CLEVELAND -- Buckle up, Cleveland!
From the 2018 NFL Draft, to potentially three more first-round playoff games for the Cleveland Cavaliers and a late-April homestand opening for the Cleveland Indians against the very team that defeated them in the 2016 World Series, an emotional sports week is about to get underway.
Tuesday: April 24
INDIANS
While the Cavaliers go through their final practice ahead of Game 5, the Indians begin a nine-game homestand that features a two-game set with the Chicago Cubs, a four-gamer against the Seattle Mariners, who took two of three from the Tribe in the first week of the year, and a three-game series against the Texas Rangers, which features the team’s first weekday home game of the season at Progressive Field.
This week’s games against the Cubs are a part of a four-game home-and-home series they will conclude at Wrigley Field May 22-23.
The Central Division-leading Indians are scheduled to send right-hander Josh Tomlin to the mound for the first game, and it will be his first start in two weeks, as he was skipped the last time through the rotation because of a back injury.
On the year, Tomlin is 0-2 with an 8.00 earned run average in nine innings over two starts and three appearances.
Wednesday: April 25
CAVALIERS
After an emotional 104-100 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 4 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse Sunday, the Cavaliers will look to take their first lead in the best-of-seven series when they return to Quicken Loans Arena for Game 5.
The Cavaliers are 1-1 at home this postseason, dropping Game 1 to the Pacers, 98-80, before responding with a Game 2 win last Wednesday.
Cavaliers small forward LeBron James is averaging 32.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 1.0 blocks and 1.0 steals over 43.0 minutes per game in the first-round series.
INDIANS
The Indians conclude their two-game series against the Cubs, and it will be nationally televised on ESPN.
The Indians, who at 12-8, entered the homestand with a 2.5-game lead over the Minnesota Twins in the Central Division, started the week with a victory at Baltimore, which extended their winning streak to three straight.
And the Indians will send their bulldog, Trevor Bauer, to the mound to match up against the Cubs, who are scheduled to start Jon Lester.
Thursday, April 26
BROWNS
It is the day of days for the Browns and their fans, as the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft happens Thursday.
The Browns secured the No. 1 overall pick with a loss to rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, a native of Mentor, Ohio, and the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Christmas Eve 2017, and one week later, with the Houston Texans’ loss to the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium, obtained a second top-five selection.
The Texans’ pick, which is the No. 4 overall selection, was acquired in a draft-day trade that Houston spent on quarterback Deshaun Watson last April.
INDIANS
The homestand continues with the first of four games against the Mariners, and barring extra innings, the 6:10 p.m. start will allow Browns fans in attendance to return home to see much of the first round of the NFL Draft.
Friday, April 27
BROWNS
The first-round picks will be introduced at a press conference in Berea, and then, the second and third rounds of the 2018 NFL Draft take place.
Currently, the Browns hold three picks in the second round: Nos. 1, 3 and 32, but as of yet, no longer have a third-round choice, as they traded it to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for quarterback Tyrod Taylor.
CAVALIERS
We don’t yet know who, but somebody is going to have a chance to wrap up the first-round series at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Should Cleveland drop Game 5 at home, expect plenty of talk from the national and local media about this potentially being James’ last game in his second tour of duty with the Cavaliers.
INDIANS
The Indians will continue their series against the Mariners in a Friday night start at Progressive Field.
Saturday, April 28
BROWNS
The 2018 NFL Draft concludes, as rounds four through seven will commence from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The Browns have one pick each in the fourth (No. 14) and fifth rounds (No. 13), as well as two sixth-round choices (Nos. 1 and 14).
INDIANS
The Indians will continue their series against the Mariners in an afternoon start at Progressive Field, and the first 10,000 fans in attendance will receive a tote bag courtesy of MLB Network.
Sunday, April 29
CAVALIERS
Depending on the results of Game 6, the Cavaliers could very well find themselves in their first Game 7 since the 2016 NBA Finals.
INDIANS
The Indians will conclude their weekend and regular-season series against the Mariners in an afternoon start at Progressive Field, and just like Saturday, the first 10,000 fans in attendance will receive a tote bag courtesy of MLB Network.