The Sportsletter - Rivalry Renewed ⚾️

BY JEFF YODER & MATTHEW CAHILL

SEPT. 24, 2021  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  BROWSER VIEW

Happy Friday 🙌

The weekend has arrived, and there’s no shortage of must-see events. From the WNBA Playoffs and Ryder Cup tee times to a Red Sox-Yankees series with major implications, we’re stepping into the weekend with all eyes on sports.

Letter Rip!

GOLF

Ryder Cup Tee Times

Friday Morning Foursomes

7:05 AM: J. Spieth/J. Thomas vs. J. Rahm/S. Garcia

7:21 AM: D. Johnson/C. Morikawa vs. P. Casey/V. Hovland

7:37 AM: B. Koepka/D. Berger vs. L. Westwood/M. Fitzpatrick

7:53 AM: P. Cantlay/X. Schauffele vs. R. McIlroy/I. Poulter

Friday Afternoon Fourball Pairings TBD

*All Times ET

MLB

The Rivalry Renewed

Photo: Adam Hunger / Getty Images

Previewing The Yankees-Red Sox Series With Playoffs on the Line (By Matthew Cahill)

Baseball’s biggest rivalry is taking center stage this weekend with a massive three-game series between the Yankees (86-67) and Red Sox (88-65). Boston is currently two games ahead of New York and three games ahead of the Blue Jays in the Wild Card standings. With just nine days left in the season, this series could decide the postseason fates of both clubs.

Yankees Trending Down ↓

Barred by inconsistency all year, the Yankees have cooled off considerably since their recent 13-game winning streak, losing series against the Angels, Orioles, Mets, and Twins to fumble their spot as the top Wild Card team. After sweeping the mediocre Rangers this week, New York is now faced with three must-win games in Fenway Park -- a place they’re just 1-6 this season. 

Red Sox Trending Up ↑

Boston on the other hand is in the midst of a late season surge, heading into this series winning seven straight. This couldn’t have come at a more perfect time for the Red Sox, who have used this streak to give them some slight breathing room in the extremely tight WIld Card race. 

It's Sox-Yankees on the ropes with October hopes.

Tonight’s Matchup

Yankees (86-67) at Red Sox (88-65)

First Pitch: 7:10 EST

Starting Pitchers: Gerrit Cole, Nathan Eovaldi

MLB

Sox Rock Into October

Photo: Ron Vesely / Getty Images

Chicago White Sox Clinch First AL Central Title Since 2008 (By Matthew Cahill)

White Sox Clinch AL Central

After splitting wins in a doubleheader against the Indians on Thursday, the White Sox are the first team to clinch a divisional title this season. It’s their first time winning the AL Central since 2008, and the first time they’ve made back-to-back postseason appearances in their 120-year history.

Cardinals Win 12 Straight

The Cardinals can’t stop winning. Despite trailing by five runs against the Brewers, Paul Goldschmidt tied the game with a two-run bomb in the seventh, and then hit the go-ahead home run in the ninth to give St. Louis their 12th straight victory (8-5). 

Blue Jays Drop Costly Game To Twins

With every game being crucial at this point in the year, Toronto’s loss to the 68-win Twins stings extra hard. After briefly climbing their way to the top of the AL Wild Card picture, Toronto is now the odd man out, trailing the Yankees by a full game heading into the weekend.

Additional Storylines

B/R: Fresh Predictions for Top 2021-22 MLB Free Agents with Offseason Approaching

CBS: MLB to experiment with new pre-tacked baseball at Triple-A level, per report

NFL

Panthers Stay Perfect

Photo: Tim Warner / Getty Images

Thursday Night Football: Carolina Crushes Houston (24-9) to Improve to 3-0 (By Matthew Cahill)

The Carolina Panthers pulled away from the Houstons Texans in the second half last night to improve to 3-0, but the win didn't come without a cost. RB Christian McCaffrey tweaked his hamstring early in the second quarter and was ruled out for the rest of the game. After missing 13 games last year with an assortment of ankle and shoulder injuries, Carolina is once again holding their breath as they determine the severity of McCaffrey's damage. On top of that, rookie cornerback Jaycee Horn broke his foot last night and will be out for the foreseeable future. While the Panthers can celebrate this week’s victory, they may have some serious health issues on both sides of the ball in the coming weeks.

