The Sportsletter - Air Yordan ☄️

BY JEFF YODER

OCT. 12, 2022  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  REFER  |  WEB VIEW

Good Morning,

Fall really knows how to treat the fans. The MLB Divisional Series started with a bang. The NHL is officially back. Football and soccer are in the limelight and basketball returns in less than a week. The sports equinox is coming. Hope you're ready…

Letter Rip!

MLB PLAYOFFS

Game 1: Air Yordan ☄️

Photo: Bob Levey / Getty Images

LDS Game 1s: Yordan Alvarez Cracks Walk-Off for Astros in Memorable Night of LDS Action

Four Game 1s decided by seven total runs? The Phillies win again? A walk-off comeback?  Pump some October into my veins and sign me up for the LDS. It’s about to get crazy. Tuesday night handed out all four Divisional Series Game 1s, and you missed a moment of madness if you blinked. The Yankees and Dodgers handled business while the Phillies stole Game 1, but Yordan Alvarez and the Astros had the last laugh via Yordan Alvarez's walk-off homer in Houston. Let’s rewind a wild night of baseball.

Gm 1: Astros def. Mariners (8-7)

The feel-good Mariners got off to a hot start last night in Houston with an early message for Justin Verlander. Julio Rodriguez and Ty France were teeing off. Seattle hung six runs on JV before taking a 7-3 lead into the 8th inning. That’s when Houston hit another gear. Alex Bregman crushed a two-run homer to close the gap. In the 9th, it was the man of the night with a city holding its breath. Trailing 7-5 with two on and two out in the bottom of the 9th, Yordan Alvarez sent an 0-1 pitch to the upper deck for a three-run walk-off blast. Air Yordan! Alvarez finished the night 3-for-5 with 5 RBIs and a moment he’ll never forget. The Astros’ win probability jumped from 9% to 100% with one swing — the largest single-play escalation in win probability in MLB playoff history. HOU Leads Series (1-0)

Gm 1: Yankees def. Guardians (4-1)

The Yankees got it done in the Bronx behind a masterpiece from Gerrit Cole. The star pitcher threw eight strikeouts over six-plus innings with just four hits and one blemish — a home run by Steven Kwan in the third inning. New York trailed 1-0 after Kwan’s blast, but the Yankees didn’t blink. They answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the third before adding three more in the fifth and sixth. Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge were held hitless, but it didn’t matter thanks to Cole’s electric outing. NYY Leads Series (1-0)

Gm 1: Phillies def. Braves (7-6)

The red-hot Phillies are still scorching after taking Game 1 on the road in Atlanta against the defending champs. Philly got a 3-for-3 night from Bryce Harper and a power performance from Nick Castellanos (3-for-5, 3 RBIs) to rock Braves pitcher Max Fried (3 IP, 8 H, 6 R) and tally a 7-3 lead heading into the sixth inning. Atlanta got a three-run shot from Matt Olson off Zack Eflin in the 9th to make things interesting, but Eflin ultimately got the save. Philly is 3-0 in the postseason. PHI Leads Series (1-0)

Gm 1: Dodgers def. Padres (5-3)

The nightcap out west was void of too much drama as the Dodgers grabbed a 5-0 lead early off the bats of Trea Turner and Will Smith. Padres pitcher Mike Clevinger didn't last past the third inning. Meanwhile, Dodgers ace Julio Urias tossed four innings of shutout ball before a three-run fifth inning that ended his night. But that was where the scoring stopped for San Diego. The Dodgers are off to a good start as the No. 1 overall seed, and Clayton Kershaw gets the ball in Game 2. LAD Leads Series (1-0)

Tonight’s Schedule (NLDS)

Gm 2: Phillies at Braves (4:35 pm ET)

Gm 2: Padres at Dodgers (8:37 pm ET)

Additional Storylines

Yahoo! Sports: Yordan Alvarez’s Mammoth 3-Run Walk-Off Completes Wild Astros Rally

FOX Sports: Gerrit Cole Sets Tone in Yankees’ Game 1 ALDS Win

USA Today: Yankees Josh Donaldson Thrown Out After Thinking He Hit HR

NHL

Welcome Back, NHL!

Photo: Andrew D. Bernstein / Getty Images

Mark Stone Caps NHL Opening Night With Last-Minute Winner for Golden Knights

The 2022-23 NHL season officially dropped the puck on Tuesday night, and it didn’t take long for a little on-ice drama. The Rangers topped the Lightning (3-1) thanks to a two-goal night from Mika Zibanejad. In the nightcap, the Golden Knights and Kings went into the third period tied at 1-1 before a goal-scoring outburst. With the game tied 3-3 and the clock winding down, Las Vegas winger Mark Stone scored the winner with 26 seconds left to give coach Bruce Cassidy a victory in his coaching debut. It was only Night 1, but hockey is officially back.

NHL Opening Night Highlights

Rangers def. Lightning (3-1)

Golden Knights def. Kings (4-3)

Tonight’s Schedule

Bruins at Capitals (7:00 pm ET)

Blue Jackets at Hurricanes (7:00 pm ET)

Maple Leafs at Canadiens (7:00 pm ET)

Blackhawks at Avalanche (9:30 pm ET)

Kraken at Ducks (10:00 pm ET)

Canucks at Oilers (10:00 pm ET)

Additional Storylines

NHL: Stone’s Last-Minute Strike Powers Golden Knights in Opener

ESPN: 2022-23 NHL Expert Picks: Stanley Cup, Division Winners, Awards & More

NFL

Week 6 Power Rankings

Photo: Jim McIsaac / Getty Images

Eagles Stay On Top for 3rd Straight Week, But Other NFC East Contenders Rise

This week’s NFL Power Rankings feature the same three teams at the top, but a major shift in Week 5 separated the pack. At the moment, I’ve got two teams who are head-and-shoulders above the league, but that could change in an instant given the Week 6 matchups. Four of this Sunday’s games feature eight different teams in our top-10, including the top AFC and NFC teams going head-to-head (Eagles-Cowboys, Bills-Chiefs, Ravens-Giants and Vikings-Dolphins). Get ready to see the best of the NFL test each other’s strength. Here’s a look at our rankings after five weeks.

