Derek Jeter went 2-for-2 in his 14th and final All-Star game as the American League beat the National League in he 85th All-Star game.

MINNEAPOLS, Minn.--Not a bad way to go out.

Two-for-two with a leadoff double, a run and Frank Sinatra singing "New York, New York." From the recorded voice of the late great Bob Sheppard announcing him in his first at-bat to open Tuesday's night's All-Star game for the American League, to Sinatra singing the Yankee anthem as he left the field after being replaced by Alexei Ramirez in the top of the fourth inning, it was a good night to be Derek Jeter.

Did National League starter Adam Wainwright groove one to Jeter to start the game the way Chan Ho Park threw one down the middle for Cal Ripken to crush in his last All-Star game in 2001? It's hard to say, except that Wainwright was standing behind the mound applauding with the rest of the sellout crowd of 41,048 as Jeter came to the plate for his first at-bat in his 14th and final All-Star game. On Monday, when he was introduced as the NL's staring pitcher, the Cardinal ace said he'd never faced Jeter and couldn't wait to pitch to him.

No sport cherishes its past, present and future like baseball. Two of them were on display at once after Jeter reached second base. Mike Trout tripled off the right field wall to score Jeter and send the American League toward a 5-3 victory. How can you not like MLB's current face of the game being chased home by its future face of the game?

If it wasn't scripted, it should have been. Right down to Trout being named the All-Star game MVP for going 2-for-3 with a double, triple, two RBI and a run.

After he left the game, Wainwright said he did groove the pitch that Jeter hit for the double. But as negative feedback surfaced on social media, he backtracked, saying he was just joking and that people didn't understand his sense of humor.

"If he grooved it, thank you," said Jeter, after the game. "You've still got to hit it. I appreciate it if that's what he did."

The two hits give Jeter a career batting average in the All-Star game of .481 (13-for-27), which ranks fifth all time among players with at least 10 at-bats.

When a player of Jeter's stature retires, and he makes the All-Star game in the same year, MLB almost always does something special to honor him. But other than the standing ovations, Sheppard and Sinatra and a curtain call after he left the field, there were no frills or in-game video presentations.

"We have something planned for later in the year," said Commissioner Bud Selig. "But he was adamant about not wanting anything special done (during the All-Star game)."

The displays of emotion came from the players and fans. Jeter appreciated that.

"It makes me feel good," said Jeter. "This All-Star game is about everyone that's here. It's not about just one particular person. I've always been uncomfortable, so to speak, in the spotlight.

"For the players to do that, it was much better than if there had been something scripted."

Jeter didn't know he was coming out of the game until he heard Seattle second baseman Robinson Cano, his former teammate, yell at him when they took the field in the fourth inning.

"When I hear Cano yell, I usually ignore him," said Jeter with a laugh. "Then I saw Ramirez come out. It was a wonderful moment that I will always remember. I appreciate John (Farrell, AL manager) doing that. It was unscripted and I was unaware of it."

As for Trout replacing Jeter as MLB's next knight in shining armor, Jeter said, "Let Mike be Mike. I don't think people have to necessarily appoint someone to a particular position . . .The challenge for Mike is going to be what the challenge is for most people, to be consistent year in and year out." 

The AL went on to take a 3-0 lead against Wainwright in the first. After Trout's triple, Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run homer to left. On Monday, Cabrera told USA Today that he was still bothered from the strained groin muscle that injured last year. He said it bothered him through the whole first half this season, but his 75 RBI and first All-Star game homer say something else.

The NL came right back to make it 3-2 game with two runs in the second and Milwaukee's Brew Crew had a lot to do with that. Brewer third baseman Aramis Ramirez singled with one out against Jon Lester. Philadelphia's Chase Utley doubled him home and Milwaukee's Jonathan Lucroy doubled to score Utley.

The Brew Crew struck again in the fourth as Lucroy hit his second straight double to score pinch runner Dee Gordon to tie the score, 3-3. White Sox lefty Chris Sale opened the inning with two quick outs, but hurt himself, and Utley as well, when he hit him with a pitch.

The AL took a 5-3 lead with two runs in the fifth against St. Louis reliever Pat Neshek. The bearded Neshek, with a sidearm delivery that makes your arm hurt, gave up a one-out single to Oakland's Derek Norris. Ramirez singled Norris to second and Trout delivered him with a double past third. Houston's Jose Altuve, who entered the break with 130 hits, scored Ramirez with a sacrifice fly.

Michael Brantley, the Indians only All-Star, entered the game in center field in the sixth as he replaced Baltimore's Adam Jones. Brantley, batting seventh, came to the plate in the sixth and was robbed of a hit by Gordon. The Dodger second baseman, playing in short right field, made a nice diving stop and throw to first on Brantley's hard grounder to retire him by a step and end the inning.

"This is the All-Star game," said Brantley. "The players are good at every position. It was a great gamer and I'm proud to be a part of it."

Brantley enjoyed being a teammate with Jeter on his last All-Star team.

"Derek Jeter is a Hall of Famer," said Brantley. "To be at his last All-Star game is something you can't make up. It's something I'll tell my kids about and hopefully they'll tell their kids about."

The victory gives the AL home-field advantage for the World Series, something that Farrell found extremely helpful last year when the Red Sox beat Mike Matheny's Cardinals in the World Series.

The NL still leads the All-Star game, 43-40-2, but the AL has dominated of late. Over the last 27 All-Star games, the AL is 20-6-1.

Target Field came to life in the ninth when the Twins All-Star battery of closer Glen Perkins and catcher Kurt Suzuki closed out the game with three straight outs. Perkins earned the save and Detroit's Max Scherzer was the winner.

The Cleveland Gladiators will host their first playoff game on August 2 and hope to secure home-field advantage for all playoff games.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Gladiators will host an Arena Football League playoff game at Quicken Loans Arena on Aug. 2 at 7 p.m.

The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network.

The opponent will be the winner of the final wildcard spot. The Orlando Predators, Tampa Bay Storm and Philadelphia Soul are in contention with two weeks left in the regular season.

The Gladiators clinched the Eastern Division championship and No. 1 seed in the American Conference by defeating the San Antonio Talons in overtime last Saturday, 50-47, to improve to 15-1.

The Gladiators, trying to secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, host Jacksonville (6-10) on Saturday at the Q in their final home game of the regular season. They finish the regular season on July 26 at the Tampa Bay Storm at 7:30.

The AFL also announced on Wednesday that both conference championship games will be televised, one on the CBS Sports Network, the other on ESPN2. ArenaBowl XXVII is Aug. 23 at 8 p.m. and will be shown on ESPN.

Pair of Bedford Bobcats will play together for another four years in Athens.

BEDFORD, Ohio – It takes a remarkable combination of luck and skill for one high school football player to successfully find himself recruited among the near 14,000 players at Division I Football Bowl Subdivision schools.

But for two kids to meet in kindergarten, go to school together and play football through the same high school and college programs? Almost unheard of.

