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VANCOUVER -- They expect to have one of their best players back on the pitch Sunday when they face one of the worst teams in Major League Soccer, but the Vancouver Whitecaps know taking Chivas USA lightly could prove costly. The Whitecaps are in a battle for a playoff spot in the tight Western Conference. With nine games left on the schedule, and the team playing their next three on the road, the Whitecaps (10-9-6) cant afford to squander a chance at three points playing at BC Place Stadium. "The margins are dwindling," interim captain Kenny Miller said Saturday after the Whitecaps practised at the University of British Columbia. "After our indefinite results (lately), for us its important we get back to our winning ways. Well be going out to win the game and the right result can push us up the table a few places." Camilo Sanvezzo, who leads the Whitecaps with 14 goals, missed last weeks 1-0 loss to the L.A. Galaxy with a slight groin pull. He has trained this week and looks ready to play against Chivas. "I am feeling very confident," said the Brazilian striker. "I have been striking some balls and feel very good." The one-week break could play dividends down the stretch for Sanvezzo. "I didnt want to stay out but I think it helped a lot," he said. "I feel very confident for this game." Heading into Saturdays MLS play Vancouver was seventh in the Western Conference with 36 points. Only four points separated the second-place Galaxy from the Whitecaps. Chivas is last in the West with 21 points (5-14-6) and are just 1-8-3 on the road this season. The Goats have shown some life recently and upset the New York Red Bulls 3-2 at home last Sunday for their first MLS win since March. It will be the third meeting of the season between the two teams. Chivas won the first 2-1 while the Caps earned a 3-1 victory at BC Place on June 19. It is tempting for the Whitecaps to look past Chivas, especially when they play their next three games on the road against Dallas, San Jose and Montreal, before returning home for a Sept. 28 match against Western Conference leading Real Salt Lake. Head coach Martin Rennie said his team is focused on the task at hand. "The players know what they need to do," he said. "This is when the season really starts. "They (Chivas) have a couple of dangerous forwards. They are a good possession team. We have to make sure we close them down. You always have to be on your toes because they are dangerous." The addition of Erick Torres has added more punch to the Chivas attack. The 20-year-old from Guadalajara scored twice in the victory over the Red Bulls and has four goals in six games. The Whitecaps will be looking for Sanvezzo to bring a scoring touch that lacked against the Galaxy. Vancouver is second in MLS with 25 home goals, but 16 of those came in a six-game stretch earlier this year. The Whitecaps are currently struggling through a 1-4-1 run where they have scored just four goals and been shutout three times. Rennie preferred to look at the glass half filled. "We have scored a lot of goals," he said. "Last game we missed Camilo. "I think we know we have to work hard but we are confident we can score goals. We need to prove that." Miller, who has scored seven goals this season, said Sanvezzo brings an artists flair to the Vancouver canvas. "He brings back goals," said Miller. "This season he has scored a lot of big goals and in a lot of games hes come up with important goals. "He brings all kinds of threats whether it be dead-ball situations or whether it be open play. We missed it last week, we missed his goal threat. Hopefully this week we can get back to the winning ways." The Whitecaps will be without midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker who will serve a suspension after receiving his eighth yellow card of the season against the Galaxy. Captain Jay DeMerit, who recently married Olympic skicross gold medallist Ashleigh McIvor, is also questionable. The 33-year-old defender is still recovering after rupturing his Achilles tendon in the March 2 season opener. DeMerit did play 70 minutes in a scrimmage with the UBC Thunderbirds last week. "Hes coming on really well," said Rennie. "Hes got himself training consistently. "He probably needs a little more practise game time, then he will be in contention." Wholesale Hurricanes Jerseys . In this space, I will be writing new and unique pieces about the team that you wont be able to find anywhere else. So naturally, in an attempt to come up with a fresh topic about the Ottawa Senators, I am going