014 World Cup hopes could be jeopardized if first-team opportunitie

BALTIMORE -- The Toronto Blue Jays took a big step toward taking more command of the American League East on Monday night with a win over the Baltimore Orioles. Now the Jays will try and do a little more Tuesday.Toronto (75-56, a season-best 19 games above .500) holds a two-game lead over Boston and a four-game edge against Baltimore (71-60). The Jays and Orioles meet again in the middle game of the three-game series, and Toronto cant leave town any worse than two games ahead of Baltimore.You try to win every game from here on out, Toronto manager John Gibbons said after Mondays win. We always have battles with these guys. Any time you get that first game of the series, you always feel that much better.Toronto also gets a favorable pitching matcup Tuesday, sending out J.A. Happ (17-4, 3.19 ERA) against Ubaldo Jimenez (5-11, 6.62). Happ saw his 11-game winning streak end in his last outing, a 6-3 loss to the Angels on Aug. 25.Happ gave up four runs and six hits in five innings in the loss. Jimenez stepped in for Chris Tillman in the Baltimore rotation as hes on the disabled list with right shoulder bursitis, retroactive to Aug. 21. In his last start, Jimenez allowed just one run in six innings but took the loss as Washington posted a 4-0 victory last Thursday.Orioles manager Buck Showalter said before Mondays game that Tillman threw fine on flat ground and will go again Wednesday. Theyre hoping he can come off the DL close to the time hes scheduled to do so.As Gibbons said, this is the biggest time of the year for both teams. The Orioles and Blue Jays both will have chances to make noise in the division and fight for playoff spots.Showalter said his team is ready for the grind of the final five weeks.The last 30, 40 games are an eternity, Showalter said. Were just trying to do things to keep us involved in it. We have an opportunity ... to play meaningful games down the stretch.The Orioles also have been dealing with a number of injury issues in recent days. Setup man Darren ODay is on the disabled list for the second time this year (rotator cuff strain), and offensive spark-plug Adam Jones now has not played since Friday night because of a hamstring strain.The Orioles made the playoffs in 2012 and 2014 but missed out last year while Toronto won the division before losing to the World Series champion Kansas City Royals in the American League Championship Series. Baltimore remains in line at least for a shot at the wild-card game but is slipping back in the division race.Much of the final months games will be played inside the competitive American League East as the Jays are fighting the Orioles and Boston for the division title and/or a wild-card berth.Gibbons likes the schedule working out this way. He thinks its probably what tells the true story.Thats (how) it ought to be, Gibbons said.Johnny Boychuk Islanders Jersey . All of the scoring came in the final 20:04. Lucic scored on a power play at 15:46 of the third period, when he tipped a shot over Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen for a 3-1 lead. Mike Bossy Islanders Jersey . The giant slalom world champion slipped during her first run in the morning, landing on her back and then twisting forward before getting her leg caught in the protective material on the side of the slope. http://www.islanderssale.com/authentic-brock-nelson-islanders-jersey/ . LOUIS -- Cardinals cleanup hitter Allen Craig says hes recovered from a foot injury and ready to be put on St. Mike Bossy Jersey . Cote was eligible to become a free agent Feb. 15. Cote helped running back Jon Cornish run for a league-high 1,813 rushing yards en route to being named the leagues most outstanding player. New York Islanders Jerseys . Gerald Green and Miles Plumlee? Green had bounced around the NBA when he wasnt playing overseas. The Pacers gave up on Plumlee after just one season. Now Green and Plumlee are key cogs in the Suns surprising breakout season.LONDON -- Chelseas audacious bid to sign striker Wayne Rooney from Manchester United has been rejected by the Premier League champions. The 27-year-old Rooney has been pushing for a move since expressing his frustration to the club about his lack of playing time towards the end of last season. But both Alex Ferguson and David Moyes, who succeeded his fellow Scot as manager in May, have insisted Rooney is not for sale since he has two years left on his contract. Despite those public statements, Chelsea has maintained its pursuit of the England striker, culminating in a formal bid submitted to its Premier League rival. The London club was moved to confirm the bid to deny reports that it had offered midfielder Juan Mata or defender David Luiz as part of a 10 million pound ($15 million) offer. "Chelsea Football Club can confirm that yesterday it made a written offer to Manchester United for the transfer of Wayne Rooney," Chelsea said in a statement. "Although the terms of the offer are confidential, for avoidance of doubt ... the proposed purchase price does not include the transfer or loan of any players from Chelsea to Manchester United." Rooney also sought to leave United in 2010 but backed down after negotiating a new and improved contract with the club.dddddddddddd Back then, despite underperforming at the 2010 World Cup, Rooney was widely considered among the worlds top strikers. Now, he is no longer the No. 1 choice at United, slipping behind striker Robin van Persie at Old Trafford last season and often playing in central midfield. "He is a little bit frustrated at being taken off," Ferguson said in May when revealing Rooneys transfer request before retiring. Neither Rooney nor his management team has disputed Fergusons version of events or said the player is committed to United. Moyes wants to keep Rooney. "If for any reason we had an injury to Robin van Persie we are going to need him, and I want as many options as possible," Moyes said at the weekend. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has also lavished praise on Rooney and said Englands 2014 World Cup hopes could be jeopardized if first-team opportunities are limited at United. "If Wayne is a second choice for Man United, then the national team will be affected," Mourinho told the BBC on Tuesday. Adding to the intrigue about Rooneys future was news that United vice chairman Ed Woodward was flying back to England early from the Australia leg of the clubs pre-season tour to conduct undisclosed transfer business. ' ' '