with a 3.05 ERA and 32 saves in 47 relief appearances this season, has been out since Aug. 6 with a fracture of the third finger of his right hand.Reds: Problems with his patella

The most interesting College Football Playoff debate will most likely involve the Big Ten. The conference currently has four of the top eight teams in the CFP rankings, with the highest ranked of the bunch, Ohio State, having the worst chance of playing in the conference title game.And while the selection committee prizes conference championships, theres also no doubt that a one-loss Ohio State team, with wins over Oklahoma, Wisconsin and Michigan, will have the résumé to be a top-four team.What will the committee do? And what should it do? Our experts weigh in:Will a one-loss Ohio State team that doesnt make the Big Ten title game make the playoff? Should it?Andrea Adelson:?I do think a one-loss Ohio State team without a conference championship makes the playoff, but I would have a real problem if that meant the Big Ten was putting a two-loss conference champion into the playoff, too. At some point, the eye test has to come into play when evaluating every team with playoff chances. I understand all the data points, and those are great, to an extent. I understand wanting to give conference champions an edge, too. But give me the four best teams in the playoff. Period. Dont give me a conference champion just because. If the Buckeyes win out, they will absolutely be one of the top four teams in the country. But a conference title shouldnt magically guarantee a two-loss team a playoff spot if there are worthy one-loss teams the committee believes to be better. Hurricanes Jerseys 2021 . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break. Carolina Hurricanes Gear . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. https://www.cheaphurricanes.com/ . Just as Montreal was settling into the first full working week of a new year, the Impact announced the appointment of their new head coach. Hurricanes Jerseys China . LOUIS -- Rookie Tavon Austin has missed another day of practice, lessening the odds hell be ready for the St. Custom Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys . -- PGA TOUR Canada member Steve Saunders took a three-stroke lead Saturday in the Web. CINCINNATI -- The last time before Thursday night that Jose Fernandez pitched in Cincinnati, it was April 18, 2013, his rookie season. He lasted only four innings and allowed five runs.Miamis struggling ace again lasted only four innings and allowed five runs, including Ramon Cabreras three-run homer that was the big blow in the Marlins 5-4 loss to the Reds.From there, things got better, Fernandez said when reminded of that first Cincinnati start. I hope they get better this time, too.Billy Hamilton used aggressive baserunning to produce another run and Eugenio Suarez added an RBI double to give Cincinnati three straight wins over Miami after losing the opener of the four-game series.Dan Straily (9-6) improved to 5-0 with a 2.68 ERA over his last six starts. He opened with five shutout innings before giving up Marcell Ozunas two-run homer in the sixth. Straily allowed six hits and struck out seven.Blake Wood turned in 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief before Raisel Iglesias pitched the ninth for his second career save in two opportunities.Fernandez (12-7) allowed five runs in a season-low four innings -- as many runs as he gave up in his four June starts -- and saw his ERA over his last four starts climb to 6.00. The Reds reached him for seven hits and a walk while sending him to a career-worst third consecutive loss. He previously had never lost more than two consecutive decisions.Obviously, (the Reds) were squaring a lot of stuff up, Miami manager Don Mattingly said. Im not quite sure. I havent seen the replay of his pitches yet, but balls kind of at the belt line or in the center of the plate are going to get hit.He also failed to adequately back up third when Hamilton tagged up from second on a fly ball to Ozuna in center field. The Reds speedster scored when Ozunas throw got through third baseman Martin Prado and bounced off the fence in front of the third base dugout.You cant give teams extra chances, catcher Jeff Mathis said. Weve got to play bbetter baseball and limit our mistakes.ddddddddddddernandez finished with six strikeouts, pushing him over 200 for the first time in his career. With 204, he is the sixth Marlin to reach 200 in a season and first since Anibal Sanchez with 202 in 2011.Cabrera gave Cincinnati a 3-0 lead with his first homer of the season in the second inning.Prado capitalized on an error by pitcher Jumbo Diaz with a two-run single in the seventh.MOVING UP: Fernandezs six strikeouts on Thursday leave him with 204 on the season, the third-highest season total in Marlins history. He trails Kevin Brown (205, 1997) and record-holder Ryan Dempster (209, 2000).POWER SURGE: Ozunas home run was his 22nd of the season and third of the four-game series. He is one homer short of matching the career high he set in 2014.ON THE VERGE: Joey Votto needs one double to reach 300 in his career and four RBI to reach 700.TRAINING ROOMMarlins: RHP A.J. Ramos is scheduled to throw a simulated game on Friday. If he feels OK on Saturday, Mattingly expects to be able to activate him on Sunday. Ramos, 1-1 with a 3.05 ERA and 32 saves in 47 relief appearances this season, has been out since Aug. 6 with a fracture of the third finger of his right hand.Reds: Problems with his patella and Achilles tendons related to last years knee surgery are plaguing SS Zack Cozart, who didnt start on Thursday for the third time in the four-game series.UP NEXTMarlins: RHP Tom Koehler (9-8) tries for his first win in five career starts against the Pirates when Miami opens a three-game series in Pittsburgh on Friday. He is 0-4 with a 5.73 ERA in his career against the Pirates.Reds: RHP Tim Adleman (1-1) is scheduled to make his first start since May 19 when the Reds open a four-game wraparound series against Los Angeles in Cincinnati. Adleman has been sidelined with a strained left oblique. ' ' '