This is the third and final October edition of The Lineup, an all-new newsletter recapping many of the most important developments in the world of sports.
MLB Updates
2024 World Series: A Recap of Games One Through Four, by Andrew Caruso
The 2024 World Series kicked off on Oct. 25 between the American League champion New York Yankees and National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers. In this best-of-seven series, the Yankees look to clinch their 28th title and first since 2009, while the Dodgers look for their eighth title. As of Oct. 30, the Dodgers lead the series 3-1.
A pitching duel between Yankees ace Gerrit Cole and Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty highlighted game one. Giancarlo Stanton’s homer in the sixth inning, his fourth consecutive game with a home run, initially gave New York a 2-1 lead, but they would end up losing in extras 6-3 thanks to an iconic tenth-inning walk-off grand slam by Freddie Freeman.
Game two saw Los Angeles take a 2-0 series lead, with rookie starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto allowing only a homer to Juan Soto in the third over six and 1/3 innings in his World Series debut. Home runs by Freeman, Tommy Edman and Teoscar Hernandez powered the Boys in Blue to a 4-2 win. However, Shohei Ohtani’s injury in the seventh inning concerned the Dodger clubhouse headed into an off day on Sunday.
The series shifted to the Bronx for game three, where Ohtani’s return and Freddie Freeman’s homer for the third straight game set the tone for a 4-2 Dodger win, in which Walker Buehler fired five scoreless. However, Aaron Judge’s offensive struggles continued, going 0-3 with a walk and a strikeout as the Yankees looked to mount a comeback.
Freeman homered for the fourth consecutive game on Tuesday night as Los Angeles jumped out to another early 2-0 lead. However, it would become a brand new ballgame shortly thereafter, as Anthony Volpe’s go-ahead grand slam in the third opened the offensive floodgates for the Bombers. Gleyber Torres and Austin Wells both homered late to give the Yankees an 11-4 win, their first of the series.
Regardless of the outcome, this year’s Fall Classic has been filled with action as it remains to be seen who will hoist the Commissioner’s Trophy and be crowned champions for the 2024 season.
Best Performers of the 2024 MLB Postseason, by Jonathan Chernin
The 2024 postseason has featured many signature moments and key players. Some players, expected and unexpected, have stepped up to make massive impacts on how the postseason has played out.
Tommy Edman has been an unexpected hero for the Los Angeles Dodgers, batting .339 with a .902 OPS and 13 RBI. He won the NLCS MVP thanks to key moments such as hitting a double to drive in two in game six of the NLCS to give the Dodgers the lead over the Mets, never looking back en route to clinching the pennant.
Giancarlo Stanton has been on a tear since the calendar turned to October. He won the ALCS MVP and hit six home runs in the postseason while putting up a 1.099 OPS. Against the Cleveland Guardians, Stanton did not record a single hit that was not a home run. Stanton has continued his tear against the Dodgers, hitting a go-ahead two-run home run in game one of the World Series.
Mark Vientos of the Mets became a star this postseason. He hit .327 with five home runs, a .998 OPS and 14 RBIs over 13 games. He hit two home runs in game two of the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies and continued to hit for power in the NLCS against the Dodgers, belting three more Home Runs.
On the pitching side of things, Matthew Boyd pitched impressively for the Cleveland Guardians. He posted a 0.77 ERA in 11.2 innings pitched while striking out 14. In the ALCS he held the Yankees to one run over five innings.
Tarik Skubal for the Detroit Tigers pitched 19 total innings between the Wild Card and the ALDS, posting a 2.37 ERA and striking out 20. His best start came in Cleveland, going seven shutout innings and striking out eight batters to help the Tigers even the series at one.
NBA Updates
Opening Week for the Knicks, Nets, Celtics and Sixers, by Sierra Fisher
As the NBA season begins, teams have been trying to find their rhythm with new additions to the roster and maintaining momentum from last season to start on a high note. The Boston Celtics, the reigning NBA World Champions, started hot with a win against the New York Knicks (132-109) and have continued to remain undefeated throughout the early season games. New York is still adjusting to their off-season roster changes, trading Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to the Wolves in exchange for Karl-Anthony Towns, changing the team’s dynamic for this season. The Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers have been struggling in the opening games, with the 76ers losing three straight games and the Nets losing the first two games.
