India wicketkeeper thanks Rajat Kumar and Nishu Kumar in first comments since his car crash
ESPNcricinfo staff16-Jan-2023In his first public comment since his car accident on December 30, Rishabh Pant has singled out two individuals, Rajat Kumar & Nishu Kumar, saying he would be “forever grateful and indebted” to them for ensuring he was taken to hospital safely.Pant put out a series of Tweets on Monday evening, saying his “road to recovery had begun” and thanking the BCCI, Jay Shah and government authorities for their “incredible support”.”I am humbled and grateful for all the support and good wishes,” Pant wrote. “I am glad to let you know that my surgery was a success. The road to recovery has begun and I am ready for the challenges ahead.Related
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“I may not have been able to thank everyone individually, but I must acknowledge these two heroes who helped me during my accident and ensured I got to the hospital safely. Rajat Kumar & Nishu Kumar, thank you. I’ll be forever grateful and indebted.”From the bottom of my heart, I also would like to thank all my fans, team-mates, doctors and the physios for your kind words and encouragement. Looking forward to see you all on the field.”
The road ahead for Pant, however, remains uncertain after he had surgery to reconstruct two knee ligaments on January 7, with a third surgery expected after six weeks. He is likely to miss out on most fixtures in 2023, among them the Test series against Australia and the IPL. India are also the hosts of the 2023 ODI World Cup in October-November this year.After his car hit a divider at around 5.30 am on December 30 while he was driving to his hometown of Roorkee in Uttarakhand from Delhi, Pant was initially treated at a local hospital before being taken to the Max Hospital in Dehradun for further treatment. He was then airlifted to Mumbai on January 4 so that his knee could be operated on urgently, and is expected to continue his rehabilitation in the city for a while.
Leeds United came out with a 2-0 win over Queens Park Rangers in the Championship on Saturday to bounce back from their defeat to Millwall.
The Whites had lost 1-0 at The Den on Wednesday night and immediately bounced back to secure all three points at Elland Road at the weekend.
Goals from Jayden Bogle and Joel Piroe either side of half-time were enough to claim the win, with a fifth clean sheet in the last six home games providing the attackers with the platform to go and win the match.
There were a number of players who caught the eye with impressive performances for Daniel Farke’s side in the win over Marti Cifuentes’ men…
Leeds United's top performers against QPR
One star who impressed was the scorer of the opening goal in the game – Bogle. The right-back found the back of the net with a close range volley to make it 1-0 after several players fluffed their lines inside the box.
He also won nine of his 12 ground duels throughout the game to complete five of his seven attempted dribbles and win three tackles for his side, which shows that the full-back made an impact in and out of possession.
Central midfielder Joe Rothwell put in an assured and quality display in the middle of the park, completing 94% of his attempted passes and creating two chances. It was his burst and cross down the left side of the box that eventually created Bogle’s goal.
Central defender Pascal Struijk was also crucial to the clean sheet, winning five of his seven duels without being dribbled past a single time, with a dominant performance at the heart of the defence.
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There was also another impressive showing from Joel Piroe as a substitute for the Whites and Farke appears to have unearthed his own version of Jhon Duran.
Leeds United's own Jhon Duran
The Aston Villa striker has made a name for himself as a super substitute for the Premier League side, with four goals as a substitute in the top flight and one in the Champions League – four of those five goals were also match-winners.
Duran’s most memorable goal, arguably, was his terrific lobbed finish against Bayern Munich to win the match for the Villans in the Champions League at Villa Park.
Piroe came off the bench to score the second goal, to make sure of all three points, against QPR on Saturday and that was his sixth goal as a substitute in 2024, which is the most by any Leeds player in history in a calendar year.
The Whites record-breaker, who was once hailed as “dangerous” by journalist Josh Bunting, has been a reliable source of goals off the bench for Farke this term.
24/25 Championship
Joel Piroe
Appearances
15 (seven starts)
xG
4.11
Goals
6
Assists
2
Goals off the bench
4
Assists off the bench
1
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Piroe has contributed with five direct goal contributions in eight appearances as a substitute for Leeds so far this season.
He has been a fantastic option for the German head coach to call upon in the second half of matches, to provide his team with a big threat in the final third, which has also been the case for Unai Emery with Duran.
Leeds star sold by Christiansen is outscoring Rutter & Summerville in PL
The former Leeds United star has gone on to enjoy a great career in the Premier League.
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Dan Emery
Nov 8, 2024
Whilst Piroe may prefer to start week-in-week-out, using him as an impact substitute appears to be the most effective way for Leeds to make use of his quality right now.
Borussia Dortmund are set to face Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals, and Didi Hamann is causing a stir with his prediction.
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Hamann makes surprise Barca claim
Believes Dortmund will beat Catalans
Criticised Barcelona's 'open' defence
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Former Germany international Hamann, currently working as a TV pundit for , made a bold Champions League quarter-final prediction, backing Borussia Dortmund to beat Barcelona and book a berth in the last four. Dortmund progressed to the quarter-finals after overcoming Lille 3-2 on aggregate. Barca, meanwhile, beat Benfica 4-1 across two legs.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
After securing a hard-fought victory to reach the Champions League quarter-finals with a spirited performance at Lille on Wednesday evening, Borussia Dortmund will now face Europe's top-scoring team, Barcelona, next month. Despite being in 10th place in the Bundesliga, Dortmund are widely regarded as the underdogs against Hansi Flick's men, who are arguably the best team in the world and the bookmaker's favourites to go all the way following Liverpool's elimination against PSG. However, Hamann is not ready to write Dortmund off and predicted a win for the Bundesliga outfit.
WHAT DIDI HAMANN SAID
The former Bayern and Germany international, himself a Champions League winner with Liverpool in 2005, said on Wednesday: "Barcelona are wide open at the back and I don't know if that will hold up in the long run. They score a lot of goals, of course, because they have some incredible players up front, but Dortmund know what it takes, they showed that last year. I think they'll knock Barca out over the course of the two games."
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WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA AND DORTMUND?
The Catalans will turn their attention towards La Liga, where they are currently in first place, level on points with Real Madrid. Flick and Co. have a game in hand, though, and they visit Atletico Madrid on Sunday in what could be a potential title-decider.
Meanwhile, Dortmund will take on sixth-placed RB Leipzig on Saturday as they look to close the gap between them and the top four.
Chelsea legend John Terry has found himself at the centre of social media ridicule after performing a rap with British artist ArrDee at the Baller League UK. The former Blues defender, who lifted 15 trophies with the club, was labelled "cringe" and "embarrassing" by fans following his appearance alongside the rapper during Monday night’s event.
Terry’s rap shocks fans at Baller League
Terry, one of Chelsea’s greatest ever players, made headlines this week after taking part in a musical performance during the Baller League UK, an indoor six-a-side competition that blends football with online entertainment and features content creators alongside former pros.
The 44-year-old, who manages a team named the 26ers, joined ArrDee during the team's entrance for what appeared to be a playful diss track aimed at influencer Angry Ginge. Footage of the pair walking out together and performing quickly spread across social media, with many supporters expressing their disbelief at the sight of their former captain trying his hand at rap.
Terry, who spent his entire 22-year playing career at Stamford Bridge and won the Premier League five times, appeared in good spirits during the performance, but the online reaction was the opposite, with sections of the Chelsea fanbase calling it "painful to watch" and questioning why a club legend would involve himself in such antics.
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Social media reaction: ‘Cringe’, ‘embarrassing’, and ‘tops the slip’
It didn’t take long for the clip to go viral, and fans across were quick to pile in with a mix of humour, disbelief, and second-hand embarrassment.
One user, @saxon_davi67265, wrote: "He's topped his most embarrassing moment in his life of slipping in a Champions League final."
