New York Marathon Results 2017: Winners, Finishing Times and Highlights
Nov 5, 2017
Shalane Flanagan of the US reacts after crossing the finish line to win the Women's Division during the 2017 TCS New York City Marathon in New York on November 5, 2017.
Five days after the worst attack on New York since September 11, 2001, the city is staging a show of defiance on November 5, as 50,000 runners from around the world are set to participate in the New York Marathon, under heavy security. / AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)
Shalane Flanagan broke away from the leaders Sunday in the final six miles of the race and went on to become the first American woman to win the New York City Marathon in 40 years.
The Marblehead, Massachusetts, native recorded the upset victory in the race over three-time champion Mary Keitany, while Mamitu Daska finished third. Flanagan won the race with a time of 2 hours, 26 minutes, 53 seconds, and became the first American woman to earn the title since Miki Gorman accomplished the feat in 1977.
Keitany finished in 2:27:54, while Daska recorded a time of 2:28:08.
Once Flanagan made her move, she was clearly in charge of the race. As she approached the finish line knowing that the win was just a few strides away, the emotion on Flanagan's face told the story as she was thrilled to earn her first marathon triumph.
Keitany was going after a historic fourth victory in the race, but she was not able to catch Flanagan.
"This is the moment I have dreamed of since I was a little girl," Flanagan told ESPN's Lewis Johnson. "It was a tough week for New Yorkers and all Americans, and I was able to come through with the best performance of my life.
"It's indescribable. This is the moment we dream of to find our potential, and it's so gratifying."
American women had won the first six New York City Marathons, but none since Gorman had earned the title 40 years ago.
On the men's side, Geoffrey Kamworor of Kenya held off countryman Wilson Kipsang for gold. Kamworor broke away from the pack in the final 10 minutes of the race, but he could not shake Kipsang.
Kamworor ran the final mile with Kipsang on his heels, and the second-place finisher closed to within three seconds with about a half-mile to go. However, Kamworor was able to hold off his rival and record his first marathon win.
Kamworor finished the race with a winning time of 2:10:53 on the wet New York City course. Kipsang was right behind in 2:10:56, while Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia was third in 2:11:32.
Kamworor was the 12th Kenyan winner to win the race, and that country has earned 14 championships in New York City's 26.2-mile race.
"This is my sixth marathon and my first title," Kamworor told Johnson. "I am so happy and I will be back next year."
Marcel Hug of Switzerland won the men's wheelchair race for the third time. Manuela Schar, who also hails from Switzerland, won the woman's wheelchair race, holding off American and five-time winner Tatyana McFadden.
UFC 217 Fight Card: PPV Schedule, Odds and Predictions for Bisping vs. St-Pierre
Nov 4, 2017
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 03: (L-R) Michael Bisping of England and Georges St-Pierre of Canada face off during the UFC 217 weigh-in inside Madison Square Garden on November 3, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
The UFC's best fight card of the year is here, and it's actually intact.
In a year full of fights falling apart at the last second, it's about time that fight fans get to see some of the best in the world finally enter the Octagon and put their titles on the line. Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York City, UFC 217 will host three title fights, including the return of UFC legend Georges St-Pierre.
GSP will face off against current Middleweight champion, Michael Bisping, in what will be the former welterweight champion's first fight in four years.
But even though that fight is considered the main event of the evening, it might not even be the best fight on the main card. That's how stacked it is.
Here's a full look at the night's fight-card schedule, including updated odds for each fight.
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 03: (L-R) Joanna Jedrzejczyk of Poland and Rose Namajunas face off during the UFC 217 weigh-in inside Madison Square Garden on November 3, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
History is on the line for Joanna, as she can tie Ronda Rousey's record of six title defenses with a victory at UFC 217, while recording her ninth straight victory.
But in this instance, history takes a back step. All we care about is finally seeing Jedrzejczyk back inside the Octagon against Thug Rose.
On paper, this is the champ's fight to lose. Rose is too young, inexperienced and has never fought someone like Joanna. Having said that, Rose does offer one thing that the champ can't prepare for: the unpredictable.
Namajunas has submitted her opponents in various ways from all sorts of angles. Getting Joanna on the mat will be a challenge, but never say never. For Jedrzejczyk, she's easily the most skilled female striker in the game and pound-for-pound, regardless of gender, in the world.
During Thursday's press conference, Joanna told her audience what to expect on fight night, and who are we to disagree with her?
The boogey woman is, indeed, coming, and she's going to take out Rose with a third-round TKO finish.
Cody Garbrandt vs. T.J. Dillashaw
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 03: (L-R) Cody Garbrandt and TJ Dillashaw face off during the UFC 217 weigh-in inside Madison Square Garden on November 3, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
For all the cringeworthy trash talk that's been surrounding this fight over the past six months, this is still one hell of a fight that could easily take Fight of the Night honors.
The bad blood, the Team Alpha Male drama—this fight has it all, and the UFC has struck gold having it as the night's co-main event. Garbrandt, as we've seen during his brief-yet-meteoric rise in the UFC, has the kiss of death in his hands and boxing skills that would give Conor McGregor a run for his money.
For being such a hot head outside of the Octagon, his patience with his strikes and his fluid footwork once the fight starts is surprising, and it showed how much Dominick Cruz underestimated his skills when Garbrandt won the bantamweight title with a masterclass performance last year.
We know what Garbrandt is capable of inside the Octagon, but the real question surrounding this fight is how much Dillashaw has improved since the last time we've seen him fight for a title.
After losing his title to Cruz, Dillashaw went on a mission to become one of the most complete fighters at 135 pounds in the world, even if it meant leaving Team Alpha Male to do so.
