Longtime MLB scout Dick Groch died Wednesday, according to his family. He was 84 years old.

A cause of death was not disclosed.

Groch worked in the scouting department throughout his MLB career with the New York Yankees, Montreal Expos and Milwaukee Brewers.

The Yankees held a moment of silence for Groch before Game 3 of their American League Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox on Thursday.

For the Yankees, Groch was tasked with scouting Derek Jeter in 1992 and determining whether he was considering playing at the University of Michigan.

Groch thought highly of Jeter. He believed Jeter had the potential to be a Hall of Fame player. 

The scout said, per the Yankees, ‘He’s not going to the University of Michigan; the only place Derek Jeter is going is Cooperstown.”

After 20 years with the Yankees, the shortstop was selected as a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2020.

‘RIP Dick Groch. My Yankees scout who believed in me and signed me,’ Jeter wrote on social media. ‘Thoughts and prayers are with your family and loved ones.’

Groch left the Yankees in 2002, following Doug Melvin to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Sophie Cunningham hasn’t been at a press conference in a minute. The guard, who played 30 games before tearing the MCL in her right knee in August, had plenty to share at her Indiana Fever exit interview on Thursday.

Cunningham took aim at WNBA officials and leadership in her 12 minutes at the dais.

‘Our leadership needs to be held accountable,’ Cunningham said. ‘I think that there are a lot of people in position of power. They might be really great business people, but they don’t know s— about basketball.’

The Las Vegas Aces eliminated the Indiana Fever from the postseason in overtime in Game 5 of the semifinals Tuesday. Cunningham alluded to player safety as it relates to officiating and said the WNBA’s powerbrokers may not have a handle on what needs to change.

“It’s bad when fans and players, especially players, when we’re competing at the highest level, and it’s like a battlefield out there,’ Cunningham said. ‘(Opposing players are) agreeing on the court because of how awful the officials are. That’s saying something. Listen to us.

“There is room for improvement to change the criteria (for flagrant fouls) when the whole league is asking for it,’ she added.

Cunningham said she was proud of how the Fever fought to stay alive in the playoffs despite losing five players, including Caitlin Clark, to season-ending injuries. They finished 24-20 and advanced to the postseason for the second straight year, upsetting the Atlanta Dream in the first round before falling to the Aces.

‘The way fans embraced us from all over the world, reaching out to us, it was truly awesome, inspiring,’ she said ‘But it was also the season from hell and hopefully this never happens again.’

Cunningham, who was on a one-year deal after playing six seasons with the Phoenix Mercury, said she will listen to all offers this offseason but did not rule out returning to the Fever.

‘I love being here and I don’t think that’s news to anybody.’ the Missouri grad said. ‘Just being back in the Midwest, being around girls who you truly do love.

‘I had a great time here and I’d like to continue that.’

NEW YORK – A fourth-inning blitz and a 6-foot-6 beast of a rookie were all the New York Yankees needed to finally conquer their heated rivals in an elimination game.

Cam Schlittler, touching 98 to 100 mph on 64 of his 107 pitches, blasted through a largely overmatched Boston Red Sox lineup to strike out 12 and toss eight shutout innings, and a four-run rally started by a well-placed bloop double gave him more than enough support as the Yankees defeated the Red Sox 4-0 in the decisive Game 3 of their American League wild-card series Oct. 2.

The Yankees advance to the AL Division Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, beginning Oct. 4 at Rogers Centre as they aim to vanquish two division rivals on their path to defending their pennant.

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They won 94 games this season, five more than Boston and as many as Toronto, yet had to take the long, difficult and ultimately historic path to advancing out of this best-of-three series.

In the four-year history of this format, the 14 teams that won Game 1 went on to win the series, with the Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs taking care of business in their Game 3s by the time the first pitch was thrown at Yankee Stadium.

But the Yankees fell 3-1 in Game 1 and battled back for a 4-3 victory in Game 2, setting up this clash of rookies in the finale.

And it was taut, and tension-filled – for the first three innings.