Another, @ONLYONEWEEDA, admitted he felt incredibly uncomfortable watching the scenes unfold. He posted: "Jesus christ that was cringe"
@NikBoReid simply added: "Embarrassing nonsense."
Meanwhile, @jordymaui commented: “What the f*ck is this?", followed by several crying laughing emojis.
And @pusb1991 questioned those who watch the competition in the first place, adding: "Who watches this sh*te genuinely?".
The negative wave of reaction didn’t stop there. On Reddit and other platforms, fans described the moment as "super cringe" and "hard to watch", while others urged Terry to "stick to coaching" instead of pursuing a career in the music industry.
From captain to content creator
While the reaction was mostly mocking, Terry’s involvement in the Baller League reflects his growing interest in football-based entertainment. The competition features former professionals, influencers, and content creators, mixing sport with live performances and plenty of viral moments. Terry has served as one of the Baller League’s headline figures since its launch, managing the 26ers team and making regular appearances in promotional content. His collaboration with ArrDee was clearly meant to be light-hearted, though it appears many fans took it less kindly.
The former England international retired from playing in 2018 before moving into assistant coaching roles at Aston Villa and Leicester City. He’s also been open about his desire to one day manage Chelsea, describing it as his "final dream" in football.
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Terry’s legacy damaged?
Despite the backlash, Terry remains one of Chelsea’s most decorated figures, having made 717 appearances and captained the club to its first Champions League title in 2012. Yet, his off-pitch persona has often divided opinion, from controversial posts on social media to now, an unexpected rap performance.
Some supporters took the criticism in stride, noting that the clip was likely meant to be fun and part of the Baller League’s entertainment approach. Others, though, saw it as another "PR own goal" for a figure who once embodied the club’s old-school toughness.
The contrast between the former captain who lifted trophies under Jose Mourinho and the man rapping in a tracksuit beside ArrDee was too much for many to process. Although it is worth noting that the reaction the clip sparked on social media served its purpose. Terry will have been well aware that purist fans of the game will have picked up on his performance, and while he may face the brunt of the backlash, the moment draws more eyes to the Baller League.
Kraigg Brathwaite, Joshua Da Silva and Kavem Hodge have been excluded in the latest announcement by Cricket West Indies
ESPNcricinfo staff01-Oct-2025Cricket West Indies (CWI) has made three changes to their list of men’s international retainer contracts for 2025-26, with former Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite, Joshua Da Silva and Kavem Hodge missing out. Justin Greaves, Sherfane Rutherford and Jomel Warrican have been added to the 15-player roster in their place.In their list of women’s international retainers, seamers Jannillea Glasgow and Shawnisha Hector have been added to the 13-player roster, while Shamilia Connell, Cherry Ann Fraser, Chedean Nation and Rashada Williams are not part of the list.The core group remains in place. Among the men, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie and Jayden Seales have all been retained, while the women’s list continues to feature Hayley Matthews, Stafanie Taylor, Deandra Dottin and Shemaine Campbelle. The contracts commence from October 1, 2025.Miles Bascombe, CWI’s director of cricket, said that the retainers were given out keeping in mind “current performance and long-term potential, while keeping a close eye on our broader strategy of building towards major global tournaments”. These decisions, he said, aligned with the pathways designed for West Indies’ cricket’s long-term success.Starter (development) contracts were also offered for Jewel Andrew, Jediah Blades, Johann Layne, Jahzara Claxton and Realeanna Grimmond. Additionally, academy contracts were given out to 15 men’s cricketers and 14 women’s cricketers.West Indies – more so in men’s cricket, but also in women’s cricket – are looking to regain their identity after a string of disappointing performances. The women’s team failed to qualify for the ongoing ODI World Cup in India and Sri Lanka although they beat South Africa in a T20I series in June. The men’s team was blanked in the Test series against Australia at home in July – with the 27 all out in the last innings the lowest of lows – and was followed by an “emergency meeting”, but then went down 2-1 to Nepal in a T20I series in late September. They did win an ODI series against Pakistan at home in August but lost the corresponding T20I series.
