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The MLB postseason is underway, some exciting baseball has already been played and some more is around the corner for the next month or so.

In order to properly enjoy this postseason, there are a few key rule changes to brush up on. MLB postseason rules differ from the regular season rules in two key ways.

Here's how.

What are the extra innings rules in the MLB playoffs?

Unlike in the regular season, where a "ghost runner" is placed on second base at the start of the top of the 10th and in any ensuing extra innings, postseason baseball reverts back to traditional rules. This means that, should any of the playoff games go to extra innings, pitchers will begin the frame with no traffic on the basepaths. While the pitch clock (more on that in a moment) will still shorten the game time, the lack of an automatic runner in extra innings could lead to some slightly longer games—and managers having to go deeper into their bullpens.

How many challenges do managers get in the MLB playoffs?

Unlike in the regular season, where managers only receive one challenge, skippers will have two challenges for each postseason game. Clubs retain the challenge if the call is overturned, but lose the challenge if no calls are overturned.

Other than that, each rule from the regular season carries over to postseason play, though it's worth going over a few of these rules as a reminder.

Is there still a pitch clock in the MLB postseason?

Yes, the 30-second timer between batters, as well as the 15 and 20-second timers between pitches with the bases empty and runners on, respectively, are still rules implemented in the MLB postseason. Additionally, just as is the case in the regular season, pitchers are limited to two disengagements (pickoff attempts or step-offs) per plate appearance, though these reset if the runner or runners advance during the plate appearance.

What about the three-batter minimum rule?

Yes, the three-batter minimum rule, first implemented in 2020, is implemented in the postseason. Pitchers must face a minimum of three batters or finish a half-inning. If the pitcher faces one batter to end an inning, he can be removed from the game but he is also allowed to return for a second inning. If he returns for a second inning, then he must face two more batters to reach the required total of three.

How is home-field advantage determined in the World Series?

The pennant winner with the better regular season record receives home-field advantage in the World Series, regardless of how the teams were seeded for the postseason. If the two pennant winners finished with the same regular season record, then a tiebreaker determines home-field advantage for the Fall Classic, in this order listed below:

Head-to-head recordIntradivision recordIntraleague record

Eight Tigers employees have been accused of misconduct toward women over the last two years, according to a wide-ranging Wednesday morning report from Alex Andrejev and Brittany Ghiroli of

Per Andrejev and Ghiroli—who interviewed 45 current and former employees of the organization—that group includes at least four vice presidents.

"Seven of those eight were accused of mistreating women employed by Ilitch Sports and Entertainment [Detroit's parent company]," Andrejev and Ghiroli wrote. "The allegations against the men ranged from offensive comments to physical confrontation."

The report comes amid much excitement in Michigan over the Tigers' best on-field record since 2013, which employees told masks a misogynistic, dysfunctional culture.

"We are committed to a culture of respect, safety, and inclusion. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment, and when concerns are raised, we investigate promptly and take decisive action, which has included terminating employees for misconduct, regardless of seniority or tenure," the team's parent company said in a statement. "We are committed to accountability and to upholding the standards essential to our workplace."

Per Andrejev and Ghiroli, six of the men have left the company, and a seventh was suspended after the reporters requested comment.

MatériaMais Notícias

Liverpool-URU e Palmeiras se enfrentam nesta quinta-feira (7), pela quarta rodada da fase de grupos da Libertadores. A bola vai rolar a partir das 19h (de Brasília), no Estádio Centenário, no Uruguai, com transmissão da ESPN e Star +.

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➡️ Aposte R$100 e leve R$416 no Lance! Betting para gol de Estevão contra o Liverpool-URU

As odds disponiveis no Lance! Betting apontam 7.15 para um triunfo do Liverpool-URU, 8.2 no empate e 1.5 para uma vitória do Palmeiras na Libertadores.

➡️Assine o Star+ e acompanhe o melhor da Libertadores quando e onde quiser!

