World Series
Game 3 of the World Series is tonight at 8:08 pm ET/5:08 pm PT deep in the heart of Texas.
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays are tied at 1-1 with Dodgers’ ace Walker Buehler on the mound for LA and Charlie Morton on the mound for Tampa Bay. Morton has a playoff ERA of 0.57, while Buehler’s is 1.89. Thus far, the Series has not been as low-scoring as everyone thought it would be, with the Dodgers winning Game 1, 8-3, and the Rays winning Game 2, 6-4.
Cody Bellinger picked up where he left off with a two-run homer to get the Dodgers started on Tuesday, while Mookie Betts continued to be everything, stealing second base…and then third base…and then scoring on a fielder’s choice in the 5th inning. He also hit a homer in the 6th. Game 2 saw two home runs by the Rays’ Brandon Lowe, as Tampa Bay’s bats got hot.
Prepare for a pitcher’s duel tonight with some offense sprinkled in.
Going Back to Foxborough, To Foxborough, To Foxborough
After their must-win victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday Night Football, the 3-3 San Francisco 49ers head to New England where Jimmy Garoppolo with be reunited with Bill Belichick and the Patriots, who lost to Denver in Week 6 and are now 2-3.
The 49ers will be without running back Raheem Mostert, so the YAC Bros of TE George Kittle (it will be National Tight End Day, after all) and wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk will be Garoppolo’s weapons of choice. Expect to see Patriots’ CB Stephon Gilmore all over Samuel.
Cam Newton and the Patriots’ offense is coming off a game in which they scored only 12 points and turned the ball over three times. That being said, the 49ers’ defense has struggled against mobile quarterbacks, so this is a good opportunity for Newton to turn on the jets and run. In the passing game, Newton will probably avoid throwing in the direction of 49ers’ CB Jason Verrett, who is having a stellar season.
The Patriots know Garoppolo better than anyone (save the Niners, of course), both of these teams need a win and the 49ers have a depleted defense. I’m not sure why, but I’m giving the advantage to the team from California. Biased? Maybe. But it doesn’t mean I’m wrong. 😉 Either way, it’s going to be a close one.
Battle of the Undefeateds
The temperature may say 64 degrees on Sunday, but it’s going to be a hot one in Nashville when the Pittsburgh Steelers come to town to take on the Tennessee Titans. Both teams sit at 5-0 and are two of only three undefeated teams left in the league.
Although Ben Roethlisberger was 14-of-22 for 162 yards and one touchdown in last week’s, 38-7, win over the Browns, it was not his best performance of the season. Overall, he’s passed for 1,178 yards and has a 11:1 touchdown to interception ratio. Roethlisberger and the Steelers’ offense will be facing a Titans’ defense that ranks 28th in pass defense and 26th in run defense. This bodes well for running back James Conner, who has over 100 yards in three of the his last four games. It bodes well for the whole offense TBH.
Meanwhile, Titans’ QB Ryan Tannehill threw for 366 yards and four touchdowns against the Texans last week, while throwing for 1368 yards this season with a 13:2 TD to INT ratio. Running back Derrick Henry rushed for 212 yards in Week 6 and has 588 rushing yards on the season. This week is a big test for both, as the Titans’ offense will be up against a Steelers’ defense that is eighth in pass defense and second in run defense.
I’m giving the advantage to Pittsburgh, but in the name of Mike Vrabel, anything can happen.
Two Receivers Down for New Orleans
When the New Orleans Saints welcome the Carolina Panthers to town for a NFC South showdown on Sunday, they will do so without two very important members of their offense.
Wide receiver Michael Thomas has been ruled out with a hamstring injury, and wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders has tested positive for COVID-19 and has been placed on the reserve COVID-19 list. Before last week’s bye, Sanders had 12 receptions for 122 yards in Week 5 against the Chargers.
Thomas has missed five straight games, first with a high ankle sprain and then for disciplinary reasons after getting in a fight a practice.
Expect to see a lot of running back Alvin Kamara on Sunday.
NBA News
Tyronn Lue
The Los Angeles Clippers have a new sheriff in town. After the Clippers’ disappointing playoff loss and the subsequent firing of Doc Rivers, Tyronn Lue is the new head coach of the Clippers. In less than three seasons, Lue won a Championship and had a record of 128-83 as the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Lue spent this past season as Rivers’ top assistant.
Scheduling
ESPN is reporting that the NBA is looking to start the 2020-2021 season before Christmas and is looking to reduce the season from 82 to 72 games. The league is also looking at a play-in tournament and planning on not having the All-Star game.