Happy Friday 👋
Thanks to a 9th-inning base knock from Cody Bellinger, Big Blue is heading back to the NLCS for the sixth time in less than a decade. The champs are charged and ready for another shot at the Fall Classic. That and much more in today’s weekend preview edition. The ALCS and NLCS are on the way…
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MLB Dodgers Return to the NLCS 
Photo: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images Betts, Bellinger & Scherzer Save Dodgers in Game 5 Win Over Giants (2-1)
The two best teams in baseball needed Game 5 to decide a winner in the NLDS, and it wasn’t void of 9th-inning drama. The Dodgers advanced with a 2-1 win over the Giants thanks to Mookie Betts’ 4-for-4 night, Cody Bellinger’s RBI single in the 9th inning, and Max Scherzer’s first career save. The final strike was a controversial check swing, but it was the team in Blue popping champagne on the road in San Francisco. Here’s how the drama played out:
Dodgers-Giants (Game 5 Ending) Both teams scored their only runs in the 6th inning before entering the final frame. That’s when Cody Bellinger punched a line-drive, RBI single to plate Justin Turner for the go-ahead run. It ended up being Bellinger’s third career go-ahead hit in a winner-take-all playoff game. In the bottom of the 9th, Max Scherzer took the mound and struck out the final two batters to record his first career save. San Francisco’s Wilmer Flores was called for his third strike on a check swing that, upon review, shouldn’t have been called. Too little, too late. The Dodgers are moving on.
NLCS Look-Ahead Dodgers head to the NLCS for the sixth time in the last nine seasons. They’ll face the Braves for the NL pennant this weekend.
Watch: Dodgers Edge Giants (2-1) in Game 5 of NLDS
Additional Storylines MLB: Dodgers Prevail Over Giants in Epic Game 5 Thriller DraftKings: Dodgers-Giants Game 5 Ends on Questionable Check Swing Call by Wilmer Flores
NFL Bucs Hold Off Eagles On TNF 
Photo: Mitchell Leff / Getty Images Thursday Night Football: Bucs Survive Late Eagles Rally (28-22) to Win 3rd Straight
What looked like a Thursday night Bucs blowout turned into a late charge by the Eagles, but Tom Brady and company iced it with a clock-killing drive in the fourth quarter. Brady wasn’t as dominant as he’s been the past few weeks, but he carved up the Eagles to the tune of a 28-7 lead before Philly’s rally. Bucs RB Leonard Fournette was the star of the game — finding the end zone twice — while WR Antonio Brown was a pass-catching magnet for Brady. The Bucs (5-1) have now won three straight in pursuit of their Super Bowl defense. The Eagles (2-4), on the other hand are still in rebuild mode.
Top Performers QB T. Brady (TB): 34/42, 297 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT RB L. Fournette (TB): 28 touches, 127 total yards, 2 TDs WR A. Brown (TB): 9 receptions, 93 yards, 1 TD
Watch: Bucs Stave Off Eagles Rally on TNF (28-22)
Additional Storylines USA Today: Fournette, Brady Keep Bucs 1 Step Ahead of Eagles on TNF Yahoo! Sports: Taunting Penalty Dooms Eagles’ Comeback Against Bucs
NHL Kraken Get First Win 
Photo: John Russell / Getty Images Kraken def. Predators (4-3) Behind Brandon Tanev’s 2-Goal Performance
A new era has officially begun in Seattle! The newly-released Kraken took the ice for the second time on Thursday and claimed the first win in franchise history — a 4-3 win over the Predators. Brandon Tanev netted two goals for the Kraken. Jared McCann and Alex Wennberg each added a goal and an assist, and the newest addition to the NHL family has its first official ‘W’.
Watch: Seattle Kraken Get First Win in Franchise History
Other NHL Scores & Highlights Kings def. Golden Knights (6-2) Senators def. Maple Leafs (3-2) Panthers def. Penguins (5-4, OT) Hurricanes def. Islanders (6-3) Blue Jackets def. Coyotes (8-2) Lightning def. Red Wings (7-6, OT)
Additional Storylines The Athletic: Tyler Bertuzzi Scores 4 Goals for Red Wings, But Lightning Survive in OT SportsNet: Blue Jackets, Merzlikins Honor Kivlenieks With Dominant Win Over Coyotes
THE STORYLINES 🏀 Ranking Every Team in College Basketball (1-68) The 2021-22 college basketball season is going to provide us with unique freshman talent, a re-emergence of blueblood powerhouses, the best parade of big men the sport's seen in a decade, a Gonzaga team that's good enough to finish what last year's group couldn’t, and the send-off season of Mike Krzyzewski. (CBS Sports)
🏈 The NFL Week 6 Injury Report Some of the injured players, like Russell Wilson, could be out for a while, while others, such as Saquon Barkley, might be back sooner, only at a lower level of production. Here's the lowdown on five key injuries, with expected time missed, as well as impact on production when the players return. (FOX Sports)
🏒 Stanley Cup Predictions for the 2021-2022 Season The Colorado Avalanche have not gotten past the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs since the 2001-02 season, but they will win the Stanley Cup this season, according to a panel of NHL.com writers and editors. (NHL)
📰 THE HEADLINES Cardinals Fire Manager Mike Schildt After 3 Seasons (CBS Sports)
Ottawa Senators Sign Forward Brady Tkachuk to 7-Year, $57.5 Million Deal (ESPN)
Browns Reportedly Could Move On From WR Odell Beckham Jr. in 2022 (Bleacher Report)
Longtime Athletics Broadcaster Ray Fosse Dies After Battle With Cancer (Yahoo! Sports)
🗓️ WEEKEND SCHEDULE The Must-Watch List The ALCS and NLCS get things started as October rolls closer to the World Series. There’s a long list of enticing Week 6 matchups in the NFL, and the WNBA Finals could have a champion by Sunday night. We’ll run it back on Monday morning!
MLB Playoffs ALCS Gm 1: Red Sox at Astros (Fri. 8:00 pm) ALCS Gm 2: Red Sox at Astros (Sat. 4:00 pm) NLCS Gm 1: Dodgers at Braves (Sat. 8:00 pm) NLCS Gm 2: Dodgers at Braves (Sun. 7:30 pm)
NFL Week 6 (Sunday) Packers at Bears (1:00 pm) Chargers at Ravens (1:00 pm) Cardinals at Browns (4:05 pm) Raiders at Broncos (4:25 pm) Cowboys at Patriots (4:25 pm) Seahawks at Steelers (8:20 pm)
College Football (Saturday) #12 Oklahoma State at #25 Texas (Noon) #20 Florida at LSU (Noon) #11 Kentucky at #1 Georgia (3:30 pm) #5 Alabama at Mississippi State (7:00 pm) Full College Football Schedule
WNBA Finals Gm 3: Mercury at Sky (Fri. 9:00 pm) Gm 4: Mercury at Sky (Sun. 3:00 pm)
NHL
*All Times Eastern
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