Some of the sports stories The Associated Press is covering Thursday. A full Sports Digest will be sent by about 3 p.m. All times EDT:- WASHINGTON -- Max Scherzer (20- starts for the Washington Nationals against the Dodgers in a win-or-go-home Game 5 to decide their NL Division Series. Los Angeles goes with Rich Hill. Game starts 8:08 p.m.- CLEVELAND -- The Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Indians await Friday nights start of the ALCS. They met seven times during the season, games marked by all sorts of drama.- CHICAGO -- Longtime Cubs fans understand the fear of failure. But their young fans know little of the torment of billy goat curses and botched plays. They are simply confident a World Series title is within reach.- PITTSBURGH -- The Penguins will raise their fourth Stanley Cup banner before their season opener against the Washington Capitals. Pittsburgh star Sidney Crosby is out indefinitely with a concussion. Game starts 8 p.m.- BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Canadiens and Sabres meet in a season opener in which two key players are sidelined. Montreal goaltender Carey Price has the flu; Buffalo center Jack Eichel has a sprained ankle.- SAN DIEGO -- With Gary Kubiak ordered to stay home because of his migraine condition, Joe DeCamillis will coach the Denver Broncos (4-1) against Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers (1-4). Game starts 8:25 p.m.- CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Panthers hope Cam Newton will practice again Thursday and be ready for Sundays game against New Orleans after missing last weeks game with a concussion.- HOUSTON -- Jadeveon Clowney, the top pick in the 2014 draft, has shaken off two years of injuries to become one of the Houston Texans most consistent players this season.- NAPA, Calif. -- Phil Mickelson plays a domestic event in the fall for the first time in nearly a decade when a new PGA Tour season begins at the Safeway Open. Tiger Wds withdrew Monday, saying his game was vulnerable.- LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Louisville coach Bobby Petrino isnt concerned about possible rust during a bye week. His No. 7 Cardinals play a home game Friday night against Duke.- Only two Big Ten players rank among the top 25 rushers in the nation, yet five teams from the conference are running for more than 200 yards a game and the leagues rushing average is up significantly.- MANCHESTER, England -- Tyson Furys woes since becoming heavyweight champion escalate when the British fighter relinquishes his titles, and his license is suspended over drug use and medical issues.- LOS ANGELES -- The Sparks return to Los Angeles tied 1-1 with the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA Finals. But theyll need a better effort from Candace Parker on Friday in Game 3 of the best-of-five series.- LAWRENCE, Kan. -- With its core back from last years Big 12 title team and the arrival of potential No. 1 draft pick Josh Jackson, Kansas has its eye on its first national basketball title since 2008.- LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Kentucky awaits a new basketball season and is overflowing with frontline talent and an outstanding freshman class highlighted by Bam Adebayo and Sacha Killeya-Jones.Cheap Minnesota Vikings Jerseys . "I dont know that were close," said general manager Alex Anthopoulos. "I just think, right now, the acquisition cost just doesnt work for us right now. I dont know if I can quantify how far off or things like that that they might be but I would say we continue to have dialogue. Cheap Vikings Jerseys Authentic . A forerunning sled crashed into the worker Thursday at the Sanki Sliding Center. The unidentified worker broke both legs and was airlifted to a nearby hospital. http://www.cheapvikingsjerseyselite.com/ . Louis. To which I would say two things: 1. Where there is smoke, there is or perhaps has been a little fire. Or, in other words, the two teams would appear to have at least spoken. And spoken is defined as one calling the other to inquire, no more, no less. Cheap Vikings Jerseys . -- Catcher Brett Hayes has agreed to a $630,000, one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals, avoiding salary arbitration. Wholesale Vikings Jerseys . 10 Texas Rangers jersey for one last time. Young formally announced his retirement Friday after returning to Rangers Ballpark, his baseball home for all but the last of his 13 major league seasons.YPSILANTI, Mich. -- Todd Porter threw for 171 yards and three touchdowns to lead Eastern Michigan to a 61-14 win over Mississippi Valley State in the season opener for both teams Friday night.Shaq Vann ran for 156 yards on 20 carries, including a pair of touchdowns, Ian Eriksen also ran in two touchdowns and Blake Banham had one. Hauling in Porters TD passes were Nigel Kilby, Antoine Porter and Lavonte Robinson as Eastern Michigan piled up 479 total yards while holding Mississippi Valley State to 169. Paaul Fricano had a 35-yard field goal.ddddddddddddastern Michigan tk a 28-0 advantage into the break, then scored on every possession in the second half, including a safety that marked the teams first since the 2005 season.Mississippi Valley State avoided a shutout with a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter, including a 13-yard TD strike from Austin Bray to Joshua Banks. ' ' '