Rangers, Rankings & Rookies

October 11, 2023

By: Carlos Alvarez

Good Morning 

Baseball’s postseason has been brutal for some of the top seeds. The Orioles just tumbled out in three straight, and we might wave goodbye to the Dodgers tonight. Today, it\’s more baseball playoffs, NFL Power Rankings, and the debut of a hockey phenom.

Letter Rip!

MLB PLAYOFFS

ALDS: Rangers Roll, \’Stros in Control

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Photo: Carmen Mandato / Getty Images

Rangers Take Game 3 (7-1) to Sweep the 101-Win Orioles; Astros Launch 3 HRs in Rout of Twins (9-1)

A season to remember for the Baltimore Orioles has come crashing to an end. The O\’s entered October with 101 wins and the franchise’s first postseason appearance since 2016. Three games later, they’re toast. The red-hot Rangers rolled Baltimore in Game 3 to complete the sweep and send the Orioles to the offseason with a sour taste. Out in Minnesota, the Astros ran roughshod over the Twins (9-1) to take a 2-1 edge in the series. The ALCS has one of its finalists. Could we be heading towards an all-Texas ALCS? Let’s rewind:

ALDS Gm 3: Rangers def. Orioles (7-1)

Credit to our social media star, Aaron Yorke. The guy warned us about the Rangers, even without their aces. Texas just gave Baltimore the business for the third straight game. The Rangers hopped on top early in the closeout Game 3 with a Corey Seager solo shot before Adolis Garcia cranked a three-run blast to cap a five-run 2nd inning. It was 6-0 Texas in a blink. Nathan Eovaldi was spectacular (7 IP, 7 Ks, 5 Hits, 1 ER), and the Rangers advanced to the ALCS on five straight playoff wins. They’ve outscored opponents 32-12 in October, and the team has a collective OPS of nearly .900. Ridiculous. For Baltimore, they\’re the second MLB team ever to not get swept in the regular season and exit via sweep in the playoffs. TEX Wins Series (3-0)

ALDS Gm 3: Astros def. Twins (9-1)

With the other series wrapped, the AL turned its focus on Minnesota and Houston, and it was all Astros in Game 3. Tuesday’s game ball belongs to Yordan Alvarez. The Astros’ slugger went 3-for-5 with two doubles and his fourth home run of the series. So far in the ALDS, Alvarez is 6-for-12 with four dingers, six RBIs, and 20 total bases. He’s just one HR shy of tying the all-time record for HRs in a five-game series. Minnesota couldn’t get the bats going against Astros’ starter Cristian Javier (5 IP, 9 Ks, 1 Hit, 0 ER), and Houston controls the series with Game 4 today in Minnesota. HOU Leads Series (2-1)

Today’s Schedule (ALDS/NLDS)

NLDS Gm 3: Braves at Phillies (5:07 pm ET)

ALDS Gm 4: Astros at Twins (7:07 pm ET)
NLDS Gm 3: Dodgers at Diamondbacks (9:07 pm ET)

Read More

SI: Rangers Sweep Orioles to Reach ALCS for 1st Time in 12 Years

B/R: Cristian Javier’s Historic Dominance Wows Fans as Astros Beat Twins in Game 3

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NFL

NFL Power Rankings 6.0

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Image via Joe Stella / Media Mobilize

49ers & Birds Reign Supreme, But the Lions Are Lurking in the NFC

The NFL’s 18-week reality show is picking up steam, and five games have helped us decipher the good from the bad. It isn’t so simple ranking all 32 teams. Over half the league (17 teams) are either 3-2, 2-3, or 2-2 entering Week 6. It’s a game of inches, and the difference between four wins and one win can be as slim as a few field goals. Parity is evident, and I love it. Here’s what we know entering Week 6:

Taking Off the Top (49ers & Eagles)

Two NFC teams remain undefeated, and they’re the same two who played for the NFC title one year ago. But there’s a big difference in the eye test through five weeks. The 49ers have outscored opponents by 99 points over five games (a near-20-point average margin of victory). The Eagles, on the other hand, have a 7-point average win margin. They’ve needed overtime once and won four of their five games by single digits. Wins are still wins, and the Birds just get it done. But the 49ers are in a league of their own thus far.

Rest of the Top-10

The next three on our list (Chiefs, Lions, and Dolphins) only have one loss, and it was against another top-10 opponent. The Lions’ lone loss came in OT to the Seahawks, and the Chiefs’ only defeat came against the Lions by one point in Week 1. The Dolphins fell to the Bills in Week 4, and Buffalo kick-started the bottom of the top 10 — teams playing Jekyll & Hyde. The Bills, Cowboys, and Jags are all top-tier teams, but they’ve had breakdowns and disappeared in some games.

