WASHINGTON -- The Los Angeles Dodgers weren't necessarily expecting Max Scherzer to jog out of the bullpen and pitch in relief Friday night in their most recent game in the MLB playoffs -- but they weren't necessarily surprised by it, either.

"Boston showed us last year," Max Muncy, among the Dodgers' most feared hitters, said. "If a guy's not starting, that doesn't mean he's not going to pitch that day."

Barely 11 months earlier, the Boston Red Sox made up for a flawed bullpen by filling a combined 9⅔ innings over the course of five World Series games with relief efforts from David Price, Chris Sale and Nathan Eovaldi. Unburdened by the thought of facing the same hitters multiple times over, they threw every pitch with maximum effort, saw their stuff play up and bullied the Dodgers into their second consecutive final-round exit.

The Washington Nationals, suddenly holding the advantage after earning a road split to begin this National League Division Series, are navigating the postseason with similar intent. Their bullpen is, by every measure, dreadful. But their starting rotation is a major strength. And the constraints of a five-game series allow for the type of creativity that can suddenly make a powerhouse team like the Dodgers seem vulnerable.

The Dodgers were 13 wins and 124 runs better than the Nationals this season. But you can divide those 162 games into 54 three-game increments and find 14 instances when the Dodgers lost at least two out of three. And that's what their sensational season comes down to at this moment -- a best of three, starting with back-to-back games from Nationals Park. (Game 3 is Sunday at 7:45 p.m. ET on TBS.)

The Nationals' approach seems simple: They have a possibility of 27 innings to cover, and Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin need to absorb as many of them as possible.

The Dodgers probably won't advance if they don't break through against at least one of them.

"They trust their starters, and they're going to rely on their starters," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the 4-2 loss in Game 2. "We just gotta keep taking good at-bats."

The Dodgers showed a patient approach against Corbin and his heavy slider in a victorious Game 1, but their only runs came off a quartet of walks and a misplayed grounder. The damage was done against a bullpen that finished the regular season with a major league-worst 5.66 ERA, a unit that Nationals manager Dave Martinez will desperately try to avoid.

In Game 2 the following night, the Dodgers, with an NL-best .810 OPS and 279 home runs this season, accumulated five hits and 17 strikeouts against Strasburg, Scherzer and the only two Nationals relievers who will be trusted this month -- Sean Doolittle and Daniel Hudson. Later that night, in a cramped visitors clubhouse at Dodger Stadium, Scherzer was asked to describe the magnitude of the sacrifices made by him and Strasburg, both of whom logged high-intensity innings on short rest.

He scanned the room.

"I think everybody would do that in this situation," Scherzer said. "It's not just us; there's 25 guys playing at the same level. From the outside looking in, maybe it looks like that. Not in this clubhouse."

When the Nationals boarded their cross-country flight back home Saturday morning, they were still uncertain whether it would be Scherzer or Anibal Sanchez starting opposite Dodgers left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu in Game 3. Scherzer could start Game 3, then come out of the bullpen in a potential Game 5. Strasburg could technically help out of the bullpen in Monday's Game 4, then start Game 5 two days later. Corbin could pitch out of the bullpen in Game 3, or start on short rest in Game 4, or give the Nationals whatever they need in Game 5.

It sounds exhausting, all of it -- but that's what it might take to put the Dodgers on their heels.

Some "old-fashioned" stern words from head coach Steve Hansen inspired New Zealand to their huge 71-9 victory over Namibia in the Rugby World Cup.

The All Blacks were being held at 10-9 after 30 minutes by the tournament's lowest ranked team, before scoring 47 unanswered points after the break.

The crowning moment was when Brad Weber threw a behind-the-back pass for TJ Perenara to dot down in the corner.

"It was a special one, it even got me out of my seat," said coach Hansen.

Hooker Dane Coles, however, said Hansen had earlier been furious with his players at half-time - giving them one of the biggest dressing-downs he has ever experienced.

"It was one of the better ones I've heard. And rightly so, to be fair. We deserved it," said Coles, rating it as a nine or 10 out of 10.

"It was good, a bit old-fashioned, you don't really see that too much these days. But I think it was just what we needed to get things going.

