The Sportsletter - Texas Rangers ➡️ World Series

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BY JEFF YODER

OCT. 24, 2023 |  SUBSCRIBE  |  WEB VIEW

Good Morning,

It finally happened. The Rangers knocked out the Astros, and that means the 2023 World Series will be the first one in seven years that doesn’t include the Astros or Dodgers. Amazing. The Phillies and Diamondbacks line up for NLCS Game 7 tonight, and we’ll have our Fall Classic pairing shortly.

Today's Edition:

• Rangers Reach World Series
• NBA Season Tip-Off Primer (Opening Night)
• Vikings Stun 49ers on Monday Night Football
• Giannis Signs 3-Year Extension With Bucks
• Eagles Acquire Safety Kevin Byard From Titans

Letter Rip!

  PICKS   

Week 7 Pick 'Em Leaderboard

Congrats to this week’s NFL Pick ‘Em winner, Todd Sweppenheiser! Todd was one of just three players to hit 9/12 games. Multiple upsets made it our most difficult Pick ‘Em of the season, and nearly 50 players tied with 8/12, but the tiebreakers were too numerous to call. Congrats to our big 3 from Week 7. Todd, check your email today for info about your prize.

Week 7 Pick ‘Em Leaderboard

1. Todd Sweppenheiser (9/12)

2. Jason Wall (9/12)

3. Rose Billings (9/12)

🏈 Play The Sportsletter’s NFL Pick ‘Em (Week 8)

*Winner Gets $50 / Top-5 Enter Playoffs

  MLB PLAYOFFS   

Rangers Are World Series Bound

Photo: Daniel Shirey / Getty Images

Adolis Garcia (2 HRs) Wins ALCS MVP as Rangers Take Game 7 (11-4) | Diamondbacks Force Game 7 in NLCS

For the third time in franchise history, the Rangers are heading to the World Series! Game 7 in Houston was a bat show by Texas. Adolis Garcia might’ve had the best ALCS performance of all-time when it was all said and done (see below). The Astros got the boot, and it’s the Rangers repping the AL in the Fall Classic. In the NLCS? Still waiting. The Diamondbacks bit back on Monday to force another Game 7 (tonight). How spoiled are we? Back-to-back Game 7s to lead into the World Series? Yes, please.

ALCS Gm 7: Rangers def. Astros (11-4)

Goodnight, Houston! The Texas Rangers won Game 7 Monday night in Minute Maid Park with a barrage of home runs, including Corey Seager (1 HR) and Adolis Garcia (2 HRs). It was 4-2 Rangers after three innings, but a four-run 4th demoralized the Astros and started the party for the boys in blue. In his last six at-bats of the series, Adolis Garcia went 5-for-6 with 3 HRs, 9 RBIs, and 4 runs scored. He now has seven postseason blasts, and this is a guy who was designated for assignment in 2021. The Rangers are heading to the World Series for just the third time in franchise history. They’ve never won it all. TEX Wins Series (4-3)

NLCS Gm 6: Diamondbacks def. Phillies (5-1)

Have a night, Merrill Kelly! The Diamondbacks got a stellar performance from their 35-year-old veteran ace in Game 6 (5 IP, 8 Ks, 3 Hits, 1 Run) to deliver a one-run gut-check win that kept Arizona’s season alive. The D-Backs struck first with a three-run 2nd inning that included a solo shot from Tommy Pham. Philly just couldn’t get the bats moving, and it all comes down to a winner-take-all Game 7 tonight in Citizens Bank Park. Series Tied (3-3)

Tonight’s Schedule

NLCS Gm 7: D-Backs at Phillies (8:07 pm ET, TBS)

Read More

ESPN: MVP Adolis Garcia, Rangers Cruise Past Astros to Win ALCS

B/R: Astros Legendary Run of MLB Playoff Success Now Enters ‘Last Dance’ 2024 Season

  NBA   

NBA Tip-Off Primer 🏀

Photo: Harry How / Getty Images

Rankings, Previews & Predictions as the 2023-24 NBA Season Tips Off Tonight

Basketball fans, the time has come! Just 133 days ago, Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets won the Larry O'Brien Trophy. Since then, the NBA Draft, summer league standouts and plenty of major trades have spun the web of offseason hype. Plenty of squads have new looks, and new motivation, as we start the new year. It's an 82-game marathon, but it begins tonight.

NBA Tip-Off Primer (5 Storylines)

1. Nuggets Run It Back: The defending champs enter the new season with essentially the same core roster in tact. They’ll have to find a way to stay healthy and remake the magic of last season with new challengers in the west, including the reloaded Warriors, Suns, Lakers, and Grizzlies. But Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon and more are ready for Round 2 in the Rocky Mountains.

2. How to Beat the Bucks: Milwaukee appears to be the team to beat after making the trade of the decade in acquiring Damian Lillard from the Blazers just two weeks ago. It may take time for the new-look Bucks to figure out their perfect system, but rest assured they’ll be vying for the top spot in the East. With Lillard's range spreading the floor for Giannis Antetokounmpo inside, stopping the Bucks will be every team's toughest test.

3. New Players in New Places: A lot of offseason movement has NBA fans excited about new guys in new threads. The aforementioned Lillard, Chris Paul (Warriors), Jrue Holiday (Celtics), Bradley Beal (Suns) and Marcus Smart (Grizzlies) headline the list.

4. The James Harden Saga: Reports still suggest James Harden could show up for the 76ers, but he’s been absent for most of training camp and the preseason due to a dispute with the Philly brass and GM Daryl Morey. The Clippers appeared to be the only team willing to deal for Harden, and that hasn’t happened. We’ll see if the Beard makes a statement this week.

