Sunday, Sunday, Sunday

09/15/2021

By: Jeff Yoder

Good Morning,

A slow news day in the sports world brought little in the way of headlines, but we’ve got our own headline… We’re unveiling an exciting new addition to The Sportsletter’s publishing process (see below).

Letter Rip!

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SUNDAY SPORTS

Meet The Sportsletter’s Sunday newsletter! Starting this week, our team is publishing a new edition on Sunday mornings, complete with Fantasy Football news for Sunday NFL games, Saturday college football scores and weekend headlines and highlights. We’ll also re-introduce The Underdog — our feature section highlighting recent athletes and their achievements.

How To Get The Sunday Sportsletter

It’s simple. Daily Sportsletter readers can simply refer three friends using their Team ID or make a $5 monthly donation to help support our independently operated publication. That’s it! You’ll automatically be added to our Sunday mailing list.

Enjoy!

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MLB

Dodgers Join the Playoff Party

Photo: Harry How / Getty Images

Dodgers Beat Diamondbacks (8-4) to Clinch Playoff Berth for 9th Straight Season

 

The defending champs are heading back to the playoffs! The L.A. Dodgers became the second team to clinch a postseason berth after the Giants secured their spot on Monday. Los Angeles (93-53) still has work left to capture the NL West from San Francisco (95-50). Both teams are currently riding the longest win streaks in the league with the Dodgers winning their fifth straight — an 8-4 win over Arizona thanks to home runs from Max Muncy, Trea Turner and Will Smith. Big Blue is October bound!

 

Watch: Dodgers Top D-Backs to Clinch Playoff Berth

 

MLB Quick-Hitters

 

Yankees Hit 5 Yard Shots: Things are back on track in New York after the Yankees won their second straight game over the Orioles (7-2) thanks to five home runs. Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, Luke Voit, D.J. LeMahieu and Joey Gallo all went yard.

 

Hill’s 11th-Inning Walk-Off: A scoreless night three-hour marathon in Detroit finally ended in dramatic fashion. The Tigers and Brewers went into the 11th at 0-0 before Derek Hill smacked a walk-off double to plate Victor Reyes for the Detroit win (1-0).

 

Roberto Clemente Day: Tuesday was ‘Roberto Clemente Day’ in the majors with legacy tributes throughout the league honoring the former player and humanitarian. Clemente was the first player from Latin America inducted into the Hall of Fame.

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SOCCER

Ronaldo Upstaged in Champions League

Photo: Eurasia Sport Images / Getty Images

Man-U Suffers Stunning Upset to Young Boys (2-1) While Chelsea & Bayern Get Off to Hot Starts

 

The Matchday 1 kickstart to the UEFA Champions League came with one major surprise on Tuesday — a stunning loss for Manchester United at the hands of Young Boys (2-1). Cristiano Ronaldo scored early (13’) to launch what looked like a Man-U rout, but two second-half goals from the underdogs played spoiler. Young Boys’ Theoson Siebatcheu scored the game-winner five minutes into extra time as Ronaldo was upstaged in a shocking loss. Young Boys outshot Man-U 19-2 in a forgettable start to the Champions League for the Red Devils.

 

Watch: Ronaldo & Man-U Upset in Champions League Opener

 

All Champions League Highlights

Sevilla draw RB Salzburg (1-1)

Lille draw FC Wolfsburg (0-0)

Villareal draw Atalanta (2-2)

Dynamo Kyiv draw Benfica (0-0)

Chelsea def. Zenit (1-0)

Juventus def. Malmo (3-0)

Bayern Munich def. Barcelona (3-0)

 

Today’s Schedule (Matchday 1 Continued)

Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Sheriff (12:45 pm ET)

Dortmund vs. Besiktas (12:45 pm ET)

Inter Milan vs. Real Madrid (3:00 pm ET)

FC Porto vs. Atletico Madrid (3:00 pm ET)

PSG vs. Club Brugge (3:00 pm ET)

Milan vs. Liverpool (3:00 pm ET)

Manchester City vs. RB Leipzig (3:00 pm ET)

Ajax vs. Sporting (3:00 pm ET)

 

Additional Storylines

ESPN: Man United Given Reality Check by Young Boys in Champions League Loss

The Guardian: Lewandowski Doubles as Bayern Munich Offer Barcelona Reality Check

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READER POLL 📊

Question of the Day

Which NFL team do you think made the biggest statement in Week 1?

Beat Packers (38-3)

Beat Bears (34-14)

Beat Titans (38-13)

Beat Falcons (32-6)

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THE STORYLINES

🏈  College Football Week 2 Overreactions

After impressive openers, a number of teams were dealt a generous dose of reality in Week 2. That’s why we love college football, a sport in which Iowa State is a College Football Playoff threat one week and still the second-best team in its home state the next. (ESPN)

 

⚽️  The USMNT’s State of Play

As a noted tactics wonk, U.S. men’s national team coach Gregg Berhalter loves to use the term “data points” when explaining how he evaluates individual player performances. Here’s how the USMNT depth chart looks heading into October’s World Cup qualifiers. (FOX Sports)

 

⚾️  Vlad’s Chase for the Triple Crown

Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is having a season for the ages, but he’ll have a hard time catching Shohei Ohtani. The Blue Jays slugger leads the league in hits (171), homers (45), and he’s fourth in RBIs (103). But MVP might not be in reach. (NY Times)

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