iand hasnt been back. Hes been ruled out for the NL Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers that opens Friday in Washington.Most major league tea

If momentum is only as good as your last match played, then both Everton and Stoke City should be confident of gaining three points Saturday when the Toffees host the Potters at Goodison Park.TheSE two sides are trying to build on second-round League Cup victories Tuesday over lower-league squads, with each recording 4-0 scorelines. For Everton (1-1-0), it was a clinical victory over League Two side Yeovil Town as Ross Barkley celebrated his first match as captain with a second-half goal to make it 2-0 before Arouna Kone sealed the victory with a late brace.That furthered the momentum of the Toffees 2-1 win at The Hawthorns over West Bromwich Albion in which Barkley assisted on the match-tying goal by Kevin Mirallas. One of the few England players to escape harsh scrutiny from this summers European Championship, Barkley was appreciative new manager Ronald Koeman gave him the armband for the match.Just before the game, the manager said that I would have the armband and just told me what it means to captain Everton Football Club, the 22-year-old told Evertons official website after advancing to a third-round match at Goodison Park against recently relegated Norwich City.I am over the moon to captain the side … Im glad that we won as well.Koeman should have everyone at his disposal save Seamus Coleman despite utilising a strong lineup to take care of The Glovers. Striker Romelu Lukaku made his first start of the season as did newcomers Yannick Bolasie and Ashley Williams from Crystal Palace and Swansea City, respectively.The new manager ruled out a bid for out-of-favour Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart before next Thursdays transfer deadline at his news conference and is also unconcerned Lukaku has yet to find the scoring touch that provided 25 goals in all competitions last season.Im not worried about him scoring goals, they will score, whether its Saturday or in two weeks, Koeman said at his Thursday news conference regarding Lukaku. Hes still not 100 percent of his physical level and thats very important right now. Its not important to score against a League Two team but it is important to score the first one.The Potters, meanwhile, needed their rout of League Two squad Stevenage to wipe away the bitter taste of a 4-1 thrashing administered by Manchester City over the weekend. Peter Crouch proved to be the unexpected hero as the former England international bagged a hat trick in his first action of the season as Stoke drew Hull City at home for a third-round match next month.The 35-year-old had just two goals in 18 appearances in all competitions last season, so hes hoping Tuesdays performance will be enough to make boss Mark Hughes at least consider him for this weeks 18-man roster.When the chances come along you have to be ready to grab them and show that you warrant a spot in the starting eleven, and hopefully I have been able to do that, Crouch told Stoke Citys official website. Ive not been playing and Ive been frustrated but obviously Ive still been professional about it and still been training to keep fit.For his part, Hughes took the positives of a needed shutout after seeing his team torn apart by an imperious Man City side he tipped to be in contention for the title.We scored four very good goals, controlled the game and earned a clean sheet, the manager said. We were absolutely spot on tonight, and that is how it has to be now, week in week out.Stoke have just one victory in their last nine league matches (1-3-5) dating back to last season. Marko Arnautovic, who led the team with 12 goals last season, has failed to put any of his six shots on target over the first three matches.The road team won both matches last season as Stoke City rallied to a 4-3 victory in the corresponding fixture at Goodison Park on a penalty by Arnautovic in the 91st minute. Everton returned the favour with a 3-0 thrashing at Brittania as Lukaku, Coleman and Aaron Lennon all scored in the first half to avoid a fourth straight league defeat to the Potters.Lukaku had three of Evertons six goals in the two matches last season and has four in eight lifetime matches against Stoke City. Cheap Vans Shoes China . Rousey will put her perfect 8-0 record and hardware on the line against another undefeated fighter, 7-0 Sara McMann in the main event of UFC 170, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas Nevada on February 22nd. Discount Shoes China . Here are his mid-season NBA awards. MVP: (KEVIN DURANT-Thunder) - Has been sensational this season and more importantly, the most consistent player in the league. Considering that his team has been without star guard Russell Westbrook and with the free agent departure of sharpshooter Kevin Martin, hes had to carry the majority of the load to not only keep his team afloat but more importantly, at an elite level. http://www.cheapshoeschinaonline.com/cheap-puma-shoes-china-153a.html . "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement. Cheap Salomon Shoes China . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. Cheap Ecco Shoes China . Kyle Denbrook, a soccer player from Saint Marys University, took the CIS male athlete of the week honour. Stanley, a fourth-year business administration student from Charlottetown, scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Dalhousie on Friday and tallied again in a 1-0 win over Saint Marys on Sunday. WASHINGTON -- Back in 2012, the Washington Nationals drew all sorts of attention -- and criticism -- for deciding to shut down Stephen Strasburg ahead of the playoffs to protect his surgically repaired right elbow.This time around, the NL East champions didnt have a choice in the matter: Strasburg went on the disabled list in mid-August with a sore elbow, then returned for one start early last month that he left early and hasnt been back. Hes been ruled out for the NL Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers that opens Friday in Washington.Most major league teams deal with injuries of some significance at some point from spring training to September, and several clubs still in the hunt for the 2016 World Series championship are no different.Covering those holes in the playoffs can be a big deal -- or can create opportunities for a relatively unknown player to move into the limelight and succeed.In addition to Strasburg (15-4, 3.60 ERA), whom general manager Mike Rizzo says possibly could return if Washington advances, the Nationals will face the Dodgers without starting catcher Wilson Ramos, who is done for the season after tearing a ligament in his right knee during a game on Sept. 26.Ramos hit .307 with 22 homers and 80 RBI this season.Its a challenge, obviously. Hes an extremely talented catcher thats having a career year. It hurts us, shortstop Danny Espinosa said. That one kind of hit home, because it happened in front of us. It happened right there. Strasburg -- we had an idea that he might not be ready for the playoffs. But the lateness of Wilsons injury was more of a shock.It appears the Nationals will try to fill in for Ramos with a platoon of the right-handed-hitting Pedro Severino, a 23-year-old rookie with a grand total of 32 career at-bats in the majors, and switch-hitting Jose Lobaton, a 31-year-old veteran who used to be a regular with the Tampa Bay Rays but appeared in 38 games this season.Injuries are always a risk, Washingtons Clint Robinson said. Weve just got to do a good job of trying to cover our losses with who we have.Taking into account that Washingtons top hitters, Daniel Murphy and Bryce Harper, are dealing with health issues, too, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, Yeah, I think that were catching them at the right time.Here are other significant injured pplayers:---CHICAGO CUBSWHOS HURT: C/LF Kyle Schwarber; season-ending left knee injury in April.dddddddddddd.WHY THAT MATTERS: Schwarber hit .333 with a franchise-record five homers in nine playoff games last year, including a drive that reached the top of a Wrigley Field videoboard.WHO STEPS IN: Kris Bryant, Jorge Soler, Willson Contreras or Ben Zobrist all could see time in left field; Miguel Montero, David Ross and Contreras can play catcher.WHAT WAS SAID: Now I have to be there for them in a different way. -- Schwarber.---TORONTO BLUE JAYSWHOS HURT: RHP Joaquin Benoit; tore left calf running in from the bullpen during a bench-clearing episode Sept. 26, and ruled out for two to three weeks.WHY THAT MATTERS: Benoit went 2-0 with a 0.38 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 23 2/3 innings after being acquired from Seattle in July.WHO STEPS IN: RHP Joe Biagini (4-3, 3.06 in 60 games as a rookie), LHP Brett Cecil (1-7, 3.96) are expected to handle the seventh inning.WHAT WAS SAID: Its a big loss, no doubt about it. Hes been so good. -- manager John Gibbons.---BOSTON RED SOXWHOS HURT: RHP Steven Wright; right shoulder bursitis limited him to two starts over the past two months.WHY THAT MATTERS: The knuckleballer (13-6, 3.33 ERA) was one of the top pitchers in baseball over the first half of the season, earning his first All-Star selection.WHO STEPS IN: RHP Clay Buchholz moved into the rotation.WHAT WAS SAID: I felt like it was hard for me to get the same life, the same action, I had pre-injury. -- Wright, after allowing four runs in four innings on Aug. 31, his last start.---CLEVELAND INDIANSWHOS HURT: RHP Carlos Carrasco; hit by a line drive last month. RHP Danny Salazar; forearm tightness.WHY THAT MATTERS: Without Carrasco (11-8, 3.32 ERA) and Salazar (11-6, 3.87), the Indians were forced to juggle their rotation.WHO STEPS IN: RHP Trevor Bauer, who began the season in the bullpen, starts Game 1 against Boston. RHP Josh Tomlin also now moves into the rotation.WHAT WAS SAID: Its a big responsibility. -- Bauer, on starting Game 1 against the Red Sox.---AP Sports Writers Jay Cohen, Jimmy Golen, Beth Harris, Ian Harrison, Stephen Hawkins, Janie McCauley and Tom Withers contributed. ' ' '