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The GIST: Two Game 7s later, the World Series matchup is officially set, with two Wild Card teams — the Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers — advancing to this Friday’s Fall Classic. How can you not be romantic about baseball?

Diamondbacks slither past Phillies: From nearly missing the playoffs to World Series–bound, the Dbacks stunned the Philadelphia home crowd last night, silencing the Phils’ bats to win Game 7 4–2 on the road and complete the comeback from an early 2-0 series deficit.

• Outfielder Ketel Marte earned National League (NL) Championship Series MVP honors, as his incredible 16-game playoff hitting streak helped Arizona secure their first NL pennant since 2001. Hiss hiss.

Rangers take down the defending champs: Everything’s bigger in Texas, including a series-clinching wins. The Rangers throttled the reigning champ Houston Astros 11–4 in Monday’s Game 7, booking their first World Series ticket since 2011.

• American League Championship Series MVP Adolis García let his bat do the talking in the dub, blasting two homers and extending his home run streak to a record-setting four straight games in the process. And if he keeps this offense rolling? Texas might just win their first-ever World Series title.

The GIST: No, Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami CF didn’t make the postseason this year, but there’s still some great footy to come, with 18 (!!!) squads beginning their very long quest for the MLS Cup. Let’s kick it.

How it works: The playoffs look quite different this year, notably featuring the expanded 18-team field (up from 14) and a spicy new single-elimination Wild Card round, which kicks off tonight. The No. 8 and No. 9 seeds in both the Eastern and Western Conferences will battle on their respective coasts to clinch the final two spots in the round of 16, now called “Round One.”

• And that Round One will be a best-of-three series, beginning on Saturday and potentially lasting until November 12th. The winner of each Wild Card game will face the top seed in their conference, the No. 2 seed will play No. 7, and so on.

• After Round One, it’s back to single-elimination for the Conference Semifinals and Conference Finals, with the winning teams from the East and the West set to battle for ultimate glory on December 9th. Told you this would take a while.

Tonight’s Wild Card games: It’s the old dogs vs. the new tricks in the Eastern Conference: the No. 8 NY Red Bulls will make their fourth consecutive postseason appearance when they host No. 9 Charlotte FC, who are celebrating their postseason debut, tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET.

• Then at 9:30 p.m. ET, the action shifts to the Western Conference, where No. 8 Sporting Kansas City takes on the No. 9 San Jose Earthquakes. After heroic Decision Day performances, both squads will be looking to transform that magic into a true postseason run. Vamos.

🏀 NBA: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Milwaukee Bucks — Tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. ET — TNT

• Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo inked a massive three-year contract extension with the Bucks yesterday, just in time for tomorrow’s season opener against the head-scratching Sixers. Popcorn at the ready.

🏈 NFL: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Buffalo Bills — Tomorrow at 8:15 p.m. ET — Amazon Prime

• With both squads coming off narrow Week 6 losses, can the three-time defending AFC East champion Bills bust out of their slump or will quarterback Baker Mayfield and the Bucs pull off the upset on the road? Tables, be warned.

⚽ USWNT: Friendly vs. Colombia — Tomorrow at 9 p.m. ET — TBS

• The red, white, and blue’s roster got a major glow up with veteran Becky Sauerbrunn and NWSL Golden Boot winner Sophia Smith returning from injuries, plus 18-year-old Olivia Moultrie joining the senior squad for the first time. Smiles all around.

Not to scare you, but Halloween is less than a week away. In preparation for the spookiest day of the year, we want to know: What’s your fave Halloween movie? Vote from the options below, or reply with your spooky selection.

On Monday, we asked for your early predictions on who would win the NWSL championship. 29% voted for NJ/NY Gotham, 27% voted for the Portland Thorns and there was a tie at 22% each for the San Diego Wave and OL Reign. Only 11 more days until the semis.