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TORONTO -- The Toronto Maple Leafs are hoping to reap the reward of having the NHLs worst team last season.Auston Matthews is the prize.Toronto took advantage of its awful season by drafting the highly skilled player with the No. 1 pick overall, the franchises first selection at the top of the NHL draft since 1985.Matthews, who just turned 19, will have a chance to make an instant impact.The Maple Leafs won just 29 games last season, their fewest since 1970 when they played six fewer games, and won only one more game the previous season.Mike Babcock, meanwhile, proved coaching can only do so much.Toronto gave him a $50 million, eight-year deal a year ago, hoping the Stanley Cup and Olympic gold-winning coach could make a difference.Last year, he did not as the Maple Leafs finished last in the league.This season, Babcock is expecting much better results.Were way better, Babcock said in an interview with The Associated Press while leading Canada to a World Cup of Hockey title. We got kids, but we got skill. Its a way different program than a year ago. We now have a team.Were like a fast-climbing stock. You want to buy. Last year, you didnt want to buy.Here are some things to watch as Toronto prepares to play at Ottawa on Oct. 12 in the NHLs first regular season game:FRANCHISE PLAYERTorontos hopes of reviving its beloved hockey franchise rest with Matthews, its first No. 1 pick overall since selecting Wendel Clark a little more than three decades ago.Matthews showed the world his talent as a key player for the North Americas 23-and-younger team, scoring once against Sweden and Russia and having an assist against Finland. He also very much belonged on the ice in his preseason debut against Montreal after playing in the World Cup.I felt really good, Matthews said.The 6-foot-3, 216-pound center looked good, too, flashing his rare blend of size, speed and skill. He was born in California and lived in Arizona before going to Switzerland last year to prepare to play in the NHL. Matthews had 24 goals and 22 assists in 36 games for the Zurich Lions.Lots of skill, Babcock said after coaching Matthews for the first time in a game. Hell figure it out.IMPORTANT INVESTMENTBabcock bristled at the notion Toronto didnt make a splash in the summer to improve their team, pointing to picks the team gave up to acquire Frederik Andersen from Anaheim.We traded a first and a second to get a goalie who could win games, he said.The Maple Leafs also dealt goalie Jonathan Bernier as part of the deal.Andersen signed a five-year, $25 million contract with the Maple Leafs, cashing in on his 77-26-12 record over three seasons while competing for playing time with the Ducks.ON THE MENDJames van Riemsdyk got a chance to get into game shape during the World Cup, playing three games and having one assist for the U.S.The 27-year-old forward played in just 40 games last year before his season ended due to a broken left foot.Its huge to have him healthy, Babcock said. We think hes a high-end player. The more skill we have around him, the better off well be.I think JVR is going to have the best year of his career.So far, the 2013-14 season was his best when he had 30 goals and 31 assists.GETTING AN ASSISTBabcock was busy with Canadas World Cup team, giving assistant coaches Jim Hiller, D.J. Smith and Andrew Brewer a chance to lead the team during training camp and early in the preseason.It was a great to give those guys an opportunity to run the program, Babcock said. They probably enjoyed it.TURNING 100The Maple Leafs are planning a season of celebrations to commemorate their centennial. The highlight may be when Toronto hosts the Detroit Red Wings at BMO Field, home of the Canadian Football Leagues Argonauts, in the leagues annual outdoor game on New Years Day.----Follow Larry Lage at www.twitter.com/larrylage and follow his work at www.bigstory.ap.org/content/larry-lage Custom Thunder Jersey China . 