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Archives for October 2024

SNF: Big Game for SF v. DAL

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SANTA CLARA – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Dallas Cowboys come off their bye week desperately in need of a victory while traveling to face a San Francisco 49ers team dealing with a litany of injuries to their skill position personnel.

One of the NFC’s oldest rivalries closes out Sunday’s action in Week 8 of the NFL’s regular season.

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ODDS AND TRENDS
The 49ers (3-4) are consensus 5.0-point favorites at home. That includes at BetRivers, where the 49ers have drawn 64 percent of the spread-line money, while the Cowboys (3-3) have been backed by 53 percent of the total bets.

Dallas’ +180 moneyline has been popular, attracting 61 percent of the money, although the 49ers have garnered 46 percent of the total bets at -225.

The Over/Under total points line has hovered around 47.5 and 48.0 at most books. At BetRivers, the Under has been backed by big wagers with     82 percent of the total money, although 70 percent of the total bets have supported to Over.

SERIES HISTORY
San Francisco has won the past three meetings, including playoff victories to end Dallas’ 2021 and 2022 seasons. Last season’s meeting was one-sided as the 49ers clobbered the Cowboys 42-10 behind four touchdown passes from Brock Purdy, three to George Kittle.

That beatdown might not have been as bad as the one Dallas (3-3) just experienced — a 47-9 loss to the Detroit Lions before the team’s much-needed bye.

THE NEWS
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott had a message for his teammates before they all took time off for last week’s bye.

INJURY REPORT
What the Cowboys could really use is seeing star linebacker Micah Parsons (ankle) and cornerback DaRon Bland (foot) on the field. But they’re both out again Sunday night, and Bland’s replacement in the starting lineup in 2024, Caelen Carson, is questionable with a shoulder injury.

Parsons will miss his third straight game. Bland has yet to play this season.

Cowboys starting linebacker Eric Kendricks (shoulder) is also listed as questionable.

The 49ers are battling a slew of injuries and lost star wideout Brandon Aiyuk to a season-ending right knee injury during last Sunday’s 28-18 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Wideout Deebo Samuel (pneumonia/wrist) played just a few snaps and was later hospitalized and released on Tuesday. Though he sat out Wednesday’s practice, San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said Samuel might play, but he’s listed as questionable, the same designated the 49ers gave Kittle (foot).

Receiver Jauan Jennings (hip/groin) missed the Kansas City game, was unable to practice all week and is out along with kicker Jake Moody (ankle).

Of course, McCaffrey (Achilles) remains on injured reserve and hasn’t played a down this season.

THEY SAID IT
–“I think we’ve gotta go into these games and say, ‘We’ve gotta step on somebody’s neck. It’s just the simple things: being disciplined, can’t kill each other on red-zone trips. Can’t kill each other on third downs.” –Parsons

–“The guys in the building are really talented, so we have to figure that out. It’s on our vets to pull them along, whether they’re ready or not. … (The injuries) impact you to an extent but you have to have the three-foot mindset and just attack what’s in front of you.” –Kittle

PREDICTION
The Cowboys’ three wins have all come on the road, although the first two came against Cleveland and the New York Giants. Dallas did also secure a solid win at Pittsburgh before getting blown out at home by Detroit. The 49ers due enter the game with a concerning amount of injuries to key personnel, but this is an equally critical game for San Francisco and Dallas simply hasn’t played well against quality teams. –49ers 26, Cowboys 23

–Field Level Media

 

World Series: LA Dodgers Thwart NY Yankees, Lead 2-Games-to-None

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LOS ANGELES – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – LA’s Yoshinobu Yamamoto gave up one hit into the seventh inning, Teoscar Hernandez and Freddie Freeman hit back-to-back home runs and the Los Angeles Dodgers delivered a 4-2 victory over the visiting New York Yankees on Saturday to take a 2-0 World Series lead.

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Tommy Edman also hit a home run, while Yamamoto (2-0) allowed one run and two walks with four strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings, helping the Dodgers move two wins away from their first World Series title since 2020 and their first after a full regular season since 1988.

Dodgers right-hander Blake Treinen gave up an RBI single in the ninth to Giancarlo Stanton and departed with two outs and the bases loaded. Left-hander Alex Vesia entered and got pinch hitter Jose Trevino to fly out to center field for his first save of the postseason.

