Mets and Braves join 2024 MLB playoffs; Lions, Titans pick up wins on Monday Night Football |Max Sporty|

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⚾ Good morning to everyone, but especially to…

THE NEW YORK METS, THE ATLANTA BRAVES … AND ALL THE OTHER MLB PLAYOFF TEAMS

October baseball is officially here, and it was capped off with a crazy, dramatic final day of September that doubled as the final day of the regular season.

The Braves and Mets is heading into the postseason as the NL’s No. 5 and No. 6 seeds, respectively, after they split their doubleheader. The Diamondbacks were eliminated as a result; they needed both teams to win both games.

Hurricane Helene forced this day-after-the-last-day doubling, a possibility that could have been avoided with better planning, Matt Snyder notes. Things got even wilder in the first game:

• Down 3–0, the Mets scored six runs in the top of the eighth, highlighted by a two-run home run by Brandon Nimmo. New York led 6-3.
• The Braves hit back for four runs in the bottom of the inning, powered by a bases-clearing Ozzie Albies double Atlanta, 7-6.
• But came back Francis Lindor with a game-winning, playoff-clinching two-run home run in the top of the ninth. New York, 8-7, final.

The Braves, then needing to win the second game, planned to turn to a likely NL Cy Young winner. Chris Salebut he was scratched with back spasms and it is not expected to return for the Wild Card Series — another twist on a day full of them. But Grant Holmes pitched four scoreless innings, and Marcell Ozuna (two) and Gio Urshella drove in the only runs of the game in the 3-0 victory of the Braves.

So, finally, we are here. The finals are set.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

• Byes: No. 1 Yankees, No. 2 Rangers
• Wild Card Series: No. 6 Tigers at No. 3 Astros (winner plays Rangers) — preview here
• Wild Card Series: No. 5 Royals at No. 4 Orioles (winner plays Yankees) — preview here

NATIONAL LEAGUE

• Byes: #1 Dodgers, #2 Phillies
• Wild Card Series: #6 Mets at #3 Brewers (winner plays Phillies) — preview here
• Wild Card Series: #5 Braves at #4 Priests (winner plays Dodgers) — preview here

So, who wins it all? Our expert picks are inand there are four different title choices among six selectors. Dayn Perry says…

• Perry: “Phillies over Yankees — The absurd stories of last year despite, yes, being a bye team gives a significant advantage in the playoffs. That’s why I’m predicting a Yankees-Phillies World Series. I like the Phillies’ early starters, their balanced lineup, and their solid relief situation. My confidence in these picks is low, of course, because baseball is inherently unpredictable. However, it is said here that the Phils will repel the Yanks for the zone and the title.”

The Phillies are the most popular of our experts, but they are only fourth The final of Matt Snyder Power Rankings. Here’s more:

😃 Honorable mentions

🏈 And not so good morning for…

THE MIAMI DOLPHINS

It’s ugly in Miami. The Titans cruised past the Dolphins 31-12, marking Tennessee’s first win of the season and Miami’s third straight loss.

The titans lost Will Levis (shoulder) early, but Mason Rudolph filled ably — Levis is still the startersays Brian Callahan — and Tennessee leaned on running backs Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spearswho combined for 147 total yards and two touchdowns.

The Dolphins, starting their third different quarterback in as many weeks with Tua Tagovailoa outside, had no such answers. Tyler Huntleysigned two weeks ago, competed admirably but was largely ineffective, as was the run game. Miami managed a paltry 184 yards. Here’s how awful it got: The 12 points are Miami the most in the last three games.

(Hey, remember Miami’s last September game of 2023 when the Dolphins put up 70 points. They’ve scored 45 points in four games so far this season.)

If the whole operation completely falls apart because one player — especially a vulnerable one — isn’t there, it’s a bad operation. Tennessee was able to put things together in an instant. The Dolphins had weeks. Mike McDaniel can’t find answers, and the roster doesn’t have the necessary personnel even if he can. The hope now is the Dolphins somehow squeeze some games out until Tagovailoa comes backbut even that feels like a big ask. Even if they do, it might be too little, too late…already.

😕 Not so honorable mentions

• The cowboys will be without Micah Parsons for at least Week 5 and without DeMarcus Lawrence for much longer.
• Christian McCaffrey have Achilles tendinitis in both legs.
• The NFL and NFLPA are investigating a a fan pouring a drink on Chase Brown.
• The Cardinals moved on from GM Mike Girsch.
• DJ Uiagalelei (finger) could miss time.
• Graham Harrell went from potential head coaching candidate to shot like Purduethe offensive coordinator of.
• The Giants shot president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi. A franchise legend Buster Posey will to take over.
• Kevin Gausman spoke further the Blue jays‘ disappointing season.

🏈 Lions defeat Seahawks in high-scoring thriller

They call it the Motor City, and the football team has the motor to match. The lions bulldozed the over-chewed Seahawks42-29, behind a record game of Jared Goff and a ferocious swift attack.

• Goff went 18 for 18 — a record for most completions without incompletion — for 292 yards and touchdowns to Amon-Ra Saint Brown and Jameson Williams. Goff too caught — yes, caught! — landing of St. Brown about trickery.
• David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs combined for 158 total yards and three touchdowns.
• There weren’t many positives for the defense, but Kerby Joseph had a magnificent interception to seal the victory. He already has three picks this year, second in the league.

Seattle was without a host of key defensive starters and didn’t get much help from the officebut Detroit’s offense looks fantastic. The offensive line was solid even without a center Frank Ragnow — something that has caused problems before — and the defense has done enough. Both of these 3-1 teams look.

MLB all-time hits leader Pete Rose dies at 83

Pete RoseMLB’s all-time hits leader, died at 83 years oldhis family confirmed.

• Across 24 seasons, Rose accumulated 4,256 hits, made 17 All-Star teams, won three World Series and won an NL MVP award. He is also MLB’s all-time leader in games played, at-bats and plate appearances. Rose served as the Reds’ player-manager (and then just manager) from 1984-89.
• Known for his intense, full-on style of play, Rose has earned the nickname “Charlie Hustle,” although there is different versions of what that nickname was.
• Rose, however, was placed on the sport’s permanently ineligible list in 1989 amid allegations of gambling on MLB games. In 2004, when his autobiography appeared, he admitted to gambling as a manager, and in 2015, he admitted that he gambled as a player. He was never eligible for the Hall of Fame.
• Rose’s post-baseball career was marred by several factors, including the gambling scandal and time served in federal prison for tax evasion. In 2017, he was charged with statutory rape committed in the 1970s.

Matt Snyder has an intelligent, nuanced look Rose’s complicated legacy.

Basketball Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo dies at 58

Dikembe Mutombothe iconic shot-blocker, humanitarian, global ambassador of the NBA and Basketball Hall of Fame, died of brain cancer at age 58the NBA announced Monday.

• Mutombo’s 3,289 career blocks are second in NBA history (only behind Hakeem Olajuwon), and many were followed by his signature finger shake. He played for the Nuggets, Hawks, 76ers, Nets, Knicks and rockets; Denver and Atlanta retired his jersey.
• Mutombo made eight All-Star teams, won Defensive Player of the Year four times — tied with Rudy Gobert and Ben Wallace for most all-time — and was a three-time All-NBA selection.
• As part of a statement, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said, “Dikembe Mutombo was simply larger than life. On the court, he was one of the greatest shot-blockers and defensive players in NBA history. From the floor, he poured his heart and soul into helping others.”

Hailing from the Democratic Republic of the Congo — known as Zaire when he was born — Mutombo arrived at Georgetown planning to become a doctor. But 7-foot-2 students tend to stand out, and a legendary Hoyas coach John Thompson addressed by adding Mutombo to the roster. Soon after, Mutombo mated with Alonso Mourning to form a dominant forecourt. Kyle Boone wrote more The Mutombo effect at Georgetown.

Mutombo’s finger shake didn’t appear until 1997, his sixth NBA season, but it will live forevernotes Brad Botkin. So, too, is Mutombo’s impact outside the court, which includes opening a hospital near his hometown of Kinshasa, the Congolese capital. Masai Ujiri, Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo and others reflected on Mutombo’s legacy.

📺 What we watch on Tuesday

⚽ We look at the UEFA Champions League. Here’s how.
⚾ AL Wild Card Series Game 1: Tigers at Astros2:30 pm on ABC
⚾ AL Wild Card Series Game 1: Royals at Orioles4 pm on ESPN2
⚾ NL Wild Card Series Game 1: Mets at Brewers5:30pm on ESPN
🏀 WNBA semifinals Game 2: Aces at Liberty7:30pm on ESPN2
⚾ NL Wild Card Series Game 1: Braves at Padres8:30pm on ESPN
🏀 WNBA semifinals Game 2: Sun at Lynx9:30pm on ESPN2