NFL-SCHEDULE
Cards entertain Ravens
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) β NFC West-leading Arizona is looking to get back to its consistent winning ways when it plays host to Baltimore tonight.
The Cardinals opened the season with three straight wins, but have dropped two of the last three. All four of their wins have been blowouts.
This is the third trip to the West Coast for the 1-5 Ravens who previously lost at Oakland Sept. 20 and at San Francisco last week. They have not lost a game by more than six points. Their only win was in overtime, 23-20 at Pittsburgh on Oct. 1.
NFL-LIONS OFFENSIVE SHAKE-UP
Lions sack offensive coaches
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) β The Detroit Lions have fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and offensive line coaches Jeremiah Washburn and Terry Heffernan. That comes a day after the team dropped to 1-6 with a listless performance against the Minnesota Vikings. During the game, quarterback Matthew Stafford was sacked seven times.
Blocking problems have plagued the Lions all season, limiting Stafford’s effectiveness and the running game’s productivity.
Quarterbacks coach Jim Bob Cooter is taking over as offensive coordinator.
NFL-INJURIES
Roethlisberger could return
UNDATED (AP) β Signs point to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (RAWTH’-lihs-bur-gur) returning to the Steelers’ lineup for an AFC North home game Sunday against unbeaten Cincinnati.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin says the two-time Super Bowl winner, who missed four games with a sprained knee and bruised leg, was “close” to starting the team’s 23-13 loss at Kansas City Sunday.
Tomlin said he feels good about Roethlisberger’s availability against Cincinnati, but cautioned that the Steelers’ franchise quarterback still has to go through a week of practice.
Elsewhere:
β Minnesota Vikings center John Sullivan has undergone a second surgery on his back, putting his return to the field this season in doubt. Coach Mike Zimmer says that Sullivan aggravated his injury while weightlifting about 10 days ago. He said the likelihood of getting Sullivan back this season was “minimal.”
WORLD SERIES-GAME 1
Opening game tomorrow night
KANSAS CITY (AP) β Kansas City manager Ned Yost has named Edinson Volquez to be his starting pitcher for Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Mets Tuesday.
He’ll be opposed by Matt Harvey for the Mets, who are making their first World Series appearance in 15 years.
Yost will go with Johnny Cueto (KWAY’-toh) in Game 2, followed by Yordano Ventura and Chris Young.
Kelly Johnson will be the Mets’ designated hitter in the World Series opener. He hit .250 with five homers and 13 RBIs for New York after being acquired from Atlanta on July 24. He is 1 for 6 in the postseason.
New York outfielder Curtis Granderson has a jammed thumb, but the Mets said he will play in the World Series opener. He’ll be joined by fellow outfielder Yoenis Cespedes (yoh-EHN’-ehs SEHS’-peh-dehs), who says he’ll be ready to go despite an ailing left shoulder that kept him out of the NLCS finale.
MLB-PHILLIES
New man in charge of the Phillies
PHILADELPHIA (AP) β The Phillies have hired a Matt Klentak as their new general manger. He’s been the Angels assistant GM since November 2011 and at 35 is the youngest GM in Phillies team history. He replaces Ruben Amaro Jr., who was fired in September by new team president Andy MacPhail.
Klentak previously worked for MacPhail in Baltimore as the Orioles director of baseball operations from 2008-11.
T25-BAYLOR
Big blow for second ranked team
UNDATED (AP) β Baylor’s chances of reaching the national championship game have taken a big hit with quarterback Seth Russell done for the season.
He faces surgery to repair damage to his cervical vertebra. The surgery was recommended after Russell saw a specialist two days after getting hurt late in the second-ranked Bears’ victory over Iowa State Saturday. The typical recovery time is six months.
Russell is the top-rated passer in the Bowl Subdivision, throwing for 2,104 yards with 29 touchdowns and six interceptions.
Freshman Jarrett Stidham will take over for Russell.
NBA-SEASON STARTS
LeBron, Kobe is ready
UNDATED (AP) β LeBron James says he’ll be ready for Cleveland’s NBA season opener Tuesday against the Chicago Bulls.
The four-time league MVP has been sidelined for nearly two weeks after receiving anti-inflammation injections in his back. But he’s practiced for two consecutive days and has pronounced himself ready to go.
In other NBA news:
β Kobe Bryant is still expected to play in the Los Angeles Lakers’ season opener Wednesday after being slowed by a bruised leg for two weeks. Bryant participated in most of the Lakers’ practice Monday at their training complex. Fifteen-year NBA veteran Metta World Peace survived final cuts to make the Lakers season-opening roster.
NHL-TRANSACTIONS
Preds sign Ekholm to new deal
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) β The Nashville Predators have signed defenseman Mattias (muh-TEE’-us) Ekholm to a six-year, $22.5 million contract. The 25-year old was a restricted free agent who already has a goal and two assists in seven games this season. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound defenseman currently has 30 points and 66 penalty minutes in 152 career games.
β Buffalo Sabres forward Evander Kane will be out approximately four to six weeks because of an injury to his left knee sustained in Saturday’s loss to the Devils. Without revealing the exact nature of the injury, coach Dan Bylsma (BYLZ’-muh) said Kane won’t require surgery after hurting his medial collateral ligament.
