Category: Sports News

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

The Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies have split the first two games of their four-game weekend series in Philadelphia, and things are starting to get chippy.

Philadelphia took issue with Ronald Acuna Jr.’s home run trot on Saturday as the September divisional race gets hot. 

My Braves vs. Phillies predictions and MLB picks believe the home side will get their revenge this afternoon at Citizens Bank Park, with first pitch set for 1:10 p.m. ET on Sept. 6.

Who will win Braves vs Phillies today: Phillies (49%)

For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.

Philadelphia Phillies starter Aaron Nola has turned around a rough first half of the season and is showing signs of the Cy Young candidate of previous seasons.

He’s won three of his four starts with a 1.96 ERA, 1.130 WHIP and 11 strikeouts per nine innings. Opponents are hitting .209 with a 72 OPS+ against him over that span. 

The Atlanta Braves have hit 13% below league average over the past month and averaged less than a homer a game, after hitting 1.4 per game before then.

Look for Nola to keep Atlanta slumping and take Philly down to 54%. 

COVERS INTEL: Nola has been leaning hard on his knuckle curve as he turns around his season, throwing it 33% of the time, nearly 10 percentage points more often than his four-seamer. Batters are hitting .178 against the knuckle curve with a whiff rate of 42.8%. 

Braves vs Phillies Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (54%)

The Braves are also starting a pitcher who is turning his season around. Tyler Mahle was 3-9 with a 5.13 ERA with the Giants before being dealt before the August deadline.

Since then, he’s 2-1 and sports a 1.48 ERA with the Braves, with a WHIP below 1.000. He’s cut his walk rate in half, is giving up fewer home runs, and opponents have a .581 OPS against him. 

The Phillies have played to the Under seven times in the last 10 games and scored fewer than five in the last three games. Atlanta has also not been Over in the last three, and the two teams have combined for 13 runs in the first two games of the series. 

Play this to 58%.

Braves vs Phillies home run prediction: Ronald Acuna Jr. (20%)

Ronald Acuna Jr. stirred up trouble on Saturday by stopping to admire his 450-foot home run before running the bases. 

Zack Wheeler pointed out that his teammate Kyle Schwarber, who also went deep in the game, has hit more homers than Acuna without showboating. Look for Acuna to respond at the plate.

He’s homered in two of the last three games and is 8-for-14 with five RBI over that span. Acuna has a 224 OPS+ over the last week with a .440/.481/.720 slash line. He’s also hit .333 with 1.068 OPS against Nola in his career with four long balls. 

Play this to 25%.

Braves vs Phillies weather

It will be in the high 70s in Philadelphia, partly cloudy with no chance of rain. 

Braves vs Phillies odds

• Moneyline: Braves 50% | Phillies 49%
• Run line: Braves -1.5 (38%) | Phillies +1.5 (63%)
• Over/Under: Over 8.5 (47%) | Under 8.5 (53%)

Braves vs Phillies trend

The Atlanta Braves have hit the game total Under in 22 of their last 30 away games (+14.65 Units / 45% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Braves vs. Phillies.

How to watch Braves vs Phillies and game info

Braves vs Phillies latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

Sunday Funday has arrived, and we’re looking to attack some MLB player propsthis afternoon.

There is plenty to dive into across the player props market, and I’ve found a few spots worth targeting.

Join me as I break down three of my favorite MLB picks for Sunday, Sept. 6, including why Elly De La Cruz is going to light up Kyle Harrison.

Best MLB player props today

Player	Pick	Odds
Kyle Harrison	Over 2.5 earned runs	+125
Spencer Arrighetti	Over 2.5 earned runs	-104
Elly De La Cruz	Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI	-109

Kyle Harrison Over 2.5 earned runs (+125)

Backing the Cincinnati Reds to do anything positive offensively is typically not the most enjoyable activity. However, they draw Milwaukee Brewers southpaw Kyle Harrison, who has been struggling in his last five outings, owning a 6.94 ERA and 1.63 WHIP while allowing a barrel rate over 13%.

