With LeBron James sitting out his fifth game of the season, the Cleveland Cavaliers' four-game winning streak was snapped.

INDIANAPOLIS - With LeBron James sitting out his fifth game of the season, the Cleveland Cavaliers' four-game winning streak was snapped by the Pacers' 123-109 triumph Wednesday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Overall, the results haven't been too good when No. 23 is in street clothes. Dating back to last season, the Cavaliers are 4-14 when he's a scratch.

"I think we're up for the challenge," head coach Tyronn Lue said before the game. "I think the players are up for the challenge. We've been playing great basketball. This will be a good game for us and a good test for us, but I think our guys are up for the challenge."

Not quite.

Indiana is desperately trying to keep the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference standings. The word is they do not want any part of the Cleveland (56-23) in the first round -- and it's possible the Cavaliers might prefer the inexperienced Detroit Pistons as well. Indiana reportedly likes its chances in a seven-game series with the Toronto Raptors.

Detroit was only a half-game back of Indiana (42-36) in eighth. Wednesday was an opportunity for the Pacers to create some distance and they did -- in the scoring outcome and the standings.

The game was lost in the second quarter, when the Cavaliers' second unit put them in a 14-point hole. Kyrie Irving scored 26 points, dished out six assists and Kevin Love supplied 23 points, but no other Cavalier helped substantially. The offensive flow that spearheaded their streak disappeared.

"Just coming in and still focusing on our defensive foundation," Lue said was the objective.

Indiana shot 62 percent and scored 70 points in the first half, tied (Golden State Jan. 18) for the most points Cleveland has given up to an opponent in a half. For the game, the Pacers shot 56 percent.

In the third quarter while Love was at the free throw line, fans began chanting "Andrew Wiggins, Andrew Wiggins." That trade is an ongoing heated debate. The Pacers pulled away in the quarter led by Paul George going for nine of his game-high 29 points in that period. The Pacers pushed their lead to 18.

Cleveland trimmed the deficit to 12 midway in the fourth and Lue reinserted Irving, Love and J.R. Smith. But just like that, George scored six straight to give his team a commanding 18-point advantage with 5:08 remaining.

It's tough enough to win the second game of a back-to-back. It's far more difficult on the road when 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists are sitting on the bench.

Lue acknowledged James taking the night off could affect playoff positioning -- the Cavs' magic number to clinch the East remains at two. The training staff urged him to rest his best player because they wanted to be "cautious" with James being in the "red zone."

The team's medical staff has a chart that measures minutes-logged, how much of a load a players have carried over the last couple of weeks during competition and how their bodies are responding. There are three zones: green, yellow and red.

James is the only player in the red, thus he was sidelined. He will have three full days of rest before Saturday's game against Chicago.

Smith, Channing Frye and Richard Jefferson all had 10 points each.

On deck

The Bulls are the final opponent on this Midwest three-game road trip. The contest is Saturday with an 8:30 p.m. tipoff on ABC.

Carlos Carrasco struggled through five innings in his first start of the season, but Mike Napoli and the bullpen bailed him out. Napoli hit a game-winning homer and four relievers sealed the deal for the Tribe. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The temperature warmed Wednesday night and so did the Indians at Progressive Field

After being held to two ice-encased runs Tuesday in the coldest season opener in team history, the Indians blossomed as the barometer soared from 34 degrees on Tuesday to 60 Wednesday night.

Mike Napoli, who struck out three times Tuesday, enjoyed the heat the most as he gave the Indians a 7-6 victory over Boston with a homer in the seventh inning. Napoli's first homer as an Indian broke a 6-6 tie.

Napoli hit a 2-2 pitch off Junichi Tazawa (0-1) with one out. Napoli played 2 1/2 seasons with Boston, helping it win the World Series in 2013, before being traded to Texas last year.

The win went to Zack McAllister (1-0), who worked 1 2/3 innings. Cody Allen retired the Red Sox in order in the ninth for the save.  

The Red Sox, trailing through the first five innings, scored four times in the sixth to take a 6-5 lead. David Ortiz and Hanley Ramirez opened the inning with consecutive homers to chase a tiring Carlos Carrasco. Ortiz's homer was his second in as many games this season and the 505^th of his career to move him into 26^th place on MLB's homer list.

Pinch-hitter Chris Young dropped a gift double between rookie center fielder Tyler Naquin and Jose Ramirez, who was making just his third big-league appearance in left field. Lefty Ross Detwiler walked the next two batters to load the bases before Jackie Bradley his a sacrifice fly to make it a 5-5 game.

McAllister relieved Detwiler and Mookie Betts sent a grounder to third. Brock Holt, who advanced to third on the sacrifice fly, waited for Juan Uribe to make the throw to first before hustling home for a 6-5 lead. Uribe was upset at himself for not freezing Holt.

Uribe atoned for his defensive mistake in the sixth. After Yan Gomes drew a leadoff walk and took third on Marlon Byrd's bloop single just inside the right field line, Uribe delivered Gomes with a sacrifice fly to center to tie the score at 6-6.

The Indians took a 4-0 lead in the first against Clay Buchholz. Jason Kipnis doubled home Ramirez for the first run and Carlos Santana hit a three-run homer to center to make it 4-0.

The Red Sox cut the lead in half against Carrasco with a two-run homer by Holt in the second. The Red Sox hit Carrasco hard early and late during his five-inning outing.

The Indians made it 5-2 in the second as Naquin scored from second on Ramirez's single to center. Naquin reached on a single, his first hit in the big leagues.

The pitches

Carrasco threw 96 pitches, 63 for strikes. In five innings, Carrasco allowed four runs on seven hits. It was the third time in his career he's allowed three homers in a game.

Buchholz threw 95 pitches, 54 for strikes. He allowed five runs on six hits in four innings. He struck out four and walked three.

Let's talk numbers

The announced distance for Santana's three-run homer was 431 feet. MLB.com's Statcast, which takes a more scientific approach to such things, measured it at 417.

By whatever method, it was hit a long way, cleared the fence and counted for three points.

First time for everything

Naquin, with one out in the second, singled through the right side on a 3-2 pitch from Buchholz. It was his first hit in his first start in the big leagues. Naquin, after advancing to second, scored on Jose Ramirez's single for a 5-2 lead. The run, like the hit, was Naquin's first.

Thanks for coming

The Red Sox and Indians drew 10,298 fans to Progressive Field on Wednesday night.

What's next?

Right-hander Danny Salazar will make his 2016 debut on Thursday at 6:10 p.m. against RHP Joe Kelly and the Red Sox in the final game of this three-game set. SportsTime Ohio, WTAM 1100 and WMMS/FM 100.7 will carry the game.

Salazar went 3-1 with a 5.47 ERA in seven Cactus League starts this spring. He won a career-high 14 games last season and is 2-0 with a 1.46 ERA in his career against the Red Sox. Salazar made both those starts against Boston last year.

Kelly won 10 games last season with one of those wins coming against the Indians. This spring he went 3-1 with a 2.63 ERA in six starts.

There are a few candidates -- Anthony Bennett, anyone? -- who might make a better story for LeBron James' movie with Warner Bros. about someone who faked his way into the NBA draft. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- So LeBron James and Maverick Carter will produce a movie for Warner Brothers based on the true story of a comedian who faked his way into the NBA draft.

