Reuters U.S. Sports Schedule at 2:30 PM ET on Thursday, October 27

October 27 (Reuters) - Reuters U.S. sports schedule at 2:30 PM ET on Thursday: - - - - For any coverage questions, please contact us.general-news@thomsonreuters.com - - - - MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL 2016 World Series Schwarber shrugs off layoff, emerges as October star CLEVELAND - The gravity of the moment is not lost on Chicago Cubs slugger Kyle Schwarber, whose improbable story has his "riding the wave" as long the World Series run allows. (BBO-CUBS-NEWS-SCHWARBER, moved, The Sports Xchange, 700 words) Hendricks, Cubs' home-field hammer, takes ball in Game 3 CHICAGO - With the World Series tied at 1-1, the Chicago Cubs hand the ball to National League ERA leader and their home-field hammer, Kyle Hendricks. (BBO-CUBS-INDIANS-PREVIEW, expect ASAP after onfield media access Thursday, The Sports Xchange, by Jack Magruder, 700 words) Mets OF Cespedes to opt out, hit free agency Yoenis Cespedes intends to void the final two years on his contract with the New York Mets. The remainder of the deal is worth $47.5 million, and Cespedes made $27.5 million in 2016 on the contract signed in January. (BBO-METS-NEWS-CESPEDES-OPTOUT, moved, The Sports Xchange, 344 words) MLB notebook News and notes from spring training. (BBO-NOTEBOOK, expect by 8 p.m. ET, The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - - - NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE Bears down: Trigger-happy formula equals L squared Following the 2012 season, the Chicago Bears became the 10th team in NFL history to push out a coach after a 10-win season. The results since indicate management merely wrote a prescription for prolonged losing. (FBN-COLUMN-BEARS-FOX-LOSINGBEARS, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Ira Miller, 900 words) Jaguars at Titans NASHVILLE - Blake Bortles and the Jacksonville Jaguars visit Marcus Mariota and the Tennessee Titans in a AFC South matchup on Thursday Night Football. (FBN-JAGUARS-TITANS-FIRSTLEDE-WRITETHRU, expect ASAP after 7:26 p.m. ET kickoff, The Sports Xchange, by Chip Cirillo, 800 words) Week 8 previews: Eagles visit Cowboys Wunderkind rookie quarterbacks - Eagles standout Carson Wentz and Cowboys starter Dak Prescott - face off for the first time when Philadelphia visits Cowboys Stadium on Sunday night. (FBN-EAGLES-COWBOYS-PREVIEW, expect by 9:30 p.m. ET, The Sports Xchange, 800 words) THE SPORTS XCHANGE previews all Week 8 games. Will move by 10:45 p.m. ET. Week 8 GameScout: Breaking down every game Capsule previews and analysis of all Week 8 games, including matchup to watch, series history, keys to the game and fast facts. (FBN-TEAM-TEAM-ANALYSIS-NFLGAMESCOUT, moved, The Sports Xchange, 600 words per team) Raiders LB Smith applies for reinstatement to NFL Oakland Raiders linebacker Aldon Smith has applied for reinstatement from the NFL with his one-year suspension set to end on Nov. 17. (FBN-RAIDERS-NEWS-ALDONSMITH, moved, The Sports Xchange, 450 words) Broncos RB Anderson avoided ACL damage ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Just when the Broncos' offense was showing signs of blossoming, C.J. Anderson suffered a knee injury and could miss time, but he said Thursday his ACL is not damaged. (FBN-BRONCOS-ANDERSON-KNEE, moved, The Sports Xchange, 389 words) Bills NT Dareus to debut against Brady, Patriots ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus, out the first seven games due to injury and suspension, is ready to make his 2016 season debut with Tom Brady and the Patriots visiting Buffalo. (FBN-BILLS-NEWS-DAREUS, moved, The Sports Xchange, 410 words) NFL notebook News and notes from around the