TON, Texas -- The Cleveland Indians open a four-game series at Texas, with Josh Tomlin (11-7, 4.39 ERA) facing Rangers lefty Cole Hamels (13-4, 2.80)

With the dead period here, programs spend the next few weeks examining where they stand on the recruiting trail. They identify pitches that might work with remaining targets, look for missing pieces in their classes, scramble to offer new prospects and suddenly players that were Plan B and C on their boards now become priorities.But if youre a recruiting coordinator at one of the lucky schools that has a great closer as a head coach, you dont spend as much time worrying about what might happen. You simply say Go get them, Coach and stand back and watch him work his magic. By nature most head coaches are closers, but some are just better than others when the final 50 days of recruiting arrives. Heres a look at the 10 best closers in college football. Adidas NMD Mens Discount . After a replay, the winner will meet Sunderland in the quarterfinals. Sagbo did well to control Sone Alukos right cross and fire past Brighton goalkeeper Peter Brezovan. Aluko was making his first start in four months after recovering from an Achilles injury. Adidas NMD Wolf Grey . -- Jacksonville wide receiver Cecil Shorts will likely be a game-time decision whether hell play Sunday in the Jaguars home game against the San Diego Chargers. http://www.cheapnmdonline.com/wholesale-adidas-nmd-xr1-china.html . Aside from the trilogy main event title fight, there are a number of intriguing matchups in the heavyweight, welterweight and lightweight divisions. Adidas NMD Factory Outlet . Woodson said during a radio interview Thursday that the Knicks Carmelo Anthony doesnt get the same calls as other superstars. Adidas NMD R1 Womens Raw Pink . From filmmaker Nanette Burstein (On the Ropes), The Price of Gold revisits the saga that rocked the figure skating world ahead of the 1994 Lillehammer Olympic Winter Games: the assault on Nancy Kerrigan, and the plot that led its way back to her rival Tonya Harding. Some of the sports stories The Associated Press is covering Thursday. A full Sports Digest will be sent by about 3 p.m. All times EDT:- FARMINGDALE, N.Y. -- The FedEx Cup playoffs begin at The Barclays, with Jason Day the No. 1 player facing one of the strongest fields of the year at Bethpage Black.- Les Miles was nearly run out of LSU last season and if the ffth-ranked Tigers fall short of lofty expectations this season expect Miles future again to be a hot topic in Baton Rouge. Around the country several other coaches enter the 2016 in need of some wins and a change of trajectory to keep their jobs.- Nick Saban entered the decade armed with a national title and a promise. The Alabama coach, fresh from the 2009 national championship, told thousands of Crimson Tide fans at Bryant-Denny Stadium that he was just getting started. Eds: Part of a series.- ORLANDO, Fla. -- The NFL returns to Orlando for the first time since 1997 when the Falcons and Dolphins play in their third game of the preseason at Camping World Stadium. Game starts 8 p.m.- SEATTLE -- Rookie Ezekiel Elliott is expected to make his debut for Dallas as the Cowboys travel to Seattle to face the Seahawks. Starters for both teams are expected to play into the second half. Game starts 10 p.m.- Various stories from NFL training camps and college football practices.- TOROONTO -- Blue Jays left-hander J.ddddddddddddA. Happ (17-3, 3.05) goes for his 18th win in a game against the Angels. Happ is 11-0 with a 2.53 ERA in his past 12 starts and has emerged as one of the best free agent acquisitions of last offseason after signing a $36 million, three-year deal. Jered Weaver (8-11, 5.47) is up for Los Angeles. Game starts 7:07 p.m.- ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Cleveland Indians open a four-game series at Texas, with Josh Tomlin (11-7, 4.39 ERA) facing Rangers lefty Cole Hamels (13-4, 2.80). Both clubs lead their division -- the last time these teams met so late in a season with both in first place was 1999, according to STATS. Game starts 8:05 p.m.- NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Three-time Champion Petra Kvitova faces Olympic doubles champion Ekaterina Makarova in the quarterfinals of the Connecticut Open.- MOSCOW -- Russian President Vladimir Putin attacks the ban on his country from the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics as immoral and inhumane.- LAUSANNE, Switzerland -- Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter arrives for his appeal hearing against a six-year ban from football, pledging to accept the verdict of the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The courts verdict is expected within several weeks. ' ' '