That’s the narrative for Bedford seniors London Cloud and Najee Stevens-McKenzie, who verbally committed to play football for the Ohio Bobcats on June 29 and July 1, respectively.

“They enjoy playing together so much, they wanted to continue that and stay together,” said Bedford coach Sean Williams Wednesday afternoon.

Cloud and Stevens-McKenzie each played on both sides of the ball last season for the Bearcats, but their futures at the next level both appear to be on defense, according to Williams, an Ohio alumnus.

Stevens-McKenzie, a defensive end and tight end for Bedford played solely defense last season, and at Ohio, Williams imagines he will have the same role.

“He’s so fast off the ball and powerful, and he’s only going to develop more at college,” Williams said. “He’s going to play rush end, so he won’t have anything else to worry about but getting after the quarterback. He will translate well to the college game.”

Cloud on the other hand, will face the duties of every linebacker, a mix of stopping the run, dropping back in pass coverage and rushing the passer. The only question is whether he will play inside or outside at the next level.

Williams said that both players added leadership to his program since 8th grade, or the summer before they played as freshman.

“They know what it takes to be a good player,” Williams said. “It’s not something they take for granted.”

As for what went into getting both to commit to the Bobcats, Jesse Williams, the defensive line coach at Ohio, recruited both players, and did “a fantastic job,” according to Sean Williams.

Williams, who grew up in Bedford, said he sees why both chose playing for the Bobcats over Bowling Green, James Madison and Albany (N.Y.), which recruited both. London also had an offer from Toledo and Stevens-McKenzie had an offer from Western Michigan.

“Going to Athens for a kid who has lived in Bedford his whole life, it’s an easy transition,” Williams said. “It’s safe and quiet; it looks like Bedford. After they spent the day down there, that was the turning point.”

The only way this comes back to haunt Adam Wainwright and the Cardinals is if they reach the World Series for the second straight year because they won't have home field advantage.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Hipolito Pichardo was a skinny right-hander who pitched 10 years in the big leagues, most of them for the Royals. In one game at Cleveland Stadium, he intentionally hit Albert Belle.

When Belle, he of the volcanic temper, charged the mound, Pichardo did not stand and deliver. Rather he backpedaled fast enough to be the envy of any Pro Bowl cornerback before the rampaging Belle could be cornered and calmed.

Since then the only baseball player I've seen backpedal faster than Pichardo is St. Louis ace Adam Wainwright after he told reporters Tuesday night that he grooved a couple of pitches to Derek Jeter at the All-Star Game at Target Field.

As the outcry of social media grew, Wainwright did an in-game interview saying that he never gave Jeter a cookie to hit. He said people just didn't understand his sense of humor.

As the National League starter, Wainwright pitched one inning, allowing a leadoff double to Jeter, a triple to the All-Star game MVP Mike Trout and a two-run homer to Miguel Cabrera. Basically, Wainwright ended up a single short of pitching for the cycle and then made things worse by opening his mouth. Now that's an All-Star memory.

After being taken out of the game, Wainwright told reporters he gave the retiring Jeter a "couple of pipe shots' – as in pitches right down the pipe – because he "deserved it' in his 14^th and final All-Star Game.

Wainwright did a lot of dancing in his retraction, but he didn't have to work that hard. It was an All-Star Game, Jeter was the headline act and Wainwright gave him a meatball to hit, a fastball on the outside part of the plate. It's a pitch Jeter has been lining to right field for 20 seasons and that's just what he did Tuesday much to the delight of the sellout crowd and the national TV audience.

After the game Jeter was told that Wainwright put one on a tee for him.

"If he grooved it, thank you," said Jeter. "You still have to hit it. I appreciate it if that's what he did, thank you."

Yes, the winner of the All-Star Game gets home field advantage for the World Series. It's important, no doubt, but common sense should come into play with people criticizing Wainwright. Before Commissioner Bud Selig tied home field advantage to the game to make it more competitive, MLB awarded home field advantage to the two leagues on a rotating annual basis.

Needless to say, MLB does not view it as one of its crown jewels.

So if Chan Ho Park wants to groove a fastball to Cal Ripken Jr. in his last All-Star appearance in 2001 or Wainwright did the same thing Tuesday night, the world is not going to end. It comes down to a player thing, the game within the game. A show of respect at a special time is not a bad thing.

Sometimes even that isn't enough. Not only did you still have to hit the ball, as Jeter said, but the pitch has to be in the right place as well.

The Indians played Boston at Fenway Park in the final regular-season game in 1983. It was Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski's last game and the Fenway Faithful wanted to see Yaz go out like Ted Williams did before him, homering in his last at-bat.

Right-hander Dan Spillner faced Yastrzemski in the seventh inning with the Red Sox leading, 3-1. Try as he might, Spillner couldn't find the strike zone and Yastrzemski popped up to second in his final at-bat.

After the game Spillner said he was trying to throw Yastrzemski a strike, but couldn't get the ball in the strike zone.

The only way the Jeter-Wainwright story gets revived is if the Cardinals make the World Series for the second straight year and don't have home field advantage. Just for drama's sake, let's say the AL team they'll be playing is the Yankees.

Just guessing, of course, but that would probably be the end of intentional pipe shots.

The Cleveland Cavaliers will open tournament play at the Las Vegas Summer League as the No. 3 seed.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- The Cleveland Cavaliers will open tournament play at the Las Vegas Summer League as the No. 3 seed.

The Cavs, who went 3-0 during the preliminary rounds, will play Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET. Their opponent will be the winner of Wednesday night's game between the Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors - both went 1-2 during the preliminary rounds.

On Wednesday, Cavs head coach David Blatt met with reporters to talk about the team's play in Vegas.

"I think we've gotten steadily better," Blatt said.

Cleveland will play Thursday without Matthew Dellavedova, who left to take care of his commitments with the Australian National Team in preparation for the 2014 World Cup of Basketball.

"Delly and Will (Cherry) together play the position and now we're down one of our point guards," Blatt said. "We will make up for it. It won't be easy. Delly has had a great tournament. He had to go and do his national team gig and we will deal with it."

While Blatt has been focused on his summer league duties, he is paying attention to what management has done with the roster, and he's excited for the pressure that comes with coaching a title contender.

"I've been living with expectations my whole life," he said. "I've never coached LeBron James. I'm well aware that due to the great work on the part of our management we've got the best player in the world. That's going to raise the level of expectations. Wouldn't you rather it that way then the opposite? I know I do."

Blatt touched on other things as well including the play of Anthony Bennett and Andrew Wiggins, why he decided the time was right for him to take a head coaching job in the NBA and the different style of basketball in the United States.

Andrew Wiggins is used to the capacity crowds and throng of reporters waiting for him following games. He's been in the spotlight since he was 15; he was on magazine covers before playing a minute of college basketball.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Andrew Wiggins is used to the capacity crowds and throng of reporters following games. In the spotlight since he was 15, he was on magazine covers before playing a minute of college basketball. He was Kansas' hope for another national title.

