ague, offered to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before one of this years World Series games, Major League Baseball said the choices were already made. A spokesman said MLB worked with the Indians to identify former franchise greats to do the honors in Cleveland. There had been a movement by fans

Fortaleza, Brazil (Sports Network) - Mario Balotelli has been ruled out of Italys Confederations Cup semifinal match against Spain on Thursday due to a thigh injury. "The examinations carried out this afternoon (Sunday) in Fortaleza on Mario Balotelli showed a grade-one tear in the quadriceps muscle of the left leg," the Italian Football Federation said in a statement. "The player will not be available for the semifinal against Spain on Thursday, June 27 and in the coming days his condition will be evaluated for the match on the 30th (either the final or third-place play-off)." Balotelli, 22, has managed to score two goals in the tournament, helping Italy get out of Group A with a second-place finish behind Brazil. Discount Custom Jerseys Online . NBA officials ruled the court unplayable in the Bucks final exhibition game on Oct. 25 because players were slipping, and the game was cancelled midway through the first period. Cheap Custom T-shirts China .C. -- Al Jefferson joked that he feels he can score from anywhere on the court. http://www.customjerseyschina.com/custom-football-jerseys-china-79n . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. Cheap Custom Jerseys From China . "Were just throwing s--- at the wall hoping something sticks," said Tortorella about the possible line combinations for Fridays game against Columbus. The Canucks have lost five straight games and six of their last seven, leaving them in a logjam in the Pacific Division, currently sitting fifth - good for ninth in the Western Conference. Clearance Custom Jerseys Shop . Westbrook has missed 27 games since having a procedure on Dec. 27 to deal with swelling in his injured right knee — the third operation on the knee in nine months. A look at whats happening all around the majors today:---ROCKIN WRIGLEYIts been 71 years since the Chicago Cubs reached the World Series. They can finally halt the drought with a victory at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 6 of the NL Championship Series at 8 p.m. EDT. Anticipating a long-awaited pennant, excited fans at jam-packed Wrigley Field will certainly be on the edge of their seats.THE MARQUEE MATCHUPStanding in the way of a huge Cubs party is rested Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, perhaps the best pitcher in baseball. Shaking off his previous playoff struggles, the three-time Cy Young Award winner is 2-0 with a 3.72 ERA in three starts and one relief appearance this postseason. With the Dodgers down 3-2 in the best-of-seven NLCS, will he rescue them again or flop in October once more? Game 7 would be Sunday night, if necessary.Weve won two games in a row before, Los Angeles first baseman Adrian Gonzalez said. Nothing says we cant do it Saturday and Sunday.Kyle Hendricks, who led the majors with a 2.13 ERA this season, gets the ball for Chicago. Kershaw beat Hendricks 1-0 in Game 2 at Wrigley Field.ON THE MENDAll-Star starter Danny Salazar plans to throw a three-inning simulated game, and the AL champion Indians will assess his status before deciding whether to put him on their World Series roster. Salazar hasnt appeared in a major league game since Sept. 9 because of tightness in his right forearm. But hes thrown well in recent bullpen sessions and could be an option in the Fall Classic -- even if that means working in relief. I think hes ready to pitch, manager Terry Francona said.ddddddddddddCleveland also hopes Trevor Bauer will be available after his Game 4 start in the ALCS lasted less than an inning when his stitched right pinkie opened up and he had to be replaced because of excessive bleeding. Bauer said his finger is healing and hes confident the added rest before the Series will allow him to pitch. Game 1 is Tuesday night in Cleveland.PUT ME IN, COACHWild Thing is stuck in the bullpen. While actor Charlie Sheen, who played Ricky Wild Thing Vaughn in the movie Major League, offered to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before one of this years World Series games, Major League Baseball said the choices were already made. A spokesman said MLB worked with the Indians to identify former franchise greats to do the honors in Cleveland. There had been a movement by fans on social media for Sheen to throw out a first pitch and be part of pregame festivities. Released in 1989, Major League is a fictional account of the Indians finishing in first place with an unconventional group of players, including Vaughn.TIGER TALKDetroits new batting instructor is a familiar face in Motown. The team hired former Mariners and Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon as hitting coach and Leon Durham as assistant hitting coach on Friday. McClendon returns for his second stint with the Tigers after serving as bullpen coach in 2006 and hitting coach from 2007-13. He managed the Tigers Triple-A affiliate in Toledo this season, guiding the team to a 68-76 record. ' ' '