The Lineup: Monday, September 23

Author:
Mike Bebernes
Publish date:
Sep 23, 2013

Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

But does the sewage get on base? Send any suggestions to SI.TheLineup@gmail.com. (Bold indicates a national broadcast. All times Eastern.)

Pregame Reads

Are there any sportswriters you love to hate-read? Teddy Wayne of the New York Timeslooks into the phenomenon.
Players' discontent with the NCAA was expressed on their uniforms this weekend. Outside the Lines explains.
I'm a bit late to this, but BIll Connelly of SB Nation put together a beautiful visual presentation around his tale of a Big Ten road trip.

Starter

NFL Monday Night Football: Oakland Raiders vs. Denver Broncos, 8:25p.m. (ESPN)

Let's be honest: The audience for this game will be largely comprised of fantasy GMs who are counting (on) their players' production. Expect one of your buddies to become a die-hard member of the Black Hole, at least as far as stymying the Broncos Thomas (Demaryius and Julius) goes.

Reserves

MLB

Orioles vs. Rays, 3:10p.m.

Brewers vs. Braves, 7:10p.m.

Mets vs. Reds, 7:10p.m.

Phillies vs. Marlins, 7:10p.m.

Astros vs. Rangers, 8:05p.m.

Pirates vs. Cubs, 8:05p.m.

Tigers vs. Twins, 8:10p.m.

Blue Jays vs. White Sox, 8:10p.m.

Nationals vs. Cardinals, 8:15p.m.

Athletics vs. Angels, 10:05p.m.

Diamondbacks vs. Padres, 10:10p.m.

Royals vs. Mariners, 10:10p.m.

WNBA Playoffs

Atlanta Dream vs. Washington Mystics, 8:00p.m. (NBA TV)

L.A. Sparks vs. Phoenix Mercury, 10:00p.m. (ESPN2)

Tonight offers a pair of win-or-go home games in these best-of-three playoff series. Atlanta and Washington play for the opportunity to take on the defending champion Indiana Fever. The Western Conference game will result in either league MVP Candace Parker or two of the WNBA's most recognizable stars, Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi, watching from home.

Tennis

WTA: Toray Pan Pacific Open, 10:00p.m. (ESPN3)

FIFA Beach World Cup

United Arab Emirates vs. United States, 9:48p.m. (ESPN3)

Solomon Islands vs. El Salvador, 11:18p.m. (ESPN3)

Mission October: Cleveland Indians, 7:30p.m. (Fox Sports 1)

WWE Monday Night Raw, 8:00p.m. (USA)

Basketball Wives, 8:00p.m.

Dancing with the Stars, 8:00p.m. (ABC)

Everything you need to know about why you might find some unintentional comedy in this show can be found in this GIF of Bill Nye the Science Guy.

New Recruit

Esquire Network Launch, 9:00p.m. (Esquire)

The long-celebrated magazine gets its own network, which will continue the print edition's celebration of hotties, handsomeness, and half-beards. While there are no explicitly sports-centered shows on the schedule right now, all of the programming has that edge of smug machismo that you may enjoy. The channel launches with a celebration of 80 years of the magazine, which, jokes aside, has been home to some of the best writing (and sportswriting) anywhere for decades.