No surprise, Wiggins is the biggest draw in Las Vegas, with fans packing snug Cox Pavilion for an early look at the tantalizing tools that made him the top pick in the 2014 draft. This was never more evident than last Friday, in the team's first summer-league game against Milwaukee and No. 2 pick Jabari Parker.

In the first of many meetings, Wiggins edged Parker in points 18-17. It was the best game Wiggins has played. Sure, there have been moments since that left fans drooling. His thrilling dunk in the second quarter forced the crowd to its feet as it chanted for a replay. The highlight caused Cavs owner Dan Gilbert to tweet about it. 

But his overall play has been a mixed bag, dotted with missed shots, turnovers and fouls. Those things are to be expected of a 19-year-old kid in his first NBA experience. But Wiggins isn't a normal teenager.

Every game gets analyzed; the weaknesses highlighted. His aggressiveness or sometimes lack thereof has been the target of most of the outside noise, but he's used to it. Nothing he has seen this week at summer league is new. Well, until he steps onto the court anyway. That's where the biggest change is required.

"Just trying to learn a lot of different things," Wiggins said following Wednesday's practice at a nearby high school. "It's a whole different system from college, so just trying to get the chemistry of the team and get a feel for how everyone plays."

He's noticed another big change from college hoops, something he admits suits his style of play a little bit better.

"It's more one on one," Wiggins said. "There's a lot more free space."

He's averaging 13.7 points. There are nearly 40 players with a higher average, and his point totals have decreased each game. He's also shooting around 38 percent from the field, including 2-of-12 on three-point attempts.

While fans might find cause for concern, Cavs head coach David Blatt is not discouraged.

"Pretty much what I expected," Blatt said. "Great two-way player and a guy that impacts the game on both ends of the floor. Overall I think he's done a great job and I'm really happy with him."

Wiggins seemed to agree with Blatt's assessment. "I think I've been pretty good," he said. 

As the Cavs get ready for their next game on Thursday night, Wiggins knows the analysis will continue. It comes with the territory of being the top pick, something he saw his friend and new teammate Anthony Bennett deal with during a miserable rookie campaign. 

"If I need advice from him he's got me," Wiggins said. "He's been through everything last year so he knows how everything goes. It's great to have someone to really lean on. I can pick his brain and see how everything was his first year."

Singer Drake hosted the ESPY Awards show Wednesday night on ESPN and decided to start off with some shots at Cleveland.

Cleveland has enjoyed some good fortune in recent days. That doesn't mean it's still not an easy (or lazy) target for comedians ... or people trying to be comedians.

Recording artist Drake hosted the ESPY Awards show Wednesday night on ESPN. That means he had to deliver a monologue to start the show.

And what did he start with? Jokes about Cleveland, one about LeBron James, one on Johnny Manziel.

ICYMI: @Drake didn't make any new friends during his opening monologue at the #ESPYS -> http://t.co/yp1e1MfhJV

— ESPN (@espn) July 17, 2014

"It's been a huge year in sports. I mean, just this week we found out that my brother, my friend, a guy that I grew up with, LeBron James, is going back to Cleveland," Drake said to applause.

"Two years, $40 million. Now look, some people are happy about it, some people aren't happy about it. Me, personally, I think it makes sense financially. I mean, you know what $40 million gets you in Miami? A really nice house. You know what $40 million gets you in Cleveland? Cleveland. All of it. You get the whole thing."

That did generate some laughs from the crowd. Then he kept going.

"You know what though? I think LeBron deep down, going back to Cleveland, I think everybody's excited. Maybe everybody except Johnny Manziel.

"It seems like in one day, Johnny Manziel went from the biggest thing in Cleveland, to a guy who lives in Cleveland.

This joke received a more tepid response. And Drake mispronounced Manziel's last name, calling him "Man-ZEEL," which is odd because they're reportedly friends.

Still, he continued.

"But you know, I love me some Johnny Football baby, I do. I worry about him sometimes. For example, right before I came out here, I got a text from him asking if I wanted to do mushrooms and watch the ESPYs together tonight. Johnny, I hope you understand this is why I couldn't come, but I'm sure this looks AMAZING to you right now."

Not the greatest material. But Manziel didn't seem to mind:

Haha the boy is killing it

— Johnny Manziel (@JManziel2) July 17, 2014

In fairness to Drake, some of his material seemed to go over well. A skit he did with Blake Griffin received a good response and was quickly going viral on social media.

Drake and Blake = Skit you're gonna wanna watch. Or watch again ... http://t.co/UtfONd8jvW | #ESPYS

— ESPYS 2014 (@ESPYS) July 17, 2014

He also turned the tables on the Indiana Pacers' Lance Stephenson:

Yup, that just happened. Lance Stephenson just got Lance Stephensoned by @Drake on the Lance Cam. pic.twitter.com/uzOdfKjgrA

— ESPN (@espn) July 17, 2014

Akron RubberDucks infielder Francisco Lindor was 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored.

Erie Seawolves outfielder Steven Moya hit a grand slam to lead the Western Division over the Eastern Division, 5-2, in the Class AA Eastern League All-Star Game on Wednesday in Altoona, Pa.

View full sizeRubberDucks infielder Francisco Lindor.Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer 

Akron RubberDucks infielder Francisco Lindor was 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored.

The RubberDucks' Shawn Armstrong pitched the third inning, giving up two hits, one a solo home run, and striking out one. RubberDucks pitcher Joseph Colon did not play.

The game was tied, 1-1, with the Western Division batting in the bottom of the fifth. Altoona Curve infielder Alen Hanson started the inning with a walk. With one out, Curve outfielder Willy Garcia singled. A groundout moved Hanson and Garcia to second and third, and Lindor walked.

Moya then hit a homer to right field off New Hampshire Fisher Cats pitcher Dustin Antolin. 

Antolin took the loss, while Curve pitcher Ryan Beckman got the win with one scoreless inning, giving up two hits and striking out two. Curve pitcher Kenn Kasparek got the save with a scoreless ninth, striking out two.

Ronda Rousey, the first female UFC champion, won over WNBA star Maya Moore, Olympic champion skier Mikaela Shiffrin and Brenna Stewart of national champion Connecticut.

LOS ANGELES — Kevin Durant won two ESPY Awards, including male athlete of the year, and mixed martial arts star Ronda Rousey earned female athlete honors, becoming the first UFC fighter to claim a trophy in the biggest category at the show honoring the year's best performances Wednesday night.

Durant also won best NBA player, ending LeBron James' two-year reign in both categories.

"Everybody helped me out along the way," the Oklahoma City Thunder star said. "My beautiful mom watching at home who couldn't be here. My favorite teammate, Russell Westbrook."

Durant beat out fellow male athlete nominees Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers, Peyton Manning of the Denver Broncos and boxer Floyd Mayweather during the show hosted by rapper Drake at the Nokia Theatre.

Rousey, the first female UFC champion, won over WNBA star Maya Moore, Olympic champion skier Mikaela Shiffrin and Brenna Stewart of national champion Connecticut.