5. Wemby Mania is Here: The San Antonio Spurs hold the keys to NBA television as their 7-foot-4 rookie, Victor Wembanyama, will be the media darling of the early-season, and for good reason. The Spurs have 19 nationally-televised games this year, up from six last season. Wemby is going to flood your highlight reels for a long time. Buckle up.

Preseason NBA Power Rankings

1. Nuggets

2. Bucks

3. Suns

4. Celtics

5. Lakers

6. Warriors

7. 76ers

8. Mavericks

9. Cavaliers

10. Heat

Teams 11-20: 11. Grizzlies, 12. Knicks, 13. Clippers, 14. Kings, 15. Pelicans, 16. Thunder, 17. Timberwolves, 18. Bulls, 19. Raptors, 20. Nets

Teams 21-30: 21. Pacers, 22. Hawks, 23. Spurs, 24. Jazz, 25. Pistons, 26. Magic, 27. Blazers, 28. Wizards, 29. Pistons, 30. Rockets

Editor's Finals Prediction: The Bucks beat the Suns in 7, and Damian Lillard gets his 1st ring. *10/24/23

The 2023-24 NBA season starts tonight!

NBA Opening Night

Lakers at Nuggets (7:30 pm ET, TNT)

Suns at Warriors (10:00 pm ET, TNT)

Read More

B/R: NBA Power Rankings: Where All 30 Teams Start on Opening Night

Sporting News: NBA Predictions: Final Standings, Playoff Projections, Awards & Finals Picks

  NFL   

MNF: Captain Kirk Comes Alive

Photo: Stephen Maturen / Getty Images

Vikings Stun 49ers in Minnesota (22-17) & Kirk Cousins Gets Rare Primetime Win

No Justin Jefferson? No problem for Cousins and crew. A weekend full of upsets dragged into Monday Night Football when Kirk Cousins and the short-handed Vikings stunned the 49ers (22-17). San Francisco was a perfect 5-0 to star the season, but they’ve now lost back-to-back games to Cleveland and Minnesota. Cousins was the catalyst to help the Vikes gain and hold the lead for the first three quarters. In the fourth, it was the Minnesota defense who slammed the door with two interceptions by Camryn Bynum on the 49ers’ final two drives.

Fun Fact: All seven of the Vikings’ games this season have been decided by one score (8 points or less). They’re now 3-4 and 2nd in the NFC North after an 0-3 start.

QB Comparison

K. Cousins (MIN): 35/45, 378 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT

B. Purdy (SF): 21/30, 272 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs

Other Top Performers

WR J. Addison (MIN): 7 receptions, 123 yards, 2 TDs

RB C. McCaffrey (SF): 18 touches, 96 yards, 2 TDs

TE T.J. Hockenson (MIN): 11 receptions, 86 yards

S C. Bynum (MIN): 9 tackles, 2 INTs, 2 PBUs

Watch: Cousins, Vikings Hold Off 49ers on MNF (22-17)

Read More

Yahoo! Sports: Kirk Cousins, Vikings Hand 49ers 2nd Straight Loss

USA Today: Winners & Losers From Vikings Stunning MNF Upset of 49ers

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  NEWS   📰 

• Eagles Acquire 2-Time Pro Bowl Safety Kevin Byard in Trade With Titans (NBC Sports)

• Giannis Antetokounmpo Agrees to 3-Year Extension to Remain in Milwaukee (USA Today)

• Saints WR Chris Olave Arrested for Reckless Driving at 35 MPH Over the Speed Limit (ESPN)

• Purdue’s Zach Edey Named Unanimous Preseason All-American (ESPN)
• LeBron James Doubles Down on Desire to Play With Sons in New Commercial (SI)
• Texas QB Quinn Ewers Out With Shoulder Injury & Could Miss Significant Time (Yahoo! Sports)
• Commanders Jonathan Allen Goes Off After Loss: ‘It’s Been 7 F— Years” (CBS Sports)
• Georgetown Women’s Basketball Coach Tasha Butts Dies After Battle With Cancer (USA Today)

  SCHEDULE   🗓️ 

Tonight's Must-Watch List

MLB Playoffs

NLCS Gm 7: D-Backs at Phillies (8:07 pm ET, TBS)

NBA Opening Night

Lakers at Nuggets (7:30 pm ET, TNT)

Suns at Warriors (10:00 pm ET, TNT)

UEFA Champions League

Galatasaray vs. Bayern Munich (12:45 pm ET)

Braga vs. Real Madrid (3:00 pm ET)

Man. United vs. FC Copenhagen (3:00 pm ET)
Sevilla vs. Arsenal (3:00 pm ET)

NHL

Maple Leafs at Capitals (6:00 pm ET, ESPN)

Hurricanes at Lightning (7:00 pm ET, ESPN+)

Bruins at Blackhawks (8:30 pm ET, ESPN)

Flyers at Golden Knights (11:00 pm ET, ESPN)

Download The Sportsletter's Must-Watch Calendar

  CHALLENGE   

Referral Challenge 🚨

The Sportsletter is celebrating this month’s “Sports Equinox” by giving away jerseys from Mitchell & Ness (1st Place: $300+ value) and Fanatics (Drawing: $150+ value). All it takes is one referral for a chance to win. Here’s how to enter:

• Sign up for the challenge here
• Make referrals using your unique team ID link (found here)

  THE TEAM  

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

Product Manager: Matthew Cahill

Lead Designer: Joe Stella

Assistant Writer: Marissa Kasch

Social Media: Aaron Yorke

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