WORLD SERIES 🏆

Believe It, Braves!

Photo: Daniel Shirey / Getty Images

Braves Blow Out Astros in Game 6 (7-0) to Win 1st World Series Since 1995

After 26 years and 16 unfulfilled playoff appearances, the Atlanta Braves are once again World Series champs! The Braves steamrolled the Astros in Game 6 (7-0) thanks key home runs and a gem from pitcher Max Fried. Atlanta entered the postseason with the lowest win total of any division winner (88 wins), but they took down the Brewers (3-1), Dodgers (4-2) and Astros (4-2) without facing a Game 7. After losing Ronald Acuna Jr. on July 10, few thought the Braves would be the last club standing. They didn’t clear the .500 mark until August. Now, they’re world champions.

How Game 6 Was Won

Atlanta’s Jorge Soler pushed the launch button on a 464-foot, three-run blast in the third inning off Luis Garcia to start the Braves’ outburst. His homer cleared the train tracks above the left field wall at Minute Maid Park. Two innings later, Dansby Swanson hit a two-run homer. Freddie Freeman added another yard-shot in the 7th for the exclamation point to back an absolute gem from Max Fried.

Fried on Fire (6IP, 4H, 0R, 6Ks)

Atlanta ace Max Fried had the flamethrower working in Game 6. He went six innings and allowed just four hits and zero runs with six strikeouts. The Astros never even threatened to score. Tyler Matzek and Will Smith came on in relief to allow just two hits over the final three frames.

Soler Wins World Series MVP

Soler’s monster blast in the third inning was his third homer of the Fall Classic. All three blasts were go-ahead homers, making him just the sixth player in World Series history with three go-ahead home runs.

History for Atlanta

The Braves’ World Series title marks the fourth in franchise history, but it’s only the second since the team moved to Atlanta in 1966. Manager Brian Snitker joined the team in 2016, and he finally has a World Series title after taking Atlanta to the playoffs each of the last four seasons.

Watch: Braves Win 1st World Series Since 1995

Congrats to the 2021 MLB World Series champions, the Atlanta Braves!

Additional Storylines

MLB: Max Fried Pitches Game 6 Gem After Ankle Scare in 1st Inning

CBS Sports: Jorge Soler Wins World Series MVP After Mammoth Home Run

Yahoo! Sports: ‘It Was All Worth It’: A Baseball Life Reaches a World Series Pinnacle for Brian Snitker

NFL

A Quiet NFL Trade Deadline

Photo: Timothy T. Ludwig / Getty Images

Only 4 Moves Headline Uneventful NFL Trade Deadline Day

The NFL trade deadline came and went, and the the lack of deals was underwhelming. Only four trades were made on the final day, including just two legitimate impact players. No team swung a deal for Texans QB Deshaun Watson. Here’s a recap of the four deals made on the final day.

NFL Trade Deadline Deals

DE Melvin Ingram (PIT) → Chiefs

Steelers Receive: 2022 6th-Round Pick

DL Charles Omenihu (HOU) → 49ers

Texans Receive: 2023 6th-Round Pick

OL Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (KC) → Jets

Chiefs Receive: TE Dan Brown

CB Kary Vincent Jr. (DEN) → Eagles

Broncos Receive: 2022 6th-Round Pick

Additional Storylines

The Ringer: Winners & Losers of the NFL Trade Deadline

CBS Sports: 2021 NFL Trade Deadline Grades for Every Deal

CFB

First CFB Playoff Rankings Revealed

Image via @CFBPlayoff Twitter

College Football Playoff Committee Gives Life to Big Ten & Pac-12, Snubs Cincinnati

The first College Football Playoff rankings were revealed on Tuesday, and a few surprises jumped out in Round 1. Michigan State and Oregon found their way into the current Top-4 picture while No. 2 Cincinnati (AP Poll) sits all the way at No. 6 in the playoff picture. The Bearcats are behind two one-loss teams in Ohio State and Oregon. Meanwhile, it’s Georgia in the driver’s seat. Here’s where they stand after the first of six rankings.

College Football Playoff Rankings

1. Georgia

2. Alabama

3. Michigan State

4. Oregon

5. Ohio State

6. Cincinnati

7. Michigan

8. Oklahoma

9. Wake Forest

10. Notre Dame

*CFP rankings will be revealed every Tuesday

Additional Storylines

FiveThirtyEight: 2021 College Football Predictions

SI: College Football Playoff Championship Betting Futures Breakdown & Odds

SOCCER

Champions League: Matchday 4

Photo: Boris Streubel / Getty Images

Lewandowski (3 Goals) & Dybala (2 Goals) Lead Bayern & Juventus Into Champions League Knockout Stage

Another day on the pitch saw two of Europe’s juggernauts dominate and punch their tickets to the knockout rounds. Bayern Munich and Juventus put up nine combined goals to stay undefeated through four matches. Robert Lewandowski netted a hat trick for Bayern while Paulo Dybala led the way with a pair of strikes for Juventus. They’re the first two clubs to lock down spots in the knockout stage with two matches to play. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo’s brace saved two points for Manchester United. Here are all the highlights and today’s schedule for Matchday 4.

Matchday 4 Highlights

Chelsea def. Malmo (1-0)

Wolfsburg def. RB Salzburg (2-1)

Villareal def. Young Boys (2-0)

Juventus def. Zenit (4-2)

Bayern def. Benfica (5-2)

Lille def. Sevilla (2-1)

Barcelona def. Dynamo Kyiv (1-0)

Man. United draw Atalanta (2-2)

Today’s Schedule

Real Madrid vs. Shakhtar Donetsk (1:45 pm ET)

AC Milan vs. FC Porto (1:45 pm ET)

Sporting vs. Besiktas (4:00 pm ET)

Liverpool vs. Atletico Madrid (4:00 pm ET)

Dortmund vs. Ajax (4:00 pm ET)

Sheriff vs. Inter (4:00 pm ET)

Man. City vs. Club Brugge (4:00 pm ET)

RB Leipzig vs. PSG (4:00 pm ET)

Additional Storylines

Yahoo! Sports: Juventus, Bayern Turn On Style, Barcelona Gets Relief

EuroSport: Magical Lewandowski Nets Brilliant Hat-Trick as Bayern Ease Into Knockouts

🎥 THE HIGHLIGHTS

🏀 NBA: Heat Stay Hot With 5th Straight Win

The Miami Heat took down the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night (125-110) to claim their fifth straight win and notch their first 6-1 start since the 2012-2013 season. The Heat had four 20-point scorers — Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Kyle Lowry and Tyler Herro.

🏒 NHL: Jets Extend Point Streak to 7

Make it seven straight on the point streak for the Winnipeg Jets after a 4-3 shootout win against the Stars on Tuesday. Mark Scheifele tallied the winning goal of the shootout, and the Jets are 5-0-2 after starting the season 0-2-0.

THE STORYLINES

🏈 NFL Power Rankings

The Matthew Stafford-Cooper Kupp Connection is ridiculous. Plus, A.J. Brown has arrived just in time for the Titans, Justin Fields finally showed some promise, and Mike White breathed life into the Jets… (The Ringer)

⚽️ The Battle of the Leagues

It's time for our managers to pit their teams representing the Premier League, LaLiga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1, Eredivisie, Major League Soccer and Liga MX against each other for global supremacy in ESPN's Battle of the Leagues. (ESPN)

🐴 Previewing the Breeders’ Cup

It’s tempting this week in advance of the Breeders Cup on Friday and Saturday at Del Mar to announce in a stentorian voice that racing is once again presenting a signature event while “in crisis.” (NBC Sports)