By Jawn Kruk | Side Jawn Sports
October 14, 2026

Philadelphia loves to call itself a sports town. We can spend an entire afternoon arguing about one Eagles play, one Phillies pitching change, or whether somebody looked miserable walking to the bench.

Meanwhile, the Union are making club history, and it still feels like we aren’t making nearly enough noise about it.

Thirteen straight MLS matches without a loss. Seven consecutive wins. An 11-0-2 record during the unbeaten run.

What the hell else do they have to do to get our attention?

This isn’t me saying there’s literally no coverage. It’s me saying this story deserves a much bigger place in the Philly sports conversation. A team pulls itself out of the basement and starts stacking wins like this, we should be talking about it with some damn excitement.

This turnaround deserves more respect

The Union were last in the league at the World Cup break. Now they head into tonight’s match sixth in the Eastern Conference with 42 points.

During the 13-match streak, they’ve outscored opponents 38-15. That’s a plus-23 goal difference, and 35 points out of a possible 39.

They aren’t just surviving. They’re giving themselves a chance to turn a miserable start into a season people remember for something much better.

Interim head coach Ryan Richter deserves serious credit. He became the first coach in MLS history to start his head coaching career unbeaten through 13 regular-season matches.

Keep the distinction straight: this is the Union’s club-record unbeaten streak, with a separate MLS record for Richter’s start. It isn’t the league’s longest unbeaten run ever.

But it’s still historic. And if Philly wins tonight, the Union become only the third club in the post-shootout era to win eight straight matches in a single MLS season.

That deserves more than a quick mention between arguments about the other teams.

The guys driving this thing:

Cavan Sullivan is giving people plenty of reasons to watch. At 17, he’s already September’s MLS Player of the Month and has earned eight Team of the Matchday selections this season. My favorite part is that he’s producing while this team is chasing meaningful points. The hype is fun. Helping your club win is better.

Milan Iloski is the finisher this run needs. He has 17 league goals and six assists, with five goals in his last three matches. When your striker is rolling like that, every decent attacking move feels like it could become a problem for the other team.

Bruno Damiani deserves his share of the spotlight, too. His opener against Real Salt Lake was his ninth goal of the season and eighth since play resumed after the World Cup break. Having another scorer alongside Iloski makes this attack a hell of a lot more interesting.

Frankie Westfield and Neil Pierre also belong in this conversation. Both have made their USMNT debuts, and both started in the back line against Salt Lake. Watching academy players become important first-team contributors is one of the best reasons to follow this club.

And Andre Blake still matters. He made an important second-half save against Salt Lake while the Union were protecting a one-goal lead. For all the excitement up front, somebody has to handle the moments when the other team punches back.

Tonight: a real test in Chicago

The Union visit Chicago Fire at Soldier Field tonight, Wednesday, October 14, at 8:30 p.m. Eastern on Apple TV.

Chicago sits third in the East with 48 points, six ahead of Philly, and has won three straight. The Fire can clinch a playoff berth with a victory tonight.

So forget the idea that the Union are walking into an easy eighth straight win.

Robert Lewandowski gives Chicago a dangerous target in the box. Maren Haile-Selassie has 10 goals and 10 assists, and former Union defender Jack Elliott is now a leader in the Fire’s defense.

My three keys are pretty simple…

First, make Lewandowski work for everything. Pressure the service and track his movement. Letting a striker like that find comfortable space is asking for a long night.

Second, keep attacking with purpose. I want Sullivan involved and Iloski and Damiani getting opportunities. Respect Chicago, but give their defense something to worry about.

Third, stay composed when the match gets ugly. A road game against a playoff contender will bring stretches where Philly has to defend, slow things down, and make smart decisions.

My pick is a 2-1 Union win. That’s a prediction, not a promise. Chicago can absolutely test them.

But I’m backing this team to keep the run alive.

And whether you watch every week or haven’t paid much attention yet, tonight is a good time to tune in.

The Union have earned a louder conversation in this city. Let’s give them one.

DOOP.

Temple’s Homecoming Hangover: Fast Start, Same Frustrating Finish

By Jawn Kruk | Side Jawn Sports
October 12, 2026

Well, that party went to hell pretty quickly.