In his last performance against John Lineker, Dillashaw looked—for lack of a better word—incredible. If that version of Dillashaw has improved even more since then, it could be a long night for Garbrandt. But as we all know when it comes to those four-ounce gloves, it only takes one punch.
I anticipate Dillashaw showing Garbrandt different looks, even looking to shoot for a couple takedowns to take away Garbrandt's advantage on the feet.
Dillashaw will win the first round handedly, but Garbrandt will soon figure out his timing and solve the puzzle, allowing him to unload a right-hand bomb that sends Dillashaw to the canvas in the second round. A little ground-and-pound should be enough for the referee to stop the fight and give the champ his first title defense of his career.
Michael Bisping vs. Georges St-Pierre
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 02: UFC Middleweight Champion Michael Bisping of England interacts with his opponent Georges St-Pierre of Canada (not pictured) during the UFC 217 Press Conference inside Madison Square Garden on November 2, 2017 in New York City.
Yeah, this card just gets better and better as the night goes on.
GSP might not have been the most entertaining fighter when the history books are written, but no one can deny his wrestling skill set and fight IQ. As for Bisping, when have you ever been bored watching The Count inside of the Octagon? Even if he does get viciously knocked out a la Dan Henderson.
In many ways, this is a bizarre matchup. Not only is GSP fighting at 185 pounds for the first time in his career, he's fighting one of the best strikers the UFC has ever had in Bisping, who owns the record for most significant strikes landed, most wins inside of the Octagon and most fights.
He's coming off a war against Henderson and a knockout victory over Luke Rockhold, and now Bisping has his eyes set on putting himself in the GOAT conversation with a win over GSP. The game plan is rather simple for Bisping, who wants to keep this fight on the feet as much as he can.
After all, he did say his greatest fear is getting cuddled to death by GSP yesterday, and he's not exaggerating.
"George is a joke, seriously he's a joke." -- Michael Bisping doesn't hold back on his feelings towards GSP. https://t.co/NkYrC8NlTK
GSP's wrestling and jiu-jitsu is world-class and he would be foolish to try and exchange with Bisping on the feet, even if he does have legendary boxing coach Freddie Roach in his corner.
GSP may have made the 185-pound weight limit easily, but how comfortable is he fighting a five-round fight at that weight against a guy like Bisping, who never seems to slow down?
The former 170-pound champ bit off more than he can chew with this fight, and it will show after a strong opening couple of minutes where GSP looks like his old self until the adrenaline wears off. The extra muscle and weight he's carrying around will work against him as his movement slows down and his breathing becomes heavy.
Bisping will use his cardio to his advantage and load on the pressure with well-executed combinations, backing GSP up against the cage. From there, Bisping will have his way with the former champ, ultimately getting the finish with a second-round TKO after GSP goes down to the mat and covers up, waiting for the referee to stop the fight.
With the loss, it's safe to say that this will be the final time (for real this time) that fight fans will see GSP fight in the UFC.
MLB Rumors: Latest Buzz on Giancarlo Stanton Trade, Masahiro Tanaka and More
Nov 3, 2017
Miami Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton (27) acknowledges the crowd after he struck out swinging for his last at bat during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Miami. The Braves won 8-5. Stanton finished the season with 59 home runs. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Even though the 2017 season ended just days ago, it is never too late to start thinking about next year.
The Houston Astros spent nearly a decade cutting costs and slowly rebuilding through the draft before becoming World Series champions and an MLB powerhouse. With free agency on the horizon, teams must decide whether to start over or continue to add veteran pieces in an attempt to compete for a title in 2018.
Unsurprisingly, rumors are flying all over the league regarding prominent players. Let us take a look at the latest buzz and the possible ramifications if true.
Marlins Cleaning House?
It is a new era in Miami with the Derek Jeter-highlighted ownership group taking over the Marlins, and the direction the brass is taking the team is looking more clear.
According to Barry Jackson and Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald, Miami will try to move slugger Giancarlo Stanton and stud leadoff man Dee Gordon as part of an effort to cut the team payroll down to $90 million.
Stanton is set to make $25 million next season, with that number ballooning to as high as $32 million in 2023 through 2025. In the prime of his career at 27 years old, Stanton is coming off his best MLB season by hitting .281 with 59 homers and 132 RBI.
Although he is arguably the most feared hitter in baseball and a fan favorite in Miami, Stanton leaving via trade would be a smart move for the Marlins.
It is inefficient financially to tie up that much money to one player for a small-market team like the Marlins, and Stanton would bring back a nice package, even with a huge contract. SB Nation's Devan Fink compared the situation to Alex Rodriguez in Texas, which turned into arguably the biggest trade of the last 15 years:
Receiving any healthy return of quality prospects while shedding salary would considerably help Miami's rebuild. Throwing in another trade with a player like Gordon, who batted over .300 in his last two full seasons, would be gravy.
If Miami smartly plays these two moves, it could be on pace to become a contender down the road.
What Will Tanaka Do?
In his first three seasons in New York, Masahiro Tanaka looked worth the seven-year, $155 million the Yankees dished out for his services.
He posted a 29-16 record with an ERA just over 3.00, and it seemed he was destined to use his player opt-out at the end of 2017 for a greener paycheck. Yet, he came crashing down to Earth last season, struggling to a 13-12 mark with a 4.74 ERA. He was roughed up for 35 homers, tied for third-most in the American League.
That seemed to tip the scales toward Tanaka opting in to keep his high salary despite his mediocre numbers, but that may not be the case. Per FanRag Sports' Jon Heyman, people around baseball believe Tanaka could choose free agency.
Tanaka is set to make $67 million over the next three years should he stay, and even with one general manager saying Tanaka would never "beat that" on the open market, Heyman still reports the MLB sentiment is he'll go.
