Some of the sports stories The Associated Press is covering Wednesday. A full Sports Digest will be sent by about 3 p.m. All times EDT:- CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs are headed to their second straight NLCS. This time, theyre hoping for a different result. The Cubs, with the best record in the majors and a championship drought dating to 1908, will meet the Los Angeles Dodgers or Washington Nationals, after scoring four runs in the ninth inning Tuesday to knock out the San Francisco Giants in a thrilling division series.- WASHINGTON -- After the Los Angeles Dodgers started Clayton Kershaw on short rest to stay alive in the NL Division Series, the Washington Nationals are glad to have Cy Young Award candidate Max Scherzer on the mound for Thursdays deciding Game 5 at home. A showdown with the Chicago Cubs is at stake.- Going on the road on a short week against a division rival is usually a challenge for most teams. For the Denver Broncos, it is extra difficult this week. Coming off their first loss of the season, the Broncos will be without head coach Gary Kubiak when they go on the road to face the reeling San Diego Chargers on Thursday night.- SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Making the switch at quarterback Blaine Gabbert to Colin Kaepernick wont dramatically change the offense for the San Francisco 49ers. The hope for the Niners is it will change results.- Big games for sure. But must wins? Far from it. If No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Ohio State are going to lose this season, this would be an excellent week to do so.- GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The Southeastern Conference could have a record number of first-round picks in the 2017 NFL draft. Yes, its early and the big event is still six months away. But with mock drafts being updated weekly, its becoming clear that the SEC is loaded with top NFL talent. There might even be more than ever before.- CLEMSON, S.C. -- North Carolina State is looking to turn the Atlantic Coast Conference from a runaway into a free-for-all. Halfway through the season, powerhouse No. 3 Clemson (6-0, 3-0 ACC) is a heavy favorite for a second straight ACC title and berth in College Football Playoffs. But the Tigers path back, starting with North Carolina State (4-1, 1-0) on Saturday, is crowded with ACC speed bumps -- both in the Atlantic and Coastal divisions.- CHICAGO -- NHL MVP Patrick Kane and the Blackhawks take on Vladimir Tarasenko and the St. Louis Blues in the season opener for each team. St. Louis eliminated Chicago in seven games in the first round of the playoffs last season. Game starts 8 p.m.- SAN JOSE, Calif. -- The defending Western Conference champion San Jose Sharks open the season against the rival Los Angeles Kings. Game starts 10:30 p.m.- ARLINGTON, Va. -- Itll sting a little bit for the Washington Capitals to watch the Pittsburgh Penguins raise the Stanley Cup banner to the rafters in their season opener Thursday night. The Capitals have been the visitors on banner night before, but this is different since the Penguins beat them in the playoffs on the way to the Cup.- New Orleans loses a game, and the Pelicans lose Anthony Davis as well. Davis sprains an ankle in a preseason loss to the Houston Rockets in China, though early indications suggest there isnt much cause for concern.- NAPA, Calif. -- Two weeks after a Ryder Cup victory where Phil Mickelson had the most at stake, he plays in the Safeway Open and tries to win something on his own. Cheap Authentic Shoes From China . -- Quarterback Will Finch threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns, and Yannick Harou rushed in two scores as the No. Cheap Authentic Shoes Online . -- Al Jefferson found a groove just in time for the Charlotte Bobcats. http://www.cheapauthenticshoes.com/ . Sulaiman, 44, was chosen unanimously Tuesday in a vote by the leadership, the World Boxing Council said. Sulaiman becomes the sixth president of the organization. Cheap Authentic Shoes Free Shipping . PETERSBURG, Fla. Cheap Authentic Shoes Wholesale . Haas said he "felt a lot of pain" in his right shoulder when he slammed his racket to the ground in frustration after losing his serve at 3-3 in the first set.We asked Matt Le Tissier to pass judgement on which Manchester City players Pep Guardiola will want to keep when he takes over