Temple gave us fireworks early Saturday against UConn, then left us staring at the scoreboard wondering where the hell the rest of the offense went. The Owls lost 34–20 at the Linc, dropping to 2–4. Homecoming is supposed to give you something to celebrate. This one gave us another reason to complain on the ride home.

For a minute, we had something cooking…

Ajani Sheppard hit JoJo Bermudez for a 79-yard touchdown on Temple’s first offensive play. One snap, one score. That’s how you answer somebody punching you in the mouth.

Then Colin Chase threw a 29-yard touchdown to Peter Clarke on a trick play, tying it at 14 in the first quarter. A receiver throwing a touchdown? Beautiful. Give me a little creativity with my Saturday football.

Carl Hardin’s second-quarter field goal put Temple ahead 17–14. The problem? After those two early touchdowns, the Owls managed only two field goals the rest of the game.

You can’t throw a welcome party in the first quarter and start stacking the chairs before halftime.

The numbers make this more annoying:

Sheppard finished 19-for-25 for 260 passing yards and a touchdown. Chase’s 29-yard trick-play touchdown brought Temple’s team passing total to 289 yards. Bermudez led the Owls with 96 receiving yards on two catches, including that 79-yard touchdown. Clarke added five receptions for 88 yards and a score, while Keveun Mason ran for 88 yards on 13 carries. Temple produced 437 yards of total offense.

There were guys making plays. There was enough production to give this team a chance. That’s what makes the final score aggravating: the offense showed you what it could do, then couldn’t keep putting touchdowns on the board.

And the defense didn’t exactly make life easy. UConn piled up 505 yards, including 248 on the ground. Trey Cornist rushed for 114 yards and a touchdown. When somebody can keep moving you backward like that, your early highlights only buy you so much time.

The plays that hurt:

Mason’s fumble late in the first half gave UConn another possession, and the Huskies turned it into a field goal for a 24–17 halftime lead.

Temple got within 24–20 in the third quarter. Still a game. Still a chance.

Then came the fourth-quarter strip sack of Sheppard. UConn followed with a touchdown drive, capped by Cyncir Bowers’ eight-yard run, to make it 31–20 with 7:52 left. That’s the kind of sequence that takes “we can steal this” and turns it into a long, irritated sigh.

The good, the bad, and the ugly:

The good: The explosive passing plays, Sheppard’s accuracy, and real contributions from Bermudez, Mason, and Clarke. There’s talent here. Saturday gave us reasons to believe that.

The bad: Two fumbles at costly moments and a defense that allowed far too much on the ground.

The ugly: No Temple touchdowns after the first quarter. Zero fourth-quarter points. You don’t get credit for finishing strong because your opening act was entertaining.

My take:

I’ll keep backing Temple. But backing your team doesn’t mean putting a pretty bow on a frustrating loss.

The Owls showed enough to get us invested, then didn’t finish the job. That’s the part they have to fix: turn promising possessions into touchdowns, protect the football, and make opponents earn their yards.

Charlotte comes to the Linc Saturday, October 17, at 1 p.m. Another home game. Another opportunity.

Let’s give the fans something to take home besides a headache. I’ll be in the End Zone, loud and proud.

Eight Seconds, One Complete Disaster

The Eagles went all the way to London to find a new way to piss us off. Sunday’s 19–17 loss to Jacksonville wasn’t just heartbreaking, it was a winnable game thrown away, dropping the Birds to 2–3 with three straight losses.

Jake Elliott nailed a 48-yard field goal to put them ahead 17–16 with eight seconds left. Eight. Freaking. Seconds. Then Ameer Abdullah ripped off a 53-yard kickoff return, and Cam Little buried a 57-yard winner as time expired. Nick Sirianni took responsibility for the kickoff decision afterward. Fair enough, but taking the blame doesn’t put the win back in the standings.

And let’s be honest, that ending shouldn’t hide how lifeless the offense was. Jalen Hurts went 21-for-40 for 220 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Avoiding turnovers helped, but completing 52.5% of your passes isn’t getting it done. The Eagles finished with 232 total yards to Jacksonville’s 408, including just 22 rushing yards. Saquon Barkley and Tank Bigsby were unavailable, and Will Shipley left injured, but the offense still needed answers. Instead, it produced three second-half points.

