Reuters U.S. Sports Schedule at 2 PM EDT on Friday, April 4

April 4 (Reuters) - Reuters U.S. sports schedule at 2 PM ET on Friday: - - - - The duty editor is Steve Ginsburg, 202-898-8427 - - - - NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE Carroll cashes in, signs new contract with Seahawks Pete Carroll will be one of the NFL's three highest-paid coaches after signing a new deal with the Seattle Seahawks. (FBN-SEAHAWKS-NEWS/, expect by 1830 GMT/2:30 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 300 words) - - Titans, RB Johnson parting ways Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson is released. He could land on his feet quickly. (FBN-TITANS-NEWS/, expect by 2030 GMT/4:30 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 450 words) - - NFLPA probing Jackson release NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith says the union is investigating the Philadelphia Eagles' release of wide receiver DeSean Jackson. (FBN-EAGLES-REDSKINS-NEWS/, moved The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - Remembering Sandy Grossman of sports TV's legendary A-Team While not a well-known name among sports fans A-Team director Sandy Grossman was a key figure in creating how live sports events are telecast today. (FBC-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Frank Cooney, 400 words) - - - - FINAL FOUR On guards, Florida is tops DALLAS - In the NCAA Tournament and Final Four where college basketball becomes the game of guards, there is a reason these Gators are smiling. (BKC-FLORIDA-CONNECTICUT-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 525 words) - - Manning is the new man at Wake Forest Danny Manning, who led Tulsa to the NCAA Tournament, is named head coach at Wake Forest. (BKC-WAKEFOREST-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 300 words) - - - - NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION *The Sports Xchange covers all NBA games. Key matchups highlighted below. - - Playoff races heat up as season draws to a close The 16-team field for the NBA playoffs is nearly set but there remains plenty of jockeying for position still to be done, including ultra-tight races to determine the top seeds in both conferences. (NBA-PLAYOFFS/, moved, 550 words) See also: State of play in the NBA playoff race before the regular season ends on April 16. (NBA-PLAYOFFS (FACTBOX) - - Thunder at Rockets HOUSTON - Northwest Division leader Oklahoma City visits Houston following Thursday's slugfest with the San Antonio Spurs. (BKN-ROCKETS-THUNDER-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU (PIX), expect ASAP after the 0130 GMT/9:30 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, by Moise Kapenda Bower, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - Bucks at Bulls CHICAGO - Taking aim at a home playoff series and the third seed in the Eastern Conference, the Bulls entertain the NBA's worst team - 14-61 Milwaukee. (BKN-BULLS-BUCKS-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU, expect ASAP after the 0000 GMT/8 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - NBA Wrap: Knicks look to keep playoff dreams alive The New York Knicks, who are clinging to the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, look to keep their postseason hopes alive when they host the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden in one of 14 games on the NBA schedule. (NBA-HIGHLIGHTS/ (PIX), expect by 0330 GMT/11:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 975 words) - - The full NBA schedule: Denver at Memphis, 7 PM ET Orlando at Charlotte, 7 PM ET Indiana at Toronto, 7 PM ET Cleveland at Atlanta, 7:30 PM ET Philadelphia at Boston, 7:30 PM ET Detroit at Brooklyn, 7:30 PM ET Washington at New York, 7:30 PM ET Minnesota at Miami, 7:30 PM ET Milwaukee at Chicago, 8 PM ET New Orleans at Utah, 9 PM ET Oklahoma City at Houston, 9:30 PM ET Phoenix at Portland, 10 PM ET Sacramento at Golden State, 10:30 PM ET Dallas at Los Angeles Lakers, 10:30 PM ET - - - - GOLF June U.S. Open likely to be missed by rehabilitating Woods, say surgeons Tiger Woods is likely to be sidelined from competitive golf for at least three months after undergoing back surgery, casting doubt over his participation in the June 12-15 U.S. Open, say several leading sports surgeons. (GOLF-PGA/WOODS, expect by 2200 GMT/6 PM ET, by Mark Lamport-Stokes, 550 words) - - PGA Tour: Houston Open (to March 6) Haas, Hoffman lead by one shot in Houston Americans Bill Haas and Charley Hoffman take a one-shot lead over a group of five players into the second round