Saturday, September 27, 2025

Good morning! We’ve got a jam-packed Jewish Sport Report for you on this fine Friday. Let’s dive right in.

The Jewish players who could swing the MLB playoff seeding

Alex Bregman, Rowdy Tellez, Harrison Bader and Max Fried (Getty Images)

The MLB regular season is coming down to its final games, and the playoff picture is far from settled. A number of teams in the hunt for a postseason spot — three division winners and three Wild Card teams in each league — feature a Jewish player (or multiple). Here’s a breakdown of where things stand as of Friday morning, starting with the American League:

New York Yankees: The Bronx Bombers, which feature ace Max Fried (and a quartet of Jewish relievers in Triple-A, two of whom have MLB experience), currently own the AL’s top Wild Card spot. Fried, in the first year of a historic eight-year contract, has been stellar lately, posting a 1.60 ERA over his past six starts, including a 13-strikeout gem on Thursday.

Houston Astros: The Astros and Seattle Mariners are tied for the lead in the AL West. The Astros called up pitcher Colton Gordon on Sept. 12, and the Team Israel alum has pitched out of the bullpen twice this week after starting 14 games for Houston earlier this season. Whichever team drops from first in the division will own the second Wild Card.

Boston Red Sox: The Sox have struggled in the wake of injuries to multiple of their starters, and currently have the AL’s third Wild Card spot, with only a 1.5 game lead over the surging Cleveland Guardians, who have won seven straight. Boston’s third baseman, Alex Bregman, has been in a serious slump, with a .207 batting average and only one home run in his past 30 games.

Texas Rangers: The 2023 World Series champs are making a late push for a postseason spot, currently sitting four games back of the final Wild Card spot and five games back in the AL West. First baseman Rowdy Tellez has been an important bat for the Rangers since he joined the club in July, and he’s hitting .385 over his past seven games. Joc Pederson is in the midst of the worst season of his 12-year career, but the veteran is known for his postseason prowess — taking on the moniker “Joctober” — and could be a key player for Texas down the stretch.

Philadelphia Phillies: The Phils are the first team in the sport to clinch their division, the National League East, and feature a trio of Jewish players, two with playoff experience. Outfielder Harrison Bader — who wears a Star of David on his belt — has proven to be one of the best trade deadline moves in the game, hitting .331 in 41 games since joining the Phillies, while playing his signature elite defense. Reliever Max Lazar has struggled in his stints in the big leagues this season, posting a 5.00 ERA in 36 innings, while backup catcher Garrett Stubbs has yet to take an at-bat in two games since joining the team Sept. 1. Stubbs has appeared in the postseason in three seasons, while Bader has played in 31 playoff games across five years.

For the rest of the league’s Jewish players — Zack Gelof (Athletics), Dean Kremer (Baltimore Orioles) and Spencer Horwitz (Pittsburgh Pirates) — better luck next year ...

Halftime report

MAY HIS MEMORY BE A BLESSING. Canadian Jewish hockey player Orca Wiesblatt was killed in a car accident last weekend at the age of 25. The Wiesblatts are a big hockey family — younger brother Ozzy made his NHL debut in January — and have made headlines for their inspiring story. Both parents are deaf, and all four sons have made it to the upper echelons of hockey. Orca was set to play for the Allen Americans of the ECHL this season.

OFF-TRACK. The final leg of La Vuelta a España, Spain’s most prestigious cycling race, was scrapped earlier this week after pro-Palestinian protests blocked roads to oppose the inclusion of the Israel-Premer Tech team, an Israeli cycling team co-owned by Canadian-Israeli billionaire Sylvan Adams, who has helped boost the sport in Israel.

BACK AT IT. Former Yeshiva University standout Ryan Turell will play this season with Ironi Nahariya, a team in the second tier of Israeli professional basketball. Turell, who had long said playing in Israel was a goal of his, played last year with Ironi Ness Ziona in the top tier league.

A NEW PITCH. Former tennis star Diego Schwartzman is now playing soccer for one of Buenos Aires’ Jewish sports clubs. After retiring from tennis earlier this year, Schwartzman is competing for Barkojba in the division for players 28 and older. He usually plays midfield and says he is playing nearly every week.

SECOND IS THE BEST. Israel was an unexpected powerhouse in this year’s EuroBasket tournament, and even though the team was eliminated in the Round of 16, Israeli national team star Deni Avdija drew praise for his stellar play. Avdija, who averaged 24 points per game, was named to the tournament's All-Star Second Team. The NBA veteran is coming off a breakout year with the Portland Trail Blazers.

IN MEMORIAM. Israel held a memorial ceremony on Wednesday to mark the 53rd anniversary of the 1972 Munich Olympics Massacre, during which 11 members of the Israeli delegation were murdered in a terrorist attack. “Every world medal, every Olympic medal, embodies the strength of the Israeli character, embodies the memory of our loved ones, and tells them with pride: you were murdered in cruelty, but your spirit and your soul are present in each of the 20 Olympic medals that Israeli athletes have won,” said Yael Arad, the chair of Israel's Olympic committee.

HEADED DOWN UNDER. Midfielder Jake Girdwood-Reich was loaned by his MLS team, St. Louis City S.C., to the New Zealand squad Auckland FC, the 2024-25 champions in the Australian A-League. Girdwood-Reich, 21, is a Clovelly, Australia, native and will be with Auckland through June 2026.

Jews in sports to watch this weekend (all times ET)

⚾ IN BASEBALL...

Team Israeli alumni Spencer Horwitz (Pittsburgh Pirates) and Zack Gelof (Athletics) face off this weekend in a three-game series. Rowdy Tellez, Joc Pederson and the Texas Rangers host the Miami Marlins, while Harrison Bader, Max Lazar, Garrett Stubbs and the Philadelphia Phillies face the Arizona Diamondbacks.

🏈 IN FOOTBALL...

A.J. Dillon and the Philadelphia Eagles host the L.A. Rams Sunday at 1 p.m. In the NCAA, quarterback Jake Retzlaff and Tulane face No. 13 Ole Miss Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Retzlaff took home the American Athletic Conference’s Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for four touchdowns to lead the Green Wave to their third straight win to open the season.

⚽ IN SOCCER...

In the MLS, Liel Abada and Charlotte F.C. play New York City Saturday at 12 p.m. Tai Baribo and the Philadelphia Union host Ilay Feingold, Dor Turgeman, Matt Turner and the New England Revolution Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Daniel Edelman and the New York Red Bulls face Montréal Saturday at 7:30 p.m. DeAndre Yedlin and Real Salt Lake play LAFC Sunday at 9 p.m. In La Liga, Manor Solomon and Villareal host Osasuna Saturday at 12:30 p.m.

🏎 IN RACING...

Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll races in the Formula One Azerbaijan Grand Prix Sunday at 7 a.m.