The lone area of concern for the Dodgers came when designated hitter Shohei Ohtani left the field with a trainer at the end of the seventh inning with an apparent left arm injury after an unsuccessful stolen-base attempt at second base.

Juan Soto hit a home run for the Yankees, while left-hander Carlos Rodon (1-2) gave up four runs on six hits, including three home runs, over 3 1/3 innings.

The series shifts to New York for the next three contests, starting with Game 3 on Monday. Game 4 is Tuesday and Game 5, if necessary, is Wednesday.

The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when the switch-hitting Edman hit a home run into the left field corner against Rodon while batting from the left side. It was his second home run of the postseason to go along with 13 RBIs for the National League Championship Series MVP.

Soto tied it 1-1 in the third with a blast into the right field corner against Yamamoto, his fourth of the postseason.

The Dodgers moved in front 3-1 in the bottom of the third on a two-run home run from Hernandez, his third of these playoffs, while Freeman followed with a drive to right field in nearly the same spot he hit his grand slam that ended Game 1.

It was just the 19th time a team has hit back-to-back home runs in the World Series with the only other occurrence by the Dodgers coming in Game 5 in 1981 against the Yankees by Pedro Guerrero and Steve Yeager.

The Yankees had just one hit heading into the ninth when Soto singled off the right field wall and scored on a single off the third base bag by Stanton. Jazz Chisholm Jr. singled and Anthony Rizzo was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Treinen struck out Anthony Volpe before Vesia got the last out on his first pitch.

–Field Level Media

PGA Tour: Echavarria Takes the ZOZO

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CHIBA – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Nico Echavarria birdied two of his final three holes on Sunday to record a one-stroke victory at the Zozo Championship in Japan.

Echavarria, a 30-year-old Colombian who played at the University of Arkansas, finished 3-under-par-67 on Sunday and set a tournament-record 20-under 260 at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club. He bested Tiger Woods’ total of 261 set in 2019.

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“It’s incredible to win a tournament that Tiger’s won,” Echavarria said. “This is my second victory, so I just need 80 more victories to catch him. I’m on my way, though.”

Echavarria, who also won the 2023 Puerto Rico Open, edged Max Greyserman (65 on Sunday) and Justin Thomas (66) by one stroke. Echavarria pocketed $1.53 million for winning the 78-player, no-cut tournament and is projected to move to No. 65 in the FedExCup standings after beginning the week at No. 113.

“It’s surreal,” he said. “It’s been a good year for me, I just haven’t had that top result. I’ve been very consistent, I’ve learned a lot this year. To finish the year this way is, it’s incredible, especially doing it here in Japan in such an amazing country.”

Echavarria collected five birdies against two bogeys during his final round. He reached the par-5 18th in two strokes, pulled within 3 feet on his next putt before winning the tournament on his final stroke.

Thomas, who joined Greyserman in pocketing $748,000 for his T2 finish, recorded his fourth birdie of the day on the 18th hole to cap his bogey-free round. He fell just short of recording his 16th career title on the PGA Tour and the first one since winning the 2022 PGA Championship.

“Obviously bummed and disappointed, but I played so well,” Thomas said. “I played plenty well enough to win the tournament. Hit so many good putts today that just didn’t go in, that’s the difference.”

Greyserman, who was seeking his first PGA Tour title, carded four of his five birdies on the front nine. Despite strong putting, he finished as a runner-up for the third time in his past five events.

“You know, I didn’t quite execute down the stretch when I needed to,” Greyserman said. “I mean, Nico stepped up there and he hit a great second shot (on 18). He earned it.”

Rickie Fowler shot a bogey-free 64 to finish in fourth place at 17-under, while Kurt Kitayama (65) ended up in fifth at 15-under. Their finishes put four Americans in the top five.

–Field Level Media

WNBA: Sides Pitched by the Fever

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INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Fever fired head coach Christie Sides on Sunday after a 20-20 season that ended in the first round of the WNBA playoffs.

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“We are incredibly thankful to Coach Sides for embracing the challenge of leading us through an integral transition period over the last two seasons, while also positioning us well for future growth,” said Kelly Krauskopf, the team’s president of basketball operations, in a statement.

Sides is the sixth WNBA coach to be fired since the end of the regular season. The Atlanta Dream, Chicago Sky, Dallas Wings, Los Angeles Sparks and Washington Mystics also are looking for new head coaches.