QB Sam Darnold (23/34, 304 yards, 2 Rush TDs)

Sam Darnold led the Panthers to victory with another efficient performance, throwing for 300 yards in the second consecutive game. After an ugly first half, the Carolina offense adjusted to the absence of McCaffrey and put together a solid outing once Darnold settled in. Through his first three games in Carolina, he looks like a different player compared to his tumultuous tenure with the Jets

Carolina’s Scary Defense

Once again, the Panthers defense was dominant on Thursday night, suffocating rookie quarterback Davis Mills who was starting in place for the injured Tyrod Taylor. After giving up just 9 points last night, the Panthers have only allowed 30 points through three games this season. 

Watch: Panthers Top Texans to Stay Perfect

Additional Storylines

SI: Sam Darnold Gets First Primetime Win Since NFL Career Start After Panthers Top Texans

ESPN: Loss of Christian McCaffrey, Jaycee Horn overshadows Panthers' 3-0 start

WNBA

WNBA Playoff Recaps

Photo: Christian Peterson / Getty Images

Chicago Sky & Phoenix Mercury Advance to Round 2

The WNBA Playoffs got underway on Thursday night with the higher seeds advancing — one by double digits and one by a last-second free-throw. Here’s how the ‘W’ trimmed the postseason field from eight to six in a matter of hours. The next round of single-elimination takes center court on Sunday.

#6 Sky def. #7 Wings (81-64)

Game 1 of Night 1 in the WNBA playoffs was actually closer than it looked in the box score. The Chicago Sky pulled away late with a 12-point advantage in the 4th quarter. Kahleah Copper led the way with 23 points on a scorching 10-for-14 shooting night. Chicago heads to Minnesota for Round 2 on Sunday.

#5 Mercury def. #8 Liberty (83-82)

The New York Liberty nearly played spoiler against a Phoenix Mercury team without Diana Taurasi last night. The Liberty tied the game in the final seconds before a foul under the basket sent Brianna Turner to the free-throw line with 0.4 seconds. She missed the first but sunk the dagger before Sabrina Ionescu’s final attempt fell short. Sophie Cunningham (21 points) was the savior for Phoenix off the bench with an unmissable 6-for-7 from 3-point range. Phoenix survives on to face Seattle in the next round.

Round 2 Schedule (Sunday)

#5 Mercury at #4 Storm (3:00 pm ET)

#6 Sky at #3 Lynx (5:00 pm ET)

📰 THE HEADLINES

Iowa Becomes First Power Five School to Add Women’s Wrestling Program

(USA Today)

Team USA to Mandate Vaccinations for 2022 Winter Olympic Athletes

(Yahoo! Sports)

Buffalo Sabres Remove Jack Eichel as Captain Due to Failed Physical

(Bleacher Report)

Steve Smith & Andre Johnson Among Nominees for 2022 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class

(SI)

Patriots Athletic Trainer Calls Out Head Coach Bill Belichick for Treatment of Tom Brady

(ESPN)

🗓️ WEEKEND SCHEDULE

The Must-Watch List

Another massive sports weekend is on the way. We’ve got Ryder Cup action and football dominating the weekend. Baseball’s playoff race nears the finish line while the WNBA playoffs continue with Round 2 on Sunday. We’ll run it back on Monday!

The Ryder Cup

Friday: Four-ball & Foursomes (9:00 am)

Saturday: Four-ball & Foursomes (9:00 am)

Sunday: Singles (12:00 pm)

NFL Week 3 (Sunday)

Chargers at Chiefs (1:00 pm)

Saints at Patriots (1:00 pm)

Buccaneers at Rams (4:25 pm)

Packers at 49ers (8:20 pm)

MNF: Eagles at Cowboys (8:15 pm)

Full NFL Week 3 Schedule

College Football (Saturday)

#12 Notre Dame vs. #18 Wisconsin (Noon)

#7 Texas vs. #16 Arkansas (3:30 pm)

Tennessee at #11 Florida (7:00 pm)

West Virginia at #4 Oklahoma (7:30 pm)

Arizona at #3 Oregon (10:30 pm)

Full CFB Schedule

MLB

Yankees-Red Sox Series

Astros-Athletics Series

Cardinals-Cubs Series

Braves-Padres Series

Full MLB Schedule

WNBA Playoffs (Sunday)

Mercury at Storm (3:00 pm)

Sky at Lynx (5:00 pm)

Soccer

EPL: Chelsea vs. Manchester City (Sat. 7:30 am)

EPL: Arsenal vs. Tottenham (Sun. 11:30 am)

*All Times Eastern

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