Harrison draws four elite-rated hitters and one with a strong rating over on Batters-Box’s current-season dataset. In that dataset, the left-hander owns poorly rated matchup marks in ISO, hard contact, and ground-ball rate.

The reason the Reds are never fun to back is that they strike out at a high rate while being overly inconsistent. However, over their last 12 games, they have a 116 wRC+, .343 wOBA, and .783 OPS. During that stretch, they still have a strikeout rate above 26%, but the bats are hot while Harrison has not been.

If you want to get a lower number, take the Reds' first-five team total at 1.5. The price is around -130.

• Time: 12:10 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: CIN, BREW

Spencer Arrighetti Over 2.5 earned runs (-104)

With how putrid Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Spencer Arrighetti has been, he's an auto-fade at this point. The 26-year-old owns the worst pitcher rating in Batters-Box's current-season dataset, where he has poorly rated matchup wOBA, ISO, hard contact, strikeout, and ground-ball percentages.

He draws a Kansas City Royals lineup with two elite-rated hitters and another with a strong rating. The Royals offense has been pretty solid as of late, generating a ton of hard contact as a whole. Over their last 12 games, they have posted a 120 wRC+, .775 OPS, and .342 wOBA.

Arrighetti owns an ERA above 6.00 no matter how you look at it, whether it's his last three starts, last five starts, or road games this season. He's struggled with a very high walk rate this season, while the Royals do a great job limiting strikeouts and drawing walks.

Do not take this down much further, probably -110 at the most. Search for plus money, even if it's the Royals' first-five team total over 2.5.

• Time: 2:10 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: ROYL, Sportsnet

Elly De La Cruz Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI (-109)

One of those elite-rated Reds this afternoon happens to be their star shortstop, Elly De La Cruz, who's been seeing the ball extremely well over his last 10 games. During that span, he has a .615 SLG while producing a 62.1% hard-hit rate and 17.2% barrel rate. He is absolutely tearing the cover off the ball.

Brewers southpaw Kyle Harrison has been getting torn up by right-handed hitters lately. Over the last 60 he has faced, he is allowing a 19.5% barrel rate, 7.59 HR/9 and just a 31.7% ground-ball rate. Those hitters have a .352 xBA, .670 xSLG, and .519 ISO.

Just numbers we cannot pass up on. On top of that, this price at -109 is a great HRR price for a guy who's always on base and can fly around the basepaths. I’d take this down to -120.

• Time: 12:10 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: CIN, BREW

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

The Toronto Blue Jays enter Sunday in a wild-card spot and above .500 for the first time since April as they aim to sweep their three-game set against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.

My Blue Jays vs. Royals prediction breaks down why Toronto (-120 favorite) should soar to victory in a game that will feature weak pitching and plenty of scoring.

Dive into my free MLB picks for 2:10 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 6.

Blue Jays vs Royals predictions

Blue Jays vs Royals best bet: Blue Jays moneyline (-120)

Randy Dobnak’s stats look fine on paper (2.65 ERA, 1.39 WHIP), but the Kansas City Royals starter has benefited from a lot of good fortune according to the underlying numbers. Dobnak’s xERA ranks in the 21st percentile (4.79), while his xBA is in the second percentile (.290).

He’ll face a Toronto Blue Jays offense that has been on fire since Aug. 28. Toronto is 7-1 over that span with a .283 team batting average (second) and a .347 wOBA (4th).

Dobnak surrendered three earned runs over six innings to the Jays on Aug. 26, and he’s given up a total of nine earned runs over his last two starts.

COVERS INTEL: Blue Jays starter Spencer Arrighetti throws his curveball more than 33% of the time — a pitch type the Royals struggle against. Kansas City ranks 24th in OPS (.587) and wOBA (.261) vs. the curveball.

Blue Jays vs Royals same-game parlay (SGP)

Spencer Arrighetti may find some success with his curveball, but the underlying numbers are not kind to him, either. He sports a 5.16 xERA while ranking in the 26th percentile in pitching run value.

Dobnak will also be followed by the second-worst bullpen in baseball (5.05 ERA), so there should be weak pitching and plenty of scoring for both teams today.

Brett Bateman continues to swing a hot bat with six hits over his last four games — all singles. Bateman leads the Blue Jays with 27 singles since his MLB debut on Aug. 7.

Blue Jays vs Royals SGP

• Blue Jays moneyline
• Over 9.5
• Brett Bateman Over 0.5 singles

Blue Jays vs Royals home run pick: Kazuma Okamoto (+450)

Kazuma Okamoto is Toronto’s only legit home run threat this season, and I like his matchup against Dobnak.

Okamoto has hit seven of his 28 dingers against the sinker, which is Dobnak’s most common pitch (39.4%). Kauffman Stadium is also a very hitter-friendly ballpark, tied for fifth in Park Factor according to Statcast (102).

I'd play Okamoto up to +440.

Blue Jays vs Royals odds

• Moneyline: Toronto -120 | Kansas City +100
• Run line: Toronto -1.5 (+135) | Kansas City +1.5 (-155)
• Over/Under: Over 9.5 (-105) | Under 9.5 (-115)

Blue Jays vs Royals trend

It’ll be a warm day at Kauffman Stadium with temperatures in the mid-90s and light winds blowing in from right field. Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs. Royals.

How to watch Blue Jays vs Royals and game info

Blue Jays vs Royals latest injuries

Blue Jays vs Royals weather

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Team News

D-backs’ ‘pen blanks Astros to propel them back into Wild Card spot
https://www.mlb.com/dbacks/news/d-backs-defeat-astros-in-10-innings

Diamondbacks’ Gabriel Moreno delivers clutch RBI in extra-innings win vs. Astroshttps://arizonasports.com/mlb/arizona-diamondbacks/diamondbacks-gabriel-moreno-delivers-clutch-rbi-in-extra-innings-win-vs-astros

Ketel Marte’s Heroic Moment Leads D-backs to Massive Win over Astroshttps://www.si.com/mlb/diamondbacks/onsi/ketel-marte-heroic-moment-leads-diamondbacks-massive-win-astros

Other Baseball

MLB, in midst of CBA uncertainty, sets spring training schedulehttps://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/49826806/mlb-midst-cba-uncertainty-sets-spring-training-schedule

Mune gives Sox a 30-HR trio as showdown for club lead joins race for titlehttps://www.mlb.com/news/munetaka-murakami-reaches-30-homers-in-rookie-season

Wheeler takes jab at Acuña after his 9-K gem bolsters Phils in NL East racehttps://www.mlb.com/news/zack-wheeler-strikes-out-nine-in-phillies-win-over-braves

Cardinals display their ‘superpower’ after hat controversy: ‘our ability to unify’https://www.mlb.com/news/cardinals-unify-behind-rookie-hancel-rincon-after-hat-controvery

8 impact players who could return down the stretch

https://www.mlb.com/news/impact-mlb-players-who-could-return-2026

Anything Goes

This day in history:

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/september-6

This day in baseball:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/September_6

Gold never erodes.

This is because it is chemically inert. This means that it does not react to the oxygen found in the atmosphere. 

Venus is the only planet that rotates clockwise.

Most planets rotate on their axis in an anti-clockwise motion. However, Venus rotates clockwise in retrograde once every 243 Earth days.

It’s believed that roughly 97% of history has been lost over time. Written accounts of history only started roughly 6,000 years ago. Modern humans first appeared around 200,000 years ago.

The Mets made an intriguing roster move on Sunday morning, calling up right-hander Tobias Myers and optioning lefty Jefry Yan to Triple-A Syracuse. 

Myers, acquired along with Freddy Peralta in a trade with Milwaukee this past offseason, came into the season as a versatile piece for the Mets pitching staff, given his ability to start or come out of the bullpen. But the right-hander struggled for most of the season, pitching to a 6.26 ERA in 26 appearances and only three starts.

