That is an article model of the CBS Sports activities HQ AM Publication, the last word information to day-after-day in sports activities. You may signal as much as get it in your inbox each weekday morning right here.

⚾ Good morning to all, however particularly to …

THE DETROIT TIGERS AND THE KANSAS CITY ROYALS

For the primary time ever, all 4 Division Sequence are tied 1-1.

In Cleveland, there was no scarcity of drama to get there. The Tigers earned a 3-0 Recreation 2 triumph, their first ALDS win since 2013, powered by Kerry Carpenter‘s gorgeous three-run dwelling run within the ninth inning off Guardians famous person nearer Emmanuel Clase.

Carpenter is simply the third Tiger to hit a go-ahead dwelling run within the ninth inning or later of a playoff recreation, becoming a member of Magglio Ordóñez (2006) and Al Kaline (1972).

Simply how stunning was this one, all issues thought-about?

• Clase has pitched in 76 video games this season. That is the one time he is allowed a number of runs.
• Carpenter’s dwelling run had a 110.8 mph exit velocity, the hardest-hit ball off Clase in his whole profession.
• The Tigers had misplaced 15 straight playoff video games when tied or trailing coming into the ninth inning.

In fact, hitting is simply half of the equation; for the opposite half, Tarik Skubal is pretty much as good because it will get. He went seven innings, permitting three hits and putting out eight. He is the fifth participant ever to throw no less than six scoreless innings in every of his first two profession playoff appearances. Yeah, fairly good.

Within the nightcap, the Royals tied their sequence towards the Yankees with a simple 4-2 win. New York took a 1-0 lead within the third inning, however Kansas Metropolis responded with all 4 of its runs within the fourth inning, by way of each large ball — Salvador Pérez‘s solo dwelling run — and small ball: RBI singles by Tommy Pham, Garrett Hampson and Maikel Garcia

Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit a ninth-inning dwelling run — the workforce’s solely additional base hit of the night time — however Lucas Erceg steadied himself and completed issues off.

This primary week of playoff baseball has been unimaginable, Matt Snyder notes, and the stakes are solely climbing. 

👍 Honorable mentions

👎 Not so honorable mentions

🏈 Chiefs high Saints behind robust protection, acquainted faces

It could not all the time be fairly, however the Chiefs simply maintain rolling, whilst they’re nonetheless determining their offense. Kansas Metropolis beat New Orleans, 26-13, because of a rotating forged of characters outdated and new round Patrick Mahomes and a protection that continues to impress.

• Mahomes threw for 331 yards, 130 of which went to JuJu Smith-Schuster. That is Smith-Schuster’s most since 2018.
• Kareem Hunt ran for 102 yards — his most since 2020 — and a landing. Xavier Worthy additionally scored on the bottom.
• The Saints, in the meantime, managed a measly 220 yards on 4.3 yards per play. Derek Carr, who left with an indirect harm, fell to 3-15 in his profession towards the Chiefs.

Kansas Metropolis rolled up a season-high 460 yards and, for the primary time this season, by no means trailed. This might have been a a lot bigger win had the offense not slowed down within the crimson zone (together with this unimaginable interception and return by 324-pound defensive lineman Khalen Saunders), however all different indicators had been encouraging.

With Rashee Rice probably accomplished for the season and Isiah Pacheco out a number of extra weeks, the Chiefs are discovering solutions. Smith-Schuster, lower by the Patriots about two months in the past, took over a few of the Rice position, and Travis Kelce (70 yards) had a second consecutive robust recreation in Rice’s absence. Hunt, a free agent all offseason, solely joined the follow squad three weeks in the past.

We have seen loads of groups wrestle because of accidents this season. When you’ve got Mahomes and Andy Reid main the offense and Steve Spagnuolo main the protection, although, there are all the time options aplenty.

🏒 NHL season preview, Stanley Cup picks

The NHL is soooooo again, with the season beginning tonight. (OK, technically it began with the Devils beating the Sabres twice in Prague, Czechia, however the North American a part of the season begins tonight.) Now we have three fantastic matchups to get us going:

• Blues at Kraken
• Bruins at Panthers (Florida’s first recreation as reigning champ)
• Blackhawks at Utah Hockey Membership (first recreation in Utah franchise historical past)

The Panthers stay firmly in Austin Nivison’s “Stanley Cup or bust” tier, as are the workforce they beat in Recreation 7 of the Stanley Cup Last only a few months in the past, the Oilers. The Maple Leafs, Rangers and Stars be part of that group.

I am actually excited to look at the Oilers. How might you not be? They’ve, in Austin’s estimation, the game’s finest and fifth-best gamers. Here is his high 5:

1. Connor McDavid, C, Oilers — “McDavid is in a stratosphere all his personal … Over the past three seasons, McDavid leads the NHL in assists (268), factors (408) and energy play factors (159).”
2. Nathan MacKinnon, C, Avalanche — “Final 12 months, MacKinnon posted a career-high 140 factors and gained his first Hart Trophy because the NHL’s MVP.”
3. Auston Matthews, C, Maple Leafs — “The Maple Leafs star simply narrowly missed 70 targets final season, however his 69 tallies had been nonetheless essentially the most since Mario Lemieux scored that many within the 1995-96 season.”
4. David Pastrnak, W, Bruins — “Pastrnak is among the few wingers within the NHL who’s liable for driving play within the offensive zone, and he proved that he can shoulder a heavy burden within the 2023-24 season.”
5. Leon Draisaitl, C, Oilers — “Draisaitl won’t be McDavid, however he would not take a backseat to anybody relating to his offensive skill.”

Here is Austin’s full high 10.

Nice gamers alone do not make champions, although; nice groups, do. Austin and Chris Bengel’s Stanley Cup picks are in.

• Nivison: “Stars over Devils — The Stars did downgrade their defensive depth within the offseason, however that’s made up for after which some by a ahead group that has extra firepower than the Galactic Empire. That, together with elite goaltending from Jake Oettinger, helps them sneak previous the Oilers in a rematch of final 12 months’s convention last.”
• Bengel: “Oilers over Rangers — Edmonton arguably has a deeper roster than a 12 months in the past after including veteran forwards like Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson to their high six. For the primary time in a number of years, the Oilers even have a robust netminder within the crease within the type of Stuart Skinner.”

In addition they have awards picks as properly. Here is every thing else to know:

🏈 Adjustments on the high of CBS Sports activities 134, Energy Rankings

Welcome again to the highest spot, Texas! The Longhorns regained the No. 1 rating within the CBS Sports activities 134, and this is what the new-look high 5 seems to be like:

1. Texas (earlier: 3)
2. Ohio State (2)
3. Penn State (6)
4. Oregon (8)
5. Miami (7)

The Longhorns are additionally ready to get Quinn Ewers (belly pressure) again for his or her Purple River Rivalry recreation towards No. 18 Oklahoma. Listed below are the greatest risers and fallers on this week’s 134.

Texas can be No. 1 in Brandon Marcello’s Energy Rankings, and the most important riser there shares the identical state …

• Marcello: “Texas A&M (not ranked to ninth) — We’re accomplished sleeping on the Aggies. That protection is legit, and we had been shocked at simply how extremely correct Conner Weigman was in his return from harm. The Aggies punched Mizzou within the mouth and stored pummeling the Tigers within the second and third quarters on the way in which to a dominant 41-10 win … Texas A&M sits atop the SEC at 3-0 and has appeared the a part of a top-10 workforce.”

Lastly, in “The Monday Learn,” Richard Johnson wrote on Vanderbilt, as a result of who would not love these Commodores?!

📺 What we’re watching Tuesday

🏒 Blues at Kraken, 4:30 p.m. on ESPN
⚾ NLDS Recreation 3: Phillies at Mets, 5:08 p.m. on FS1
🏒 Bruins at Panthers, 7 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 WNBA semifinals Recreation 5: Solar at Lynx, 8 p.m. on ESPN2
⚾ NLDS Recreation 3: Dodgers at Padres, 9:08 p.m. on FS1
🏒 Blackhawks at Utah Hockey Membership, 10 p.m. on ESPN