Schlittler, who set a Yankees rookie record for strikeouts in a playoff start, and Red Sox lefty Connelly Early were equally on point, each striking out five through three innings, a relief to their managers after a pair of late-night bullpen wars in the first two games. But when Cody Bellinger skied a fly between a trio of Red Sox fielders in shallow right center field, Yankee Stadium thrummed with energy to start the bottom of the fourth.

Early’s most crucial mistake came next – a walk to Giancarlo Stanton, which preceded consecutive singles by Amed Rosario, Jazz Chisholm and Anthony Volpe to give New York a 2-0 lead.

The game was all but iced a batter later, when Austin Wells yanked a hard-hit ball right at Boston first baseman Nathaniel Lowe. He could not make the short-hop pick, and the ball ricocheted into right field. Two more runs, and a 4-0 advantage that Schlittler never put in jeopardy.

When he came back out for the top of the eighth inning, the crowd roared in approval – and got even louder when he struck out Romy Gonzalez to start the inning. It reached a crescendo when he induced a groundout of Trevor Story to end the eighth – retreating to a series of high fives from his dugout.

A scoreless ninth from David Bednar ended it and halted the Red Sox’s three-game streak of elimination game triumphs over New York, beginning with the gutting 2004 ALCS Game 7 loss, continuing with the 2018 ALDS and the 2021 wild-card game.

This time, there’d be no Boston magic – just third baseman Ryan McMahon going head-over-heels to snare a foul pop from Jarren Duran and secure the second out in the eighth.

As he flipped over, his No. 19 was exposed for all the world to see – the same number Aaron Boone wore in 2003 ALCS Game 7, when his home run sent Boston home for the winter.

Now, the demons of their past three meetings have been exorcised – and the Yankees, once again, will play on.

– Gabe Lacques

Cam Schlittler tosses eight scoreless innings

With a 4-0 lead, Aaron Boone made a surprise decision to bring Cam Schlittler back out for the eighth and the rookie rewarded his manager, getting through the inning on just seven pitches. He added his 12th strikeout of the night and third baseman Ryan McMahon made an unbelievable grab falling into the Red Sox dugout to catch a foul ball.

Cam Schlitter becoming Yankees legend?

The Yankees are six outs from advancing to the ALDS as Cam Schlittler has allowed five hits and no runs, while striking out 11 and no walks on 100 pitches through six innings.

The last time the Yankees blew a four-run lead in the postseason was Game 5 of the 2024 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, a game they lost 7-6, which handed the Dodgers the championship.

Schlittler’s 11 strikeouts are the most by a Yankees rookie pitcher in a postseason game.

Yankees break open game in fourth inning

Two Boston outfielders and the second baseman failed to catch a high pop-up to center by Cody Bellinger, allowing him to end up with a leadoff double. Amed Rosario plated the game’s first run with a single to left, and Anthony Volpe’s bases-loaded single to right scored another run.

Austin Wells then chopped a ball to first that was mishandled by Nathaniel Lowe, scoring two more for a 4-0 New York lead, ending the night of Red Sox starter Connelly Early. The rookie went 3 ⅔ innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits with five strikeouts and one walk in 78 pitches. Early was replaced by reliever Justin Slaten, who hit Aaron Judge with a pitch to load the bases but got Cody Bellinger to fly out and end the inning after 10 Yankees came to the plate.

Yankees waste Giancarlo Stanton’s leadoff double

Giancarlo Stanton got the bottom of the second started with a leadoff double to deep left, but the Yankees couldn’t capitalize, as Ben Rice struck out swinging on a filthy sweeper, Amed Rosario popped out to center and Jazz Chisholm Jr. struck out looking.

Connelly Early makes quick work of Yankees in first

Connelly Early, the 23-year-old starter for the Red Sox, started by quickly striking out Trent Grisham on five pitches. Aaron Judge then flew out to center, and Cody Bellinger grounded out to shortstop on consecutive pitches. Very efficient start for Early.

Nothing doing for Red Sox in first inning

Yankees starter Cam Schlittler took the hill on a 60-degree night and didn’t look like a rookie in the first inning, getting leadoff hitter Jarren Duran to line out to second, before Trevor Story popped out and Alex Bregman ended the inning by striking out looking.