He was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on July 12, still working in a hybrid long-relief, spot-starter role. Overall, Myers has pitched to a 3.72 ERA in 15 minor league appearances this season. 

"We want to see him kind of in shorter bursts and see how he responds to being back here," said interim manager Andy Green. "He clearly has enough stuff. He’s been successful at this level before, prior to being a Met and then also while being a Met. So, [would] love to see him return to kind of the beginning of the season form and continue to take some strides forward."

Yan, meanwhile, instantly caught the eye of fans with his passionate celebrations while on the mount, but the 30-year-old lefty struggled to find consistency, posting a 5.68 ERA. While he struck out 17 batters in 12.2 innings, he also walked 11, with command being his biggest issue. 

Not including the four-game series with the Cubs, which they split, the Brewers will go for their sixth straight series victory this afternoon in Cincinnati. However, the Brewers have struggled to close out series over the last couple of weeks, losing the final game three times.

To end the bad luck of not winning the final game, the left-hander Kyle Harrison will pitch, making his 23rd start of the season. He’s aiming to get the bad taste out of his mouth after what the Cubs did to him last Monday, when he allowed nine runs on 10 hits while giving up five home runs. Though his history against the Reds has not been kind to him, while pitching for the San Francisco Giants, he faced the Reds three times, and they weren’t the greatest. Outside of his first start against them, where he struck out 11, he proceeded to give up three runs in the next start and six in the following.

The home team will be sending Brady Singer to toe the slab this afternoon. This will be his first start in September after a month in which he allowed at least three runs in each one of his starts. Singer carved up Milwaukee back in June, when he threw seven scoreless innings, striking out seven batters.

Bo Naylor will make his first appearance since being called up this afternoon, as he relieves Gary Sánchez and William Contreras from catching duties this afternoon. Another notable addition to the top of the lineup today is Christian Yelich, who finds his way back into the two-spot, looking to carry his hotter-than-usual bat into some early-inning magic.

You can find this morning’s ballgame live on Brewers.TV or listen on WTMJ 620. First pitch is at 12:10 p.m.

The Great Lakes Loons are the third Dodgers affiliate to clinch a postseason spot in 2026, along with Double-A Tulsa and Class-A Ontario.

Player of the day

Three starts into his Midwest League experience, and Cam Leiter has yet to allow an earned run. The right-hander pitched five scoreless innings on Saturday night to help Great Lakes clinch a postseason berth, with three strikeouts, no walks, and only three singles allowed.

Leiter, drafted in the second round in 2025 out of Florida State, has allowed only one unearned run 11 1/3 innings, with 14 strikeouts. Between Class-A and High-A this season, Leiter has a 2.45 ERA and 30.9-percent strikeout rate in 55 innings in his professional debut.

Triple-A Oklahoma City

The Comets won a low-scoring game in extra innings for a second straight day, this time besting the Round Rock Express (Rangers) in 11 innings. Ryan Fitzgerald’s sacrifice fly drove home the game-winner.

Charlie Barnes pitched five scoreless innings in his start. Rehabber Jake Cousins allowed the only Round Rock run in his inning of work.

Ben Casparius started a new rehab assignment with a scoreless inning of work, his first appearance in 17 days after getting shut down with arm fatigue.

Paul Gervase pitched the final two innings in scoreless fashion, stranding the free runner in both frames to close out the win.

Chris Newell, who was promoted from Tulsa on Friday, played in his first Triple-A game on Saturday, and made an immediate impact with this game-ending gem.

Double-A Tulsa

The Drillers had big innings in the sixth and seventh, then held on to beat the Wichita Wind Surge (Twins). With 814 runs scored on the season, Tulsa set a record for the 50-year-old franchise, surpassing the 2000 team, a Texas Rangers affiliate that scored 806 runs in 140 games.

