Reuters U.S. Sports Schedule at 2 PM EST on Wednesday, Sept. 9

Sept. 9 (Reuters) - Reuters U.S. sports schedule at 2 PM ET on Wednesday: - - - - The duty editor is Steve Ginsburg, 202-898-8427 - - - - TENNIS U.S. Open, Flushing, New York Swiss treat set for Arthur Ashe Stadium court NEW YORK - It will be a Swiss treat on Arthur Ashe Stadium court as Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka target semifinal spots. Second seed Federer will take on Frenchman Richard Gasquet while Wawrinka faces big-hitting South African Kevin Anderson. Second seed Simona Halep will also try to book her first spot in the U.S. Open final four when she clashes with Victoria Azarenka of Belarus. (TENNIS-OPEN/ (PIX), expect first story by 4 PM ET, by Steve Keating and Larry Fine, 600 words) - - - - NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE 2015 NFL Preview - - SB 50: Packers over Patriots or Colts The Green Bay Packers are an overwhelming favorite to win Super Bowl 50, according to a survey of The Sports Xchange football staff. Aaron Rodgers, the Packers' two-time MVP, takes home another and Raiders rookie receiver Amari Cooper is the pick for Rookie of the Year. (FBN-PREVIEW/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Frank Cooney, 600 words) - - Division previews NFL Preview: Broncos high in AFC West picks The Denver Broncos are expected to be manning the top spot in the AFC West for 2015, according to a survey of The Sports Xchange's football staff. (FBN-PREVIEW-AFCWEST/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Frank Cooney, 1,400 words) - - NFL Preview: Colts could romp in AFC South The Indianapolis Colts are a unanimous pick to win the AFC South division championship based on a survey of The Sports Xchange's football staff. (FBN-PREVIEW-AFCSOUTH/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Frank Cooney, 1,290 words) - - NFL Preview: Steelers picked in tight North race If a survey of the football staff at The Sports Xchange is any indication, watch for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens to wage a tough, tight fight for the AFC North championship this year. (FBN-PREVIEW-AFCNORTH/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Frank Cooney, 1,430 words) - - NFL Preview: No deflating Patriots in East In a decision so clear that not even Commissioner Roger Goodell could dispute it, the New England Patriots are projected to take the AFC East division title, based on a unanimous vote of The Sports Xchange's football staff. (FBN-PREVIEW-AFCEAST/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Frank Cooney, 1,435 words) - - NFL Preview: Seahawks, Rams in NFC West battle Change is in the wind for the NFC West in 2015, according to a survey of The Sports Xchange's football staff. (FBN-PREVIEW-NFCWEST/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Frank Cooney, 1,525 words) - - NFL Preview: Saints in tight NFC South race Although the New Orleans Saints are the choice to win the NFC South division title according to a poll of The Sports Xchange football staff, Carolina and Atlanta each receive first-place votes and finish close behind. (FBN-PREVIEW-NFCSOUTH/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Frank Cooney, 1,525 words) - - NFL Preview: Pack unanimous in North Except for that unbelievable fall-from-in-front exit in the playoffs last season, the Green Bay Packers would have gone to the Super Bowl instead of the Seattle Seahawks, the benefactors of Green Bay's nosedive. (FBN-PREVIEW-NFCNORTH/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Frank Cooney, 1,125 words) - - NFL Preview: Cowboys are NFC East pick How 'bout them Cowboys? After a tidy .500 record since this century began, the Dallas Cowboys are the pick to win the NFC East title, according to a poll of The Sports Xchange football staff. (FBN-PREVIEW-NFCEAST/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Frank Cooney, 1,225 words) - - Surprise picks in 2015: Chiefs, Vikings up, Cowboys, Broncos down The NFL makes a point each year of touting how many teams make the playoffs after missing the previous season; there have been at least five new playoff entrants in all but two seasons over the last quarter-century. (FBN-COLUMN/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Ira Miller, 802 words) - - Week 1 preview: Steelers at Patriots Tom Brady takes the field for the first time since winning his fourth Super Bowl, and that's not the Seattle Seahawks' secondary on the other side of the ball when the new-look Pittsburgh Steelers hit