The winners in most categories were determined by fan voting. Check out a complete winners list.

Rousey didn't attend, with presenter Chrissy Teigen saying the fighter had surgery a day earlier.

Manning didn't go home empty-handed. He collected two trophies: best NFL player and record-breaking performance. Manning won his fifth MVP award last season, when he set single-season records by passing for 55 touchdowns and more than 5,500 yards.

The Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks won best team. Their All-Pro cornerback, Richard Sherman, won breakthrough athlete.

The best game was the Iron Bowl matchup between No. 1 Alabama and No. 4 Auburn, with the Tigers winning 34-28 on the final play to spoil the Tide's BCS hopes.

Led by goalie Tim Howard, the U.S. men's soccer team won best moment for its run to the round of 16 in the World Cup.

Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal won best international athlete.

Drake zinged Howard and Sherman in his opening monologue. The rapper joked about banned Clippers owner Donald Sterling, saying, "We're a few hundred yards from Staples Center, which is as close as Donald Sterling is allowed to get."

Clippers star Blake Griffin laughed until the camera caught him and he acted serious, drawing laughs. Griffin and Drake teamed up for a funny pre-taped bit in which they pretended to be each other while spewing insults, with rapper Chris Brown joining in. Brown, who has been in and out of jail, jokingly introduced himself as "America's sweetheart."

James wasn't on hand, but Drake noted the superstar's recent decision to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers after winning two NBA titles in Miami.

"You know what 40 million gets you in Miami? A really nice house," Drake said. "You know what 40 million gets you in Cleveland? Cleveland, you get the whole thing."

Drake mixed in song, too. He crooned "Honorable Mention," a tune he said was dedicated to the runner-ups, including Triple Crown loser California Chrome and NASCAR driver Danica Patrick.

Lil' Wayne cracked up as Drake sang "Side Pieces," full of references to the on-the-road cheating that goes on in sports. Drake noted a lot of men in the audience wanted the song to be over.

Drake revisited Sterling with a rap accompanied by video of the Clippers owner saying he isn't a racist. The screen displayed the hashtag of Sterlingneverlovedus.

Later, Drake teamed up with WNBA star Skylar Diggins for a sketch. She went in to kiss Drake, who has acknowledged his affection for her, but the smooch landed on his forehead and not his lips.

 

Westbrook won best comeback athlete, having overcome his latest knee surgery to help the Thunder reach the Western Conference finals.

Stewart won best female college athlete, while Creighton basketball star Doug McDermott won male college athlete.

Olympic snowboarders Jamie Anderson and Sage Kotsenburg won best female and male Olympian. Kotsenburg won the first gold medal of the Sochi Games in men's snowboard slopestyle.

The Arthur Ashe Courage award went to St. Louis Rams draftee Michael Sam, who announced earlier this year that he is gay. The former Missouri defensive end will be trying to make the Rams' roster when training camp opens. If he does, Sam would be the NFL's first openly gay player.

Sam teared up throughout his speech and his voice faltered at times.

"Great things can happen when you have the courage to be yourself," he told the audience.

Hall of Famer Jim Brown hugged Sam on his way to the stage.

The Ashe award is named for the late tennis player who died in 1993 after contracting AIDS from a blood transfusion.

The Jimmy V Award for Perseverance was given to ESPN "SportsCenter" anchor Stuart Scott, who is fighting a recurrence of cancer first diagnosed seven years ago.

The Pat Tillman Award for Service was given for the first time to Josh Sweeney, a retired Marine who lost both his legs after an explosion in Afghanistan. He scored the lone goal for the U.S. sled hockey team that beat the Russians for gold earlier this year at the Paralympics in Sochi.

See live updates, pictures, videos and a leaderboard as the British Open gets underway. Tiger Woods tees off at 4:04 a.m.

HOYLAKE, England – Get live updates, pictures and videos all day Thursday from the first round of the British Open, which marks the return of Tiger Woods in major championships.

And track Woods and all your favorite golfers in a live leaderboard from the third major of the calendar year.

Check the box below for live Twitter updates from Royal Liverpool, including pictures and videos from the PGA Tour's official Twitter account, the R&A and other notable Twitter feeds. Below the box is a live leaderboard. Click here to see tee times for Thursday. Play begins at 1:25 a.m. Eastern, with the final threesome teeing off at 11:06. Woods' round begins at 4:04.

Even when Woods is not the favorite, he still is the show at the British Open.

Woods earned that attention by piling up majors at a faster rate than anyone in history, and the attention is just as great now because his recent past includes back surgery and his immediate future is more uncertain than ever. ESPN plans to show his entire round online Thursday.

Not to be overlooked at golf's oldest championship, however, is a new generation of stars.

Rickie Fowler and Harris English will be playing ahead of him. Two groups behind will be Jordan Spieth and Hideki Matsuyama. They are among 25 players who share a bond that speaks to the state of golf. Woods has never won a major during their professional careers.

Yes, they saw his dominance on TV. They just never experienced it.

They were not around for the decade when Woods won majors with regularity, sometimes by a record score, sometimes by a record margin. They missed the days that were so Tiger-centric a player couldn't get through an interview without being asked something about Woods.

"Tiger ruined a lot of guys' lives," Charles Howell III, a longtime friend of Woods who lived through those times, said earlier in the year. "He caused a lot of people some sleepless Sunday nights. But he also motivated an entire generation behind him."

Howell's point was that while the next generation might have been in awe of Woods, being outside the arena allowed them to study him without getting scarred. They learned from the way he worked. They were more prepared than the generation before them.

The talk at this British Open is that it is more open than ever.

But then, that's been the case since Woods won his last major six years ago. Since that 2008 U.S. Open, 19 players have won majors, and no one has won more than two. In the 24 majors leading up to his last major, Woods won six, Phil Mickelson won three and no one else won more than one.

Woods is playing his first major of the year because of March 31 back surgery. Returning to Royal Liverpool was always the target — he won his third claret jug on these links in 2006 when it was brown and fast, not green and slower as it is this year. Woods came back sooner than he expected, missing the cut at Congressional three weeks ago in what had the feeling of a 36-hole rehab assignment.

He feels healthy. He feels strong. And he still commands a presence.

It all unfolds on Thursday, where the only mystery greater than Woods in the English weather. The final day of practice featured sunshine and rain. Hoylake when it's green is there to be attacked — it's the only course on the Open rotation with four par 5s. The greens are not severe. The fairways are relatively flat, which makes them more fair.

All eyes will be on Woods, and there's nothing unusual about that. The difference is that no one is sure what they will see.

Check cleveland.com/golf for similar updates posts Friday through Sunday.

Winners at the 2014 ESPY Awards presented Wednesday.

