PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates play their final home game of the season Thursday, and its a proposition welcomed by them only because they wont play the Chicago Cubs again until 2017.For the first time since 2012, there will be no autumnal postseason baseball in Pittsburgh that Pirates fans like to refer to as Buctober, and the Cubs are greatly the reason why.The Pirates will wrap up an unsatisfying 2016 season at PNC Park, where they are 38-42, including a 5-17 record in their last 22 home games. Its been quite the turnaround, given that the Pirates (192 home wins since 2013) trail only the Los Angeles Dodgers (200) and St. Louis Cardinals (194) in home wins since the 2013 season.This season, its the Cubs whove made themselves at home, winning a major league-leading 57 games at home -- the kind of mastery they hope to carry into the postseason next week, with home field advantage through the NL playoffs. Theyve also gone 14-4 against the Pirates, despite losing 8-4 Wednesday as Pirates first baseman John Jaso became the first player to hit for the cycle in PNC Park.First, though, theyve got to wrap up their best regular season since 1910 with the game in Pittsburgh and three more in Cincinnati this weekend. And that means continuing to give at-bats to their key regulars -- six of their eight position player starters Wednesday night were starters -- and to give a glance or two to some prospects.That includes rookie left-hander Rob Zastryzny, their second round pick in 2013 whos off to a promising start with a 1-0 record and 1.46 ERA in seven relief appearances. Hell make his major league starting debut Thursday night, opposing veteran Pirates right-hander Ivan Nova (12-8, 4.37 ERA).Zastryzny has an interesting background. He was born in Edmonton before moving at age 1 to Dallas where, true to his Canadian roots, he excelled in youth hockey before switching to baseball.I had it (hockey) in my blood, he told the Chicago Tribune. But, after playing in a tournament against Canadian players in which he realized he might not be as good as he initially thought, his parents told him, You know what? Heres a baseball, try that.Cubs manager Joe Maddon likes what he sees of Zastryzny so far, even thought the left-hander has appeared in only three games this month.His stuff is good and hes a strike thrower, and I love strike throwers, Maddon said.This will be Novas 11th start since the Pirates acquired him from the New York Yankees on Aug. 1, and so far hes been exactly what Jonathon Niese, Francisco Liriano and Juan Nicasio werent to Pittsburgh -- an effective starter. He is 5-2 with a 3.49 ERA, 47 strikeouts and only three walks with the Pirates, one reason why they want to bring him back next season if they can afford him.Hes been a really good get for us, and thats an understatement, manager Clint Hurdle told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.However, Nova has been less effective lately, giving up 18 hits and nine earned runs in seven innings over his last two starts after going 5-0 in his first eight Pirates starts. He lasted four innings during a 6-1 loss to the Washington Nationals, giving up eight hits and five earned runs.The past three seasons, the Pirates were gearing up for the postseason -- they lost to the Cardinals in a five-game NLDS in 2013, and to the Giants (2014) and the Cubs and Arrieta (2015) in the NL wild card game at PNC Park the previous two seasons.Now, theyre gearing up for the offseason.Ill finally get to sleep in my own bed for the first time in eight months, Pirates right-hander Jameson Taillon said.Trevor Kelley Red Sox Jersey . Philadelphia is 2-0 against the Senators this season and scored five goals in each victory. The Flyers recorded a 5-0 win in Ottawa on Nov. 12 and then earned a 5-2 home decision on Nov. 19. The Flyers have claimed three straight and four of the last five encounters with the Sens overall and Philly has won two in a row and three of its past four tests in Canadas capital city. Rick Porcello Jersey . Malkin got tangled up with Detroits Luke Glendening early in the third period and his left skate took the brunt of collision with the boards behind Pittsburghs net. https://www.cheapredsox.com/941z-j-d-martinez-jersey-red-sox.html . LeBron James and Chris Bosh didnt need any more. Williams scored 11 points in 10 minutes, Alan Anderson scored 17 points, and the Brooklyn Nets finished the exhibition season with a 108-87 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night. Josh A. Smith Jersey .25 million option on reliever Jose Veras. Mike Shawaryn Red Sox Jersey . Roman Josi had a goal and an assist to lead the Predators to a 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Monday night.INDIANAPOLIS -- Butler coach Chris Holtmann spent most of the last two weeks trying to get his team to play its old style.On Saturday, the pleas paid big dividendsSenior forward Andrew Chrabascz recommended using an inbound play with 15.6 seconds left and Tyler Lewis found Tyler Wideman for a dunk to help No. 18 Butler hold on for an 83-77 victory over No. 9 Indiana at the Crossroads Classic.I knew he (Lewis) would make the right read, Chrabascz said. Just a spur of the moment, put something out there and coach agreed with it. Its a one-in-a-million chance. Hes got to agree every once in a while.There was plenty for Holtmann to like in this one.Kelan Martin scored 28 points, while Chrabascz and Kamar Baldwin each added 14 to give the Bulldogs (10-1) their second straight win overall and their second upset of Indiana in four years in a doubleheader that features the states four highest-profile basketball schools.And though Indiana cut an 11-point deficit with 8:10 to play to 79-77 in the final minute, the Hoosiers (8-2) never had the ball with a chance to force a tie or take the lead in the second half.No, it wasnt easy -- it never is against their in-state rival.But the Bulldogs, as they usually do, shared some suggestions, protected the ball and found a way to hold on f or a win.James Blackmon Jr. got the Hoosiers offense in sync in the second half when he scored 16 of his 26 points. Thomas Bryant had 15 points and seven rebounds, but when the Hoosiers couldnt get the late stop they needed, their five-game winning streak was over.Just a misunderstanding with me and my teammates, Bryant said, referring to the blown defensive assignment on Wideman. Ive just got to be better in that moment.A mistake that Chrabascz sensed was coming and that Holtmann took a chance on.The pass was really important, Holtmann said. You guys know it doesnt always work like that, and I was glad it did there.BIG PICTUREButler: After last weeks stumble at Indiana State, the Bulldogs have rrebounded with consecutive wins over ranked foes and are 3-0 against the Top 25 and 2-0 against the Top 10 this season.dddddddddddd. It should be a good resume to help Butler climb in the polls.Indiana: For the second time this season, the Hoosiers played an in-state opponent -- and somehow they have managed to lose both. Indiana has a chance to rebound at their favorite venue, Assembly Hall, where the Hoosiers will play three straight unranked teams before the next big matchup, New Years Eve against No. 11 Louisville.THOUSAND POINTS OF LIGHTThe inbound play was only one of Chrabasczs contributions on a milestone day. The senior from Rhode Island scored 14 points, had three rebounds and four assists and became the 38th player in school history to score 1,000 career points. He has 1,007 in his career, and he may not be the last one to reach that milestone this season. Martin, a junior, has 965.OFF NIGHTIndiana might be the nations best 3-point shooting team over the past three seasons, averaging 9.6 per game during that span. But the Hoosiers werent nearly that good Saturday, when they went 0 from 8 beyond the arc in the first half and finished 6 of 21. The six 3s is a season-low.BLUE BACKButler Blue III, the Bulldogs beloved mascot, returned to the court for the first time this season Saturday. Blue III had been rehabbing since October surgery to repair a torn ACL. But the dog looked quite happy to be on the court for player introductions and later expressed his happiness on his Twitter account: DAWG GONE ITS GOOD TO BE BACK!UP NEXTButler: The Bulldogs put a 34-game home winning streak against nonconference opponents on the line Wednesday against Vermont.Indiana: Tries to extend its home winning streak to 25 when Delaware State visits Monday.---More AP college basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 . ' ' '