There were guys worth applauding. Jalen Carter had two strip-sacks, Quinyon Mitchell grabbed an interception, and Zack Baun made 11 tackles. Darius Cooper supplied a 62-yard touchdown catch. The defense made critical stops that kept this thing within reach, even while surrendering too much yardage.

My blunt take? Hurts needs to be sharper, the offense needs to function after halftime, and the coaching and kickoff coverage failed when the game was practically over. Injuries explain some struggles. They don’t explain every mistake.

You don’t need a perfect team to protect a lead for eight seconds. You need a team that finishes the damn job.

-Jawn Kruk

Side Jawn Sports

-Jawn Kruk/Side Jawn Sports

A Rough Weekend For Two, Not For Three

Temple put up enough yards to win and somehow lost. The Flyers dressed a lineup that looked a lot like the real thing and got smoked by Washington’s kids. Thank God for the Union, who gave us a hat trick, four goals, and at least one reason to enjoy the weekend.

Temple: Army 21, Owls 17

Temple’s 21–17 loss Friday was the kind that sticks in your craw. The Owls gained 459 yards, didn’t turn the ball over, and took a 17–14 lead with 7:38 left. Then Army did exactly what Army does: marched 75 yards in 12 plays, chewed up nearly six minutes, and scored with 1:41 remaining. Temple got to the Army 24 on its last drive, but a fourth-down pass fell incomplete. That’s your conference opener gone. 

The good: Ajani Sheppard threw for a career-high 242 yards and two touchdowns, with no interceptions, and added 48 yards rushing. His 78-yard touchdown to Sam Brown and 67-yard strike to Colin Chase were the kind of explosive plays this offense needs. Brown was a beast: 96 rushing yards plus that 78-yard catch, giving him 174 yards from scrimmage. Temple also ran for 217 yards as a team. There’s talent here, Cuz. 

The bad: Temple went 3-for-9 on third down and 0-for-2 on fourth down. Army held the ball for 38:01 and ran for 279 yards. When you give that offense the ball for that long, your big plays have to do an awful lot of work. 

The ugly: The Owls had the lead and needed one stop. Instead, Army’s Cale Hellums finished his third rushing touchdown of the game, then Temple’s last chance died at the 24. After last week’s gut-punch loss to Toledo, another close one slipping away feels especially brutal. The Owls are 1–3 and 0–1 in conference play. Enough with the almosts. 

Flyers: Capitals 5, Flyers 1

Saturday was supposed to be a dress rehearsal. Most of the Flyers’ NHL lineup played; Washington dressed only four NHL regulars. The Flyers outshot the Caps 37–24 and still lost 5–1. Jamie Drysdale put Philly ahead 31 seconds into the second period, and then Washington scored five unanswered. That is a lousy way to head toward opening night. 

The good: Drysdale’s goal came from a hard forecheck by Tyson Foerster and Travis Konecny, who both picked up assists. The Flyers had chances, too. Alex Bump hit the crossbar, while Matvei Michkov and Porter Martone ran into big saves. They generated pressure for two periods; the shot total wasn’t some meaningless fluke. 

The bad: Philly went 0-for-4 on the power play, with all four chances coming in the first period. You cannot get that many early looks, fail to score, and expect it not to bite you. Charlie Lindgren kept Washington in it, but the Flyers also had to finish their chances. 

The ugly: Turnovers helped Washington grab the lead, and Aleksei Kolosov allowed five goals on 24 shots. The Flyers had 34 shots through two periods and just four in the third. Washington’s younger lineup got stronger as the night went on while Philly faded. It’s preseason, sure, but a mostly NHL lineup losing this way in its final tune-up deserves more than a shrug. The Flyers finished the preseason 1–3–0. 

Union: Union 4, Orlando City 2

Now that was fun. Milan Iloski scored in the 11th and 19th minutes, Indiana Vassilev made it 3–0 just after halftime, and Iloski completed his hat trick in the 51st. The Union beat Orlando 4–2 despite missing five starters on international duty. They’ve now gone 12 straight matches unbeaten, a club record, and won six straight MLS matches for the first time. 