Bucky Dent throws first pitch at Yankee Stadium

Red Sox lineup today

1. Jarren Duran (L) LF
2. Trevor Story (R) SS
3. Alex Bregman (R) 3B
4. Masataka Yoshida (L) DH
5. Ceddanne Rafaela (R) CF
6. Nathaniel Lowe (L) 1B
7. Carlos Narváez (R) C
8. Wilyer Abreu (L) RF
9. Romy Gonzalez (R) 2B

Yankees lineup today

1. Trent Grisham (L) CF
2. Aaron Judge (R) RF
3. Cody Bellinger (L) LF
4. Giancarlo Stanton (R) DH
5. Ben Rice (L) 1B
6. Amed Rosario (R) 3B
7. Jazz Chisholm Jr. (L) 2B
8. Anthony Volpe (R) SS
9. Austin Wells (L) C

Connelly Early is Red Sox starting pitcher

NEW YORK — Who is Connelly Early, you ask?

He’s less than a month removed from his major league debut, which came Sept. 9, which was just a little more than a year since he was toiling for the Class A Greenville (S.C.) Drive in the South Atlantic League.

And now? A win-or-go-home game, before nearly 50,000 in Yankee Stadium, barely two years removed from the University of Virginia.

Nervous, kid?

‘Let’s go. Let’s do it,’ Early said after the Red Sox suffered a 4-3 loss in Game 2, and roughly a couple minutes after pitching coach Andrew Bailey told him it was his ball for Game 3.

– Gabe Lacques

Jarren Duran

Jarren Duran tries to get over Game 2 misplay

NEW YORK — Technically, Jarren Duran was not charged with an error on Aaron Judge’s fifth-inning fly to left that he came in on, dove for and then, simply, dropped. Catching it would’ve ended the inning, kept the score tied 2-2, and Trevor Story’s homer the next inning would’ve given Boston the lead, rather than tie it.

The final four innings had enough drama that Duran’s semi-muff got largely forgotten. Duran will have a lot more trouble turning the page.

“This one’s going to sting a little bit. I know this game is 100% on me,” Duran said. “Trevor hits the homer, we take the lead. I messed it up, gave them momentum. But that one’s on me. I’m going to have to wear that one.

“I’m excited to play tomorrow and redeem myself.”

– Gabe Lacques

AI-assisted summary
• A Texas judge has set a February 18 trial date for one of the last two pending civil lawsuits against Deshaun Watson.
• The lawsuit accuses Watson of pressuring a woman into oral sex during a massage session in December 2020.
• Watson’s attorney has previously described this particular lawsuit as a ‘sham’ and aggressively denied the allegations.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson never went to trial for any of the 27 lawsuits that accused him of sexual misconduct during massage appointments in 2020 and early 2021. But now one of those cases actually has a trial date in Houston – Feb. 18.

That was the date assigned by a judge in Harris County, Texas, for one of the last two pending civil cases against Watson, according to court records obtained this week by USA TODAY Sports.

Of the 27 lawsuits, 24 were resolved with confidential settlements. The other three include one that was withdrawn shortly after being filed in Match 2021, another one that is pending but has been dormant for years and the one that is now assigned for trial.

The latter case was filed in October 2022 and was described by Watson’s attorney, Rusty Hardin, as a “sham lawsuit.” Hardin has aggressively denied allegations made by the woman who filed it, which stated Watson pressured her into oral sex during a massage session at the Houstonian Hotel in December 2020.

The women’s attorney also recently has been trying to compel Watson to testify for another deposition in the case, but Watson’s legal team has been fighting it by saying it’s far too late for that after Watson previously sat for a deposition in the case on June 9, 2023.

‘He really has not done what they alleged he did,’ Hardin told USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday. ‘I think a jury will agree with us and that’s why we have courthouses… It’s just so sad he has to live with this five years later.’

Why this lawsuit against Deshaun Watson stands out

It was one of the last two lawsuits filed against Watson and was the only lawsuit not filed by the law firm of Houston attorney Tony Buzbee.

Of the first 25 lawsuits filed against Watson, starting in March 2021, 23 reached confidential settlements by August 2022, one was withdrawn in 2021 and one remains dormant.