"When that first word came out of his mouth I knew something was on."

Hansen, though, described the half-time team talk a little differently.

"We just talked about making sure we got our heads in the right place and simplify the game a little bit," he said.

Perenara, who is usually a scrum-half but was playing at fly-half outside Weber, said he thought his "feet were out" for the All Blacks' 11th and final try.

"I knew I had the ball down," he said.

"Ten [Helarius Kisting] makes a good tackle on me and I tried to get my feet in the air but I thought he had kept me down."

The 27-year-old also said the pass from the "skilful" Weber was "pretty cool".

"I was screaming that I would be on the left and he sort of shaped right and threw it behind his back," he added.

Arsenal held on for a scrappy 1-0 win over Bournemouth after dominating much of the first half.

The Gunners moved up to third behind Manchester City and Liverpool, but will be disappointed at the lacklustre nature of the win as Eddie Howe's men almost pulled off a shock at the Emirates.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang fizzed a shot from 20 yards just wide early on but Arsenal took the lead inside 10 minutes as £72m summer signing Nicolas Pepe whipped in a good corner and David Luiz was left unmarked to head past Aaron Ramsdale in the Bournemouth goal.

It was almost 1-1 when Dominic Solanke flicked wide from only eight yards out but Bournemouth were unable to get into the game beyond that and Pepe curled a shot wide before falling in the box under a tackle from Diego Rico. Referee Martin Atkinson ruled no penalty and the VAR check did not see reason to overturn it.

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The 18-year-old Bukayo Saka, starting again on the wing, tested Ramsdale on 36 minutes but it was easily saved.

Then Dani Ceballos found plenty of space and his teasing cross found Calum Chambers at the far post. The defender hit a fine volley but it went wide of the target.

Just before half-time, Pepe again went over after an apparent push from Rico, but no penalty was given after another VAR check.

Bournemouth came out firing from the break as Callum Wilson turned Luiz and then rounded Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno, only for Chambers to clear his cross off the goalline before Harry Wilson could poke home.

Lazy defending from Sead Kolasinac saw Jack Stacey get past him and clip a shot which Leno did well to palm away.

Pepe made way for young Gabriel Martinelli, who impressed in midweek with two goals in the Europe League, while Bournemouth brought on a player linked to Arsenal in the transfer window: Ryan Fraser.

Substitute Joe Willock fed Martinelli, who shot wide, but Arsenal could have conceded a penalty as Wilson was barged over by Kolasinac.

Aubameyang hit the post late on and Lucas Torreira came on to try and preserve Arsenal's lead, which he did. Though given the home side's advantage in the first half, it should have been a lot simpler.

Chelsea won back-to-back Premier League games under Frank Lampard for the first time with a 4-1 win at Southampton.

Tammy Abraham's eighth league goal of the season set the Blues on their way after 17 minutes before Mason Mount doubled the lead. Danny Ings' effort on 30 minutes gave Southampton hope but N'Golo Kante's deflected effort before half-time gave the visitors breathing space again.

Christian Pulisic, on as a substitute, found Michy Batshuayi in the 89th minute and he made no mistake to complete the rout.

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Victory at St Mary's moved Lampard's men up to fourth, with struggling Southampton still just a point above the bottom three.

Chelsea looked a little lethargic in the opening stages and were fortunate not to go behind inside the first minute as Nathan Redmond's fierce drive just whistled over the bar.

Abraham then tested Angus Gunn with a low shot before getting the better of him following a good pass from Callum Hudson-Odoi. Abraham took a neat touch and lofted the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper and despite Maya Yoshida's attempts to clear, goalline technology proved the ball crossed the line.

Southampton were reeling and just seven minutes later, Mount grabbed his fourth of the season following a slick move. Willian pounced on poor defending and the ball eventually found Mount, who slammed past Gunn to put Chelsea in charge.

Mount should have made it 3-0 but screwed wide soon after and he and Chelsea were made to pay when Ings diverted a cross from the right in to reduce the deficit.

Southampton looked invigorated following Ings' strike but were left deflated just before half time when Kante's effort deflected past Gunn to restore Chelsea's two-goal advantage.