The good: Iloski was ridiculous: three goals, including an early penalty and a blast to finish the hat trick. Vassilev added a goal and two assists, and Nathan Harriel, Jesús Bueno, and Jovan Lukić contributed assists. Iloski is up to 16 goals this season. With that many regulars away, the Union still jumped on Orlando and made the game look over by the 51st minute. That’s depth showing up when it counts. 

The bad: Up 4–0, the Union let Orlando score in the 78th and 90th minutes. Iván Angulo got the first, and Martín Ojeda added the second. A win is a win, but I’d prefer to spend the last ten minutes enjoying a four-goal lead instead of wondering how comfortable it really is. 

The ugly: Honestly, there’s no disaster to manufacture from a 4–2 win with five starters missing. The late defending was sloppy, and that’s the note to take into the break. But if the worst thing we’re saying is “please finish your four-goal wins more cleanly,” the Union are in a pretty damn good place. 

Temple and the Flyers gave us plenty to complain about. The Union gave us something to brag about. That’s the Philly sports weekend in a nutshell: aggravation, aggravation, and then Iloski showing up with a hat trick to save our mood.

Jawn Kruk/Side Jawn Sports

I respect the hell out of the men and women who serve this country. Let’s get that out of the way first. But when Army rolls into the Linc on Friday, I want Temple to give the Black Knights a long ride home with an L.

The Owls open American Conference play coming off a 49–48 overtime loss at Toledo, and I’m still trying to process that one. Temple led by 14 with under seven minutes left. Sam Brown had 109 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Ajani Sheppard answered Toledo’s overtime score with a touchdown run of his own. Then Temple went for two and the win, and the pass fell incomplete. I liked the gutsy call. I would’ve liked the result a whole lot more.

The encouraging part? Temple can run the ball. The Owls have gained at least 176 yards on the ground in each of their first three games and are averaging 221.3 rushing yards per game. Keep that going Friday. Give Brown room to work, let Sheppard use his legs when the opportunity is there, and finish the drives that get into scoring range. Against Army, every possession feels a little more valuable because those dudes can hold onto the ball forever.

And yeah, stopping Army’s run game is the whole damn assignment. The Black Knights are averaging 394 rushing yards per game, best in the country. They opened the season by running for 569 against Bryant, then put up 219 on the ground in a 28–24 loss to South Florida. Quarterback Cale Hellums can hurt you with his legs, and Army has other backs who can break a play open. Temple’s defense has to stay disciplined, make the first tackle, and keep a four-yard gain from turning into a drive that eats half a quarter.

That doesn’t mean the Owls can ignore the pass, either. Hellums threw two touchdowns against South Florida. If Temple sells out against the run and loses track of somebody downfield, Army has shown it can make them pay. Linebacker Curly Ordonez, who has led the Owls in tackles in all three games, figures to have a busy Friday.

Army has won four straight against Temple, including a 14–13 game last season. There’s your extra motivation. This is a home conference opener, and after the way Toledo ended, the Owls have a chance to show they can respond instead of letting one painful loss turn into two.

Respect Army? Absolutely. Salute the people who serve? Every time. But for three hours Friday afternoon, I’m rooting for Temple to tackle like hell, run the ball down Army’s throat, and finally snap that streak.

Give me an Owls win, Cuz.

Temple vs. Army kicks off Friday, September 25, at 4 p.m. ET at Lincoln Financial Field. The game airs on ESPN.

-Jawn Kruk

Side Jawn Sports

For 31 years, Reading waited for another outright Eastern League championship. Last night, the Fightin Phils made sure nobody had to wait one more day. They beat Erie 13–4 at FirstEnergy Stadium, swept the championship series, and sent Baseballtown into one hell of a celebration.

And because this team apparently enjoys making us sweat, Erie jumped out to a 2–0 lead in the first. Reading tied it in the fourth on an Aidan Miller double and a wild pitch, only for Erie to go back ahead, 3–2. Then came the sixth inning. Carson DeMartini worked a bases-loaded walk to tie it, and Caleb Ricketts stepped up and launched a grand slam to put the Fightins in front for good. Bryan Rincon added an RBI single before the inning was over. Just like that, 3–2 Erie became 8–3 Reading.