Dele captured the hearts of the Tottenham Hotspur fanbase during his spell in North London, joining in a bargain £5m transfer from MK Dons in the summer of 2015.
No supporter could’ve imagined the immediate impact he would have on the first-team, racking up 269 appearances – netting 67 goals, with 22 of which coming back in 2016/17.
The Englishman won the PFA Young Player of the Year back-to-back, but his time at the club would come to an abrupt end – falling down the pecking order after scoring 14 times in his final three years at the club.
In an attempt to resurrect his career, he joined Como back in January, but only featured once – for a total of 10 minutes – subsequently departing Cesc Fàbregas’ side during the off-season.
There’s no denying the attacking midfielder failed to live up to the early expectations he once had in his professional career – potentially landing a similar player before the September 1st deadline.
The latest on Spurs’ hunt for a new attacker this summer
Xavi Simons has been a player who has emerged on Spurs’ radar over the last couple of days, with the Lilywhites hierarchy even entering talks with the German side over a £60m transfer.
Chelsea have been said to be leading the race over recent weeks, but Thomas Frank’s side could complete their own hijack for the Dutch international’s signature in the coming days.
However, he’s not the only attacker who’s emerged on their shortlist in recent days, with Manchester United bomb squad member Jadon Sancho a potential option, according to TBR Football.
Journalist Graeme Bailey claims that the Lilywhites have “been offered” a last-minute deal for the Englishman, who looks certain to depart the Red Devils having initially cost them £73m.
It also states Frank’s side are desperate for a left-winger before Monday’s deadline, potentially targeting a move for the 25-year-old, who scored five times on loan at Chelsea in 2024/25.
Why Spurs’ latest target could be Dele 2.0
Had his career continued on the same trajectory, Dele would still have been a key member of the Spurs squad, subsequently entering the prime years of his career.
At 29, he should be thriving in the Premier League, but unfortunately, off-field events have prevented the former England international from kicking on his career.
He spoke openly about his personal life two years ago, allowing the supporters to gain an insight into his struggles – with sympathy undoubtedly being directed the midfielder’s way.
Ultimately, despite his excellent start to his career, it’s safe to say the player never managed to fulfil the potential he burst onto the scene with – something which is also evident with Sancho and his own career.
The winger thrived at Borussia Dortmund, making over 120 appearances for the Bundesliga side, before completing a £72m switch to join Manchester United back in the summer of 2021.
He’s only made 83 appearances for the Red Devils, scoring just 12 times and failing to match the high expectations he arrived at Old Trafford with – leading to his pending departure this summer.
It’s unclear how much a deal for the 25-year-old would cost, but the stats from his loan spell at Stamford Bridge showcase he does still possess top-quality talent, with Frank needing to unlock such talent if he joins the Lilywhites.
Sancho, who’s been labelled “incredible” by Joe Cole, ranked in the 91st percentile for progressive carries (5.1) and 91st percentile for carries into the opposition’s box per 90 (2.9).
Such numbers highlight the threat the former Dortmund star possesses in attacking areas, showcasing his ability to drive forward with the ball at any given opportunity.
Jadon Sancho’s stats for Chelsea in the PL (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)
Tally
Games played
31
Goals & assists
7
Pass accuracy
83%
Progressive passes
4.6
Progressive carries
5.1
Successful take-ons
2.3
Passes into the opposition box
2.5
Take-on success
46%
Carries into the opposition box
2.9
Stats via FBref
He also completed 2.3 take-ons per 90, at a success rate of 46% – further offering Frank’s side an added dimension within the final third for his first campaign in the role.
The winger has also been able to find a teammate consistently, completing 83% of the passes he attempted, subsequently ranking in the 93rd percentile for passes into the opposition box – which could provide those around him with key opportunities in front of goal.
There’s no denying that Sancho won’t be many of the supporters’ first choice between now and the end of the window, but it could be an excellent option if he can recapture his best form.
