October 17 national sports roundup: ALCS rainout, NBA overtime and Finals ahead

By Staff Writer · Published 10/17/2026, 2:14:36 AM ET

A seven-league briefing on Friday, October 16 results and the weekend ahead. Scores and schedules checked at 2 a.m. ET on October 17.

Data as of 10/17/2026, 2:00:00 AM ET · Updated 10/18/2026, 2:19:11 AM ET

MLB

Rain postponed Friday’s ALCS Game 4; Cleveland still leads Tampa Bay 2-1. The replacement dates are October 17, 8 p.m. ET, and October 18, 5 p.m. ET. Ticket assignments also changed. MLB rainout
Milwaukee hosts World Series Game 1 on October 23, awaiting the AL champion. MLB schedule

Friday’s preseason slate included Boston’s 125-120 overtime win at Philadelphia and Milwaukee’s 128-127 overtime win at Indiana. Joel Embiid scored 27; Tyler Herro had 25. Exhibition results do not change regular-season standings. NBA finals
Charlotte waived Pat Connaughton. Milwaukee moved its October 23 home opener earlier for the Brewers’ World Series appearance. No games are listed for October 17–18. Hornets move Bucks change October 18 schedule

Colorado rallied past Pittsburgh 5-2: Nathan MacKinnon had four points. Boston beat Anaheim 4-2 with three power-play goals, moving to 6-2-0; Michael DiPietro earned his first NHL win. Colorado report Boston report
Brady Tkachuk can become the first player with three consecutive hat tricks when Florida hosts Seattle October 17, 6 p.m. ET. Carolina’s Seth Jarvis remains subject to medical clearance. Tkachuk bid Status report

No Friday game. Houston (1-4) faces Jacksonville (4-1) in London October 18, 9:30 a.m. ET; Dallas visits Green Bay at 8:20 p.m. ET. NFL schedule
Injury reports rule out Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts and Baker Mayfield; Caleb Williams is questionable. NFL injury report

No Friday MLS games: the official October 12–19 schedule, checked October 17 at 2:35 a.m. ET, places the midweek slate on October 14 in Eastern Time. MLS official schedule data Nashville has 66 points and clinches the Supporters’ Shield with a win at San Jose October 17, 10:30 p.m. ET; other clinching paths depend on rivals. Shield scenarios
October 17: Miami visits Atlanta, 7:30 p.m. ET, after clinching a playoff berth; Houston hosts Dallas, 8:30 p.m. ET, with four points separating the Western contenders. MLS preview

The Finals open October 17 at Golden State, 3:30 p.m. ET. Both the Valkyries and Atlanta seek their first championship; Golden State won their regular-season series 3-0. Allisha Gray was listed day-to-day in the league preview after a hand procedure. Finals preview

Boston beat Louisville 2-1 on Friday, October 16. Amanda Gutierres scored in the ninth minute, Kayla Fischer equalized in the 22nd, and Deja Davis headed the winner in the 51st. Official Racing report
At this edition’s original October 17 cutoff, Gotham could secure the Shield with a win at Washington and a North Carolina win over San Diego. Ashley Sanchez entered that weekend with 20 goals, tying the single-season record. Original NWSL preview
October 17: Washington–Gotham, 12:30 p.m. ET; Utah–Kansas City, 6:30 p.m. ET; North Carolina–San Diego, 7 p.m. ET. The original preview listed a Washington win or draw as sufficient to clinch a playoff spot.