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. Sabres Jerseys China . Andreas Johnson had a goal and two assists while Jacob de la Rose also scored for Sweden (2-0-0). Esa Lindell and Rasmus Ristolainen replied for Finland (1-1-0) Lindell opened the scoring for Finland just 41 seconds into the game, but the hosts quickly regained their composure and tied the score less than four minutes later on Wennbergs first of the game. Buffalo Sabres Store . Pirlo limped out of Sundays 1-0 win over Udinese after just 13 minutes. Juventus says Pirlo underwent tests on Monday which revealed he has "a second-degree lesion to the collateral medial ligament in his right knee. https://www.cheapsabres.com/ . Dallas hasnt ruled out the star quarterback for Sunday nights game against Philadelphia, but all signs point to Romos back injury pushing Kyle Orton into the starting role after two years of limited play as the backup. Surely Ortons name isnt the first that comes to mind for fans wanting a change after years of damaging interceptions, fumbles or, most infamously, the field goal flub when Romo dropped the snap on a kick that could have won his first playoff game in 2006. Stitched Sabres Jerseys .ca NHL Power Rankings for the second straight week, ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Colorado Avalanche. Custom Buffalo Sabres Jerseys . Takahashi, who had a 10-point lead after the short program, received 268.31 points after the free skate to finish 15 points ahead of second-place Nobunari Oda. Barring a last-minute resolution, Minnesotas football team is prepared to continue its boycott and skip the Dec. 27 National Funding Holiday Bowl in San Diego, sources told ESPN on Saturday morning.A late-night meeting on Friday between Gophers players and University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler and other campus leaders failed to bring an end to the players boycott.Sources familiar with the discussions told the Minneapolis Star Tribune on Friday night that the players refused to back down from their demand that 10 teammates suspended from the team this week due to a sexual assault allegation be reinstated immediately.An underage football recruit was also involved in the alleged sexual assault on Sept. 2, according to police records, court testimony and a university report?obtained by the Minneapolis Star Tribune.The recruit acknowledged having sex with the woman early that morning, but denied raping her, according to the police report?Lee Hutton III, who represents each of the 10 suspended players, told ESPN on Saturday morning that the players are still working to resolve the issue.Kaler is unwilling to lift the players suspensions, which result from their alleged roles in a reported gang rape that occurred on Sept. 2, only hours after the Gophers season opener against Oregon State in Minneapolis. A female Minnesota student told police that several men sexually assaulted her at a football players apartment.dddddddddddd. Five of the suspended Minnesota players told police that they had consensual sex with the women.In a statement released by the university on Friday, Kaler said: A bowl game is a wonderful reward for an excellent football season. It is my hope that our eligible football players, marching band, spirit squad and loyal fans take advantage of this opportunity. However, the University of Minnesota will not change our values or our code of conduct for the sake of a bowl game.The Star Tribune reported that Minnesota officials have to decide by noon Saturday whether the Gophers will play Washington State in the Holiday Bowl. The Gophers are scheduled to leave for San Diego on Dec. 23.Sources told ESPN on Friday that the National Funding Holiday Bowl likely would have to decide by Monday whether Minnesota or Northern Illinois -- NIU (5-7) would be the next postseason eligible team, based on its Academic Progress Rate score -- will oppose the Cougars.Late Friday night, Northern Illinois athletics director Sean T. Frazier tweeted a statement that indicated the Huskies would be willing to travel to San Diego to play the Cougars: All due respect to reports concerning Bowl difficulties! We have played in 8 straight bowl games & can manage our way through logistics! ' ' '