Mets closer may need surgery:

NEW YORK — The New York Mets’ season of high expectations took another serious hit Thursday when All-Star closer Jeurys Familia was diagnosed with a blood clot in his pitching shoulder that might require surgery. The arterial clot will be examined today in St. Louis by Dr. Robert Thompson, who treated starter Matt Harvey last year for thoracic outlet syndrome, the Mets said in a statement. New York entered the year with hopes of returning to the World Series behind their dominant starting staff and a lineup led by slugger Yoenis Cespedes. But pitchers Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz and Seth Lugo; first baseman Lucas Duda; catcher Travis d’Arnaud; and captain David Wright are all on the DL.

NFL denies Gordon reinstatement:

CLEVELAND — Josh Gordon won’t be back in the NFL anytime soon. A person with knowledge of the decision tells The Associated Press that the Cleveland Browns wide receiver has been denied reinstatement by the NFL. The person, speaking Thursday on condition of anonymity because the decision has not been announced publicly, says Gordon can reapply for reinstatement in the fall. Gordon has been suspended several times by the league, including the current ban for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. He also was suspended for 10 games in 2014, then for the 2015 season, all for substance abuse violations.

Cardinals release troubled LB:

TEMPE, Ariz. — The Arizona Cardinals have released linebacker Daryl Washington, who had been reinstated by the NFL after three seasons away from the game. The team said in a statement that after meeting with Washington, “we have collectively decided it was best to release Daryl and give him an opportunity to continue his career elsewhere.” Washington was suspended by the league for multiple violations of the NFL’s substance-abuse policy as well.

Ovechkin finished playoffs hurt:

Russian hockey officials announced Thursday that Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin played through injury before Washington was eliminated from the NHL playoffs in the second round by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Ovechkin finished the playoffs dealing with a lower-body injury that required pain-numbing injections, the Russian Hockey Federation said. Ovechkin never let on that he was playing hurt. He had 5 goals and 3 assists in 13 playoff games.

Bobsledder’s life celebrated:

The sympathy cards came from places like Germany and Italy, where Steven Holcomb was their bobsled enemy. Mourners flew in from all across the country. Generations of Olympians packed a ballroom, sharing in grief. They wept. They hugged. They laughed. Sentiments like those came for hours Thursday in the tiny Olympic town of Lake Placid, New York, when friends and family gathered to celebrate the life of America’s most successful bobsled driver. The 37-year-old Holcomb was found dead in his sleep Saturday at the Olympic Training Center.

3 Illini football players charged:

CHAMPAIGN — Three suspended Illinois football players have been charged with burglary and aggravated robbery charges after what they say was a prank on a fellow dormitory resident. Data L. Lee and Howard E. Watkins, both 18, and Zarrian J. Holcombe, 19, were charged Thursday with felony residential burglary and aggravated robbery. The three were wearing masks and dark clothing when they entered a 19-year-old man’s room about 1 a.m. Wednesday at Bromley Hall with what he thought was a gun but was a BB gun. Coach Lovie Smith has suspended all three from team activities indefinitely.

Cougars lose third straight:

For the first time in 2017, the Kane County Cougars (17-14) have lost three straight games. In Thursday’s 4-1 loss the Cougars fell to the red-hot Lansing Lugnuts (19-12) in game one of a three-game set at Northwestern Medicine Field. The contest was defined by excellent starting pitching from Lansing’s Justin Maese (4-2) who logged a complete game, 5-hit victory.

Wolves set 2017-18 schedule:

The Chicago Wolves’ 2017-18 American Hockey League schedule will feature games against 12 Western Conference opponents, team officials announced Thursday. The Wolves will defend their Central Division title against six familiar foes — as Charlotte switches to the Eastern Conference’s Atlantic Division. The Wolves will play the majority of their games against Central Division opponents, but they’ll also battle six Pacific Division teams: the Bakersfield Condors, Ontario Reign, San Antonio Rampage, San Diego Gulls, Texas Stars and Tucson Roadrunners.