LOS ANGELES -- Winners at the 2014 ESPY Awards presented Wednesday:

Best Breakthrough Athlete: Richard Sherman

Best Moment: U.S. Men's National Soccer Team

Best Game: Iron Bowl

Best Record-Breaking Performance: Peyton Manning

Best Play: Chris Davis

Best Female Athlete: Ronda Rousey

Best Male Athlete: Kevin Durant

Best Team: Seattle Seahawks

Best Upset: Mercer

Best Female Action Sports Athlete: Jamie Anderson

Best Male Action Sports Athlete: Nyjah Houston

Best Female Athlete with a Disability: Jamie Whitmore

Best Male Athlete with a Disability: Declan Farmer

Best Female College Athlete: Breanna Stewart

Best Male College Athlete: Doug McDermott

Best Coach/Manager: Gregg Popovich

Best MLS Player: Tim Cahill

Best NBA Player: Kevin Durant

Best NFL Player: Peyton Manning

Best NHL Player: Sidney Crosby

Best MLB Player: Miguel Cabrera

Best WNBA Player: Maya Moore

Best Female US Olympian: Jamie Anderson

Best Male US Olympian: Sage Kotsenburg

Championship Performance: Kawhi Leonard

Best Bowler: Pete Weber

Best Female Tennis Player: Maria Sharapova

Best Male Tennis Player: Rafael Nadal

Best Comeback Athlete: Russell Westbrook

Best Female Golfer: Michelle Wie

Best Male Golfer: Bubba Watson

Best International Athlete: Cristiano Ronaldo

Best Fighter: Floyd Mayweather

Best Driver: Ryan Hunter-Reay

Best Jockey: Victor Espinoza

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SPECIAL AWARDS
Jimmy V Perseverance Award: Stuart Scott

Arthur Ashe Courage Award: Michael Sam

Pat Tillman Award For Service: Josh Sweeney

LeBron James announced on Friday that he was returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Here is a look at his journey from his high school days, to his return to Cleveland.

AKRON, Ohio — LeBron James gave Cleveland fans one of the greatest weekends in sports history last Friday when he announced his return to the Cavaliers. For Cleveland fans, it was a return of their local hero, who had been the star of their team for the first seven years of his NBA career.

However, James was a star in Ohio even before the NBA. James played his high school basketball at St. Vincent-St. Mary, and his high school coach, Dru Joyce, knew his player was going to be special.

"It did not take you long to realize that he was going to be special," Joyce said. "He could do anything he wanted to do on the court, and it was just amazing to see. He had so much pressure and so many expectations put on him at such a young age, but he handled it all so well."

Beginning with his national TV debut on ESPN2 through the last few weeks, we offer a visual remembrance of Northeast Ohio's most dynamic native son.

During James' high school career, he won three state titles, three Mr. Basketball Ohio awards, and finished by winning the Gatorade National Player of the Year. Every time he stepped on the court, he was capable of doing something the fans had never seen before.

However, despite the anticipation and hype, high school teammate Romeo Travis said James never let it get to his head. 

"We all knew that any time we went on the court, he was going to be the best player," Travis said. "However, when the referee threw the ball up, we didn't think about it. We just played basketball as a group, and that's why we were so successful. Anytime we needed a basket, we knew James could get it. However, what made him special was that he always made sure to make the best play for the team. That is what I respect about him, even now, in the NBA playoffs, he is going to do whatever is best for the team.

James was the No. 1 pick in the 2003 NBA draft, and he was a star the moment he stepped on the court in Sacramento, Calif., on Oct. 29, 2003. He scored 25 points vs. the Kings, the most points ever in a debut for a player straight from high school.  

The game against the Kings in his rookie year was just a start of things to come. In the 2006-07 season, the Cavaliers reached  the NBA Finals, in large part because of a legendary effort in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals. James scored 48 points, including 25 straight and 29 out of the Cavaliers' final 30, and had nine rebounds in the 107-105 double-overtime victory against the Detroit Pistons.

That game left former Cavaliers coach Mike Brown nearly speechless.

"Somebody told me in the locker room that he scored 29 of our last 30 points and I could not believe it," Brown told reporters after the game. "Everybody keeps asking for more, and he keeps giving more. I feel bad that my words don't do justice for what he did."

While the Cavaliers were eventually swept in the NBA Finals by San Antonio, James was well on his way to becoming the face of the league.

In the next three seasons, James was twice named the MVP, while guiding the Cavaliers to the league's best record in consecutive seasons. However, Cleveland couldn't get the job done in the playoffs, losing to the Boston Celtics twice, including in the 2010 Eastern Conference semifinals. After that game, there were many people believing James had given up on the team, and others wondering if the Cavaliers could build a championship team.

Then, the summer of 2010 hit. Talk had started as early as 2006 that Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and James would be teaming up to form a championship contender. That seemed unlikely until James' infamous "Decision" hit. On that shocking day in Cleveland sports history, James announced on national television he would be taking his talents to South Beach.

The reaction in Cleveland said it all, as fans were seen burning James jerseys. Their former local hero turned villain in only an hour. While Cavaliers fans were getting ready to endure some tough seasons, James was getting ready to embark on a run for that elusive championship.

Expectations for the Heat were sky high. A large reason was the team's welcoming party for James, Wade and Bosh, where it was made known they were expecting to compete for multiple championships.

In the first season, the team started out slowly, going 9-8. However, it didn't take long for the team to get rolling. The Heat finished as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and made it all the way to the Finals before losing to the Dallas Mavericks in six games.

While James faced questions for another postseason defeat, the Cavaliers had just gone through a 19-63 campaign. The Cavs ended up with the No. 1 pick, using it on Kyrie Irving.

The addition of Irving gave fans some optimism but for the Heat, the true fun was just getting started.

For the next three seasons, the Heat took fans on an incredible ride. The team appeared in three more Finals, winning the first two before losing to the Spurs this past season. As for James, he won his third and fourth regular season MVP awards, while also being named the Finals MVP in the two championship years.

As much success as the Heat had, James decided to opt out of Miami this summer, a move many around the league thought was just to give the Heat financial flexibility in seeking roster upgrades. However, as James said in his announcement on Friday, there was something missing. All those championships in Miami had not made him forget his first true love, Ohio.

On that day, James' essay in Sports Illustrated stated his reasoning for leaving -- and returning home. While he regretted "The Decision" spectacle in 2010, he said the move was essential to his career. He compared it to a kid going off to college, given a chance to mature and develop an ability to reach his goals. 

As one of his best friends for years, Travis agreed the move to Miami had to be done.

"You look at him, and he had been in Ohio his whole life," Travis said. "He needed to go out and learn about himself and grow as a player and as a man. It is obvious that it worked because he is not coming back the same person he was in Miami, both on and off the court."

Four years ago, James left Cleveland as a 25-year-old superstar who opposing teams left wide open on jumpers. He returns as the best player in the league who can beat a team anywhere on the court.

For Cleveland fans, July 8, 2010 was one of the worst days. Fast forward to July 11, 2014, one of the greatest. It's one that resonated around the country to James fans far from the Cuyahoga River -- including singer Skylar Grey.

