tempo. I think it will be good for us, and the goo

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Cleveland ace Corey Kluber had a long-toss session and Indians right-hander Danny Salazar threw on the side on Friday, providing a pair of encouraging signs for the injury-riddled AL Central champions.The Indians will begin the playoffs with only two healthy veteran starting pitchers; right-handers Trevor Bauer and Josh Tomlin. Left-hander Rick Merritt made his first big league start Friday at Kansas City after three relief appearances.Cleveland also placed Carlos Carrasco on the 60-day disabled list before the series opener against the Royals, sidelining the right-hander for the rest of the year. Carrasco broke the pinkie finger on his pitching hand when he was hit by a line drive on Sept. 17.Kluber, the 2014 AL Cy Young Award winner, left his start Monday with a strained quadriceps. Salazar, an All-Star selection this year, has a forearm strain.Kluber is 18-9 with a 3.14 ERA in 32 starts this year.Hes not on the mound yet, but hes keeping his arm nice and stretched out, Indians manager Terry Francona said. And hes making progress, too.Francona said he does not know when Kluber will throw off the mound.We can set up all we want, but until hes ready we dont want to, Francona said. Hell push enough. We dont need to push.The Indians are optimistic Kluber could start the second or third game of the American League Division Series if he has no setbacks.Salazar, who has not pitched since Sept. 9, could throw a simulated game Monday.Its not necessarily etched in stone, but its probably the next thing hell do, Francona said.Also Friday, the Indians activated catcher Yan Gomes from the 60-day DL. Gomes broke his right wrist during a minor league rehab assignment after he had been sidelined by a shoulder injury.While Gomes was hitting .165 in 71 games, Indians pitchers had a 3.62 ERA when he was behind the plate, which is the best among four Indians catchers used this season.Francona said Gomes is not ready to hit.If we put him in itd be for defense and well kind of go from there, Francona said. But, I think just the fact that he can get in the game and play defense is exciting for him and us.Gomes did take batting practice before the game.Thats probably the one that Ive got to figure out the impact and being able to tolerate it, Gomes said. Joe Harris Nets Jersey . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. Joe Harris Jersey . -- Nathan Pancel scored twice as the Sudbury Wolves defeated the North Bay Battalion 4-2 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. https://www.netsrookiesshop.com/Drazen-Petrovic-City-Edition-Jersey/ .com) - Christian Ponder will get another chance to prove himself for the Minnesota Vikings, with head coach Leslie Frazier announcing Wednesday that the struggling quarterback will start this weekends game against the Green Bay Packers. Kenneth Faried Nets Jersey .J. Ellis hit two-run homers and the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 4-0 Saturday night. Kenneth Faried Jersey . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night.PHILADELPHIA -- Whoever Chip Kelly chooses to be the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback may have plenty of success by doing one simple thing: handing the ball to LeSean McCoy. While Michael Vick, Nick Foles and Matt Barkley will get most of the attention during training camp, McCoy could be the most important part of Philadelphias offence. The 25-year-old running back is looking to get back to his All-Pro form of 2011. "I want to be more dominant," McCoy said. "The last few years Ive had good years, but I want to be dominant. I think in this offence, theres the ability to run the ball more, where I can really take over a game. There have been flashes of it in the past, but having the ability to do it day in and day out, game in and game out, I think thats a different story." The Eagles held their first full squad practice Friday, and the pads will be on for the first time Sunday when the team moves across the street to Lincoln Financial Field and welcomes in 60,000 fans. They might be treated to an unfamiliar sight if Kelly emphasizes the run game, as expected. Its no secret that former Eagles coach Andy Reid had a pass-first philosophy. The offence ran the ball just 38.2 per cent of the time last year. Their highest average during McCoys first four seasons was 43.4 per cent in 2011. Thats when McCoy had 1,309 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns en route to his first Pro Bowl. But Reid is now in Kansas City teaching his version of the West Coast offence. Kelly has a unique offensive system of his own. He prefers an up-tempo style centred on moving quickly, running a lot of plays and keeping defences off-balance. At Oregon, Kellys offence averaged 44.7 points in four years. The Ducks ran the ball at least 61.7 per cent of the time during those four seasons. "Chip has shown that he runs the ball a lot, so I think thats the difference," McCoy said. "I want to get back to that old stage where Im taking over a game. I think with all the talent and supporting cast around me, that should be easy. With the offence around me, theres not as much pressure where you have to do everything. There are certain guys on different teams where if they dont play well, their team doesnt do well, and with the Eagles that isnt the case." The Eagles have several playmakers on offence, including two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver DeSean Jacksson, wideouts Jeremy Maclin and Jason Avant and tight end Brent Celek.dddddddddddd Tight ends are a key part of Kellys offence, so he added free agent James Casey and rookie second-round pick Zach Ertz. Running backs Bryce Brown and Felix Jones give the offence even more options. "That helps me out a little bit, but as a competitor I want to be one of those guys in the offence where in the fourth quarter, I want the ball," McCoy said. "I want that type of attitude, and the type of person Coach Kelly is, he has that attitude also. It makes us more dominant as a team if each guy has that attitude and wants the ball and is willing to make plays. You dont know where to go as a defence." So whether Vick, Foles or even Barkley end up behind centre for the season opener at Washington on Sept. 9, the Eagles have the foundation for a dynamic offence. "I think well be dangerous," McCoy said. "I think we have potential to make some big noise. I think the biggest thing with this offence is it gets you in open space. Were constantly going. Foot on the gas, were constantly going. I think when teams are getting tired and thinking about defensive strategies, were gone. Were pushing it, high-tempo. I think it will be good for us, and the good thing now with this team, we finally have more depth, especially at running back." Nothing went right for Philadelphia last season when they finished 4-12. Injuries were a problem for the offence. Only one offensive lineman finished the season, McCoy missed four games, Jackson sat out the last five and Vick got hurt before losing his job to Foles. Its a new year, of course, and theres a ton of excitement surrounding the team with Kelly on board. "The skys the limit, not only Maclin and me, but McCoy, Celek, (Jason) Avant," Jackson said. "Its just from A to Z, I think its a big difference. Nothing bad to say about Coach Reids offence and his system and Marty Mornhinweg, but just the way Chip Kellys coming in with (offensive co-ordinator) Pat Shurmur and things like that. I just think theyve installed something very good here so were very excited. I think everything is going to take off real fast." Taking off fast could mean keeping the ball on the ground. "I think that our running game should be second to none," lineman Todd Herremans said. ' ' '