Hudson-Odoi almost made it 4-1 just after the break but Gunn stood firm to deny him and Chelsea closed the game out with relative ease to claim a fourth win in a row in all competitions, with Batshuayi finishing things off late on.

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Ben Roethlisberger's first game back on the Pittsburgh Steelers' sideline since undergoing elbow surgery was painful -- in the wallet.

The NFL fined Roethlisberger $5,000 for a uniform violation because the star quarterback wore an Apple Watch when the Steelers hosted the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night, sources told ESPN.

Roethlisberger is said to be "livid" about the fine and is appealing it, according to sources. But NFL rules ban all electric devices that transmit messaging.

Roethlisberger wore the Apple Watch on the sideline during the Monday Night Football game. His issue is that he never received any advanced warning that he could be in violation, only a fine letter for wearing the device -- which he didn't even realize he had on, according to sources.

With Roethlisberger unable to use his right arm, his wife dressed him for the Monday night game and strapped the Apple Watch on his left wrist. Roethlisberger then assumed a position he rarely has in his NFL career -- standing in street clothes, including an Apple Watch, on the Steelers' sideline.

The Minnesota Vikings have fined wide receiver Stefon Diggs more than $200,000 for unexcused absences from practices and meetings, sources told ESPN.

Diggs missed all team meetings Monday and Tuesday as well as two practices, but he is expected to be active Sunday when the Vikings visit the New York Giants, according to sources.

Despite the unexcused absences, the Vikings are not likely to trade Diggs before the Oct. 29 deadline, although they could revisit trade talks involving the star wide receiver during the offseason, according to league sources.

Multiple teams have reached out to the Vikings to see whether they would be interested in trading Diggs, and all have been told that Minnesota will not deal him, according to sources.

There are teams that believe, if given a strong enough offer, Minnesota could be convinced otherwise, but they acknowledge it would take "an offer they can't refuse."

Chances are overwhelming that a deal involving Diggs won't be completed this season before the trade deadline, according to sources.

Diggs acknowledged this past week that there is "truth" to some of the rumors about a potential trade. And the truth is, teams want a player as talented as Diggs, who has a reputation as a team player -- not as a malcontent -- despite recent days' events, including his absences.

But Minnesota has rejected all advances, and it would take an aggressive push from another team to try to change the Vikings' mind.

To help you set your lineups and avoid starting a player who won't take the field, we will post fantasy-relevant updates and analysis here as NFL teams release their inactives lists, typically about 90 minutes before kickoff. Any rankings cited in this column come from our ESPN Fantasy staff ranks.

Refresh often for the latest information.

1 p.m. ET games

Offense

Damiere Byrd WR ARI: Hamstring -- Questionable
Impact: Not expected to play. KeeSean Johnson to start.

Christian Kirk WR ARI: Ankle -- OUT
Impact: Could be back Week 6. Trent Sherfield gets chance to shine.

Devin Singletary RB BUF: Hamstring -- Questionable
Impact: Game-time call. Frank Gore/T.J. Yeldon will see work either way.

Tyler Kroft TE BUF: Ankle -- Doubtful
Impact: Dawson Knox to get the majority of TE looks.

Cam Newton QB CAR: Foot -- OUT
Impact: Kyle Allen once again take the helm of this offense.

Mitchell Trubisky QB CHI: Shoulder -- OUT
Impact: Chase Daniel to start in this London affair, diminishing pass attack.

Taylor Gabriel WR CHI: Concussion -- OUT
Impact: Didn't fly to London. Javon Wims gets value boost.

A.J. Green WR CIN: Ankle -- OUT
Impact: Tyler Boyd and Auden Tate are the WRs to target in Cincinnati.

Kenny Stills WR HOU: Hamstring -- Questionable
Impact: Game-time call. Keke Coutee potential beneficiary of his absence.

Stefon Diggs WR MIN : Non-football issue -- Questionable
Impact: Ultimately up to Mike Zimmer, but reports currently have the disgruntled WR as being active on Sunday.

Rex Burkhead RB NE: Foot -- OUT
Impact: Sony Michel/James White become solid flex plays at minimum.

Ben Watson TE NE: Team decision -- Inactive
Impact: His suspension is over, but the team will stick with Matt LaCosse.