Connor Toole is a 6-foot-10 funny man. Last year, he showed up in New York for the draft, and convinced fans he was drafted in the second round by the Utah Jazz.

The movie will almost surely be funny, but it feels like LeBron's letting an opportunity go to waste.

In the video above, cleveland.com suggests some other draft fakers -- aka NBA busts -- who could've made for a screenplay for James' movie.

Yes, Anthony Bennett is in there.

Maybe, just maybe, Cleveland's favorite ex-quarterback will make a cameo?

Mike Napoli's walk in the first inning and homer in the seventh helped the Cleveland Indians defeat the Boston Red Sox, 7-6, Wednesday night in Cleveland.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Mike Napoli hit the go-ahead homer in the seventh inning and Carlos Santana went 2-for-3 with a three-run homer as the Cleveland Indians defeated the Boston Red Sox, 7-6, Wednesday night at Progressive Field.

Here is a capsule look at a key component of the game, which was televised by Fox Sports Time Ohio:

Wild night: The Tribe rallied to even the season-opening three-game series, which wraps Thursday. The Red Sox won, 6-2, Tuesday.

The Indians led, 4-0, after one inning and 5-2 after two. Given that Carlos Carrasco was pitching, they seemed to be in a good spot. But Carrasco faltered and the Red Sox eventually pulled ahead, 6-5, after 5 1/2 innings.

The Tribe tied it in the sixth.

The Napoli Effect: Tribe newcomer and former Red Sox Napoli factored heavily in the victory with plate appearances in the first and seventh innings.

In the first, Francisco Lindor led off with a swinging strikeout against right-hander Clay Buchholz. Jose Ramirez singled and Jason Kipnis ripped a 2-2 fastball into right-center for an RBI double. Credit third-base coach Mike Sarbaugh for putting the pressure on Boston's defense by pinwheeling Ramirez.

Napoli took a curve (76 mph) outside, then spit on two quality pitches -- a fastball (91) that ran inside and a cutter (86) that teased the outside corner. More than a few cleanup batters would have swung at one or both, but Napoli is a veteran with a sharp eye who knows how to work counts. He was not going to be too eager.

Napoli took a fastball (90) on the outer half for a strike. He could have cut loose in a 3-0 count to try to impress his new teammates and fans, and no one would have blamed him. He chose patience. Because Buchholz stayed out of the middle of the plate, Napoli might have gotten himself out if he committed to swing no matter what.

Buchholz came back with a fastball (91) that ran up and in. Napoli accepted the walk.

With runners on first and second, Buchholz fell behind Santana, 3-0. After a get-me-over fastball (91) for a called strike, Buchholz threw essentially the same pitch (91). Santana pounced and sent it deep to center for a three-run homer.

Red Sox catcher Blake Swihart had been set up inside. The pitch tailed to the outer half and onto Santana's swing plane. Santana knows how to hook outside pitches with power.

As much as Napoli's willingness to walk proved important, the Indians pay him to mash. It happened with one out in the seventh and the score tied, 6-6.

Righty Junichi Tazawa opened with a fastball (92) that ran down and in. Napoli took it for a ball. K-box later showed the pitch to be at the bottom of the zone, so Napoli caught a break from umpire Bill Welke.

Napoli swung and missed at a wicked splitter (85). Tazawa and Swihart liked what they saw enough to come back with another plus-splitter (87). In real time, Napoli did not appear to offer at the pitch, which Swihart picked off the ground. The Red Sox appealed, and first-base umpire Vic Carapazza ruled swing.

Replays showed that Carapazza was incorrect. Napoli knew he had not swung but did not allow the bad call to affect him outwardly. 

Ahead in the count, 1-2, Tazawa threw a fastball (93) that was supposed to run inside but stayed over the plate and scraped the knees. Napoli took it. When Welke called it a ball, Tazawa flinched in disagreement. K-box supported Tazawa.

Even though Welke never would admit it, he probably was influenced by Swihart having been forced to reach across and down to receive the ball.

Perhaps a batter who does not have Napoli's resume and established eye would not have received the benefit of the doubt on the first and/or fourth pitches. (Then again, Napoli watched at least one ball get called a strike against him Tuesday.)

Tazawa and Swihart were not about to double-up with a fastball against a power threat the caliber of Napoli in a tie game. Tazawa's heater is not overpowering; all pitches executed properly, his best is the splitter. Napoli now held an advantage because he could anticipate splitter.

Tazawa assisted by hanging it. The pitch (87) veered middle/in, and Napoli ripped it into the bleachers in left-center.

Napoli notched his first hit and RBI as an Indian.

In two games, Napoli is 1-for-6 with two walks and 47 pitches seen.

It was perhaps the most predictable outcome of the season for the Cleveland Cavaliers, a result known a few hours before tipoff against the Indiana Pacers.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It was perhaps the most predictable outcome of the season for the Cleveland Cavaliers, a result that could be seen coming a few hours before tipoff against the Indiana Pacers.

Word came down around 5 p.m. that LeBron James would be resting on the second game of a back-to-back. The majority of the time that leads to a loss.

Wednesday was no different, as the Cavaliers had their four-game winning streak snapped and dropped to 1-4 without James this season and 4-14 the last two years.

Here are five observations following the 123-109 loss:

Quick start - Kevin Love got off to a strong start, providing a needed spark early.

When he wasn't taking advantage of the Pacers' slower bigs on the perimeter, burying outside shots, Love went into the paint.

The versatile power forward, who has been red-hot recently, scored 14 points on 4-of-7 from the field, including 2-of-3 from three-point range in the first quarter.

He also showed his aggressiveness by getting to the free throw line four times and putting Indiana's Ian Mahinmi and Myles Turner in foul trouble -- each picking up two fouls in a combined six minutes.

Love carried his quality play over to the second quarter where he scored seven points, giving him a team-high 21 at the half.

But then he fizzled.

After appearing to injure his lower back, Love hobbled his way to two points on 0-of-4 from the field, as the Cavs couldn't keep up with the Pacers in the second half. The good news is his back injury didn't sound too serious and he was able to come back for a brief stretch in the fourth quarter before Cleveland's rally came up short. 

No defense - Prior to the game, Tyronn Lue told reporters that defense was again the focus for the Cavaliers.

"That's been the biggest key for us, bear down and really focus. We've been doing a good job of it, [so] let's not let up tonight," Lue said.

The Cavs might've heard, but they certainly didn't listen.

Scoring 109 points in the absence of James is admirable and Lue had reasons to be happy with offensive flow, but it was irrelevant because of the poor defensive effort.

The Pacers, who entered the night tied for 19th in total offense, averaging 101.7 points, took advantage of the Non-LeBrons, scoring season highs in first quarter points (36) and halftime points (70) before finishing with their second-highest point total this season.

The 70 points allowed in the first half were the most the Cavs have sacrificed since the blowout loss against the Golden State Warriors earlier this season.

In the first three games against the Pacers, all Cavs wins, Indiana shot 43.7 percent from the field. On Wednesday, the Pacers shot 56.3 percent.

It was the first opponent to reach at least 50 percent shooting against the Cavs since Miami on March 19.