The Fever could be looking to turn back the clock to 2016.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported Wednesday that the Fever were one of three teams Connecticut Sun coach Stephanie White could lead in 2025. While she is under contract through the 2025 season, per the report, the Sun could choose to make her available to other teams.

The Sun, Fever and Sky are rumored as teams she could coach next season.

White was the head coach of the Fever in 2015 and ’16, with the first team losing to the Minnesota Lynx in five games in the WNBA finals. She owns a 92-56 career record in the regular season and 13-13 mark in the playoffs over four seasons with the Fever and Sun.

White, 47, previously spent four seasons as an assistant coach and five as a player with the Fever. She starred in college at Purdue.

–Field Level Media

Oregon Remains No. 1

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INDIANAPOLIS – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The top four teams in the Associated Press Top 25 held their spots in the latest poll, released Sunday, and were joined by three new teams.

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Oregon (8-0) received 61 of the 62 first-place votes to remain at No. 1, followed by Georgia (6-1), which received the other vote. They were followed by Penn State (7-0), Ohio State (6-1) and Miami (8-0), which jumped a spot to round out the top five.

Texas (7-1), which rebuffed a stiff challenge from Vanderbilt Saturday, dropped a spot to No. 6, with Tennessee (6-1) staying at No. 7.

New to the top 10 this week are Notre Dame (7-1), which jumped four spots to No. 8; BYU (8-0), up from No. 9; and Texas A&M, No. 14 last week and one of four Southeastern Conference programs in the group.

Idle Clemson (6-1) fell out of the top 10 and landed at No. 11, followed by Iowa State (7-0), Indiana (8-0), Alabama (6-2) and Boise State (6-1), up two places to No. 15.

Taking the biggest plunge was LSU (6-2), which fell eight rungs to No. 16 after being trounced by Texas A&M 38-23. Missouri and Illinois, both 6-2, each dropped four places after losses. Illinois is No. 24, one spot ahead of Missouri.

Leaving the poll this week were the two teams at the bottom of the poll last week: No. 24 Navy and No. 25 Vanderbilt. Navy (6-1) was manhandled by Notre Dame, 51-14, while Vanderbilt gave Texas all it could handle as the Commodores lost 27-24.

Entering the Top 25 were No. 22 Washington State (7-1) and No. 23 Colorado (6-2).

The full AP Top 25 poll after Week 9:
1. Oregon
2. Georgia
3. Penn State
4. Ohio State
5. Miami
6. Texas
7. Tennessee
8. Notre Dame
9. BYU
10. Texas A&M
11. Clemson
11. Iowa State
13. Indiana
14. Alabama
15. Boise State
16. LSU
17. Kansas State
18. Pittsburgh
19. Ole Miss
20. SMU
21. Army
22. Washington State
23. Colorado
24. Illinois
25. Missouri

–Field Level Media

NFL Thursday Night Football Preview

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LOS ANGELES – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Los Angeles Rams host Minnesota on Thursday night seeking consecutive victories for the first time this season, while the Vikings try to rebound from their first loss of the campaign. Los Angeles (2-4) snapped a two-game losing streak by beating the visiting Las Vegas Raiders 20-15 last weekend. Meanwhile, Minnesota (5-1) dropped a back-and-forth 31-29 affair to division rival Detroit on a field goal with 15 seconds remaining.

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ODDS AND TRENDS
The Vikings are about a field goal favorite on the road by most sportsbooks.

The line is 3.0 points at BetRivers, where the Vikings have been backed by one-sided action with 79 percent of the spread-line money and a lopsided 93 percent on their -150 moneyline.

The public jury is certainly still out on Minnesota. After suffering their first loss of the season in Week 7, the Vikings have received only 4 percent of the total money wagered on the NFC championship at DraftKings, where they’re being offered at +650 to reach the Super Bowl. That’s the same percentage that have backed the Rams as +5000 long shots.

The Over/Under for Thursday night’s game is 48 total points at BetRivers, with the Over backed by 65 percent of the money.

PROP PICKS
–Cooper Kupp Over 6.5 Receptions (-130 at DraftKings): This has been the most popular player prop at DraftKings with Kupp expected to play for the first time since Week 2. Kupp had 14 receptions on 21 targets for 110 yards and a touchdown in the season opener, and had hauled in four catches on six targets before leaving the Week 2 loss to Arizona.