All four of these Eastern Conference teams have different expectations for the season, some more than others based on the outcome of the 2023-24 season. The Celtics look to defend their title as they return their full starting five, and have not let up in any games since the opening week. The Celtics tied the record for most three-point shots made in a game with 29 and set a franchise record in the making.
Nets Forward Cameron Johnson scored 32 points in their opening game against the Hawks, and another 35 in their second game against the Magic. Despite Johnson’s efforts, the team fell short in both games and started their 2024-25 season with a losing record. A similar trend has been seen in the 76ers, who have been without superstar center Joel Embiid to start the season. Despite the drama around Embiid’s absence, forwards Kenyon Martin Jr. and Kelly Oubre Jr.’s contributions to the Sixers have been important, putting up a combined 47 points in their first game, and another 45 in their second, yet still falling short of a win in both games. Martin Jr. has been a great addition so far to the 76ers starting five, but struggles to find their team’s identity and cohesiveness to win games has led to early season troubles.
NBA Eastern Conference Preview, by Michael De Jesus
With the Larry O’Brien trophy awarded to the Boston Celtics, the Eastern Conference is more competitive than ever, with multiple teams making significant offseason moves to challenge the reigning champions.
The Celtics retained their depth, bringing back much of their championship roster while extending guard Payton Pritchard, guard Derrick White and forward Jayson Tatum to a five-year, $315 million contract. With coach Joe Mazzulla at the helm, the team aims to replicate the success of the 2024 season, ending a 16-year drought with their 19th championship banner.
Meanwhile, the New York Knicks, under President Leon Rose, executed a roster overhaul, solidifying their position as Eastern Conference contenders. They re-signed O.G. Anunoby to a five-year, $212 million contract as a defensive anchor and traded five first-round picks for Mikal Bridges, hoping to capitalize on his chemistry with former Villanova teammates Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. Additionally, the Knicks sent Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota for four-time All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns, aiming to challenge big men such as Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid and Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Philadelphia also made substantial changes, signing Paul George to a four-year, $211 million contract. Teaming George with former MVP Joel Embiid could provide the firepower needed to contend, but health is a primary concern.
The Eastern Conference added top draft picks such as Zaccharie Risacher, Alex Sarr, and Ron Holland, creating new talent for Atlanta, Washington, and Detroit. With young talent rising and competitive playoff experience from teams like Orlando, Indiana, and Cleveland, the Eastern Conference promises intense battles in the coming season.
NBA Western Conference Preview, by Nate Shoemaker
Stars such as Shai Gilgeous Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Anthony Edwards and Luka Doncic load the Western Conference with talent. How will the standings shake up after 82 games?
The teams toward the top should stay the same. The Oklahoma City Thunder’s signing of Isaiah Hartenstein makes them an even better team after finishing in first place last year, and as long Denver has their duo of Jamal Murray and Jokic, They will be competing for a top spot in the West. The Dallas Mavericks won the Western Conference finals in 2024 and will look to climb back toward the top in the West with their new signing of Klay Thompson.
The Timberwolves have an opportunity to be one of the top three seeds but there are questions about how Julias Randle and Donte Divencizio will fit in after the Wolves traded Karl Anthony Towns to New York. The Lakers and Suns both signed new head coaches, JJ Redick and Mike Budenholzer, respectively. Their established veterans Lebron James and Kevin Durant will look to get out of the play-in this year.
The Warriors don’t know who they’re going to start around Steph Curry and the Clippers may be without Kawhi Leonard for longer than they think. One question that excites NBA fans the most is how will Victor Wembanyama play in year two after a spectacular rookie year. Though San Antonio appears to be a few years away from competing, Wembanyama makes the Spurs an enticing team to monitor this season. The West is very competitive this year, and stars on nearly every team, anything could happen.
Preseason NBA Contract Extensions, by William Rosen
Throughout the offseason of 2024, the money just kept on coming for players who were due for a contract extension. This was headlined by, Jayson Tatum who signed a 5-year, $315 million supermax deal with a player option in the fifth year with the defending champion Celtics. Tatum is a perennial NBA MVP candidate; locking up his prime with the C’s will guide them to the top of the east every year, especially with last year’s singing of Jaylen Brown to a similar deal last year. It’s not only the two superstars locked up for Brad Stevens, they said “let’s do it”, and signed Derrick White to a four-year, $125.9 million contract. With Tatum, Brown, White, and Porzinigs locked up, TD Garden will be rocking for the upcoming future.
