Seit wann? » occasionally spectacular over the second half of

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Dodgers will turn to Kenta Maeda to start Game 5 of the National League Championship Series against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday.Maeda (0-1), and not ace Clayton Kershaw, will get the baseball in a crucial contest of the series, which is tied at two games apiece. Games 6 and 7 (if necessary) will be at Wrigley Field this weekend.Maeda gets the call despite his inability to deliver so far in the postseason. Although the 28-year-rookie from Japan received a no-decision in Game 1 of the NLCS, he allowed three runs on four hits in four innings, walking three and striking out two.Maeda lost his other playoff start in Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the Washington Nationals, serving up four runs on five hits in three innings in his second-shortest start of the season.Its one reason some in the media speculated Roberts might go to Kershaw again on three days rest.Well, I think that (Thursday) isnt a deciding game, Roberts said, insisting hes sticking with Maeda.Roberts also said Kershaw wasnt available for Game 5 of the NLDS against the Nationals. However, Roberts surprised many in the baseball world by bringing in Kershaw to close the series clincher and record the final two outs after closer Kenley Jansen worked the previous 2 1/3 innings.Its not an elimination game, Roberts continued. And I think the accumulation of (Kershaws) usage over the last 10 days plays a factor in our decision. So, I think that for us thinking through it, the best thing for us is to have him pitch Game 6 and have Kenta go Thursday.Maeda realizes he needs to deliver.Im not going to be too careful even though I havent been pitching well in the postseason, Maeda said of his approach for the game. What Im going to be really focused on is just pitching well (Thursday) and not worry too much about what I have done in the past.Jon Lester (1-0, 0.64), who didnt factor into the decision in Game 1 against the Dodgers, will get the nod for the Cubs. Lester allowed a run on four hits with three strikeouts and a walk in six innings in the series opener. However, manager Joe Maddon lifted him for a pinch-hitter despite Lester throwing only 77 pitches (47 strikes).Lester wasnt pleased with Maddons decision initially but said he calmed down once he got in the dugout.I knew it was a grind, even though the pitch count wasnt as high as it could have been with how I was throwing the ball, said Lester, who served up a pinch-hit home run to Andre Ethier in what turned out to be an 8-4 win by the Cubs. But like I said then, I dont get paid to make decisions. I pitch as long as he tells me to pitch.Said Maddon, The other day at home, he wasnt the sharpest but still gave us a strong opportunity to win that game, and we eventually did. So, I like his mound demeanor right now.In his last start at Dodger Stadium, Lester, who finished the regular season 19-5 with a 2.44 ERA in 32 starts, threw six scoreless innings in a 1-0 win by Los Angeles. Harry Hooper White Sox Jersey . Belfort (24-10) needed just 77 seconds to down Henderson in the headlining bout of Saturdays "UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson" event at Goiania Arena in Goiania, Brazil. The fight served as a rematch of the pairs 2006 meeting, which Henderson won by decision. Josh Osich White Sox Jersey . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. https://www.cheapwhitesox.com/464e-billy-pierce-jersey-white-sox.html .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have placed centre Cody Hodgson on injured reserve and recalled two players from their AHL affiliate in Rochester. Carlton Fisk White Sox Jersey . The Montreal Canadiens announced on Friday that the veteran forward will return to the teams line-up on Saturday night when the Habs visit the Nashville Predators. Ray Schalk White Sox Jersey . That left plenty of energy for pitching books and swatting away free agency questions. Anthony had 24 points and nine rebounds, and the Knicks avenged an embarrassing home loss with a rout of their own, beating the Boston Celtics 114-88 on Wednesday night for their third straight victory. PITTSBURGH -- LeVeon Bell stood at his locker, his face covered in sweat and his eagerness to kickstart his stalled NFL career palpable.His three-game suspension for a second violation of the leagues substance abuse policy over, the Pittsburgh Steelers running back is ready to get back to work, particularly after spending Sunday afternoon watching his teammates get clobbered across the state in Philadelphia.It sucked, Bell said.Pretty much. The team that looked borderline unstoppable at times during wins over Washington and Cincinnati was a mess against the Eagles. DeAngelo Williams, who filled in so brilliantly for Bell during the opening two weeks, slogged for just 21 yards. The offense posted its lowest point total in five years and the defense spent the afternoon futilely trying to make Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz look like a rookie.Enter Bell, limited to six of Pittsburghs last 22 games thanks to knee injuries and run-ins with the leagues drug policy. An All-Pro in 2014 when he emerged as one of the best all-around backs in the league, Bell believes hes a better player than the one last seen being carted off the field in a loss to the Bengals last November with a torn MCL in his right knee.Im a lot smarter, Bell said. So many things I did my (in 2014) were good things. But I look back at my film now and Im like, `What am I doing on this play? What am I doing on that play?Sunday nights visit from Kansas City (2-1) marks Bells first appearance in a game that matters in 11 months. He insists his surgically repaired right knee is fine. So, too, is the desire to prove that hes all the way back. The faster the better.Ive always felt like I had to prove something to somebody, Bell said. That is never going to go away. Im always going to have this personal chip on my shoulder.Even if one of Bells biggest enemies the last two years has been himself. He sat the first two games of the 2015 season as part of the fallout for his arrest on DUI and drug possession charges in August, 2014. Another four-game suspension (eventually reduced to three) came down in August after Bell says he overslept and missed a drug test.Im not a perfect person, I never will be, he said. I know there are some things I can get better (at).dddddddddddd.Probably a good idea as Bell enters the final year of the rookie contract he signed after the Steelers took him in the second round of the 2013 draft. He appeared on the verge of stardom in 2014 when he put up a combined 2,215 yards from scrimmage and proved just as dangerous catching passes as he was patiently setting up his blockers following a handoff.Over the last 330 days hes released his own hip-hop mixtape (under the pseudonym Juice) and collaborated with rap legend Snoop Dogg on another track. What he hasnt done, however, is score a touchdown or participated in a Pittsburgh victory. He made a token appearance in the first half of the Steelers third preseason game in August but otherwise hes been a bystander.For the majority of Bells absence, Pittsburghs offense hardly looked like it missed him. Williams was steady and occasionally spectacular over the second half of the 2015 season and led the NFL in rushing through the first two weeks of 2016 before the team-wide pratfall in Philly.Bell believes theres a chance for the Steelers to go to a two-back system, though Williams himself has said repeatedly he expects to go back to a secondary role once Bell is ready to go. Bell understands there may be some rust, which is why he wont shy away from contact during practice this week.For me not to be hit as much since last November, Im obviously going to want a little contact, blitz pickup, just to get ready for it, he said.Bells teammates are certainly ready for his familiar No. 26 to join them, particularly after a three-hour reality check at the hands of the Eagles.He brings a lot of energy to the huddle, left tackle Alejandro Villaneuva said. Were just happy he can recover from this incident and get his career back because thats what matters to him and matters to us as well.Game notes S Robert Golden underwent an MRI on Monday to have the hamstring he injured against Philadelphia examined but is uncertain if hell be ready by Sunday.---Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '