MLB

9:15 AM PT -- Cops are now telling us they don't think Yasiel was targeted. They say it was a random hit by what appears to be a homeless man.

8:00 AM PT -- Puig's probably not sweating this after all ... a law enforcement source tells us the burglar made off with costume jewelry. Total value is a mere $150!

Small victory, but we're guessing Puig will take it.

This ain't the double play Yasiel Puig needed -- while he and the Dodgers were losing Game 7 of the World Series, a burglar hit his house and made off with jewelry ... TMZ Sports has learned.

The burglar busted a window in Puig's San Fernando Valley home to get in, which set off an alarm ... according to our law enforcement sources. We're told the suspect quickly grabbed some jewelry and bolted -- but the whole caper was caught on surveillance video.

Unfortunately, Puig's a veteran of this kinda crap. We broke the story ... back in March burglars hit him for about $500k worth of jewelry. We're told Wednesday night's incident went down at a different house from the March one.

Another big difference ... our sources say this time the creep got very few items. It's unclear what the dollar amount is, but we're told the alarm appeared to have scared off the suspect.

Once Puig got home from the World Series loss ... he had to end his night by talking to cops investigating the burglary. The universe is freakin' cruel.

Listen up Dodgers & Astros ... a former World Series hero is about to tell you how not to FREAKIN' CHOKE in tonight's all important Game 7 matchup.

TMZ Sports talked to Luis Gonzalez ... the man who destroyed Yankees fans with a super clutch Game 7 RBI against Mariano Rivera in the 2001 fall classic.

If any guy knows what it takes to deliver in the big spots, it's LG, and he told us EXACTLY what players in tonight's game are gonna have to do to get the job done.

Pay attention fellas, and remember, it's just a game, not like your entire lives and legacies are on the line.

How is Yasiel Puig gearing up for the biggest game of his life??

By ROCKIN' THE HELL OUT to "Eye of the Tiger" and the "Rocky" theme song ... in a wild carpool turn up on the way to Dodger Stadium!!

The Dodgers slugger couldn't be more hyped for Game 7 of the World Series ... bobbin' his head, waggin' his tongue and losin' himself in 2 of the most famous pump-up tracks on the planet.

He also listened to "Don't Stop Believin'" and "We Will Rock You."

We're still waiting on Bruce Maxwell's side of the story after he allegedly pulled a gun on a female courier ... but one thing's for sure -- he ain't getting served by the same delivery company ever again.

We got in touch with Postmates after Maxwell -- the only MLB player who took a knee last season -- allegedly stuck a handgun in the face of their driver who brought him food at his Scottsdale, AZ home ... and we're told the A's catcher "has been removed from the platform."

"Although we’re still investigating the incident, the report is deeply concerning and we’ve reached out to provide assistance and support to the courier involved," a rep said in a statement.

"No one should ever feel unsafe when using our service, and we will work with the police to cooperate fully with this investigation."

TMZ Sports broke the story ... Maxwell was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and disorderly conduct on Saturday. Cops say he reeked of booze and berated them with "anti-police statements."

Rick Fox has played in multiple Game 7 situations -- and never lost -- and he's got some serious advice for the Dodgers ... DON'T CRAP YOUR PANTS!!!

The ex-Lakers champ -- who has won 3 rings -- says he's seen what pre-Game 7 jitters can do to a player ... and it ain't pretty.

"I've seen guys throw up in their mouth. Sh*t their pants. It happens, man. It's stressful."

The big question -- WHO CRAPPED THEIR PANTS?

Here's a list of some of the Lakers who were on Game 7 teams with Fox:

Shaq, Kobe, Derek Fisher, Tyronn Lue, Glen Rice, Robert Horry, A.C. Green, Devean George, Mark Madsen, Brian Shaw, Samaki Walker.

Alice Cooper is a baseball junkie -- and says he's convinced the Dodgers will BEAT the Houston Astros in Game 7 Wednesday night ... thanks to one big reason.

The rock legend was leaving Craig's in L.A. on Halloween when we started talking World Series -- specifically, Clayton Kershaw saying he's ready to throw if need be.

That's when Cooper brought up Randy Johnson -- the former Arizona Diamondbacks starter who came in as the closer in Game 7 back in 2001 ... and CRUSHED IT!

Big Unit threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings in that game -- beating the Yankees and leading AZ to their only World Series title.

Can Kershaw folllow suit? Cooper says hell yes.

The Astros fans who went viral after tossing Yasiel Puig's HR ball back on the field are takin' a freakin' private jet to L.A. ... and will be inside Dodger Stadium for tonight's W.S. game!

Vim Head -- who's wife caught Puig's 9th inning bomb, only to have it snatched by his bro -- tells TMZ Sports he was contacted by a friend with a plane who wanted to give 'em a ride to Los Angeles.

“Someone offered to fly us out in a jet. We will be in L.A. [tonight] for the game. Sitting front row, left field.”

We talked to Vim yesterday afternoon ... and he told us no one had yet offered them tix or a ride ... but if someone did, they'd be there, ready to throw back any Dodgers home run balls.

Note to LAD sluggers... avoid left field.

As if hitting 56 homers wasn't enough for Aaron Judge's rookie season ... the Yankees star might've hit another outta the park with his smokin' hot rumored GF Jen Flaum.