It’s unclear how much a deal would set the Spurs hierarchy back this summer, but it’s certainly a risk worth taking – with the upside massively outweighing the potential drawbacks.
The new Son: Spurs make last-minute approach to sign "phenomenal" £60m star
Tottenham Hotspur could be about to land a star who could be their next Heung-min Son.
Stats highlights from the Group B match between India and South Africa at the MCG on February 22
Shiva Jayaraman22-Feb-20153:18
Insights: Dhawan’s impressive ODI record overseas
0 World Cup matches won by India against South Africa before this game. This was their first win against them in four matches.130 Runs South Africa lost the match by – the heaviest of their nine defeats while chasing in the World Cup, beating their 83-run loss to Australia in 2007.0 Number of times South Africa have won chasing a target of 300 or more against India in ODIs out of four attempts. Overall, South Africa have a win-loss record of 4-15 in such chases.137 Runs scored by Shikhar Dhawan – the highest individual score against South Africa in a World Cup, beating 134 not out by Stephen Fleming in 2003. Including Dhawan’s there have been only nine hundreds against South Africa in World Cups. This was also Dhawan’s highest score in ODIs. Dhawan had scored 216 runs on this tour in ten innings before the World Cup. He has already scored 210 in two innings in this World Cup.3 Number of India openers to start World Cups with back-to-back fifty-plus scores, including Dhawan. Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly are the others to do it. Ganguly scored 66 and 89 against Bangladesh and Bermuda, respectively, in 2007. Tendulkar had scores of 127*, 70, 90 and 137 in his first-four innings in the 1996 World Cup.85 Runs conceded by Wayne Parnell in this innings – the most by a South African bowler in a World Cup match, beating Shaun Pollock’s 83 runs against Australia in 2007. Parnell’s 85 runs were also the second-highest conceded by a bowler from a Test team against India in World Cups. James Anderson’s 91 in the last World Cup in the tied game are the highest.131.66 Ajinkya Rahane’s strike rate in his innings of 79 – the best by a No. 4 against South Africa in a World Cup innings of 50 or more. This was only the sixth fifty by a No. 4 against South Africa in World Cups.3 Number of century partnerships India’s second wicket has put together against South Africa in four World Cup games. Their last three partnerships have been 127, 125 and 130. Mohammad Azharuddin and Sanjay Manjrekar had added 78 runs in 1992, the lowest in the list.3 Number of times India have had two century partnerships against South Africa in ODIs including this match. Two of them have come in the World Cups. India’s first and second wickets put together century partnerships in the previous World Cup game against South Africa in 2011. Overall, there have been only nine such instances against South Africa, with the last three involving India.5 Centuries by India’s openers in ODIs in Australia including Dhawan’s in this match. Three of them have come at the MCG and two on this tour. Rohit Sharma also got a hundred against the hosts in the recent triangular series.307 India’s total in this match – the second-highest against South Africa in World Cups. Australia had scored a mammoth 377 for 6 against them in the 2007 World Cup, which is the highest.1 Wickets R Ashwin had taken against South Africa in ODIs before the match and had given away 216 runs in bargain. He took 3 for 41 in this game bringing his average down to 64.25 against them. This was only the second instance of an Indian offspinner taking three or more wickets in a World Cup match and both have come against South Africa. Harbhajan Singh took 3 for 53 against them in the previous World Cup.44 for 0 India’s score in the batting Powerplay – only four runs short of the best score by any team against South Africa during the overs 36-40 outside Asia since 2010. Sri Lanka had scored 48 for 0 against them in 2012.6 Number of openers who have been run out for a duck in World Cups, including Rohit Sharma in this match. The last such batsman was Charles Coventry of Zimbabwe against New Zealand in 2011 . Incidentally, of the six openers, three are from Zimbabwe and two from New Zealand.