Heyman added that while the Yankees initially did not plan to chase Tanaka, they may after his strong postseason finish. Tanaka threw 20 magnificent innings in October, allowing just 10 hits and two runs. MLB.com's Mark Feinsand asserted New York could work out an agreement to keep Tanaka for the same money, just less per year:
I won’t be the least bit surprised if Tanaka and the Yankees come to a similar type of deal, where the current 3 years are replaced by 4.
The upstart Yankees proved they are ready to win now in 2017, and bringing back Tanaka is the best move for both sides.
Tanaka can still make his money while pitching for a World Series contender in a rotation that already includes Sonny Gray and Luis Severino. Throw in promising young arms Chance Adams and Jordan Montgomery, and Tanaka could make this the top rotation in the AL for the next couple of seasons.
What is Cozart's Value?
Cincinnati's Zack Cozart became one of MLB's biggest surprises in 2017, going from an average hitter to a low-end MVP candidate.
After never topping .260 or 16 homers in his previous five seasons, Cozart exploded for 24 homers and 63 RBI while hitting .297 last year. His numbers made him the National League's top hitting shortstop over household names like Corey Seager, per ESPN Stats & Info:
Corey Seager is left off the @Dodgers NLCS roster (back).
He was 2nd among NL SS in BA, OBP & Slug pct this season (behind Zack Cozart). pic.twitter.com/hLjt9uIktO
With Cozart set to hit free agency, it would seem he did as well as possible in a contract year. Yet, that may not be the case. Zach Buchanan of the Cincinnati Enquirer reported that while Cozart will do well this offseason, he may not get full value for his numbers.
At 32 years old, Cozart is not likely to get a three-year deal, at least according to one MLB executive who spoke to Buchanan. While the Reds could extend a qualifying offer of $17.4 million to Cozart and receive a high draft pick should he decline and sign elsewhere, Buchanan reports the team is unlikely to do so at the risk of Cozart accepting it and tying up salary it could use for other players.
That leaves Cozart in a no man's land of sorts. He could get a fairly lucrative annual figure with a contender looking to upgrade in the infield, but it will only be on a one- or two-year deal.
This makes sense given Cozart's history, which means last season could have been an anomaly. Teams will certainly not want to risk that being the case, which ends any chance of Cozart receiving a long-term commitment at this stage of his career.
Unfortunately for Cozart, the list of contenders in need of a shortstop is practically nonexistent. However, a team like the Arizona Diamondbacks could use more pop in the lineup at shortstop or second base, but it would have to be at the right price.
Statistics are courtesy of MLB.com. Contract information is courtesy of Spotrac.
ALCS Schedule 2017: Astros vs. Yankees Game Times, Odds and Prediction
Oct 18, 2017
Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel reacts after striking out New York Yankees' Aaron Judge during the third inning of Game 1 of baseball's American League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 13, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
We now officially have a series.
After waking up offensively in Games 3 and 4, the New York Yankees are full of life as they look to force an elimination game in the American League Championship Series. As for the Houston Astros, a familiar problem has undone the impressive two-game lead they earned to start the series, and it could end up sinking their season.
Two more games are guaranteed, but it seems likely that one team is going to need to steal a road game in order to win the ALCS. Want to catch the action? Check out the upcoming schedule, as well as the latest odds after, courtesy of OddsShark.com.
Latest World Series Odds
Astros: 9/4
Yankees: 7/2
Game 5
When: Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 5 p.m. ET
Television: FS1
Game 6
When: Friday, Oct. 20 at 8 p.m. ET
Television: FS1
Game 7*
When: Saturday, Oct. 21 at 8 p.m. ET
Television: FS1
Game 5 Preview
Perhaps no two pitchers are throwing as well this postseason as Dallas Keuchel and Justin Verlander, and the pair were instrumental in earning the Astros two wins to open up this series. Now, Houston's weaknesses are beginning to show up.
Rotation depth and a poor bullpen helped down the Astros in Games 3 and 4. Charlie Morton was tattooed for seven earned runs in just 3.2 innings as Will Harris came on in relief to surrender a three-run homer to the slumping Aaron Judge and allowed an earned run himself in the Game 3 defeat.
Lance McCullers Jr. turned in perhaps his best start in months as he iced the Yankees for one hit in six innings before conceding a solo shot to Judge. Yet, the relief party of Chris Devenski, Ken Giles and Joe Musgrove combined to allow six hits and five runs to squander Houston's four-run lead in Game 4.
In fact, only Keuchel and Verlander have registered wins for Houston this postseason, combining for just five earned runs in 30.1 innings. As for the rest of the Astros, they have combined for a porous 29 runs conceded in 38.1 innings. The bullpen was not much better throughout the regular season, finishing 17th in MLB with a 4.27 ERA.
Keuchel is set to start Game 5, which is the bright side for Houston. He blanked the Yankees for just four hits and no runs over seven innings in Game 1, but he has only gone at least seven innings four times since May 2. This means the Astros will have to again turn to their shaky bullpen at some point, which forced MLB Network's Robert Flores to joke that Keuchel may need to stay in the game as long as possible:
Masahiro Tanaka is up again for this deep rotation, and he has also been sensational in the postseason. He's allowed just seven hits and two walks in a pair of starts, going 13 innings in that time. Tanaka should be fine, but unlike Keuchel, he has a dominant bullpen supporting him that should have Chad Green, Tommy Kahnle and possibly Aroldis Chapman available in Game 4.
That Yankees' pitching prowess has been able to limit an explosive Astros offense to just nine runs in four games—a far cry from the 24 they scored in four ALDS games to go with their MLB-best 896 runs in the regular season. Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa are the only two Astros hitting above .231 who have played in all three games, with stars like George Springer, .071 average, being the main culprits for the scoring lag.
Springer understands Houston needs more offensively, but he still feels his team can overcome and grind out enough wins, per Matt Ehalt of NorthJersey.com.