Judge and Flaum were spotted leaving Nobu in NYC on Monday night ... the first time they've been seen in public since they attended the U.S. Open together earlier last month.

FYI -- Flaum is a recent U. of Michigan grad and a die-hard Yanks fan.

While neither side has confirmed the relationship ... it definitely seems like they're enjoying each other's company.

Yasiel Puig didn't let the intensity of the World Series -- and Tuesday's Game 6 -- stop him from doing something awesome to honor a victim of the Las Vegas shooting who was a Dodgers super fan.

Laura Shipp was one of the nearly 60 people killed in the massacre, and was described by her family and friends as a lifelong fan of Big Blue.

We're told Puig heard about Laura's story and last night decided to do something for her son Corey -- a Marine reservist. He autographed a baseball with a message for Laura.

He wrote, "To Laura, RIP" and added his signature. We're told the ball will be delivered to Corey today before Game 6 begins.

Go Blue!

The Houston Astros fan who stole Yasiel Puig's home run ball from another fan and threw it back on the field did NOT get his ass kicked ... turns out, it was all part of the plan.

TMZ Sports spoke with Vim Head -- whose wife Sarah caught the ball -- and he told us the guy who snatched it was his brother, Kirk!

Vim says before the game they ALL agreed that if they caught a Dodgers HR ball -- it was going back on the field ... no matter what!

The only issue ... Kirk acted so quickly, he robbed Sarah of the honor of the throwback ... but there are definitely NO hard feelings!

"We had so much fun after the fact that it didn't matter," Vim says.

At one point in the HR catch video, it looks like Vim winds up to smack Kirk -- but Vim says that didn't happen.

So, what's next? Vim says he wants to go to Game 6 ... in L.A. ... and if someone gets him tickets, he promises his family will throw any Dodgers HR ball back again!!!

C'mon, Scottie ... you're better than this!

Hall of Fame basketball legend Scottie Pippen -- who's now living in Los Angeles -- gives zero craps about the World Series.

He honestly doesn't even know who's playing in it.

So, while the rest of the city -- and the sports community -- was up crazy late watching one of the greatest offensive games in World Series history, Pippen couldn't care less.

1:10 PM PT -- Gurriel has reportedly been suspended without pay for the first 5 games of the 2018 regular season for his racist gesture. He will play in Game 4 of the WS Saturday night, though.

Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel decided to rub it in after hitting the first home run of game 3 with a gesture that has enraged Asians and others who are calling him out as racist.

Gurriel was in the dugout in the second inning after hitting one out of the park off Yu Darvish when he set his sights on Dodgers pitcher, who is from Japan.

Gurriel apologized, but the way he did it makes it even worse. He said, "I didn't mean to offend anybody in Japan. I have a lot of respect. I played in Japan. I was commenting to my [teammates] that I hadn't had any good luck against Japanese pitchers here in the U.S."

The Dodgers and Astros are slugging it out for hardball supremacy, but we here at TMZ Sports decided to take some time to give props to the real MVP's of the series, their hot WAGS.

Obviously these two teams are both championship level, but when you see what the guys have waiting at home, you'll understand just how much each team is already winning.

For the L.A. boys we got the WAGS of Justin Turner, Alex Wood and Kiké Hernandez.

But the guys from deep in the heart aren't slacking either, bringing out the big guns -- Kate Upton -- and the WAGS of OF Jake Marisnick, Tony Kemp and Carlos Correa.

J.J. Watt didn't let a little thing like a broken leg keep him from throwing out the first pitch in a HUGE Game 3 of the World Series in Houston ... and obviously -- the crowd loved it!!!

Watt's a hometown hero for raising more than $37 MILLION for Hurricane Harvey relief ... so you gotta think the fans will give him a pass for the pitch to Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel being juuuuuuust a bit outside.

J.J.'s season with the Texans is over after having a season-ending surgery a few weeks ago ... but clearly he can still have an impact on the baseball field.

The World Series hasn't just been a slugfest on the field ... Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch was involved in a heated altercation after Game 1 and cops were called ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Here's what we know ... Hinch was hanging out at the bar at the team hotel in Pasadena on Tuesday night after Houston lost Game 1 to the Dodgers.

We're told he was having some drinks -- when some hotel guests came in and started talking trash about the Astros.

Sources say Hinch "snapped" and unleashed on the other patrons -- cursing and yelling in the middle of the bar. One witness tells us the incident turned physical and cops were called to separate the two parties.

We spoke with Pasadena PD and we were told they responded to the hotel at 10:30 PM to help security "keep the peace" during an incident involving Houston Astros "team management."

We're told no arrests were made and no report was taken -- both sides ended up walking away.

Hinch clearly had some fight left in him the next day -- when he led the Astros to a come-from-behind victory over the Dodgers.

Here's Peyton Manning sliding in the pocket, audible-ing his protection, and keeping the ultimate cool all while being besieged by an unrelenting bull rush ... of World Series fans at Dodger Stadium!

The retired NFL quarterback was chillin' at Game 2 with Houston Astros owner Jim Crane, but it was when he was leaving the stadium that he displayed all the poise that made him one of the greats.

The video is actually quite amazing, Manning signs autographs, takes selfies, moves the group forward, and directs his driver to get in the car (to get him the hell out of there) like he's conducting an orchestra.

G.O.A.T.