The Wild Wild East
09/16/2021By: Jeff Yoder
Good Morning,
The MLB playoff push is getting wild, and the AL East knows better than most. Plus, Week 2 in the NFL returns tonight with an NFC East showdown between the Giants and Washington (8:20 pm ET).
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MLB
The Wild, Wild East
Photo: Rob Carr / Getty Images
Yankees, Red Sox & Blue Jays All Win on Wednesday to Tighten AL East Race
As the MLB regular season enters the final stretch, one division is stealing the headlines. The Yankees staged a 9th-inning comeback for their third straight win on Wednesday while the Red Sox plated six in the 10th inning of a thriller in Seattle. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays got back on the track, and the entire AL East is still anybody’s guess. Here are yesterday’s highlights and the division picture heading into the final two weeks of the season.
AL East Highlights
AL East Standings
Rays (90-56)
Yankees (82-64)
Blue Jays (82-64)
Red Sox (83-65)
MLB Quick-Hitters
A Robbery to Remember: Gary Sanchez thought he had a home run before Orioles’ 5-foot-8 OF Cedric Mullins climbed the ladder for one of the best home run rob jobs of the 2021 season.
Julio Urias Wins No. 18: One day after the Dodgers clinched a playoff spot, pitcher Julio Urias claimed his league-leading 18th win of the season in a 5-3 victory against Arizona.
Ray’s Cy Young Bid: Blue Jays pitcher Robbie Ray added to his Cy Young resume with a 13-strikeout performance Wednesday against the Rays.
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SOCCER
Champions League Royalty Rises
Photo: Matt McNulty / Getty Images
Manchester City, Liverpool, Dortmund & Real Madrid Take Care of Business in Matchday 1
The first round of six group stage matches in the UEFA Champions League is in the books, and the powerhouse clubs shined on Wednesday. The defending champs from Manchester City tallied a whopping six goals in a blasting of RB Leipzig (6-3). Lionel Messi made his UCL debut for PSG, but they played to a draw with Club Brugge. Other titans like Liverpool, Dortmund and Real Madrid were key winners. Here’s the wrap from Matchday 1:
Champions League Highlights
Sheriff def. Shakhtar Donetsk (2-0)
Real Madrid def. Inter Milan (1-0)
Atletico Madrid draw Porto (0-0)
Manchester City def. RB Leipzig (6-3)
Matchday 2: Tuesday & Wednesday (Sept. 28 & 29)
Additional Storylines
ESPN: Polarizing Alexander-Arnold Gives Liverpool More Good Than Bad
FOX Sports: Lionel Messi Held in First PSG Start of Champions League
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NFL
A Big Loss for Big ‘D’
Photo: Icon Sportswire / Getty Images
Cowboys DE DeMarcus Lawrence Suffers Broken Foot in Practice
The mid-week injury report keeps growing after all of the Week 1 action ended. Cowboys’ defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence suffered a broken foot in Wednesday’s practice and will miss at least 6-8 weeks, leaving a devastating blow to an already questionable defense. Dallas didn’t record a sack in last week’s loss to the Buccaneers, and they’ll also be without their second-best pass rusher, Randy Gregory, after a positive COVID-19 test.
The Loss of Lawrence
One of the Cowboys’ biggest defensive weapons, Lawrence is a two-time pro bowler with 45.5 career sacks. Former 2017 3rd-round pick Tarell Basham will get the start in Sunday’s game against the Chargers.
NFL Week 2 (Thursday Night Football)
Giants at Washington (8:20 pm ET)
Additional Storylines
Dallas Morning News: Cowboys Dealt Another Blow After DeMarcus Lawrence Fractures Foot
The Ringer: Week 1 NFL Panic Meter: How Much Should Each Team Be Worried?
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READER POLL 
Question of the Day: Results
Yesterday we asked: Which NFL team do you think made the biggest statement in Week 1?
More than half of the team thinks the Saints made the biggest statement with Sunday’s 38-3 win over the Packers behind QB Jameis Winston’s 5 TDs.
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THE STORYLINES
️ 10 MLB Players Under the Most Pressure
Every player feels pressure in September, but some feel more than others… Here are 10 players feeling heightened pressure as the regular season winds down. (CBS Sports)
Week 1 QB Ratings for All 32 Teams
The NFL is back for the 2021 season, and Week 1 quarterback play brought a mixed bag of exactly what you would have expected and wild surprises. (ESPN)
The Best John Wall Landing Spots
The Houston Rockets are reportedly on the hunt for a new team for former All-Star point guard John Wall. (Bleacher Report)
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THE HEADLINES
Christian Yelich Giving Away 10,000 Tickets to Brewers Fans for Cardinals Series
(CBS Sports)
WADA to Review Cannabis Ban After Sha’Carri Richardson Olympics Scandal
(Yahoo! Sports)
Simone Biles Blasts FBI Failures of Larry Nassar Case During Testimony at Senate Panel
(USA Today)
Urban Meyer Says ‘No Chance’ He’d Leave Jaguars for USC Coaching Job
(ESPN)
Giants RB Saquon Barkley Questionable for Thursday Night Football
(Bleacher Report)
Eight New Orleans Saints Staff & Players Test Positive for COVID-19, Including WR Michael Thomas
(NBC Sports)
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