While not all his fault, Iman Shumpert got the start for James on Wednesday, and didn't do much with it. In 35 minutes, Shumpert scored four points, finishing 0-of-4 from the field to go with three rebounds, one assist, one steal and two turnovers. He also had four fouls, equaling his point total. That's not exactly what the Cavs envisioned when putting him in the starting five. 

Turning tables - The Cavs have become one of the most prolific three-point shooting teams in the league. They entered the night second in the NBA with 835 made triples, trailing just Golden State, and had hit 18 during Tuesday's rout against Milwaukee.

The Pacers, meanwhile, entered the night ranked 21st with 611 made threes.

The two teams reversed roles on Wednesday night, as the Cavs' streak of hitting at least 10 threes in a game came to an end at 16 straight.

On the night, Cleveland went 8-of-29 (27.6 percent) from beyond the arc. Players not named Love combined to go just 5-of-24.

The Pacers shot 16-of-31, led by former Cavalier C.J. Miles, who buried a game-high six.

Blow to Chicago - This was the perfect spot on the schedule to sit James.

In the quest to get him and others extended rest, James will now have three days off before playing Saturday against Chicago. The training staff recommended Wednesday's game and the reasoning is sound. 

The Cavs have taken a big-picture approach to the season since training camp and James being at full strength for a deep playoff run is more important than grabbing the No. 1 seed. While not on the same level as Golden State or San Antonio, the Cavs have proven to be the clear-cut best team in the East. If they play their game, it's hard to envision any team in the conference beating them four times in seven tries. 

Credit to Lue and the training staff. They are handling James' rest schedule brilliantly and Wednesday was another example, even if it led to a loss. 

Make no mistake, the primary motivation was another rare chance to get James three days off, which is the same thing the organization decided to do against the Houston Rockets last Tuesday.

However, I can't help but wonder if there was something else in play. With every Indiana win, the Pacers get closer to the postseason.

They also stay in the No. 7 seed, ahead of Detroit, preventing a possible first-round playoff matchup between the Cavs and Pacers. Bankers Life Fieldhouse has been a house of horrors for the Cavs in recent years and even with James this season, the other game in Indiana was a hard-fought matchup that went into overtime. 

Who could blame the Cavs for wanting the easiest path to the Finals? In my mind, and perhaps theirs, that would mean facing the Pistons in Round One as opposed to Indiana. 

Then there's the other benefit. 

It helps keep the underachieving, but talented Chicago Bulls further on the outside of the playoff picture. Currently in the No. 9 spot, the Bulls are two and a half games back of Detroit with four games remaining. 

This is a team that boasts a pair of All-Stars and was third in the East in January before a complete and hard-to-explain collapse in the final few months. That leaves them needing plenty of help to crawl into the final playoff spot, which would set up a showdown against the Cavaliers, a rematch of last year's hard-fought Eastern Conference semifinals.

The battle-tested Bulls challenged the Cavs more than any team in the East last season, have won two of the three matchups this year and Lue, unprompted, singled them out a few days ago.

"I think if you look at some of the teams out there like Chicago, if they get in they look at it as a brand new season," Lue said when asked about building momentum before the playoffs. "They have a very talented team and a very dangerous team. Teams coming into that eighth spot with the Chicago Bulls and the way they're capable of playing, that's a tough team for the eighth seed."

Don't forget, James also lumped Chicago into the same group with Golden State and San Antonio when referencing the upper echelon teams. Of course, that was earlier in the season, but even he knows the talent the Bulls boast.

Which team would be more dangerous? Which team could push the Cavs beyond four or five games? The answer seems to be Chicago.

Wednesday's loss against the Pacers, or the win for Indiana, depending on how you want to look at it, pushed Chicago further out of the playoff picture, and I would guess that nobody in the organization is going to be too upset about that, especially given the deep level of respect the Cavs appear to have for the Bulls. 

Saturday provides another chance to deliver a blow. And with James resting on Wednesday, it means he will be fresh heading into the game, one that looks to be must-win for the Bulls. 

The scheduling of James' rest night couldn't have worked out any better. 

J.R. Smith disappears again - I wrote about Smith's travails without James last week, after he no-showed against the Houston Rockets.

He was a tad bit better on Wednesday, but hardly the same player that had been scorching the nets at the beginning of April. Without James, Smith is a shell of himself.

He made seven three-pointers on Tuesday, setting the mark for the most threes made in a single-season in franchise history. One night later, he attempted just one, missing his only triple try.

The Cavs count on him and needed his scoring punch against Indiana. But he failed to deliver again. When James isn't creating shots for Smith, he appears to just drift around the court with little purpose.

This season, he ranks third in the NBA in points off spot-up jumpers, behind Dallas' Wesley Matthews and Charlotte's Marvin Williams.

Of Smith's 344 made baskets, James has assisted on a whopping 104, which is 30 percent. It's also 64 more than the next player, Love, who has assisted on 40 of Smith's made baskets. Irving is next with 33.

On Wednesday, Smith went 4-of-7 from the field, scoring 10 points in 24 minutes before finishing with the worst plus-minus on the team. He, again, missed James.

Better hope the four-time MVP doesn't get into foul trouble in the postseason. 

After nine seasons, six All-Pro selections and no playoff games, the Browns left tackle is on track to become the NFL's Ernie Banks unless something changes.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Tony Gonzalez cried. One can only wonder what Browns left tackle Joe Thomas might do, if and when arguably the greatest waste of an individual talent in NFL history comes to an end.

Gonzalez, the long-time Kansas City Chief and future Hall of Fame tight end, stuck around for a playoff win and a Super Bowl shot as his career wound down, playing 17 NFL seasons and 271 NFL games, and winning a playoff game for the first time in his 16th year.

That win followed a change of teams, from Kansas City to Atlanta, and after that 30-28 playoff victory by the Falcons over the Seattle Seahawks in 2012, Gonzalez stood at his locker and told the reporters gathered around him, "I've never cried after a win, because I thought it was over."

The Gonzalez tale of woe to that point, during a career that started with 12 seasons in Kansas City before he played a final five in Atlanta?

Six selections as a first-team All-Pro player. Fourteen years in the Pro Bowl. Sixteen seasons in the league, nine of them winning seasons. No playoff wins in five tries.

Gonzalez was one of the greatest players in NFL history without a playoff win, and finally, he got one.

Thomas would take that resume.

Thomas hasn't even sniffed a playoff game.A 

In nine seasons, he has earned as many first-team All-Pro selections as Gonzalez, with six, and he's a nine-time Pro Bowler. He's taken part in just one winning season, as a rookie in 2007 when the Browns were 10-6. And he's never made the playoffs.

It sounds too cruel to call Thomas the greatest loser in NFL history. But as he ramps up for season 10 with the Browns, this is a fact.

Joe Thomas is the greatest player in NFL history never to reach the playoffs.

He's not just another unlucky veteran or a loyal star. Preparing to mark a decade in the league, Thomas is ready to go down, unless something changes, as a unique combination of talent and misery, of skill and lack of success, of stardom without reward.

It is hard to be as good as Thomas and lose as much, and he's covered that ground more than once. Like last November.

