- Alex Bregman crushed three homers and drove in seven as the Cubs roughed up the Nationals — a career day that’s perfect for a “did-you-see-that?” conversation starter.
- The Padres swept the Brewers in extras, their fifth straight win, and grabbed sole possession of the second NL wild-card spot — suddenly the playoff race feels very live.
- Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani both homered for the Dodgers, helping L.A. close the gap atop the NL and giving fans more reasons to talk about the team’s late-season surge.
The news, distilled into what matters.
- 2026 playoffs run Sept. 29–Oct. 31 (Wild Card Series begins Sept. 29; World Series starts Oct. 23, with a possible Game 7 on Oct. 31).
- 12-team format (six per league): the two highest-seeded division winners get first-round byes; the other four teams in each league play two best-of-three Wild Card Series.
- TV coverage: Wild Card on NBC; ALDS/ALCS on TBS; NLDS/NLCS on FOX and FS1; every World Series game on FOX (streaming via FOX One/FOX Sports app).
- Postseason begins Tuesday, Sept. 29 (Wild Card), with the World Series starting Friday, Oct. 23 on FOX (Game 7, if needed, slated for Oct. 31).
- Games air across FOX/FS1, NBC and TBS — FOX games stream on FOX One (and FOX Sports apps with a provider), NBC games on Peacock, TBS availability depends on your package.
- Twelve teams qualify (top two division winners in each league get first‑round byes; Wild Card is best‑of‑three at the higher seed) — plus Blake Snell’s strong return has the Dodgers among the favorites, a fun betting/talking point.
- Jayden Daniels' attorney sent LSU a cease-and-desist after sophomore DB DJ Pickett switched to No. 5, with Daniels' family saying they feel "deeply disappointed" and disrespected that his number was given to another player.
- Coach Lane Kiffin says Pickett was promised No. 5 when recruited and the number isn't retired — LSU risks a legal fight if it continues using Daniels' name/image without permission.
- Daniels is a former LSU Heisman winner and the No. 2 pick who earned 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year honors with Washington, which helps explain why his likeness and number are so tied to his legacy.
- Portland Timbers host Club Tijuana at Providence Park Thursday, kickoff 10:30 p.m. ET.
- Portland is 1-1 and Tijuana 0-2 — each team's final Phase One match, with advancement on the line.
- It's their first-ever meeting; top MLS and Liga MX teams advance to the quarterfinals, and the top three finishers qualify for the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup.
- Poland says it foiled a Russian plot to assassinate a Ukrainian‑American in Warsaw — described as the first Russian‑ordered attempt on an American in NATO territory.
- Authorities arrested a suspect allegedly recruited by Russian secret services on Aug. 7.
- Poland carried out the operation with U.S. intelligence cooperation; officials say the intended victim was a U.S. citizen of Ukrainian origin.
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