Fiorentina goalkeeper David de Gea has admitted he feared a 6-0 loss before VAR intervened in his club's dramatic 2-2 draw with Bologna in Serie A. The goalkeeper dismissed pressure as "an excuse" as La Viola remain winless in the relegation zone, relying on two late penalties to salvage a point against their 10-man opponents.
Dramatic comeback salvages point amid protests
Fiorentina's winless start to the 2025-26 campaign looked set to continue in disastrous fashion. Bologna, who remain fifth in the table, established a commanding lead through goals from Santiago Castro in the 25th minute and Nicolo Cambiaghi early in the second half.
The hosts were met with harsh protests from the Franchi crowd as the match unravelled. The turning point arrived when Bologna's Thijs Dallinga appeared to score a third goal, only for VAR to intervene and rule the goal out for an offside against Riccardo Orsolini.
Buoyed by the reprieve, Fiorentina were awarded a penalty, which Albert Gudmundsson converted in the 74th minute. Bologna's task was made more difficult when Emil Holm received a red card in the 83rd minute. Deep into stoppage time, Fiorentina earned a second spot-kick, allowing Moise Kean to secure the equaliser after four minutes of stoppage time.
The statistics reflected a chaotic match. Fiorentina registered 17 total shots, with six on target, while Bologna managed six shots, hitting the target three times. Possession was split evenly at 50-50.
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De Gea admits 6-0 fear after disallowed goal
Speaking to , De Gea confessed the panic that set in after Dallinga's disallowed goal, believing the match was lost.
"After the 3-0, we thought we could lose 6-0, then I don't know why the goal was disallowed, but we gained confidence and almost won," De Gea stated. "The truth is, we could have easily lost, but we played a good last 25 minutes."
The goalkeeper acknowledged the result was ultimately positive given the circumstances. "In the end, though, it's a good point because the game was almost lost, but it's true that we're struggling a bit. We all have to do a little better, and even if it's not easy for the fans, we all have to go in the same direction."
Fiorentina 'can't be afraid' – De Gea
During his post-match press conference, De Gea was adamant that the team's poor mentality is not a valid reason for their position in the table, rejecting the idea that pressure is affecting the squad.
"If we're afraid to play… We're men, we play for Fiorentina: we can't feel the pressure, for me that's an excuse," he said. "We're doing badly on the pitch, some young players may feel the pressure, but this is the time to do better. We're close to getting this victory, I'm sure that when we win we'll start playing better and winning more."
He also addressed the chaotic nature of the match's officiating, stating: "A bit of chaos… Sometimes things go your way, sometimes they don't, it's a bit strange. But this is football today and we have to accept it."
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Goalkeeper highlights Serie A and Conference League disparity
While Fiorentina have performed adequately in the UEFA Conference League, winning both of their games so far to go top of the table, their domestic form is dire. De Gea pointed to the significant gap in quality between the two competitions as a reason for the discrepancy.
"The level of these two teams we faced in the Conference is lower than in Serie A," De Gea explained. "We played well in the Conference, but in the league we're not the same because it's tougher, we play against strong teams. We're struggling a lot and you can feel it in the locker room too: the only solution is to work and fight game after game.
"Certainly no one expected this start to the season. We haven't won yet, and we're struggling. The team isn't performing well, but we have to stay positive.
"As Kean said, we need to believe more among ourselves… We have to believe more than anyone else, raising the bar and winning games. Serie A is tough, but that's football: we have to stay united with the fans, it's very hard for them too, but we have to follow the same path."
There are two playoff spots and several seeds still to be claimed in the National League as the final weekend of the 2024 MLB season approaches.
While we don't know the playoff matchups yet, we do know there is no lack of story lines among the NL contenders. Can Shohei Ohtani do enough to push the Los Angeles Dodgers to the promised land and erase their recent October failures? Will the surprising, youthful Milwaukee Brewers be able to bring their regular-season magic into the playoffs? Is this the year that Manny Machado will have his signature moment in a San Diego Padres uniform?
Those questions, and more, will be answered soon enough.