Gillette Stadium. (FBN-STEELERS-PATRIOTS-PREVIEW/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Jeff Reynolds, 498 words) - - NFL roundup News and notes from around the NFL. (FBN-ROUNDUP/, expect by 8 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 400-600 words per team) - - - - COLLEGE FOOTBALL Healthy Madden takes charge in USC backfield LOS ANGELES - USC has a bunch of young, talented, running backs. Three true freshmen carried the ball for the Trojans in the opening rout of Arkansas State. Their time will come. For now, it's senior Tre Madden's time. (FBC-USC-IDAHO-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 700 words) - - Clemson trying to replace key playmaker CLEMSON, S.C. - It took just 12 plays for Clemson to lose one of its primary playmakers. Junior wide receiver Mike Williams suffered a small fracture in his neck on Saturday when he crashed into the goalpost support on a touchdown reception on the first series of the game against Wofford. The good news is that he's going to be fine -- eventually. (CFB-CLEMSON-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 590 words) - - Baxter quickly making name with Sooners NORMAN, Okla. - Just a few months ago -- weeks even -- Jarvis Baxter was a receiver without a home. Baxter signed with South Florida out of Trinity Valley Community College but couldn't qualify academically in time. South Florida would accept just nine hours of summer credit and Baxter needed 12. (CFB-OKLAHOMA-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 650 words) - - LSU attempts another opener BATON ROUGE, La. - LSU will unexpectedly have to plunge into SEC play with virtually no game experience thanks to a lightning-forced cancellation last week. Coach Les Miles says the Tigers are still ready. (CFB-LSU-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 650 words) See also: Reports from around the nation entering Week 2 of college football. - - CFB notebook News and notes from around college football. (CFB-NOTEBOOK/, expect by 7 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - - - GOLF Oak Hill to host PGA Championship in 2023 The PGA of America says Oak Hill Country Club in Pittsford, N.Y., will host the 105th PGA Championship on its East Course in 2023. (GLF-PGA-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 230 words) - - Golf glance Capsule previews of the week ahead in professional golf. (GLF-SCHEDULE/, moved, by Tom LaMarre, The Sports Xchange, 300 words) - - - - MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL Cardinals active slugging 1B Adams for stretch run The St. Louis Cardinals activate first baseman Matt Adams from the 60-day disabled list. Adams, 27, has been out since May 27 with a right quad strain that required surgery on May 29. (BBO-CARDINALS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 275 words) See also: CC returns to Yankees (BBO-YANKEES-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 200 words) - - Conflicting reports, confusion surround Royals' Cueto KANSAS CITY, Mo. - When struggling ace starting pitcher Johnny Cueto was a no-show for a team appearance at a local BBQ joint, brows were raised and rumors were flying. The Royals claim it's much ado about nothing. (BBO-ROYALS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 410 words) - - Pirates plan to 'unplug' Cole for one start CINCINNATI - Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Gerrit Cole is now on track to pitch in the National League wild card game, if necessary. Manager Clint Hurdle says Cole will skip his next start in order to limit his innings. (BBO-PIRATES-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by John Perrotto, 425 words) - - White Sox considering major offseason changes CHICAGO - There is a healthy dose of discontent ruminating within the walls of U.S. Cellular Field about the White Sox's disappointing season, and that includes chairman Jerry Reinsdorf. (BBO-WHITESOX-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Brian Hedger, 410 words) - - MLB Notebook News and notes from around the diamond. (BBO-NOTEBOOK/, expect by 7 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 350 words) - - Today's MLB schedule at a glance - - American League Baltimore at New York Yankees, 7:05 PM ET (PIX) Tampa Bay at Detroit, 7:08 PM ET Toronto at Boston, 7:10 PM ET (PIX) Cleveland at Chicago White Sox, 8:10 PM ET Minnesota at Kansas City, 8:10 PM ET (PIX) Houston at Oakland, 10:05 PM ET (PIX) Texas at Seattle, 10:10 PM ET (PIX) - - National League Chicago Cubs at St. Louis, 