyIt was just what Jon Lester needed.
The four-time All-Star won his fifth straight start, Javier Baez backed him with three hits and two runs, and the Cubs beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-0 on Wednesday.
”That’s what we’re capable of doing,” manager Joe Maddon said. ”In the past when we’ve won at a high level, we’ve played outstanding defense. It never gets old. It never gets old to watch that kind of baseball.”
Lester (9-2) gave up five hits over seven innings, though he didn’t have his usual pinpoint command.
Baez had two doubles and a triple for a career-high three extra-base hits. He also stole a base and made some big plays at shortstop and second.
Kyle Schwarber hit his 14th homer. Kris Bryant added two hits and an RBI in his third straight game batting leadoff. And the Cubs handed Ross Stripling his first loss since April 30, taking two of three in a rematch of the past two NL Championship Series.
”We’ll be somewhere (in the playoffs) in October,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. ”I can’t speak to the opponent, but we’ll be somewhere.”
Lester walked three and struck out one batter. Anthony Bass worked the final two innings to finish the six-hitter.
”I really didn’t have much today,” Lester said. ”I was kind of grinding through that one.”
But he didn’t need his best stuff with the defense coming through in a big way.
Baez made a strong throw from deep in the hole at shortstop in the second inning to rob Logan Forsythe of a hit and had fans chanting his name in the eighth after a neat double play as the second baseman. He caught Justin Turner’s line drive and lunged to the bag to double off a diving Enrique Hernandez.
Right fielder Jason Heyward threw out Chris Taylor trying to score on Turner’s fly in the third.
Center fielder Albert Almora raced in for a diving grab on Yasiel Puig’s liner in the seventh. And the Cubs caught several balls on the warning track while winning for the 17th time in 25 games.
”Al comes in, dives for one and I’m just like, `OK, I’m done clapping for you guys Dominique Easley Jersey ,” Lester said. ”It’s expected now that these guys can make these plays.”
Stripling (6-2) had won six straight starts. The right-hander went six innings, allowing three runs and eight hits while striking out seven without a walk. But the Dodgers dropped back-to-back games for the first time since they lost a season-high six in a row May 10-16.
STINGY STARTS
Cubs starters have allowed one run or less in seven straight home games, matching Chicago’s longest streak since May 11-June 7, 1919, according to STATS.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Dodgers: SS Taylor exited with a tight left hamstring in the sixth. He said it started bothering him running the bases in the third, and he expects to be available Friday, when the Dodgers open a three-game series at the New York Mets. … INF Chase Utley (sprained left thumb) was ready to return from the disabled list. But the Dodgers decided to wait until Friday to activate him. ”Kind of where we’re at with the pitching,” Roberts said. ”He’s healthy and ready to go with us, but having some option-able players on the roster makes a lot of sense for us. Playing a doubleheader, three games in 24 hours, we’ve got to kind of see how things play out and give ourselves some options.”
Cubs: The Cubs placed closer Brandon Morrow (lower back tightness) on the 10-day disabled list. … RHP Yu Darvish (right triceps tendinitis) threw a simulated game. Maddon said he looked ”outstanding,” and the Cubs will see how he feels Thursday before announcing the next step as he works his way back. … Maddon also said the Cubs are ”very close” to mapping out a plan for Carl Edwards Jr. (right shoulder inflammation) to return from the DL.
UP NEXT
Dodgers: LHP Alex Wood (2-5, 4.22 ERA) tries to win his second straight start as the Dodgers open a three-game series against the Mets on Friday. RHP Zack Wheeler (2-5 Andy Janovich Jersey , 4.82) pitches for New York.
Cubs: The Cubs open a four-game series at Cincinnati on Thursday, with RHP Kyle Hendricks (5-6, 3.55) going against RHP Matt Harvey (1-5, 5.92)
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MILWAUKEE — Lorenzo Cain will be back in the lineup Tuesday when the Milwaukee Brewers open a two-game interleague set with Cain’s former team, the Kansas City Royals, at Miller Park.
Cain sat out Sunday when the Brewers wrapped up a four-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals. It was a scheduled day off for the veteran center fielder, who ha played every game since May 23 but also a chance for him to rest a nagging groin injury and get two full days off his feet before facing his former team.
The 32-year-old has been everything the Milwaukee Brewers had hoped for when they signed him to a franchise-record $80 million contract during the winter.
Cain is among the team leaders in almost every offensive category this season: hits (71), walks (43), on-base percentage (.394). He is second in doubles (15), batting average (.291) and .OPS (.832).
He also has been something of a workhorse, appearing in 72 games — just one fewer than team leader Travis Shaw — while making 70 starts. He leads the team with 312 plate appearances and 265 at-bats.
“Winning games is the most important part,” Cain said. “It’s still early in the season and we have a long way to go, but winning consistently Chris Harris Jr Jersey , winning series, that’s our main goal.”
Shaw should also be back in the lineup. He left Sunday’s game when he tweaked an already-sore right wrist during a third-inning at-bat. He missed two games with the same injury earlier in the week against Pittsburgh but started all four games against St. Louis.
“This is something I’ve been dealing with for a while now and a couple of swings here and there will get it every now and then,” Shaw said. “It’ll be nice to have almost two full days off with the rest of tonight, all of tomorrow and a night game (Tuesday). We’ll see where we’re at then.”
Having those two back and healthy, as well as red-hot slugger Jesus Aguilar, who got a break Sunday, will be a relief for rookie right-hander Freddy Peralta.
After making his first three big league starts on the road, Peralta will get a chance to show his talent to the hometown fans for the first time when he takes the mound for the series opener.
“I’m very excited,” Peralta said. “It’s like a dream, pitching in Miller Park.”
His MLB career got off to a memorable start. He struck out 13 in 5 1/3 scoreless innings with his family on hand to watch at Coors Field.
He’s 2-0 with a 2.30 ERA as a big leaguer with the Brewers, winning all three of his starts. Peralta has also struck out 84 batters in 59 innings for Triple-A Colorado Springs this season, going 6-1 with a 2.75 ERA there.
“I know that (major league hitters) are smart, but I just have to pitch the same and believe in myself Greg Olsen Jersey , trust my ability in making pitches,” Peralta said. “I know they’re better hitters than in the minor leagues, and I just have to make the adjustments, but it’s all the same for me.”
He’ll go up against right-hander Jakub Junis, who has lost his last five starts and hasn’t won since May 18.
Junis has a 6.75 ERA during his losing streak with 24 strikeouts in 24 innings.
“It’s been tough, not only personally, but as a team,” Junis told the Kansas City Star. “We’re grinding through it.
“It’s definitely been a struggle for me. I’ve given up a lot of home runs this year, so I’m very conscious of that. I’m trying to keep it in the ballpark, because when I do, that’s when I have success.”
Kansas City has faced Milwaukee twice this season. They dropped both games of an interleague series in April at Kaufmann Stadium.
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