Last year, the Arizona Diamondbacks cruised through the first two rounds and defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in an exciting NLCS to represent the NL in the 2023 World Series. The 2024 Diamondbacks, who shook off a World Series hangover to start the year, are far from a perfect team, but they're not alone. Every MLB team has a vulnerability somewhere on its roster that could cost it this fall.
After we covered the American League last week, let's dive into each NL contender's biggest weakness.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Current playoff spot: NL West leader Biggest weakness: Starting pitching
There are absolutely no questions about the Dodgers' explosive lineup, which could make up about half of the NL All-Star roster. The bullpen is in good shape, too. But thanks to a flurry of injuries, the Dodgers still have plenty of questions about who is taking the ball in the playoffs.
Two of the Dodgers' starters entering the year—Tyler Glasnow and Gavin Stone—are out for the season. James Paxton now resides in Boston. Clayton Kershaw remains on the injured list with a toe injury and only has seven starts this season. Bobby Miller has been dreadful this year, allowing 36 runs in his last 31 innings pitched.
That leaves Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Jack Flaherty, Walker Buehler and Landon Knack to duke it out for postseason starts. It's not a bad group, it's just not as big of a strength in October as the Dodgers imagined back in spring training, especially with Buehler often looking like a shell of his former himself after returning from Tommy John surgery.
Philadelphia Phillies
Current playoff spot: NL East champion Biggest weakness: Offensive slumps
There's not much to nitpick with the Phillies, who own the most wins (94) in all of baseball.
Philadelphia boasts arguably the best starting rotation of any playoff contender, as Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Christopher Sanchez and Ranger Suarez all have taken care of business this season. The bullpen is nice, too, and the lineup features a couple of the league's biggest sluggers in Bryce Harper (.902 OPS) and Kyle Schwarber (.859).
Can the Phillies sustain this level of play, though? Philadelphia was on pace for a 114-win season back in May before playing sub-.500 ball in July and August. The team has figured it out since then, but offensive slumps have cost them in October the past two years, scoring just three combined runs in Games 6 and 7 of the NLCS last year and three total runs in the final three games of the 2022 World Series.
Milwaukee Brewers
Current playoff spot: NL Central champion Biggest weakness: Starting pitching
The underdog Brewers defied all odds during the regular season, making manager Craig Counsell look foolish for joining the rival Chicago Cubs by winning the NL Central by double-digit games. They'll be underdogs again in the playoffs. But who says this team can't make a memorable run?
The biggest problem with Milwaukee—which was rarely an issue during the Counsell era—is the starting pitching. Freddy Peralta (3.69 ERA in 31 starts) assuredly will get the ball in Game 1. But who starts Game 2? Or Game 3?
Tobias Myers has been a pleasant surprise this season, but he only has 25 career starts under his belt. Colin Rea hasn't logged a quality start in over a month and owns a 4.89 ERA since the All-Star break. Frankie Montas, who arrived from Cincinnati at the trade deadline, is putting up big strikeout numbers but also just surrendered seven earned runs in 2 2/3 innings to Arizona.
Suarez has really struggled in September. / Orlando Ramirez-Imagn Images
San Diego Padres
Current playoff spot: Top NL wild card Biggest weakness: Closer
The Padres, who clinched their third playoff berth in the last five seasons on Tuesday night, are still in the hunt for the NL West title. But if they are going to make a World Series run, they need Robert Suarez to rediscover his early-season form.
Suarez was, without a doubt, one of the best closers in baseball in the first few months of the season. At the All-Star break, Suarez had 22 saves and a 1.67 ERA in 38 appearances. Since then, he has fallen off with a 4.44 ERA and 13 saves in his last 26 games, including a 6.55 ERA in September.
That's not what you want from your closer in the postseason. Manager Mike Shildt could be calling upon Tanner Scott or Jason Adam to take over the ninth-inning duties before long.
