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NFL-SCHEDULE
Chargers visit Raiders
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The 4-5 Chargers take on the 4-4 Raiders Thursday night in a game that’s crucial for both teams' playoff hopes.
It will also mark the last scheduled visit to the Oakland Coliseum for Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, who has played there 13 times. Only nine Raiders players have more games at the Coliseum than Rivers. Rivers has won nine of his starts there and thrown 24 touchdown passes. Only Raiders quarterbacks Derek Carr and Rich Gannon have surpassed those totals at the Coliseum since the team moved back to Oakland in 1995.
Oakland plans to relocate to Las Vegas in 2020.
Raiders receiver Tyrell Williams is ready to enjoy the other side of this AFC West rivalry. After spending his first four seasons with the Chargers, Williams signed with the Raiders this offseason. Originally set to be the No. 2 receiver alongside Antonio Brown, Williams has been given a bigger role after Brown was released two days before the season opener. He has 23 catches for 355 yards and five TDs despite missing two games with a foot injury. He said he's had this game circled on his schedule ever since it was announced in April.
NFL-BROWNS-HUNT RETURNS
Hunt eligible to play for Browns after 8-game NFL suspension
BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Kareem Hunt can play again after serving his eight-game NFL suspension. The Cleveland Browns running back will play this week against the Buffalo Bills.
Hunt has been practicing for two weeks. He was officially reinstated to the roster this week and is eligible to be on the field Sunday. It will be his first game since being banned for two physical off-field altercations.
The Browns signed him in February, two months after Hunt was cut by the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs said he lied to them about an incident in which he shoved and kicked a woman during an argument.
The 24-year-old Cleveland native is scheduled to speak to the media Thursday for the first time since the season began.
Hunt led the league in rushing as a rookie in 2017.
NHL-BLUES-STEEN
Blues' Alex Steen out 4 weeks with high ankle sprain
ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis Blues winger Alex Steen will miss at least four weeks because of a high ankle sprain.
Steen injured his left ankle in a collision with Edmonton's Alex Chaisson late in the second period of the defending Stanley Cup champions' 5-2 win over the Oilers on Wednesday night. The Blues put him on injured reserve Thursday, announcing he'd returned to St. Louis and would be re-evaluated in four weeks.
Steen has five assists in 17 games this season, his 12th with St. Louis. The 35-year-old Swede had five points in the playoffs to help the Blues win their first title in franchise history.
The Blues are already without top-line winger Vladimir Tarasenko for the rest of the regular season following right shoulder surgery. Earlier this week, they traded 2014 first-round pick Robby Fabbri to Detroit for Jacob de la Rose.
St. Louis has won six in a row and is tied with Washington for the most points in the NHL.
MLB-NEWS
Alonso, Álvarez honored as top rookies by Baseball Digest
UNDATED (AP) — Mets first baseman Pete Alonso and Houston Astros slugger Yordan Álvarez have been picked as this year's top rookies by Baseball Digest.
Alonso was a unanimous choice in the National League, and Álvarez received six of seven first-place votes to take the AL honor. The other one went to Eloy Jiménez of the Chicago White Sox.
Alonso set a rookie record with 53 home runs for New York, becoming the first rookie to lead the majors outright in homers. He finished the season with 120 RBIs and a .941 OPS.
Álvarez made his debut June 9 and batted .313 with 27 homers, 78 RBIs and a 1.067 OPS in only 87 games for the American League champions.
Both players are finalists and favorites for the Rookie of the Year awards to be announced Monday by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
In other MLB news:
_ Astros president Reid Ryan is shifting to a lesser role in the organization and owner Jim Crane's son is joining the executive team, moves announced 11 days after Crane apologized to a Sports Illustrated reporter and retracted a statement by the club accusing her of trying to "fabricate a story." Crane says he is bringing in his son, Jared, to get more experience and maintained the moves were not related to the incident with SI or the firing of an assistant general manager.
— Blue Jays second baseman Devon Travis has refused an outright assignment to Triple-A Buffalo and elected to become a free agent. The 28-year-old spent the entire 2019 season on the injured list following surgery on his left knee. Travis had a .274 average with 35 home runs and 153 RBIs in four seasons with Toronto.
— The Seattle Mariners have made a trio of promotions to fill out the major league coaching staff for next season. Manager Scott Servais (SUR'-vihs) says Pete Woodworth will be the new pitching coach, Carson Vitale will be the field coordinator and Jarret DeHart will be the assistant hitting coach. Paul Davis, who was the pitching coach last season, will now be a pitching strategist for the organization.
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