d fromm that right groin strain on Saturday, scoring as a substitute to help beat Deporitvo La Coruna 4-0.ddddddddddddWe have seen Messis capacity to finish off goals. Its like he is playing in the school yard. He never gets nervous, said Luis Enrique. It doesnt matter how many days he has been inacti

By Rich Shook, The Sports XchangeDETROIT -- Its one of the more anxious days of the season for players -- the last game day prior to Mondays nonwaiver trade deadline.Houston closes out its three-game series in Detroit on Sunday with lefty Dallas Keuchel of the Astros opposing Tigers right-hander Mike Pelfrey. Houston dropped the first two games of the series.There will be a certain amount of anxiety -- probably more in Houstons clubhouse than avowedly stand-pat Detroits -- of players on the bubble or those who have heard their names tossed around in trade rumors.Its difficult, Houston manager A.J. Hinch said, because youre uncertain of what can happen. Theres a general excitement around it because of the possibilities that are out there.Especially when youre doing well or your team has a winning record or theres talks of buying. The lines drawn in the fact that if we do acquire somebody, then somebody in the clubhouse is going away, either to the minor leagues or in a trade.Its a little unsettling until the deadline. But youd always rather be in it and be a buyer and be talking about making additions that you think are going to help your team get to the playoffs or into the World Series.The Astros are said to be shopping for pitching (isnt everybody?) while the Tigers are more focused on getting three key injured players back -- right-hander Jordan Zimmermann, right fielder J.D. Martinez and lefty Daniel Norris.It can add to the excitement, manager Brad Ausmus of the Tigers said. Even if it doesnt involve your team, just watching the moves around the country involving other teams. Well just wait and see. You cant let that distract you.Detroit will not be in action on trade deadline day; Houston goes home to host Toronto.Theres a lot of unknowns, Hinch said. Theres a lot of rumors and I think every one of our guys follow them. Theyll float by my office and ask a lot of questions. Well all know soon enough when the deadline gets here.You say buy, Detroit right-hander Justin Verlander said, I kind of meant the not-sell aspect. I see what Mr. Avilas (GM Al Avila) been saying and I completely agree with him. Weve got one of the best hitters in the game (J.D. Martinez) coming off the DL soon. Thats a big acquisition in and of itself. Weve missed him for six to seven weeks now.Then youve got a couple guys, (Jordan) Zimmermann and (Daniel) Norris, that are big for this team as well. So hopefully get those puzzle pieces back where they need to be and we just roll. Keep playing good baseball.I have to commend Mr. Ilitch (owner Mike) and Al for putting together what we all thought at the beginning of the year was a great ball club. So you look at the big picture, we have a great nucleus of guys here. I dont think you have to add anything.The Astros hope Keuchel can bring a little calm to the last day of games prior to the deadline and hes got a nice track record against the Tigers.Keuchel (6-10, 4.57 ERA) is not having a Cy Young season but he did pitch well in a loss to the Yankees in his last start, allowing two runs in 7 2/3 innings.He pitched eight innings of shutout ball at Detroit in their first meeting this season, going mostly soft, and over his career is 3-1 with a 3.03 ERA in five games against the Tigers.Pelfrey has faced the Astros nine times during his career and is 3-5 with a 4.56 ERA. Houston beat him the first time they met this year. He tied for the league lead with 29 double plays thrown last year and is at 24 this year.Ausmus said Saturday he will pitch Anibal Sanchez against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday with rookie Michael Fulmer getting extra rest and going Wednesday. Thursdays starter is not known but the manager said it wont be Verlander, who will get an extra day off.Houston, like Detroit, has an eight-man bullpen and this means it has only three bench players. Thats hurting the Astros now because two of those are regulars who are injured and the third is a catcher, who is always the last man in.Fake Astros Jerseys . The mixed zone is not a place to make friends. Wade Miley Jersey . Schenn scored the game-winning goal and added two assists to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday. https://www.cheapastros.com/543o-denis-menke-jersey-astros.html . McPhee said that Ovechkins father Mikhail is in stable condition after having the surgery this week and is no longer in intensive care. "Weve told him to stay as long as necessary with your dad," he said. Ovechkin and his Russian national team were eliminated from the mens hockey tournament in Sochi on Wednesday with a 3-1 quarter-final loss to Finland. Ryan Pressly Jersey . At a Manhattan federal court hearing, attorney Jordan Siev said his law office has gotten more evidence nearly every day to support its lawsuit accusing MLB and Selig of going on a "witch hunt" to ruin Rodriguezs reputation and career. He said the defendants went "way over the line. Larry Dierker Jersey . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night.BARCELONA, Spain -- Lionel Messi scored a hat trick to inflict a humbling defeat on his former mentor Pep Guardiola on Wednesday, leading Barcelona to an emphatic 4-0 victory over Manchester City in the Champions League.Messi sped through Citys defense and around former Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo before giving the hosts a 17th-minute lead in a Group C match that both teams finished with 10 men.It only got worse for Bravo, who was sent off in the 53rd minute for using his hands to block a shot outside the area after his poor pass gifted the ball to Luis Suarez.Messi struck again in the 61st and 69th to take his total to 89 goals in Europes top club competition. The Argentina forward is second only to Cristiano Ronaldo, who has scored 98.Barcelona was reduced to 10 men after substitute Jeremy Mathieu was shown a second yellow card in the 73rd, but Neymar still rounded off the win from a pass by Messi. The Brazil striker scored moments after he had missed a penalty that Messi had earned.We know Barcelona. When they arrive (in the area) their strikers punish you, Guardiola said. Its October. We have lost a match. Its not a quarterfinal or semifinal. Now we have to analyze what happened and rest ... We are in the process (of growth).Guardiola lost for the second time upon returning to Camp Nou where he established himself as one of the worlds top managers by leading Barcelona to 14 titles from 2008-12. The former Barcelona player coached Bayern Munich when the German side lost 3-0 here in the Champions League semifinals two years ago, when Messi scored twice.After winning its first 10 matches under Guardiola, City has now gone winless in four games in all competitions.Barcelona extended its unbeaten run at home in European competition to 18 matches.A third win in as many games increased the five-time European champions control of the group. Barcelona has nine points, while second-place City stays on four. Borussia Moenchengladbach is third with three points after beating Celtic 2-0 in Glasgow.Barcelona and City will meet again in Manchester on Nov. 1.Messi scored a hat trick in consecutive games in the Champions League for the first time -- after three goals in a record-setting 7-0 win over Celtic. He missed the 2-1 victory over Moenchengladbach while being sidelined for three weeks with injury.Messi returned fromm that right groin strain on Saturday, scoring as a substitute to help beat Deporitvo La Coruna 4-0.ddddddddddddWe have seen Messis capacity to finish off goals. Its like he is playing in the school yard. He never gets nervous, said Luis Enrique. It doesnt matter how many days he has been inactive, how many games he has missed ... (he is) total football. Those of us who train with him are continually amazed by what he does. Not just for the goals he scores, but how he helps the team.As expected from teams that have both been stylized by Guardiola, City tried to be Barcelonas mirror image from the start.In a controversial move, Guardiola left striker Sergio Aguero on the bench in a bid to strengthen midfield and dispute Barcelonas ball control more, before eventually sending him on in the 79th.Both sides pressed high up the pitch, fought for possession of the ball, and exchanged attractive flowing attacks. But Messi didnt allow the parity to last very long.Andres Iniesta slipped a pass back to Messi, Citys Fernandinho fell while trying to chase, and the forward was left all alone to send Bravo floundering to the turf before steering the ball into the empty net.City finally managed to threaten in the closing stages of the first half, when Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen denied Ilkay Gundogans shot from close range and John Stones headed wide.City, however, soon found itself playing with 10 men after both his hands and feet failed Bravo.Guardiola had urged City to buy Bravo from Barcelona at the start of the season for his allegedly superior passing skills to predecessor Joe Hart.But Bravo gave Suarez the ball with a poor pass outside his box. He compounded that by raising his arms to block his resulting shot, leaving the referee no choice but to send him off.Bravos sending-off was decisive, Luis Enrique said.Messi later made good on the advantage by taking Iniestas pass and firing past Bravos replacement, Willy Caballero, who would later save a penalty from Neymar.Messi then used his left foot for a third time when he tapped in Suarezs pass after the striker pounced on Gundogens errant pass for Stones, who was then unable to prevent Neymar from scoring with a low shot in the 89th. ' ' '