NFL. (FBN-NOTEBOOK, expect by 8 p.m. ET, The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - - - COLLEGE FOOTBALL Michigan's Harbaugh leads coaches in salary at $9M Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh is the highest-paid college football coach, making $9 million this year to overtake Alabama's Nick Saban, according to USA Today's annual salary survey released Wednesday. (FBC-MICHIGAN-ALABAMA-NEWS-HARBAUGH-SALARY, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Anthony Gimino, 750 words) Top 25 Previews: Washington, Utah top Pac-12 test to date No. 4 Washington puts a possible spot in the College Football Playoff on the line at Utah, where the 17th-ranked Utes present the "toughest challenge to date" for the Huskies, coach Chris Pedersen said Tuesday. (FBC-WASHINGTON-UTAH-PREVIEW, expect by 9 p.m. ET, The Sports Xchange, by Anthony Gimino, 750 words) The Sports Xchange previews all Top 25 games. College football notebook News and notes from around the nation. (FBC-NOTEBOOK, expect by 7 p.m. ET, The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - - - NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION Wade opens Bulls career vs. Celtics CHICAGO - Dwyane Wade, Rajon Rondo and All-Star holdover Jimmy Butler comprise the "Three Alphas" for the Chicago Bulls as they open the season against the Boston Celtics. (BKN-BULLS-CELTICS-FIRSTLEDE-WRITETHRU, expect ASAP after 8 p.m. ET scheduled start, The Sports Xchange, by Brian Hedger, 700 words) The Sports Xchange covers all NBA games. Thursday schedule: Washington at Atlanta 7:30 p.m. Boston at Chicago 8:00 p.m. San Antonio at Sacramento 10:30 p.m. L.A. Clippers at Portland 10:30 p.m. NBA roundup Capsule summaries of all games on the schedule Thursday. (BKN-ROUNDUP, expect multiple versions beginning ASAP after 8 p.m. ET games end, The Sports Xchange, 375 words) NBA notebook News and notes from around the NBA. (BKN-NOTEBOOK, expect by 7 p.m. ET, The Sports Xchange, 375 words) - - - - NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE THE SPORTS XCHANGE staffs all NHL games. THURSDAY schedule: Arizona at Philadelphia 7:00 p.m. N.Y. Islanders at Pittsburgh 7:00 p.m. Minnesota at Buffalo 7:00 p.m. Florida at Toronto 7:30 p.m. Tampa Bay at Montreal 7:30 p.m. Detroit at St. Louis 8:00 p.m. Dallas at Winnipeg 8:00 p.m. Nashville at Los Angeles 10:30 p.m. Columbus at San Jose 10:30 p.m. NHL roundup Capsule summaries of all games on the schedule Thursday. (HKN-ROUNDUP, expect multiple versions beginning ASAP after 8 p.m. ET games end, The Sports Xchange, 375 words) NHL notebook News and notes from around the league. (HKN-NOTEBOOK, expect by 8 p.m. ET, The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - - - GOLF American Malnati set for title defence in Jackson While the world's top players are contesting the WGC-HSBC Champions event this week in Shanghai, little-known American Peter Malnati will launch his title defence in the opening round at the Country Club of Jackson where he triumphed by one shot last year. (GOLF-PGA/, expect by 7 PM ET, 300 words) Karlberg up one on Fowler thanks to nine birdies Sweden's Rikard Karlberg collected nine birdies en route to posting an 8-under-par 64 on Thursday to claim a one-stroke lead over American Rickie Fowler at the HSBC Champions in Shanghai. (GLF-PGA-HSBCCHAMPIONS, The Sports Xchange, 400 words) Yang's 63 good for two-shot lead in Sime Darby LPGA South Korean Amy Yang carded a bogey-free 8-under-par 63 on Thursday to seize a two-stroke lead over American Marina Alex in the first round of the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (GLF-LPGA-RECAP-MALAYSIA, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Rick Woelfel, 475 words) - - - -