Reuters U.S. Sports Schedule at 2 PM EDT on Wednesday, Aug. 27
Aug. 27 (Reuters) - Reuters U.S. sports schedule at 2 PM ET on Wednesday: - - - - The duty editor is Steve Ginsburg, 202-898-8427 - - - - TENNIS Sharapova, Wawrinka in action at Flushing Meadows NEW YORK - Fifth-seeded French Open champion Maria Sharapova takes on Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania and men's third seed Stan Wawrinka, Australian Open winner, plays Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil in second-round matches at U.S. Open. (TENNIS-OPEN/ (UPDATE 1, TV, PIX), expect by 2000 GMT/4 PM ET, by Larry Fine and Steve Keating, 600 words) - - - - NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE Ban upheld, Browns receiver Gordon suspended for 2015 Cleveland Browns receiver Josh Gordon is suspended for the year by NFL for violating league's substance-abuse policy. (FBN-BROWNS-NEWS, moved, The Sports Xchange, 350 words, will be led) NFC Battles of Week: Final chance for lasting impression With so-called final cut to 53 active players set for Saturday, 1700 GMT/1 PM ET, these next few days, including Thursday's final exhibition games, are crucial to careers of several players on each team, including top contenders such as Seattle and San Francisco. (FBN-NEWS, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Frank Cooney, 2,508 words) AFC Battles of Week: Pats seek Brady's heir apparent In some locales, final exhibition game is truly meaningless. In New England, fourth-year veteran Ryan Mallett tries to hold off rookie Jimmy Garoppolo as next man up should Patriots quarterback Tom Brady be knocked out of action. That and other AFC Battles to Watch, as identified by team correspondents for The Sports Xchange, add consequence to Thursday's exhibition action. (FBN-NEWS, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Frank Cooney, 2,400 words) Cowboys, Dez Bryant close in on contract Jerry Jones says he wants to make receiver Dez Bryant part of Dallas Cowboys for life, and team's owner could be ready to show it with a long-term contract extension. (FBN-COWBOYS-NEWS, moved, The Sports Xchange, 410 words) Sherman fight sparked investigation of Seahawks National Football League fines Seattle Seahawks $300,000 for violating collective bargaining agreement provision on offseason no-contact rules. (FBN-SEAHAWKS-NEWS, moved, The Sports Xchange, 240 words) Bucs' Tedford to miss exhibition finale First-year Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford will not coach in team's exhibition finale Thursday after medical procedure. (FBN-BUCCANEERS-NEWS, moved, The Sports Xchange, 200 words) NFL Roundup Latest news and notes from around league. (FBN-NOTEBOOK, expect by 2200 GMT/6 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 450 words) - - - - MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL Angels pursue pitching With Garrett Richards out for season, Los Angeles Angels kick tires on multiple veteran pitchers ahead of waiver trade deadline Sunday. (BBO-ANGELS-NEWS, moved, The Sports Xchange, 280 words) Mets 3B Wright: Injuries no excuse NEW YORK - David Wright finally acknowledges what is suspected for weeks, if not months: He is not 100 percent healthy. He also says his shoulder injury is not excuse. (BBO-METS-NEWS, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Jerry Beach, 450 words) Royals skip Ventura (back) Wednesday KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Royals rookie right-hander Yordano Ventura will skip his Wednesday start because of sore back. (BBO-ROYALS-NEWS, moved, The Sports Xchange, 210 words) Mariners GM gets extension SEATTLE - Uncertain future of Seattle Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik was factor in his aggressive pursuits of offense at trade deadline, and those moves prove to be so successful that he is rewarded with multi-year extension. (BBO-MARINERS-NEWS, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Scott M. Johnson, 410 words) Big opportunity for Detroit lefty Lobstein? DETROIT - Anibal Sanchez feels he sustains big setback when he feels stabbing pain in his injured right pectoral, and it could turn out to be big ache every fifth day for Detroit Tigers. On other hand, it could also be big opportunity for someone such as lefty Kyle Lobstein. (BBO-TIGERS-NEWS, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Rich Shook, 420 words) THE SPORTS XCHANGE covers all MLB games. Key matchups highlighted below: Cardinals at Pirates PITTSBURGH - St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright's bid to become baseball's first 16-game winner gets off to rocky start, falling behind 3-1 at PNC Park in finale of three-game series. (BBO-PIRATES-CARDINALS-WRITETHRU, expect after 1635 GMT/12.35 PM ET first pitch, The Sports Xchange, by John Perrotto, 400-word first lead, 800-word write-through) Yankees at Tigers DETROIT - For fifth time this season, Detroit Tigers left-hander David Price starts against New York Yankees, who try to beat former Tampa Bay ace to close gap in wild-card race. (BBO-TIGERS-YANKEES-FIRSTLEDE-WRITETHRU, expect first version after 2305 GMT/7.05 PM ET first pitch, The Sports Xchange, by Rich Shook, 400-word first lead, 800-word write-through) - - - - NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION Clippers retain Rivers with new deal Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers agrees to contract extension through end of 2018-19 season. (BKN-CLIPPERS-NEWS, moved, The Sports Xchange, 200 words) NBA Roundup Latest moves and news from NBA. (BKN-NOTEBOOK, expect by 2200 GMT/6 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 350 words) - - - - NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Expansion plans? NHL says no Reports of expansion by NHL, including franchise in Las Vegas, are shot down by league. (HKN-NEWS, expect by 1900 GMT/3 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 275 words) NHL Roundup Latest moves and news from NHL. (HKN-NOTEBOOK, expect by 1800 GMT/6 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 350 words) - - - - NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS Roundups of off-field developments in major North American professional sports leagues. (Expect by 0000 GMT/8 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words)