✅ FICHA TÉCNICA
LIVERPOOL-URU X PALMEIRAS
COPA LIBERTADORES – FASE DE GRUPOS – QUARTA RODADA

🗓️ Data e horário: quinta-feira, 9 de maio de 2024, às 19h (de Brasília)
📍 Local: Estadio Centenário
📺 Onde assistir: ESPN e Star+
🟨 Árbitro: Andrés Rojas (COL)
🚩 Assistentes: Roberto Padilla (COL) e Jhon Gallego (COL)
🖥️ VAR: David Rodriguez (COL)

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⚽ PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES
LIVERPOOL-URU (Técnico: Emiliano Alfaro)
Sebastián Lentinelly; Jean Rosso, Kevin Amaro, Matías De Los Santos, Miguel Samudio e Agustín Cayetano; Lucas Lemos, Lucas Wasilewsky e Martín Barrios; Matías Ocampo e Luciano Rodríguez.

PALMEIRAS (Técnico: Abel Ferreira)
Weverton, Mayke, Murilo, Gustavo Gómez e Piquerez; Aníbal Moreno, Richard Ríos (Zé Rafael) e Raphael Veiga; Lázaro (Estêvão), Endrick e Flaco López

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Tudo sobre

LibertadoresPalmeiras

The home side were in trouble on 74 for 6 but Tim David constructed a superb innings then the bowlers were impressive

Firdose Moonda10-Aug-2025

Tim David was left needing to repair the damage, which he did magnificently•Getty Images

by 17 runsAustralia extended their T20I match-winning streak to a record nine games and pulled off their lowest successful defence against South Africa despite losing six wickets inside the first eight overs. Amid an explosive start, Australia stumbled to 75 for 6 before Tim David’s superbly-constructed 52-ball 83 and seventh-wicket stand of 59 with Ben Dwarshuis took them to a match-winning total. Mitchell Marsh has now won 22 out of 25 matches as T20I captain.As much as South Africa were blown away by Australia’s ultra-aggressive batting approach they also have themselves to blame for letting their hosts get away. South Africa dropped four catches – including David on 56 – though they bowled Australia out for the first time in 26 T20I meetings. The biggest positive was the performance of left-armer Kwena Maphaka who, at 19 years and 124 days old, became the youngest bowler from a Full Member country to take a T20I four-wicket haul. It was not enough to limit Australia to a chaseable score.Related

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South Africa’s downfall was their lack of power hitting. They struck only two sixes compared to Australia’s 13 (and David was responsible for eight on his own) and appeared to be specialist batter short. By the time George Linde arrived at the crease at No. 6, South Africa needed 59 runs off 33 balls and Josh Hazlewood had broken the game’s best partnership of 72 between Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs. He would also end Linde’s stay to finish with 3 for 26.Adam Zampa took two wickets in two balls and South Africa lost four wickets for three runs in the space of 10 balls to all but end their chase. Rickelton batted until the last over, when South Africa needed 21 runs to win, and was stunningly caught by Glenn Maxwell on the boundary. Dwarshuis also picked up three wickets as South Africa finished 17 runs short.Australia’s rollicking startAustralia batted first for the first time in seven T20Is and wasted no time showing their intent. Marsh slammed Lungi Ngidi over long-off to mark only the second time Australia have started a match with a six. Ngidi’s opening over cost 14. Their big test was always going to come against Kagiso Rabada, who only conceded one run off his first four balls, then had Head dropped at point and caught at short third to win the opening exchange. Josh Inglis was out for a duck as he tried to slice a square drive over point off Linde, who was then taken for 14 runs off three balls. The best was yet to come.When Marsh skied Rabada to deep backward square, David hit him for six down the ground. Corbin Bosch’s first over was the most expensive of his short T20I career so far and Ngidi was taken for 10 in two balls before he took pace off and removed the in-form Cameron Green off the penultimate ball of the powerplay. Australia had accumulated 71 by then: their second-highest in a powerplay against South Africa and the highest in their last six matches, which includes the five in West Indies. Muthusamy reels them inMaphaka quietened things down after the powerplay with an over that went for four and brought the wicket of Mitchell Owen and had excellent support from left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy. Maxwell, batting at No. 7, tried the reverse sweep, the flick and drive before he sliced Muthusamy to deep cover where Linde took an excellent running catch. Muthusamy’s second over was just as good as he maintained a tight line to Dwarshuis and David and conceded only one. After two overs, his analysis read: 2-0-2-1 and he finished with 1 for 24 off four overs.David stands aloneAt 75 for 6 in the eighth over, Australia were in danger of not batting out the innings but David not only ensured they did but that they got to a defendable score. David’s six-hitting against the short ball was particularly impressive, from his flat-batted pull off Maphaka in the ninth over to the swivel-pull off Bosch in the 13th, which came two balls before he smoked Bosch through the covers to bring up 50.But it was the way he made South Africa pay for dropping him that stung most. David was on 56 when Stubbs put down a skier at long-on and went on to hit Muthusamy for massive back-to-back sixes followed by another against Ngidi’s slower ball. Seven of his eight sixes were scored in front of square and four in the ‘V’. David added 27 runs after he was put down. He was in sight for a second hundred before he was caught at long-on with 10 balls left in the innings.Josh Hazlewood produced a superb over to change the game•Getty Images