As you consider Thomas' future and the Browns' future and what the franchise should do with him and do by him, realize the rare qualities of this football marriage. One side has given so much and taken so little back - this in a world where both Brandon Weeden and Brian Hoyer made the playoffs last year.

How did we determine Thomas' status? All-Pro selections.

Making All-Pro is the standard of the elite, a selection as the best at your position in the league. This is more than just getting a Pro Bowl trip to Hawaii because some better guys dropped out.

Using the All-Pro listing at pro-football-reference.com, we examined the playoff histories of the 24 players with more than six All-Pro selections, from Jerry Rice to Jim Brown, from Lawrence Taylor to Otto Graham, from Peyton Manning to Ray Lewis.

All of them had reached the playoffs. Nineteen of the 24 won at least one championship. Three others at least played in a Super Bowl. Only two of the 24 hadn't at least played for a title.

San Diego Chargers lineman Ron Mix was 1-4 in his career in the AFL playoffs between 1960 and 1971 as a nine-time All-Pro pick.

Rom Mix, an All-Pro pick nine times in his 11-year career, never played for a title. But at least played in five playoff games, going 1-4.Mark Duncan, AP

And lineman Randall McDaniel never made a Super Bowl during a 14-year NFL career from 1988 to 2001, 12 of those seasons with Minnesota followed by two in Tampa. But his playoff record was 4-11, which means the playoffs were a regular part of his life.

To Thomas, they are completely foreign.

When it comes to earning exactly six All-Pro honors, Thomas is one of 29 players with six and none of the other 28 experienced a playoff shutout.

Running back Barry Sanders, an All-Pro during six of his 10 years in Detroit, is remembered for his bad luck on a losing team. But he made the playoffs half the time in his decade, his playoff record 1-5.

Linebacker Junior Seau suffered through 13 rough years in San Diego, but he made the playoffs three times and went 3-3. At the back end of his amazing 20-year career, the late Seau reached the Super Bowl with New England.

Even Paddy Driscoll, a six-time All-Pro between 1920 and 1929 who never technically played in a postseason during those early football days, was part of a disputed championship with the Chicago Cardinals in 1925 that the Cardinals organization now claims.

The idea isn't to roll through every great player's year-by-year playoff history.

It's to understand Thomas properly in the big picture.

He is clearly more accomplished than any individual in football history who has never tasted the playoffs. Now that Peyton Manning has retired, no active NFL player has more All-Pro selections than Thomas.

Beyond Thomas, there are 21 active players who have been named All-Pro at least three times, with punter Shane Lechler tied with Thomas at six.

Those 21 players have taken part in 198 playoff games in their careers, from the 30 for kicker Adam Vinatieri to the two for defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh. That's an average of 6.6 playoff games per player.

And zero for Thomas.

Reghi riled up about trading Thomas

It's not only in football.

Of the 18 NBA players named first-team All-NBA at least six times, 17 won a title. Former Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone is the only one without a title, but he made the playoffs is every one of his 19 seasons and reached the NBA Finals three times.

From January: Frustrated Thomas was open to trade

In major league baseball, the comparison is more difficult across two leagues, and with All-Star appearances not really comparable to All-Pro selections.

But there's one guy who stands out there, a true legend.A 

Ernie Banks, the Cubs legendary shortstop.

Despite his greatness and his 512 home runs in his 19-year career, all of it in Chicago, Banks is probably known best for two things.

Saying, "let's play two."

And never making the playoffs.

As we ponder what's ahead for Thomas, know that after nine years in Cleveland, he is on track to become the NFL's Ernie Banks unless something changes.

Either the Browns change. Or Thomas leaves.

Because a football player like Thomas has never lost like this.

Did our general managers for a day nab the OSU receiver in the first round? Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Picking Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2016 NFL Draft with general managers Doug Lesmerises, Ari Wasserman and Bill Landis.

We're getting the hang of the bell. Maybe we like ringing too much. Wait until you see how it goes with Michael Thomas.

The Ohio State receiver is the fourth Buckeye we have put through our Ohio State mock draft, following defensive end Joey Bosa, running back Ezekiel Elliott and cornerback Eli Apple.

We'll run through all 14 Buckeyes who were invited to the NFL Combine in the same form - Ari, Bill and I are acting as NFL general managers, moving through the picks and ringing in when we want a player.

Adds a little drama.

You like a guy? You better pick him before someone else on the beat does.

Thomas is a guy who could be a first-round pick but certainly isn't assured of going in the first round as part of a receiver group without a breakout star.

Where mock drafts have Thomas: From No. 24 to not in the first round

Michael Thomas in mock drafts

Where did we pick him? Watch the video to see when we rang the bell on Thomas and which one of us drafted him and why.

Then vote on how you think we did as general managers. Did we take Thomas too high in the draft, or did we wait on him too long? Or did we get this one right?

Michael Thomas draft capsule

Next up Friday: Darron Lee

Previous picks in our draft

Ringing the bell on: Joey Bosa, No. 5

Ringing the bell on: Ezekiel Elliott, No. 12

Ringing the bell on: Eli Apple, No. 16

In his first season as Rutgers head coach, Ash is implementing changes familiar to Buckeye fans.

The Indiana Pacers handled the LeBron-less Cleveland Cavaliers, 123-109, Wednesday night in Indianapolis.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Paul George scored 29 and the Indiana Pacers' bench had 50 points in a 123-109 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. LeBron James did not play (rest).

Here is a capsule look at the game after a quick DVR review of the ESPN telecast:

Nothing to see here: The Cavs (56-23 overall, 24-16 on road) lost by 14 to the Pacers (42-36 overall, 24-15 at home). Oh, well.

Good for the Pacers. If they want to beat their breasts over the victory, fine. They needed it in order to put themselves in prime position to secure an Eastern Conference playoff berth.

Not necessarily bad for the Cavs. They lead the East by 3.0 games over the Toronto Raptors (52-25).

Double asterisk: Two ginormous factors influenced the outcome. Neither involved players on the court.

* LeBron-less Cavs. If you don't think the Cavs are in trouble without LeBron, you haven't been paying attention during the past two seasons. They were not suddenly going to solve that problem against the Pacers on the road.

Not only is LeBron the most complete player in the NBA, he happens to be at the top of his game currently. So the Cavs were missing a superstar who is locked in.

* The schedule. The Cavs played the previous night in Milwaukee, Wis. The Pacers had not played since Sunday (at Knicks).

That's not an excuse, just a fact. If you don't think such a disparity puts one team at a disadvantage, you haven't been paying attention to the NBA.

The Cavs had smashed the Bucks, 109-80, for their fourth consecutive victory. They didn't forget overnight how to play well.

The Pacers simply did what a rested home team desperate for a victory is supposed to do to a tired road team not desperate for a victory.

Nonetheless: Not all can of what happened to the Cavs can/should be ignored or flushed.

The Pacers led, 70-61, at halftime. They entered ranked 20th in the NBA in scoring (101.7).

George and guard Monta Ellis were foremost among the Pacers who got whatever they wanted. The Pacers dominated the Cavs in the paint. The Cavs weren't physical enough, and their one-on-one defense was brutal.

Indiana's bench was far superior to Cleveland's. No surprise there.

The Pacers should have led by more than nine at the half. They outscored the Cavs, 26-21, in the third quarter to remove any doubt.