"I would be surprised, but [when] you’re facing a staff like that and bullpen like that, it’s hard to score," said Springer after Game 3. "Those guys are good over there and it's going to be a battle this whole series. We’re not going to come out and score eight runs every game. We’re going to have to fight."
Houston needs to rebound quickly, as the Yankees have been an unstoppable force at home in 2017. With the AL's best home mark of 51-30 during the regular season, New York is using Yankee Stadium to help fuel its playoff run, and history has been kind to the team when doing so, per ESPN:
With that in mind, Game 5 truly feels like a toss-up.
Keuchel should be his excellent self, but he cannot afford any mistakes given the mediocrity of his bullpen and the energy that an error would give the Yankee Stadium crowd. Tanaka and the bullpen should also be fine, but can New York provide enough run support?
The past two games have shown that the most likely scenario is Keuchel going six or seven innings, maybe giving up a run, before New York scores late. The Yankees do not have nearly the same amount of risk associated with them due their pitching depth, so they look to be a safer bet to take Game 5, especially at home.
Still, the Astros have another Verlander start left, and he is much more likely to give them extended starting length to avoid the bullpen. Look for this series to eventually go seven games, but Houston's chances are slim unless they can find a gem outing from a third starter.
Statistics are courtesy of MLB.com unless otherwise noted.
MLB Playoffs 2017: Odds, TV Schedule, Predictions for Final ALDS Game
Oct 11, 2017
Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber delivers in the first inning of Game 2 of baseball's American League Division Series against the New York Yankees, Friday, Oct. 6, 2017, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
After each divisional series began with two-game leads, the New York Yankees have emerged as a possible upset contender as they forced Game 5 thanks to excellent pitching.
The Bronx Bombers have responded in a big way since blowing a five-run lead in Game 2, which puts the pressure back on the Cleveland Indians to prove themselves as the American League favorite. The winner of Wednesday's ALDS matchup will move on to battle the Houston Astros, who used a late comeback Monday to finish off the Boston Red Sox.
It will not be an easy task for the Yankees, who once again have to overcome likely Cy Young winner Corey Kluber. Yet, the pitching prowess of New York gives as good of a chance as ever to complete the impressive turnaround. Take a look at what Vegas thinks of that chance, according to OddsShark.com.
Yankees at Indians Viewing Guide
When: Wednesday, Oct. 10 at 8 p.m. ET
Television: FS1
Live Stream: Fox Sports Go
Odds: Yankees 147/100, Indians 27/50
Game 5 Preview
No pitcher instilled more fear in AL opponents this season than Kluber, who posted a stout 18-4 record with a 2.25 ERA this season. Even more impressive was the 0.84 ERA Kluber finished with in six September starts leading into the postseason.
Naturally, the shellacking the righty endured in Game 2 came as a giant shock. Kluber was tattooed for seven hits, six runs and home runs to Aaron Hicks and Gary Sanchez in just 2.2 innings.
As baseball writer Jayson Stark noted, Kluber has not been hit that hard in quite some time:
Corey Kluber: 6 runs allowed in September, 129 outs 6 runs allowed today, 8 outs How mysterious is baseball?
Kluber hopes a second go-around against the Yankees, a team he allowed just three runs in 17 innings to in two 2017 regular season starts, will translate into redemption on Wednesday, per Alec Brzezinski of Sporting News:
"I think we do that constantly throughout the year. That's part of being a starting pitcher. The way we approach it is you get to pitch once every five games, but those other four games, you're learning, you're trying to pick up on tendencies, things like that
"We talk a lot amongst the starters about other teams and their lineups and maybe the way we want to attack them, what they're trying to do, things like that. So I think it's no different now. That's kind of the way we always go about it."
For a pitcher as talented as Kluber, expecting improvement in his next start should be a given, which is bad news for the Yankees. It will be up to CC Sabathia to help save New York's season.
The 37-year-old lefty already got the best of Kluber in Game 2, allowing three hits and two earned runs in 5.1 innings. Sabathia only had three starts this season of at least seven innings, but he does not need to go the distance for the Yankees to be successful in Game 5.
New York has arguably the best bullpen in baseball, as it can trot out a number of flame-throwing arms. Take Game 4 for example, as the Yankees' power pitching was on display without Aroldis Chapman or Chad Green taking the hill, per MLB.com's Daren Willman:
The slowest fastball the @Yankees threw tonight was 96 MPH... That is completely absurd.
The Yankees bullpen should be plenty rested after Luis Severino and Masahiro Tanaka combined for 14.1 innings in the last two games. On the contrary, Cleveland has had to delve into its relief pitching over the same span after Trevor Bauer and Carlos Carrasco combined for a mere 7.1 frames.
Either way, both teams need star players to break out of slumps to generate any consistent offense.
Aaron Judge is mired in a 1-for-15 start in the ALDS, while Cleveland's two most dangerous hitters have also been iced in the series, via ESPN Stats and Info and ESPN's Jordan Zirm:
Aaron Judge's 12 K are the most by a Yankees player in a single playoff series all-time.
Of course, Francisco Lindor smacked a grand slam in Game 2, and Judge lined a huge two-run double in Game 4, so neither of these guys have been totally ineffective. Yet either getting hot would give his team a massive boost in Game 5.
Starting pitching has to favor the Indians, but the Yankees look to have an advantage in the bullpen. So who has the edge?
Playing at Progressive Field is a major plus for Cleveland, who boasted a 49-32 mark for the AL's second best home record behind the Yankees. That also helps Kluber, who is normally dominant at home with a 10-2 record and 1.81 ERA in the regular season.