Jake Gelof already homered three times in this series, and on Saturday drove in three more runs with a double and single, giving him nine RBI through the first five games against Wichita. What a way to make a living.

Logan Wagner and Sean McLain homered in the win.

Patrick Copen allowed three runs in his six innings, all three runs coming in the final frame. That briefly had Tulsa behind, but they rallied for three runs in the sixth and four runs in the seventh to put the game to bed.

High-A Great Lakes

Great pitching and patience allowed the Loons to beat the Lake County Captains (Guardians), and clinch the second half of the Midwest League East Division. Great Lakes is back in the playoffs for the first time since 2023.

Charles Davalan singled then stolen second base, and took third on a flyball single by Nico Perez. Then four Loons walked in the frame, with free passes to Eduardo Guerrero, Mairo Martinus, and Victor Rodrigues all bringing home runs.

After Leiter’s five frames, Great Lakes got scoreless innings from Maddux Bruns and Matt Lanzendorfer before Dilan Figueredo entered with two runners on with nobody out in the eighth and pitched two scoreless innings to close out the clincher.

Class-A Ontario

The Tower Buzzers scored seven runs in the fourth inning, allowed six runs in the seventh and two in the eighth, but then rallied for three runs with two outs in the ninth inning to stun the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Angels).

Down two runs and down to their last out, Ontario had two runners on base in the ninth. Francisco Espinoza singled to pull the Tower Buzzers within a run, the a hit by pitch and walk tied things up. Ching-Hsien Ko delivered the walk-off single, his second hit of the game.

Easton Shelton hit his California League-leading 37th home run in that fourth inning, a grand slam.

Kellon Lindsey and Oswaldo Osorio homered for Ontario on Saturday. Osorio also walked twice and doubled, reaching base four times.

Charlie West, seventh-round draft pick this year out of UConn, struck out six and walked none in his four-inning start with two runs allowed.

Transactions

Triple-A: Bobby Miller ended his rehab and was activated by the Dodgers. Reliever Kyle Hurt was optioned to Oklahoma City. Outfielder Alek Thomas was designated for assignment.

Double-A: Right-hander Angel Cruz was added to Tulsa’s roster from the Arizona Complex League as an extra arm.

Saturday scores

• Oklahoma City 2, Round Rock 1 (11 innings)
• Tulsa 8, Wichita 6
• Great Lakes 5, Lake County 0
• Ontario 11, Rancho Cucamonga 10

Sunday schedule

• 10 a.m. PT: Great Lakes (Isaac Ayon) at Lake County (Aidan Major)
• 11:05 a.m.: Oklahoma City (Christian Romero) at Round Rock (David Davalillo)
• 1:05 p.m.: Ontario (Jack O’Connor) vs. Rancho Cucamonga (TBA)
• 4 p.m.: Tulsa (Luke Fox) vs. Wichita (Adrian Bohorquez)

As we turn the page to September, we must take a moment to acknowledge the performance of these AL East leading Rays, and to do so we asked in this week’s poll who the top performer was in August.

The choice was a difficult one! Among the five players suggested, only reliever Kevin Kelly did not accumulate any votes.

Baker held a 1.54 ERA across 12 appearances and 11⅔ innings in August, converting all nine of his save opportunities, allowed just eight hits and two walks while striking out 15, and kept the damage limited even on the rare nights things got interesting. Those nine saves helped push his season total to an MLB-leading 39 by the end of the month, and they extended a franchise-record consecutive saves streak that had already blown past Fernando Rodney’s mark earlier in August. He also, notably, pitched three nights in a row toward the end of the month, a remarkable feat of availability.

Can Baker and the Rays hold their own down the stretch? Baker was pulled from his most recent pitching performance due to illness, and Shane McClanahan and Garrett Cleavinger both hit the injured list, but the Rays have promoted Ty Johnson, adding a fresh face and new look.

If you believe in the Rays bullpen, you can put some wagers down on that belief through our friends at FanDuel who sponsors these polls.

