OAKLAND, Calif. -- Trevor Bauer will try to send the Cleveland Indians to Texas with some momentum when he takes the mound Wednesday in the series finale against the Oakland Athletics.Bauer wont be pitching in the four-game series between American League division leaders that begins Thursday. The Indians have lined up Josh Tomlin, Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar.Bauers goal Wednesday: Take care of business against an AL weakling so that the Cleveland bullpen can be fresh for a series that could go a long way toward determining home-field advantage in the playoffs.The Indians (72-52) and Rangers (73-53) are in good shape in their respective divisions.Despite a 9-1 loss to the As on Tuesday night, Cleveland still holds a 6 1/2-game lead over the Detroit Tigers (66-59) in the AL Central.Texas, meanwhile, fell 3-0 at Cincinnati on Tuesday. The Rangers nonetheless hold a 5 1/2-game edge over the Seattle Mariners.At stake beginning Thursday is the best overall record in the AL, which not only earns the top team a shot at the wild-card winner in the first round of the playoffs, but also gives it the home-field advantage in the AL Championship Series should it get there.A loss Wednesday to Oakland (54-72) potentially could drop the Indians behind the Rangers at the start of their showdown. Cleveland and Texas enter play Wednesday virtually tied for the top mark in the AL.The Indians-Rangers series will end with Salazar on the mound, and that is a concern for Cleveland. He was bombed Tuesday for the second straight time since coming off the disabled list.They got pretty good swings at his fastball, Indians manager Terry Francona said. The hope is that he gets some repetition and gets back to the Danny we saw in the first half. It would certainly be helpful.Bauer (9-5, 3.88 ERA) enters Wednesdays game on the heels of a season-best, 13-strikeout performance against the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays. He tossed eight innings of two-run ball but did not get a decision in the Indians 3-2 win Friday.The California native will be in search of his seventh road win of the season. Only seven AL starters -- Texas Cole Hamels (9-2 on the road), Houstons Doug Fister (9-3), Detroits Michael Fulmer (8-3), Torontos Aaron Sanchez (7-1), Torontos J.A. Happ (7-2), Baltimores Chris Tillman (7-3) and the Chicago White Soxs Chris Sale (7-4) -- have reached that level.Bauer has never beaten the As, but he came close in both of his previous start against them. He allowed a total of four runs (three earned) in those games but didnt get a decision in either as the Indians were recording a 2-1 loss at Oakland last season and a 5-3 home win last month.The Indians will be up against Oaklands hottest pitcher, right-hander Kendall Graveman (9-8, 4.09 ERA).The 25-year-old has gone 8-2 with a 3.47 ERA in his past 15 starts. His seven wins since June 23 are the fifth most in the AL.Graveman has never beaten the Indians, going 0-2 with a 3.38 ERA in three career starts. In his lone appearance against Cleveland this year, he gave up four runs (three earned) in 6 1/3 innings during a 5-3 loss at Progressive Field on July 29.The As will be looking for more offensive fireworks from Danny Valencia, who started for the first time in three games Tuesday and contributed a single and a double to the 9-1 win.It was his seventh consecutive start with two or more hits.When youre playing big-league games, you have to play hard, Valencia said of his concentration level in the wake of his clubhouse fight with teammate Billy Butler on Friday. You cant focus on those (negative) things. Youve got to move past that. Play the game hard, and good things happen. Cheap Stan Smith Shoes Sale .Y. -- Sabres defenceman Tyler Myers had no intention of changing his hard-hitting style before taking part in a disciplinary hearing for his illegal check to New Jersey forward Dainius Zubrus head. Cheap Ultra Boost Shoes . Jason Zucker and Matt Cooke also scored for Minnesota, which has won five of six. Kuemper made five saves in the first, nine in the second, and nine in the third. The rookies best save came with 2:17 left in the third period when he denied former Wild forward Matt Cullen from just outside of the crease on the right side. http://www.stansmithdiscount.com/discount-nmd-shoes.html .S. -- Nikolaj Ehlers registered