to play it and we want Mondi (22-year-old infielder Adalberto Mondesi) playing short,” Royals manager Ned Yost said of Escobar. “We just think that the time is right. We talked to the coaches about it and they feel like he’ll be fine.

Howard Katz has the most unenviable task in the National Football League. As the league’s senior vice president of broadcasting and media operations http://www.broncosauthorizedshops.com/authentic-dalton-risner-jersey , he is the point person for formulating the schedule and trying to make the executives of the league’s four broadcast partners happy.Before the public got a look at the upcoming regular-season schedule on Wednesday, Katz relayed to Fox, CBS, NBC and ESPN what games they received. In interviews with network executives, all four networks thought Katz’s task of formulating this year’s packages was fair.“How we allocate is always tricky. You have to make sure the prime-time packages are strong while making sure there is enough quality and quantity for the Sunday afternoon games,” Katz said.NBC “Sunday Night Football” Executive Producer Fred Gaudelli can empathize with the challenges that Katz faces, especially because it seems to get more difficult each season.“It is a lot harder compared to when we first started with the Sunday Night package in 2006,” he said. “Now there are a full season of Thursday night games and more London games. Yet, he has managed to treat everyone fairly.”Here are five takeaways from the networks about their packages:OPENING WEEK: The Green Bay-Chicago opener on Sept. 4, which will kick off the league’s 100th season, was announced during the league meetings in late March. There were many options for New England’s opponent on the first Sunday night game, but eventually the league settled on Pittsburgh in a matchup of the only two franchises to win six Super Bowls.The Monday Night games were surprises. Conventional wisdom had the Browns at Jets leading off the doubleheader, but it will be Houston visiting New Orleans. Oakland hosts the late game for the second straight season, but this time it is against Denver.“There were a dozen different games that we looked at, but at the end of the day the puzzle fit best with Texans-Saints Drew Lock Jersey ,” Katz said. “Both teams were in the playoffs last season and have great quarterbacks.”HELLO, CLEVELAND: The Browns acquisition of wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. netted them at least one additional prime-time game.The two Monday night games are on the road, but NBC and Fox got their wish of having Cleveland home games. The Browns host the LA Rams in Week 3 in their first Sunday night appearance since 2008, and host Pittsburgh on Thursday night in Week 11.Even though the Steelers did not make the playoffs and lost key playmakers in Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell, they are still making the maximum five prime-time appearances. Katz said that free agency did not result in any teams losing spots in prime time.DIVYING UP THE PATRIOTS: Fox and CBS were able to retain two of the matchups that had the highest demand. Fox gets the Patriots‘ game against the Cowboys in Week 12 and CBS will have the AFC championship game rematch against the Chiefs in Week 14.New England’s other Sunday night appearances are road games against the Ravens (Week 9) and Texans (Week 13). The Monday night game is at the AFC East rival Jets (Week 7) and the Thursday night game has them hosting the Giants (Week 6).MONDAY, MONDAY: Five of the final eight “Monday Night Football” games on ESPN are division matchups, which is similar to last year’s schedule. The late-season division games last season was one of the reasons why ESPN had an eight percent ratings increase.“We’ve got some strong rivalries and division games, but we are also going to great venues again,” ESPN Executive Vice President of Programming Burke Magnus said. “We are going to New Orleans twice, New York three times, San Francisco twice along with heading to Seattle, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Mexico City.”CROSS FLEX, CROSS FIT: The AFC schedule does not have the same depth as the NFC, even before the prime-time games were determined.Since the league started cross flexing games in 2014 though http://www.broncosauthorizedshops.com/authentic-dre_mont-jones-jersey , CBS has received some quality NFC matchups. Their first two doubleheaders feature good NFC battles with New Orleans-Seattle in Week 3 and Minnesota-Chicago in Week 4.“The cross flexes have been a good addition and helped equalize certain weeks,” CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus said. “It gives broad exposure to games that wouldn’t get as much.”THE VIEW FROM FOX: Fox Executive Vice President Michael Mulvihill, who serves as the network’s liaison with the NFL, said most of the games that Fox had on its first list of Thursday night preferences they ended up getting. The first Fox Thursday game is Philadelphia at Green Bay to start Week 4.Mulvihill was also very pleased with how the 4:25 p.m. games on doubleheader weeks worked out. Dallas will be featured in the late spot in the last four doubleheaders, which would benefit Fox if they are in playoff contention.
HOUSTON — One obvious benefit of a club-record-tying 12-game winning streak and 13 victories in 14 games is the positive impact it has on the standings, something the Houston Astros could attest to before dropping the opener of a three-game set with the Kansas City Royals on Friday.

On June 5, the Astros (50-27) were the scuffling team, falling two games behind the Seattle Mariners in the American League West with a 7-1 loss, their seventh setback over 10 games. The entered this weekend 3 1/2 games ahead of the Mariners and maintained that lead Friday when Seattle lost at Boston 14-10.

Midseason standings are fluid, and it’s far too early to get enthralled by scoreboard watching.

“I think I pay attention to our team,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “I appreciate the stress that comes with whether you’re a game up or a game back or five games up or five games back. I really think we’re chasing ourselves. I think we need to play our best baseball and we’ll sort out the standings as it gets towards the later end of the season.

“I’m aware of it because I’m a baseball enthusiast; I watch the scores all the time. It’s what I do. I’m not emotionally drained when other teams go on win streaks and I’m not emotionally charged by a couple losses. I just want our team to play well.”

Right-hander Lance McCullers (8-3, 3.77 ERA) gets the start in the middle game of the series for Houston. He is 1-0 with a 2.33 ERA over four career starts against the Royals, and he recorded a no-decision in his previous outing against them after allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks with nine strikeouts over six innings in a 7-4 Astros victory on Sunday at Kauffman Stadium.

The Royals will hand the ball to right-hander Ian Kennedy (1-7, 5.31 ERA) on Saturday. Kennedy is winless over his last 13 starts, one behind Athletics right-hander Chris Bassitt for the longest active streak in the majors. He is 0-7 with a 6.12 ERA since his only win on April 7.

Kennedy is 4-1 with a 1.99 ERA over five career starts against the Astros T.J. Hockenson Jersey , including 3-0 with a 0.92 ERA over three starts at Minute Maid Park.

The Royals (23-52) on Friday began transitioning veteran Alcides Escobar off shortstop, ending his string of 407 consecutive starts there by moving him to center field for the opener of their series with the Astros. Escobar finished 2-for-2 with two walks, marking the first time since Sept. 6, 2017, against the Detroit Tigers that he reached base in all four plate appearances.

Escobar, a free agent following the season, has been a mainstay at short for the Royals since 2011. Before making his first career start in center on Friday, Escobar last played that position on Aug. 2, 2010, while with the Milwaukee Brewers, shifting in the eighth inning after starting at shortstop.

“We know that he’s athletic enough to play it and we want Mondi (22-year-old infielder Adalberto Mondesi) playing short,” Royals manager Ned Yost said of Escobar. “We just think that the time is right. We talked to the coaches about it and they feel like he’ll be fine.

“He’s really excited about the opportunity at playing multiple positions, not only center but some third and some second. He knows that his next career move is probably going to be a utility-type player on the field and he’s anxious to start showing people that he can handle it.”