A look ahead to top enterprise and feature stories planned globally by AP Sports. New digests will go out each Thursday and Monday and will be repeated on other weekdays. Please note that story plans may change depending on news and other issues.

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As with all our operations, we welcome and want your feedback. If you have thoughts or questions about the Sports Showcase Digest or the material listed, please reach out to Oskar Garcia, assistant sports editor for the U.S. east region, at 215-446-6632 or at ogarcia(at)ap.org.

All times are Eastern.

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THURSDAY, March 29

BBO–TIME TO TANK?

Rebuilding -or, to use the less euphemistic term, tanking- has become one of baseball’s most polarizing topics in 2018. When the Astros won the World Series last season, four years removed from a 111-loss debacle, they became a shining example of how short-term pain can lead to long-term gain, but as other teams try to follow Houston’s lead, they’re being met with at least a little bit of skepticism. By Baseball Writer Noah Trister. UPCOMING: 1,000 word, photos.

GLF–MASTERS

This Masters is as much about a red shirt as a green jacket. Tiger Woods is back at Augusta National for the first time since 2015, and he even looks so much like the Tiger Woods of old that he has been installed as a co-favorite. As much as golf has missed the excitement that Woods creates at tournaments Kyle Connor Jersey , Woods has missed golf. ”I love playing Augusta National. There’s no other golf course like it in the world, and there’s no other golf tournament like it. It is literally … it’s a players’ heaven.” Ten months after he was arrested on a DUI charge for taking a bad mix of prescription medicine, and six months after not even Woods was sure he would ever return to elite competition, the question has shifted from whether he could play in the Masters to whether he can win. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. UPCOMING: 1,000 words, photos by 5 p.m.

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FRIDAY, March 30

GLF–MASTERS-SERGIO

Sergio Garcia, the Masters champion, never felt any different from the Sergio Garcia who spent nearly 20 years trying to make sure his career would not be defined as the guy who never could win a major. He says he didn’t changed as a person, and he was right. All the change took place before he won the Masters. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by 4 a.m. Friday.

GLF–MASTERS-CAPSULES. By Doug Ferguson. A capsule look at 15 contenders for the Masters. UPCOMING: 1,500 words by 5 p.m.

GLF–MASTERS-FACTS & FIGURES. UPCOMING by 5 p.m.

GLF–MASTERS-HOLE BY HOLE. UPCOMING by 5 p.m.

GLF–MASTERS-YARDAGE-PAR. UPCOMING by 5 p.m.

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SATURDAY, March 31

GLF–MASTERS-CHINESE FIR

It is the only hole at Augusta National that doesn’t have a bunker. No other hole on the back nine is shorter. Rory McIlroy watched the Masters every year when he was younger and didn’t see what was so difficult about the 440-yard 14th hole until he had to try it himself. ”There’s a 3-yard square you have to hit it,” he said. Sitting between the dynamic par 5s on the back nine, the hole called ”Chinese Fir” has played a key role over the years. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 3 a.m.

With:

GLF–MASTERS-ANNIVERSARIES. By Doug Ferguson. A capsule look at key moments over the years at the Masters. UPCOMING: 900 words Youth Evgeni Malkin Jersey , photos by 3 a.m.

GLF–MASTERS-GOOD BEHAVIOR

PALM HARBOR, Fla. – Golf is getting younger, and the PGA Tour is going after its slice of the new generation to build a fan base. That has brought more energy, more volume and raucous behavior that has led to some high-profile players asking that fans be removed. Rory McIlroy suggested limiting alcohol sales. PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan says it’s a good problem to have. But it won’t be a problem at the Masters, where fans know they best mind their manners. By Mark Long. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by 3 p.m.

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MONDAY, April 2

HKN–ONE FOR 1,000

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook and Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin are the latest of only about 60 NHL players to reach 1,000 games with a single franchise. But that number will grow significantly in the coming years as stars and core players choose to re-sign with their current teams long term because of the collective bargaining agreement and hockey’s lean toward security over movement. By Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 5 a.m.

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FRIDAY, April 6

HKN–DEEP PREDATORS

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Nashville Predators are having their best season yet through a combination of savvy drafting, surprising trades and a handful of salary cap-friendly contract extensions. General manager David Poile’s crafty moves have the defending Western Conference champs on the verge of what could be a dominant run in the NHL. By Teresa M. Walker. UPCOMING: 725 words, photos. Video.

Again, if you have questions about the Sports Showcase Digest or the material listed, please reach out to Oskar Garcia Authentic Blake Wheeler Jersey , assistant sports editor for the U.S. east region, at 215-446-6632 or at ogarcia(at)ap.org.

Thanks,

AP Sports

Adam Gase says the Miami Dolphins' run defense will be better than last year.

The preseason says otherwise.

Miami has allowed 299 yards rushing in the first two exhibition games. That includes 226 yards Friday at Carolina, and 71 on one play 鈥?a touchdown run by Christian McCaffrey on the second snap of the night.

The leaky ground defense is especially worrisome because the same problem contributed greatly to a 6-10 finish in 2017. The Dolphins gave up over 170 yards rushing three times during a five-game losing streak that sent the season south.

Despite evidence to the contrary, Gase says his run defense is improved.

"I can see how it's starting to come together," he said Sunday.

"Clean up some of the mistakes, and we'll be all right," middle linebacker Raekwon McMillan said.

The front seven is still adjusting to the loss of five-time Pro Bowl tackle Ndamukong Suh, who was cut when his enormous contract became too burdensome. Last week the Dolphins signaled they're struggling to replace Suh when they signed veteran Kendall Langford, who had been out of the NFL since early November.

Langford was rushed into action at Carolina. He played 18 snaps, made no assignment mistakes and is in excellent shape, Gase said.

Langford joins a group of tackles that also includes veteran newcomer Akeem Spence, perennial underachiever Jordan Phillips and two players taken on the final day of the 2017 draft, Davon Godchaux and Vincent Taylor. New defensive line coach Kris Kocurek plans a heavy rotation to keep everyone fresh.

The defensive lineman making the biggest impact so far is former Pro Bowl end Robert Quinn, an offseason acquisition who had two sacks at Carolina. He had 19 sacks with the Rams in 2013.

"Hopefully I can get back to those good numbers," Quinn said. "That's kind of my mindset 鈥?to break records and do something extreme."

Overall Jamie Benn Jersey , Gase said, the remaking of the front four is on schedule.

"I like where our d-line is," the coach said. "We've just got to make sure we do a better job of fitting the runs right, but they're attacking."

There are fresh faces at linebacker, too, and both are youngsters from Ohio State. McMillan is starting in the middle after missing all of his rookie season in 2017 because of a knee injury. Rookie Jerome Baker, a third-round pick, is the front-runner to start on the outside opposite veteran Kiko Alonso.

McMillan and Baker are two big reasons Gase remains optimistic about the direction of the run defense.

"We'll get those guys up to speed," Gase said. "They'll be doing it right once we hit the first week. We have athletic guys in that second level. We'll give them opportunities to make plays, and they'll make them."

McMillan and Baker were nowhere to be found on McCaffrey's long run, however, and defensive backs Bobby McCain and T.J. McDonald took bad angles.

"We had two guys get too aggressive in the secondary," Gase said.

Such mistakes are correctable, the coach said. He has less than three weeks to fix them.

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