–Justin Jefferson Anytime TD (-143 at BetRivers): Jefferson reaching the end zone on Thursday night has drawn the most total money (1.5 percent) and bets (4.5 percent) of any player prop at the book. He has a touchdown in all but one game thus far, two weeks ago against the Jets in a game where Jefferson was targeted 14 times.

INJURY REPORT
Both teams are hoping to get key playmakers back for this contest.

For the Rams, Kupp is expected to play. Kupp participated in full at practice on Tuesday and Wednesday, while fellow receiver Puka Nacua was limited both days due to a knee injury after having his 21-day practice window opened up. Still, NFL Network reported Thursday the Rams are “optimistic” Nacua is ready to play, which would require a decision to activate Nacua off injured reserve.

Defensive end Braden Fiske (back) was limited Wednesday and linebacker Troy Reeder (hamstring) has been ruled out.

This week could also mark the return of tight end T.J. Hockenson for the Vikings. The veteran has been sidelined since late last season, when he tore the ACL and MCL in his right knee.

Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said it was “very much a possibility” that Hockenson could return against the Rams, although his workload could be limited. He was limited in practice this week and listed as questionable on Wednesday.

“It’s early,” O’Connell said as the Vikings returned to practice this week. “We’ll make that determination as these next couple of days (go by). As we put together game plans, we want to have a good feel for that.”

Hockenson caught 95 passes for 960 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games (11 starts) for Minnesota last season. His return would give quarterback Sam Darnold another top target in the passing game alongside Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.

Aaron Jones also said he felt good to play on short rest despite a hip injury that has nagged him for a couple of weeks. Jones racked up 116 total yards (93 rushing, 23 receiving) and a touchdown against Detroit.

“No problems out of it,” Jones said. “I’ll continue to stay on top of it on my end and do everything to check the boxes so I don’t end up back in that situation (with the injury).”

Linebacker Blake Cashman missed the Vikings’ practice this week because of a toe issue and has been declared out against the Rams. Hockenson and Jones were among those limited on Tuesday, although Jones was a full participant on Wednesday.

SCUFFLING RAMS NEED STAR WRs
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford will look to improve upon his 83.6 passer rating against a physical Vikings defense. Stafford has thrown for 1,392 yards and three touchdowns, with four interceptions this season.

Kyren Williams is the Rams’ biggest threat on offense. He has rushed for 436 yards and eight touchdowns in six games (all starts).

Tutu Atwell leads the team’s receiving unit with 23 catches for 332 yards. Demarcus Robinson, Kupp and Williams each have a receiving touchdown.

THEY SAID IT
“I’m aware of it, but at the end of the day, I mean, I’m going to be where my feet are. That’s all I know. I have a job to do here. And I take a lot of pride in giving everything I can for the guys in this building and being able to step on the field knowing that I prepared the best that I can.” — Kupp on rumors he could be traded ahead of the Nov. 5 deadline.

PREDICTION
This has the feeling of a do-or-die game for the Rams, who could look to trade Kupp and other veterans should they fall further in the NFC West. The Vikings are coming off a loss, but were toe-to-toe with the high-powered Lions. Los Angeles enters with the 26th-ranked defense, which even Kupp’s return can’t mask against a Minnesota offense averaging 333.2 yards per game. — Vikings 27, Rams 23

–Field Level Media

Wizards Focused on Deconstructing?

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WASH DC – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Washington Wizards kick off their 2024-25 season Thursday night with a home game against the Boston Celtics. The Wizards finished last season 15-67 — the worst record in team history — and the rebuild is ongoing.

Washington’s offseason additions include first-round draft picks Alex Sarr (No. 2), Carlton “Bub” Carrington (No. 14) and Kyshawn George (No. 24). The Wizards also added veterans Jonas Valanciunas, former Celtics guard Malcolm Brogdon and Saddiq Bey, although Bey is expected to miss much of the season while he recovers from a torn ACL.

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Brogdon will also miss Thursday’s game because of a torn thumb tendon.

“If we’re really to think about it — the phases of the rebuild — there’s the deconstruction phase. There’s the laying-the-foundation phase. There’s the building it back up, and then there’s fortifying what you build,” Wizards general manager Will Dawkins said during the team’s media day. “We’re still focused on deconstructing and laying that foundation.”

