The Sportsletter - The Sports Equinox 🌔

BY JEFF YODER

OCT. 20, 2022  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  REFER  |  WEB VIEW

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Good Morning,

Happy Sports Equinox. Today is the day when all five American professional leagues overlap and deliver one epic evening of sports. No matter your game, it's playing. Let’s hype up the equinox schedule before recapping the MLB Playoffs and NBA Opening Night 2.0.

Letter Rip!

SPORTS

The 2022 Sports Equinox 🌔

Photo: Anton5146 / Getty Images

The Greatest Day in American Pro Sports

Welcome to the 2022 Sports Equinox! It’s that rare alignment in the sports calendar when all five major American professional sports leagues are in action at the same time. And this year, it happens more than once. The Sports Equinox will happen again on Sunday, but today marks the first day of the year where MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL and MLS play games on the same day. It’s a five-course meal. Let’s chow down…

⚾️ MLB Playoffs

Yankees at Astros (7:37 pm ET)

🏈 NFL

Saints at Cardinals (8:15 pm ET)

🏀 NBA

Bucks at 76ers (7:30 pm ET)

Clippers at Lakers (10:00 pm ET)

🏒 NHL

Devils at Islanders (7:30 pm ET)

Jets at Golden Knights (10:00 pm ET)

Full NHL Schedule

⚽️ MLS Cup Playoffs

Philadelphia Union vs. FC Cincinnati (8:00 pm ET)

LAFC vs. LA Galaxy (10:00 pm ET)

MLB PLAYOFFS

Padres Punch Back

Photo: Harry How / Getty Images

Padres Use 5-Run 5th Inning to Beat Phillies (8-5); Astros Top Yankees Behind Verlander’s Gem (4-2)

The LCS is underway in the AL and NL, and it was west beats east in Wednesday’s doubleheader. The home teams in San Diego and Houston were last night’s winners with the Padres powering past the Phillies and the Astros holding down the Yankees. Here’s what happened on Wednesday:

NLCS Gm 2: Padres def. Phillies (8-5)

After winning Game 1, the Phillies looked like they might take control of the NLCS with a 4-0 lead early in Game 2. The Padres didn’t go quietly, Brandon Drury and Josh Bell hit back-to-back solo shots in the 2nd inning to cut the deficit in the half. In the 5th, it was a five-run blitz that put the Friars on top, 7-4. Manny Machado added an insurance homer in the 8th, and San Diego is back in the series. Padres starter Blake Snell got the win despite giving up the four early runs while Phillies ace Aaron Nola gave up seven runs before getting yanked in the 5th. It’s all square heading back to Philadelphia. Series Tied (1-1)

ALCS Gm 1: Astros def. Yankees (4-2)

The Astros are still perfect in the postseason. One night after the Yankees booked their trip to the ALCS, they traveled to Houston to face the all-time postseason strikeout leader in Justin Verlander. JV was throwing heat in Game 1. He tossed 11 Ks over six innings while giving up just three hits and one run on a Harrison Bader homer. The Astros got three jacks from the trio of Jeremy Pena, Yuli Gurriel and Chas McCormick. The storied AL rivalry has all the feels of another epic chapter, and it continues with Game 2 tonight. HOU Leads Series (1-0)

Tonight’s Schedule

ALCS Gm 2: Yankees at Astros (7:37 pm ET)

Additional Storylines

B/R: Padres Offense Impresses MLB Twitter in NLCS Game 2

USA Today: Astros Slug 3 HRs to Back Verlander’s Gem in ALCS Game 1

SI: Aaron Nola & Austin Nola Make MLB History as First Brothers in Hitter-Pitcher Matchup in Postseason

NBA

Opening Night 2.0

Photo: Sarah Stier / Getty Images

12 Games On Opening Night 2.0 Tip Off 2022-23 NBA Season

The NBA returned on Tuesday night with an opening-night doubleheader, but a dozen games on Wednesday delivered the real action for NBA fans. The Bulls’ DeMar DeRozan was the high-point man with a 37-point outing in Chicago’s win. The early MVP candidates for the Mavs and Grizzlies — Luka Doncic (35-9-6) and Ja Morant (34-9-4) — were both sensational in close games. A 25-point night from Zion Williamson helped the Pelicans blow out the Nets in Brooklyn. And to top things off, Magic rookie Paolo Banchero (27-9-5) set a handful of rookie records in his NBA debut. Check out all the scores and top performers from Opening Night 2.0.

NBA Scores & Highlights

Pistons def. Magic (113-109)

Wizards def. Pacers (114-107)

Hawks def. Rockets (117-107)

Pelicans def. Nets (130-108)

Bulls def. Heat (116-108)

Raptors def. Cavaliers (108-105)

Grizzlies def. Knicks (115-112, OT)

Timberwolves def. Thunder (115-108)

Hornets def. Spurs (129-102)

Jazz def. Nuggets (123-102)

Suns def. Mavericks (107-105)

Blazers def. Kings (115-108)

Top Performers (Wednesday)

D. DeRozan (CHI): 37 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists

L. Doncic (DAL): 35 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists

J. Morant (MEM): 34 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists

D. Fox (SAC): 33 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists

K. Durant (BKN): 32 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists

S. Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC): 32 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists

D. Mitchell (CLE): 31 points, 2 rebounds, 9 assists

Tonight’s Schedule

Bucks at 76ers (7:30 pm ET)

Clippers at Lakers (10:00 pm ET)

Additional Storylines

CBS Sports: Magic Rookie Paolo Banchero Scores Most Points by No. 1 Pick in NBA Debut Since Allen Iverson in 1996

Yahoo! Sports: Suns Rally From 22-Point Deficit to Beat Mavericks in Playoff Rematch

USA Today: Ben Simmons Scores 4 Points, Fouls Out in First Game in 16 Months

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🏈 FOOTBALL STORYLINES

Ranking CFB Unbeatens

Fifteen teams in the Bowl Subdivision entered last weekend unbeaten. Nine came out unblemished from the first make-or-break weekend of the regular season. Let’s look at each team’s chances to run the table. (USA Today)

NFL Trade Deadline Buzz

The two-week countdown to the NFL's Nov. 1 trade deadline is officially on and roster movement is all but promised. GMs have a good idea of their team needs after six weeks, and a few teams with shattered expectations could be selling hard. (ESPN+)

📰 THE HEADLINES

• Brittney Griner Releases Message for Supporters on 32nd Birthday (SI)
• LeBron James Says Lakers ‘Not a Team Constructed of Great Shooting’ (CBS Sports)
• Hornets Guard James Bouknight Arrested on Suspicion of DWI (Yahoo! Sports)
• Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa Says He Doesn’t Remember Hit That Knocked Him Unconcscious (B/R)
• Manchester United to ‘Deal With’ Cristiano Ronaldo’s Early Exit Against Tottenham (ESPN)
• Cowboys QB Dak Prescott Medically Cleared to Return to Practice (NBC Sports)

NFL PICK 'EM

Week 7 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 7 picks can be made until Sunday.

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

Support The Sportsletter Team

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

Product Manager: Matthew Cahill

Lead Designer: Joe Stella

Technical Lead: Kevin Lonergan

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