If nothing else, the schedule maker is being kind to Toronto. But it remains to be seen if the Blue Jays can take advantage of the timely generosity on Monday night, when they host the Chicago Cubs to open a three- game series at Rogers Centre. Toronto begins the week with four teams between it and the final American League wild card position, and starts a six-game homestand against a pair of sub-.500 opponents. Of course, the Blue Jays played another below-.500 foe for three games over the weekend -- the Boston Red Sox -- and lost twice, so the records may be irrelevant. Still, Toronto has won six of its last eight and has 20 games to close a five- game gap. Rookie Marcus Stroman takes the ball for the Blue Jays with a chance to win a third consecutive start. Hed gone 0-3 in four starts to open August while toting an 8.66 earned run average, but won his last start in the month and then opened September with a 7-4 defeat of Tampa Bay last Wednesday. "Its just baseball, sometimes you go through a tough stretch," Stroman said. "Same confidence, same game plan, tried to attack hitters each time out. Just went better." In four meetings with National League foes this season -- three relief appearances and one start -- hes 2-0 with a 1.93 earned run average. The Cubs scored seven runs in a three-game weekend series with Pittsburgh. Leadoff man Arismendy Alcantara has two hits in his last 19 at-bats. "We know he has the speed to be a top-of-the-order guy," manager Rick Renteria said. "We also know he has a history in the minor leagues of being able to get on base. Theres nothing that says he cant do it here." Chicago sends Jacob Turner to the mound after he scored his first win as a Cub last week with a 4-2 triumph over Milwaukee, in which he allowed a run in 6 1/3 innings. "Its definitely a step in the right direction," Turner said. "Im just happy Ive been able to build on some of the stuff that me and (pitching coach Chris Bosio) have been working on. I made the pitches when I needed to when guys got on base, especially in the first inning. Getting through that catapulted me through the rest of the game." Hes never faced the Blue Jays, but is 3-3 with a 7.04 ERA in 10 lifetime starts against American League foes. On Sunday in Chicago, starting pitcher Gerrit Cole hit one of Pittsburghs four homers in a 10-4 victory over the Cubs. Travis Wood (8-12) gave up seven runs on nine hits over just 1 2/3 innings for the Cubs. In Boston, R.A. Dickey tossed seven-plus effective innings and Jose Bautista cranked a three-run homer, as Toronto took down the Red Sox, 3-1, in the finale of a three-game series. Dickey (12-12) scattered six hits and one run while striking out four for the Blue Jays, who avoided a sweep. The Jays and Cubs are meeting for the first time since 2008, when Chicago took two of three games north of the border. Custom Kansas City Chiefs Jerseys . The (35-35-10) Jets have 80 points and are also playing .500 hockey on home ice this season with a 17-17-6 record. Michael Hutchinson will start his second straight game in goal. Larry Johnson Jersey . They started shooting the puck. Joe Pavelski had a hat trick to move into a tie for second in the NHL in goals and the Sharks beat Philadelphia 7-3 Thursday night in the first game for both teams following the Olympic break. http://www.thechiefsshoponline.com/Youth...-Chiefs-Jersey/. -- Desperate to stop Tom Bradys latest comeback bid, the Miami Dolphins sought help from a reserve safety making his NFL debut after being signed Tuesday off the San Francisco 49ers practice squad. Darwin Thompson Youth Jersey .Former NBA forward Morris Peterson has been added to TSNs Toronto Raptors broadcast team. Tony Gonzalez Chiefs Jersey . His apology came before a pregame ceremony in which the team honoured its 2004 team that won Bostons first World Series championship since 1918. "I realize that I behaved bad in Boston," Ramirez said.ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Rams rookie cornerback E.J. Gaines was carted off after getting his helmet knocked off in a collision with teammate T.J. McDonald late in the third quarter Sunday.Gaines was sidelined with a left shoulder injury earlier in the first quarter, but returned in the second quarter. The Rams were examining him for a concussion after the second injury.New York Giants cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was sidelined with a never problem, called a burner, and the team said his return was questionable.Gaines got struck trying to make an interception on a pass by Eli Manning and was bleeding from the lip. He tried to leave the field after getting medical treatment, then went down to a knee after taking a few steps, and the teams medical staff called for the cart.dddddddddddd.The Giants capitalized the next play on an 80-yard touchdown pass to rookie Odell Beckham Jr.Rodgers-Cromartie was injured making a tackle on Kenny Britt with just over five minutes to go in the third quarter and was holding his right hand in pain before leaving the field.Gaines originally was hurt making the tackle on