rship in the huddle, he communicates the play well. He can throw

A look at whats happening all around the majors Friday:---CY OLD VS. CY FUTURE?Noah Syndergaard (9-5) starts for the New York Mets in a series opener, facing the Tigers for the first time and trying to end a four-start winless streak (0-2). Justin Verlander (11-6), the 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young Award winner, starts for the Tigers. Verlander was AL pitcher of the month in July, going 4-0 with a 1.69 ERA in four starts.STREAKING BOTH WAYSJon Lester (11-4) starts for the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs, who carry a four-game winning streak into their series opener at Oakland. Dillon Overton (1-2) starts for the Athletics, who have lost five in a row and are last in the AL West.IF ONLY A FEW YEARS AGOFelix Hernandez (5-4) starts for the Seattle Mariners against the visiting Los Angeles Angels and Tim Lincecum. King Felix, the 2010 AL Cy Young Award winner, is 6-3 with a 1.68 ERA in nine home starts against the Angels since the start of the 2013 season. He is 14-16 with a 3.32 ERA in 48 starts against the Angels. Lincecum, the 2008 and 09 NL Cy Young winner for San Francisco, has allowed 12 runs and 12 hits over 6 1/3 innings in his past two starts.RED SOX-DODGERSIn a matchup MLB executives would love for the World Series, the Boston Red Sox open an interleague series at the Los Angeles Dodgers. All-Star knuckleballer Steven Wright (12-5), who starts for Boston, leads AL qualifiers in fewest homers allowed per nine innings at 0.52. Scott Kazmir (9-4) won a career-best seven straight decisions before losing to Arizona on July 30.PATCHED UP CARPENTERSt. Louis is expected to activate leadoff hitter Matt Carpenter before Fridays series opener against Atlanta. The infielder has not played since July 6 because of a strained right oblique muscle.ICHIRO UPDATEIchiro Suzuki is two hits shy of 3,000 heading into the Miami Marlins series opener at Colorado.Michael Jordan Jersey North Carolina . "Four now," Carl Gunnarsson told the Leaf Report proudly following a 5-2 victory over New York on Tuesday night, the clubs fifth straight at home. Michael Jordan Jersey Swingman . Speaking Thursday on TSN 1050 Thursday, the Leafs GM also touched on the questions surrounding the teams leadership and the struggles of his big-name free-agent signing. “Its not from lack of effort from the coaching staff. https://www.sportsstarsjerseys.com/tom-brady-jersey/ . -- Ryan Getzlaf grabbed the three pucks wrapped in tape and held them up to his chest in the Anaheim Ducks dressing room for a celebration nine seasons in the making. Tom Brady Jersey Nike . With his new coach and six-time Grand Slam singles champion Boris Becker watching him during an official match for the first time, Djokovic appeared tentative early against the Slovakian player, who often appeared content to keep the ball in play. Michael Jordan Jersey Chicago Bulls . The International Olympic Committee released the official list of bid cities on Friday after the deadline for applications had passed. The candidates -- all previously announced in their own countries -- are: Almaty, Kazakhstan; Beijing; Krakow, Poland; Lviv, Ukraine; Oslo, Norway; and Stockholm.HOUSTON -- Houston Texans head coach Bill OBrien said Tom Savage will start at quarterback on Saturday against the Cincinnati Bengals.OBrien benched starting quarterback Brock Osweiler midway through the second quarter on Sunday, with Houston trailing the Jacksonville Jaguars 13-0. Savage led the Texans to a comeback 21-20 victory in relief of Osweiler.OBrien said he thinks Savage gives the Texans the best chance to beat the Bengals.After the game on Sunday, OBrien said, We dont make decisions on how much a guy gets paid. We make decisions on whats the best way to win a game.The Texans gave Osweiler a four-year, $72 million contract in March, though just two years and $37 million of it is guaranteed. Savage, who is in the third year of his rookie contract he signed after being drafted by the Texans in 2014, is guaranteed just $300,584 for the remainder of his deal.Savage finished 23-of-36 passing for 260 yards after entering in the second quarter on Sunday. Before he was benched, Osweiler was 6-of-11 for 48 yards and two interceptions. Neither quarterback threw a touchdown pass.OBrien said he chose to name a starter early in the week because he wanted to give Savage the full week to prepare during what is already a short week.I think its important for Tom to have the week as a starter, to experience the whole thing and to make sure he understands what the game plan is, OBrien said. Its a short week, so he knows hes got to pput a lot of extra prep time into this thing, and I know he will.ddddddddddddPrior to Sunday, Savage had not played in a regular-season NFL game in more than two years. He spent last season on injured reserve after spraining his shoulder during a preseason game. During training camp, OBrien praised Savages knowledge of the offense.Hes the same guy every day, OBrien said. Hes a very consistent person. Hes been the same guy as far as his personality and how he approaches his day-to-day workload since he arrived here. Hes a hardworking guy. Hes done a lot to work in the weight room to change his body. Hes worked to get in better shape over the years.Hes always trying to do something to prepare, and I think as far as leadership in the huddle, he communicates the play well. He can throw the football, and that more than anything can spark a team ... when you complete some passes.Savage will be the sixth different starting quarterback for the Texans in the past two seasons. Only two other teams have had five different starters the past two seasons, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.The Texans are in a playoff race, tied with the Tennessee Titans atop the AFC South at 8-6. Houston holds the tiebreaker since the Texans are 5-0 in the division. The Texans and Titans play Week 17 in Tennessee. ' ' '