ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Though Yankees manager Joe Girardi insists his team is going for it and is focused solely on a postseason berth, yet another sign of the franchises transition will be in evidence on Saturday, when 24-year-old right-hander Luis Cessa is scheduled to make his first major league start against the Angels.Cessna has been shuttled back and forth between New York and its Triple-A affiliate this season. His recall on Aug. 11 is his fourth stint with the Yankees and, with Nathan Eovaldis season-ending injury opening up a position in the starting rotation, Girardi will hand the ball to Cessna to keep the teams slight playoff chances on track.As a young player, youre looking to make an impression and Luis has that opportunity now, Girardi said. His ability to mix up his pitches and locate his fastball has been good.Though the game is a milestone in his progression, Cessa was relaxed when discussing his first big-league start.Im ready, I dont feel nervous, Cessa said. Its a great opportunity to show the team what I can do. I will be ready because the Angels have dangerous hitters throughout their lineup.While the Yankees are still playing games that matter, the Angels are attempting to find some consistency in their game after one of the worst stretches in franchise history plummeted them into the cellar of the AL West. With nothing more than personal achievements to play for, the Angels have been reduced to the spoiler role for their final 40 games.Ricky Nolasco will make his fourth start as an Angel trying to improve on a 1-1 record with a 5.40 ERA since being acquired from the Minnesota Twins on Aug. 1. Nolasco pitched well in a start against New York earlier this season with the Twins, tossing seven innings and allowing two earned runs on eight hits with no walks and five strikeouts. Pitching for two last-place teams this season is a contributing factor in Nolascos 4-10 record but his struggles on the hill (5.10 ERA, 1.352 WHIP) places his status in question despite having one year left on his $ 49 million, 4-year contract.Third baseman Yunel Escobars status for next season is the polar opposite from Nolascos. Escobar, acquired from the Washington Nationals last December, is the Angels leading hitter with a .320 average and is a lock to have the Angels exercise his $ 7 million option for the 2017 season. Despite his defensive deficiencies at the base (17 errors in 108 games), he has been a consistent offensive force in the leadoff spot. Escobar fell prey to the injury bug dogging the team this season on Friday. He fouled a ball directly off his face and cheek during a bunt attempt in the fourth inning and while X-rays were negative, Escobar may have to go on the disabled list.Yunel is as good as we have on this team at putting the ball in play at hitting it sharply. Hes having a terrific season. said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. Hes sore and we will have to make a determination on his status.Despite the Angels being on track to miss the playoffs for the sixth time in the last seven seasons, Scioscia is not in jeopardy of being fired. General manager Billy Eppler addressed the managers status on Friday and expects him to return for his 18th season as the Angels bench boss. Eppler feels the injuries that plagued the team all season are a major factor in their poor performance.I have no reason to believe Mike wouldnt be here managing our team next season, Eppler told MLB.com. You have to have the horses to pull the cart. If your horses get hurt, we can only do so much.Scioscia signed a 10-year extension in January 2009 that runs through the 2018 season. Fake Cubs Jerseys . It was the second consecutive win for the Pacers (2-5), who lost their first five preseason games. Jeff Teague led the Hawks (1-5) with 17 points and eight assists and Al Horford had 12 points and seven rebounds. Mike Scott scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half. Stitched Cubs Jerseys . -- Catcher Brett Hayes has agreed to a $630,000, one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals, avoiding salary arbitration. https://www.cheapcubs.com/ . Speaking Thursday on TSN 1050 Thursday, the Leafs GM also touched on the questions surrounding the teams leadership and the struggles of his big-name free-agent signing. “Its not from lack of effort from the coaching staff. Cubs Jerseys China . Ryan Garbutt had a goal and two assists as Dallas snapped a six-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. Cheap Cubs Jerseys . Sgt. Eric ONeal says most of the arrests at Monday nights game were for public drunkenness, though one person was taken into custody on suspicion of trying to steal a seat from the stadium. CHICAGO -- After back-to-back series against teams all but out of postseason contention, the Chicago White Sox host a Seattle Mariners team with much more at stake.The Mariners (67-59) open a four-game weekend series at U.S. Cellular Field on Thursday three games outside of an American League wild card spot following Wednesdays 5-0 loss to the New York Yankees.Seattle had been among the hottest teams in baseball with 15 wins in 20 games before cooling off a bit this week with back-to-back losses to the Yankees at Safeco Field.Chicago right-hander Anthony Ranaudo (1-1, 9.42 ERA) works against a Mariners pitcher yet to be named in Thursdays series opener. On Friday, right-hander Felix Hernandez (8-4, 3.26) meets White Sox lefty Chris Sale (15-6, 3.15).Seattle claimed two wins over Chicago in a three-game home series last month.The Mariners hope to have third baseman Kyle Seager back for the series. He sat out Wednesday after fouling a ball off his foot on Tuesday. Initial X-rays were reported to be negative. Seager has 24 home runs and 83 RBI this season.Robinson Cano needs one double for 30 this season. He has exceeded that total in each of his first 11 seasons.Seattle has a shot at reclaiming the AL West lead. The Mariners topped the division through most of May before struggling over the next two months and started August at .500 (52-52) and in third place.They are 6 1/2 games behind first-place Texas and have seven head-to-head games remaining with the Raangers in an 11-day stretch starting next Monday.ddddddddddddhicago (60-65) has played better of late, taking two of three from Oakland last weekend and splitting two games with visiting Philadelphia this week.Over a three-game winning streak through Tuesday, Chicago pitchers had allowed only five runs while 1B/DH Jose Abreu has homered in each.But like the Athletics and Phillies, the White Sox are also playing out the string after beginning the season 23-10.With less than five weeks left in the regular season, speculation is rising about postseason shakeups ranging from the departure of manager Robin Ventura and front office personnel to major trades including ace left-hander Chris Sale and right-hander Jose Quintana.Weve got to get some things together, White Sox executive vice president Kenny Williams told reporters this week. As everyone knows by now, we started off very well. Unfortunately things kind of unraveled and we lost some key members of our bullpen which didnt help and kind of spearheaded that unraveling.Not even the ballpark is being spared.The Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, owner of the White Sox home field, announced a 13-year naming rights agreement with a Chicago-based mortgage company Wednesday. The parks name changes from U.S. Cellular Field to Guaranteed Rate Field on Nov. 1. Terms were not disclosed. ' ' '