The Birds will hope Wei-Yin Chen can snap the 5-game skid when he faces the Rays Friday night.

Second round action at the French Open: Second-seeded Rafael Nadal only dropped four games as he moved on in straight sets. Number 4 Andy Murray and number 5 Jo Wilfried Tsonga both needed four sets to advance.

The series shifts to Oklahoma City Thursday night as the Thunder try to climb out of an 0-2 hole against the Spurs. Tip-off in the Sooner state is at 9 p.m.

San Francisco 49ers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh has stated that the team always had Alex Smith in their plans to be quarterback this season even when Peyton Manning's name started surfacing as a possibility for the team.

A light night in the bigs with only three games on the schedule. The Red Sox send Josh Beckett to the hill against Max Scherzer in Fenway. Former Oriole Jeremy Guthrie is on the mound in Colorado against Bud Norris and the Astros. Dodgers face the Brewers at Chavez Ravine. Chad Billingsley goes up against Zach Grienke.

Speaking of the Dodgers, just two games after he came off the disabled list, Matt Kemp is likely headed back to the DL after re-aggravating his hamstring. Also, Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki is headed to the DL with a strained groin.

Red Wings defenseman Niklas Lindstrom announced his retirement Thursday after 20 season in the league. He won the Norris Trophy seven times awarded to the league's best defenseman. He was part of four Stanley Cup Championships as well.

In college hoops, the Indiana-Kentucky rivalry took another hit. The schools' two athletic directors tried to reopen talks, and according a letter obtained by the AP, Kentucky rejected the latest offer of a 4-year deal.