Maxwell makes his mark with the ballFrom opening in West Indies, Maxwell found himself at No. 7 but played a vital role in the field. He shared the new ball as a match-up against the left-handed Rickelton and caused problems. He convinced Marsh to review an lbw call against Rickelton off his fourth ball when he beat the outside edge but the batter survived on umpire’s call.When Maxwell changed ends, Rickelton still could not get him away (two runs off six balls against him) and he also had a plan against another left-hander, Lhuan-dre Pretorius. Maxwell had a long-off in place and dished it up full, Pretorius went inside-out and picked out the fielder. Maxwell bowled his full quota of four overs, finishing with 1 for 29, and took two decisive catches to cap off a good performance.Hazlewood has the (almost) final say but Maxwell adds the full stopHazlewood, back in the side after missing the West Indies series, took the first wicket when Aiden Markram, who hit three boundaries off his first five balls, drove him to cover and then made the breakthrough that all but won the game. He was brought in the 15th over when South Africa needed 60 runs to win and with a partnership that was threatening.Rickelton and Stubbs had put on 72 off 52 balls when Hazlewood bowled a cross seam delivery to Stubbs, who tried to pull but bottom-edged through to Inglis. Australia inserted a slip and three balls later, Hazlewood ended a game-changing over when he bowled it back of a length, Linde played across the line and got a thick edge. Maxwell completed the catch at slip but something far more spectacular would follow in the final over.Maxwell was on the long-on boundary when Rickelton, who had given South Africa a glimmer despite battling for fluency, tried to hit Dwarshuis for six but jumped over the rope, parried the ball back in and completed the catch without touching the boundary or breaking a sweat.

عبر فرجاني ساسي لاعب منتخب تونس، عن حزنه لعدم التأهل إلى دور ربع نهائي بطولة كأس العرب، رغم الفوز على قطر. 

وفاز منتخب تونس على نظيره القطري، بثلاثية نظيفة، في المباراة التي جمعت بين الفريقين، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثالثة والأخيرة من بطولة كأس العرب.

طالع.. فيديو.. بن رمضان يقود تونس للفوز على قطر بثلاثية ويودعان كأس العرب رسميًا

وفشل منتخب تونس في التأهل إلى ربع نهائي بطولة كأس العرب، بعد احتلاله المركز الثالث في المجموعة برصيد 4 نقاط. 

وقال فرجاني ساسي في تصريحات على قناة “الكأس”: “أهدارنا نقاطًا أول مباراتين، ولعبنا على حظوظنا لآخر لحظة، سنبني على الأشياء الإيجابية وليست السلبية”.

وأضاف: “شكرًا جدًا لجماهيرنا، كأس العرب بطولة مفيدة وتحضير لكأس أمم إفريقيا، كنا نريد تحقيق نتائج إيجابية”. 

وتابع: “لعبنا لآخر لحظة وآخر مباراة كان من الممكن أن نسجل أهدافًا أكثر أمام قطر”. 

عبر فيران توريس مهاجم برشلونة عن سعادته بعد تسجيل هاتريك والفوز على ريال بيتيس بخماسية لثلاث أهداف في الدوري الاسباني لكرة القدم.

