CHICAGO -- One little doctors appointment for Kyle Schwarber has turned into an intriguing possibility for the Chicago Cubs.Schwarber is working out in Arizona after major left knee surgery in April, and the Cubs say the slugger with the sweet left-handed swing could be in the mix when Chicago returns to the World Series for the first time since 1945.The Cubs had ruled Schwarber out for the year after he tore two knee ligaments during an outfield collision. But Schwarbers checkup with Dr. Daniel Cooper on Monday in Dallas cleared the way for the Cubs to take a closer look at the catcher/outfielder in the Arizona Fall League.We got the best possible report. It exceeded any reasonable expectation that we had, president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said before the Cubs beat the Dodgers 5-0 in Game 6 of the NL Championship Series on Saturday night.We basically got the news at six months that we had hoped to get at seven months, which was Dr. Cooper upon examining him cleared him to run the bases. Kyle called me right away and asked for a chance to get ready. The doctors greenlighted him to start hitting.Schwarbers return would be a big boost for Chicago, which will play at Cleveland in Game 1 on Tuesday night. He hit .333 with a franchise-record five homers in nine playoff games last year, including a drive that reached the top of a Wrigley Field videoboard.Schwarber was 0 for 3 with a walk as the designated hitter Saturday night for the Mesa Solar Sox. He watched the Cubs face the Dodgers on a tablet in the dugout between at-bats.Overall a really plus day for me, he said. Feeling confident, so well see where this goes.Schwarber was activated from the 60-day disabled list Saturday. If he looks good in Arizona, he might be able to help the Cubs at designated hitter while the World Series is in Cleveland.Im down here to try and get my work in, and I might join them up in Cleveland if its either cheering or whatever it is, he said. Im all in for it.Left-hander Giovanni Soto was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.Schwarber tracked 500 balls off a hitting machine on Thursday and Friday before taking at-bats against James Farris, a pitcher in the Arizona Fall League. He also ran the bases on Friday, according to Epstein.Well just continue to evaluate him medically day by day in terms of baseball readiness, Epstein said. We have a lot of business we need to take care of first before theres any relevance to it short term. But long term its a great prognosis for him and were proud of him that hes worked so hard to get to this point.The Cubs selected Schwarber with the fourth overall pick in the 2014 amateur draft out of Indiana University. He rocketed through their system and made his major league debut last June, part of a wave of bright young talent that helped the once-downtrodden franchise blossom into one of baseballs top clubs.The 23-year-old Schwarber hit .246 with 16 homers and 43 RBI in 69 games last year. He stayed around the team even after he got hurt in early April in Arizona, making the most of Wrigleys revamped home clubhouse for his rehab process.He remains a fan favorite, drawing loud cheers every time he is introduced or shown on the videoboard at home.I dont know to what extent we would be able to use him or not, but right now were just trying to explore all the possibilities, manager Joe Maddon said.---AP freelance reporter Jose M. Romero in Arizona contributed to this report.---Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap Nike Vapormax Flyknit Cheap . Miikka Kiprusoff had just announced his retirement after a decade-long run in Calgary and it would be up to Berra and Ramo to fill the void. Nike Air Vapormax Clearance . LOUIS -- Alexander Steen scored a power-play goal with 59. http://www.airvapormaxwholesale.com/vapormax-off-white-wholesale.html . To the surprise of many, it isnt the Wolverines but their in-state rivals the Michigan State Spartans. Vapormax Run Utility Wholesale . "We have always prided ourselves on the way we play defence. Having two big pieces back is going to be a key for us moving forward for years to come," said Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen. Nike Air Vapormax 2019 Cheap . -- The Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake played to a 0-0 tie Saturday night that left the top of the Western Conference standings unchanged. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Only the most ardent fans of the Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers will likely care much about what transpires in their preseason game at Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday night.Then again, the guys on the field will care very much about what happens.The Chiefs and Packers are expected to play few, if any, starters in their fourth preseason game, turning the proceedings over to their backups instead.And in some cases, not even the backups will see game action -- the Chiefs are resting quarterbacks Alex Smith and Nick Foles, and Aaron Rodgers and ailing Packers backup Brett Hundley will enjoy the night in a ball cap.Young guys will get most of the work, Chiefs coach Andy Reid acknowledged this week.He stopped just short of saying all of the work.Some coaches have said they will play their starters for a series or quarter Thursday night, if only to knock off the last vestiges of rust.But the Chiefs and Packers are content with the statuses of their veteran cores, so much so that many of players on both teams have skipped the preseason entirely.Rodgers certainly didnt see much of the field. Chiefs pass rusher Tamba Hali and running back Jamaal Charles, both coming off knee surgery, and safety Eric Berry, who refused to sign a franchise tender before Sunday, have likewise skipped all the preseason.As such, the guys on the fringe -- fighting for the last roster spot or to flash something for other teams in need -- will have an opportunity to shine on Thursday night.Its a great game for the young guys to get in and have an opportunity to show, Reid said. Youre not going to be able to keep everybody, but it gives you an opportunity as a player to get yourself on tape and if you dont make it here, you have an opportunity to make it somewhere else, and thats what this is all about.It certainly isnt about what happens on the scoreboard.So, who are the position battles worth watching for the Chiefs and Packers on Thursday nnight?The Packers are trying to sort out their wide receiver depth behind Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb.ddddddddddddDavante Adams, Ty Montgomery and Jared Abbrederis all appear safe, while Jeff Janis -- who caught the desperation pass in last seasons playoff game against Arizona -- has struggled in camp.The defensive line is also a big question mark with first-round pick Kenny Clark sidelined by an injury and Mike Pennel suspended the first four weeks of the regular season. After starters Mike Daniels and Letroy Guion, fourth-rounder Dean Lowry may need to contribute right away.The defense offers the biggest intrigue in Kansas City, too.The late trade with San Francisco for cornerback Kenneth Acker means competition is tight for jobs in the secondary. The Chiefs have second-year pro Steven Nelson and rookies KeiVarae Russell, Eric Murray and D.J. White along with Marcus Cooper and starters Phillip Gaines and Marcus Peters.I like the competition from the young guys, Chiefs safety Ron Parker said. They do a good job of coming out here every day and competing against each other, going out there and making it hard against the offense. So thats all were asking for young guys to do.In the linebacker group, the absence of Justin Houston as he recovers from surgery to his ACL and the loss of Josh Mauga to season-ending hip surgery this week leave a substantial void.Ramik Wilson, Justin March, and Dadi Nicolas are all trying to prove they have something to offer.Were trying to see what everybody can do, Chiefs defensive coordinator Bob Sutton said. Were trying to get as many evaluations as we can on these guys and give them a chance to go against the first unit of whoever youre playing and kind of see it as close to game as you can on a more limited basis.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '