first for me.TRAINERS ROOMYankees: Rooki

Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh and his players downplayed the notion they have a rivalry with the Washington Redskins.Although their stadiums are separated by just 33 miles, the Ravens and Redskins simply dont play enough to have any type of enmity for one another. Furthermore, Washington is playing a game in Baltimore for just the second time in the Ravens history.Still, the weeks matchup is huge for both teams.Harbaugh is hoping the Ravens (3-1) can bounce back from a disappointing home loss to Oakland in Week 4. The Redskins (2-2), meanwhile, have won two straight games and are looking to carry that momentum into M&T Bank Stadium.Its a game that we need to win in our house -- period, Harbaugh said. Its a one-week league, as one of our players just said to our team. Its a one-week league, and the only thing we have to think about right now is this game, playing this team and what they do. Of course, its a team we have respect for. We know what were going to get with physicality and all of that stuff.The Ravens have the NFLs top defense, allowing just 256 yards per game. That unit has gotten a bigger boost with linebackers Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil back in the lineup. Baltimore will try to keep constant pressure on Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins, who is ranked sixth in the league with 1,172 passing yards with six touchdowns and four interceptions.I think he is progressing nicely, Washington coach Jay Gruden said about Cousins. I think there are still some areas of improvement, without a doubt. As every quarterback will say after every game, there are going to be areas where he wants to improve situational awareness, taking a sack along the way, whatever it might be. I think there are areas he will want to do better.While the Redskins offense has been solid, the defense has struggled. Washington is ranked 30th in the NFL, allowing 4.9 yards per carry.Baltimore will look to exploit that weakness. Terrance West will likely get the start after he had a breakout game against Raiders, running for a career-high 113 yards on 21 carries with a touchdown. Baltimores depth chart at running back gets another addition this week with the return of rookie Kenneth Dixon, who has been out with a knee injury. Dixon was the Ravens top runner over the preseason and he enters the game with high expectations surrounding him.I just feel like I have to get out there and do the best job I can do, Dixon said. Its get the ball, read my one key and hit the hole as hard as I can. If that sparks us, it does. Im just going to get out there and do my best.Javorius Buck Allen, a fourth-round pick from USC in 2015, will also get some opportunities to run the ball.Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco will also look to take some shots deep downfield. The Ravens passing game has been a work in progress and is tied with Miami for 16th in the NFL with 1,008 total yards.I think were definitely finding our stride a little bit, Flacco said. We just need to put together four quarters of football. We havent done it yet. I think we have the ability to, obviously. I definitely think were close, and were getting there.This game also reunites Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith and Washington cornerback Josh Norman, whom were teammates with the Carolina Panthers. Norman expects a physical matchup, and even admitted that Smith was among the best trash-talkers in the league.I grew up playing him, so you kind of already know that, Norman said. If you want to take the competitive drive or the ego when it comes to being the best at what he does, then yes. Just me and him going back and forth at practice every day. Trust me, Im very well doctored in that.The Ravens lead the all-time series 3-2. Custom Warriors Jersey China . "Hes going to have hip surgery on Jan. 7, and hell be expected to rehabilitate for four to six months beyond that," Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said Friday in an interview. Authentic Custom Warriors Jersey . The Lightning are 2-0 so far on a four-game road trip, giving the club five straight wins as the guest and improving Tampas away record this season to 11-8-2. http://www.customwarriorsjersey.com/ . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter. Custom Warriors T-shirts . Q: Team Canada announces their Olympic roster three weeks from today. Who is general manager Steve Yzerman watching? LeBrun: Over the last 48 hours, hes taken in the home-and-home between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche with Jamie Benn and Matt Duchene being the obvious targets. Custom Warriors Jerseys . - Chris Tierney snapped a tie with a power-play goal late in the third period as the London Knights rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Erie Otters 5-3 in Ontario Hockey League action on Wednesday. NEW YORK -- Not long after Alex Rodriguez revealed his farewell plans, Mark Teixeira showed he still has plenty left in the tank.Masahiro Tanaka rebounded from two rocky outings, Didi Gregorius homered on his bobblehead day and the New York Yankees held off the Cleveland Indians 3-2 Sunday after announcing that Rodriguez will play his final game in pinstripes this week.Teixeira, two days since disclosing his own plans to retire at the end of the season, hit an RBI double and dove toward first base to get a crucial out on defense. He has an extra-base hit in four of his past five games.Alexs thunder is always a little louder than mine anyway, a smiling Teixeira said, drawing laughs.Dellin Betances got four outs for his second save as New York took two of three from the AL Central leaders and won the season series 5-2.Cleveland, which remained two games ahead of Detroit, has dropped five of seven. Cleanup hitter Mike Napoli was ejected by plate umpire Lance Barrett after getting called out on strikes in the eighth inning.An irate Napoli, who jawed extensively with Barrett after strike two as well, screamed and pointed in the umpires face and might have nicked him with the bill of his helmet.Its been a difficult week, but I think everybodys ready to move on, Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis said.Hit hard by the Mets in a Subway Series loss last week, Tanaka (8-4) was lifted with a 3-0 lead following Rajai Davis leadoff double in the seventh.Carlos Carrasco (7-6) also bounced back from a poor start and struck out nine in seven solid innings for the Indians, who tried to rally late.We just didnt get that big hit, Davis said.Davis scored when Adam Warren gave up an RBI single to No. 9 batter Roberto Perez, his second hit of the day after entering 2 for 40 (.050) this season.With two on, the 36-year-old Teixeira went to his knees for a sliding stop of Francisco Lindors two-out grounder behind first base. Teixeira gathered himself and barely beat Lindor to the bag with his outstretched mitt as both players dove headfirst.The effort drew cheers from a crowd of 39,720 that also gave Tanaka a warm ovation as he walked off the mound.A really impressive play, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. Thats Tex. He gives everything hes got.Cleveland scored an unearned run on a wild pitch in the eighth and nearly got something going in the ninth.Chris Gimenez short-hopped the left-field fence with a leadoff drivee but was held to a single by Brett Gardner.dddddddddddd Second baseman Starlin Castro then started a difficult double play on Carlos Santanas sharp grounder, and Betances struck out Kipnis to end it.Gardner hit a leadoff triple in the first and scored on Jacoby Ellsburys sacrifice fly.Tanaka struck out eight and walked none.It might have been his best start of the year, Girardi said. I thought he was tremendous.About 2 hours before the game, Rodriguez and the rebuilding Yankees (56-55) announced the slumping slugger will play Friday night against Tampa Bay at Yankee Stadium and then be released. After that, he plans to become a special adviser and instructor with the organization next year.This is a tough day. I love this game and I love this team, the 41-year-old Rodriguez said, often choking up. And today Im saying goodbye to both.New York will pay A-Rod the remainder of the approximately $27 million hes owed as part of his $275 million, 10-year contract.Rodriguez, relegated to the bench again Sunday, said the agreement arose out of conversations over the past few days with Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner.Hopefully Friday will be a great day for Alex, Teixeira said. Were going to miss Alex in this clubhouse.HARD TO EXPLAINEllsbury was inexplicably doubled off first base on a foul popup near third. (His) answer made about as much sense as him going. All I can tell you was it was a brain cramp -- a real brain cramp, Girardi said. Thats a first for me.TRAINERS ROOMYankees: Rookie catcher Gary Sanchez was rested after playing consecutive games behind the plate. Austin Romine caught Tanaka, and Brian McCann was the DH. ... Castro also was rested in favor of Rob Refsnyder but entered on defense in the eighth and appeared in his 1,000th major league game.UP NEXTIndians: Following a day off, Cleveland opens a two-game interleague series at NL East-leading Washington. RHP Trevor Bauer (7-5, 4.08 ERA) starts Tuesday night against All-Star RHP Max Scherzer (12-6, 2.87). RHP Josh Tomlin will pitch Wednesday for the Indians instead of RHP Mike Clevinger.Yankees: RHP Luis Severino (1-6, 6.02 ERA) makes his first major league start since May 13 when New York begins a three-game series Tuesday night in Boston. RHP Rick Porcello (14-3, 3.46) goes for the Red Sox. ' ' '