drug testing in a number of ex-Soviet countries with some

Thursday brings yet another abbreviated slate, with six early games and four late ones. Fortunately, there is a pair of aces at the top, and the middle tier has a variety of worthy options. Its not the best Thursday slate weve seen, but its not the worst, either.PitchingEliteNoah Syndergaard leads the way on Thursday with a home date against the Diamondbacks. The 23-year-old has seemingly faded a bit of late. Over his last seven starts, he sports a 3.99 ERA and 1.57 WHIP. Hes also pitched past the sixth inning just once in his last eight outings. Then again, Syndergaard still has elite skills, and his matchup against Arizona is extremely favorable. The Diamondbacks have been well below average versus right-handed pitching this season (87 wRC+), and a 23 percent whiff rate presents plenty of upside for Syndergaard and his 10.9 K/9. The Mets righty will be tough to fade in cash games if youre playing early or all-day slates.Corey Kluber?also cracks the elite tier with a home tilt against the Angels. However, that has more to do with Klubers effectiveness than this being a favorable matchup. Despite owning one of the worst records in the American League, the Angels lineup has the lowest strikeout rate in baseball (15 percent) and has done plenty of damage since the All-Star break (110 wRC+). For his part, Kluber has also dominated in the second half, sporting a 1.55 ERA since the break. Good pitching can silence good hitting, and Kluber is one of the most talented pitchers on the docket, so dont completely overlook him because of the tough matchup. He also gets a boost considering Syndergaard isnt eligible for the late slate.SolidOver 97 innings as a starter this year, Danny Duffy owns a 2.96 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 10.3 K/9. Somehow, hes still a free agent in over 20 percent of ESPN.com leagues. Against a White Sox offense thats been slumping since the break (84 wRC+), Duffy has to be considered one of the days top cash plays. When the southpaw last faced the Sox in early June, he tossed six shutout innings of three-hit ball with 10 Ks.The Cubs may be entering Wednesdays action with a 12-game lead in the NL Central, but dont expect them to take their foot off the pedal when the Cardinals visit Wrigley Field this week. Jon Lester takes ball for the Cubs on Thursday and will look to set the tone. While the Cardinals have scored the third-most runs in baseball, theyve been well below average against lefty pitching this season. Id rather pay up for Syndergaard in the all-day slate based on the strikeout upside, but Lester is a viable option, too.Opposing Lester in the Cardinals/Cubs rivalry is Carlos Martinez. It goes without saying that this is a tough matchup for the St. Louis right-hander, as the Cubs feature one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball. But they also strike out a lot. Martinez isnt missing as many bats as years past, but he still sports a decent 8.4 career K/9 and has swing-and-miss type stuff. Im staying away from him in cash games, but hes worth tournament consideration.Based on the combination of skill and matchup, rookie Jameson Taillon is one of the days most intriguing options. The right-hander has delivered five straight quality starts with a 2.40 ERA across them. He also has 28 Ks and just one walk in those five outings. Better yet, Thursdays matchup pits him against the Padres, who strike out 24 percent of the time versus righties and have one of the weakest lineups in baseball. Taillon has pitched more than six innings just once in nine starts and has yet to strike out more than seven. However, if there were a time for a breakout performance, this is it.StreamersWere digging deep here, but Braden Shipley is also worth consideration if youre streaming starters and are in need of innings. The rookie has just 17 big league innings under his belt and has walked more guys than hes struck out, so theres certainly risk here. That said, after getting roughed up his first time out, hes allowed just two combined runs over his last two starts, and he gets a Mets team thats done little offensively since the break (85 wRC+).AvoidMichael Pineda has flashed greatness at times this season, and his 10.7 K/9 is enticing. Im going nowhere near him against the Red Sox, though. The Red Sox clobber right-handed pitching (115 wRC+), and they dont strike out enough (18 percent) to give Pineda any appeal as a GPP option.HittingThe highest hitter rating of the day goes to the Braves, who square off against Matt Garza. The right-hander has had a rough go of it this season, as he holds a 5.03 ERA and 1.53 WHIP over 10 starts. The Braves have one of the weakest lineups in baseball, but even they can take advantage of a matchup like this. Freddie Freeman, Matt Kemp and Nick Markakis are all on the radar here.Jose Berrios has a very bright future ahead of him, but right now hes someone to target hitters against. The rookie right-hander has made six big league starts this season, and those six starts have seen him post an 8.31 ERA and 1.69 WHIP. Berrios has particularly struggled against right-handed hitters, who have bashed him for a .489 wOBA. It just so happens that the Astros are very right-handed, making this a great stacking opportunity with Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, Alex Bregman, George Springer and Evan Gattis all in play.It usually pays to target hitters against Chad Bettis when hes at Coors Field (5.37 ERA), but he hasnt been much better on the road (4.95 ERA), either. Bettis has shown reverse splits in his career, surrendering a .368 wOBA to righty bats. With the Rangers