We’re about to find out which teams are legit in the weeks ahead. For now, every team is still breathing, even if it looks bleak. 

NFL Power Rankings (Week 6)

1. 49ers (5-0) | —

2. Eagles (5-0) | ↑1

3. Chiefs (4-1) | ↑2

4. Lions (4-1) | ↑5

5. Dolphins (4-1) | ↑1

6. Bills (3-2) | ↓4

7. Seahawks (3-1) | ↑1

8. Cowboys (3-2) | ↓4

9. Jaguars (3-2) | ↑7

10. Chargers (2-2) | —

Teams 11-20

11. Buccaneers (3-1) | —

12. Ravens (3-2) | ↓5

13. Browns (2-2) | —

14. Saints (3-2) | ↑5

15. Rams (2-3) | ↓3

16. Falcons (3-2) | ↑4

17. Colts (3-2) | ↑1

18. Steelers (3-2) | ↑4

19. Bengals (2-3) | ↑4

20. Packers (2-3) | ↓5 

Teams 21-32

21. Texans (2-3) | ↓7

22. Titans (2-3) | ↓5

23. Jets (2-3) | ↑1

24. Raiders (2-3) | ↑4 

25. Vikings (1-4) | —

26. Bears (1-4) | ↑6

27. Commanders (2-3) | ↓6

28. Cardinals (1-4) | ↓2

29. Broncos (1-4) | —

30. Patriots (1-4) | ↓3

31. Giants (1-4) | ↓1

32. Panthers (0-5) | ↓1

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NHL

Bedard\’s Blackhawks Debut

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Photo: Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

Connor Bedard (1 Assist) Makes Long-Awaited NHL Debut Against Childhood Hero Sidney Crosby

Few athletes in sports have had a more hyped build-up to their professional debut than Connor Bedard. The Blackhawks rookie was tabbed as a generational phenom from the age of 13. Some reports go back as early as 8 years old when Bedard’s talent was first discovered. Personally, I can’t claim to hold the knowledge of a hockey scout, but I can tell you this — the media has been hyping Bedard’s NHL debut since The Sportsletter began (2018). It finally came on Tuesday for the NHL’s Opening Night.

Sid Meets Kid

Bedard’s Blackhawks opened the season in Pittsburgh against the Penguins and Sidney Crosby, his childhood hero. Crosby was the No. 1 overall pick in 2005, just two weeks after Bedard was born. The 18-year-old phenom and 2023 No. 1 pick began his career with a face-off at center ice against, you guessed it, his boyhood idol. What a welcome to the NHL. Can’t tell me that wasn’t scripted from the league office.

Game 1 of Many

In the game itself, the Blackhawks scored three in the third period to rally and beat the Pens (4-2). Bedard tallied an assist in 21 minutes, but he looked like he belonged, baby face and all. We’ll give him time and taper expectations down to reality, but hockey’s next-gen star is finally skating.

NHL Opening Night Highlights

Blackhawks def. Penguins (4-2)

Lightning def. Predators (5-3)

Golden Knights def. Kraken (4-1)

Read More

ESPN: Sidney Crosby Isn’t Done Yet, But He Has Some Advice to Pass Along to Connor Bedard

USA Today: Comparing Bedard to Crosby, Ovechkin, McDavid: How Will He Stack Up?

The Ringer: The 2023-24 NHL Season Entrance Survey

Sporting News: NHL Predictions: Final Standings, Playoff Projections, Stanley Cup Pick

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STORYLINES

 CFB Bowl Projections

Just when it seemed like Texas was back and a run at the College Football Playoff seemed in the offing, an impressive win by Oklahoma has changed the outlook of this week\’s bowl projections. (USA Today)

 5 Defining Teams of the NBA Season

The defending champs, an up-and-comer, and three more teams that could have a say in the title race before it’s all said and done. Here are five teams that will define the 2023-24 NBA season. (The Ringer)

 The People’s Guide to the NHL

if you\’re new to following the NHL or you\’re jumping back in after a few seasons away, you\’ve come to the right place. As we drop the puck on the 2023-24 NHL season, it never hurts to brush up on some of the basics. (B/R)

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NEWS

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SCHEDULE

Today\’s Must-Watch List

MLB Playoffs

NLDS Gm 3: Braves at Phillies (5:07 pm ET, TBS)

ALDS Gm 4: Astros at Twins (7:07 pm ET, FS1)

NLDS Gm 3: Dodgers at D-Backs (9:07 pm ET, TBS)

NHL

Blackhawks at Bruins (7:30 pm ET, TNT)

Avalanche at Kings (10:00 pm ET, TNT)

WNBA Finals

Gm 2: Liberty at Aces (9:00 pm ET, ESPN)

*LV Leads Series (1-0)

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