Throughout speculation of a trade for the entirety of the offseason from Utah, none of which came to fruition when Lauri Markeneen signed a four-year, $195.8 million contract to stay with the Jazz. The Jazz keep their superstar, but don’t be surprised if in two years, the PF finds his way onto another team; but for now, Utah will build through some strong rookies and Lauri.
Jamal Murray averaged 21.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 6.5 assists in 2023-24, which landed him a four-year, $208 million maximum deal with The Nuggets. The question remains for Denver: will paying Murray, Jokic, and Porter Jr. work out for them, as they struggle to garner bench depth?
The Proccess has been processed for The 76ers; Joel Embiid will be staying in Philadelphia for three years, getting $64 million across those three years. It is not just Embiid who got the money for the 76ers, Blitzer and Co. will be handing out a 5-year, $204M to Tyrese Maxey. Maxey has shown that he is already a top-5 point guard in the NBA. The CBA works in his favor!
Jalen Brunson, the Knicks’ pride and joy, locked up a team-friendly deal, helping Leon Rose continue to build around the All-NBA guard. Brunson signed a 4-year, $156 million contract this summer. Alongside OG Anunoby’s five-year, $212.5 million contract extension with the New York Knicks in June 2024, this team is paying out the big bucks, in hopes of their first Larry O’ since ‘73.
Countless others signed extensions, but that’s the lineup for ‘The Lineup’.
NFL Updates
NFL Midseason Review, by Quinn DiFiore
The Chiefs have appeared to lack their usual firepower, and yet they remain undefeated sitting atop the AFC. Patrick Mahomes has thrown more interceptions, than touchdown passes so far this season, but the Chiefs’ strong defense has propelled them to a 7-0 start. Also near the top of the standings, the Pittsburgh Steelers have shocked many as they lead the AFC North with a 6-2 record despite a rotating QB room between Russell Wilson and Justin Fields.
The stellar defense up in Denver has led them to a 5-3 record, helping quiet some doubters of the Broncos’ 12th overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, Bo Nix. In the past five games, Nix has tossed eight touchdowns, while only throwing one interception.
A couple of disappointing teams in the AFC feature the Dolphins, who’ve struggled without Tua Tagovailoa for the last couple of weeks, as well as the Jets, who despite having a very talented roster, have struggled mightily in the AFC with a 2-6 record.
The NFC is the opposite, littered with surprises everywhere. In first place, sit the 6-1 Lions who seem practically unstoppable. The rest of the North features all four teams with a winning record. The Packers hold a surprising 6-2 record despite missing Jordan Love for a few weeks, the Vikings defense has dominated everyone in their path and the Bears present a sneakily good defense of their own. The Washington Commanders have jumped out a 6-2 record as Jayden Daniels has been looking like the steal of the draft.
Some teams that haven’t lived up to expectations are the 49ers who have been decimated by injuries all year, and the Dallas Cowboys who seem to overpay any superstar that shows any interest, consequently struggling to acquire any depth. The collection of injuries defensively has shown this lack of depth as the Cowboys have disappointed with a 3-4 record.
Where the Jets, Giants, Eagles and Patriots Stand, by Tommy Jacobellis, Stefan Duncan and Dan Aulbach
Philadelphia Eagles
Through eight weeks of play, the Philadelphia Eagles stand at 5-2, holding second place in the NFC East and the seventh seed in the NFC. With that being said, it is easy to conclude that the former juggernaut of a team is not where they want to be. The Eagles lost one of their biggest assets on offense this past offseason when longtime Center Jason Kelce announced his retirement after the 2023-24 season. However, the Eagles snagged arguably one of the most biggest signings of the offseason when they acquired star running back Saquon Barkley from a conference rival, the New York Giants. The Eagles have had a rough start to their season, losing both of their star receivers AJ Brown, who missed three weeks due to a lingering hamstring injury, and DeVonta Smith who sat a game following a concussion. The Eagles went 1-2 while missing Brown and Smith and with a tough schedule ahead, the Eagles need to stay healthy and start stacking wins to make another run for the Lombardi this postseason.