DeMartini wasn’t done. He hit another grand slam in the eighth, giving him five RBIs on the night and turning the final innings into a championship party. Estibenzon Jimenez struck out the last batter, and that was it, the Fightins were champs.

The playoff numbers tell you how much of a team effort this was. Reading went 4–0, outscored Hartford and Erie 44–12, and put up 34 runs in its two home playoff games. Rincon and Ricketts each drove in seven runs across the four games. Rincon had five RBIs in the 21–4 playoff opener against Hartford and homered in the game that finished that series. Ricketts drove in four with last night’s slam after bringing home the only run in Sunday’s 1–0 win at Erie. DeMartini went 4-for-7 with five runs scored in the Hartford series, then delivered those five RBIs when the title was on the line.

The arms deserve their flowers, too. Luke Russo gave Reading five scoreless innings in that 1–0 win at Erie, and Jimenez closed out both the Hartford series and the championship clincher. One night this team won a pitching duel, the next it hit two grand slams. That’s a pretty damn good way to finish a season.

I got to cover the Fightins this year from afar and also in the booth a few times, so watching them finish it off means a little more to me. From that ridiculous 21-run playoff opener to the final strikeout last night, these guys gave Reading a run to remember. Enjoy every second of it, Baseballtown. Your Fightin Phils are champions!

-Jawn Kruk

Side Jawn Sports

A Split in the Flushing Sewer

Splitting four games with an already eliminated Mets team isn’t exactly parade worthy, but at least the Phillies left that dump with their dignity intact.

Aaron Nola opened the series by throwing seven shutout innings in a 3–0 win. Then the Phillies spent Friday and Saturday reminding us why trusting this bullpen is like buying sushi from a Kensington gas station. They lost 6–3 Friday, then blew a 3–1 lead Saturday and got their asses kicked, 10–3.

Thankfully, Cristopher Sánchez restored order Sunday. He allowed two runs over 6⅓ innings, Luis Arraez drove in two, and Justin Crawford cleared the bases with a three-run triple as the Phillies won 7–2.

A split against those scumbags wasn’t the goal, but the Phillies finished the weekend 86–70, four games ahead of Arizona for the final Wild Card spot with a magic number of three. Now they return home to face the best team in baseball, Milwaukee.

The division is gone. October is not. Handle your business, and, as always, fuck the Mets.

The Eagles Are 2–0 and Apparently Allergic to Winning Normally

The Eagles went into Nashville, played on turf hot enough to melt cleats, lost Saquon Barkley for part of the game, watched Dallas Goedert leave with a knee injury, turned the ball over twice, and somehow walked out with a 24–20 win.

Jalen Hurts wasn’t perfect. He threw two interceptions, including one on the opening drive, but when the game was on the line, he delivered. Hurts marched the Birds 65 yards and found Darius Cooper for the game-winning three-yard touchdown with nine seconds left.

DeVonta Smith was an absolute monster with 10 catches for 117 yards and a touchdown. Hurts finished with 264 yards and two scores, while Jake Elliott kept the Eagles alive by drilling a 58-yard field goal.

Was it pretty? Hell no. Did it raise my blood pressure? Absolutely. But 2–0 is 2–0, and when everything went sideways, Hurts still put the team on his back. Next up is Monday Night Football against the Bears. Go Birds, Dickhead.

Union–Sporting KC Wrap-Up

Down 3–0? Apparently the Union Had Them Right Where They Wanted Them

The Union fell behind Sporting Kansas City 3–0 in the first 16 minutes Saturday night and looked completely cooked. Then Quinn Sullivan entered at halftime, helped change the entire attack and the Boys in Blue went absolutely nuts. Bruno Damiani started the comeback in the 64th minute, Cavan Sullivan scored two minutes later, Milan Iloski tied it in the 68th and a Sporting KC own goal completed the public meltdown in the 73rd.

That’s four goals in nine minutes and a ridiculous 4–3 Union victory. Cavan officially finished with one goal and one assist, while Quinn recorded the assist on Cavan’s goal. The comeback extended the Union’s unbeaten streak to 11 matches, tying the club record. They return to Subaru Park on Saturday, September 26, to face Orlando City. DOOP!