1:45 PM ET (PIX) Atlanta at Philadelphia, 7:05 PM ET (PIX) New York Mets at Washington, 7:05 PM ET (PIX) Milwaukee at Miami, 7:10 PM ET Pittsburgh at Cincinnati, 7:10 PM ET (PIX) Colorado at San Diego, 9:10 PM ET (PIX) San Francisco at Arizona, 9:40 PM ET (PIX) - - Interleague Los Angeles Dodgers at Los Angeles Angels, 10:05 PM ET (PIX) - - MLB Roundup Running capsule recaps of all the games on the MLB schedule. (MLB-ROUNDUP/, expect first version ASAP after conclusion of the first game of the day, The Sports Xchange, 500 words) - - - - NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION Cavs sign C Kaun The Cleveland Cavaliers sign center Sasha Kaun to a contract. Terms were not released, but the deal reportedly is worth $2.5 million over two years. (BKN-CAVAIERS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 150 words) - - NBA roundup News and notes from around the NBA. (BKN-ROUNDUP/, expect by 7 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 280 words) - - - - NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE NHL roundup The latest news and notes from the NHL. (HKN-ROUNDUP/, expect by 7 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 350 words) - - - - SOCCER MLS's Garber hopes FIFA maintain hands-off approach to league MANCHESTER - Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber hopes that the next leader of FIFA will allow the North American league to continue with its unique business structure and not force it to fall in line with other leagues. (SOCCER-MLS/FIFA, moved, by Simon Evans, 438 words) - - Prince Ali back in the race to be FIFA president AMMAN - Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan is back in the race to be elected FIFA president having declared his candidacy four months after losing May's vote to Sepp Blatter. (SOCCER-FIFA/ALI (UPDATE 1, PIX, TV), moved, by Suleiman Al-Khalidi, 760 words) See also: Prince Ali's FIFA presidential candidacy speech (SOCCER-FIFA/ALI-SPEECH) Israeli soccer strike averted, play on Jewish Sabbath to go ahead (SOCCER-ISRAEL/ (UPDATE 1) - - - - AUTO RACING Haas pours cold water on American driver hopes LONDON - The new U.S.-owned Haas Formula One team pours cold water on hopes it could have an American race driver on board when it debuts next season. (MOTOR RACING-HAAS/, moved, by Alan Baldwin, 392 words) - - Stewart urges caution on closed cockpits LONDON - Three-time world champion Jackie Stewart is urging Formula One to tread carefully before making any decision about introducing closed cockpits in the wake of recent race tragedies, including the death of IndyCar driver Justin Wilson last month in Pennsylvania. (MOTOR RACING-COCKPITS/STEWART (INTERVIEW), moved, by Alan Baldwin, 695 words) - - Auto Racing Glance Capsule previews of the week ahead in auto racing, including the Sprint Cup at Richmond International Raceway. (CAR-PREVIEW/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Jerry Bonkowski, 450 words) - - Richmond surprise? Watch these guys Odds might say the 16 drivers in the Chase playoffs are essentially known, but don't rule out one of these drivers pulling an upset and crashing the party at Richmond International Raceway. (CAR-SPRINT-PREVIEW/, moved, The Sports Xchange, special from NASCAR Wire Service, 550 words) - - - - BOXING Mayweather and Berto discuss welterweight title bout LAS VEGAS - Undefeated five-division world champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. and fellow American Andre Berto hold a joint news conference ahead of their 12-round welterweight showdown at the MGM Grand on Saturday. We continue our build-up to what holder Mayweather (48-0) has said will be the final fight of his career. (BOXING-MAYWEATHER/ (PIX), expect by 7 PM ET, by Mark Lamport-Stokes, 450 words) - - - - JURISPRUDENCE N.J. man charged in $3.5 million fraud, impersonating Mets partner NEW YORK - The head of a New Jersey equipment leasing company is arrested and accused of impersonating the New York Mets chief operating officer and co-owner as part of a $3.5 million fraud. (USA-CRIME/METS, moved, by Nate Raymond, 344 words) - - - - SURFING Big wave surfer Shawn Dollar breaks neck while surfing off California coast LOS ANGELES - Top big-wave surfer Shawn Dollar breaks his neck while surfing in dangerous conditions off the central California coast, and remains hospitalized. (USA-PEOPLE/SHAWNDOLLAR, expect by 4 PM ET, 300 words) - - - - NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (Expect by 8 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words)