In the end, this is the type of story parents can truly appreciate -- seeing their children go off to college, learn about themselves and grow into the person they will be. It's the story Northeast Ohio natives will pass down of the star who grew here, left here and returned here in no small part because he loves it here.

Today, James is a more polished player and a mature adult. What that means for the next few years in the NBA will be an adventure to be witnessed back where it matters most to him -- Cleveland, Akron and the rest of Northeast Ohio. 

Bedford football defensive end Marquise Copeland is not only a star on the football field, but is also a star on the mat as well.

BEDFORD, Ohio – Sports play a huge role in many children’s lives. Whether it is going out and shooting some baskets at the park, or just running  routes in the backyard, sports can be a great thing for kids.

For Bedford football defensive end Marquise Copeland, sports are definitely playing a role as he enters his senior year. He is committed to the University of Cincinnati as a football player, but he has also went to state as a wrestler.

While they are different sports, Copeland said there are some similarities in the sport that helps him prepare for both sports.

“In both sports you have to be ready for anything,” Copeland said. "If I am not ready on the snap in football, I am going to get ran over by the offensive lineman. Same thing in wrestling, if I am not focused and make a mistake, the match could be over quickly. While they are two different sports, I can use a lot of what I learn in both sports to make sure that I am successful."

In football, Copeland uses his size and strength to run through the opposing offensive line to get to the quarterback. Bedford football coach Sean Williams said Copeland's love for competition allows him to be successful in both sports.

“There are many things that he can use in both sports that helps him out,” Williams said. "He is the type of guy that just loves to compete in what he does, and he sets his mind to be the best. It doesn't matter what he is doing, he is going to give it his all."

While football is the sport that he is going to play in college, Copeland also had a very impressive season in wrestling last year. He posted a record of 44-4, and made it to the Division I quarterfinals in the 225-pound weight class.

Bedford wrestling coach Adam Hoon said the biggest thing he notices from Copeland is he has to be able to use his hands in both sports.

"In both sports, you have to be able to use your hands," Hoon said. "Marquise is so strong and quick with his hands, it is hard for his opponents in both sports to get a hand on him. In football, that allows him to get free runs on the quarterback, and in wrestling, opponents can't take him to the ground. He is the type of guy that is not going to allow his competition to get the best of him, and he just goes out with one purpose, and that is to get the win.

While he still plans to wrestle this season, Copeland said all he is focused on now is the football season, mainly helping the team go on a magical postseason run.

“We are setting our goals very high for this upcoming season, and it has already started in the summer,” Copeland said. “We aren’t setting these goals just to say them, we are setting them because we truly believe we can be a special team. Our goal is to go 1-0 for 15 weeks, and if we do approach each game with that mentality, we could have a special season.”

Copeland has big aspirations both on the field, as well as on the mat. If Copeland is able to reach his goals in both sports, then Williams and Hoon will both have each other to thank for staying on him.

More about Copeland:

Height: 6-foot-3.

Weight: 230 pounds.

Position: Defensive end.

Grade: Senior.

College: Cincinnati.

Contact high school sports reporter Mark Kern by email mkern@cleveland.com or Twitter (@Markkern11). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below

It's going to be an interesting second half for Justin Masterson and the Indians.

Hey, Hoynsie: Any chance the Tribe puts Justin Masterson on the DL coming out of  the All-Star break to give his right knee some rest and let Zach McAllister or Danny Salazar take his spot for a few turns? Also with the way those two are pitching could Masterson be on the trading block? – Charlie Bolin, Mansfield.

Hey, Charlie: As you know, the Indians put Masterson on the disabled list before the All-Star break on July 8. They are in the process of reworking the rotation as they come out of the break to play Detroit at Comerica Park in a four-game series starting Friday.

McAllister was optioned to Class AAA Columbus over the break so he wouldn't miss a start. The Tribe is going to need an extra starter for Saturday's day-night doubleheader against Detroit so Salazar is a possibility.

It's possible the Indians could trade Masterson since he's a free agent at the end of the season, but he certainly hasn't helped his value with a shaky first half. The Indians might also try to re-sign Masterson, if they're convinced he's healthy.

It's going to be an interesting second half for Masterson and the Tribe.

Hey, Hoynsie: Why don't the Indians bring up Tyler Holt from Class AAA Columbus to see what he can do in the majors?  He's bound to be an improvement given what they have now there. – Rick Reeder, Arlington, Va.

Hey, Rick: Well, the Indians took your advice for a couple of days at least. Holt was called up on July 6 when Michael Bourn was placed on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring. On July 8, he was sent back to Columbus. Whatever happens from now on, Holt can always says he made it the big leagues.

Hey, Hoynsie: Is the infield fly rule used anymore? I can't remember the last time it was used. – Joe Smith, Louisville.

Hey, Joe: I don't know how much baseball you've been watching, but it's in full vigor and called regularly during games.

It's called by an umpire whenever there's a fair infield fly (no line drives or bunt attempts) with fewer than two outs and runners on first and second or runners on first, second and third.

For an umpire to call the infield fly rule, he must feel that the pop up can be caught with ordinary effort by an infielder.

Hey, Hoynsie: Why do managers wear a uniform? Is it a rule? Terry Francona might look dapper in a nice suit! Who was the last manager to not wear a uniform? – Perry Marker, Bodeg Bay, Calif.

Hey, Perry: In the early days of baseball, according to MLB historian John Thorn, the manager of the team ran the business side of things. The captain of the team carried out the duties that we now associate with a manager – making the lineups, running the pitching staff etc. He also frequently was a player on the team.

That's where the tradition of the manager/captain wearing a uniform started. There are no specific rules about what a manager should wear during a game. Connie Mack of the Philadelphia A's and Burt Shotton of the Brooklyn Dodgers wore suits when they managed, but after they retired, all managers have worn uniforms.

Hey, Hoynsie: In reading your column from July 5, 2014, I kept reading a theme through all the different situations of the players mentioned and it came to this – management made a decision that a certain player wasn't worth the risk. I guess the problem with The Tribe is in many ways management.  I believe they don't have an eye for talent and don't want to take any risks and it is is costing them. -- Tom Murphy, New Richmond.

Hey, Tom: I think the Indians have plenty of people in the organization that can evaluate talent. They can look at a player like Jose Abreu and say he has power. What they don't have is a bottomless well of money.

Baseball is the only major professional sport in this country without a salary cap. It means if you've already signed Nick Swisher to a four-year $56 million deal to be your first baseman/DH, you can't give Abreu six years and $68 million to do the same thing one year later.

At least the Indians can't. The Dodgers and Yankees? They can do just about anything they want.

If you're trying to maintain a budget, being a big league owner is not the business to be in.

Starting Friday, we'll compare the Buckeyes and Spartans in seven different areas, with help from Mlive.com. For now, vote on who you think will win the regular-season matchup on Nov. 8.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- By our estimation, Michigan State is by far the biggest threat to Ohio State during the 2014 regular season. 

