Update on the latest sports
APNFL DRAFT
NFL takes step toward normalcy with draft on Lake Erie shores
CLEVELAND (AP) — The NFL draft that starts Thursday night in Cleveland will take a step back toward normalcy after being held virtually last year. Some NFL prospects and fans will be there in person, and Commissioner Roger Goodell will be on hand to hug or fist-bump the dozen or so prospects in attendance. And many, if not all, of the teams will be back at their facilities to conduct the selections, not in their homes like last year.
The NFL invited 13 prospects to Cleveland, but Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley tested positive for COVID-19 and won’t attend, according to his agent Drew Rosenhaus.
Quarterbacks are widely expected to go 1-2-3 for just the third time in the common draft era that started in 1967. Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and BYU’s Zach Wilson are expected to be the top two picks, to Jacksonville and the New York Jets. With the third pick, San Francisco is likely to choose among Alabama’s Mac Jones, Ohio State’s Justin Fieds and Trey Lance of North Dakota State.
A record could be set with four QBs going in the top four if Atlanta drafts the successor to Matt Ryan or trades down to a quarterback-needy team.
If Fields, Jones and Lance all get taken in the top 10, that would also be a first, beating the four top-10 QBs taken in the 2018 draft when Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen and Josh Rosen all went off the board quickly.
The draft is the NFL’s most popular event after the Super Bowl and opening day.
NFL-PANTHERS-MOORE
AP source: Panthers pick up 5th-year option on DJ Moore
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers are picking up the fifth-year option on wide receiver D.J. Moore’s contract, according to a person familiar with the situation.
The 24-year-old Moore will make $11.1 million in his fifth season, which will be the 2022 season.
In three seasons with the Panthers, Moore has developed into the team’s No. 1 receiver with 3,156 yards on 208 receptions along with 10 touchdowns. He has put together back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons for Carolina, including a career-high 1,193 yards last season while averaging 18.1 yards per catch.
For his career, Moore is averaging 15.2 yards per reception.
The team has not yet picked up quarterback Sam Darnold’s fifth-year option for the 2022 season. General manager Scott Fitterer said the team has a plan, but it won’t be put in place until after the draft.
MLB-SCHEDULE
Tigers and White Sox play 2 in Chicago
UNDATED (AP) — The Tigers and White Sox are slated for a straight doubleheader after Wednesday night’s game in Chicago was postponed by rain.
Detroit right-hander Casey Mize and Chicago left-hander Carlos Rodón were pushed back to pitch in the first game, while left-hander Matthew Boyd and right-hander Dylan Cease will start in the second.
The doubleheader will be the second of four scheduled for the White Sox this season. It will be the Tigers’ second.
Chicago will try to reverse its luck against Detroit after losing their first matchup of the season. The White Sox are 21-8 against the Tigers dating to 2019.
In other highlights of Thursday’s schedule:
— The Dodgers and Brewers begin a four-game set between NL division leaders in Milwaukee. NL West-leading Los Angeles swept the Brewers in a first-round postseason series last year en route to a World Series title and also knocked out Milwaukee in the 2018 NL Championship Series. Reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Trevor Bauer will start the opener for the Dodgers against Eric Lauer, making his season debut for the NL Central leaders.
— Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan is set for his first regular season appearance after making his big league debut during last year’s postseason. Among the top prospects in Tampa Bay’s loaded farm system, McClanahan will start against Oakland, a day after his 24th birthday. He allowed four earned runs in 4 1/3 relief innings in the 2020 playoffs for the AL champions. Prior to that, he’d made just four starts above Class A.
— Martín Pérez tries to keep up an unexpected trend: dominant starting pitching from the Red Sox. Garrett Richards pitched seven one-run innings against the Mets on Tuesday, and Nick Pivetta followed with five scoreless to start against New York on Wednesday. Boston’s starting pitchers have a 4.09 ERA this season, way down from their 5.34 mark in 2020, which was third worst in the AL. Pérez is scheduled to face the Rangers, his old club, in the opener of a four-game series. Texas right-hander Kyle Gibson has allowed one earned run or fewer in his past four starts.