of the Houston Open, the PGA Tour's final stop before next week's Masters. (GOLF-PGA/, expect first copy by 1900 GMT/3 PM ET, 500 words) - - LPGA Tour: Kraft Nabisco Championship (to 6) Feng in command in the California desert China's Shanshan Feng takes a one-shot lead over American Michelle Wie and South Korean Pak Se-ri into today's second round in the first major of the season after opening with a six-under-par 66 at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif. (GOLF-LPGA/, expect by 2200 GMT/6 PM ET, 400 words) - - - - MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL *The Sports Xchange covers all MLB games. Key matchups highlighted below. All times Eastern. - - Duda abides at 1B for Mets NEW YORK - The search for a first baseman continues, but the New York Mets likely will give Lucas Duda ample opportunity to win the job. (BBO-METS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Jerry Beach, 300 words) - - White Sox show shaky bullpen in opening series CHICAGO - By trading closer Addison Reed, the Chicago White Sox entered the season hoping for the best in the bullpen. The season-opening series shows there is plenty of work to be done. (BBO-WHITESOX-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Meghan Montemurro, 300 words) - - Reds see rust in Bailey's first outing CHICAGO - Homer Bailey apparently is healthy, but he looked rusty in the Cincinnati Reds' loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday. (BBO-REDS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Jeff Wallner, 300 words) - - Astros' Cosart focused on location HOUSTON - Jarred Cosart, the Houston Astros' young right-hander, is hoping to find success keeping the ball low. (BBO-ASTROS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Moise Kapenda Bower, 300 words) - - Yankees Tanaka make Major League debut against Jays TORONTO - The New York Yankees' prized off-season signing, pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, makes his Major League Baseball debut as the Bronx Bombers visit Toronto in the Blue Jays' home opener. (BASEBALL-YANKEES/ (PIX), expect lead by 0300 GMT/11 PM ET, by Steve Keating, 400 words) - - Braves at Nationals WASHINGTON - Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann and the Washington Nationals host the Atlanta Braves in their 2014 home opener. (BBO-NATIONALS-BRAVES-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU (PIX), expect ASAP by 1:05 p.m. ET game, The Sports Xchange, by David Driver, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - Brewers at Red Sox BOSTON - Boston The Red Sox will receive their World Series hardware prior to their home opener against interleague foe Milwaukee. (BBO-REDSOX-BRAVES-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU (PIX), expect ASAP after 2:05 p.m. ET game, The Sports Xchange, by Matt Carroll, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - Phillies at Cubs CHICAGO - Wrigley Field's 100th season gets underway with a three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies, who oppose Chicago Cubs starter Alex Wood. (BBO-CUBS-PHILLIES-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU (PIX), expect ASAP after 2:20 p.m. ET game, The Sports Xchange, by Jack McCarthy, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - Cardinals at Pirates PITTSBURGH - Young right-handers Gerrit Cole and Shelby Miller duel in a carryover NL Central clash between the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates who took their division chase down the final days of the 2013 season. (BBO-PIRATES-CUBS-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU, expect ASAP after the 2305 GMT/7:05 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, by John Perrotto, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - Angels at Astros HOUSTON - Surprising starts find the Los Angeles Angels at the bottom of the AL West standings and Houston Astros angling for the division lead as their season-opening homestand continues. (BBO-ASTROS-ANGELS-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU, expect ASAP after the 0010 GMT/8:10 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - MLB Wrap: Cubs set to kickoff Wrigley's anniversary season The celebration for Wrigley Field's 100th gets underway when the Chicago Cubs host the Philadelphia Phillies in one of 15 games on the Major League Baseball schedule. (BASEBALL-HIGHLIGHTS/ (PIX), expect by 0330 GMT/11:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 975 words) - - The full MLB schedule: American League Orioles, Gonzalez (0-0) at