One Win from Hanging a Banner in Baseballtown

The Reading Fightin Phils return home Tuesday night with a chance to win the Eastern League Championship.

Reading took Game 1 in Erie, 1–0, surviving a full-blown pitchers’ duel before finally breaking through in the ninth. Erie’s closer walked the bases loaded, and a sacrifice fly brought home the only run of the game.

It wasn’t flashy, but playoff baseball doesn’t care how pretty it looks. Reading’s pitching kept Erie off the scoreboard, the Fightins stayed patient, and now the SeaWolves have to win two straight games in Baseballtown to steal the title.

Game 2 starts Tuesday at 6:45 p.m. at FirstEnergy Stadium. The formula is simple: keep throwing strikes, make Erie’s pitchers work and don’t let the moment become bigger than the game. Win Tuesday and Reading claims its first Eastern League championship since 1995.

One more win. One packed ballpark. Go finish the damn thing, and Jawnie will be in the booth watching the fireworks! Go Fightins!

-Jawn Kruk

Side Jawn Sports

The Birds Grind One Out vs DC, Now On To Nashville

🦅 EAGLES VS. TITANS PREVIEW 🦅

The Eagles fly into Nashville on Sunday looking to start the season 2-0 after surviving Washington 24-22 in the opener. It wasn’t always pretty, and the Commanders made it way too close late, but a win is a win. Now the Birds face a Titans team that looked pretty damn rough in its 23-10 opening loss to the Jets. Tennessee managed only 195 yards of offense, and Calvin Ridley somehow went the entire game without a target. That feels almost impossible, but congratulations to them for finding a way.

Cam Ward has talent, a cannon for an arm and enough mobility to cause trouble, but this Eagles defense should make his afternoon miserable. Zack Baun is already flying around like a lunatic after earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week, and the Birds need to keep the pressure coming without letting Ward escape and extend plays.

The biggest concern is the Eagles’ offensive line without Landon Dickerson. Whoever starts at left guard gets the lovely assignment of dealing with Jeffery Simmons, so that should be relaxing. The offense also needs to stay on the field longer after managing only 10 first downs against Washington. Feed Saquon, get Dallas Goedert involved early and let Jalen Hurts make Tennessee pay through the air when they crowd the box.

This is one of those games a good football team should handle. Don’t get cute, don’t let an inferior team hang around and don’t turn Nashville into another four hour blood pressure test. Go Birds, Dickhead!

Prediction: Eagles 27, Titans 16.

📅 Sunday, September 20
⏰ 1:00 p.m.
📍 Nissan Stadium
📺 FOX

🦉 TEMPLE VS. TOLEDO PREVIEW 🦉

Temple heads to the Glass Bowl on Saturday for a real measuring-stick game against Toledo. Both teams are 1-1, but they arrive there in completely different moods. The Owls are coming off a 27-9 loss to Penn State, while Toledo just beat Central Connecticut State 63-10 like somebody forgot to turn the difficulty level up.

Don’t let that 63-piece scare you too much, though. This isn’t Penn State, and Temple showed it could hang around with a ranked opponent before the Nittany Lions pulled away in the second half. Now the Owls need to turn that effort into points because field goals and moral victories aren’t getting anybody excited around here.

The biggest job will be stopping Toledo’s explosive plays. Rockets quarterback John Alan Richter already has five touchdowns with only one interception, and Rico Bond just burned the defense for an 85-yard touchdown last week. Temple’s defense, led by Eric Stuart and Curly Ordonez, has to keep everything in front of it and make Toledo earn every yard instead of giving up a couple of cheap touchdowns.

Offensively, feed the running game, protect the football and figure out which quarterback can move the team consistently. Whether it’s Jaxon Smolik or Ajani Sheppard, Temple can’t spend the afternoon playing quarterback roulette while Toledo is launching rockets all over the damn field.

Toledo has won seven straight games at the Glass Bowl, so this won’t be easy. But if Temple controls the ball, avoids the big mistake and punches it into the end zone when the opportunity is there, the Owls can absolutely steal this one.

Go Owls!

