preview Page 33 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

New season, different start for Braves seeking sweep of Royals
The Atlanta Braves, who lost their first seven games a year ago, go for a three-game sweep of the visiting Kansas City Royals on Sunday.,Atlanta won the season opener 6-0 on Friday and rallied for six runs in the ninth inning on Saturday for a 6-2 walk-off victory, thanks to Dominic Smith's grand sl...

With new contract, Orioles' Shane Baz set for debut vs. Twins
Shane Baz will try to back up the confidence that has been expressed in him when he throws a pitch for the Baltimore Orioles for the first time.,That will come with Sunday afternoon's series finale against the visiting Minnesota Twins.,"I know Orioles fans don't really know me unless they have seen ...

Phillies' Jesus Luzardo, Rangers' MacKenzie Gore finding their happy places
Left-hander Jesus Luzardo joined the Philadelphia Phillies in a trade prior to last season and enjoyed plenty of success in his first year with the team.,MacKenzie Gore hopes to author a similar story in his first season with the Texas Rangers, who will turn to the left-hander in their rubber match ...

Arizona erupts after halftime, knocks off Purdue to return to Final Four
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Koa Peat scored 20 points and fellow freshman Ivan Kharchenkov added 18 as top-seeded Arizona beat No. 2 Purdue 79-64 in the West Region finals on Saturday night, earning their first trip to the Final Four since 2001.,The Wildcats (36-2) won their 13th straight game by erasing a ...

Caleb Foster's surprise lift propels Duke against UConn in Elite Eight
WASHINGTON -- After proving their mental fortitude in the Sweet 16, Cameron Boozer's No. 1 seeded Duke Blue Devils will try to defeat this decade's most successful program when they meet the No. 2 UConn Huskies in Sunday's NCAA East Regional final.,Boozer has posted double-doubles in all three tourn...

Yankees aim for sweep, 3rd straight shutout vs. Giants
While much of the preseason talk centered on the New York Yankees' potent offense, their pitching has performed quite well for itself so far this season.,How well? The Yankees set a franchise record by registering shutouts in their first two games to start the season. Should they complete the hat tr...

Hapless Canucks visit hopeful Flames
The two bottom feeders in the NHL's weakest division meet on Saturday when the Calgary Flames play host to the Vancouver Canucks.,Despite their status as also-rans in the Pacific Division with only a few weeks remaining in the regular season, the atmosphere surrounding the clubs is noticeably differ...

Golden Knights host Capitals with playoff pressure mounting
The Vegas Golden Knights have one simple goal as they head into their final nine games of the regular season -- just make the playoffs.,That's quite a change for Bruce Cassidy's squad, which looked in prime position to win another Pacific Division title heading into the Olympic break with a four-poi...

Habs, Predators search for space amid playoff pushes
The Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators hope to create a bit more wiggle room in their tightly contested playoff races when they square off Saturday in Nashville.,Montreal (40-21-10, 90 points), which currently sits two points ahead of the Boston Bruins for the third spot in the Atlantic Divi...

Freshman-fueled Arizona, senior-led Purdue collide in Elite Eight
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- A school seeking its first Final Four appearance in 25 years takes on one looking for its second in three seasons when No. 1 Arizona faces No. 2 Purdue in the NCAA Tournament West Region final on Saturday evening.,The top-seeded Wildcats (35-2) have won 12 in a row, most recently...

Avs go for two-game sweep of Jets with President's Trophy in sight
Colorado and Winnipeg battled in a playoff-type game Thursday night, with the Avalanche holding on for a 3-2 win. They go for the sweep of the home-and-home when they host the Jets on Saturday in Denver.,Colorado (48-13-10, 106 points) has won four in a row to take complete control of the Central Di...

Pistons, Wolves bid to keep rolling amid stars' absences
Anthony Edwards is getting closer to returning from his right knee injury, but he will remain sidelined Saturday.,So far, the Minnesota Timberwolves are doing just fine without him.,Minnesota (45-28) will go for its fifth win in the past six games when it tips off against the Detroit Pistons (53-20)...

76ers, riding high off historic night, take on surprising Hornets
After a record-smashing performance Wednesday, the Philadelphia 76ers visit the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday with both teams striving to gain ground in the Eastern Conference playoff chase.,Philadelphia (40-33) was at full power against the Chicago Bulls with the return of Paul George from a 25-gam...

Mets bid to build on newcomers' stellar start vs. Pirates
A new era for the New York Mets started off in promising fashion Thursday afternoon.,The Pittsburgh Pirates are hoping a familiar loss wasn't another sign of things to come.,The Mets will try to clinch a season-opening series win Saturday afternoon when they host the Pirates in the middle of a three...

Penguins brace for Stars with Sidney Crosby status unknown
A Sidney Crosby-less Penguins team, which currently sits second in the Metropolitan Division but is only a mere two points from missing the playoffs outright, needs as many wins as it can procure.,Pittsburgh (36-20-16, 88 points) looks to pick up two more crucial points at home against the Dallas St...

Sharks, Blue Jackets hope to escape ruts with playoff races pumping
Time is running out for the San Jose Sharks as they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.,San Jose (32-31-7, 71 points) is six points behind the Nashville Predators for the second wild card in the Western Conference. The Sharks, currently sixth in the race for two spots, have at least one gam...

Hurricanes vying for top seed in East with rising Devils on tap
The Carolina Hurricanes are comfortably in first place in the Metropolitan Division and battling for the top spot in the Eastern Conference as they get ready to host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday in Raleigh, N.C.,After winning their previous three, the Hurricanes lost 5-2 to the host Montreal Ca...

Bruins try to steady recent roller-coaster stretch vs. Wild
The Boston Bruins can strengthen their hold on a playoff spot amid a crowded Eastern Conference field when they host one of the West's best teams in the Minnesota Wild on Saturday.,A victory would give Boston (40-24-8, 88 points) another highlight on an up-and-down stretch, having beaten the Detroit...

New-look O's hope to keep positives going against Twins
Just one game into the season and the Baltimore Orioles have lots of things to embrace and celebrate.,The Minnesota Twins are still waiting for their special moments to develop.,After a day off, the teams meet again Saturday in Baltimore in the middle game of a three-game series.,The Orioles claimed...

Frustration expected in chase of Tyler Reddick at Martinsville
When the NASCAR Cup Series rolls across the Virginia state line this week and checks into venerable Martinsville Speedway, competitors will not find anything different in Sunday's Cook Out 400 that they haven't encountered before.,Because it's Spring in southern Virginia, and that means the start of...