Expect Kluber to go deep into the game while the Indians are able to muster a run or two off of Sabathia before being shut down by the New York bullpen. The contest will come down to the final pitches, but look for the experience of the Indians to take over against a Yankees team starting five key players in Greg Bird, Didi Gregorius, Hicks, Judge and Sanchez who are playing in their first postseason series.
Statistics are courtesy of MLB.com unless otherwise noted.
MLB Playoff Schedule 2017: Live Stream, Predictions for Friday's AL, NL Matchups
Oct 6, 2017
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) throws to the plate during of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)
The American League and National League divisional rounds are nearly both underway, and Friday provides the first chance to watch all four matchups in one day.
As with any playoff series, exceptional pitching is set to be on display, as arguably the game's top two pitchers in Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Corey Kluber of the Cleveland Indians will take the hill. Yet, that has not seemed to matter at times this postseason. In the wild-card round, for instance, a starting foursome that included aces like Zack Greinke and Luis Severino combined to pitch just 7.1 innings.
How can you watch this full day of top-notch baseball? Check out the viewing schedule for Game 2s in the AL and Game 1s in the NL.
Boston Red Sox at Houston Astros
When: Friday, Oct. 6 at 2 p.m. ET
Television: FS1
Live Stream: Fox Sports Go
New York Yankees at Cleveland Indians
When: Friday, Oct. 6 at 5 p.m. ET
Television: MLB Network
Live Stream: MLB.tv
Chicago Cubs at Washington Nationals
When: Friday, Oct. 6 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Television: TBS
Live Stream: TBS Live, MLB.tv
Arizona Diamondbacks at Los Angeles Dodgers
When: Friday, Oct. 6 at 10:30 p.m. ET
Television: TBS
Live Stream: TBS Live, MLB.tv
Houston vs. Boston Preview
The Boston Red Sox threw their ace in Game 1, and it did not go well.
Chris Sale was tattooed for seven runs and nine hits in just five innings as the Houston Astros easily took the contest 8-2. The Red Sox will now turn to Drew Pomeranz to tie the series before it heads back to Boston.
Pomeranz turned in an excellent season, going 17-6 with a 3.32 ERA. He also threw his best against baseball's top teams, per the Red Sox Notes statistics profile:
Drew Pomeranz made 10 starts against teams that have qualified for the 2017 postseason: the Sox went 9-1 in those games (6-1, 2.62 ERA).
He will need to be just as stout on Friday against an Astros lineup littered with dangerous bats. Houston led MLB with 896 runs and a .282 team average in the regular season, and the offense is still rolling after battering Sale.
Besides Thursday's hero Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa, Pomeranz does have a solid history against the Astros lineup, per Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle:
How the Astros hitters have fared against Red Sox Game 2 starter Drew Pomeranz pic.twitter.com/o6pCR1rEJL
This should make it a low-scoring affair, especially since Houston is throwing 2015 Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel.
The lefty was great again this season with a 14-5 mark and 2.90 ERA, but he has not faced this Boston lineup too often. Other than Rajai Davis and Mitch Moreland, both of whom are hitting below .100 lifetime, no Red Sox hitter has more than 10 career at-bats against Keuchel.
Such a tight pitching matchup makes this game a toss-up on paper, but Houston's dynamite offense and rowdy home crowd should give them a slight advantage. Look for the Astros to squeeze a run or two home to walk out with a narrow win.
Cleveland vs. New York Preview
If one thought the Red Sox were in trouble after Game 1, take a look at the New York Yankees' ominous position.
After using their bullpen for 8.2 innings in the wild-card round, the Yankees got just 3.1 frames out of starter Sonny Gray on Thursday. New York relievers still allowed just two hits and a run the rest of the night, but a dominant bullpen is being stretched out early.
It will be up to 37-year-old CC Sabathia to right the ship and give New York a quality outing. He has been the man for the job in 2017 after a Yankees loss, per Mike Mazzeo of the New York Daily News:
And so it comes down to this: CC Sabathia (9-0, 1.71 ERA following a Yankee loss) vs. Klubot
Sabathia has gone seven or more innings only three times this season, but New York should have Chad Green, Tommy Kahnle and David Robertson available again after their long wild-card stints. The Yankees should be set up to win on the hill, except for one major problem.
No pitcher was as dominant this season, especially in the AL, as Kluber. He went 18-4 on the year with a sparkling 2.25 ERA, which will likely win him the Cy Young. He has also been fantastic against the Yankees this season, posting a 2-0 record with three runs allowed in 17 innings. Lifetime, only Jacoby Ellsbury is hitting above .250 among the current Yankees.
With a rested bullpen and possibly the best pitcher in baseball, Cleveland should be favored here. This is truly an elite team that has already flexed its muscles in this series. Expect a 2-0 Indians lead going back to the Bronx.
Chicago vs. Washington Preview
After a slow start, the defending World Series champion Chicago Cubs got back on track to win the NL Central and enter October as a title contender.
After the All-Star break, Chicago led MLB with 423 runs and were second with a .273 team batting average. Kris Bryant, 29 homers and 73 RBI, and Anthony Rizzo, 32 homers and 109 RBI, returned to form again in 2017, as Chicago had six players smack at least 20 dingers for the year.
The Cubs will need that offense going against a red-hot Stephen Strasburg, who finished the year with a 15-4 record and 2.52 ERA. He ended his season on an absolute tear over five starts, per the Washington Nationals team Twitter account:
Stephen Strasburg allowed only 3 ER in all of September.
With Trea Turner coming back from injury, this is the best Nationals team ever on paper, especially with Ryan Zimmerman going off for 36 homers and 108 RBI on the year. This makes them the favorite for the series and Game 1.
Strasburg should perform very well if he continues his recent play, and that will be the key to this game. Washington ranked a lowly 23rd in MLB with a bullpen ERA of 4.41, so this will be the weakness for Chicago to exploit.
