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Atlanta Braves host the Philadelphia Phillies in NLDS Game 1

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:53:36 GMT

Philadelphia Phillies (90-72, second in the NL East during the regular season) vs. Atlanta Braves (104-58, first in the NL East during the regular season)Atlanta; Saturday, 6:07 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Phillies: Ranger Suarez (4-6, 4.18 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 119 strikeouts); Braves: Spencer Strider (20-5, 3.91 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 281 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Braves -208, Phillies +173; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies square off in Game 1 of the NLDS.Atlanta has gone 52-29 in home games and 104-58 overall. Braves hitters are batting a collective .276, the best team batting average in the NL.Philadelphia has a 90-72 record overall and a 41-40 record in road games. The Phillies are 44-16 in games when they hit at least two home runs.The teams meet Saturday for the 14th time this season. The Braves are ahead 8-5 in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Ronald Acuna Jr. has 35 doubles, four triples and 41 home runs for the Braves...

Los Angeles Dodgers host the Arizona Diamondbacks in NLDS Game 1

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:53:36 GMT

Arizona Diamondbacks (84-78, second in the NL West during the regular season) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (100-62, first in the NL West during the regular season)Los Angeles; Saturday, 9:20 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Diamondbacks: Merrill Kelly (12-8, 3.39 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 187 strikeouts); Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw (13-5, 2.46 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 137 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Dodgers -202, Diamondbacks +169; over/under is 8 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Dodgers take on the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday in Game 1 of the NLDS.Los Angeles has gone 53-28 at home and 100-62 overall. The Dodgers have the second-ranked team slugging percentage in the NL at .456.Arizona has a 41-40 record in road games and an 84-78 record overall. The Diamondbacks have a 31-14 record in games when they hit two or more home runs.The teams square off Saturday for the 14th time this season. The Dodgers lead the season series 8-5.TOP PERFORMERS: Mookie Betts has 40 doubles, a triple and 39 home runs ...

Heat, Sunshine and Some Showers this Weekend

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:53:36 GMT

The weather pattern overall remains fairly nice this weekend following a great stretch of weather this week.A weak front is heading south across Florida, which will lead to a gradual increase in rain chances, however.On Saturday, the main story will be the heat with record high temperatures possible in spots, especially in Marathon, with forecast highs in the low to mid 90s.Skies will feature a mix of sun and clouds paired with the potential for a few, late-day, passing showers across the mainland.This very weak front will then be entering the region of South Florida on Sunday, so rain chances will be a higher at a 40-50% chance.Like Saturday, lots of dry time is expected with sunshine and patchy clouds. The best chance for seeing some rain or a thunderstorm will be from the mid-afternoon through early-evening hours.By Monday, this front will either start to stall right across South Florida or just to our south. Regardless, winds should be more out of the north by then, which should...

EU condemns Hamas attack on Israel as ‘terrorism in its most despicable form’

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:53:36 GMT

European leaders condemned the surprise attack on Israel by the Hamas militant group early Saturday and proclaimed Israel’s right to defend itself.“It is terrorism in its most despicable form,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement. “Israel has the right to defend itself against such heinous attacks.”Hamas caught Israel off-guard early Saturday morning with thousands of rockets fired and dozens of heavily armed gunmen storming into Israel’s south. The Israel Defense Forces responded by striking Hamas targets in Gaza. “The IDF is initiating a large-scale operation to defend Israeli civilians,” the IDF said in a statement.“We are at war,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declared. “And we will win,” he said in a message to Israelis.Across Europe, messages of indignation poured in.“Horrific images from Israel,” Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said, calling t...

Building vs. buying: Orioles’ ALDS matchup with Rangers shows there are two ways to a turnaround

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:53:36 GMT

For those who weathered the Orioles’ 100-loss seasons, 2023 has certainly looked and felt different. The clubhouse hurrahs of recent weeks, with champagne and beer spraying and cigar smoke in the air, have helped it smell and taste different, too.But perhaps the most notable change, outfielder Austin Hays said, is how it sounds.“Just the postgame celebrations when you win — opposed to it being dead and quiet,” Hays said. “There was no music being played. There’s no postgame speeches. There’s no music on the planes, on the bus rides. There’s so much more that goes into it than just the three hours on the field.“Man, there’s nothing better and there’s nothing more fun than winning in the big leagues.”The team Baltimore faces in the American League Division Series can relate. In 2021, as the Orioles lost 110 games, the Texas Rangers fell 102 times. They were the two worst teams in the AL. Two years late...

Four most important Patriots players Week 5 vs. Saints

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:53:36 GMT

If the Patriots are still interested in salvaging their season — and Wednesday’s trade for cornerback J.C. Jackson suggests they do — the next two games on the schedule are must-wins.The Saints come to town on Sunday in a winnable game. And then the Patriots will face off against the Raiders in Las Vegas. If they can win both of these matchups, they’ll have a 3-3 record before likely losses against the Bills at home and the Dolphins in Miami.If the Patriots lose both games against the Saints and Raiders? It’s looking pretty likely that they’ll start the season 1-7 in full-on Caleb Williams watch.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots Extra Points: Rookie has ‘good future,’ Jamie Collins retires, more New England Patriots | Patriots-Saints injury report: Rhamondre Stevenson, Trent Brown among 10 questionable for Sunday New England Patriots | ‘Nut slap’ parody about Patriots...

Netanyahu tells Israel 'We are at war' after Hamas kills at least 22 in an unprecedented attack

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:53:36 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — The ruling Hamas militant group in the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations by air, land and sea and catching the country off-guard on a major holiday. Six hours after the invasion began, Hamas militants were still fighting gunbattles inside several Israeli communities in a surprising show of strength that shook the country. Israel’s national rescue service said at least 22 people have been killed and hundreds wounded, making it the deadliest attack in Israel in years. The Soroka Medical Center in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba said it was treating at least 280 casualties, with 60 in serious condition.There was no official comment on casualties in Gaza, but Associated Press reporters witnessed the funerals of 15 people who were killed and saw another eight bodies arrive at a local hospita...

Strong earthquake and several aftershocks reported in western Afghanistan

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:53:36 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A strong earthquake with several aftershocks was reported Saturday from Herat province in western Afghanistan, according to an eyewitness.At least five powerful earthquakes struck the city around noon, Herat city resident Abdul Shakor Samadi said.The United States Geological Survey reported a pair of 6.3 magnitude earthquakes hit western Afghanistan Saturday.The epicenter was 40 kilometers (24.8 miles) northwest of the city of Herat and was followed by an aftershock with a 5.5 magnitude, the USGS reported.A map posted on the USGS website indicates seven earthquakes in the region, including a magnitude 5.9 earthquake 35 kilometers (21.7 miles) north-northwest of Herat, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake 33 kilometers (20.5 miles) north-northeast of Zindah Jan and another 6.3 magnitude earthquake 29 kilometers (18 miles) north-northeast Zindah Jan, which is about 43 kilometers (26 miles) west of Herat city.“All people are out of their homes,” Samadi said. “Houses, offic...

Live updates | The Hamas attack on Israel

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:53:36 GMT

The Latest on the Hamas attack on Israel and the Israeli and international response:BERLIN — European leaders are condemning the Hamas attack and voicing solidarity with Israel.The head of the European Union’s executive commission, Ursula von der Leyen, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Saturday that the attack “is terrorism in its most despicable form.” She said that “Israel has the right to defend itself against such heinous attacks.”German Chancellor OIaf Scholz said that the militants’ rocket fire and the escalating violence “shock us deeply.” He added that “Germany condemns these attacks by Hamas and stands beside Israel.”French President Emmanuel Macron wrote that he “firmly” condemns the “terrorist attacks” against Israel and expressed “my full solidarity with the victims, their families and their loved ones.”Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Italy’s government condemns the attacks on Israel “with utmost firmness.” “At risk are the life of people, the secur...

Netanyahu tells Israel ‘We are at war’ after Hamas kills at least 22 in unprecedented attack

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:53:36 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s national rescue service says at least 22 people have been killed and hundreds wounded in a Hamas military incursion on Saturday morning.The numbers make the operation the deadliest in Israeli territory in years.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.JERUSALEM (AP) — The ruling Hamas militant group in the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations by air, land and sea and catching the country off-guard on a major holiday. Six hours after the invasion began, Hamas militants were still fighting gunbattles inside several Israeli communities in a surprising show of strength that shook the country. Social media was replete with videos of Hamas fighters parading what appeared to be stolen Israeli military vehicles through the streets and at least one dead Israeli soldi...