Indiana finished 45-of-80 (56.3 percent) from the field, including 16-of-31 (51.6 percent) from 3-point range.

The Cavs were 8-of-29 (27.6 percent) from beyond the arc, snapping their NBA-record-tying streak of games with 10+ successes at 16.

Injury concerns for Cleveland: Mo Williams' knee pain knocked him out of the game, and Kevin Love's back flared up during a third-quarter layup attempt. Love returned.

Check here for the 2016 Masters leaderboard, live streaming, TV schedule, tee times and updates throughout the day.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- We're in for an impressive Masters if the results of the Par-3 Contest are any indication of what's to come. Today's first round of the Masters will be shown live from 3-7:30 p.m. on ESPN. Also catch the replay from 8-11 p.m. on ESPN.

You can follow along with our live leaderboard here and check back throughout the day for updates from the course. You can also link to the Masters live stream and find today's pairings and tee times.

On Wednesday, Gary Player became the oldest player to record a hole-in-one at the Masters Par-3 Contest. His ace was the sixth of a record nine made on the day. The previous mark was five set in 2002 and last year.  

Player nailed his hole-in-one while playing with Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson. Jimmy Walker ran away with the event when he shot 8-under-par 19. The previous mark was 20 set by Art Wall Jr. in 1965 and matched by Gay Brewer in 1973.

THE MASTERS

Schedule: Today-Sunday.

Course: Augusta National Golf Club.

Purse: $10 million. Winner's share: $1.8 million.

TV schedule:

• Today - ESPN, 3-7:30 p.m.
• Friday - ESPN, 3-7:30 p.m.
• Saturday - CBS, 3-7:30.
• Sunday - CBS, 2-7 p.m.

Live streaming link: Click here for Masters.com live streaming feed.

Tee times: Click here for first-round pairings, tee times.

Leaderboard: Below is the live leaderboard (will update when round begins).

UPDATES FROM THE COURSE

Ceremonial tee shot: Jack Nicklaus will hit the ceremonial first tee shot of the tournament, playing with partner Gary Player. Nicklaus is taking over for Arnold Palmer, who announced last month that he would not participate as he is recovering from shoulder surgery. Nicklaus and Player tee off at 8:05 a.m.

NOTES

Last year: Jordan Spieth set the 36-hole scoring record and tied the 72-hole scoring record in a wire-to-wire victory for his first major.

Notes: Jordan Spieth will try to join Tiger Woods, Nick Faldo and Jack Nicklaus as the only back-to-back winners. The 89-man field is the smallest for the Masters since 2002. ... Woods says he has not recovered from two back surgeries last year to play. This is the second time in the last three years he has not been at the Masters. ... Rory McIlroy needs a victory at Augusta National to become the sixth player to complete the career Grand Slam. McIlroy is the only player from the top five in the world ranking who has not won this year.

LINKS

• 2016 Masters field list.
• Featured groups for today and Friday.
• Lining up the favorites, contenders (USA Today).
• Jordan Spieth busted his go-to driver Wednesday (CBS Sports).

The 6-foot-3, 230-pound prospect released a top 10 on Wednesday evening and Ohio State was listed along with Alabama, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, TCU, Texas, UCLA and USC.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State is one of the main programs currently sticking out for five-star safety Jeffrey Okudah of Grand Prairie (Texas) South.

That's not the only elite Texas defender with which Urban Meyer has created a relationship. 

There's also five-star linebacker Baron Browning of Kennedale, Texas, who is rated in the 247Sports composite rankings the No. 2 outside linebacker in the 2017 recruiting class. And like with Okudah, Ohio State is standing one of the main programs involved in Browning's recruitment. 

The 6-foot-3, 230-pound prospect released a top 10 on Wednesday evening and Ohio State was listed along with Alabama, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, TCU, Texas, UCLA and USC.

"First off I want to thank God because without him none of this would be possible and I am nothing without him," Browning wrote on his public Twitter profile. "It's been an honor to receive all the attention I have from all the schools that offer me. I am forever thankful for the universities that invested time in me as well as the relationships I've built.

"If you're school is not listed, it doesn't mean anything negative about your university. These are just the top 10 schools that I believe can help me become a better student, develop me as an athlete, help me get to where I'm trying to get to in life, and last but not least, help develop me in becoming a better young man on and off the field." 

Perhaps the most interesting development with Browning's list is that Baylor wasn't included despite the fact the linebacker used to be committed to the Bears. 

Last season as a junior, Browning posted 74 tackles (eight for loss), a sack, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two interactions. He also scored two defensive touchdowns on his way to earning 5-4A All-District, All-State and Second Team Underclassman All-American honors.

Browning has taken recent visits to in-state schools Texas, Texas A&M and Baylor. Obviously, Ohio State would love to host him in Columbus for an unofficial visit because when those are made it's a good indication of a prospect's real interest. 

Below are Browning's highlights:

"It was rainy and windy at that moment," Naquin said. "I even asked Jose. He said, 'Me no see.' I said, 'Me neither, bud.'"

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Tyler Naquin dashed to his right. Jose Ramirez darted to his left. As they met, a baseball dropped from the sky and planted itself in the green grass between them.

"It was rainy and windy at that moment," Naquin said. "I even asked Jose. He said, 'Me no see.' I said, 'Me neither, bud.'"

We saw quite a bit on Wednesday evening. Here are a handful of thoughts following Cleveland's first triumph of the season.

1. Uncharted territory: Ramirez had logged 14 major league innings in the outfield prior to Wednesday's affair. Naquin had totaled two innings. So, it would be far from unfathomable if the two had communication trouble on a fly ball placed between them. Naquin, though, cited the weather as the antagonist and said neither outfielder saw the baseball until it was merely a few feet above their heads.

2. Look what I found: Ramirez raised both arms in celebration after he snared the final out of the game on a play that had many in the Indians' dugout holding their breath. Tribe manager Terry Francona said his heart "skipped a beat a few times" on Wednesday. "[It] might have even stopped."

3. Large father: Of course, when a man with 505 career home runs approaches home plate and represents the tying run with two outs in the ninth inning, that can speed up one's heart rate. Earlier in the night, David Ortiz passed Eddie Murray for 26th place on the all-time home run list. In the ninth, he lined out to Ramirez at the wall in left field, as Cody Allen notched his first save.

4. No stranger: Mike Napoli played with Ortiz from 2013-15. He has witnessed Ortiz's heroics first-hand. His stress level increased when the 40-year-old entered the batter's box.

"I didn't like it," Napoli said. "I didn't like it at all. He's a great hitter and he can pop it out of the park at anytime. And it looks like he's got some swag going right now and feels good, so when he came up there, I was saying, 'Just keep it down. If he gets a single, all right.' He's a great hitter and he can change the game at any time. We've seen it so many times."

5. Cookie express: Carlos Carrasco has tallied five or more strikeouts in 19 consecutive starts, the second-longest streak in the majors, behind Clayton Kershaw, who has done so in 34 straight outings. Carrasco's streak is the second-longest streak in franchise history, behind Bob Feller's stretch of 28 contests about 70 years ago.

He also allowed three home runs for the third time in his career and the first time since 2011. Francona said he wanted Carrasco to get through two batters in the sixth inning. Carrasco surrendered home runs to both batters.