وقال توريس في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية: “إنهم منافس مباشر للفرق المتصدرة في الليجا”.

وأضاف مهاجم برشلونة: “كنا نعلم أنه علينا أن ننافس منذ الدقيقة الأولى، تفاعل الفريق بشكل رائع مع هدفهم المبكر”.

اقرأ أيضاً.. فيديو | 8 أهداف وهاتريك.. برشلونة يبتعد بصدارة الدوري الإسباني بخماسية أمام ريال بيتيس

وواصل عن تسجيله هاتريك: “كنت أعلم مسبقاً أنني قادر على اللعب أساسياً مع برشلونة، لتسجيل المزيد من الأهداف، قد لا تسجل هاتريك كل يوم لكن الأهم هو الفوز ضد أحد أفضل الفرق”.

وسئل فيران توريس عن اعتماد فليك على لامين يامال في مركز صانع الألعاب: “لاعب مثل لامين يامال بارع لدرجة أنه يتكيف مع أي مركز”.

Nick Kurtz is making the hardest thing in sports look far too easy.

The Athletics’ rookie first baseman has been teeing off on major league pitching since the All-Star break, leading MLB hitters in most statistical categories in the second half while looking like a future MVP. While he was always a hyped prospect, the lefty has far surpassed expectations this season.

Coming out of Wake Forest, Kurtz was a consensus top-five prospect in the 2024 MLB draft class, and the A's snagged him with the fourth pick and signed him for $7 million, which was $1.37 million under slot. It has turned out to be a massive bargain, and the savings allowed them to go over-slot to select and sign former LSU stars Tommy White and Gage Jump with their next two picks.

After a brief minor league career that lasted 33 games, Kurtz made his big league debut on April 23. He had eight hits in his first nine games but didn't show much of the power that has always been his calling card. Then the 22-year-old got hot, and he hasn't stopped punishing baseballs to overtake injured teammate Jacob Wilson as the American League Rookie of the Year favorite.

Below is a breakdown of the gaudy numbers Kurts has put up this season, with a focus on just how productive he’s been in the second half.

Nick Kurtz’s Sensational Second Half, by the Numbers

2.6 — fWAR since the All-Star break, best in baseball.

.423 — Batting average since the break, best in baseball.

.528 —On-base percentage since the break, best in baseball.

.808 — Slugging percentage since the break, best in baseball.

.550 — wOBA since the break, best in baseball.

.538 — Batting average on balls in play since the break, best in baseball.

260 — wRC+ since the break, best in — I can stop typing that at this point, right?

46 — Points between Kurtz and the second-best hitter in baseball by wRC+ since the All-Star break. Teammate Shea Langeliers (214) is next up. That means Kurtz has been a 46% better hitter than in baseball since the break, and 160% better than the average MLB hitter.

33 — Total career minor league games played by Kurtz.

86 — Number of major league games played so far.

.490 — Kurtz's OPS in April; he slashed .250/.240/.250 with no home runs and three RBIs in 24 at-bats.

1.092 — Kurtz's OPS since May 1; he's slashing .311/.417/.675 with 25 home runs and 64 RBIs in those 79 games.

1.367 — Kurtz's OPS in late/close situations this season. He's slashing .345/.500/.897, making him one of the most clutch players in baseball.

4 — Home runs by Kurtz on July 25, becoming the 20th player and first rookie in MLB history to go deep four times in one game. He went 6-for-6 that night with eight RBIs and tied an MLB record with six runs scored.

19 — Total bases in that game, tied with Shawn Green as the most in a single game in MLB history.

3.9 — Kurtz's fWAR on the season, best among MLB rookies by almost a full point. Brewers outfielder Isaac Collins is second at 2.9. Kurtz's All-Star teammate Jacob Wilson is far behind at 2.4.

181 — Kurtz's wRC+ on the season, which is second in baseball among players with at least 200 plate appearances. He trails only Aaron Judge (199) and is eight points clear of Shohei Ohtani (174).

Kurtz Stands Atop an Auspicious 2024 Draft Class—for Now

Kurtz was drafted on July 14 and made his MLB debut 283 days later. A year to the day after being selected, he already had 17 big league home runs and an OPS of .892. And he isn't the only player from his draft class already playing well in the majors.

The 2024 draft was college-heavy at the top, and several of the players selected have breezed through the minor leagues. First-rounders Kurtz, Chase Burns, Jac Caglianone, Christian Moore and Cam Smith have already debuted, while Angels reliever Ryan Johnson made the team out of spring training but has since been sent back down to the minors and is being stretched into a starter.

The draft class stands out as one that’s already having a major impact on the league, and with Kurtz leading the way, has arguably already produced not only the American League’s best rookie, but its best left-handed hitter.

Glasgow Rangers decided to splash the cash in the summer transfer window to sign Youssef Chermiti from Everton for a fee of £8m, their most expensive signing since Tore Andre Flo for £12m in 2000.

The Portugal U21 international has scored one goal, which was aided by some fairly dismal goalkeeping, in 11 appearances in all competitions for the Gers so far, per Sofascore.

Michael Stewart criticised his “poor” finishing in the League Cup semi-final defeat to Celtic on Sunday, as he spurned two great chances, whilst Ally McCoist said that he was “showing nothing” up front against Brann in the Europa League.

Meanwhile, Hearts, who are top of the Scottish Premiership, reportedly paid a fee of around £400k to sign Claudio Braga, who has been far more impressive.

Why Rangers need to find their own Claudio Braga

Instead of splashing huge money on project players, like Chermiti, Rangers should be looking at bargain options to bolster their squad, because you can find some real gems.

Hearts paid less than a million pounds to sign Braga from the second division of Norwegian football, and he has been a huge success for the Jam Tarts.

The Portuguese attacker has delivered nine goals and one assist in 16 appearances in all competitions for Hearts, per Sofascore, this season, which shows that he has provided far more quality than Chermiti has since his £8m move to Ibrox.

Whilst Rangers can learn from the Jam Tarts to utilise different markets for cheaper prices in future transfer windows, Danny Rohl may have his own version of Braga, from a stylistic perspective, in the building.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast’s ‘First Impressions’ series has everything you need.

Expand Collapse Rangers can unearth their own Claudio Braga with this forgotten star

Before Rohl’s arrival at Ibrox, Brazilian centre-forward Danilo appeared to be forgotten about by Martin as a genuine first-team option for the Scottish manager.

The striker only made one appearance for the first-team under Martin in September and October, which was an 11-minute cameo off the bench against Sturm Graz.

Danilo’s last 10 matchday squad appearances

Opposition

Manager

Minutes played

Celtic

Danny Rohl

45

Hibernian

Danny Rohl

45

Kilmarnock

Danny Rohl

69

Brann

Danny Rohl

14

Sturm Graz

Russell Martin

11

Genk

Russell Martin

0

Hibernian

Russell Martin

0

Hearts

Russell Martin

0

Celtic

Russell Martin

0

Club Brugge

Russell Martin

59

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, he was an unused substitute on several occasions, when he even made the matchday squad, before Martin’s exit in October.

Rohl came in last month and immediately made the Brazilian striker an option, as he has played in all four of the manager’s games so far, and scored two goals.

Like Braga, Danilo is not a towering and physical striker who can bully opposition defenders. He is dynamic and looks to use his control and movement to create chances and score goals, as he did brilliantly against Hibernian.

For Hearts, Braga has struck up a partnership with Lawrence Shankland, who is a physical presence, and Rohl can unearth his own version of that partnership by continuing to play Danilo off another striker, whether that is Chermiti or Bojan Miovski.

Danilo, who ex-teammate Ofir Marciano claimed “has the quality to be a big player for Rangers”, scoring two goals in two Premiership matches under Rohl shows that he can be effective in the final third.

However, it is now down to the manager to find the right blend alongside him to ensure that his skillset is used to its fullest potential, as Hearts have done with Braga by playing him alongside Shankland.

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Once forgotten by Martin at Ibrox, the former Feyenoord centre-forward looks like he might have a bright future under the German head coach.