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Buckle Up, Cleveland! An emotional sports week is upon us

There is always something going on the Cleveland sports scene, but this week is especially jam-packed with major storylines.
Credit: David Richard
There is always something going on the Cleveland sports scene, but this week is especially jam-packed with major storylines.

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.

Credit: Kirby Lee, Custom
Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Josh Tomlin (43) delivers against the Los Angeles Angels during a game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.

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.

Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski, Custom
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) looks to shoot the ball while Indiana Pacers guard Darren Collison (2) defends in the second half of Game 4 in the first round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

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.

Credit: David Richard, Custom
Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Trevor Bauer (47) delivers in the second inning against the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field.

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.

Credit: Kirby Lee, Custom
A general overall view of in the first round the 2017 NFL Draft as the Cleveland Browns prepare for the No. 1 overall pick at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

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.

Credit: Bill Streicher, Custom
Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett (not pictured) is announced as the No. 1 overall pick to the Cleveland Browns in the first round the 2017 NFL Draft at Philadelphia Museum of Art.

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.

Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski, Custom
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) dribbles the ball while Indiana Pacers forward Bojan Bogdanovic (44) defends in the second half of Game 4 in the first round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

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).

Credit: Darren Carroll, Custom
AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, will play host to the 2018 NFL Draft, April 26-28.

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.

Credit: Jerome Miron, Custom
Seattle Mariners center fielder Mitch Haniger (17) hits a two-run home run during the seventh inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington.

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.

Credit: Ken Blaze, Custom
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) shoots a deep jumper during the first half in Game 2 of the first round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena.

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.

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