SPORTS briefs
NHLPA files appeal of Wilson’s 20-game suspension
WASHINGTON - The NHL Players’ Association has filed an appeal on behalf of Tom Wilson after the Capitals forward was suspended 20 games for an illegal check to the head.
The NHLPA announced the expected move Friday, which had to happen within 48 hours of the Department of Player Safety suspending Wilson. Commissioner Gary Bettman will hear the appeal, though the date has not been determined.
Wilson was suspended for his hit on Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist in Washington’s preseason finale.
It is the fourth suspension of Wilson’s career, all coming in the past 13 months, and will cost him over $1.26 million in salary as a repeat offender if it’s upheld.
If Bettman upholds this suspension, Wilson and the NHLPA could appeal to a neutral arbitrator.
Springer, Astros hit four homers, down Indians in ALDS opener
HOUSTON - George Springer and the Houston Astros picked up right where they left off last post-season, hitting four home runs to power past the Cleveland Indians 7-2 Friday in Game 1 of the AL Division Series. Alex Bregman, Jose Altuve and Martin Maldonado also connected for the Astros, who hit a World Seriesrecord 15 homers last year in winning their first championship.
Game 2 is Saturday in Houston.
Severino, then Sabathia for Yankees in Games 3, 4
BOSTON - Luis Severino will start Game 3 of the AL Division Series for the New York Yankees and CC Sabathia will start Game 4 against the Red Sox if necessary.
That’s the word from Yankees manager Aaron Boone. Boone announced the rotation before the series opener on Friday night. J.A. Happ was scheduled to face Chris Sale in Game 1, with Masahiro Tanaka starting Game 2 for New York against David Price.
The Red Sox have said Sale and Price will be followed by Rick Porcello in Games 2 and 3 and Nathan Eovaldi in Game 4, if necessary.
Junior Seau’s children settle with NFL over 2012 suicide
PHILADELPHIA - The family of the late NFL star Junior Seau has settled its wrongful death lawsuit against the NFL over the popular San Diego linebacker’s 2012 suicide.
The confidential settlement comes after the family opted out of the NFL concussion settlement covering more than 20,000 retired players. That plan pays up to $4 million to families of men like Seau, who were found after their deaths to have the brain deterioration known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy or CTE.
Family lawyer Steven Strauss says the youngest of Seau’s four children recently turned 18.
He says he’s glad the case has been resolved so they can move on with their lives. Seau was 43 when he died six years ago.
The court-approved settlement has approved more than $500 million in awards and paid out about $330 million to date.
They include awards for 66 CTE claims.