So you’re telling me there’s a chance?Yes, Detroit, I am.And San Diego, Kansas City, Minnesota… even you, too, Seattle.Just ask the Giants, the Royals, the Cubs, the Red Sox, the Nationals and the Rangers, all champions in the past decade.The Yankees and Dodgers will go in as the favorites. That just means they have a chance. But so does every other team that gets in.Here’s one big reason for optimism for teams that have clinched postseason berths or with a realistic shot at playing next week…AMERICAN LEAGUENew York Yankees: They have Aaron Judge; you don’t.The record for home runs in a single postseason is 10 by Randy Arozarena of the Rays in 2020. Judge hit nine in one 10-game flurry this season. The postseason could run at least 22 games. You do the math.Cleveland Guardians: They can bunt.Remember small ball? It could come in handy as the weather gets colder in October. Nobody plays smallball better than the Guardians, who remarkably have a .677 batting average on bunts this season. Six-seventy-seven.Houston Astros: They’ve been there, done that. source: Getty Images The Astros have nine more postseason wins (62) than any other team during Jose Altuve’s 14-year career, 14 more (59) during Alex Bregman’s nine-year career, and 21 more (44) during Yordan Alvarez’s six-year career. It’s contagious.Baltimore Orioles: They’re fun.Let’s be honest: Wouldn’t you love to see Jackson Holliday’s first postseason hit? Gunnar Henderson’s first postseason triple? Adley Rutschman’s first postseason home run? This could be the next Altuve-Bregman-Alvarez. Stay tuned.Kansas City Royals: They keep the ball in the ballpark.The Royals have allowed the fewest home runs in the majors this season. Where they’ve been stingiest is in extra innings, where they haven’t allowed one all year. Remarkably, there was just one extra-inning game in last year’s postseason, and it was won with a homer.Detroit Tigers: They have the ace. Aug 24, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) delivers a pitch against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images You want to advance in the postseason? Win Game 1. Tarik Skubal is double-trouble for any opponent in a series opener. First off, he’s easily the best starter still standing in the American League. And secondly, he’s as likely as any pitcher to navigate seven innings and save the bullpen for another day, setting up future success.Minnesota Twins: They’re healthy.Royce Lewis has played just 76 games this season, Carlos Correa 82, and Byron Buxton 98. But their injury-riddled seasons have taken a turn for the sprightly of late. In the past week, Lewis played all seven games, while Correa and Buxton started six each. The key is Buxton; the Twins are 54-44 when he’s been able to climb the dugout steps this season.Seattle Mariners: They know how to close out foes.Nothing sabotages a series like a blown lead in the ninth. That’s less of a worry for the Mariners than most teams. They’ve allowed just 34 runs in the ninth inning all season. Opponents won’t want to see Andres Munoz, a vastly underrated closer who has allowed just 18 hits in 47 ninth-inning appearances this year.NATIONAL LEAGUEDodgers: They’ve got Shohei Ohtani… and more. Sep 19, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) steals third base against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Remember when the Dodgers’ lineup was considered top-heavy? OK, it still is. With 118 RBIs out of the leadoff spot and a week to add to it, they are about to break the all-time record of 122 set by the 2019 Astros. But let’s give a little credit to the Nos. 8 and 9 hitters, who have scored the third- (73) and second-most (78) runs, respectively, in baseball this season.Philadelphia Phillies: They handle good teams.Not surprising given their recent run of success in the postseason, the Phillies have one of baseball’s best records this season against teams currently at .500 or better (50-40). If you’re going to be the best, you have to beat the best.Milwaukee Brewers: They can run.When your lineup is full of guys named Brice Turang, Joey Ortiz and Sal Frelick, there’s just one thing to do: Run. The Brewers have stolen way more bases than anyone else headed to the postseason, which helps explain how a team that’s hit the 15th-most home runs has scored the fifth-most runs. The Brewers are 70-34 when they’ve stolen at least one base this season.San Diego Padres: They force the action. Sep 14, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; San Diego Padres infielder Luis Arraez (4) hits a double against the San Francisco Giants during the eighth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images Luis Arraez struck out last week. It was big news. Here’s even bigger news: He has a bunch of teammates who are hard to strike out as well. No team whiffed less this season, and it’s not even close. How do you beat heavyweight pitching? By putting the ball in play.New York Mets: They win on the road.If a wild-card team is going to shock the heavyweights, it’s going to have to steal the home-field advantage. The Mets’ 41-34 road record, which includes a two-game sweep at Yankee Stadium and series wins at Los Angeles, Atlanta and Arizona, demonstrates they look good in gray.Arizona Diamondbacks: They play defense.The Diamondbacks committed no errors in their two-game sweep of the Brewers in the 2023 Wild Card Series, just one in their three-game elimination of the Dodgers in the National League Division Series, and just four in their 4-3 triumph over the Phillies in the NL Championship Series. This regular season, when they’ve committed seven fewer errors than any other team, they’re flashing the leather again.Atlanta Braves: They play the game 21st-century style.The Braves lead the majors in pitching strikeouts and rank fourth in batting home runs. No matter which aspect of the game dominates the postseason, the Braves have it covered.
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Monaco have high expectations and a mid-table position just will not cut it for the principality club.
Pressure may have eased on Leonardo Jardim after his inconsistent team thrashed Lille on Saturday, but fresh reports claim Monaco are looking at options for a new head coach.
Could Unai Emery a Ligue 1 winner with Paris Saint-Germain but a disappointment at Arsenal be just the man for the job?
TOP STORY EMERY SET FOR DUGOUT RETURN?