to start with a piece about their goaltending. Hurricanes Jerseys China . That was OK with him. He was just happy his team came away with two points. Letestu redirected Jack Johnsons shot from the point with 2:38 left, lifting the Blue Jackets past the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 on Monday night. https://www.cheaphurricanes.com/.Y. -- Mark Steenhuis scored four goals and added two assists to lead the Buffalo Bandits over the Toronto Rock 12-10 in National Lacrosse League action on Saturday. Hurricanes Jerseys 2021 .Stanton suffered fractures in his face and other injuries when he was hit by a pitch Sept. 11. The Marlins are confident hell fully recover and be ready for spring training, and they hope to reach a long-term agreement with him. Carolina Hurricanes Pro Shop .Y. - Terry and Kim Pegula have no immediate plans to tinker with their new NFL team.MILWAUKEE -- Nearly a month into the season, Matt Garza got his first win for the Milwaukee Brewers against his former team, the Chicago Cubs. Garza, who signed a four-year, $50 million deal with the Milwaukee in the off-season, retired the Cubs in order in four of the first six innings. He gave up two runs and four hits while striking out seven and walking one over seven innings as Milwaukee defeated Chicago 5-2 Friday night. "Im just happy that I was in control of my mechanics all game," Garza said. "I just wanted to go and establish my game plan and not get too over-amped." Garza insisted facing the Cubs, for whom he pitched in 2011 and 2012, as well as part of last season, didnt generate any added emotion for him. "Its another game. Ive been on five different teams. If I had to get up for everybody, Id be tired by mid-season," Garza said. Brewers manager Ron Roenicke liked what he saw from Garza. "He really went after guys." Roenicke said. "His command was good. He had really good stuff today." Lyle Overbay homered and Carlos Gomez and Ryan Braun each had three hits and a stolen base for the Brewers, who have a Major League best 17-6 record. Garza (1-2) said hes enjoying finally playing on a winning team. "When you go through years of constantly hoping, you kind of run out of hope," he said. "Were going out with the attitude that we are going to win. It brings up a lot better emotion. Its confidence. That what were playing with a lot of right now." Garzas ability to keep pitches down in the zone made it tough on Chicagos hitters, Cubs manager Rick Renteria said. "He doesnt rattle very easily. He goes right after hitters. You have to tip your cap to him," Renteria said. Francisco Rodriguez pitched a scoreless inning to pick up his 10th save in 10 chances. Cubs starter Carlos Villanueva (1-5) gave upp five runs and 11 hits in five innings.dddddddddddd The Brewers when Cubs left fielder Junior Lake appeared set to make a routine catch of Scooter Gennetts line drive but the ball sailed past Lakes glove and rolled to the fence, allowing Gomez to score. Brauns single drove in Gennett, who scored as Lake airmailed a throw to the plate, giving the Brewers a 2-0 lead. The Cubs cut the lead to 2-1 in the third on Emilio Bonifacios run-scoring single. The Brewers extended their lead to two runs again in the bottom half of the inning. With Gomez on first, Braun hit a ground ball deep in the hole at short. Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro made a strong throw and umpires initially ruled Braun out at first. After a delay of two minutes and 20 seconds, Braun was ruled safe. Jonathan Lucroy followed with a single to score Gomez. Overbay led off the fourth with a homer, giving the Brewers a 4-1 lead. Aramis Ramirezs sacrifice fly in the fifth extended the lead to 5-1. Ryan Sweeneys ground-out plated a run for the Cubs in the seventh. Notes: The Brewers unveiled a statue of Hall of Fame radio announcer Bob Uecker, situated in the last row of the upper deck behind home plate, that pays tribute to the classic Miller Lite ad campaign in which he starred. .. Rodriguez tied Robb Nen for 18th place with his 314th career save. ... Brewers manager Ron Roenicke applauded Major League Baseballs attempt to eliminate the confusion that has surrounded the "transfer" rule this season by returning to the previous interpretation for when a fielder loses possession of a ball while trying to shift it from his glove to his hand. "I like what they did. I think it makes sense and it is the right way," Roenicke said. ... Chicago reliever Neil Ramirez made his Major League debut. ... The Brewers Marco Estrada (1-1) will face the Cubs Travis Wood (1-2) on Saturday. ' ' '