Happy MLB postseason to all who celebrate. That’s right, the playoffs begin today at 1:08 p.m. ET with 12 of the league’s 30 teams swinging to hoist the World Series trophy. Today’s newsletter has everything you need to know before the first pitch — and to help complete your pro baseball playoff bracket challenge. Play ball.

Even with one WNBA semifinal done and dusted and the other heading for a winner-take-all Game 5, officiating continues to dominate headlines. From the buckets to the blown calls, let’s get into it.

If there’s one thing we know about the NFL, it’s to expect the unexpected — like Bad Bunny performing at this year’s Super Bowl halftime show and the Sunday Night Football showdown between the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers ending in a tie.

Grab your clubs because the fan-favorite Ryder Cup tees off today, a biennial three-day tournament featuring 12 of the best American men’s golfers against Europe’s top 12. Unlike most golf competitions, this one is a team sport, making it a uniquely electric event both players and fans have circled on their calendars months in advance.

Thirty thrilling matches later, the record-breaking stage is set for tomorrow’s 11 a.m. ET Women’s Rugby World Cup championship match between world No. 1 England and No. 2 Canada. An immovable object meeting an unstoppable force? We’re so ready to ruck and roll.

Forget the Jo Bros, this weekend is all about WNBA hoops. Game 3s will grace our screens tonight, followed by a double dose of Game 4s on Sunday. Yes, with both best-of-five series knotted at one, that means the Finals matchup could be set before our next newsletter. Burnin’ up.

The still-chaotic push for the MLB playoffs — and toward our men’s pro baseball bracket challenge — continues ahead of Sunday’s regular-season finale. That said, a different race is grabbing headlines, with Seattle Mariners superstar Cal Raleigh chasing NY Yankees slugger Aaron Judge’s single-season American League (AL) home run record.

World No. 1 England and No. 2 Canada will battle for glory in Saturday’s Women’s Rugby World Cup final, a result of the sheer dominance both squads have shown all tourney long. It’s level on the pitch, but a different story emerges off of it…

There was no shortage of WNBA fireworks yesterday, so let’s start with last night’s on-court Game 2 action with both best-of-five semis now even. The Phoenix Mercury overcame a 20-point deficit, forced overtime, and topped the Minnesota Lynx 89–83, while NaLyssa Smith’s career-high 18 points fueled the Las Vegas Aces’ 90–68 win over the Indiana Fever.

The MLB playoff picture remains chaotic as ever with just five days remaining in the regular season and four spots of 12 still unclaimed. Luckily, there’s no robot needed to make a call on the latest.

Yesterday’s semis Game 1 wasn’t so stellar for the Las Vegas Aces (more on that below), but the day started off strong for the inimitable A’ja Wilson, who won her unprecedented fourth WNBA MVP award. She’s not just raising the bar in the W — this hoops princess is the bar.

The NFL chose chaos this weekend with a whopping seven games decided in the final two and a half minutes of action. Let’s recap a Week 3 slate that saw juggernaut offenses sputter, game-winning kicks thwarted, and upsets reign supreme. Hey, not everyone can be the Indianapolis Colts.