National Football League

BC-AP Sport Preview Digest

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 12:12 p.m. ET

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Some of the sports stories The Associated Press is covering Friday. A full Sports Digest will be sent by about 3 p.m. All times EDT:

- NEW YORK - Contenders at the U.S. Open could find themselves with a particularly tough first-round matchup when the draw is completed. Two Olympic medalists - Monica Puig, who won gold for the women, and Juan Martin del Potro, who won silver for the men - are unseeded, which means they could face a highly ranked player right away. Draw starts 11:30 a.m.

- NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Two-time defending champion Petra Kvitova faces top-seed Agnieszka Radwanska in the semifinals of the Connecticut Open, attempting to move into her fifth straight final in New Haven.

- FARMINGDALE, N.Y. - Patrick Reed and Martin Laird are tied for the lead going into the second round of The Barclays.

- CHARLOTTE, N.C. - NFL MVP Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers will see his most extensive playing time of the preseason against then New England Patriots, while Tom Brady may have to take a back seat to Jimmy Garoppolo. Game starts 7:30 p.m.

- Other NFL preseason games: Buffalo at Washington, 7:30 p.m.; Pittsburgh at New Orleans, 8 p.m.; Cleveland at Tampa Bay, 8 p.m.; Green Bay at San Francisco, 10 p.m.

- Various stories from NFL training camps and college football practices.

- LOS ANGELES - Carlos Ruiz is set to make his debut for the Dodgers, a day after them got him in a trade of popular backup catchers that sent A.J. Ellis to Philadelphia. Bud Norris starts for Los Angeles against left-hander Mike Montgomery of the Chicago Cubs in the series opener between the first-place teams. Game starts 10 p.m.

- BOSTON - The Red Sox, tied atop of the AL East after a 7-4 road trip, return home for six-game homestand. The defending champion Kansas City Royals are hoping for another strong start from Ian Kennedy, while Steven Wright returns from the disabled list for Boston. Game starts 7:10 p.m.

- BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Olympic gold medalist Lilly King became the face of ''clean athletes'' in Rio. King isn't backing away from that reputation and instead hopes to use her success to send a message to everyone else as she enters her sophomore season at Indiana.

- BROOKLYN, Mich. - With Dale Earnhardt Jr. still recovering from a concussion, Alex Bowman is filling in behind the wheel of the No. 88 car at Michigan this weekend.

- FORT WORTH, Texas - James Hinchcliffe has been leading the rain-interrupted IndyCar race at Texas for 11 weeks. During that unprecedented delay, Will Power has won three of the five races completed and was the runner-up in the other two, moving up to second in season points.

- GLENDALE, Ariz. - The Arizona Rattlers look for their fourth Arena Bowl title in five years when they face the Philadelphia Soul. Game starts 10 p.m.