in the summer. City crashed out of the Champions League with an uninspiring second-leg performance at Real Madrid on Wednesday night, meaning Manuel Pellegrinis reign ends with just a Capital One Cup trophy to show for his final season.They are now battling just to qualify for Europes top-tier competition next season, with a potentially decisive showdown with Arsenal on Super Sunday, live on Sky Sports 1HD from 4pm. Le Tiss predicts Find out what Le Tiss is predicting for Man City v Arsenal here. Heres a look at which players Le Tiss expects to stay and leave when Guardiola arrives...GOALKEEPERSJoe Hart - Pep will be looking at which players are Champions League standard and Joe Hart certainly meets that criteria. KeepWilly Caballero - I think Pep will want a better back-up that can really push Hart for his starting place. Let goDEFENDERSBacary Sagna - Hes proven this season that hes the best right-back at the club with a really solid campaign. KeepPablo Zabaleta - The Premier Leagues best right-back in his day, but he looks past the peak of his powers, with age and injury problems seeing him lose that yard of pace. Let goVincent Kompany - Theres no doubt Pep will want to keep him but more importantly hell want to find a way to keep him fit. KeepEliaquim Mangala - Once again Pep will be looking at whether his centre-backs are good enough to be in a Champions League winning side and none of their other three meet that criteria. Let go Mangala and Otamendi struggle to contain Jamie Vardy Nicolas Otamendi - The same applies for Otamendi. Hes not proven to be worth the transfer fee they splashed out for him. Let goMartin Demichelis - Hes another one thats on the wrong side of his best years at 35, as we saw with his performance against Manchester United. Let goAleksandar Kolarov - I actually like Citys left-back options, with a good balance of having Kolarov for the games that they can control and where he can get forward. KeepGael Clichy - Clichy has the pace and defensive skill set for him to be trusted in the big games against dangerous wingers. KeepMIDFIELDERSFernando - Hes done alright, nothing spectacular, and I think Pep will keep him as backup and as somebody to bring on to help see games out. KeepFernandinho - Hes similar, not just by name, in that he does a decent job.dddddddddddd He rarely stands out but doesnt have many bad games either. KeepFabian Delph - I think Pep will probably want to keep two of three three central-midfielders and Delph is perhaps the one hed allow to leave. Let goJesus Navas - Hes not for me. I dont think hes a Pep player either. His end product isnt great as a poor crosser and an absolutely woeful finisher. Let go Jesus Navas scores his only goal since September 2014 Samir Nasri - I think hell get a chance after a long injury. Hes got good quality and has shown glipses of it since returning and is the type of player Guardiola might like. KeepDavid Silva - Hes not been up to his usual standards, struggling to get on the scoresheet this season, but hes still managed double figures in assists. KeepKevin de Bruyne - Hes exactly the sort of player Guardiola will like and will definitely be an important player for him next season. Keep Pick your team Aguero? Ozil? De Bruyne? Pick your Fantasy Six-a-Side team for the chance to win ￡10,000 FORWARDSRaheem Sterling - I think hell give him a chance but only one season to deliver. If hes as inconsisntent next season then I dont see him being regular, but hes still young enough to improve. KeepSergio Aguero - Hes one of the best in the Premier League so will definitely stay. However, he hasnt managed a single shot on target in his last five Champions League games, which is shocking for a player of his quality, although that is perhaps as much down to his team-mates. Keep Wilfried Bony has four goals in 25 Premier League appearances Wilfied Bony - I think Pep will want a better quality back up striker to push Aguero and Bony hasnt delivered in his chances. Hes not looked the same player as he did at Swansea. Let goKelechi Iheanacho - Ive been impressed with him this season. He hasnt been given loads of chances but when he has hes taken them, with an impressive goals-per-minutes ratio. He scored a couple against Southampton last weekend, although I wasnt sure about his celebrations at 4-2 down! Keep Also See: Wholl make top four? A City ready for Pep ' ' '