– Stefan Duncan
New York Jets
It has been an interesting two years it has been for the New York Jets, starting with the blockbuster trade for star quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who tore his Achilles in the first game of the 2023-24 season. The team then proceeded to go a disappointing 7-10. However, many fans of the team and the NFL had high hopes for this year’s squad with a healthy Rodgers at the helm. The Jets, with the addition of Rodgers, currently sit at 2-6. For many reasons, this slow start is disappointing. Some may blame this on former head coach Robert Saleh, who was fired in week five, four years into his coaching stint with the Jets. However, with their weapons, the Jets are held to a higher standard and have severely underperformed. During week seven, New York made a trade that many people believed would end worries for the Jets. The player traded for was Raiders star Wide Reciever and former Rodgers teammate Davante Adams. Adams caught 69 touchdowns from Rodgers in the eight seasons played with Rodgers in Green Bay. So far, in their first two games together, Adams has tallied 84 yards on seven receptions and no touchdowns. This has the fans questioning whether or not the problem was coaching or just the personnel all along. Although, anything is possible, and the Jets have the star power and depth to recover from what has occurred, with nine games left in their controversial 2024-25 season it is looking like another lost year in New York.
– Stefan Duncan
New England Patriots
After what felt like an accidental win against the Jets last weekend, the New England Patriots are officially not in last place in the AFC East. To add to the weirdness of former linebacker Jerod Mayo’s debut season at the helm, pass rusher Josh Uche got dealt to the Kansas City Chiefs for a measly sixth-round pick next year.
“(The Chiefs) didn’t give up anything in my mind… Josh Uche’s a really good rusher. He hasn’t had a chance to rush much this year for the Patriots because they’ve been behind a lot…” said former head coach Bill Belichick on the Pat McAfee show after the deal was made official.
Besides noticeably tanking, Drake Maye was limited in practice today due to a concussion he sustained on a helmet-to-helmet hit against the Jets on Sunday. When healthy, Maye has put up respectable numbers thus far, highlighted by his performance in the loss against the Jaguars in London (273 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, no turnovers).
Besides Maye, there is not much buzz around the Patriots roster, who will have the most amount of cap space entering the 2025 season. There is not a clear goal around Mayo’s first year of coaching other than developing their prized draft pick despite not having many talented skill players around him. The defense is a whole other story, allowing on average 31.7 points in the last three games. Without Matt Judon (Atlanta Falcons), Uche, Jabril Peppers (arrested) and a weak offensive line, the roster construction has stuck out like a sore thumb. They play the Tennesee Titans-currently 1-6– this Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
– Dan Aulbach
With the latest loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football, the Giants have now dropped to a 2-6 record. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before; for the 7th time in 8 years, the once-feared G-Men are starting a season with a 2-6 record or worse. There were slightly higher expectations going into this season with the big acquisition of star defender Brian Burns, and there was some optimism in North Jersey—but that has quickly faded. Burns has impacted the defense, as the Giants lead the league in sacks and are allowing an average of 21 points per game, but that’s not enough to make up for their dreadful offense. With Daniel Jones quarterbacking this offense once again, they rank second-to-last in the league in points scored and touchdowns per game. The offensive line looked improved to start the season, but with the recent injury to left tackle Andrew Thomas, the position has once again become a revolving door, with players rotating in and out. A few bright spots have been the flashes of first-round pick Malik Nabers and fellow rookie running back Tyrone Tracy Jr., but it hasn’t been nearly enough. So, once again, Giants fans are shifting their focus to the college level, creating their mock drafts in hopes of success next season.
– Tommy Jacobellis
Jason Myers Recap, by Jake Zappala
On both Oct. 20 and 27, against the Atlanta Falcons and Buffalo Bills, respectively, Jason Myers of the Seattle Seahawks was sensational, finishing back-to-back games with field goal percentages of 100%. When facing off with Atlanta, the 33-year-old placekicker kicked four extra points after four different six-point scores. The former Marist kicker in his tenth year of the NFL also went two for two on field goals to score Seattle six more points, his longest being from 59 yards and perfect through the uprights. The Seahawks went on to win the game, walloping a strong Falcons team 34-14.
Following the trip to Atlanta, the Seahawks returned to Seattle to face the Buffalo Bills on a messy Sunday afternoon as rain and wind hit the playing field hard. The Seahawks found themselves overmatched and unable to find the same offensive spark that was evident against Atlanta. Jason Myers was perfect once again. Myers had one-and-one, a field goal and an extra point. He scored both, his field goal being from 38 yards. The 4-4 Seattle Seahawks are home once again next week, facing off against divisional foe, 3-4 Los Angeles Rams as Seattle looks to bounce back and secure a divisional win.