on the docket, Ian Desmond, Adrian Beltre and Jonathan Lucroy all offer plenty of appeal.Also consider targeting Orioles hitters against Andrew Triggs, one of the lowest-ranked pitchers of the day. The righty is making just his second start of the season, and hes been hit hard in relief by both right- and left-handed hitters. There are plenty of intriguing options in this one, including Adam Jones, Chris Davis, Manny Machado and Mark Trumbo.Most likely to go yard: Carlos CorreaLets keep this simple: Berrios has been tattooed by right-handed hitters this season, and Correa has hit 14 of his 15 homers this year off righties. The young slugger makes it 15 of 16 on Thursday.Most likely to swipe a bag: Jean SeguraSyndergaard is a stud, but hes also allowed 32 stolen bases this year, 12 more than any other pitcher. Go ahead and pencil in a stolen base for Segura in this one. Axel Witsel Belgium Jersey . LOUIS -- Heading into the final stretch of the season, the issues for the Chicago Bears banged-up defence only seem to be getting worse. Leander Dendoncker Belgium Jersey . "Theyve both been real good," said Babcock. "Havent changed our minds." A decision has seemingly been made - Sundays Group B-deciding tilt against Finland ahead - but it could not have been an easy one. Price opened the tournament with a sturdy 19-save performance against the Norwegians, yielding just one goal. http://www.soccerbelgiumteamonline.com/Marouane-Fellaini-UEFA-European-Belgium-Jersey/ . A forerunning sled crashed into the worker Thursday at the Sanki Sliding Center. The unidentified worker broke both legs and was airlifted to a nearby hospital. Adnan Januzaj Belgium Jersey . Ouellette, from Montreal, already has three Olympic gold medals since joining the team in 1999. Michy Batshuayi Belgium Jersey . The 29-year-old from Port Colborne, Ont., has nothing but good things to say about former U.S. marine Liz (Girlrilla) Carmouche ahead of their co-main event Wednesday on the UFCs "Fight for the Troops" televised card in Fort Campbell, Ky. RIO DE JANEIRO -- The Latest on the Rio Games (all times local to Rio de Janeiro):7:45 p.m.United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for the Olympic Truce to be upheld during the Rio de Janeiro Games from Aug. 5-21.Ban, calling on all Olympic athletes and officials to work closely for global harmony and peace, said in a video news release on Tuesday that in that spirit, we proclaim the Olympic Truce and we call on all warring parties to lay down their weapons and put aside their differences during the games.The Olympic Truce dates back to ancient Greece. Its aim was to ensure that the host city was not attacked and that athletes and spectators could travel safely to the games, before returning to their respective countries.The U.N. adopts a resolution before each Summer and Winter Olympics calling for the truce to be instituted, although it has not always been upheld.---7:25 p.m.Brazilian soccer star Neymar says the problems at the athletes village could harm the preparations of some Olympic competitors at the Rio Games.If this is all true, we have to lament it. We had so much time to get everything ready, but some things didnt work out, he said as Brazils mens team prepares for the Olympic tournament.I hope they fix all the problems, he said. Its complicated for athletes to come from abroad and realize that their accommodation is not in good condition. You prepare three years of your life to be in the Olympics and then something like this ends up hurting you. Its not nice. I hope they can fix everything and that everybody can be happyBrazils mens team is preparing for the games at a training camp in the mountain city of Teresopolis on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro.---7:10 p.m.The Court of Arbitration for Sport has opened two temporary offices in Rio de Janeiro to handle doping cases at the games.Usually used as a higher court after an initial sanction of an athlete, CAS says for the first time in the history of the Olympic Games it will be used as a first-instance authority.In a statement, CAS says it will adjudicate on doping cases after hearing the parties concerned and may also impose provisional suspensions pending the conclusion of the procedure.Based in Lausanne, Switzerland, CAS first opened local offices at Olympics for the Atlanta Games in 1996.---6:35 p.m.Rowing Australia has welcomed the decision by FISA, rowings ruling body, to award its womens eight team a place at the Rio Games, after deciding that the Russian team was ineligible.FISA announced earlier Tuesday that Russian boats in four categories were being withdrawn from the games, following strict anti-doping criteria announced by the IOC in the wake of allegations of widespread doping and cover-ups in Russia.Russias rowing spots are going to Australia, Greece and two teams from Italy, FISA said.Rob Scott, chairman of Rowing Australia, says the decision, handed down by FISA today, is an incredible boost for Australian womens sweep rowing and womens rowing in general.---5:40 p.m.Brazils starting goalkeeper for the mens soccer tournament has injured his right elbow and could miss the teams final warmup match ahead of the Rio Games.Fernando Prass did not practice on Tuesday after complaining of pain in his elbow and it remains unclear whether he will be fit to play the friendly against Japan on Saturday. The 38-year-old Palmeiras player will be re-evaluated daily.Prass was one of the players older than 23 selected for Brazils squad, under Olympic soccer rules.Brazils opening game at the Olympics is against South Africa on Aug. 4 in Brasilia.