Against any other Washington starter besides Max Scherzer, this would give the Cubs a pretty solid chance to pull out a win. However, expect Strasburg, who was 7-2 at home this season, to lead the Nationals to an early series lead.
Arizona vs. Los Angeles Preview
Another year, another example of Kershaw's otherworldly talents.
After putting up an 18-4 record and 2.31 ERA in 2017, Kershaw continued to lower his career numbers, per MLB.com's Jordan Bastian:
There is no question Kershaw is likely the top pitcher of his generation, but his postseason numbers have not matched his regular-season dominance. He sports 4.55 ERA in 14 career starts, and he is coming off of a shaky 2016 playoff run in which he allowed 12 runs in 24.1 innings despite his excessive use.
He will start another chance to possibly pitch in a World Series on Friday against an Arizona team that has given him some trouble. In seven starts over the last three years prior to 2017, Kershaw allowed 19 runs in 42 innings against the Diamondbacks. Yet, he bounced back this season with a ridiculous 0.59 ERA against Arizona in two starts.
He has handled Arizona star Paul Goldschmidt pretty well over the years. Goldschmidt is hitting just .227 in 44 at-bats, including 17 strikeouts. The Diamondbacks are going to need some offense in Game 1 to help out starter Taijuan Walker against a loaded Los Angeles Dodgers lineup that has routinely batted players like Yasiel Puig seventh or eighth.
Puig, by the way, hit 28 homers this season.
Picking against Kershaw is never a smart bet, and as long he even closely resembles his typical self, the Dodgers should be able to generate enough runs to get the Game 1 win.
Statistics are courtesy of MLB.com unless otherwise noted.
MLB Playoff Schedule 2017: TV, Live Stream and Bracket Predictions for Thursday
Oct 5, 2017
FILE - In this Sept. 27, 2017, file photo, Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander winds up to throw to the Texas Rangers during a baseball game in Arlington, Texas. The Astros will start Verlander in Game 1 of the AL Division Series against Chris Sale and the Boston Red Sox on Thursday, Oct 5. Manager A.J. Hinch announced the decision Tuesday, adding that left-hander Dallas Keuchel, who won the AL Cy Young Award in 2015, will start Game 2 on Friday against Drew Pomeranz. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)
The American League pennant appears to an open race, as the remaining four teams have the pieces to make a deep run in the 2017 MLB playoffs.
With the wild-card round over, it is finally time for those clubs to clash, which should make for some exciting baseball. Between elite pitching and prominent young stars, Thursday's matchups are destined to be the start of greatness.
With that in mind, here is how to watch that action unfold. Continue along for a brief preview of each Game 1 matchup.
Red Sox at Astros
When: Thursday, Oct. 5 at 4 p.m. ET
Television: MLB Network
Live Stream: MLB.tv
Yankees at Indians
When: Thursday, Oct. 5 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Television: Fox Sports 1
Live Stream: Fox Sports Go
Boston at Houston Preview
Two of the biggest pitching names in baseball are set to duel Thursday with each being at different stages in their careers.
Chris Sale is in the Cy Young discussion after another outstanding season in which he easily led MLB with 308 strikeouts to go with a 17-8 record and 2.90 ERA. After his trade to Boston last offseason, the 28-year-old lefty is primed to be an elite ace for the next several seasons.
On the other hand, Justin Verlander, 34, is in the latter part of his career, but he found form with Houston. He's been dominant for the Astros since coming over in August, via MLB.com's Brian McTaggart:
Verlander's first five starts with the Astros (5-0, 1.06 ERA): 34 innings pitched 17 hits 4 runs 4 earned runs 5 walks 43 strikeouts
Experience and his current hot streak seem to be the motivation behind this move. Verlander has been a solid postseason pitcher, posting a 3.39 ERA in 16 starts, but he has not thrown a playoff pitch since 2014. That also came in a start where he conceded three runs in five innings.
He has posted great career numbers against several key Red Sox. Mookie Betts is 0-for-13 lifetime against Verlander, while Andrew Benintendi, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Dustin Pedroia are all hitting below .150. Eduardo Nunez and Mitch Moreland are batting .333 and .345, respectively, against the former Detroit Tigers ace.
On the other hand, the Astros' loaded lineup feasts on left-handed pitching, particularly when it comes from heaters like Sale. MLB.com's Daren Willman elaborated on this trend:
The @astros batted .305 (57 for 187, .380 wOBA, 9 HR, 14 2B) vs LHP throwing 94 MPH+
Conversely to Verlander, Sale limped to the end of the regular season. He is not in great form going into his first career playoff start, per MLB.com's Richard Justice:
Chris Sale first 21 starts: 2.37 ERA, .192 BA, .88 WHIP. Last 11 starts: 4.09 ERA, .241 BA, 1.18 WHIP.
This, along with Verlander's huge experience advantage, have to give Houston a slight edge in Game 1. Both teams possesses stout hitting throughout the lineup, but the Astros have fared well against the Red Sox. The home team is 4-3 in the season series, taking three out of four contests to close out the regular season.
Yankees at Indians Preview
New York's silence was broken late Wednesday, as Sonny Gray was tabbed to start in Game 1, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.
Since joining the Yankees in late July, Gray has been solid, but not great. He is 4-7 with a 3.72 ERA in 11 starts. Yet, he is the best option New York has at this point since Luis Severino started the AL Wild Card Game and Masahiro Tanaka was wildly inconsistent in the regular season.
The good news is Gray does not need to pitch a complete-game gem for the Yankees to be successful. They possess a monster bullpen that is fresh off of shutting down the Minnesota Twins for one run over 8.2 innings.
