MLB-SCHEDULE
Play Ball!
UNDATED (AP) — Despite the fact two games have already been played in Australia and that one took place last night in San Diego, for the majority of baseball fans today is opening day in Major League Baseball. Thirteen-games are on the schedule with nine of them being played this afternoon.
In Detroit there is a great pitching matchup as the Tigers entertain the Royals. On the mound for the home team is Justin Verlander with James Shields going for the visitors.
Washington opens the season at home with ace Stephen Strasburg toeing the rubber against the Mets and right-hander Dillion Gee (jee).
In Arlington, Texas, the Rangers are opening with an interleague game against the Phillies. Tanner Scheppers gets the ball for the Rangers because Yu Darvish is on the disabled list. Going for the Phillies is veteran lefty Cliff Lee.
The World Champion Red Sox open defense of their title on the road with a game in Baltimore. Jon Lester is getting the start against Chris Tillman of the Orioles.
The remaining day games feature the Cubs visiting Pittsburgh, the Braves in Milwaukee, the White Sox at home to the Twins, St. Louis in Cincinnati against the Reds and Tampa Bay at home to Toronto.
The abbreviated night schedule has Colorado at Miami, Arizona home to San Francisco, the Mariners in Anaheim and Cleveland visiting Oakland.
It all ends with the World Series in seven months.
FINAL FOUR
Get ready
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Dallas area is getting ready to host this weekend’s Final Four activities. The opening game of the national semifinals this Saturday features Connecticut against Florida while the second game has Kentucky playing Wisconsin. By the way, the UConn-Florida game is intriguing as the Huskies gave the Gators their last loss, on Dec. 2 in Storrs, Conn. Since then the Billy Donovan coached team has won 30 straight.
NHL-SABRES
Extended deal for Nolan
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Sabres have signed interim coach Ted Nolan to a three-year contract extension. The announcement was made on the team’s Twitter account. A person familiar with the contract revealed the length of the deal to The Associated Press, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the Sabres did not disclose the terms.
Nolan returned for a second stint in Buffalo in mid-November, when he was hired on an interim basis. He took over for Ron Rolston, who was fired along with GM Darcy Regier (rih-GEER’), after Buffalo got off to a franchise-worst 4-15-1 start. The 20-45-9 Sabres remain in last place.
NHL-SCHEDULE
Ducks look to move past Sharks
UNDATED (AP) — It’s a four-game schedule tonight in the NHL. In Anaheim, the Ducks are playing host to the Jets and with a win the home team would pick up ground on first-place San Jose in the Pacific Division. At the start of play the Ducks trail the Sharks by just one point. San Jose has the night off so with a win the Ducks can regain the top spot in the division and the second-seed in the Western Conference behind St. Louis.
The remaining games have Carolina at Ottawa, Florida skating at New Jersey and the Wild in Los Angeles against the Kings.
NBA-SCHEDULE
Spurs facing Pacers in Indy
UNDATED (AP) — The marquee game of the night in the NBA is taking place in Indianapolis where the Pacers entertain the Spurs. The game features the two conference leaders as Indiana tops the East with a record of 52-22 while the Spurs lead the West with 57 wins and 16 defeats. The Spurs have been the better team of late, by far, as they have won 17 straight. The Pacers are just 5-5 in their last 10 games and are riding a two-game losing streak. They’ve seen their lead over Miami in the East drop to just one game while the Spurs lead the Thunder in the West by three.
The Heat, who lead the Southeast Division, are home this evening to the Atlantic leading Toronto Raptors.
The rest of tonight’s schedule has the Wizards playing the Bobcats in Charlotte, Milwaukee at Detroit, the Hawks at home to the 76ers, Boston in Chicago, the Clippers squaring off with the Timberwolves in Minneapolis, New Orleans home to Sacramento, the Kings at Denver and Utah hosting the Knicks.