6. Swing and a drive: Napoli's home run traveled 423 feet, according to the league's Statcast data. He slugged an 87 mph splitter from Red Sox reliever Junichi Tazawa. The ball came off of Napoli's bat at 105 mph.

7. First blasts: Carlos Santana socked the Tribe's first home run of the season with his three-run shot in the first frame. Here is a list of players to hit the club's first homer of the season.

2016: Santana

2015: Santana

2014: Mike Aviles

2013: Asdrubal Cabrera

2012: Jack Hannahan

2011: Jack Hannahan

2010: Travis Hafner

8. Power bats: The Indians will welcome any pop that Napoli and Santana can provide in the middle of the order, especially with Michael Brantley on the shelf. The two combined to reach base five times and drive in four runs on Wednesday.

9. Patience is a virtue: Napoli has seen 47 pitches in his eight plate appearances this season, an average of nearly six pitches per trek to the dish. Santana has seen 38 pitches in his eight plate appearances.

10. Helmet counter: Jose Ramirez's helmet flew off twice on Wednesday, his first game of the season.

On a windy night, with a hodgepodge outfield, the Indians caught just enough fly balls to beat the Red Sox at Progressive Field. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - If you play baseball in the Midwest in April you have three choices. You can freeze, you can get blown away or you can get rained on.

The Indians and Red Sox froze on Tuesday. On Wednesday they were rained on and buffeted by the swirling winds at Progressive Field. Everytime a fly ball reached the outfield, manager Terry Francona's heart skipped a beat.

"Nothing was routine," said Francona. "Then with that weird sky it was hard to see the ball. Fortunately, we caught just enough."

The Indians beat Boston, 7-6, on Mike Napoli's homer in the seventh inning. They wasted a 4-0 lead because Carlos Carrasco allowed three homers, two of them by David Ortiz and Hanley Ramirez to start the sixth inning. Then the reasons for Francona's heart palpitations surfaced.

Francona's starting outfield included utility infielder Jose Ramirez in left field, rookie Tyler Naquin in center and 38-year-old Marlon Byrd in right field. It was Ramirez's third big-league start in left and Naquin's big league debut in center. Byrd is a veteran outfielder, but he signed with the Indians on March 18 and had only three weeks of spring training before the season started.

After Ortiz and Ramirez hit consecutive homers, pinch-hitter Chris Young sent a fly ball to left center field. Naquin charged in, Ramirez sprinted over to the gap and they both watched the ball fall behind them for a double.

"It was rainy and windy at that moment," said Naquin. "I even asked Jose. He said, "Me, no see.' I said, 'Me, neither, bud.' We saw it probably four feet above our heads. By that time, it was too late."

Said Francona, "You can blame that on youth all you want, but if he didn't see it, it doesn't matter how old you are."

After Young's double, the Red Sox scored two more runs to take a 6-5 lead. Juan Uribe pulled the Indians in a 6-6 tie with a sacrifice fly in the sixth and Napoli reclaimed the lead with his homer in the seventh. Then the game came down to closer Cody Allen, Big Papi and the utility infielder in left field.

Allen retired Dustin Pedroia and Xander Bogaerts to start the ninth. But he went 3-1 on Ortiz.

"If he was going to beat us, beat us out to left field," said Allen. "I don't want to give him anything inside that he can turn and burn on. He's up there in age, but can still turn on a fastball with the best of them.

"If he hits it out to left, you tip your cap. I didn't want to walk him either because you've got Hanley on deck and he can do just as much damage."

Allen accomplished his goal as Ortiz hit a line drive to the track in left field. Ramirez broke on the ball, but he was going left. Then he swerved to his right. In the Indians' dugout Francona's heart was skipping beats and everybody else was, well, highly concerned.

How does Ramirez fit into Tribe's future?

"Everybody was a little scared, but this happens," said Carlos Santana, whose three-run homer in the first gave the Indians a 4-0 lead. "Everybody knows his original position is infield. He did a good job tonight."

Finally, at the track, just in front of the wall with his back to the plate, Ramirez jumped and caught the ball for the final out. After he did, he raised his arms in celebration.

Tribe unchains Cody Allen

"He caught that last ball," said Francona, with a smile. "I just wish he was a little taller. I don't know what he's going to do about that."

The 5-9 Ramirez went 2-for-5 with a run and RBI.

"I didn't know if he was going to catch it," said Allen. "He got turned around a little bit. But then I saw the ball go in the glove. He's a good athlete. He can play anywhere."

Jordan Spieth had six par saves and six birdies for a 6-under 66 and a two-shot lead after the first round of the Masters on Thursday.

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Jordan Spieth atop the leaderboard might be the latest tradition at Augusta National.

One year later, he's still the man to beat at the Masters.

Six tough par saves and six birdies sent Spieth to a 6-under 66 on Thursday and a two-shot lead in a strong wind that made Augusta National play tough for just about everyone except the defending champion.

Coming off his wire-to-wire victory last year, Spieth now has five straight rounds in the lead, and six out of the last seven when he was tied or leading. One more and he would match the longest streak since Arnold Palmer in 1960 and the opening two rounds of 1961.

And just like last year, now it's time for the rest of the field to try to catch him.

"We're through one round," Spieth said. "There's going to be a lot of different changes. There are going to be a lot of different birdies, bogeys and everything in between. We know how to win this golf tournament, and we believe in our process. And if the putts are dropping, then hopefully it goes our way."

They were dropping, which is why Spieth had the only bogey-free round on a day where the wind made that seem unlikely.

He had a two-shot lead over Danny Lee and Shane Lowry.

The battle among the modern "Big Three" and other top players expected to contend did not take shape.

Jason Day, the No. 1 player in the world and Masters favorite, was on the verge of catching Spieth until a mini-meltdown. He three-putted for bogey on the par-5 15th, pulled his tee shot into the water on the par-3 16th and made triple bogey, and then sailed the green on the 17th for another bogey. Just like that, the Australian was back to even par.

"It could happen to anyone," Day said. "Even though I gave up five shots in three holes, I'm only six back. I know I can catch up."

Right when Day was falling apart, McIlroy holed an 18-foot eagle putt on the 13th and looked to be on his way in his bid to win a green jacket and complete the career Grand Slam. He was within two shots of the lead until he three-putted the 16th for bogey and missed the 18th green to the right, was plugged in a bunker and dropped another shot for a 70. Even so, it was his best start since 2011.

"If somebody had given me a 70 on the first day, I would have taken it," McIlroy said. "I'm a little disappointed in the way I finished."

Bubba Watson, a two-time champion, had a 41 on the back nine and shot 75. He wasn't even low Watson -- 66-year-old Tom Watson, in his last Masters, shot 74. Adam Scott, coming off two victories in Florida last month, opened with a 76.

Rickie Fowler had his worst score ever at Augusta National by posting an 80, with 44 of those shots coming on the back nine.

Spieth simply picked up where he left off a year ago.

Never mind that he discovered a hairline crack in his driver during Wednesday practice and had to find a backup for the opening round. Or that he was hearing questions about what was wrong with his game from not having seriously contended in the last two months.

Spieth was at Augusta National, a course that feels like home for the 22-year-old Texan.