Rays Up!

Meet the Mets

The Mets fell to the Giants 9-5, as San Francisco gave the Mets a taste of their own medicine that they issued the night before by socking six home runs against Mets pitching. Four of them were surrendered by Zac Thornton, who had his worst start as a big leaguer thus far in his young career, but the one bright spot was that A.J. Ewing went deep for the Mets for the first time since July.

Choose your recap: Amazin’ Avenue, Faith and Fear in Flushing, MLB.com, Newsday, New York Daily News, New York Post

In recent days, A.J. Ewing has begun to show signs of life at the plate and yesterday’s home run is further evidence that he may be breaking out of his months-long slump.

Though the 2026 season is lost, September is not a lost month for the Mets as they look ahead to 2027, writes David Lennon of Newsday.

Will Sammon interviewed Mets VP Eric Jagers on Jonah Tong’s development this season. Tong will start tomorrow’s game against the Marlins.

The 2026 season has been defined in part by underachieving teams, as the Mets duke it out with the Mariners and Tigers for the unfortunate distinction of being the biggest disappointment this year.

Yesterday Juan Soto received his 2025 National League LatinoMVP award from Latino Sports, a publication that created the honor and has administered it since 1989. It is his third time winning the award in the past five years and only Albert Pujols has won it more times in total than Soto.

Yesterday was a day for honors, as mascots gathered at Citi Field to celebrate Mrs. Met’s induction into the Mascot Hall of Fame.

Joe McDonald, who was the general manager of the Mets from 1975–1979, passed away at the age of 97, announced Jay Horwitz yesterday.

Around the National League East

Zack Wheeler pitched six innings of one-run ball, striking out nine in the Phillies’ 4-2 victory over the first place Braves at Citizens Bank Park.

The Nationals fell to the Dodgers 6-5, despite the absence of Shohei Ohtani from LA’s lineup for the third straight day. Tommy Edman’s go-ahead three-run bomb off Clayton Beeter in the seventh was the decisive blow in the game.

Nationals top prospect Eli Willits is just 18 years old, but he wants to make the majors before he turns 20.

The Marlins lost to the Cubs by the same 6-5 score, as former Met Michael Conforto had a good day at the plate for Chicago.

The Marlins released veteran infielder Leo Jimenez after designating him for assignment on Thursday.

Around Major League Baseball

Trent Grisham re-injured his hamstring in the Yankees’ 3-2 extra-inning loss to the Padres on Friday and is heading back to the IL. The Yankees called up outfielder Jasson Domínguez from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to take his place on the roster.

Speaking of repeat injured list stints, Jameson Taillon, who left Friday night’s start after just two innings in his first start back from injury, was placed on the 15-day injured list again on Saturday by the Blue Jays with right elbow inflammation. To take his place on the roster, righty Ricky Tiedemann was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo.

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com explores what is next for the Blue Jays, who have had a disappointing follow-up season to their AL Championship in 2025, but still sit just one game back in the AL Wild Card standings.

2026 has been the year of the rookie hitter in baseball; this year’s class has put up the best offensive numbers for debut hitters by multiple measures.

Hat Gate has entered its second day. If you know, you know.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

On a new episode of Today Your Love, Tomorrow the World Series, Brian Salvatore and Chris McShane talk about the loss of Luis Robert Jr. to the Orioles, A.J. Ewing’s recent struggles, the potential return of Jonah Tong, and other September Mets story lines.

This Date in Mets History

Oliver Perez pitched a complete game shutout against the Braves on this date in 2006.

Shohei Ohtani has been absent from the Dodgers lineup for three consecutive games. So far the team has had no problem picking up the pieces, as the team is currently on a three-game winning streak with a chance to sweep the Washington Nationals on Sunday.

Ohtani hasn’t been his usual self over his last 12 games, slashing a putrid .130/.298/.196 with a double, a triple and four RBI. The straw that broke the camel’s back was placed on Wednesday with a four-strikeout performance at the plate, and the Dodgers have contemplated moving him to the injured list.