📅 Saturday, September 19
⏰ 3:00 p.m.
📍 Glass Bowl — Toledo, Ohio
📺 CBS Sports Network

Villanova vs. LIU Preview

Villanova heads to Long Island on Saturday looking to get back on track after Louisville handed the Wildcats a 59-13 beatdown. We can call that one a “learning experience” and keep it moving.

The good news is LIU hasn’t exactly been terrifying anybody. The Sharks are 0-3, averaging just over 13 points per game and giving up points like they’re handing out free samples.

Villanova needs to establish the run, give Pat McQuaide time to throw and avoid the turnovers that can turn an easy afternoon into unnecessary Philly-area stress. Defensively, the Wildcats should be hungry to make a statement after giving up 59 last week.

This is a game Villanova should control. Just don’t show up thinking LIU will roll over because it’s their Homecoming game, and winless teams love treating games like this as their Super Bowl.

📅 Saturday, September 19
⏰ Noon
📍 Shark Stadium — Brookville, New York

⚾ Phillies vs. Mets Series Preview: Fuck the Mets

The Phillies roll into Citi Field for four games against the Mets, and let’s get the important part out of the way first: Fuck. The. Mets.

New York is already eliminated from playoff contention, while the Phillies are fighting for their postseason lives. That means the Mets have nothing left to play for besides trying to ruin our season, because being annoying is basically their organizational identity.

Thursday: Aaron Nola vs. Nolan McLean
Friday: Alan Rangel vs. Zach Thornton
Saturday: Andrew Painter vs. Christian Scott
Sunday: Cristopher Sánchez vs. Jonah Tong

Nola has pitched much better lately and needs to keep that going in the opener. Friday is the scary one with Rangel taking the injured Jesús Luzardo’s spot, so the Phillies’ bats can’t take the night off. Painter has looked sharper since returning from Triple-A, while Sánchez desperately needs to rediscover his first-half form after getting smacked around in his last two starts.

The Mets are 69-83, eliminated and coming off a sweep by Baltimore. The Phillies cannot stumble into the scummy confines of Queens and play down to them. Beat the team you’re supposed to beat, take care of business and don’t give their miserable fans one last happy memory before they crawl back into their holes for the winter.

Would I love a sweep? Absolutely. Am I predicting one and tempting the baseball gods? Hell no.

Jawn’s Prediction: Phillies take three out of four.

Now go bury these clowns and strengthen that Wild Card spot. Fuck The Mets!

-Jawn Kruk

Side Jawn Sports

🐍UNION VS. SPORTING KANSAS CITY PREVIEW🐍

The Boys in Blue are headed to Kansas City on Saturday night, and right now, they’re hotter than two crackheads fighting outside of Pete’s Clown House. IYKYK.

The Union have won eight of their last 10, haven’t lost since the World Cup break and are coming off back-to-back 5–0 beatdowns. Remember when this team was sitting dead last in the Eastern Conference and the season looked cooked? Well, apparently somebody hit the “Eff That” Button, because now they’re sitting in a playoff spot and playing like a team nobody wants to mess with.

And then there’s 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan, who had two goals and an assist against San Diego and has contributed to a goal in five straight matches. Since the World Cup break, Sullivan has racked up 12 goal contributions (6 goals and 5 assists) over his last 12 MLS games. That production rate matches Lionel Messi over their respective recent stretches, which is an absolutely ridiculous sentence to write about a teenager. Wild!

The kid can’t even legally buy a lottery ticket yet, but he’s out here making grown dudes look like they won their spot from a scratch-off from a papi store.

Sporting Kansas City is sitting dead last in MLS with a 5–16–3 record, but don’t start planning the victory parade just yet. They’re coming off a 3–1 win over LAFC, so they’re dangerous enough to ruin your night if the Union show up thinking the points are already packed in their bags.

Keep the pressure on, let Cavan keep cooking, and don’t give a struggling team any reason to believe. Take care of business in Kansas City, extend this unbeaten streak to 11 and keep this beautiful turnaround rolling. DOOP.

Side Jawn Prediction: Union win 3–1.

📅 Saturday, September 19
⏰ 8:30 p.m. ET
📺 Apple TV

-Jawn Kruk

Side Jawn Sports