Our breakdown of the 12 regular-season opponents for the Buckeyes ended Wednesday with the Spartans having a 50 percent chance, by our logic, of beating Ohio State when the teams meet in East Lansing in a primetime matchup on Nov. 8.

So, for now, we see it as a tossup. For that reason, and because last season the Spartans beat the Buckeyes in the Big Ten Championship, we're going to get much more into Ohio State vs. Michigan State over the next week. 

Tradition aside, Michigan State vs. Ohio State is the Big Ten rivalry that matters most when it comes to determining how this season will play out.

Starting Friday, I'll break down and rate different parts of Ohio State's team while Mike Griffith of Mlive.com does the same with Michigan State. This will give you a chance to see how the teams stack up against each other and get an early feel for how the most important game of the Big Ten season may shake out.

And then we'll all talk more about the Buckeyes and Spartans at the Big Ten media days in Chicago on July 28 and 29.

In preseason rankings, from various points in the offseason, the Buckeyes have the edge according to most national outlets:

Athlon: Ohio State No. 3, Michigan State No. 11

Phil Steele: Ohio State No. 3, Michigan State No. 11

Lindy's: Ohio State No. 5, Michigan State No. 7

Sporting News: Ohio State No. 9, Michigan State No. 12

USA Today: Ohio State No. 4, Michigan State No. 6

Sports Illustrated: Ohio State No. 4, Michigan State No. 8 

ESPN: Michigan State No. 6, Ohio State No. 7

One thing is clear - most people expect the Buckeyes and Spartans to be the two best teams in the Big Ten.

A second thing is even more clear - unlike last season, they won't play for the Big Ten title.

Ohio State and Michigan State are lumped together in the new East Division with the Big Ten's realignment and addition of Maryland and Rutgers. So the real league title game may be played at Spartan Stadium.

At the moment, who do you think will win that game?

Give us your vote then check back Friday for the first breakdown, as we compare the quarterbacks - Ohio State senior Braxton Miller vs. Michigan State junior Connor Cook.

The Indians have shuffled and reshuffled their rotation this season like an obsessive-compulsive poker dealer. If the front office opts to keep the group as is, which five starters will give the club the best chance at contending?

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians have shuffled and reshuffled their rotation this season like an obsessive-compulsive poker dealer.

They currently have three starting pitchers on their active roster. No, this isn't the 1890s; hurlers are only tossing six or seven innings every five days.

Eventually -- maybe -- the Tribe will decide on a set of five pitchers to fill out the starting rotation. Lately, the team has gotten by with the bare minimum, choosing to cherrypick the roster based on need. In manager Terry Francona's mind, the bullpen can always use an extra arm.

For the last month, the Indians have worked with a four-man rotation when possible, burning the vacant roster spot on an additional reliever. They've needed it: Tribe starters rank third-worst in the American League with an average of 5.7 innings per outing. They rank fifth-worst with quality starts in only 45 percent of their outings.

Trevor Bauer will open the second half of the season for Cleveland on Friday in the series opener at Comerica Park. Corey Kluber will start one game of Saturday's twin bill with the Tigers. Zach McAllister, optioned to Triple-A on Tuesday, could start the other as the team's designated 26th man. Otherwise, McAllister can't rejoin the big league club until July 25, via the league's 10-day rule, unless he is replacing an injured player on the roster.

Josh Tomlin would be a safe bet to start on Sunday. T.J. House, who pitched for Class A Mahoning Valley on Wednesday, is expected to be recalled to start on Monday. Tuesday's starter has yet to be identified. Could Danny Salazar, who has logged a 2.84 ERA with 19 hits allowed, 12 walks and 34 strikeouts in 25 1/3 innings over his last four outings for Triple-A Columbus, get the call?

Justin Masterson, sidelined with knee soreness, cannot be activated from the disabled list until Wednesday. General manager Chris Antonetti suggested the right-hander could use a minor league rehab start before he returns to big league action.

The rotation remains an entity that could determine Cleveland's fate as the summer heats up. If the front office opts to keep the group as is, which five starters will give the club the best chance at contending?

Here is a look at what each starting pitcher accomplished during the season's first half. In the comments section below, identify which five starting pitchers you would choose to make up the rotation over the course of the final 10 weeks of the season.

Corey Kluber: 20 starts, 131 2/3 innings, 3.01 ERA, 142 strikeouts, 1.200 WHIP, .251 batting average against, 10 homers allowed

Note: Kluber has blossomed into the anchor of the rotation. He just needs some help.

Trevor Bauer: 12 starts, 72 2/3 innings, 3.84 ERA, 70 strikeouts, 1.417 WHIP, .271 batting average against, nine homers allowed

Note: Bauer has submitted his two strongest starts his last two times out. Is he growing up on the spot?

Josh Tomlin: 13 outings (12 starts), 77 innings, 4.21 ERA, 69 strikeouts, 1.156 WHIP, .260 batting average against, 13 homers allowed

Note: Tomlin's strikeout rate, walk rate and, subsequently, strikeout-to-walk ratio are far and away the best of his career. Now he just needs to figure out how to keep the ball in the park when the opposition makes contact.

Justin Masterson: 19 starts, 98 innings, 5.51 ERA, 93 strikeouts, 1.653 WHIP, .279 batting average against, six homers allowed

Note: Masterson has limited right-handed hitters to a .214 average and .653 OPS. On the other hand, lefties are batting .330 with a .935 OPS off of him. Whether the knee soreness was a valid excuse, the Indians need to determine quickly if he can revert to his 2013 form. There isn't much time to waste.

T.J. House: Nine outings (eight starts), 45 innings, 4.40 ERA, 30 strikeouts, 1.533 WHIP, .312 batting average against, seven homers allowed

Note: House isn't going to miss many bats; he has served up 58 hits in 45 innings. He has only issued 11 free passes, though. Lefties have compiled a .328/.391/.517 slash line against him, even though he's a left-handed pitcher.

Zach McAllister: 11 starts, 54 1/3 innings, 5.63 ERA, 45 strikeouts, 1.436 WHIP, .266 batting average against, six homers allowed

Note: McAllister has bounced between Triple-A and the big league club and he hasn't seemed thrilled about it. He offered a promising performance against Chicago last week.

Danny Salazar: Eight starts, 40 2/3 innings, 5.53 ERA, 47 strikeouts, 1.623 WHIP, .301 batting average against, eight homers allowed

Note: Salazar's stunted development this season has thrown a wrench into the team's plans. Righties have posted a .341/.382/.615 slash line against him. Will he be better after a lengthy stint at Triple-A?

Dorsey started three games for the Browns during the 2008 season.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – In college, Ken Dorsey was known as a winner. He posted a 38-2 record as starting quarterback at the University of Miami and won the 2001 national title game.

In the NFL, he was a perennial backup who started three games for the Browns in 2008.

Dorsey is No. 11 on our list as we look back at all the Browns' starting quarterbacks since 1999. Here is a look at his career highlights and lowlights and what he's been doing since his Cleveland days.

