AP Sports SummaryBrief at 12:46 a.m. EDT

Shohei Ohtani is feeling excitement, not nerves, on eve of his postseason debut with the Dodgers LOS ANGELES (AP) Shohei Ohtani is about to realize his childhood dream of playing in important games.

Theres nothing bigger than the Major League Baseball playoffs.

And the Japanese superstar says he isnt nervous.

Ohtani says the excitement of playing October baseball for the first time is greater than anything else he could be feeling.

He spent the last six years with the Los Angeles Angels, who never made the postseason during his tenure.

Fans on both sides of the Pacific are clamoring to see what the record-setting Ohtani can do in October after he became the first player in MLB history with 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season.

Mets name Kodai Senga their Game 1 starter against the Phillies in the NLDS PHILADELPHIA (AP) Kodai Senga is the surprise Game 1 starter for the New York Mets when they open the NL Division Series on Saturday against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Senga has thrown just 5 1/3 major league innings all year.

He joined the Mets ahead of the 2023 season on a $75 million, five-year contract and became an All-Star in his first season.

He went 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA in 29 starts and finished second in NL Rookie of the Year voting.

The 31-year-old Japanese pitcher made just one start this season as he dealt with injuries that included tightness in his right triceps.

The teams projected No.

1 starter this year, Senga also was sidelined by a strained left calf.

Bronny James begin his Lakers career with a preseason debut.

LeBron won't join until the next game PALM DESERT, Calif.

(AP) Bronny James played in his first NBA preseason game when the Lakers host Minnesota in the first of Los Angeles two games in the Coachella Valley.

LeBron James didn't play with his oldest son against the Timberwolves, but the 39-year-old superstar is likely to play against Phoenix on Sunday, which just happens to be Bronnys 20th birthday.

Jets' Rodgers insists there's no rift with Saleh and responds to rumors of potential Adams reunion WARE, England (AP) Aaron Rodgers talked some football but mostly relationships those with coach Robert Saleh and former teammate Davante Adams, in particular after the New York Jets landed in London on Friday.

Rodgers denied he and Saleh have any sort of rift, saying theres some driving force outside the Jets facility trying to put a wedge between Robert and I.

Adams could be available via trade from the Las Vegas Raiders, and Rodgers clearly indicated his preference when it comes to a potential reunion with his former Green Bay teammate.

'Devastated' Joe Musgrove needs Tommy John surgery and won't pitch for the Padres in the NLDS LOS ANGELES (AP) Joe Musgrove needs Tommy John surgery and wont pitch for the San Diego Padres in the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The right-hander has an ulnar collateral ligament injury.

A.J.

Preller, the Padres president of baseball operations, announced the injury Friday.

The Padres open the NLDS on Saturday in Los Angeles.

Musgrove left Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series with elbow tightness.

He had been pitching through discomfort for a couple weeks.

The 31-year-old right-hander had been on the injured list from late May through mid-August with various elbow issues.

Musgrove is revered by Padres fans for throwing the first no-hitter in franchise history in 2021.

Greg Landry, former Detroit Lions quarterback and assistant coach, dead at 77 DETROIT (AP) Greg Landry, the former Detroit Lions quarterback and assistant coach, has died.

He was 77.

The Lions announced Landrys death on social media Friday.

No cause of death was given.

Landry played in the NFL from 1968 to 1981, the first 11 with the Lions, and also played for the then-Baltimore Colts.

After two seasons in the USFL, he returned to the NFL and played one game with the Chicago Bears.

He threw for 16,052 yards in his NFL career with 98 touchdowns and 103 interceptions.

He was also was one of the best running quarterbacks in NFL history, gaining more than 2,600 yards with 21 TDs.

Under MLB's new playoff format, a little rest isn't always the best Shohei Ohtani has mashed 100 mph fastballs for homers, stolen bases against some of the games best catchers and recently wrapped up one of the best regular seasons in Major League Baseball history.

Now the Japanese superstar and his Los Angeles Dodgers have to face something thats arguably even more daunting.

A five-day break.

Since MLBs most recent playoff format took effect in 2022, five of the eight top seeds have lost in the Division Series, unable to capitalize on the supposed reward of earning a bye through the Wild Card Series.

This year, the Dodgers, Phillies, Yankees and Guardians are dealing with the five-day break, trying to use it to their advantage.

Collier scores 26 to help Lynx top Sun 90-81 in Game 3 of semifinal series and take 2-1 lead UNCASVILLE, Conn.

(AP) Napheesa Collier scored 26 points and the Minnesota Lynx beat the Connecticut Sun 90-81 to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five semifinals series.

Game 4 is Sunday in Connecticut with the Lynx looking to advance to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2017.

That season ended in the fourth of Minnesotas championships.

Collier, who averaged 14 points in the first two games of the series, had 16 in the first half in Game 3.

Minnesota led by seven after one quarter and 48-36 at the half thanks to Collier, who made seven of her 10 shots in the opening 20 minutes.

Brionna Jones led Connecticut with 21.

Celtics beat the Nuggets 107-103 in the NBA's preseason opener at Abu Dhabi ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) The NBA returned to the Persian Gulf on Friday for the third consecutive year.

The preseason schedule for the 2023-24 season opened with the Boston Celtics beating the Denver Nuggets 107-103 in a matchup of the two most recent championship clubs.

The Celtics and Nuggets will finish their two-game set in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

Payton Pritchard had a game-high 21 points for Boston.

Reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic scored 14 for Denver and Russell Westbrook had 12 in his debut with the Nuggets.

Devils beat Sabres 4-1 in NHL regular-season opener in Prague PRAGUE (AP) Jacob Markstrom made 30 saves and Paul Cotter had an empty-netter and assist in their debuts with New Jersey as the Devils beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-1 in the NHL regular-season opener that was played in the Czech Republic capital.

New Jersey's Stefan Noesen opened the scoring Friday in the first period.

Johnathan Kovacevic and Nico Hischier also scored for the Devils.

Owen Power scored the Sabres' lone goal.

The teams series of games on Friday and Saturday is part of the NHL global series.

Two more international games will be played in Tampere, Finland, on Nov.

1-2 when defending Stanley Cup champion Florida faces the Dallas Stars..

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