Julian Edelman WR NE : Chest -- Questionable
Impact: Played last week with same injury, so expect him to go.

Drew Brees QB NO: Thumb -- OUT
Impact: Seems ahead of schedule, but Teddy Bridgewater will start again.

Saquon Barkley RB NYG: Ankle -- OUT
Impact: Wayne Gallman will fill in as the Giants' RB1 for at least another week.

Sam Darnold QB NYJ: Illness -- OUT
Impact: Took snaps this week, but Luke Falk goes for one more Sunday.

Demaryius Thomas WR NYJ: Hamstring -- Questionable
Impact: Expected to play, but iffy for fantasy given the QB situation.

Josh Bellamy WR NYJ: Shoulder -- Questionable
Impact: Even if he plays, might not see too many snaps with Thomas active.

Dwayne Harris WR OAK: Ankle -- Questionable
Impact: Hunter Renfrow one of three names to potentially get a target boost ...

J.J. Nelson WR OAK: Knee -- Questionable
Impact: Keelan Doss is another ...

Tyrell Williams WR OAK: Foot -- Questionable
Impact: Trevor Davis is the third.

DeSean Jackson WR PHI: Abdomen -- OUT
Impact: Mack Hollins to step in when the Eagles need an extra receiver on the field.

JuJu Smith-Schuster WR PIT: Toe -- Questionable
Impact: Expected to play, but may come down to kickoff. It's a tough matchup regardless, so he's not an automatic start this week.

Vance McDonald TE PIT: Shoulder -- Questionable
Impact: Even if he plays, would split time with Nick Vannett. Avoid both.

Breshad Perriman WR TB: Hamstring -- OUT
Impact: Bobo Wilson? Scotty Miller? I don't think so. Look elsewhere.

Case Keenum QB WAS: Foot -- Questionable
Impact: Colt McCoy is the likely starter, even if Keenum dresses.

Terry McLaurin WR WAS: Hamstring -- Questionable
Impact: Game-time call, but not a strong fantasy option this week, regardless.

Jordan Reed TE WAS: Concussion -- OUT
Impact: The longer he takes to come back, the less likely it seems that he will at all.

Vernon Davis TE WAS: Concussion -- OUT
Impact: Jeremy Sprinkle becomes an interesting TE dart throw.

Defense

Zach Allen DE ARI: Neck -- OUT

Terrell Suggs LB ARI: Back -- Questionable

Tramaine Brock CB ARI: Back -- Questionable

Brandon Williams DT BAL: Knee -- Questionable

Jimmy Smith CB BAL: Knee -- OUT

Taron Johnson CB BUF: Hamstring -- Questionable

Gerald McCoy DT CAR: Knee -- Questionable

Eric Reid S CAR: Ankle -- Questionable

Donte Jackson CB CAR: Groin -- OUT

Akiem Hicks DE CHI: Knee -- Questionable

Bilal Nichols DE CHI: Hand -- OUT

Tashaun Gipson Sr. S HOU: Wrist -- Questionable

Jalen Ramsey CB JAX: Back -- OUT

Dont'a Hightower LB NE: Shoulder -- Questionable

Patrick Chung S NE: Heel -- OUT

Alec Ogletree LB NYG: Hamstring -- OUT

Lorenzo Carter LB NYG: Neck -- Questionable

Tae Davis LB NYG: Concussion -- OUT

C.J. Mosley LB NYJ: Groin -- Doubtful

Jordan Jenkins LB NYJ: Calf -- OUT

Clelin Ferrell DE OAK: Concussion -- Questionable

Tim Jernigan DT PHI: Foot -- OUT

Avonte Maddox CB PHI: Concussion -- OUT

Ronald Darby CB PHI: Hamstring -- OUT

Vince Williams LB PIT: Hamstring -- Questionable

Cameron Wake LB TEN: Hamstring -- Questionable

Josh Norman CB WAS: Knee -- Questionable

4 p.m. ET games

Offense

Michael Gallup WR DAL: Knee -- Questionable
Impact: Expected to play, but likely to be limited. Look elsewhere.

Jamaal Williams RB GB: Concussion -- OUT
Impact: Aaron Jones should get the majority of Green Bay's carries.

Davante Adams WR GB: Toe -- OUT
Impact: Jake Kumerow to get an uptick in targets as a result.

Travis Benjamin WR LAC: Hip -- Questionable
Impact: Geremy Davis/Andre Patton would get a chance to step up.

Mike Williams WR LAC: Back -- Questionable
Impact: Expected to play and could be worthy of flex consideration if he does.

Hunter Henry TE LAC: Knee -- OUT
Impact: A healthy Virgil Green takes over the starting job, but ...

Virgil Green TE LAC: Groin -- Questionable
Impact: ... Lance Kendricks to start if he can't go.

Michael Badgley K LAC: Groin -- Doubtful
Impact: His next kick will be his first of the season.

Defense

Antwaun Woods DT DAL: Knee -- Questionable

Josey Jewell LB DEN: Hamstring -- Questionable

Bryce Callahan CB DEN: Foot -- OUT

Kareem Jackson S DEN: Hamstring -- Questionable

Montravius Adams DE GB: Shoulder -- Questionable

Oren Burks LB GB: Chest -- Questionable

Kevin King CB GB: Groin -- Questionable

Melvin Ingram III DE LAC: Hamstring -- Questionable

Thomas Davis Sr. LB LAC: Groin -- Questionable

Casey Hayward Jr. CB LAC: Back -- Questionable

Official Sunday inactives should begin coming in at approximately 11:30 a.m. ET for the early games and at 2:30 p.m. ET for the late games.

China's official basketball association says it will suspend cooperation with the Houston Rockets following a tweet by the team's general manager in support of pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.

The Chinese Basketball Association said Sunday on its Twitter-like Weibo account that Daryl Morey had made "improper remarks regarding Hong Kong" to which it expressed its "strong opposition."

Morey's now-deleted tweet read: "Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong."

The CBA's reaction underscores Beijing's extreme sensitivity about foreign attitudes toward the ongoing protests in the semi-autonomous territory that have lately grown in violence. China accuses foreign parties in the U.S. and elsewhere of encouraging the demonstrations.

China's relationship with the Rockets has been especially close because Chinese Hall of Famer Yao Ming played his entire NBA career with the team.

On Friday night, Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta denounced Morey's tweet, saying the Rockets are not a political organization.

Listen....@dmorey does NOT speak for the @HoustonRockets. Our presence in Tokyo is all about the promotion of the @NBA internationally and we are NOT a political organization. @espn https://t.co/yNyQFtwTTi

— Tilman Fertitta (@TilmanJFertitta) October 5, 2019

Fertitta told ESPN's Tim MacMahon that he felt compelled to publicly clarify that the Rockets do not take political positions due to the reaction to Morey's tweet, but Fertitta stressed that he has no issues with Morey.

"I have the best general manager in the league," Fertitta said. "Everything is fine with Daryl and me. We got a huge backlash, and I wanted to make clear that the organization has no political position. We're here to play basketball and not to offend anybody."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Naomi Osaka came from a set down to beat world number one Ashleigh Barty in an enthralling China Open final.

The Japanese world number four came through 3-6 6-3 6-2 to win her second title in a row, having also triumphed at the Pan Pacific Open in September.

She has won 10 straight matches since losing in the last 16 of the US Open.

"In this tournament I was not calm as I normally am. I threw my racquet at least once every match," said Osaka. "I felt like I had something to prove."

This title ranks as one of the biggest of 21-year-old two-time Grand Slam champion Osaka's career, because it is only her second premier WTA title - the top level of tournaments on the women's tour after the majors.

Australian Barty, 23, replaced Osaka as world number one earlier this year and Sunday's final in Beijing, which lasted just under two hours, was fitting of a contest between two of the top players on the planet.

One break of serve for Barty settled the first set, with Osaka punished for three double faults in the sixth game.

But despite seeming frustrated, the Japanese applied pressure early in the second set and eventually broke serve in the sixth game to level the match.

She repeated the feat in the first game of the decider, and did so again to take a 5-2 lead - before sealing victory on her second match point.

"I was telling myself to keep fighting even through my attitude was really trash," Osaka added. "I just really wanted to win here."