Termine » uture holds for the veteran QB.

WASHINGTON -- Back in 2012, the Washington Nationals drew all sorts of attention -- and criticism -- for deciding to shut down Stephen Strasburg ahead of the playoffs to protect his surgically repaired right elbow.This time around, the NL East champions didnt have a choice in the matter: Strasburg went on the disabled list in mid-August with a sore elbow, then returned for one start early last month that he left early and hasnt been back. Hes been ruled out for the NL Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers that opens Friday in Washington.Most major league teams deal with injuries of some significance at some point from spring training to September, and several clubs still in the hunt for the 2016 World Series championship are no different.Covering those holes in the playoffs can be a big deal -- or can create opportunities for a relatively unknown player to move into the limelight and succeed.In addition to Strasburg (15-4, 3.60 ERA), whom general manager Mike Rizzo says possibly could return if Washington advances, the Nationals will face the Dodgers without starting catcher Wilson Ramos, who is done for the season after tearing a ligament in his right knee during a game on Sept. 26.Ramos hit .307 with 22 homers and 80 RBI this season.Its a challenge, obviously. Hes an extremely talented catcher thats having a career year. It hurts us, shortstop Danny Espinosa said. That one kind of hit home, because it happened in front of us. It happened right there. Strasburg -- we had an idea that he might not be ready for the playoffs. But the lateness of Wilsons injury was more of a shock.It appears the Nationals will try to fill in for Ramos with a platoon of the right-handed-hitting Pedro Severino, a 23-year-old rookie with a grand total of 32 career at-bats in the majors, and switch-hitting Jose Lobaton, a 31-year-old veteran who used to be a regular with the Tampa Bay Rays but appeared in 38 games this season.Injuries are always a risk, Washingtons Clint Robinson said. Weve just got to do a good job of trying to cover our losses with who we have.Taking into account that Washingtons top hitters, Daniel Murphy and Bryce Harper, are dealing with health issues, too, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, Yeah, I think that were catching them at the right time.Here are other significant injured players:---CHICAGO CUBSWHOS HURT: C/LF Kyle Schwarber; season-ending left knee injury in April.WHY THAT MATTERS: Schwarber hit .333 with a franchise-record five homers in nine playoff games last year, including a drive that reached the top of a Wrigley Field videoboard.WHO STEPS IN: Kris Bryant, Jorge Soler, Willson Contreras or Ben Zobrist all could see time in left field; Miguel Montero, David Ross and Contreras can play catcher.WHAT WAS SAID: Now I have to be there for them in a different way. -- Schwarber.---TORONTO BLUE JAYSWHOS HURT: RHP Joaquin Benoit; tore left calf running in from the bullpen during a bench-clearing episode Sept. 26, and ruled out for two to three weeks.WHY THAT MATTERS: Benoit went 2-0 with a 0.38 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 23 2/3 innings after being acquired from Seattle in July.WHO STEPS IN: RHP Joe Biagini (4-3, 3.06 in 60 games as a rookie), LHP Brett Cecil (1-7, 3.96) are expected to handle the seventh inning.WHAT WAS SAID: Its a big loss, no doubt about it. Hes been so good. -- manager John Gibbons.---BOSTON RED SOXWHOS HURT: RHP Steven Wright; right shoulder bursitis limited him to two starts over the past two months.WHY THAT MATTERS: The knuckleballer (13-6, 3.33 ERA) was one of the top pitchers in baseball over the first half of the season, earning his first All-Star selection.WHO STEPS IN: RHP Clay Buchholz moved into the rotation.WHAT WAS SAID: I felt like it was hard for me to get the same life, the same action, I had pre-injury. -- Wright, after allowing four runs in four innings on Aug. 31, his last start.---CLEVELAND INDIANSWHOS HURT: RHP Carlos Carrasco; hit by a line drive last month. RHP Danny Salazar; forearm tightness.WHY THAT MATTERS: Without Carrasco (11-8, 3.32 ERA) and Salazar (11-6, 3.87), the Indians were forced to juggle their rotation.WHO STEPS IN: RHP Trevor Bauer, who began the season in the bullpen, starts Game 1 against Boston. RHP Josh Tomlin also now moves into the rotation.WHAT WAS SAID: Its a big responsibility. -- Bauer, on starting Game 1 against the Red Sox.---AP Sports Writers Jay Cohen, Jimmy Golen, Beth Harris, Ian Harrison, Stephen Hawkins, Janie McCauley and Tom Withers contributed. Justin Houston Jersey . -- When the Florida Panthers fell behind by two goals in the first period to the top team in the NHL, it appeared they were on their way to yet another loss. Albert Wilson Jersey . A knee to the thigh might have stung him the most, but his sixth straight double-double made up for the brief burst of pain. http://www.chiefsauthenticofficialstore.com/ .H. -- Matt Kenseth made it 2 for 2 in the Chase, holding off teammate Kyle Busch to win Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Cameron Erving Jersey . Halladay signed a one-day contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday that allowed the veteran right-hander to retire as a member of team with which he broke into the majors and spent the bulk of his distinguished 16-year career. Larry Johnson Jersey .J. -- Marshawn Lynch said Thursday it will be good to get back to football after the Seattle quiet talking running back wrapped up his final mandatory media session of Super Bowl week. Rookie quarterback Dak Prescotts debut with the Dallas Cowboys has been one of the NFLs top stories this season.Prescott is 4-1 as the starter, and he hasnt thrown an interception. His pairing in the backfield with No. 4 overall pick?Ezekiel Elliott?has been dynamic. Prescott has shown that he could be the Cowboys starting quarterback of the future, and he?could be the?quarterback of the present, too.Prescotts play has?created an interesting debate: Should he?keep the job for good even after?Tony Romo?returns?Players believe in Prescott. His efficiency has exceeded expectations. He has surprised everyone with his poise running the offense. The Cowboys have said their plan is to start Romo when?hes healthy enough to return, which could be as soon as Oct. 30 against Philadelphia.If that is the case, Sundays game against Green Bay could be Prescotts?last start (the Cowboys have a bye in Week 7). The fracture in Romos back has healed, aaccording to owner Jerry Jones.dddddddddddd Romo is close to moving from conditioning to practice. His recovery is believed to be ahead of schedule.I checked in with five NFL front-office executives to get their takes on what the Cowboys should do when Romo returns, and what the future holds for the veteran QB. I was a little surprised by the responses. Their quotes below are in bold, followed by my take:Executive 1:?Dont mess with a good thingWhy risk ruining the chemistry? If you could go back to Romo and you lose a game, you could lose the locker room. I would stay with Prescott. There has always been that old thought that a starter cant lose your job to injury. The current players may not remember the Wally Pipp story, where Wally Pipp got hurt and was replaced by Lou Gehrig and lost his job forever. Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Wholesale Discount Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Baseball Jerseys Free Shipping Cheapest College Jerseys Sale Cheap Football Jerseys China Nike NFL Jerseys Canada Wholesale NHL Jerseys From China MLB Jerseys Outlet Canada Wholesale NBA Jerseys Canada Store Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap Authentic Jerseys Canada ' ' '