College Football Updates
CFB Midseason Review, by Finn Doolin
We have hit the midseason for College Football and it has been outstanding! From the upset of Vanderbilt defeating Alabama to Northern Illinois forcing Notre Dame’s lone loss of the season, this season has already produced countless memorable moments
This season introduced a new College Football Playoff format, allowing many schools to play in the CFP that would otherwise be long shots to make it. This will provide a playoff format that will give the top 12 programs a chance to go to the National Championship. While the top four schools will get a be straight to the quarterfinals, this new bracket will allow for some Cinderella stories, essentially building more hunger for teams to deliver big wins to their fan bases.
Right now, Oregon is the number one team in the nation as per the new AP Poll ranking. The Ducks have an elite program and appeared in two national championships, but have left fans disappointed and titleless.
There is also a team sneaking up on them who have won the CFP two times in the past four years, the Georgia Bulldogs. The Bulldogs have looked like menaces after their loss to Alabama.
This weekend we will see third-ranked Penn State clash with fourth-ranked Ohio State, which could shake everything up in the NCAA rankings when ESPN’s College Gameday appears in Happy Valley. Whoever wins this game will not only stay in the top four but could leap to a top two spot depending on other results.
Heisman Watch, by Finn Morrison
The Heisman Trophy goes to the best college football player of the year; countless amazing players have won this trophy such as Barry Sanders, Reggie Bush, Cam Newton and Lamar Jackson. So, who is going to win the Heisman Trophy this year?
The favorite to take it home this season right now is Boise State’s running back, Ashton Jeanty. Ashton Jeanty, who is now being referred to as “Micheal Myers” for his bizarre starting stance is leading the nation in Heisman odds. Through five games Jeanty has run for over 1300 yards and 19 total touchdowns. He’s almost averaging 200 yards per game, which is almost unheard of. Jeanty has a chance to beat Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing yards of 2,628 rushing yards.
On the other side of the ball, kind of, is cornerback and wide receiver Travis Hunter. Hunter currently has 60 catches for 757 yards and eight touchdowns. On the other side of the ball, Travis Hunter has racked up 13 solo tackles, seven pass deflections and two interceptions.
Two other names jumping up the leaderboard recently are Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillion Gabriel and Miami Hurricanes Cam Ward. Gabriel currently has passed for 2,371 yards, 18 touchdowns to five interceptions. Ward on the other hand has thrown for 2,746 yards, 24 touchdowns to five interceptions.
NHL Updates
Frozen Frenzy, by Rowan Potter
On Oct. 22, a rare occurrence happened in the NHL. A ‘Frozen Frenzy’ took place, where all 32 teams were in action on a single day. All of the games were available on ESPN/ESPN+, and the start times for the games were staggered by 15 minutes so that viewers had continuous coverage throughout the evening.
Some of the premier matchups were the Carolina Hurricanes traveling to Edmonton to take on the Oilers, the Minnesota Wild taking on the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, and the Los Angeles Kings facing off against the Las Vegas Golden Knights. Carolina would edge past Edmonton in a 3-2 overtime win, with Sebastian Aho bagging the winner. Minnesota handled Florida easily, beating them 5-1, and Vegas pummeled the Kings, beating them 6-1.
Recapping the rest of the West Coast games, the San Jose Sharks fell to the Anaheim Ducks by a score of 3-1, The Calgary Flames secured the extra point against the Pittsburgh Penguins, outlasting them in a 4-3 shootout win, and the Ottawa Senators rolled into Utah, and shut them down 4-0. The Colorado Avalanche outlasted the Seattle Kraken in a 3-2 win, with star player Nathan Mackinnon scoring the winner.
Pivoting over to the tri-state area teams, the New York Rangers traveled north of the border to face the Montreal Canadiens. They dismantled the Habs putting up a massive seven goals in their rout. The New York Islanders lost to the Detroit Red Wings, as Patrick Kane’s goal would be the difference, in a 1-0 win. The New Jersey Devils got walloped by the Tampa Bay Lightning in a 13-goal shootout, losing 8-5. The Buffalo Sabres topped the contending Dallas Stars, winning 4-2. The scorching-hot Washington Capitals picked up another win on the road against the Philadelphia Flyers, winning 4-2. The Columbus Blue Jackets got blown out by the Toronto Maples Leafs by a score of 6-2. To cap things off, the Boston Bruins got shut out by Juuse Saros and the Nashville Predators, by a score of 4-0.
Edited by Ben Leeds
Graphic by Jaylen Rizzo
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