"That was a flawless round of golf," said Paul Casey, who played with Spieth and posted a solid 69. "I played a wonderful round of golf, but it was great to have a front row seat to watch that."

For all the birdies -- none longer than 12 feet -- the pars make Spieth look so tough to beat.

He settled himself early with a beautiful pitch across the first green to 2 feet. He pumped his fist with a tough pitch over the bunker and to the upper tier on No. 4. He gambled with a 4-iron through a tiny gap in the trees on the 11th and made it pay off with another par. On 16, he kept his card clean by ramming in a 15-foot par putt.

By the end of the day, no one could do better.

Casey was among five Europeans at 69, joining Justin Rose, Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia and Soren Kjeldsen. Two more were at 70 -- McIlroy and Danny Willett, along with Americans Billy Horschel and Scott Piercy.

Nine players couldn't break 80, a group that included Ernie Els, who took six putts from 2 feet on the opening hole for a 9. He played the rest of the day at 1 over.

The day ended with a name at the top that was familiar.

"I would have signed for 2 under today and not even played the rough, knowing the conditions that were coming up," Spieth said. "Just scored extremely well, which is something I've been struggling with this season. If I can kind of straighten out things with the iron play, hopefully we'll be in business. But yeah, I'm extremely pleased with that round today. I felt like we stole a few."

The Indians starting rotation has been jumbled by bad weather at the start of the season. So far the Indians have played as many games as they've had postponements -- two each.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The season is two games old and the Indians already have as many postponements as games played.

As Boston manager John Farrell said when the Red Sox charter flight landed in Cleveland last Saturday in high winds and snow, "There's no place like home." Farrell played, coached and worked for the Indians for several years and knows all about the harshness of springtime in Cleveland.

Cold weather postponed the Tribe's season opener against Boston on Monday. The two teams had Tuesday's off day as a safety net and were able to get in nine innings despite it being the coldest season opener in Tribe history. On Wednesday the temperature skyrocketed to 60 degrees when Carlos Carrasco made the first pitch of his 2016 season. Carrasco didn't do well, but the Indians won the game to even the series.

The series finale was scheduled for 6:10 p.m. Thursday, but about an hour before the first pitch, the game was postponed with no makeup date announced. Temperatures had dropped to 42 degrees and snow and rain were forecast.

The bad weather combined with April's scheduled off days has pitching coach Mickey Callaway checking and rechecking the calendar to try and keep his starting rotation in line. Danny Salazar was scheduled to start Thursday, but with that game postponed, he'll open Friday's series against Chicago at U.S. Cellular Field. Salazar will face lefty John Danks in the White Sox's home opener.

When one starter gets pushed back, everyone else takes a step back. So Friday's scheduled starter, Cody Anderson, will start Saturday. Josh Tomlin, set for Saturday, will start Sunday. Corey Kluber was written in for Sunday, but now he'll make his second start Tuesday against the Rays at Tropicana Field.

Kluber, the Tribe's ace, could have pulled rank on Tomlin and started Sunday to stay on his normal routine of four days between starts. He stepped aside for Tomlin, who hasn't pitched since March 29 in a Cactus League game against Seattle.

"We believe in all of our starters," said Callaway. "Anytime you have a fifth starter and he's getting 14 days off (between starts) ... we want them all to pitch good and Tomlin is going to have to pitch good for us.

"Kluber was right on board with that. I asked Kluber if he had a preference and he said, 'I don't want Josh to have 14 days off.' It's good that everyone is caring about each other and hoping everyone is going to go out there and pitch well."

If Kluber started Sunday, Tomlin would have gone two weeks between appearances before starting Tuesday against the Rays.

When Thursday's game was postponed, Salazar went out in the cold and played catch just to stay loose for Friday. Callaway said routines like that make for a successful starter.

"Our guys are resilient," said Callaway. "They have good routines and stick to them. Danny went out in the cold today and played catch. It would have been easy for him to not even play catch today, just shut it down and get ready to go to the airport. But he went out there and prepared for tomorrow."

Salazar has had Thursday's start against Boston circled in red since mid-March. Now he has to erase all his preparation and get ready to face the White Sox.

"It's a little bit tough," said Salazar. "I was prepared to pitch today. I'm just going to take today as another day off and go to Chicago and do my job over there."

When the Indians break camp in Goodyear, Arizona, the starters are conditioned to throw 100 to 105 pitches in a game. But throwing that many in 85-degree weather as opposed to 34 degrees is different.

"Obviously, they're going to get tired around 90 pitches (in these conditions)," said Callaway. "That's what we saw with Kluber and Carrasco. I was happy they pitched well until they got tired. That's a good sign.

"It's tough to come out of Arizona, be built up to 100 pitches and then have to brave the cold. But they did it and got through it. They're prepared."

Testing, testing: Right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall (left wrist) reported to Class AAA Columbus to begin his rehab assignment on Thursday. The season opener for the Clippers was postponed.

Manager Terry Francona said Michael Brantley (right shoulder) will join Chisenhall in Columbus on Friday to work out with the Clippers. While Chisenhall is on a rehab assignment, Brantley will just be working out.

Run, Carlos, run: The Indians have played just two games, but Carlos Santana has been impressive with his base running. In the opener, he went first to third on a single by Yan Gomes in the fourth inning and scored on a sacrifice fly.

On Wednesday night, he hustled his way into a leadoff double in the third.

"This is a new year," said Santana. "I'm going to try and play hard every day. My teammates motive me to play hard. If I hustle, if other players hustle, we'll be fine."

Said Francona, "I'm thrilled. He had a good spring as far as work and in the first two games his baserunning has been terrific. He seems to have found another gear, which is good."

There were only 10 schools in Spence's Twitter graphic: Alabama, Maryland, Ohio State, Penn State, Tennessee, North Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, USC and Texas A&M.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Four-star defensive tackle Cam Spence of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG released a top 15 less than a week ago, but big deal, right? 

Fifteen schools still alive for the 6-foot-5, 285-pound prospect? You probably thought, "wake me up when he actually gets down to a decision." 

Well, that is sooner rather than later.

Rated the No. 12 defensive tackle in the 2017 recruiting class in the 247Sports composite rankings, Spence posted on his public Twitter account that he plans to announce his college decision at 8:00 a.m. on Friday morning.

And there were only 10 schools in the graphic: Alabama, Maryland, Ohio State, Penn State, Tennessee, North Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, USC and Texas A&M. 

Rated the No. 12 defensive tackle in the 2017 recruiting class in the 247Sports composite rankings, Spence transferred to the powerhouse IMG from Baltimore (Md.) Gilman, which is one of the reasons he's high on the Terrapins. 

Spence unofficially visited Ohio State last April before eventually earning a scholarship offer from Urban Meyer on Dec. 7.

Ohio State already has two commitments in its 2017 class from IMG: Four-star safety Isaiah Pryor and four-star cornerback Marcus Williamson. 

Below is Spence's highlight film:

Stay tuned with cleveland.com Friday morning for Spence's decision. 