The lawsuit set for trial in February was the 26^th filed against Watson in Harris County and came after the NFL suspended Watson for 11 games in August 2022 based on similar allegations made by other women.

The plaintiff in the case is represented by attorney Anissah Nguyen, who didn’t return a message seeking comment.

The 27th lawsuit against Watson was filed by Buzbee’s firm in September 2024 but was settled shortly after that.

The other pending case that has been dormant for years also could go to trial in 2026, Hardin said Wednesday. The plaintiff in that case, Lauren Baxley, filed suit in March 2021 and was one of the first to go public with allegations against Watson in the news media.

Deshaun Watson remains sidelined for Browns

In Watson’s defense in the other cases, Hardin said Watson sometimes had consensual sexual encounters during massage sessions but denied wrongdoing. Watson never was arrested or charged with a crime.

The incidents described in all the lawsuits allegedly came in 2020 and early 2021, when Watson was a member of the Texans. That team also reached confidential settlements with 30 women with claims related to Watson after being accused of enabling his behavior and failing to prevent it. In March 2022, the Texans traded him to the Browns, who gave him a five-year contract worth $230 million guaranteed.

But because of the suspension and injuries, Watson only has played in 19 games for the Browns since then. This year, Watson, 30, hasn’t played at all after undergoing a second surgery in January to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

AI-assisted summary
• Season-ending injuries to star wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Malik Nabers have created a critical need for fantasy football managers to find replacements.
• Several teams are on a bye in Week 5, sidelining key players like Rome Odunze, DK Metcalf, Bijan Robinson and Josh Jacobs.

Season-ending injuries for a pair of star wide receivers, plus the first round of bye weeks, makes this a critically important time for fantasy football managers to fortify their rosters.

The devastating news that Tyreek Hill of the Dolphins and Malik Nabers of the Giants will miss the rest of the season with knee injuries will make wide receivers a top priority on the fantasy waiver wire heading into Week 5.

In addition, the Falcons, Bears, Packers and Steelers are off this week – depriving fantasy teams the services of WRs Rome Odunze (WR3 through four weeks) and DK Metcalf (WR17) among others. Running backs Bijan Robinson and Josh Jacobs will also be absent in fantasy lineups due to the bye.

Fantasy football players to add for Week 5

Due to the wide variance in types of leagues and individual team needs, the players listed here include their availability rates in Yahoo leagues, which may or may not match rates on other platforms. (Suggested bid values based on $100 free agent acquisition budget for the season.)

RB Woody Marks, Houston Texans (32% rostered)

Marks was one of our featured pickups last week, so hopefully you got him at a discount before his breakout game against the Titans. He tallied 17 carries for 69 yards and a touchdown, while adding four receptions for 50 yards and another score. Nick Chubb may still be the nominal starter, but Marks is set to go. (Recommended FAAB bid: $19)

UPDATE: RB Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (51%)

The addition of starting running back Bucky Irving to this week’s injury report puts White in position to be the lead back on Sunday at Seattle. White played a season-high 30 snaps in Week 4, though he only rushed for 17 yards on six carries and caught four passes for 29 yards. However, he does have experience in the role — with 990 rushing yards and six TDS in 2022. And he’s been effective as a pass-catcher as well. In deep leagues, Sean Tucker (6% rostered) could be a worthwhile stash. (FAAB bid: $11)

UPDATE: Emari Demercado, Arizona Cardinals (12%)

Similarly, Trey Benson going on injured reserve Wednesday elevates Demercado’s fantasy profile. Mostly a third-down weapon behind Benson and James Conner (out for the season), Demercado caught a 7-yard touchdown pass in Week 4. But can he handle the rushing workload on early downs? We should find out this week. Fortunately for him, it will come against the lowly Tennessee Titans defense. (FAAB bid: $10)

WR Wan’Dale Robinson, New York Giants (49%)

Although he had just three catches for 14 yards in Week 4, Robinson (who we first mentioned as a Week 3 pickup) stands to see the biggest increase in targets with Nabers out for the year. In deeper leagues, Darius Slayton (3% rostered) would be another potential pickup. Without Nabers, the Giants are also more likely to be playing from behind the rest of the way. (FAAB bid: $9)