The bad news? Cleveland's bullpen is arguably just as good, as MLB.com's Jordan Bastian explained:
The unit is also fresh. Meanwhile, the Yankees are likely to be without Chad Green, Tommy Kahnle and David Robertson for Game 1 since each tossed at least two innings on Tuesday night. This leaves Dellin Betances, Adam Warren and possibly lefty Jordan Montgomery as the most viable options available before Aroldis Chapman.
Cleveland also has the benefit of giving Corey Kluber an extra day of rest, as Trevor Bauer will start Game 1. It also does not hurt that Bauer was excellent in this matchup in the regular season, unlike his counterpart, via Sporting News' Max Wildstein:
New York's marathon bullpen outing in its last game puts it at a disadvantage on the road. In a game where the lineups are mostly even, this edge in starting and relief pitching should put the Indians ahead 1-0 in the ALDS by the time Thursday is over.
Statistics are courtesy of ESPN.com unless otherwise noted.
MLB Playoff Schedule 2017: TV Times, Live Stream for NL Wild Card, ALDS Games
Oct 4, 2017
KANSAS CITY, MO - SEPTEMBER 29: Zack Greinke #21 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium on September 29, 2017 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Brian Davidson/Getty Images)
The New York Yankees survived to advance to the American League Divisional Series, and now it is the National League's turn for the spotlight.
The Colorado Rockies will visit the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday for the NL Wild Card. After a wild contest Tuesday, both teams have the potential to put on a strong encore performance. Yet, the appearance of an established ace could swing the game in a certain direction and give one team a distinct advantage.
Meanwhile, the ALDS will begin on Thursday, and the entire series live-stream and television schedules can be found at MLB.com.
NL Wild Card viewing guide
When: Wednesday, Oct. 4 at 8 p.m. ET
Television: TBS
Live Stream: TBS Live, MLB.tv
Surprisingly, the Diamondbacks have been among baseball's most successful franchises since their debut season in 1998. Including a World Series title in 2001, Arizona has found itself playing October baseball almost as much as any club in the last 20 years:
However, the team is now back in the postseason for just the first time since 2011, and it's a winner-take-all showdown with a division rival.
Zack Greinke figures to be a key figure in Wednesday's contest, as the star hurler will be the best arm in the stadium and the player who can make the biggest difference toward an Arizona win.
Greinke will face 25-year-old Jon Gray, who emerged as a reliable top option down the stretch for the Rockies.
Fox Sports Arizona provided a quick look at the pitching matchup:
While Colorado lacks an ace and starting pitching overall, it has plenty of offense. The Rockies led the NL in scoring this season and feature three players in Nolan Arenado, Charlie Blackmon and Mark Reynolds who smacked at least 30 home runs on the year.
Greinke has plenty of experience dealing with this Colorado lineup, but the results have been mixed.
In over 40 at-bats each, Carlos Gonzalez and D.J. LeMahieu are hitting over .300, while the former has five homers. Trevor Story has also had success against Greinke, posting a .333 average with four jacks and nine RBI in just 24 at-bats.
On the contrary, Greinke has cooled off Arenado and Blackmon. Both are hitting below .280 lifetime with zero homers against the 33-year-old in nearly 50 plate appearances each. Blackmon has also struck out 11 times in 49 at-bats.
Still, Arizona has to be feel good about its chances Wednesday with Greinke on the hill. He has allowed less than three runs in his last six postseason starts, which should give the Diamondbacks offense enough support to attack an inexperienced Gray.
Arizona also posted the NL's second-best home record in 2017 at 52-29, so look for it to advance through the wild-card round.
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 03: Tommy Kahnle #48 of the New York Yankees celebrates the final out of the top of the seventh inning against the Minnesota Twins in the American League Wild Card Game at Yankee Stadium on October 3, 2017 in the Bronx borough of N
On the other hand, it will be strength against strength when the ALDS begins on Thursday.
The Yankees bullpen put on a masterful performance after Luis Severino lasted just one out in his playoff debut. New York allowed one run over the next 8.2 innings, as its deep stable of electric arms flashed its might, per Fox Sports:
That group did not even include four-time All-Star Dellin Betances and his potentially overwhelming stuff, or Adam Warren. Simply, this unit is good enough to go five or six innings of shutdown baseball every night this postseason, but that is nothing new for the Indians.
Cleveland used a similar strategy in its World Series run a year ago, and the bullpen is lights-out once again. Featuring studs like Cody Allen and Andrew Miller, the Indians led MLB this year with an ERA of 2.89 among their relievers.
This helped Cleveland get the better of New York in the regular season, per ESPN Stats and Info:
Yankees face Indians in ALDS. Indians had 5-2 head-to-head advantage in 2017 regular season. Three of the wins came during 22-game streak. pic.twitter.com/Ct0YjYommp
While this series looks to be a tight one due to the expected lack of scoring from the bullpen, the Indians have to be a slight favorite here. They will have home-field advantage in the short five-game series, and their three set starters of Trevor Bauer, Carlos Carrasco and likely Cy Young-winner Corey Kluber are far more reliable than what the Yankees can start.
Starting pitching should be the difference in this matchup, as Cleveland's odds of handing its bullpen a lead are slightly better at the moment.
Statistics are courtesy of MLB.com unless otherwise noted.
New York City Subway Ads Ripping Knicks Reportedly Will Be Taken Down
Oct 3, 2017
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 01: Fans participate during the Open Practice for the New York Knicks on October 1, 2017 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
New York City subway ads ripping the Knicks, which went viral on Twitter earlier Tuesday, will be taken down.
ESPN's Darren Rovell reported the news. The ads, which were paid for by Fox Sports and not approved by the Knicks, were a two-sided campaign featuring positive and negative slogans about the team.
The negative images were spread around Twitter and widely mocked, understandably because of the Knicks' relative futility in recent seasons.
