Scherzer makes pitch for big playoff changes
Max Scherzer favors a radical reworking of the playoffs that would have the higher seed in the first round of an expanded postseason start a best-of-five series with a 1-0 lead.
Major League Baseball and locked-out players, who resume talks Sunday, both would expand the postseason from 10 teams — that has been the field since 2012, other than the 16 teams in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
The lockout was in its 94th day Saturday, four days after commissioner Rob Manfred canceled the first two series of the regular season, which had been scheduled to start March 31. Players are expected to respond Sunday to MLB’s latest offer, the last before talks ended Tuesday.
The union prefers 12 playoffs teams, and the parties appear headed toward that, but Scherzer said players would consider 14 if clubs would agree to the “ghost win” format.
Under MLB’s 14-team plan, the division winner with the best regular-season record in each league would get a bye and advance directly to the division series. The two other division winners would choose their foes and be at home for an entire best-of-three round.
NBA
James scores 56 as Lakers end skid
LeBron James scored a season-high 56 points and the host Lakers beat the Warriors 124-116 to snap a four-game losing streak. James had his third-most points in a regularseason game, finishing with at least 50 for the 13th time. He had a career-best 61 for the Heat in 2014. James was 19-for-31 from the field, shaking off a blow to his right elbow in the first half. Russell Westbrook added 20 points, and Carmelo Anthony had 14.
HOCKEY
Noesen’s 30th is winner for Wolves
Stefan Noesen scored his league-leading 30th goal midway through the third period to lift the Wolves to a 2-1 victory over the Texas Stars at Allstate Arena. David Gust also scored for the Wolves (32-10-4-4), while rookie Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 30 shots to earn his third win in as many games in North America.
MISCELLANEOUS
Horschel, Gooch share third-round lead
Billy Horschel got a good break on a day when those were hard to find, turning a tough par into an unlikely birdie on the 18th hole for a 1-under 71 that gave him a share of the lead in the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, Fla. Taylor Gooch, who shot a 72, is tied with Horschel.
• Russian driver Nikita Mazepin was dropped by Haas F1 despite the FIA ruling he could compete in races under a neutral flag.