New York Mets
Current playoff spot: Second NL wild card Biggest weakness: Postponed games
From a horrendous start, a viral first pitch by McDonald's mascot Grimace and a scorching-hot month of September, the Mets have endured one of the oddest seasons in recent memory. They find themselves in the driver's seat in the final week of the regular season but face more wacky circumstances, as two games with playoff implications against the Atlanta Braves this week were postponed to a Monday doubleheader.
The problem? The MLB playoffs are set to begin Tuesday. If Arizona is still in the mix for a playoff spot after the weekend, the Mets and Braves will have to play the doubleheader at Truist Park, which would put them behind the eight ball for the wild-card series that will begin the following day in either Milwaukee, Los Angeles or San Diego.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Current playoff spot: Third NL wild card Biggest weakness: Bullpen
A.J. Puk has been unbelievable since arriving from Miami at the trade deadline, logging a 0.36 ERA and 14.8 strikeouts per nine innings in 27 appearances for the reigning NL champions. Behind Puk, however, is a heap of trouble in the Diamondbacks' bullpen.
Since Aug. 1, the Diamondbacks' bullpen has the seventh-worse ERA (4.84) in baseball and the worst among playoff contenders. Over the last month, Kevin Ginkel (7.71 ERA), Joe Mantiply (7.27 ERA), Ryan Thompson (7.36 ERA) and Justin Martinez (1.58 WHIP) haven't been reliable as the top high-leverage options available for manager Torey Lovullo. Not to mention former closer Paul Sewald was demoted from the ninth-inning role in August and hasn't been the same since.
Atlanta Braves
Current playoff spot: 0.5 GB of third NL wild card Biggest weakness: Health
It just doesn’t seem like 2024 will be Atlanta's year. It's a testament to the Braves’ depth that they’re even in the postseason mix in the final week of the regular season.
Opening Day starter Spencer Strider going down for the year in April with an elbow injury was just the start of the Braves’ injury woes. Reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. tore his ACL in May, slugging third baseman Austin Riley is out for the rest of the year with a broken hand and setup man A.J. Minter underwent hip surgery last month. Key offensive contributors in Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris II both missed over a month nursing injuries during the season, too.
Are the Braves healthy enough for a deep playoff run?
Christopher Nkunku could mark a sensational return to RB Leipzig as Chelsea remain keen on Xavi Simons. But the Frenchman must accept a hefty pay cut.
Leipzig could make a move for Nkunku
Frenchman keen on leaving Chelsea
Forward must accept 75% pay cut at German side
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WHAT HAPPENED?
RB Leipzig are reportedly seriously considering a sensational return for former star Nkunku, according to . The 27-year-old Frenchman left Leipzig for Chelsea in 2023 for €60 million (£52m/$70m), and although initial rumours seemed unlikely, talks are now gaining traction.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
A potential Nkunku move could serve as a key bargaining chip in Leipzig’s negotiations with Chelsea over Xavi Simons. The Netherlands international has long agreed personal terms with the Premier League side and is pushing for a transfer. However, the Blues must first offload players like Nkunku before making an official offer, as the Bundesliga side remain adamant on their asking price of €70 million (£60m/$82m).
DID YOU KNOW?
The major hurdle remains Nkunku's reported €20m (£17m/$23m) salary in London, double what he earned in Leipzig. With a new internal salary cap of €5m, Leipzig would only consider a deal if the Frenchman agrees a 75 per cent pay cut. Indeed, per , sporting director Marcel Schafer has been informed by the Leipzig hierarchy to reduce the salary budget by 20%.
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WHAT NEXT?
Nkunku was inching closer to a move to Bayern Munich, but the deal is on the verge of a collapse after Chelsea refused to send the forward on loan. The Club World Cup winners value Nkunku — on a contract until 2029 — at €50m (£43m/$58m). The player is also eager to make a permanent switch in order to put an end to his misery at Stamford Bridge. It also remains to be seen what happens to Chelsea's pursuit of Alejandro Garnacho, with Manchester United slapping a £50m ($68m) price tag on the Argentine.