TORONTO -- Cory Rasmus needed time to appreciate the significance of his first appearance at Rogers Centre. A rookie reliever with the Atlanta Braves last May, Rasmus left the mound angry after giving up a home run to Edwin Encarnacion and a double to his older brother, Blue Jays centre fielder Colby Rasmus, in an eventual 9-3 interleague loss for Atlanta. Now with the Los Angeles Angels, Cory is back in Toronto for a four-game set against Colbys Blue Jays. And one year later, the younger Rasmus (by 15 months) feels a lot different about his last outing at Rogers Centre. "To be honest with you, I didnt really get to enjoy the moment like I wish I would have, but to have an opportunity to come up here and maybe face him again is awesome," Cory Rasmus said hours before first pitch Friday. "Hopefully I can embrace it a little more and I wont be so uptight about everything, because looking back on it, it was awesome. Brothers dont get to face each other too often in the big leagues." Rasmus made his major league debut a week before the Toronto outing last year, and was traded to the Angels the following month. He finished the 2013 season with a 5.40 ERA through 21 2/3 innings. Since being called up by the Angels a week ago, the 26-year-old, whos endured three shoulder surgeries over the last seven years, has pitched two scoreless innings, giving up two hits and striking out one. With Colby Rasmus on a hot streak as well -- batting .391 with a .417 on-base percentage and .913 slugging percentage over the last seven days -- both brothers say theyre looking forward a possible rematch of last years at-bat. The two had breakfast together Friday morning, and younger brother Cyle, whos just finished his college career at Columbus State University, will be in the Rogers Centre stands taking in the action this weekend. Colby Rasmus says the playing field between him and Cory is a bit more even these days. "I didnt really like (facing him) a whole lot last year." he said. "Ive had the good fortune of hanging around the big leagues a bit longer and he was having struggles with his shoulder. Hed just been in the minor leagues, it wasnt really a fun time." Cory and Colby were always teammates throughout their childhood, playing together in the Little League World Series in 1999, and winning a State Championship with Russell County High School in Seale, Ala., in 2005. With that kind of history, Colby Rasmus admits its strange having Cory on the other side of the diamond. But hes glad to see his younger brother getting his shot in the big leagues. "Id love nothing more than to have him do well," he said. "Through everything weve been through, all the work we put in when we were younger ... for us to both be on the same big league field and have a chance to do this, its very special." Art Monk Youth Jersey . -- The taxing preseason, which included two games in China, is finally over. Dwayne Haskins Jersey . The No. 23 seed at the first Grand Slam event of the tennis season has worked out all the details, from his training regime right down to where hes going to eat dinner. http://www.redskinsrookiestore.com/Redskins-Joe-Theismann-Jersey/ .Y. -- The Buffalo Bills will head into the regular season short on experience at quarterback after trimming the roster on Friday. Alex Smith Jersey .com) - Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson lost an appeal to have his indefinite suspension overturned, the NFL announced Friday. Derrius Guice Jersey .com) - On a night the Bulls played without Derrick Rose, it was time for Pau Gasol to take charge.We asked Matt Le Tissier to pass judgement on which Manchester City players Pep Guardiola will want to keep when he takes over in the summer. City crashed out of the Champions League with an uninspiring second-leg performance at Real Madrid on Wednesday night, meaning Manuel Pellegrinis reign ends with just a Capital One Cup trophy to show for his final season.They are now battling just to qualify for Europes top-tier competition next season, with a potentially decisive showdown with Arsenal on Super Sunday, live on Sky Sports 1HD from 4pm. Le Tiss predicts Find out what Le Tiss is predicting for Man City v Arsenal here. Heres a look at which players Le Tiss expects to stay and leave when Guardiola arrives...GOALKEEPERSJoe Hart - Pep will be looking at which players are Champions League standard and Joe Hart certainly meets that criteria. KeepWilly Caballero - I think Pep will want a better back-up that can really push Hart for his starting place. Let goDEFENDERSBacary Sagna - Hes proven this season that hes the best right-back at the club with a really solid campaign. KeepPablo Zabaleta - The Premier Leagues best right-back in his day, but he looks past the peak of his powers, with age and injury problems seeing him lose that yard of pace. Let goVincent Kompany - Theres no doubt Pep will want to keep him but more importantly hell want to find a way to keep him fit. KeepEliaquim Mangala - Once again Pep will be looking at whether his centre-backs are good enough to be in a Champions League winning side and none of their other three meet that criteria. Let go Mangala and Otamendi struggle to contain Jamie Vardy Nicolas Otamendi - The same applies for Otamendi. Hes not proven to be worth the transfer fee they splashed out for him. Let goMartin Demichelis - Hes another one thats on the wrong side of his best years at 35, as we saw with his performance against Manchester United. Let goAleksandar Kolarov - I actually like Citys left-back options, with a good balance of having Kolarov for the games that they can control and where he can get forward. KeepGael Clichy - Clichy has the pace and defensive skill set for him to be trusted in the big games against dangerous wingers. KeepMIDFIELDERSFernando - Hes done alright, nothing spectacular, and I think Pep will keep him as backup and as somebody to bring on to help see games out. KeepFernandinho - Hes similar, not just by name, in that he does a decent job.dddddddddddd He rarely stands out but doesnt have many bad games either. KeepFabian Delph - I think Pep will probably want to keep two of three three central-midfielders and Delph is perhaps the one hed allow to leave. Let goJesus Navas - Hes not for me. I dont think hes a Pep player either. His end product isnt great as a poor crosser and an absolutely woeful finisher. Let go Jesus Navas scores his only goal since September 2014 Samir Nasri - I think hell get a chance after a long injury. Hes got good quality and has shown glipses of it since returning and is the type of player Guardiola might like. KeepDavid Silva - Hes not been up to his usual standards, struggling to get on the scoresheet this season, but hes still managed double figures in assists. KeepKevin de Bruyne - Hes exactly the sort of player Guardiola will like and will definitely be an important player for him next season. Keep Pick your team Aguero? Ozil? De Bruyne? Pick your Fantasy Six-a-Side team for the chance to win ￡10,000 FORWARDSRaheem Sterling - I think hell give him a chance but only one season to deliver. If hes as inconsisntent next season then I dont see him being regular, but hes still young enough to improve. KeepSergio Aguero - Hes one of the best in the Premier League so will definitely stay. However, he hasnt managed a single shot on target in his last five Champions League games, which is shocking for a player of his quality, although that is perhaps as much down to his team-mates. Keep Wilfried Bony has four goals in 25 Premier League appearances Wilfied Bony - I think Pep will want a better quality back up striker to push Aguero and Bony hasnt delivered in his chances. Hes not looked the same player as he did at Swansea. Let goKelechi Iheanacho - Ive been impressed with him this season. He hasnt been given loads of chances but when he has hes taken them, with an impressive goals-per-minutes ratio. He scored a couple against Southampton last weekend, although I wasnt sure about his celebrations at 4-2 down! Keep Also See: Wholl make top four? A City ready for Pep ' ' '