Tigers, Sanchez (0-0), 1:08 PM ET Twins, Pelfrey (0-0) at Indians, Salazar (0-0), 3:05 PM ET White Sox, Johnson (0-0) at Royals, Guthrie (0-0), 4:10 PM ET Yankees, Tanaka (0-0) at Blue Jays, McGowan (0-0), 7:07 PM ET Rangers, Saunders (0-0) at Rays, Odorizzi (0-0), 7:10 PM ET Angels, Richards (0-0) at Astros, TBD, 8:10 PM ET Mariners, Young (0-0) at Athletics, Straily (0-0), 10:05 PM ET - - National League Braves, Hale (0-0) at Nationals, Zimmermann, 1:05 PM ET Phillies, Hernandez (0-0) at Cubs, Wood (0-0), 2:20 PM ET Diamondbacks, Delgado (0-0) at Rockies, Nicasio (0-0), 4:10 PM ET Giants, Vogelsong (0-0) at Dodgers, Ryu (1-0), 4:10 PM ET Cardinals, Miller (0-0) at Pirates, Cole (0-0), 7:05 PM ET Reds, Leake (0-0) at Mets, Mejia (0-0), 7:10 PM ET Padres, Stults (0-0) at Marlins, Koehler (0-0), 7:10 PM ET - - Interleague Brewers, Estrada (0-0) at Red Sox, Peavy (0-0), 2:05 PM ET - - - - NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE *The Sports Xchange covers all NHL games. Key matchups highlighted below. - - Teams going wild as regular season counts down The National Hockey League enters the penultimate weekend of the regular season with races for wildcard berths and jockeying for playoff positions still on tap. (NHL-PLAYOFFS/, moved, 500 words) See also: State of play in the NHL playoff race before the regular season ends on April 13. (NHL-PLAYOFFS/ (FACTBOX) - - Capitals at Devils NEWARK, N.J. - Alex Ovechkin, two goals shy of 50 for the season, and the Washington Capitals meet the Devils for the fourth time this season. New Jersey is one point behind the Caps in the chase for the Eastern Conference's second wild-card slot. (HKN-DEVILS-CAPITALS-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU (PIX), expect ASAP after the 2300 GMT/7 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, by Jerry Beach, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - Predators at Ducks ANAHEIM, Calif. - Ryan Getzlaf has six of the Ducks' nine goals in two wins against Nashville this season. If Anaheim can complete the sweep by defeating the Predators, the Ducks could close the gap on the St. Louis Blues in the West. (HKN-DUCKS-PREDATORS-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU (PIX), expect ASAP after the 10 p.m. ET game, The Sports Xchange, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - NHL Wrap: Caps look to halt skid and make playoff push The Washington Capitals, losers of four straight, try to get their playoff ambitions back on track when they open a four-game road trip at the New Jersey Devils in one of seven games on the schedule. (NHL-HIGHLIGHTS/ (PIX), expect by 0330 GMT/11:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 475 words) - - The full NHL schedule: Montreal at Ottawa, 7 PM ET Chicago at Columbus, 7 PM ET Washington at New Jersey, 7 PM ET Buffalo at Detroit, 7:30 PM ET Calgary at Florida, 7:30 PM ET Edmonton at Phoenix, 10 PM ET Nashville at Anaheim, 10 PM ET - - - - AUTO RACING Texas notebook The Final Four isn't the only show in town this weekend, with the Duck Commander 500 Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway. (CAR-SPRINT-NOTEBOOK/, expect by 0030 GMT/8:30 PM ET, NASCAR Wire Service special to The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - Nationwide Series race Coverage of the O'Reilly Auto Parts 300 at Texas Motor Speedway. (CAR-NATIONWIDE/, expect ASAP after the 0040 GMT/8:40 PM ET scheduled green flag, NASCAR Wire Service special to The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - - - TENNIS WTA: Family Circle Cup (to March 6) Errani seeks semi-final berth in Charleston Third seed Sara Errani, Canada's Eugenie Bouchard and Daniela Hantuchova are among those in quarterfinal action at the Family Circle Cup in Charleston, S.C. (TENNIS-WTA/, expect by 0130 GMT/9:30 PM ET, 350 words) See also: Radek Stepanek and Lukas Rosol give defending champions Czech Republic a 2-0 lead in their Davis Cup quarterfinal against Japan after hard-fought victories in their singles matches in Tokyo. (TENNIS-DAVIS/JAPAN (PIX, UPDATE 1) - - - - FITNESS California tweening: the making of a 12-year-old yogi ENCINITAS, Calif. - Jaysea Devoe is a yoga instructor who has the challenging job of teaching fidgety preschoolers the ancient practice, but once her charges get going, she says, "they really start to focus and listen." (YOUTH-YOGA/ (FEATURE, PIX, TV), moved, by Mike Blake and Mary Milliken, 675 words) - - - - NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (Expect by 0000 GMT/8 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words)