Indians hope to advance to World Series with win today...NBA eyes Charlotte

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TORONTO (AP) — Because of all the injuries to its starting rotation, Cleveland is forced to use an untested rookie in today's fifth game of the American League Championship Series. The man in question is 24-year-old Ryan Merritt, who has just 11 innings of big-league baseball under his belt. He will be facing Marco Estrada, the Game 1 starter and loser for the Blue Jays.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Dodgers host the Cubs this evening with a 2-1 lead in the National League Championship Series. Playing in front of their own fans last night, the Dodgers beat the Cubs 6-0. John Lackey is going for the Cubs against Julio Urias.

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Chip Hale has landed a new job in big-league baseball. The former Diamondbacks manager is returning to the Oakland Athletics as their third base coach. Hale was fired by Arizona Oct. 3 after two seasons and is returning to a team he served as bench coach before taking the Diamondbacks position.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The NBA says it wants to return the All-Star Game to Charlotte in 2019. Commissioner Adam Silver says having a game there in three years is "a high priority," provided there's a resolution to a North Carolina law that restricts the rights of LGBT people. The NBA recently decided to move the 2017 All-Star Game to New Orleans because of the controversy surrounding the law.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — After missing the 2016 season, NASCAR has decided to return to Mexico. Rebranded the NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series, the first race will be this December with a full schedule planned for next year. This was the first year NASCAR Mexico did not run after nine seasons.