MLB playoff picture: Who makes the cut if the postseason started today?

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8 hours ago

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🚨 Headlines
🎾 Champs in Cincy: Carlos Alcaraz won his sixth title of the year after Jannik Sinner retired due to illness; Iga Świątek beat Jasmine Paolini in straight sets for her 24th career title at age 24.
🏈 Buckeyes name starter: Redshirt freshman Julian Sayin will start at QB for No. 3 Ohio State in the season opener vs. No. 1 Texas. Sayin joined the Buckeyes last season after transferring from Alabama.
📺 Turning back the clock: Rich Eisen anchored "SportsCenter" on Monday night, marking his first time on the desk in 22 years. His return was full of flashback moments and included a tribute to his longtime partner, Stuart Scott.
⚾️ Wheeler out indefinitely: Phillies ace Zack Wheeler underwent a successful procedure to remove a blood clot in his "upper right extremity." His recovery timeline remains unknown.
🥍 PLL MVP finalists: Pat Kavanagh (Denver), Brennan O'Neill (Denver), Connor Shellenberger (New York) and Michael Sowers (Philadelphia) were named finalists for the Premier Lacrosse League MVP.
⚾️ MLB playoff picture
Here's what the MLB postseason bracket would look like if the playoffs started today. Yankees-Red Sox and Dodgers-Mets to kick things off? I can get behind that.
AL playoff odds
via FanGraphs
Tigers (74-53): 99.4%
Blue Jays (73-53): 99.2%
Yankees (67-57): 93.3%
Astros (69-56): 90.1%
Mariners (68-58): 90.1%
Red Sox (68-58): 74.3%
Guardians (64-60): 20.8%
Royals (64-61): 17.3%
Rangers (62-64): 9.6%
Rays (61-64): 4.1%
Angels (60-65): 0.8%
Twins (58-66): 0.7%
Orioles (58-67): 0.1%
Athletics (56-70): 0.0%
White Sox (45-80): 0.0%
NL playoffs odds
Brewers (79-45): 100%
Dodgers (71-54): 99.7%
Phillies (72-53): 99.3%
Cubs (70-54): 96.8%
Padres (69-56): 95.4%
Mets (66-58): 84.5%
Reds (66-60): 18.0%
Cardinals (62-64): 3.2%
Giants (61-64): 2.6%
D-backs (60-66): 0.3%
Marlins (59-66): 0.1%
Braves (56-69): 0.1%
Pirates (53-73): 0.0%
Nationals (50-74): 0.0%
Rockies (36-89): 0.0%
Standings: Wild Card race
🏈 AP preseason All-Americans
No. 1 Texas and No. 2 Penn State each landed three players on the AP preseason All-American first team, released Monday.
Offense
QB: Cade Klubnik (Clemson, Sr.)
RB: Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame, Jr.); Nicholas Singleton (Penn State, Sr.)
WR: Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State, Soph.); Ryan Williams (Alabama, Soph.); Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State, Jr.)
TE: Eli Stowers (Vanderbilt, Sr.)
OT: Spencer Fano (Utah, Jr.); Kadyn Proctor (Alabama, Jr.)
OG: Olaivavega Ioane (Penn State Jr.); Ar'maj Reed-Adams (Texas A&M, Sr.)
C: Jake Slaughter (Florida, Sr.)
All-Purpose: Desmond Reid (Pitt, Sr.)
K: Dominic Zvada (Michigan, Sr.)
Defense
EDGE: Dylan Stewart (South Carolina, Soph.); Colin Simmons (Texas, Soph.)
DT: Peter Woods (Clemson, Jr.); Zane Durant (Penn State, Sr.)
LB: Anthony Hill Jr. (Texas, Jr.); Whit Weeks (LSU, Jr.); Kyle Louis (Pitt, Jr.)
CB: Leonard Moore (Notre Dame, Soph.); Jermod McCoy (Tennessee, Jr.)
S: Caleb Downs (Ohio State, Jr.); Dillon Thieneman (Oregon, Jr.)
DB: Michael Taaffe (Texas, Sr.)
P: Brett Thorson (Georgia, Sr.)🎾 Mixed doubles takes center stage
The most-hyped mixed doubles tournament in tennis history begins today in New York, where 32 of the sport's biggest stars will compete for a $1 million prize during U.S. Open qualifying week.
