The Evening Brief: Kerr's unlikely rise crowns Braves; playoff chaos spreads

Ray Kerr, 32, worked at a 7-Eleven five years ago and returned from Tommy John surgery in 2024. On Thursday night in Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Series, he threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings to earn the win as the Braves defeated the Phillies 6-2, snapping a six-game postseason elimination-game losing streak dating to 1996. The desk reported that Kerr had auditioned as an opener just days before, throwing three scoreless innings against Miami and holding Philadelphia scoreless over 6 1/3 September innings. Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies, and Michael Harris II, all three part of Braves teams eliminated by the Phillies in the 2022 and 2023 NLDS, hit home runs.

Elsewhere in October baseball, the Yankees removed Aaron Judge from their ALDS roster against Tampa Bay. Judge's right calf strain, sustained September 16, did not heal sufficiently in the 18 days before the series. Manager Aaron Boone told ESPN that Judge wanted to play but determined he needed more recovery time. Judge played only seven games after his return on September 8 following an 84-game absence with a fractured rib. He batted .241 with 18 home runs in 66 regular-season games. He remains eligible for the ALCS if the Yankees advance.

College football saw two starting quarterbacks reshaped by injury and decision Saturday. Pittsburgh's Mason Heintschel, who leads the nation with 14 touchdown passes, suffered a season-ending ACL tear during the Panthers' 35-33 win over Virginia Tech. Backup Holden Greiner, a sophomore, completed 8 of 12 passes for 78 yards and a touchdown in relief. Tennessee benched five-star true freshman Faizon Brandon during the first half against Auburn after one interception. Backup George MacIntyre, a redshirt sophomore, took over and led the Vols to victory. Faizon finished three-for-eight for zero net passing yards. Brandon is the first true freshman starter at quarterback for Tennessee since 2004.

In the NBA, Detroit center Jalen Duren ended monthslong restricted free agency negotiations Thursday night by agreeing to a five-year, $200 million extension. The deal came days into the start of training camp and ended a standoff marked by contentious talks. Duren, 22, had until 11:59 p.m. Thursday to accept a $9.6 million qualifying offer or sign long term. He secured $200 million instead of testing the $287 million max he was eligible for.

In college basketball legal proceedings, a Kentucky Court of Appeals dissolved a temporary injunction on October 2 that had allowed fifth-year eligibility for Missouri's Mark Mitchell, Louisville's Seth Trimble, LSU's Skyy Clark, and other players. The ruling leaves their eligibility status uncertain pending further court action. The NCAA adopted an age-based eligibility model in June, but the model's application to players who completed four seasons under the old rules remains contested. Mitchell and his co-plaintiffs are expected to file individual lawsuits in their states of residence. College basketball season begins in approximately one month.

In NFL discipline, the league suspended San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York for six games and fined him $500,000 on Friday for violating the personal conduct policy. The suspension and fine stem from York's August arrest in a prostitution sting in Ohio. York has not attended any games this season and was credited with three games served, making him eligible to return on October 20.

In rugby league, Wakefield Trinity defeated Warrington Wolves 27-14 at Old Trafford on Saturday, October 3, to claim the Super League championship for the first time since 1968. The victory completed a two-year rise from Championship status.