Monaco are reportedly hunting for a new boss as Jardim s future looks bleak with the Monegasque club, and Emery is said to be a target.
According to Le 10 Sport, Monaco officials are considering former Valencia boss Marcelino and ex-PSG and France head coach Laurent Blanc.
A third coach reported to …
Toby Alderweireld s scan on a knee injury came up clear, but the Tottenham defender will miss Saturday s trip to Bournemouth in the Premier League.
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino delivered an update on Alderweireld s fitness after the Belgian suffered the setback in last weekend s 1-1 draw at West Brom.
Alderweireld joins Harry Kane (ankle) on the sidelines, but there was better news for Danny Rose, who may be fit despite bruising his foot in Tuesday s 0-0 Champions League draw with Bayer Leverkusen.
Toby s scan was clear, but he is still in a lot of pain, said Pochettino. Like Harry, he is not available for the weekend. We re happy that Toby does not have a big issue, but it was a very heavy knock.
Harry is going very well. We are happy with him. He ha…
Liverpool defender Andy Robertson has confirmed he suffered ankle ligament damage in the 1-1 pre-season friendly draw with Athletic Bilbao.
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Manager Jurgen Klopp said further tests were required to determine the level of damage, casting doubt on Robertson s availability for Liverpool s opening game of the Premier League season away to Norwich City on August 14.
Ahead of Monday s friendly with Osasuna, the Reds final warm-up game before the 2021-22 season, Robertson said via Twitter that he expected to be sidelined for a time.
Thanks to everyone for the kind messages and support, he wrote. Scan suggests nothing too major but there s some li…
Bayern Munich s eventful week took another turn on Saturday as they were held to a 1-1 Bundesliga draw at home by lowly Hoffenheim.
Thomas Tuchel s side suffered a 3-0 defeat in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie against Manchester City in midweek, with more headlines made after the match when Sadio Mane allegedly punched team-mate Leroy Sane in the dressing room, leading to a fine and suspension for the Senegal international.
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Schalke head coach Jens Keller was dissatisfied with his team s 1-1 draw at home to PAOK in their UEFA Champions League play-off first leg.
Jefferson Farfan put the Bundesliga outfit ahead with a 32nd-minute strike in Gelsenkirchen but Miroslav Stoch scored a crucial equaliser for PAOK in the second half.
Keller said his side s performance had been solid but urged them to stay positive despite being frustrated with the result.
We are not happy with the final result. We played a great first half and performed as we wanted to and should have got a result from that, the 42-year-old coach told reporters after the draw.
We were aggressive, attacked them early and earned the goal but then in the second half we didn t continue that level of performance.
Athletic Bilbao have confirmed they have rejected a €30million bid for Ander Herrera, widely reported to be from Manchester United.
President Josu Urrutia confirmed on Friday that the La Liga club flatly turned down the approach, but refused to confirm the identity of the bidding club.
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Moyes is keen to strengthen his midfield, but Urrutia insisted Herrera is not for sale.
There is an offer for Ander Herrera,” he confirmed. We received it yesterday and we have informed them that we will not negotiate for our players.
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For a player to go f…
Verdict: Sevilla
Best Odds:
Bookamker:
Unbeaten in Group H, both leaders Sevilla and runners-up Juventus will look to finish their job of securing the knockouts qualification when they lock horns at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Tuesday night in what promises to be a scintillating clash.
Sevilla
The Rojiblancos apparently won’t be able to defend the UEFA Europa League crown they’ve been wearing for three years in a row now. This will hardly come as a disappointment to Sevilla supporters however who have been waiting for quite some time for their team to make a step further at the international scene. Not many fans would have hoped and anticipated such outcome following a hugely turbulent summer which ended up in Unai Emery and the host of the …
Andy Gray believes it is only a matter of time before Chelsea sign John Stones and the Everton legend has backed the defender to secure a place in the Premier League champions starting line-up sooner rather than later .
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Stones has reportedly submitted a transfer request in an attempt to force through a move to Stamford Bridge ahead of Tuesday s transfer deadline and ex-Everton striker Gray is resigned to the Merseyside club losing the young defender.
It s tough. As an Evertonian, I obviously don’t want him to go, I d rather he stayed at Everton…
The Queen: ´She served her country with dignity and grace´ – Beckham, Federer and Pele lead tributes
Meanwhile, footballing legend Pele added on Twitter: I have been a great admirer of Queen Elizabeth II since the first time I saw her in person, in 1968, when she came to Brazil to witness our love for football and experienced the magic of a packed Maracana.
Her deeds have marked generations. This legacy will last forever.
Speaking after Roma s Europa League clash with Ludogorets, head coach Mourinho said: I m so sorry. I have lived in England for many years, my family is there. I don t think there s anyone who doesn t appreciate this great woman.
Current Three Lions skipper Harry Kane described the Queen as an amazing inspiration, while team-mate Marcus Rashford also paid tribute to the late monarch.
Rest in peace, Queen Elizabeth II
— …
Best Odds: 1/2
Bookmaker:
Looking to continue on their purple patch under Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea will make the trip to an empty Bramall Lane on Sunday night.
Sheffield United
Starting with the hosts, while Sheffield United might still find themselves facing an almighty uphill battle if they re to somehow hang onto their Premier League status, the Blades have made some much-needed improvements of late. With Chris Wilder promising that his side will keep fighting, they managed to land themselves what was a crucial three points in a must-win showdown. Welcoming fellow relegation scrappers West Brom to Bramall Lane in midweek, United came from behind to pick up a late 2-1 win against the Baggies on home soil. However, still sat rock-bottom of the table and chasing …