PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Shohei Ohtani finally makes his postseason pitching debut for the Dodgers in Game 1 of the NL Division Series against the Phillies. The series is loaded with star power, including Bryce Harper and Mookie Betts. Ohtani, who didn’t pitch last season due to elbow surgery, has been impressive this year. He struck out 62 batters over 47 innings with a 2.87 ERA. Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sánchez, who’s in the conversation for the NL Cy Young Award, will face Ohtani. Both teams have hefty payrolls, with the Dodgers having the most expensive roster. The Phillies are the betting underdog in the series.
TORONTO (AP) — From April through September this season, the Toronto Blue Jays got the best of the New York Yankees. Thanks to a 6-1 record in their meetings north of the border, the Blue Jays won a tiebreaker for the AL East title by going 8-5 against the Yankees. Starting Saturday, in the first October postseason meeting between these longtime division rivals, they’ll battle for a spot in the ALCS. Kevin Gausman will start Game 1 for the Blue Jays. Yankees manager Aaron Boone picked right-hander Luis Gil to open the ALDS.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert says there’s work to be done to repair relationships with players in the league. But Engelbert also said Friday there were “inaccuracies” in some of the comments attributed to her by Napheesa Collier in a blistering assessment earlier this week. Engelbert said before Game 1 of the WNBA Finals that officiating will be reviewed this offseason by a new “state of the game” committee. She also said talks were scheduled for next week on a new collective bargaining agreement with players. Collier said this week that the WNBA has “the worst leadership in the world” and a commissioner who lacks accountability.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A’ja Wilson and Dana Evans each scored 21 points, and the Las Vegas Aces beat the Phoenix Mercury 89-86 in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals. Game 2 is Sunday in Las Vegas. Evans led an Aces bench that outscored the Mercury’s reserves 41-16. Reserve Jewell Loyd scored 18 points for second-seeded Las Vegas, and starter Jackie Young had 10. Chelsea Gray had 10 assists. Kahleah Cooper scored 21 points for the fourth-seeded Mercury, 19 in the first half. Sabally added 19 points and Alyssa Thomas had 15.
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Lamar Jackson has been ruled out for Baltimore’s game against Houston on Sunday after missing a week of practice because of a hamstring injury. Jackson had to leave last weekend’s loss at Kansas City in the second half. Cooper Rush is in line to start for the Ravens, who have lost nine of their last 11 games when Jackson doesn’t play. The two-time MVP has missed only one game since the start of the 2023 season. That was a Week 17 matchup when Baltimore had little to play for. Baltimore also ruled out All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith, All-Pro cornerback Marlon Humphrey and All-Pro fullback Patrick Ricard.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Several NFL stadiums in the U.S. are among the most sustainable sports venues in the world because of their solar panels, rainwater collection systems and on-site composting and recycling programs. Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta are two stadiums that are frequently recognized for their efforts to lower their carbon footprint and impact on the local environment. The stadiums say they hope they inspire fans to practice sustainability outside of the venue by minimizing waste, using public transit and adjusting thermostats when they leave home to save energy.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Texas Rangers have hired Skip Schumaker as their manager. The team agreed Friday night to a four-year contract with the former NL Manager of the Year. Schumaker’s deal was announced after Chris Young, the team’s president of baseball operations, acknowledged earlier in the day that the team was focused on an internal candidate in its search to replace Bruce Bochy. Schumaker had been a senior adviser with the Rangers since last November. He was the 2023 NL Manager of the Year when Miami went 84-78 and made the fourth postseason appearance in club history.
PROVO, Utah (AP) — Bear Bachmeier threw for a career-high 351 yards and a touchdown to lead No. 23 BYU to a 38-24 victory over West Virginia on Friday night. Chase Roberts led the Cougars with a career-high 161 yards on four catches. Parker Kingston added a career-high 111 yards and a touchdown on four receptions. BYU (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) rolled up 517 total yards and had two takeaways. Khalil Wilkins totaled 170 yards of offense and had two interceptions in his first career start. West Virginia (2-4, 0-3) forced three turnovers but also got burned repeatedly by big plays from BYU.
PALM DESERT, Calif. (AP) — Austin Reaves scored 20 points and Bronny James added eight while the Los Angeles Lakers lost their preseason opener 103-81 to the Phoenix Suns with LeBron James and Luka Doncic sitting out. James is progressing deliberately in his return from a minor nerve injury to begin his record 23rd NBA season, while Doncic is also ramping up with caution after his busy summer playing for Slovenia at EuroBasket. Both superstars watched from courtside while the rest of the Lakers lost to the new-look Suns, who jumped to a 27-point lead in the third quarter. Bronny James went 1 for 7 on 3-point attempts.
PALM DESERT, Calif. (AP) — Three days shy of a year after Bronny James made his preseason debut in this desert arena, the NBA’s most famous son resumed his quest to earn a regular role with the Los Angeles Lakers. While his 1-for-12 shooting performance in their preseason opener wasn’t ideal, James felt his effort Friday night was another step forward in a process that’s already showing results to JJ Redick and the Lakers’ coaching staff. Bronny James scored eight points while LeBron James and Luka Doncic sat out of the Lakers’ 103-81 loss to the Phoenix Suns.
Finals
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