NFL Power Rankings

1. Eagles (5-0) | —

2. Bills (4-1) | —

3. Chiefs (4-1) | —

4. Cowboys (4-1) | ↑3

5. Giants (4-1) | ↑6

5. Ravens (3-2) | ↑1

6. Vikings (4-1) | ↑3

7. Packers (3-2) | ↓3

8. 49ers (3-2) | ↑8

9. Buccaneers (3-2) | ↑1

10. Dolphins (3-2) | ↓4

Teams 11-20: 11. Chargers (3-2) | 12. Colts (2-2-1) | 13. Titans (3-2) | 14. Bengals (2-3) | 15. Cardinals (2-3) | 16. Jaguars (2-3) | 17. Jets (3-2) | 18. Rams (2-3) | 19. Browns (2-3) | 20. Falcons (2-3)

Teams 21-32: 21. Raiders (1-4) | 22. | 23. Broncos (2-3) | 24. Patriots (2-3) | 25. Saints (2-3) | 26. Bears (2-3) | 27. Seahawks (2-3) | 28. Lions (1-4) | 29. Panthers (1-4) | 30. Commanders (1-4) | 31. Texans (1-3-1) | 32. Steelers (1-4)

Editor's Note: Do you agree or disagree with any of today's Power Rankings? Reply to today's newsletter to share your thoughts.

Week 6 Schedule

Additional Storylines

CBS Sports: NFL Coaches on Hot Seat Entering Week 6

SI: NFL Power Rankings: Still the Standard, Bills Reclaim Top Spot

USA Today: NFL Week 5 Winners & Losers: Cowboys & Eagles Set Up Huge NFC East Showdown

SOCCER

Matchday 4: Drowning in Draws

Photo: Lars Ronbog / Getty Images

Manchester City is 1st Team Through to Knockout Stage Despite Scoreless Outing in Day Full of Draws

Tuesday in the UEFA Champions League was downright uneventful, and I say that as an avid soccer fan. Five draws headlined the day, including a scoreless match dominated by VAR (video assistant referee) between Manchester City and Copenhagen. But for City, a draw was all they needed to punch their ticket to the knockout stage. Only three teams were winners on Tuesday, including Chelsea, RB Leipzig and a shocking upset from Maccabi Haifa over Juventus. More matches are needed to fill out the Round of 16, but Man. City hold the first ticket.

Highlights (Matchday 4)

Man. City draw Copenhagen (0-0)

PSG draw Benfica (1-1)

Dinamo Zagreb draw RB Salzburg (1-1)

Dortmund draw Sevilla (1-1)

Real Madrid draw Shakhtar Donetsk (1-1)

RB Leipzig def. Celtic (2-0)

Chelsea def. Milan (2-0)

Maccabi Haifa def. Juventus (2-0)

Today’s Schedule (Matchday 4 Continued)

Napoli vs. Ajax (12:45 pm ET)

Atletico Madrid vs. Club Bruge (12:45 pm ET)

Leverkusen vs. FC Porto (3:00 pm ET)

Rangers vs. Liverpool (3:00 pm ET)
Barcelona vs. Inter (3:00 pm ET)
Bayern vs. Viktoria Plzen (3:00 pm ET)

Tottenham vs. Eintracht Frankfurt (3:00 pm ET)
Sporting vs. Marseille (3:00 pm ET)

Additional Storylines

GOAL.com: Curtains for Allegri? Juventus Embarrassed by Maccabi Haifa

BBC: 10-Man Manchester City Qualify for Round of 16 Despite Scoreless Draw at Copenhagen

THE STORYLINES

🏈 New College Football Odds

The Georgia Bulldogs are your college football national champions, but they're no longer the favorites to win it all at the end of this season. After six weeks of the season, Ohio State has catapulted Georgia as the new College Football Playoff favorite. (FOX Sports)

🏀 NBA Betting Preview

The 2022-23 season is quickly approaching and our betting experts have got you covered. Over the next two weeks we are taking a look at how to approach some of the top teams in league and giving out some futures best bets before the season tips off. (ESPN)

📰 THE HEADLINES

• Kylian Mbappe Asks to Leave PSG in January Transfer Window (B/R)
• Photographer Files Assault Claim Against Raiders WR Davante Adams for Push on MNF (SI)
• Ex-Angels Employees Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison for Involvement in Tyler Skaggs Death (ESPN)
• Commanders Head Coach Ron Rivera Apologizes to Carson Wentz for Singling Out QB (CBS Sports)
• Hornets LaMelo Ball Out for Season Start With Grade 2 Ankle Sprain (NBC Sports)

• Portland Thorns Owner Merritt Paulson Steps Down Amid NWSL Abuse Scandal (ESPN)

NFL PICK 'EM

Week 6 Picks

Let’s reset the points! We’ll keep track of our season-long leaderboard as the year rolls on, but you can join the fun at any time for a shot at weekly prizes. Week 6 picks can be made until Sunday.

Thursday Night Football Games Not Included to Allow Players to Make Picks Until Sunday Morning

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