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HOUSTON -- In a tight game against a first-place team, Collin McHugh didnt worry about giving the ball to the Houston Astros bullpen.McHugh combined with four relievers on a two-hitter, rookie Alex Bregman homered and the Astros beat the Chicago Cubs 2-1 Saturday as they tried to gain ground in the AL wild-card race.Theyve all been lights out for about the last year-and-a-half, two years, McHugh said of his bullpen. I feel as confident as anyone giving them the ball with the lead.Marwin Gonzalez drove in a run with a third-inning squeeze bunt for the Astros, who began the day 2? games back for the ALs second wild card.Bregman put the Astros ahead with an opposite-field home run to right-center against John Lackey (9-8) in a two-run third.Hes been remarkable, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. Weve been playing these playoff-type caliber games for a few weeks now, and hes not showing any signs of this being his first time.After starting 1 for 34 following his July 25 callup, Bregman has eight home runs -- all since Aug. 16. He went 2 for 4 and raised his average to .274 with 31 RBI.Im just trying to square the ball up, Bregman said. Baseball is such a game of ups and downs, and youve just got to stay even through the whole time.McHugh (10-10) won his third straight decision, allowing one run and two hits in five innings. Chris Devenski, Will Harris, Luke Gregerson and Ken Giles combined for hitless relief.Their pitchers were really good today. Give them credit, Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. They were very good at hitting their spots and had good stuff.McHugh spoke with Hinch about the decision on a quick hook.He said, `Hey, were going to do this like a playoff game, and were going to get a win here, the pitcher recalled. And thats exactly what happened.Ken Giles survived a shaky ninth to earn his 10th save. He walked Anthony Rizzo leading off, and pinch-runner Matt Szczur advanced on a wild pitch. Jorge Soler struck out and Szczur crossed to third on Miguel Monteros groundout. Giles then struck out Willson Contreras.Lackey gave up two runs, four hits and three walks in six innings for the NL Central leaders, who are 90-51. He had been 2-0 in four starts since a July 23 loss at Milwaukee.I definitely havent had much luck with the wins and losses this year, Lackey said.Jose Altuve, in an 0-for-12 slide, followed Bregmans homer by reaching on his second bunt single of the season, beating third baseman Kris Bryants throw.Yulieski Gurriel singled him to third, and Gonzalez bunted to third as Altuve scored.ddddddddddddTwo bunts, Lackey said, youd like for that not to cause you a game.Contreras fourth-inning sacrifice fly scored Soler, who beat the offline throw from right fielder George Springer.Houston could have extended the lead in the seventh, but Springer was thrown out at the plate by when he tried to score from first on Bregmans bloop single to right center.Right fielder Jason Heyward threw to shortstop Javier Baez, who relayed to Contreras for the tag. The call by plate umpire Mark Carlson was upheld in a video review.Im always confident that he is going to score from first base, Bregman said. I saw the bobble and thought there was a chance. It was worth taking a shot right there.PEACOCK GETS NODHouston plans to starts RHPs Doug Fister, Brad Peacock and Joe Musgrove in next weeks series against Texas.Peacock was recalled from Triple-A Fresno on Tuesday alongside RHP David Paulino, who lost to Cleveland in his major league debut Thursday.I think Peacock gives us the best chance to get into the game with a little more ease, Hinch said. His pitch repertoire is a little more suited and an advantage over the Rangers over Paulino.DELAYThe game was delayed several minutes between the second and third innings because of a medical emergency involving a fan in the stands near the Houston bench. First responders could be seen tending to the fan, and the Astros said the fan was taken to a hospital.TRAINERS ROOMAstros: SS Carlos Correa missed his fourth straight game with inflammation in his left shoulder and remains day to day. Hinch said Correa continued to experience soreness, and that the early start time following a night game didnt allow proper time for prep work. Every time we want to put him in there were going to risk the next three or four days, Hinch said. So we have to be very strategic about we map this out. ... Hinch said the team believes Altuve is battling a 24-hour stomach illness and the infielder told him after the game he would be good to play Sunday. Altuve vomited several times before and during the game, Hinch said. ... Altuve, bothered by a stomach ailment, was replaced in the eighth by Tony Kemp.UP NEXTRHP Mike Fiers (10-6) looks to improve to 4-1 in his career against the Cubs when he starts Sundays series finale. Chicago starts RHP Jake Arrieta (16-6), who is 10-2 in 13 road starts this season. He will face Houston for the first time. ' ' '