---2:50 p.m.The worlds rowing federation has rejected 22 of the 28 rowers that Russia entered into the Olympics.In an announcement Tuesday, the federation said none of the 28 rowers have tested positive in the last five years.But the federation acknowledged the Disappearing Positive Methodology that independent investigator Richard McLaren found was used to make some positive tests go away. It analyzed the rowers international tests and determined that all but six failed to meet the criteria set by the IOC.---1:45 p.m.World Sailing says a Russian sailor has been excluded from the Rio Olympics because his name was implicated in an alleged doping cover-up scheme.Pavel Sozykin, who was due to compete in the 470 class, was named in a report by World Anti-Doping Agency investigator Richard McLaren as an alleged beneficiary of the cover-up scheme, World Sailing said.Russia will be able to nominate a replacement for Sozykins place in the 470, which is a two-person boat class.The other six athletes on the Russian team were approved.So far this week, 11 other Russian athletes in swimming, canoeing, rowing and modern pentathlon have been excluded from Rio on the basis of McLarens findings.dddddddddddd--12:55 p.m.The International Judo Federation says it has approved Russias judo team to compete at the Olympics.Federations are required to examine the drug-testing history of Russian Olympic athletes, and to check if they were implicated in the alleged doping cover-up involving government officials.The IJF says that it continues to support the participation of all Russian athletes qualified for the Rio Olympic Games and that they were all tested a number of times ahead of the Olympics.The list of 11 Russian athletes approved by the IJF must now be submitted to an arbitrator from the Court of Arbitration for Sport.The IJF is widely seen as close to Russia on sports policy issues. Its honorary president is Russian President Vladimir Putin.---12:45 p.m.The umbrella body for summer Olympic sports says the Russian doping scandals have been misused for media exposure and political influence at the expense of the Rio Games.The Association of Summer Olympic International Federations criticizes what it calls important voices, both within and outside the Olympic movement for allegedly exploiting Russian doping for their own ends.The ASOIF statement suggests that it would have been better to act on the interim report of World Anti-Doping Agency investigator Richard McLaren, which alleged a massive cover-up of Russian doping cases, after the games in Rio.The International Olympic Committee on Sunday decided against a blanket ban for Russia in light of the McLaren report, but tightened entry criteria for Russian athletes.---10:55 a.m.The leader of the U.S. Olympic Committee says the IOCs concerns about individual justice are well-founded but must be applied to benefit athletes who compete against state-sponsored doping systems.In a statement released after the IOCs decision to not ban the entire Russian Olympic contingent, Scott Blackmun said if the individual sports enforce the conditions established by the IOC for entry and the IOC makes sure those conditions are met, then it would be a step in the right direction.Blackmun also reiterated what hes said all summer: that the system is flawed and in need of reform.---10:15 a.m.The International Shooting Sport Federation has cleared all 18 members of the Russian team to compete at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.The ISSF says none of the 18 previously served doping bans and none were mentioned in World Anti-Doping Agency investigator Richard McLarens recent report into alleged Russian doping cover-ups.---10 a.m.Two Russian modern pentathlon athletes have been barred from the Rio de Janeiro Olympics after being implicated in an alleged doping cover-up.The International Modern Pentathlon Union says that Maxim Kustov and Ilya Frolov were mentioned in World Anti-Doping Agency investigator Richard McLarens report last week as having allegedly had positive tests covered up by Russian authorities.Kustov had been entered for the Russian team, with Frolov as a reserve, and both will now be excluded, the UIPM says. Latvian athlete Ruslan Nakonechny replaces Kustov in the mens event.The UIPM, which approved Russias other three entries, says it is fully committed in the fight against doping.---9 a.m.Heading into the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, the World Anti-Doping Agency has warned there is insufficient drug testing in a number of ex-Soviet countries with some of the worlds worst doping records.Asked about countries including Ukraine, Belarus and Central Asian states, WADA spokeswoman Maggie Durand told The Associated Press by email that there is a need to increase testing capacity in all of these regions and we are working with these countries to ensure more testing is occurring.Many ex-Soviet countries conducted few tests in 2014, the last year for which worldwide figures are available, with just two tests all year in Ukraine.Durand says Azerbaijans anti-doping activities have not been progressing to the level that one would expect.---8:45 a.m.Olympic champion Alexander Dyachenko and four other Russian canoeists have been barred from competing at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics after being named in a recent report alleging a state-sponsored doping cover-up.The International Canoe Federation said that the five were mentioned in World Anti-Doping Agency investigator Richard McLarens report last week, which specifically detailed how Russian state officials allegedly intervened to cover up hundreds of failed drug tests. 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