Reuters U.S. Sports Schedule at 2 PM EDT on Friday, Oct. 18
Oct. 18 (Reuters) - Reuters U.S. sports schedule at 2 PM ET on Friday: - - - - The duty editor is Steve Ginsburg, 202-898-8427 - - - - NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE Welcome back, Gronk Doctors cleared New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkwoski to play in Sunday's game against the New York Jets. The former All-Pro, recovering from four surgeries on his forearm and a back operation, got the go-ahead from all doctors, agent Drew Rosenhaus says via text message. (FBN-PATRIOTS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 300 words) - - Seahawks-Cardinals: What we learned Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson dazzled in the desert, further legitimizing the NFC powerhouse as a Super Bowl contender with yet another road win. (FBN-SEAHAWKS-CARDINALS-NOTEBOOK/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 425 words) - - Injury updates Is there a chance Cowboys RB DeMarco Murray (knee) surprises coach Jason Garrett and teammates by taking the field Friday? Updates on the playing status of key players around the league. Separates will move as warranted. (FBN-COWBOYS-NEWS/, moving throughout day, The Sports Xchange, approximately 200 words per update) - - Jones changes tune about Thursday doubleheaders Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones backs off statements he made about the NFL discussing playing two games on Thursdays. Jones, who also chairs the NFL Network Committee, tells Sports Business Daily on Friday that he was only speaking for himself. (FBN-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 300 words) - - NFL notebook The latest news and notes from around the league. (FBN-NOTEBOOK/, expect by 2300 GMT/7 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 500 words) - - - - GOLF PGA Tour: Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, Nevada Henry in early command after a sizzling 60 in Vegas American J.J. Henry takes a one-shot lead over Argentina's Andres Romero into the second round at the TPC Summerlin after opening with a blistering 11-under-par 60 in the second event of the PGA Tour's 2013-14 season. (GOLF-PGA/, expect end-of-day lead by 0200 GMT/10 PM ET, 400 words) - - Hedblom eyes 'fairytale' victory in Perth Peter Hedblom takes a two-shot lead at the halfway stage of the co-sanctioned Perth International to keep alive his hopes of the "fairytale" victory he needs to retain his European Tour card for next season. (GOLF-EUROPEAN/, moved, 350 words) - - McIlroy in contention but rues sloppy start in Korea Rory McIlroy feels he left a few shots out on the course despite fighting back after a poor start to fire a second round two-under-par 69 at the Korean Open to sit just two shots off the lead at the halfway mark. (GOLF-ONEASIA/, moved, 425 words) - - - - MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL NLCS Game 6: Dodgers at Cardinals ST. LOUIS - Rookie Michael Wacha can pitch the St. Louis Cardinals into the World Series, but Los Angeles Dodgers Cy Young candidate Clayton Kershaw are fighting for a Game 7. (BBO-CARDINALS-DODGERS-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU (PIX), expect ASAP after the 0007 GMT/8:07 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, by James Dent, 400-word first lede, 750-word writethru) See also: ST. LOUIS - Pregame notebook (BBO-CARDINALS-DODGERS-NOTEBOOK/, expect by 8 p.m. ET, The Sports Xchange, by James Dent, 350 words) MLB announces World Series schedule (BBO-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 200 words) - - Scherzer Thing: Tigers banking ace in Boston The Boston Red Sox won Game 2 of the ALCS but Max Scherzer dominated - 13 strikeouts, one run in seven innings - before David Ortiz's heroics. The Tigers turn the ball and their season over to the 2013 MLB leader in wins in Game 6 Saturday at Fenway Park. (BBO-REDSOX-TIGERS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by John Perrotto, 700 words) - - White Sox land Cuban 1B Abreu The Chicago White Sox agrees to a six-year, $68 million contract with Cuban free-agent first baseman Jose Abreu. (BBO-SOX-NEWS/, moved; may be led, The Sports Xchange, 300 words) - - - - NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE *The Sports Xchange covers all NHL games. Key matchups outlined below - - Blues at Jets WINNIPEG - Near diametrical opposites in the Central standings, the St. Louis Blues are two points back of the Colorado Avalanche. Winnipeg is 3-4 and began its six-game homestand with a 1-2 record. (HKN-JETS-BLUES-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU (PIX), expect ASAP after the 0000 GMT/8 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - NHL Wrap: Blues, Jets, Coyotes and Ducks all in action The St Louis Blues visit Winnipeg in a Western Conference Central Division clash while the Phoenix Coyotes travel to Anaheim for a Pacific Division battle. (NHL-HIGHLIGHTS/ (PIX), expect by 0330 GMT/11:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 300 words) - - - - AUTO RACING Talladega Days The latest news and notes from the track, including NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice and truck race qualifying. (CAR-SPRINT-NOTEBOOK/, expect by 2230 GMT/6:30 PM ET, NASCAR Wire Service distributed by The Sports Xchange, 600 words) - - Dixon, Castroneves tussle for Indy title Scott Dixon and Helio Castroneves are separated by 25 points entering the final race of the season Saturday night at Fontana. The 2013 Izod IndyCar Series comes down to the same two drivers for the third time since 2003. (CARD-INDY-NEWS/, expect by 2330 GMT/7:30 PM ET, 450 words) - - IndyCar releases 2014 schedule IndyCar releases its 2014 series schedule, which includes 18 races over 15 weekends. The schedule includes a new event, the Grand Prix of Indianapolis, on a 2.343-mile, 14-turn road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 10. It also includes the return of doubleheaders at Detroit, Houston and Toronto. (CAR-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 600 words) - - - - NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (expect by 0001 GMT/8 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words)
