st one of those things.Oher was a mainstay at left tackle last

TORONTO -- Aaron Sanchez was supposed to be in the Blue Jays bullpen by now. Instead, the All-Star right-hander will start against the Texas Rangers on Sunday night, hoping to pitch Toronto into the AL Championship Series.When the 24-year-old Sanchez cracked Torontos starting rotation after a solid performance in spring training, the team said it planned to move him to a relief role at some point to limit his workload. The thinking was a full season of starting would be too much for a pitcher whose previous career high was 133 1/3 innings, reached at three levels in 2014.We were all set that he was going to eventually end up in the bullpen, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said as both teams worked out Saturday for Game 3 of the AL Division Series. That was the plan in spring training.Those plans went out the window as Sanchez pitched like an ace, earned an All-Star berth, and led the AL with a 3.00 ERA.We thought it would be crazy to take him out of that role, Gibbons said. Hes been so good, one of the best pitchers in baseball.Sanchez got extra rest between starts over the final two months, even spending 10 days in the minor leagues, in order to stay fresh. Toronto also acquired left-hander Francisco Liriano at the trade deadline and briefly used a six-man rotation to spread the work out even more.Neither the extended rest, nor the 10 days he spent at Class A Dunedin, were any kind of issue to Sanchez.I knew we had something special with this club and I wanted to be a part of it, he said. To be here to pitch in a game like (Game 3), Im just blessed with the opportunity to go out there and compete.Sanchez hasnt pitched since allowing one run in seven innings to beat Boston on the final day of the regular season, a victory that ensured Toronto would host the AL wild-card game.Sanchez made one start against the Rangers this season, and it want his best. He allowed six earned runs, matching a season worst, and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings of a 7-6 loss on May 15. That game also featured a brawl between Rangers infielder Rougned Odor and Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista, an incident that happened after Sanchez had already left the game.With Texas facing elimination after losing the first two games at home, Sanchez presents a tough test in an even tougher situation. Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus said the key is to stay aggressive at the plate.Hes a power pitcher and we know hes going to try and establish himself and his pitch early, Andrus said. Dont let him get comfortable. When you face guys like him, the last thing you want is them to feel comfortable on the mound.Right-hander Colby Lewis, who is 4-1 with a 2.38 ERA in nine career postseason games, will start for the Rangers.He can definitely be our stopper, Rangers catcher Jonathan Lucroy said.Texas has not been swept in a playoff series since back-to-back ALDS losses to the New York Yankees in 1998 and 1999. Dating to 2015, the Rangers have lost five straight postseason games, all to Toronto.Theres no panic in this club, Rangers manager Jeff Banister said.Liriano, who has made two relief appearances this postseason, sustained a concussion when he was struck in the back of the head by Carlos Gomezs line drive in Torontos 5-3 win in Game 2 on Friday.Trainer George Poulis said Liriano felt good after undergoing tests Saturday but said there is no timetable for Lirianos return.The symptoms were very good, Poulis said. Were going to examine him each day and just go from there.Players who sustain a concussion must be cleared by Major League Baseball before returning.Liriano and Gomez were teammates in Minnesota and remain good friends. Gomez said he spoke to Liriano on the phone Friday night and was relieved to hear his friend was not seriously hurt.I slept better knowing he didnt have any problems, Gomez said, adding that he and Liriano had discussed going for dinner together on Saturday night.So, did Gomez plan on picking up the check after nailing his pal in the head?Were both rich, so it doesnt matter, he joked.Blue Jays second baseman Devon Travis, who was scratched from Game 2 with a sore right knee, had an MRI Saturday morning. He is day-to-day with a bone bruise but has no structural damage, Poulis said. Kyler Murray Jersey . For the Wild it was their first win of the season and they now have a record of 1-1-2 while the Jets fall to 2-2. Jets start a six game home stand Friday with another divisional game, home to the Dallas Stars. Chandler Jones Jersey . The 43-year-old closer, in his 19th and final big league season, has said hed like to play the outfield. Yankees manager Joe Girardi says hes thinking about allowing Rivera to do it this weekend, when the Yankees finish their season with a three-game series at the Houston Astros. http://www.nflcardinalsrookiestore.com/Cardinals-Pat-Tillman-Jersey/ . MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez also will attend the session, which was announced Monday. The league has discussed placing its next two expansion teams in Miami and Atlanta. Hakeem Butler Youth Jersey . -- Playing time has been limited for Maxim Tissot this season, so the Montreal Impact defender made the most of his first scoring opportunity on Saturday. Byron Murphy Youth Jersey .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Panthers have given up on hopes that left tackle Michael Oher will play again this season.Carolina placed the concussed Oher and cornerback Zack Sanchez on injured reserve Friday. The team also waived backup tackle Donald Hawkins.The Panthers added defensive end Ryan Delaire, cornerback Lou Young and offensive tackle David Yankey to the 53-man roster.In addition, linebacker Luke Kuechly (concussion), center Ryan Kalil (shoulder) and defensive end Mario Addison (foot) have been ruled out for Sundays game against the Oakland Raiders. Kuechly and Kalil will make the 10-day trip to the West Coast with the team, but Addison will not.Linebacker A.J. Klein (concussion), cornerback Leonard Johnson (chest), center Gino Gradkowski (knee) and safety Tre Boston (ankle) are listed as questionable for Sunday.Klein is expected to start for Kalil and Gradkowski for Kalil.Oher has missed the last seven games with a concussion and coach Ron Rivera said, Its tough. Its just one of those things.Oher was a mainstay at left tackle last season, starrting all 19 games and helping the Panthers go 17-2 and reach the Super Bowl.dddddddddddde played the first three games of the season but two days prior to the teams Oct. 2 game against the Atlanta Falcons he unexpectedly reported to work with concussion-like symptoms. The Panthers still arent sure when the concussion occurred, but Oher has not practiced since.Carolina ran for 100 yards in every game last season, but they have struggled to move the ball on the ground in recent weeks.Mike Remmers, who played right tackle last season, has been starting at left tackle since with Daryl Williams playing right tackle.That Kuechly is even making the trip to the Oakland is a potentially good sign for the Panthers. He was carted off the field Nov. 17 with a concussion, a scary sight as three-time All-Pro had tears streaming down his face as he left.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '