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CBS Sports HQ AM Newsletter: Your daily sports briefing
⚾ Five key things to know this Wednesday
Cam Schlittler and Austin Riley shine in opening MLB postseason action. Schlittler dazzled with a dominant 117-pitch effort, shutting out the Red Sox over 6⅓ innings, putting the Yankees just one win from the ALDS. Meanwhile, Austin Riley crushed a decisive three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth for the Braves against the Phillies—a pivotal moment that Philadelphia manager Don Mattingly may second-guess, especially for using his closer in the seventh. All four Wild Card Series are still undecided, but bold postseason predictions are out, including a 4-4 series prediction featuring rookie Pete Crow-Armstrong, who’s having an outstanding season with even more potential ahead.
Caitlin Clark’s historic double-double flame-shined in the WNBA playoffs. On a dramatic day when the top-seeded Lynx became the first No. 1 seed to lose to an eighth seed without a win, Clark ensured the Fever stayed competitive by recording the first-ever WNBA game with 25 points and 15 assists. She sealed the moment with a clutch 3-pointer over MVP front-runner A’ja Wilson, who shortly after got into a heated exchange with a Fever fan resulting in a technical foul. The playoffs continue with a Game 3 showdown on Thursday, while the Dream and Valkyries battle for series closers tonight.
The NBA moves closer to expanding into Las Vegas. Although no team has officially been awarded yet, the league is expected to pick an ownership group for the Las Vegas expansion franchise very soon. The franchise fee could match historic sales records similar to the Lakers’ ownership change, with some funds aimed at building a new arena. This expansion likely targets a debut for the 2028-29 season, while a potential Seattle team’s timeline remains unaffected.
The SEC stands poised for historic success in college football. Despite Miami’s offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson playing down the conference’s early-season achievements, the SEC currently boasts five of the nation’s top 12 teams, creating a real possibility of hitting a College Football Playoff record with five or more teams in the bracket. Florida and Mississippi State have emerged as surprise contenders, not only capable of upsetting others but firmly placed in the conference’s upper tier with postseason ambitions.
Prepare your fantasy football lineups for Week 4. Take a moment to check if key players are still available in your league and consider strategic trades to strengthen your roster. Whether you lost De’Von Achane or need more running back depth, target other Miami ball carriers or Chargers’ Keaton Mitchell. At quarterback, keep Tyler Shough active, and at wide receiver, it might be time to reassess putting Emeka Egbuka, Malik Nabers, and Brian Thomas Jr. in your starting lineup every week.
🏈 Can’t miss: Pete Prisco’s Week 4 NFL Power Rankings
The Seattle Seahawks have dropped from the No. 1 spot after a stunning loss to the Washington Commanders, falling to No. 5 as the best one-loss team, just outside the top tier along with the Denver Broncos and Jacksonville Jaguars—both rising three spots. The Baltimore Ravens climbed three spots despite uncertainty at center, and the Dallas Cowboys moved up one despite coaching mistakes. Prisco highlights the significant impact of Baltimore’s last-second victory over Dallas and previews the Cowboys’ challenging upcoming schedule against a desperate Texans squad.
🏀 2027 WNBA Mock Draft Round 1 Preview
With the WNBA playoffs underway, seven teams are positioned for top picks in the upcoming 2027 draft, though the exact order remains unsettled. The last-place Seattle Storm and newer expansion teams like the Las Vegas Tempo and Nashville Fire are in the mix for elite prospects. Several teams have multiple first-round picks, including the Los Angeles Sparks, Dallas Wings, and Chicago Sky. Chicago’s possible pick of French star Sarah Cissé—a 6-2 MVP of the FIBA U20 Women’s EuroBasket 2026—could make sense as a draft-and-stash move given the Sky’s current roster makeup and contract situation.
👍👎 The highlights and lowlights of the day
📺 What to watch Wednesday
- UEFA Women’s Champions League: Barcelona vs. Roma — 12:45 p.m. (CBS Sports Network/Paramount+)
- Phillies vs. Braves Game 2 — 2 p.m. (NBC)
- UEFA Women’s Champions League: Bayern Munich vs. Benfica — 3 p.m. (CBS Sports Network/Paramount+)
- White Sox vs. Astros Game 2 — 5 p.m. (NBC Sports Network)
- Dream vs. Mystics Game 2 — 7 p.m. (ESPN)
- Penguins vs. Flyers — 7:30 p.m. (TNT)
- Red Sox vs. Yankees Game 2 — 8 p.m. (NBC)
- Valkyries vs. Wings Game 2 — 9 p.m. (ESPN)
- Cubs vs. Padres Game 2 — 10 p.m. (NBC Sports Network)
- Kings vs. Avalanche — 10 p.m. (TNT)
Fan Take: Caitlin Clark’s breakthrough performance shows the new heights the WNBA is reaching, thrilling basketball fans with historic individual feats and intense playoff drama. Her electrifying play, combined with the rising stars in the 2027 mock draft, underlines a vibrant future for the league and promises growing excitement around women’s basketball nationwide.
Source: www.cbssports.com
