Welcome to Staten News, where the Bronx is down 1-0, the Giants are 3-1, and the Jets are still the Jets.
⚾ The Bronx Ran Into a Wall in Tampa
Drew Rasmussen took a no-hitter into the eighth inning on Saturday. The Yankees didn't get a hit until there were two outs in the eighth. They lost 1-0.
Rasmussen struck out 10, walked two, and retired 15 straight at one point. Austin Wells finally broke it up with a double down the right-field line, then got thrown out trying for third on a relay from Victor Mesa Jr. to Taylor Walls to Junior Caminero. Bryan Baker closed it with a perfect ninth, striking out Giancarlo Stanton and freezing Ben Rice on a changeup.
The only run came from Jonathan Aranda, a solo homer off Gerrit Cole in the third. Cole was fine. Fine doesn't win 1-0 games in October.
This is the same lineup that dropped 18 runs on Boston in two days. Ben Rice hit a grand slam and a solo shot and drove in six in the 9-0 Game 1 at Yankee Stadium, while Cam Schlittler threw 6⅓ scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts. Cody Bellinger hit a three-run homer in a six-run sixth to close out the 9-2 clincher. Then the bats went quiet in a dome in Florida.
Game 2 is tonight at 8 p.m. ET at Tropicana Field. Tampa won 98 games this year to the Yankees' 93, and the series shifts to the Bronx for Game 3 on Wednesday. Lose tonight and the Yankees fly home needing three straight.
⚾ The Rest of the Bracket
White Sox 3, Guardians 0 in ALDS Game 1. Game 2 is today at 5 p.m. ET in Cleveland.
Brewers lead the Padres 2-0 after back-to-back one-run wins, 3-2 and 4-3. Game 3 is Tuesday in San Diego.
Dodgers and Braves are tied 1-1. LA took Game 1 5-3, Atlanta answered 3-2 on Sunday. Games 3 and 4 are Tuesday and Wednesday in Atlanta.
The White Sox are the story nobody priced in. They swept Houston on the road in the Wild Card round, 6-3 and 7-3, for their first playoff series win since the 2005 World Series. Then they shut out Cleveland in Game 1. The South Side is two wins from the ALCS.
🏈 Week 4: Three Teams Left Without a Loss
Kansas City, Minnesota, and San Francisco are all 4-0. They did not get there the same way.
The Chiefs survived Las Vegas 30-27 behind Kenneth Walker III, who ran for 177 yards and two touchdowns. Kirk Cousins threw for 365 yards on the other side and still lost. The Vikings beat Miami 15-10 in a game that looked like it was played in wet cement, with Kyler Murray throwing for 247 yards and zero touchdowns. San Francisco handled Denver 24-14 with Brock Purdy throwing two touchdowns and no picks, and George Kittle took a catch 56 yards to the house.
Five teams are 0-4: Houston, Tennessee, Tampa Bay, Miami, and the Chargers.
🗽 New York Split the Weekend
The Giants beat Arizona 36-24, and the play everyone will remember is Deonte Banks going 98 yards with an interception for a touchdown. Jameis Winston turned it over more than once and the Giants won anyway. They're 3-1.
The Jets lost 23-12 in Chicago to a Bears team starting Tyson Bagent, who threw for a career-high 268 yards. Kyle Monangai ran for 146 and two scores. The Jets are 1-3.
Same city. Very different Octobers coming.
🔥 The Numbers That Moved
CeeDee Lamb caught 17 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown in Dallas' 34-30 win over Houston. Nico Collins answered with 117 yards and two scores, and the Texans are still winless.
Tetairoa McMillan torched Detroit for 14 catches, 192 yards, and two touchdowns as Carolina won 32-26 on Sunday night. Jared Goff threw for 412 and lost.
Drake Maye threw three touchdowns and New England beat Buffalo 29-26.
The Rams held Jalen Hurts to 93 passing yards in a 24-20 win in Philadelphia. Puka Nacua had 125 receiving yards.
Cleveland beat Pittsburgh 27-24 on Thursday night.
🚑 The Injury That Matters
Lamar Jackson sprained his left ankle on the final play of the first half against Tennessee and never came back. He had 222 passing yards and two touchdowns before he left, and Baltimore held on 24-18. He walked out of the stadium in a boot.
Early reports call it day-to-day. Head coach Jesse Minter said the team doesn't know enough yet. The Ravens are 3-1, and that record gets tested fast if Lamar misses time.
📅 The Week Ahead
Tonight: Yankees at Rays, ALDS Game 2, 8 p.m. ET. White Sox at Guardians, Game 2, 5 p.m. ET. Falcons at Saints on Monday Night Football.
Tuesday: Brewers at Padres, NLDS Game 3. Dodgers at Braves, NLDS Game 3.
Wednesday: Rays at Yankees, ALDS Game 3, 8 p.m. ET at Yankee Stadium.
Thursday: Buccaneers at Cowboys, 8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video.
Sunday: NFL Week 5.
Thursday looks like a layup for Dallas. Tampa Bay is 0-4 and the Cowboys just hung 34 on Houston. Keyword: looks.
This is the week the Yankees find out whether Saturday was one great pitcher or a real problem.
— The Bandicoots ⚾🏈