Ken Dorsey, 2006-2008

0-3 as a Browns starter

Before the Browns

Dorsey hailed from Orinda, Calif., and attended the University of Miami, where he won a national title and lost just two of 40 games he started. During that time, he was twice a Heisman Trophy finalist. In 2003, he was drafted in the seventh round by the San Francisco 49ers and played there until 2005.

How he came to the Browns

In May 2006, the Browns traded Trent Dilfer to the San Francisco 49ers for Dorsey and a seventh-round pick.

Browns highlights

Dorsey has a tough go of things with the Browns when he started the final three games of the 2008 season. The highlight was Dorsey just getting one last chance to be a starting quarterback. After his 2008 season, Dorsey never played in the NFL again.

Browns lowlights

In the three starts with the Browns, Dorsey has zero touchdowns, six interceptions and was sacked five times. The Browns lost all three games and scored a total of 19 points.

The worst of the three starts was a 30-10 defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16. In that one, Dorsey completed just 11 of 28 passes and threw two interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown.

How he left the Browns

In February 2009, just a few months after his brief stint as a starter, Dorsey was released by the Browns.

After the Browns

Dorsey never played in the NFL again after he was released by the Browns. He spent the 2010 season with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.

What he's doing now

Dorsey is currently the Carolina Panthers quarterbacks coach. He's started in the job last year after spending two seasons as a pro scout for the team.

Contact sports reporter David Cassilo by email (dcassilo@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@dcassilo). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

The Indians starting rotation is still jumbled, but this much is clear -- Zach McAllister will start one of Saturday's games against Detroit and then be optioned. T.J. House will be recalled to start Monday against the Twins and Danny Salazar could be recalled to make Tuesday's start at Target Field.

DETROIT, Mich. – The Indians' jumbled starting rotation is still jumbled, but bits and pieces are coming into focus.

Here's what is known: Trevor Bauer will start Friday against the Tigers. In Saturday's day-night doubleheader, Corey Kluber will start the first game and Zach McAllister the second. Josh Tomlin will start Sunday.

After the four-game series against the Tigers, the Indians travel to Minnesota for a three-game set against the Twins. Here's where things start to get hazy.

Left-hander T.J. House, who started for Class A Mahoning Valley on Wednesday night, will be recalled and start Monday. The best guess for Tuesday is Danny Salazar, who started for Class AAA Columbus on Thursday and pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings with three hits, five walks and five strikeouts against Indianapolis. Bauer would be in line to start Wednesday.

McAllister was optioned to Columbus over the All-Star break, but will be allowed to start Saturday under the rule that lets a team add a 26^th player for a doubleheader. He will be optioned to Columbus after the game.

"Zach will be eligible to come back three days after that," said manager Terry Francona, Thursday evening at an optional workout at Comerica Park.

The Indians enter the Detroit series against the Tigers with 24 players. They will add right-hander CC Lee before Friday's game.

"We're trying to maximize our roster," said Francona. "We're trying to win and at the same time we're trying to watch out for guys. We want to try and stay away from guys who have pitched so much."

The RubberDucks (57-41) trail the Richmond Flying Squirrels (58-40) by one game for first place in the Western Division.

Pitcher Will Roberts got his 10th win of the season and outfielder Anthony Gallas had a double and two RBI to lead the RubberDucks to a 5-3 victory Thursday over the Erie SeaWolves in a Class AA Eastern League game in Akron.

View full sizeAkron outfielder Anthony GallasRubberDucks 

The RubberDucks broke open a scoreless game with four runs in the third inning using timely hitting and taking advantage of SeaWolves mistakes.

With one out, second baseman Ronny Rodriguez reached base on an error and outfielder Jordan Smith walked. Outfielder Tim Fedroff brought in Rodriguez with a single, and another SeaWolves error allowed Smith to move to third.

Shortstop Francisco Lindor and third baseman Adam Abraham followed with run-scoring singles, and Gallas brought in another run with a double.

Gallas made the score 5-0 with a solo home run in the fifth inning.

The SeaWolves closed within 5-3 with two runs in the seventh and another in the eighth, but Elvis Araujo got his first save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning, allowing one hit.

Roberts (10-9, 3.63) pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits with one strikeout and no walks.

Gallas finished 2-for-4 with a double, homer and two RBI. Abraham and first baseman Bryan LaHair also were 2-for-4.

The RubberDucks (57-41) trail the Richmond Flying Squirrels (58-40) by one game for first place in the Western Division.

Browns linebacker Jabaal Sheard's agent Drew Rosenhaus has had extensiive talks with the Browns about an extension. Nothing is imminent.

EASTLAKE, Ohio -- Jabaal Sheard's agent confirmed Thursday that he's working with the Browns on an extension for Sheard, who's contract is up after this season, but that nothing is imminent.

"What I can say is we've done some back and forth, so we've had some extensive negotiations,'' Drew Rosenhaus said at his client Joe Haden's charity softball game at Classic Park, home of the Lake County Captains. "But I wouldn't say anything is close at this time."

Rosenhaus wouldn't say if he thinks it can get done before the season begins.

"I really would rather not characterize it,'' he said. "Let's just say we're negotiating."

Sheard, a second-round pick in 2011, is in the last year of a deal that pays him $550,500.

"Hopefully it works out,'' Sheard said minicamp last month. "I'm just going to take it one step at a time. I can only worry about this year. I love it here, I love the fans here, I love the support I've been getting, the teammates. The locker room is growing on me. I feel more comfortable now than I did when I first got here."

Pettine has been impressed with Sheard, who's role here will most closely resemble that of Bills' edge-rusher Mario Williams, who finished fourth in the NFL with 13 sacks in Pettine's defense last year.

"(Sheard) was a guy that we liked coming out of Pitt,'' Pettine said at minicamp.  "I was very encouraged from watching the film from last year. We talk about the 'Play like a Brown' attributes, and we want a guy that plays like his hair is on fire. If I had to pick one guy that fits that, the first name I would come up with is Jabaal.

"He's versatile. I think we can move him around. He can play with his hand down. He can play up. His drop skills are more than adequate, and he plays violent. It's tough for him in this arena when it's no pads. I think he'll show up even better when we have the pads on and his physicality will be much better used."

Set to play more defensive end this year and not drop back as much from a linebacker spot, Sheard feels the club is on the verge of winning.

"I can't wait,'' he said.  "I want to be here when this city erupts. I just know it's coming. Hopefully this year is the year."

Family Day at capacity:  The Browns' Family Day training camp practice Aug. 2 at University of Akron's Infocision Stadium reached its capacity of 25,000 after only 10 hours of registration Thursday.

"We are thrilled with our fans' immediate response and that University of Akron's InfoCision Stadium will be an exciting, dynamic atmosphere for our players, coaches and phenomenal fans," said Browns President Alec Scheiner in a release.

 "We are striving to create memorable experiences for Browns fans, and certainly, along with engaging pre-game and postgame activities, our Family Day is shaping up to be a tremendous day for all involved."