Fragen zum Forum » red Allen gone, Carolina will need Ealy to step up an

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Texas Rangers, in dire need of effective starting pitching, will turn to veteran Kyle Lohse in Saturdays game against Minnesota.Lohse will have his contract purchased from Triple-A Round Rock and be added to the roster on Saturday.The right-handed Lohse is not expected to be a 37-year-old savior for the Rangers depleted rotation, but he will be asked to bring a level of competency.This is a league that we need professional starts, Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. Were going to find where those professional starts are for us. This is a production league.Nick Martinez (1-2, 6.45 ERA) was originally scheduled to start Saturday against Minnesotas Ricky Nolasco (3-7, 5.26).But the Rangers announced after Friday nights 6-5 win over the Twins that Martinez would be optioned to Double-A Frisco and Lohse brought up.Lohse was signed to a minor-league contract on May 14 and had been in the mix to take the place of one of the Rangers three injured starters: Yu Darvish, Colby Lewis and Derek Holland.Lohse is 2-5 with a 5.06 ERA in 10 games at Round Rock. However, its his 15 years of major league experience the Rangers are counting on.In the majors, Lohse is 147-141 with a 4.37 ERA. Hes started 416 big league games for the Twins, Reds, Phillies, Cardinals and most recently the Brewers (2013-15).Were going to give an opportunity for Lohse to come up here and take his hand at giving us the best professional start he possibly can, Banister said.The Rangers also sent starter Chi Chi Gonzalez back to Triple-A Round Rock on Friday. Like the struggling Martinez, Gonzalez had another ineffective performance Thursday.Look, were going to need five starters, Banister said. The two guys going down today, theyre obviously still in that mix for us to be able to start. But obviously weve got to be better in that category. Better than we have been lately.The Twins lineup showed some potency in Fridays loss. Miguel Sano hit a three-run blast and Kennys Vargas hit two doubles.The Twins were able to send Rangers ace Cole Hamels to an early exit for the second time in a week. But they werent able to capitalize late against a stingy Texas bullpen.Winnable game. We kind of beat ourselves the second half of the game, Twins manager Paul Molitor said.We made Hamels work. I dont think hell say he was as sharp as hes been the last couple starts, but you get a guy up that high in pitch count through five, you did a nice job. We got a couple big hits there, Kurt (Suzuki) put one in play and then took advantage there. Miguel (Sano) hit a first-pitch changeup, which put us on top.The Twins will likely be without center fielder Byron Buxton, who suffered a right knee contusion after crashing into the wall in the first inning of Fridays game. The Twins classified Buxton as day-to-day.After the game, Buxton sounded confident that the injury is nothing more than a bone bruise. He wont know for sure until an MRI is performed Saturday.Pretty confident, Buxton said. I never want to go into thinking something negative, so keep positive thoughts and just try to get back as quick as possible and help us win some games. Wholesale New Balance Shoes . 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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Cam Newton turned in an MVP performance last season while leading the Carolina Panthers to the Super Bowl -- and he didnt even have his favorite wide receiver.So theres plenty of curiosity over what the leagues highest-scoring team can accomplish this year with Kelvin Benjamin returning from a torn ACL.Benjamin caught 73 passes for 1,008 yards and nine touchdowns as a rookie in 2014 before surgery. Hes back now, and will start alongside second-year wideout Devin Funchess, who replaces veteran Jerricho Cotchery following an impressive training camp.Along with Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen and deep threat Ted Ginn Jr., who accounted for 10 TD receptions in 2015, Newton has plenty of options in the passing game.Benjis coming back with a vengeance -- and I mean it, Newton said earlier this offseason. And not only that, hes challenged more so from the production that Ted Ginn has had, the production that Fun (Funchess) has had, that Philly (Brown), that Greg (Olsen), everybody.Rivera said Benjamins return is exciting, but he wants to make sure Newton doesnt lock in too much on the big man.Everyone has to understand that last year a lot of guys established who they are in this league, Rivera said. I think those (other) guys really took another step. I think our offense has to continue to grow and take steps. I know a couple years ago we were really heavy at getting the ball at Kelvin and I would love to continue to see us spread it because it will only open things up for everyone else.That includes the running game.Jonathan Stewart returns to anchor a group that has rushed for at least 100 yards in an NFL-best 32 straight games, including the playoffs. Cameron Artis-Payne and Fozzy Whittaker will see action in the backfield along with fullback Mike Tolbert.Newton, of course, is a threat all by himself.The Panthers have turned the read-option into a dangerous weapon behind the powerful 6-foot-5, 245-pound quarterback. With one more rushing touchdown Newton will move past Steve Young for the most ever by a quarterback.Some things to watch this season for the Panthers:ROOKIE CORNERBACKS: The Panthers are expected to start rookies James Bradberry and Daryl Worley at cornerback after losing All-Pro Josh Norman to free agency and Charles Tillman to retirement..dddddddddddd. Thats a lot of pressure on young players, considering they will face Drew Brees, Matt Ryan and Jameis Winston each twice this season.However, its clear the Panthers arent looking back at the decision to remove the franchise tag on Norman with any trepidation.Football is the truest of all team games, Gettleman said. It takes 53 guys. ... I dont subscribe to the one-player-away theory. I dont believe in it. Lets find out.KUECHLY AND COMPANY: Behind middle linebacker Luke Kuechly, the Panthers led the league in takeaways last season with 39, with 24 coming on interceptions. The Panthers scored an NFL-leading 148 points off turnovers in 2015, shattering a franchise record.The takeaways often provided short fields for Newton to work with on the ensuing possession.EALYS TIME TO SHINE: After an incredible Super Bowl in which he had three sacks and forced two turnovers by Peyton Manning, defensive end Kony Ealy is looking to carry that success over to 2016.Ealy had steadily improved throughout his second season in the league, culminating in the big game against the Broncos. But with Jared Allen gone, Carolina will need Ealy to step up and be a pass-rushing force playing opposite Charles Johnson. Johnson has something to prove after missing all of last season with a hamstring and returning to the team after taking a $6 million pay cut to return to the team.RED-ZONE EFFICIENCY: The Panthers started off 14-0 last season in large part due to their red zone offense, converting 68.3 percent of their attempts into touchdowns -- second-best in the league. Newton was near perfect inside the opponents 20-yard line, tossing 24 touchdown passes with no interceptions.That number could go up this season as the 6- 5, 250-pound Benjamin figures to be a big weapon near the goal line given his height advantage over smaller cornerbacks and his jumping ability.NEWTONS MILESTONES: Newton needs 996 yards passing and four touchdown passes to set franchise career records.Nationally, hes the only player in NFL history to record five seasons with at least 3,000 yards passing and 400 yards rushing.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '