Pick a Number 🔢

It’s Saturday… and you’re clearly excited about MLB and WNBA!

We know what to do.

Ready for three things?

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1️⃣ Spot Secured 🏀

Last night, the last spot in the WNBA semifinals was on the line.

The New York Liberty took Game 1. And they’re the defending champs, powered by Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu.

Stewart and Ionescu; image courtesy The IX Basketball

The Phoenix Mercury roared back in Game 2. And they’re led by Alyssa Thomas, a triple-double machine who set the WNBA record this season with 8 of them.

Thomas the triple-double machine; image courtesy Testudo Times via Facebook

Who’s moving on?

🎥 Hit play on the last five minutes and see for yourself!

Alyssa Thomas. 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists.

The Mercury advanced, and the defending champs are out.

And that’s it for Round 1. The semis start tomorrow!

Updated bracket; image courtesy Bleacher Report

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2️⃣ Count Carefully ⚾

MLB Playoff race update!

Here are the six first-place teams:

• AL East: Toronto Blue Jays 💙

• AL Central: Detroit Tigers 🐯

• NL East: Philadelphia Phillies 🔔

• NL Central: Milwaukee Brewers 🍻

• NL West: Los Angeles Dodgers 🎬

Phillies and Brewers? Already locked their playoff spots.

The others? Still trying to hold on with one week left.

But wait… count ‘em up.

That was only five divisions!

What’s going on in the AL West? It’s been a tug-of-war between the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners.

Astros and Mariners; image courtesy CBS Sports

They were tied for first going into last night’s game. And they played each other!

We’d show you what happened… but it was kind of a snoozer. Mariners 4, Astros 0.

So with eight games left, Seattle is one game ahead. And they play each other again today and tomorrow!

🎥 Since we didn’t watch those highlights, want to see what else happened?

Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts. Back-to-back home runs. The Dodgers won, and they’re one game closer to the playoffs.

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3️⃣ Guessing Game 🏈

College football didn’t get your vote… but maybe this preview will get you excited!

Of the top 25 teams, 19 play today. And six of those play each other! Here are the games between ranked teams:

• #17 Texas Tech at #16 Utah: Experts say 65% chance the Utes win at home.

• #22 Auburn at #11 Oklahoma: Experts say 65% chance the Sooners win at home. (Wait, are these so-called experts just picking the same number every time?)

• #9 Illinois at #19 Indiana: Experts say 63% chance the Hoosiers win at home. (Wow, way to go experts! You changed your number… and predicted a big upset!)

Indiana vs. Illinois; image courtesy 247 Sports

Let’s turn this into a game! How about this?

Pick a number between 36 and 58.

The range comes from adding up the rankings of the three winners. Lowest possible total: 36 (if #9, #11, and #16 all win). Highest possible: 58 (if #17, #19, and #22 win). And it could be in between!

💬 Drop your answer in the comments! We’ll watch, add, and see who’s closest tomorrow.

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Thanks for playing Smallball!

Back soon with our Sunday special. See you then!

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