a hat trick for the third straight game and Jonathan Drouin had a goal and five assists as the Halifax Mooseheads hammered the host Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 10-1 on Tuesday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Stan Smith Clearance . - Blake Griffin had 30 points and 12 rebounds, J. Discount Adidas Nmd . -- On the field, it was business as usual for Jameis Winston and No. (STATS) -- Theres still plenty on the line in the Missouri Valley Football Conference heading into the final weekend.While No. 4 North Dakota State is looking to extend its conference title streak, eighth-ranked South Dakota State and No. 15 Youngstown State have an opportunity to end their championship droughts Saturday. Northern Iowa, meanwhile, is in a must-win situation to reach the postseason and No. 23 Western Illinois hopes to add to its playoff resume.To have three teams essentially with one or two losses, I think is pretty impressive, NDSU coach Chris Klieman said of the title chase. It shows you the parity in the league and that every game -- even this week -- has a great impact on (the) postseason.Kliemans Bison (9-1, 6-1) are tied with South Dakota State (7-3, 6-1) atop the MVFC and can clinch at least a share of their sixth straight league crown with a win at South Dakota (4-6, 3-4). They captured outright titles in 2012 and 13 and also shared the 2011 crown with Northern Iowa and the 14 and 15 hardware with Illinois State.NDSU, which was rated No. 1 by the NCAA Division I FCS selection committee in the rankings that precede Sundays announcement of the 24-team playoff pairings, will try to avenge a loss to the Coyotes last season. South Dakota snapped the Bisons 26-game home winning streak with a 24-21 victory at the Fargodome on Oct. 17.NDSU should be feeling confident after Darrius Shepherds 84-yard punt return touchdown and Easton Sticks two first-quarter TD runs keyed its fourth straight win, 41-17 over Indiana State last weekend. It should help that King Frazier, who led the team in rushing before getting hurt, and Tre Dempsey, the clubs leader in interceptions, are expected to return from injuries.Were excited that the difficult schedule we have had and the adversity weve faced with injuries and stuff that weve put ourselves in a position at least to play for another conference championship, Klieman said.SDSU holds tiebreakers over NDSU and Youngstown State (7-3, 5-2), meaning the Jackrabbbits would receive the MVFCs automatic bid to the FCS playoffs should they end up even with NDSU or in a three-way tie with NDSU and YSU.ddddddddddddTheyll try to take care of business on the road against desperate Northern Iowa (5-5, 4-3), which needs a victory to have a chance at the postseason. The Panthers, winners in their last two, have allowed just 15 points per game over their last four.Senior defensive end Karter Schult leads UNI with 67 tackles and 16 sacks. He was named MVFC defensive player of the week after finishing with three sacks in Saturdays 30-23 win over then-No. 19 Western Illinois (6-4, 3-4).Led by sophomore quarterback Taryn Christion, the Jackrabbits rank second in the league with 317 passing yards per game. They showcased a different side of their offense with a season-best 415 rushing yards in Saturdays 28-21 win over South Dakota.Now SDSU is hoping to utilize a balanced approach as it seeks at least a share of its first title since joining the MVFC in 2008.Their fans will show up and try to affect this game, Jackrabbits coach John Stiegelmeier said. This is a playoff game for them with a chance to maybe get into the playoffs and a chance for us to win a conference championship.Third-place Youngstown State needs a win at Missouri State (4-6, 2-5) and losses by NDSU and SDSU to claim a share of its first conference championship since 2006. The Penguins bounced back from a 24-3 loss at NDSU on Nov. 5 with a 21-14 win over Southern Illinois last weekend, while the Bears have dropped five of six following Saturdays 37-0 loss at Illinois State.YSU has won the past two meetings, including 47-7 at home last November.Its the next one on the schedule, Penguins coach Bo Pelini said. I havent really been a part of the whole playoff selection and how that works. Thats out of your control and you just have to go win the football game and whatever happens, happens. ' ' '