Jordan Poole, who is entering his second season with the Wizards after being acquired from Golden State, is expected to play more point guard this season. Poole’s role as a ball handler increased when Brian Keefe replaced Wes Unseld Jr. as the team’s head coach last January.

“Being able to get into transition, building confidence into my teammates — it’s something I’ve always been able to do, especially with the ball,” Poole said. “Guys are open, just get them the ball and try to put them in situations to be successful.”

Defending NBA champion Boston opened its season Tuesday with a 132-109 victory over the visiting New York Knicks. The Celtics tied an NBA record by making 29 3-pointers in the win.

Al Horford made the 29th 3-pointer with 8:54 to play, but Boston missed its next 13 shots from behind the arc to end the game. Boston tied the record set by the Milwaukee Bucks against the Miami Heat in 2020.

“It’s almost like we got jinxed or something,” Boston’s Jaylen Brown said. “When we were just playing, having fun, playing our style of basketball, everything was going in. And then once the crowd got into it and we started hunting them, we couldn’t even hit the broad side of the barn. Everything was off. We got a bunch of great looks and it was like a lid on the basket.”

Jayson Tatum made eight 3-pointers and finished with a game-high 37 points. Boston also received multiple 3-pointers from Derrick White (six), Brown (five), Jrue Holiday (four), Horford (three) and Sam Hauser (two). Payton Pritchard connected on the other 3-pointer.

“The biggest thing I’m proud of us is the mindset of the guys,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said. “We weren’t stuck in the past. … We were physical on defense and were together on offense. It’s a great start.”

Washington hasn’t won 50 games in a season since 1979, which was the last time the franchise advanced to the NBA Finals.

“This is the best team I’ve been around in terms of chemistry, camaraderie and character since I’ve been in Washington,” Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma said.

–Field Level Media

NYJ at NE: Somebody’s Got to Win

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FOXBOROUGH – (Staff and Wire Service Report) A 1-6 start has New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo questioning his team’s toughness. Mayo believes there still is time to flip the script, though, and New England will have a chance to do just that when it faces the New York Jets on Sunday on the Pats’ home field in Massachusetts.

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After an all-out disaster in London last weekend, the Patriots were called out by Mayo following a 32-16 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, with their first-year coach declaring them a “soft football team across the board.”

More conversations went on behind closed doors between Mayo and his players, and while he wouldn’t share exactly what was said, he is confident that New England will be playing inspired football against the Jets (2-5).

“We’re on to the Jets,” Mayo told reporters on Wednesday. “We’ve had those conversations. I’ve always looked at that as an opportunity to go out there and prove everyone wrong. Once again, going back to a chip on your shoulder, we’ve all had those chips on our shoulders at times that have gotten us through. So, this is no different.

The opening line was reminiscent of a line used by former coach Bill Belichick when the Patriots blew a game in their glory years and were next playing the Bengals at Cincinnati

“Obviously, once again, we are struggling as a team. Our record is what it is. It’s about what we can do to get better.”

New York also is out to turn things around after a 37-15 setback against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week pushed its losing streak to four games. Star wideout Davante Adams, acquired in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders on Oct. 15, was reunited with Jets signal-caller Aaron Rodgers, but he hauled in just three catches for 30 yards.

Mayo doesn’t think Adams will be nearly as quiet in his second game with New York.

“He’s a good player, obviously has a great rapport with the quarterback,” Mayo said of Adams. “I expect him to be more involved, even though he was involved the first game.”

Adams, now in his 11th NFL season, already considers himself a vital piece of the Jets’ offense and is willing to do anything he can to help New York get out of its funk.

“Regardless if I just got here, I’m a leader of this football team,” Adams said. “Whether or not every single person in there sees it that way, that’s how I see it and that’s my responsibility and that’s something I take seriously.”

There is a chance that Rodgers might not be throwing to him on Sunday, as knee and hamstring injuries limited the 40-year-old quarterback during practice on Wednesday.

Cornerback Michael Carter II (back), edge rusher Will McDonald IV (shoulder), linebacker Quincy Williams (neck) and offensive lineman Morgan Moses (knee) also were limited. Wide receiver Allen Lazard (chest) and safeties Tony Adams (hamstring) and Ashtyn Davis (concussion) were among those held out.

Linebacker Anfernee Jennings, who is working through shoulder and knee issues, was one of six Patriots who missed all of practice on Wednesday. Receiver Ja’Lynn Polk remained on the sideline because of a concussion.

