And then a hero comes along

The GIST: From the downing of a dynasty to unlikely clutch performances, postseason baseball remains full of surprises. One half of the World Series matchup is officially set, and the other half could be decided by the end of the weekend. Step right up.

🍺💙 Milwaukee Brewers sweep LA Dodgers, reach first World Series: David defeats Goliath. The Brewers finally turned their regular-season prowess into postseason success, eliminating the Dodgers with last night’s come-from-behind 6–4 Game 4 win. And while Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani busted out of his slump, blasting his first homer since August 18th, it was too little, too late for LA.

• While Milwaukee awaits their opponent (more on that below), a moment for the two-time defending champs. The Dodgers competed in five of the last eight World Series, an era of dominance defined by a willingness to spend big on their squad.

• All of that success has led some to argue for a salary cap, the issue at the center of ongoing CBA negotiations between MLB and the players. Does the Dodgers being bounced automatically assuage lockout fears? No, but it certainly doesn’t hurt.

🛡️🌴 Cleveland Guardians take 2-1 series lead over Tampa Bay Rays: Guardians outfielder Petey Halpin had just four career home runs entering yesterday’s Game 3, but October is all about unlikely heroes. Halpin blasted a two-run shot in the fifth inning, lifting Cleveland to a 3–2 win yesterday. Rumor has it his bat is still flipping.

• Now, the Guards have two more home games — tonight at 6 p.m. ET and tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET — to try and advance to their first World Series since 2016. Tampa Bay won’t go quietly, but they’ll need more from their superstars to keep this best-of-seven series alive.

The GIST: There are just three weeks to go in the NWSL regular season and six of eight playoff spots still to be claimed. With so much still up in the air, let’s narrow in on tomorrow’s tilts, featuring eight teams still firmly in contention. Every inch matters in these very tight standings.

🦇 No. 1 Gotham FC vs. 👻 No. 3 Washington Spirit — Tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. ET: These squads have played five times in the last 18 months, with Gotham holding the Spirit scoreless each meeting. That said, a win or tie sends Washington to the playoffs, so expect Trinity Rodman and Co. to be hungry for the back of the net.

⚡ No. 5 Kansas City Current vs. 👑 No. 4 Utah Royals — Tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. ET: A win for either team opens up a path to clinching a playoff berth this weekend. KC enters with more momentum, and a Current dub would help them leapfrog the Royals in the standings and steal their first-round home field advantage. Spicy.

🌊 No. 2 San Diego Wave vs. 🦁 No. 8 North Carolina Courage — Tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET — Golden Boot leader Ashley Sanchez’s Courage are clinging to the final postseason berth like a barnacle to a ship. Meanwhile, the Wave already punched their playoff ticket, but three points would keep them in the hunt for the top seed. Considering SD’s four-game win streak, they won’t take their boot off the gas.

🪽 No. 6 Angel City FC vs. 🏔️ No. 10 Denver Summit — Tomorrow at 8:45 p.m. ET: A Denver loss would all but extinguish the expansion team’s playoff hopes, so they’ll be relying on captain Lindsey Heaps and defender Janine Sonis, who’s having the best season of her life, to keep the dream alive. Not the best time to be playing Angel City, a squad that hasn’t lost since August and could jump into the top four with a W.

🏖️ Surf, sand, and slam dunks? Count us in. Battle 4 Atlantis is back, bringing college basketball to the tropics — and you can score 20% off your stay.

A preview of your itinerary:

• 🏀 Rep your school across the women’s and men’s tournaments November 24th to 27th.

• 🌴 Take your post-game celly to Atlantis Bahamas’ white-sand beach, 141-acre water park, aquarium, pickleball court, beachside restaurant… the list goes on.

Book your stay at the Atlantis Paradise Island now and take 20% off the best available rate. Easy buckets.

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