New-look event: Mixed doubles is typically an afterthought at Grand Slams, relegated to the outer courts and played at off hours. But this year at the U.S. Open it's been condensed and transformed into a marquee event by inviting the world's best singles players to compete.
The 32-player field features 14 men and women ranked in the top 10, including 10 major singles champions who've combined to win 54 major titles. That includes Jannik Sinner,* Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Iga Świątek and 45-year-old Venus Williams.
How'd they convince all these superstars to compete? Money, of course. The winners will split a $1 million prize, five times as much as last year's champs took home. Even the runners-up will pocket a cool $400,000.
What they're saying: "We get to play serious matches on Ashe, in front of packed arenas, and all the best players in the world are going to be playing," said Frances Tiafoe, who will team up with fellow American Madison Keys. "I'm going to be there doing media and all other kinds of stuff anyways, so might as well go out there and try to make some extra money."
Condensed format: The action begins today with the first round and quarterfinals, and ends tomorrow night with the semifinals and championship. Matches are best-of-three sets, but first to four games instead of six. Third sets, if necessary, will just be a 10-point tiebreaker.
Ok, so what's the catch? Well, not everyone is thrilled that the event looks like a glorified exhibition.
Some feel the format devalues the Grand Slam trophy being contested, and doubles specialists aren't pleased that singles stars are encroaching on their territory.
But it's not hard to see why they did it. I mean, when's the last time you read about a mixed doubles tournament?
The last word: "One of the guiding forces for thinking and writing about ESPN [airing this event] is to always remember that the 'E' stands for entertainment," writes The Athletic's Richard Deitsch ($). "Here is the reality from the broadcaster perspective: This is a television show."
*Sinner in doubt: Sinner (illness) is likely to withdraw from mixed doubles after retiring on Monday in Cincinnati to ensure he's ready for singles next week, though he has yet to make an announcement.
🤖 In photos: Robot Olympics
The inaugural World Humanoid Robot Games took place over the weekend in Beijing, where 280 teams from 16 countries spent three days competing at the National Speed Skating Oval, built for the 2022 Winter Olympics.
These pint-sized robots — some larger than others, but many no bigger than a child — competed in various sports like soccer, kickboxing, dance and running, while also showing off their skills in non-athletic endeavors like delivering luggage, cleaning rooms and sorting medicine.
The government-backed games were part of a larger initiative in China, where the country is investing heavily in robotics and artificial intelligence.
Some of these robots put on genuinely impressive displays. But for every goal scored and punch landed, there were countless more trips, falls and other errors.
Further reading: Before they can rule the world, Chinese robots need to master basic chores (WSJ)
📺 Watchlist: Tuesday, Aug. 19
⚾️ Astros at Tigers | 6:40pm ET, TBS
Two division leaders meet tonight in Detroit, where Cy Young favorite Tarik Skubal (11-3, 2.42 ERA, 0.87 WHIP) toes the rubber for the home team and All-Star Hunter Brown (10-5, 2.45 ERA, 1.00 WHIP) takes the ball for the visitors.
🏀 Lynx at Liberty | 7pm, NBA
Last year's WNBA finalists meet for the fourth time in the past three weeks. First-place Minnesota (28-5) is 3-0 so far against third-place New York (21-13).
More to watch:
🎾 U.S. Open: Mixed doubles (11am, ESPN2/ESPNews/ESPN+) … First round and quarterfinals.
⚾️ LLWS: Day 7 (1-7pm, ESPN) … South Dakota, Washington, South Carolina, Hawaii, Aruba, Canada, Japan and Mexico take the field.🏈 NFL trivia
Joe Flacco, 40, was named the Browns starting QB on Monday.
Question: Flacco (105-86 career record) is one of four active QBs with at least 100 regular-season wins. Can you name the other three?
Hint: Two changed teams this offseason.
Answer at the bottom.
⚾️ HOF program sets auction record
A program from the first National Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 1939 has sold at auction for $315,426, believed to be the most ever paid for a sports program.
What makes it unique: The program is signed by all 11 living inductees who were present at the event:
Babe Ruth
Ty Cobb
Walter Johnson
Honus Wagner
Cy Young
Tris Speaker
Grover Alexander
Nap Lajoie
George Sisler
Eddie Collins
Connie Mack
In related news: Stored in a nuclear bunker, 1961 cereal box with Mickey Mantle card sells for $21,600
Trivia answer: Aaron Rodgers (153 wins), Russell Wilson (121) and Matthew Stafford (108)
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