New England had another six players who were limited, including safety Kyle Dugger (ankle).

The Jets and Patriots met back in Week 3, when New York cruised to a 24-3 victory ahead of its current four-game skid.

–Field Level Media

PGA Tour: ZOZO Champ in Prime Time

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CHIBA – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The PGA Tour’s fall swing heads to Asia for this week’s Zozo Championship, which begins Thursday at the Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club in Japan.

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The field is highlighted by two Zozo regulars in Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa, along with Japanese superstar Hideki Matsuyama. Our golf experts preview the event and share their favorite prop picks along with best bets to win this week.

ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP
Location: Chiba, Japan, Oct. 24-27
Course: Accordia Golf Narashino CC (Par 70, 7,079 Yards)
Purse: $8.5M (Winner: $1.53M)
Defending Champion: Collin Morikawa
FedEx Cup Champion: Scottie Scheffler

HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Wednesday-Saturday, 11 p.m.-3 a.m. ET (All times Golf Channel)
X: @ZozoChamp

PROP PICKS (not chosen by DSD)
–Doug Ghim to beat Will Zalatoris (-155 at DraftKings): Ghim has been grinding throughout the fall, with a solo second last week the latest in a string of six consecutive made cuts while his world ranking has improved from No. 137 to a career-high No. 93. Meanwhile, Zalatoris has slid to 60th as he makes his first start of the fall. He did follow four consecutive events in which he didn’t reach the weekend with a T12 and T13 in the first two legs of the playoffs.

–Gary Woodland Top 30 Finish (+105 at BetRivers): With the field limited to 72 players, Woodland only needs to beat 42 for this prop to cash. He’s pressing through the fall to earn critical status for signature events next year, and Woodland is coming off a T9 in Las Vegas following a T16 at the Sanderson Farms Championship.

–Rickie Fowler Top 20 Finish (+190 at DraftKings): This is the third fall event for Fowler, who is similarly trying to secure entry into marquee events for 2025. Following solid finishes at Sanderson (T16) and Las Vegas (T23) he arrives in Japan, where Fowler stumbled to a T64 in 2023. He arrives in better form this year and has a particular fondness for playing in Japan, where his maternal grandfather is from.

Dodgers Win, Head to World Series

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LOS ANGELES – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – LA’s Tommy Edman hit a two-run home run and drove in four runs and the Los Angeles Dodgers advanced to the World Series with a 10-5 victory over the New York Mets on Sunday night in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series.

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Will Smith added a two-run home run as the Dodgers earned a Friday night date with the New York Yankees in the Fall Classic, which begins in Los Angeles. It will be the Dodgers’ fourth World Series appearance in the past eight seasons.

In a bullpen game, seven Dodgers pitchers gave up 11 hits and struck out nine. Ben Casparius (1-0) went 1 1/3 innings to earn the win, and Blake Treinen pitched the final two innings for his third save of the playoffs.

Edman had 11 RBIs in six games against the Mets to tie Corey Seager’s franchise record for RBIs in a single NLCS, a mark set in 2020.

Mark Vientos hit a two-run home run for the Mets, while Sean Manaea (2-1) gave up five runs on six hits over two-plus innings. The Mets fell two victories short of a Subway Series after securing a postseason berth on the final day of the regular season and getting past the Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies in the playoffs.

The Mets had an early 1-0 lead after Pete Alonso hit a blooper over the mound for a run-scoring infield single in the first inning.

The Dodgers responded in their half of the first when Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernandez singled before Edman doubled them home for a 2-1 lead.

Los Angeles made it 6-1 in the third inning when Edman hit a two-run home run off Manaea and Smith hit a two-run shot off Phil Maton.

The Mets got within 6-3 in the fourth inning when Vientos greeted right-hander Ryan Brasier with a two-run home run for his fifth long ball of the postseason.

Los Angeles added a run in the sixth inning on Ohtani’s RBI bloop single to center field. The Mets got the run back on a sacrifice fly from Francisco Alvarez. The Dodgers poured it on in the eighth inning with an RBI double from Mookie Betts, a sacrifice fly from Hernandez and an RBI single from Enrique Hernandez.

New York had its chances but left the bases loaded in the third inning, when McNeil struck out, and in the sixth, when Jesse Winker hit a lazy flyout to left. The visitors left 13 runners on base in the game and went 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

–Field Level Media