Reuters U.S. Sports Schedule at 2 PM ET on Thursday, Oct. 31

Oct. 31 (Reuters) - Reuters U.S. sports schedule at 2 PM ET on Thursday: - - - - The duty editor is Steve Ginsburg, 202-898-8427 - - - - MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL NEW YORK - Major League Baseball caps off season with strange yet stirring World Series won by Boston Red Sox over a St. Louis Cardinals team that has cause for optimism moving forward. (BASEBALL-WORLDSERIES/, expect by 2300 GMT/7 PM ET, by Larry Fine, 600 words) Free agency preview: Cano is name to know Free agency floodgates are open, but there is only one superstar hitting market - New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano. (BBO-YANKEES-NEWS, including team-by-team free agent list and outlook, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Rick Kaplan, 3,900 words) - - - - NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE Bengals at Dolphins MIAMI - Winless since 3-0 start, Miami Dolphins host Cincinnati Bengals, who are rolling with QB Andy Dalton airing it out. (FBN-DOLPHINS-BENGALS-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU, expect after 0030 GMT/8:30 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, by Walter Villa, 400-word first lede, 750-word writethru) + See also: - FBN-DOLPHINS-BENGALS-NOTEBOOK, expect by 2130 GMT/1.30 AM ET, The Sports Xchange, by Walter Villa, 400 words - FBN-DOLPHINS-NEWS, moved, The Sports Xchange, 440 words - FBN-BENGALS-NEWS, moved, The Sports Xchange, 150 words) Game Scout: Bears at Packers Aaron Rodgers could continue his recent run of success against Chicago Bears, especially if he gets WR James Jones back from knee injury for the Monday night rivalry game. (FBN-PACKERS-BEARS-NOTEBOOK, expect by 1800 GMT/6 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, by Jeff Reynolds, 410 words) Saints reap bountiful rewards from revived defense METAIRIE, La. - Rob Ryan has things going on that side of ball with unit that ranks 12th in allowing 332.4 yards a game -- more than 100 yards fewer per game than they did in setting NFL single-season record of 440.1 yards per game year ago -- coach Sean Payton isn't getting too far ahead of himself. (FBN-SAINTS-NEWS, expect by 1900 GMT/3 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 600 words) Kelly, Eagles support QB Foles PHILADELPHIA - Quarterback Nick Foles admits he laid egg in his most recent outing. Coach Chip Kelly says he doesn't expect his second-year passer to fold against Raiders. (FBN-EAGLES-NEWS, moved, The Sports Xchange, 570 words) Where's the D in Dallas? IRVING, Texas - On track to set records for defensive futility, Dallas Cowboys might have drawn matchup with Minnesota at just right time. (FBN-COWBOYS-NEWS, moved, The Sports Xchange, 603 words) RG3 on Washington's struggles: 'It sucks' ASHBURN, Va. - Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III is well off record pace he set as rookie. Inconsistency "sucks" but RG3 says all is not lost in Washington. (FBN-REDSKINS-NEWS, moved, The Sports Xchange, 835 words) Browns' Campbell boils to top of QB soup BEREA, Ohio - Jason Campbell takes reins of Cleveland Browns' offense, and franchise hopes he can bring much-needed stability. (FBN-BROWNS-NEWS, moved, The Sports Xchange, 445 words) Titans must be rude guests in Fisher's new house NASHVILLE, Tenn. - St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher is well removed from his Tennessee Titans days - totaling 17 years of service -- but will find physical team on other side of field this weekend made in blueprint he would have approved. (FBN-TITANS-RAMS-NEWS, moved, The Sports Xchange, 445 words) NFL notebook Latest news and notes from around the league. (FBN-NOTEBOOK/, expect by 2300 GMT/7 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 500 words) - - - - NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION Celtics dig in for big rebuild TORONTO - While Boston Red Sox end their season with party and World Series title, Celtics begin new NBA campaign and what is expected to be long, painful rebuild with loss. (NBA-CELTICS/, moved, by Steve Keating, 775 words) The Sports Xchange covers all NBA games. Key matchups outlined below. Knicks at Bulls CHICAGO - For first time since April 2012, Derrick Rose will play in front of home fans at United Center, unless what coach Tom Thibodeau describes as "body" injury keeps him out against New York Knicks. (BKN-KNICKS-BULLS-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU, expect after 0000 GMT/8 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, 400-word first lede, 750-word writethru) Warriors at Clippers LOS ANGELES - Doc Rivers and Clippers get their own opener - Tuesday's loss to Lakers was away game - at Staples Center against high-scoring Golden State. (BKN-CLIPPERS-WARRIORS-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU, expect after 0230 GMT/10.30 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - - - GOLF McIlroy shoots clear of the WGC field SHANGHAI - Rory McIlroy enjoys one of his better rounds of disappointing season to storm into two-shot lead over star-studded field at $8.5 million WGC-HSBC Champions tournament. (GOLF-PGA/ (PIX), moved, by Andrew Both, 600 words) McIlroy: Pundit was out of line with remarks about Woods SHANGHAI - Golf Channel television pundit Brandel Chamblee was out of order earlier this month when he implied world No. 1 Tiger Woods cheated, Rory McIlroy says. (GOLF-PGA/CHAMBLEE, moved, by Andrew Both, 325 words) Dyson risks European Tour expulsion for Shanghai violation SHANGHAI - Six-time winner Simon Dyson could be expelled from European Tour after rules violation at last week's BMW Masters, golf officials say. (GOLF-EUROPEAN/DYSON, moved, by Andrew Both, 275 words) - - - - NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE The Sports Xchange covers all NHL games. Key matchups outlined below. Ducks at Bruins BOSTON - Anaheim is out for its fourth straight win in middle of eight-game road trip. (HKN-BRUINS-DUCKS-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU, expect after 2300 GMT/7 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) Sabres at Rangers NEW YORK - Rangers return to Madison Square Garden for their second home game of season against rebuilding Buffalo. (HKN-RANGERS-SABRES-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU, expect after 2300 GMT/7 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, by Everett Merrill, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) Predators at Coyotes PHOENIX - Nashville begins seven-game road trip but Phoenix Coyotes (8-3-2) chase their third straight win. (HKN-COYOTES-PREDATORS-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU, expect after 0200 GMT/10 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - - - SOCCER Major League Soccer HOUSTON - Houston and Montreal meet for fourth time this season for right to advance to MLS playoffs. (SOC-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU, expect after 0030 GMT/8.30 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - - - TENNIS Isner bounced at Masters by Djokovic Novak Djokovic dispenses with Darth Vader mask but still proves too daunting an adversary for American John Isner as he reaches Paris Masters quarter-finals with a 6-7(5) 6-1 6-2 victory. (TENNIS-MEN/MASTERS, moved; will be led, by Julien Pretot, 400 words) - - - - NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (Expect by 0001 GMT/8.01 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words)