WR Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers (40%)

Doubs won’t be able to help you this week since the Packers are off. However, he has become QB Jordan Love’s go-to receiver so far. He certainly boosted his fantasy stock on Sunday night with three TD receptions in Dallas – even though he’s only averaging 3.3 receptions and 44.8 yards through four games. If you can wait a week, Doubs could be the best available option to replace Nabers’ or Hill’s production. (FAAB bid: $8)

RB Kendre MIller, New Orleans Saints (5%)

The oft-injured third-year back showed why he should still be in the fantasy conversation in Sunday’s surprisingly close loss to the Bills. Recalling his huge outing in Week 18 last year (you do remember that, right?), Miller looked better than starter Alvin Kamara on the gound with 11 carries for 65 yards and a TD. With the Giants and Bears coming up in the next three weeks, he may have additional opportunities to shine. (FAAB bid: $7)

RB Justice HIll, Baltimore Ravens (4%)

With the Ravens playing catch-up against the Chiefs, Hill saw the field for a season-high 31 snaps. He caught a touchdown pass among his five receptions for 41 yards and added a 71-yard TD run in the fourth quarter to top off a fantastic fantasy performance that put him as the RB4 on the week. It’s hard to see him duplicating those numbers as long as Derrick Henry remains healthy. But as far as backups go …. (FAAB bid: $6)

QB Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (43%)

If not for Dak Prescott’s monster game on Sunday night, Stafford would have been the week’s No. 1 fantasy quarterback on the strength of his 375-yard, 3-TD effort against the Colts. Having the top overall fantasy performer in Puka Nacua on the receiving end certainly helps Stafford’s prospects going forward. If you could be without Lamar Jackson, Brock Purdy or a QB on bye this week and need a streamer, Stafford faces the 49ers on Thursday. (FAAB bid: $6)

WR Marvin Mims, Denver Broncos (24%)

Looking for the hot hand? Mims fits the bill. He caught all six of his targets for 69 yards and scored on a 16-yard run against the hapless Bengals defense on Monday night. But don’t be too quick to dismiss Mims’ efforts because of the opposition. Denver lines up against the Eagles, Jets, Giants and Cowboys over the next four weeks – all of which are in the bottom half of fantasy defenses against wide receivers. (FAAB bid: $6)

WR Malik Washington, Miami Dolphins (4%)

With Tyreek out for the season, Washington figures to see considerably more targets going forward. Jaylen Waddle is likely to take over the role as No. 1 receiver, but as defenses adjust to limit him, Washington should have more room to operate. He does have big-play ability – as evidenced by his 74-yard punt return touchdown in Week 2. (FAAB bid: $4)

TE Darren Waller, Miami Dolphins (8%)

After missing all of last season and coming out of retirement, the veteran returned to the league with a bang on Monday night, catching a pair of touchdown passes. His presence as a legitimate receiving threat looms large for the Dolphins in the wake of Hill’s injury since they got almost nothing out of the tight end over the first three weeks. (FAAB bid: $4)

QB Jaxson Dart, New York Giants (23%)

More of a long-term play than a weekly streaming option, Dart was both a fantasy winner and loser this week. Yes, his first NFL start was a successful one, but he lost his best weapon in Nabers. Dart’s rushing ability (12 carries, 54 yards, TD vs. the Chargers) will give him a decent floor. But the rookie will be challenged to put up the passing numbers necessary to make him an every-week fantasy starter. (FAAB bid: $4)

RB Kenneth Gainwell, Pittsburgh Steelers (23%)

Normally a player who rushed for 99 yards and a pair of touchdowns (with six catches for another 35 yards) would put him at the top of the waiver wire options, not the bottom. However, Gainwell’s performance in Ireland only came because starter Jaylen Warren was inactive. With Pittsburgh on bye this week, Warren is likely to be back at full strength for Week 6. Still, if you need depth at running back, Gainwell has shown he can produce if called upon. (FAAB bid: $3)

(This file has been updated with new additions.)