Joakim Noah and Tim Hardaway Jr. were featured in an ad on the negative side of the train that read "Hopeless." Seats on the train read "nothing will change until Dolan sells the team" and "sit here if you're hopeless."
Adam Zagoriaof ZagsBlog reported Knicks owner James Dolan is "furious" over the campaign, which was set to run four weeks on a train that went into Times Square.
The positive side featured Michael Beasley, Kristaps Porzingis and others with more"hopeful"slogans.
The Knicks are widely expected to miss the postseason for the fifth straight year in 2017-18.
MLB Playoffs 2017: Live Stream, TV Schedule for AL, NL Wild Card Bracket
Oct 3, 2017
New York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Severino winds up during the first inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays in New York, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
October has finally arrived, but the 2017 MLB playoffs could end in a flash for two teams after the Wild Card Round.
Anything can happen in a one-game playoff, which makes the American League and National League contests must-watch television. Each game will also feature an ace that could give the home teams an even greater advantage to move onto the divisional round.
How can you watch these showdowns? Check out the television and live-stream schedules for the sudden-death round.
AL Wild Card Viewing Guide
Matchup: Minnesota Twins at New York Yankees
When: Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. ET
Television: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN and MLB.tv
NL Wild Card Viewing Guide
Matchup: Colorado Rockies at Arizona Diamondbacks
When: Wednesday, Oct. 4 at 8 p.m. ET
Television: TBS
Live Stream: Watch TBS and MLB.tv
Twins at Yankees Preview
It is not a secret that the Yankees' youth movement is legit.
Between the historic season from Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez's emergence as arguably the best hitting catcher in baseball, New York took what looked like a rebuilding year and turned it into a postseason berth. Perhaps the biggest surprise of 2017 was Luis Severino's transformation into an ace.
The 23-year-old was a disaster last season, going 3-8 with a 5.83 ERA in a year that saw him demoted to Triple-A and later reduced to a bullpen role upon his return to New York. This season, Severino became one of the most electric arms in baseball, posting a 14-6 record, 2.98 ERA and 230 strikeouts in 31 starts.
As a result, Severino will get the start Tuesday, and he's been among MLB's best shutdown pitchers this year. Even though the New York Post's Dan Martin noted that Severino has never pitched in a playoff game of any kind in his life, his play this season shows his stuff is perfect to keep his team in contention in a one-game setting, per ESPN Stats and Info:
That is bad news for the Twins, who will trot out veteran Ervin Santana to keep their season afloat. Santana has been a solid top-of-the-rotation guy for the bulk of his career, but the Yankees have not been kind to him. In 20 starts, Santana is 6-10 with a 5.66 ERA against New York.
Still, Santana does not seem fazed by his poor history with the Yankees, as WFAN 660's Sweeny Murti relayed Monday:
#Twins Ervin Santana, when told he has 0 wins (6.43 ERA) in six career starts at Yankee Stadium:
This New York team is certainly capable of making him pay for a bad outing as it ranks second in MLB with 858 runs scored on the year. The long ball is where the Yankees can create the most havoc since they led the league with 241.
Making matters worse is the strength of the Yankees bullpen. Loaded with elite arms like Dellin Betances, Aroldis Chapman and David Robertson, New York's relievers ranked third in MLB with a 3.34 unit ERA. This takes pressure off of Severino to throw more than six innings since the Yankees can turn to the bullpen at any time down the stretch Tuesday.
Relief pitching has been an issue for the Twins, who rank 22nd in that category with a 4.40 ERA.
The signs clearly point to New York as the better team, but anything is possible in a one-game series. Expect a close contest throughout, but look for the Yankees bullpen to be the difference in the late innings.
Rockies at Diamondbacks Preview
Perhaps no team in baseball presents a more challenging top of the order than the Rockies, who have three players with an average over .300 in Nolan Arenado, Charlie Blackmon and D.J. LeMahieu. Arenado and Blackmon each clocked 37 homers on the year, while Mark Reynolds and Trevor Story also hit at least 24 jacks each on the year.
This should make for an excellent matchup with Arizona ace Zack Greinke, who was 17-7 in 2017 with a 3.20 ERA. He did not end the season on the highest note, though, per Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times:
Zack Greinke, Arizona starter in NL wild card game, final 2 starts of regular season (combined): 8 IP, 15 H, 10 R, 4 HR.
Greinke has still shown the ability to turn it on come October as he posted a sparkling 2.38 ERA in his last six postseason starts, per ESPN Stats & Info.
Colorado may need to score to help pick up Jon Gray, a 25-year-old set to make his playoff debut Wednesday. The No. 3 pick in the 2013 MLB draft began to look like a star this season, putting up a 10-4 record and 3.67 ERA in 20 starts, with 15 of those coming after the All-Star break.
Gray is 2-1 against the Diamondbacks on the year, but his two victories came in Arizona. In those wins, Gray conceded 14 hits and four runs in 13 innings. Under normal circumstances, that would be enough support for Colorado's offense, but that may not be the case with Greinke on the opposing hill.
The Diamondbacks boast an all-world player in Paul Goldschmidt, who blasted 36 homers and 120 while hitting .297 this season. J.D. Martinez helps as a stout hitter at the top of the lineup, while leadoff man David Peralta and power hitter Jake Lamb give Arizona a formidable attack.
Arizona's dominant home record gives it an advantage in this game. The Diamondbacks were 52-29 at home on the year, putting them behind only the Los Angeles Dodgers as the best mark in baseball. A Colorado team that relies on the long ball is destined to falter away from Coors Field, which makes the Rockies a volatile team in the postseason.
Throw in that Arizona is starting a more reliable option in Greinke, and the Diamondbacks have to be favored Tuesday. As long as Greinke does not get sloppy with location and allows some bombs, Arizona should advance.
Statistics are courtesy of MLB.com unless otherwise noted.