DT Cam Spence, No. 89 overall, @Only1CamSpence says he is committing tomorrow at 8am ET pic.twitter.com/9kIugee0fS

-- Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) April 7, 2016

Chris Bleich, a Class of 2018 offensive tackle, gave a verbal commitment Thursday night to the Nittany Lions. An in-state player, he transferred earlier this year to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Penn State added an offensive tackle from IMG Academy.

Could it lead to a bigger catch from that school on the other side of the line?

Chris Bleich, a Class of 2018 offensive tackle, gave a verbal commitment Thursday night to the Nittany Lions. He is the second player in that class to give a pledge to Penn State.

The 6-foot-6, 305-pound Bleich also isn't the only player from the Bradenton, Fla., school on the Lions' radar. The other is Josh Kaindoh, a five-star defensive end and Ohio State target in the Class of 2017.

Bleich is not rated by 247Sports, but he is originally from Plymouth, Pa. He played last fall in his home state at Wyoming Valley West High School and transferred early this year to IMG.

Syracuse and Rutgers were the only other school to offer Bleich a scholarship. The Nittany Lions' offer came in late March.

Bleich joins Central Dauphin (Harrisburg, Pa.) defensive end Micah Parsons from the Class of 2018 to give verbal commitments to Penn State.

Click here to check out cleveland.com's new Big Ten football page.

Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul) or email (mgoul@cleveland.com). Or log in and leave a message below in the comments section.

RubberDucks starter Adam Plutko gave up just two hits and struck out eight in 5 2/3 innings.

RubberDucks starter Adam Plutko.Morry Gash, AP 

BOWIE, Maryland -- Akron right-handed starter Adam Plutko gave up one unearned run and two hits in 5 2/3 innings and struck out eight as the RubberDucks won their Class AA Eastern League opener, 5-2.

Shortstop Eric Stamets had two hits and scored three runs while outfielder Bradley Zimmer had a double and two RBI against the Baysox.

The RubberDucks took a 2-0 lead in the third inning after Stamets led off the inning with a single. After a Clint Frazier strikeout, a throwing error on a pickoff attempt allowed Stamets to move to second, and he scored on a double by Zimmer.

Zimmer moved to third on a groundout by Yandy Diaz, then scored on a single by Nellie Rodriguez.

A homer by designated hitter Bryson Myles extended the RubberDucks lead to 3-0 in the sixth inning. An RBI single from Zimmer in the seventh and an RBI groundout by Diaz in the ninth closed out Akron's scoring.

Louis Head, J.P. Feyereisen and Ben Heller all pitched one inning of relief, with Heller giving up one run in the ninth.

The Indians open their first trip of the season on Friday with a three-game series against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Preview and pitching matchups for Indians-Chicago White Sox series in Chicago.

Where: U.S. Cellular Field.

TV/radio: SportsTime Ohio, WTAM 1100 and WMMS/FM 100.7 will carry the series.

Pitching probables: RHP Danny Salazar vs. LHP John Danks, Friday at 4:10 p.m.; RHP Cody Anderson vs. LHP Chris Sale (1-0, 3.86), Saturday at 2:10 p.m.; RHP Josh Tomlin vs. LHP vs. LHP Luis Quintana (0-0, 3.18), Sunday at 2:10 p.m.

Series: The Indians lost the season series to Chicago, 9-10, last year.

Indians update: The Tribe had a losing record against the White Sox last year, but went 6-4 at U.S. Cellular Field. Francisco Lindor led the Indians with a .328 (14-for-37) average. Tomlin (2-0), Kluber (2-0) and Anderson (1-0) pitched well.

White Sox update: They will play the Indians in their home opener Friday after taking three out of four from Oakland to open the year. Danks is 5-14 with a 5.29 ERA in his career against the Indians. Last year Quintana went 2-1, Sale 1-2 and Danks 0-3 against the Indians. Jose Abreu led Chicago's offense against the Tribe by hitting .333 (25-for-75) with six homers and 15 RBI.

Injuries: Indians - LF Michael Brantley (right shoulder), RF Lonnie Chisenhall (left wrist) and RHP Tommy Hunter (hernia) are on the disabled list. White Sox - No injuries reported.

Next: The Indians open a three-game series against the Rays at Tropicana Field on Tuesday.

Barrett must find ways to get better while practicing without his four top receivers and linemen getting rest. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- J.T. Barrett didn't look sharp. The ball was sailing all over the place. Or so it seemed.

When seeing it with your own eyes, it was sometimes difficult to separate the play of Ohio State's quarterback from the fact that the Buckeyes were in the middle of their eighth practice of the spring.

The students in the crowd for Student Appreciation Day last Saturday living and dying with every throw like it was a real game compounded things a bit.

We'll get to why Barrett didn't look sharp in last Saturday's scrimmage in a minute. First, you need to understand the circumstances under which he's playing.

Ohio State is down its top four receivers this spring with Curtis Samuel, Noah Brown, Corey Smith and Dontre Wilson working their way back from various injuries and surgeries. Offensive linemen like Pat Elflein and Billy Price are being limited simply because they've played a lot of football and now's not the time to be putting strain on their bodies.

So on Saturday Barrett lined up behind an offensive line consisting of five players who have never played a meaningful down at Ohio State. He was throwing to receivers who didn't always know that they were doing.

"It's much more difficult," Urban Meyer said of the setup.

So is there concern that Barrett will have trouble improving the way he needs to this spring?

"I don't have to preach much to J.T., he's smarter than I am," Meyer said. "He's smarter than our staff. He's a very smart player. He understands the big picture of everything."

OK, so back to the beginning. If there isn't any concern about Barrett's progression this spring, then why did he look so off last Saturday?

It's because Barrett, despite often being surrounded by inexperienced players this spring, is practicing like he's not. He's throwing the ball where it's supposed to be, even if intentionally throwing a ball incomplete goes against every instinct of any quarterback.

What is Barrett's NFL future?

When a ball looks like it's overthrown, it's probably not. It's thrown in the spot where the receiver was supposed to be if he had enough experience to be in sync with Barrett's drop. That's a direct order from Meyer.

A player like Samuel or Smith would've been in the right spot. Maybe someone like Austin Mack doesn't quite have the timing of routes down yet. Throw it anyway.

"There's times where I throw it out there and he's not ready, and he sees the ball zoom past him and that let's him know that I have to get it out there just like he has to be there," Barrett said.

That's what Meyer means when he says that Barrett is smarter than he is.

Meyer trusts Barrett to do the right things even in an uncomfortable situation. He's earned that kind of leash heading into his fourth season in Columbus. 

That doesn't mean Barrett is always right and his teammates are always wrong. It's not like every snap in every game is going to go perfectly, and Barrett knows he'll have to adapt on the fly when things happen like a receiver not quite being in the right spot. He hasn't always done a good job of adapting this spring.

"I think sometimes I'm still holding it because as a quarterback you still want to complete the ball," Barrett said.

But for the most part he's handling it well. Consider it another thing thrown at him in his Ohio State career. Last spring it was a quarterback circus. This spring it's his show, but he doesn't have all the parts he needs to be successful yet.

So Barrett is looking for silver linings in things like not having enough time to throw the ball in scrimmages.

"It helps me get the ball out faster and anticipate things better," he said.

It's not worth getting frustrated over. 

Barrett knows that he can still find little ways to improve now, and what happens in April doesn't really have any bearing on what happens in November.