by Jacob Gurvis, JTA Sports Reporter
(JTA) – Good afternoon! We hope you had a meaningful Yom Kippur.
The Los Angeles Rams ushered in the new Jewish year by inviting longtime fan Michael Gropper to blow the shofar prior to Thursday night’s matchup against the 49ers, possibly the first time a shofar was blown live at an NFL game. Not a bad way to start 5786!
A Jewish Guide to the MLB postseason
It has been 60 years since Sandy Koufax famously sat out a World Series game to observe Yom Kippur, and 24 years since fellow Dodger Shawn Green did the same.
But as the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees took the field on Wednesday and Thursday in their Wild Card series, Sox third baseman Alex Bregman suited up and played. And the Sox ultimately lost the series to Max Fried’s Yankees.
Bregman, in his first (and possibly last) year in Boston, made the postseason for the ninth straight season, and went 3-for-10 with an RBI and three walks while surpassing 100 career playoff games.
Fried pitched a gem in his first playoff start in pinstripes, throwing 6 1/3 scoreless innings with six strikeouts. Fried capped the regular season by earning AL Pitcher of the Month honors for September as he won his MLB-best 19th game. He ended with a 2.86 ERA.
He now leads the Bronx Bombers into their American League Division Series matchup against the Toronto Blue Jays, beginning tomorrow. The Yankees had not announced their starting rotation as of press time, but Fried is likely to pitch Sunday’s Game 2.
In the National League, the Philadelphia Phillies host the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS, also beginning tomorrow night. Phillies center fielder Harrison Bader is playing in his sixth postseason, and was an October hero for the Yankees in 2022.
The Phillies have not finalized their NLDS roster, but backup catcher Garrett Stubbs is a candidate to make the Phils’ squad for the series as their second catcher. Stubbs has appeared in three postseasons. Reliever Max Lazar pitched in 36 games for Philly this season but is unlikely to appear in the postseason.
HALF TIME REPORT
YELLOW CARD. After the horrific attack on a synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur, the city’s two famed soccer clubs, Manchester City and Manchester United, both put out statements condemning the violence. But as many fans noted, neither team mentioned the location of the attack — a synagogue — or the victims, Jews. Antisemitism has long been an issue in European soccer, and the historic lack of Jewish players in the Premier League certainly doesn’t help.
HEEL TURN. The WWE has reportedly renamed an upcoming event scheduled for Oct. 7 following a backlash. The event, originally called “Invasion,” is a callback to a 2001 event by the same name, but some Israeli fans, including in an op-ed in the newspaper Israel Hayom, called the promoter out for being insensitive on the anniversary of Hamas’ attack on Israel in 2023.
PUNTING, AGAIN. FIFA again declined to take action in the face of growing calls from other countries to ban Israel from the upcoming 2026 World Cup. In a news release, FIFA president Gianni Infantino emphasized “the importance of promoting peace and unity, particularly in the context of the ongoing situation in Gaza,” but did not explicitly mention Israel. The calls to ban Israel from global soccer intensified last year.
BENCHED. The Israeli cycling team Israel Premier Tech has been removed from a race in Italy on Saturday due to concerns over security and pro-Palestinian protests. The move comes after a race in Spain was disrupted by protests over the inclusion of the same team, which is owned by Canadian-Israeli billionaire Sylvan Adams.
A NEW ERA BLOOMS IN ST. LOUIS. Jewish baseball executive Chaim Bloom was officially introduced as the new president of baseball operations for the St. Louis Cardinals this week. Bloom joined the Cards in 2024 after a stint with the Red Sox and a long career with the Tampa Bay Rays. Bloom is Shabbat observant and has been known to bring a jar of gefilte fish to each team he’s led as a long-running World Series bet.
HUGH-GE. Defenseman Luke Hughes signed a seven-year, $63 million contract with the New Jersey Devils, where he plays alongside his older brother, star center Jack Hughes. The younger brother has 93 career points in 155 regular season games as he enters his third NHL season.
NOT DUNN YET. The Los Angeles Chargers signed NFL veteran Michael Dunn to its practice squad. Dunn, 31, has played in 53 career games across five seasons, all with the Cleveland Browns.
Jews in sports to watch this weekend (all times ET)
⚾ IN BASEBALL…
Max Fried and the New York Yankees face the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALDS — Game 1 is Saturday at 4:08 p.m. and Game 2 is Sunday at 4:08 p.m. Harrison Bader and the Philadelphia Phillies host the Los Angeles Dodgers in NLDS Game 1 tomorrow at 6:38 p.m.
🏈 IN FOOTBALL…
A.J. Dillon and the Philadelphia Eagles host the Denver Broncos Sunday at 1 p.m.
⚽ IN SOCCER…
In the MLS, Liel Abada and Charlotte F.C. play D.C. United Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Matt Turner, Dor Turgeman, Ilay Feingold and the New England Revolution take on Inter Miami Saturday at 7:30 p.m. At the same time, Daniel Edelman’s New York Red Bulls host Cincinnati F.C., while Tai Baribo’s Philadelphia Union host New York City. DeAndre Yedlin and Real Salt Lake host Colorado Saturday at 9:30 p.m. In La Liga, Manor Solomon and Villareal face Real Madrid Saturday at 3 p.m.
🏒 IN HOCKEY…
In NHL preseason action, Quinn Hughes, Max Sasson and the Vancouver Canucks host Jake Walman and the Edmonton Oilers (Zach Hyman is injured) tonight at 10 p.m. Jeremy Swayman, Jordan Harris and the Boston Bruins host Adam Fox and the New York Rangers Saturday at 2 p.m. Jack and Luke Hughes play the Philadelphia Flyers Saturday at 3 p.m.
⛳ IN GOLF…
Max Homa, David Lipsky and Ben Silverman are competing at the Sanderson Farms Championship in Jackson, Mississippi, this weekend.
🏎 IN RACING…
Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll races in the Singapore Grand Prix Sunday at 8 a.m.
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