Ohtani was able to hit in the cage during Saturday’s 6-5 win over Washington, notes Sonja Chen of MLB.com, and the Dodgers will soon decide whether an IL stint is required. Dave Roberts views the time off as a chance for the two-way superstar to get a reset mentally and physically.

“If it doesn’t feel good today,” Roberts said, “then [the IL] certainly should be on the table.”

“There’s a chance … that we could almost just be in bed with the idea that whether it’s six, seven, eight days — [it’s] better than [15] days,” Roberts said, “if he’s trending in the right direction.”

With Ohtani not spearheading the starting lineup, Tommy Edman has done a tremendous job both filling in at center field for the injured Andy Pages and occupying the leadoff spot for the time being. Edman was the hero in Saturday’s win by making a highlight reel play in center field before hitting a go-ahead three run home run to give the Dodgers a 5-4 lead in the seventh inning.

For the defensively versatile switch-hitter, his pride comes in his ability to be plugged in any role or position, stressing the importance of filling in the gaps, writes Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times.

“It’s definitely something that makes me valuable to the team,” he said of his versatility, “especially late in the year when guys get banged up. Losing [Pages] is a huge loss. I take pride in being able to fill that role a little. I’m not completely filling what he left behind, but I’m trying my best. That’s important to any championship team.”

Even with Shohei Ohtani’s chances of returning to the mound becoming an afterthought with each passing day, the Dodgers are preparing to assemble another formidable postseason rotation.

Usually, spring training is when a team tries to prepare for the season to come, but, as has been the case the last two years, the Dodgers aren’t like most teams. That means September is essentially another form of spring training to get their pitching staff ready for another grueling postseason run, writes Dylan Hernandez of the California Post.

The starters who will comprise the Dodgers’ postseason rotation know that when the playoffs start, they will have to pitch better than they have. Their team’s inconsistent offense will once again give them little margin for error, perhaps even less than last year with Shohei Ohtani dealing with multiple injuries.

If October marks the start of the baseball season in Los Angeles, September is spring training. The pitchers have three weeks to prepare for the starts that will define their seasons, or perhaps even careers

Triple-A: Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (MIA) 11, Norfolk Tides 7

The Tides jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning on a two-run home run by Jeremiah Jackson and an RBI triple by Luis Vázquez. But they fell behind immediately after that and never recovered. Starting pitcher Cade Povich had a very rough time. He allowed eight runs in five innings. He allowed seven hits, two of which were home runs, and walked four.

The rehabbing Félix Bautista pitched one inning with a walk and a strikeout. He threw 22 pitches, 13 strikes.

The Tides scored four more runs, all in the fourth inning. Sam Huff hit a three-run homer and Creed Willems reached on a single and later scored on an error.

Box Score

Double-A: Portland Sea Dogs (BOS) 6, Chesapeake Baysox 4

Patrick Reilly started for the Baysox and pitched a heck of a game. Through seven innings, Reilly faced just 21 batters despite allowing three hits. In the first inning, Reilly allowed a single and then picked the runner off. In the third, he induced a double play after a single. Ditto in the fourth. Through seven innings, his pitching line was 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K.

Reilly came back out for the eighth inning with the Baysox winning 4-0. He walked his first batter, then allowed a home run. He was replaced by Bradley Brehmer, who gave up four more runs and only recorded one out. That allowed the Sea Dogs to come back and take a lead they did not relinquish.

The Baysox scored all four of their runs in the first two innings. Wehiwa Aloy homered in the first inning. In the second, one run scored on an error and Frederick Bencosme drove in two with a double.

Box Score

High-A: Frederick Keys 7, Brooklyn Cyclones (NYM) 4

The Keys won their 82nd game last night, and in doing so clinched the second-half crown for the South Atlantic League North Division. They also won the first-half. They’re good. What a great way for affiliated baseball to return to Frederick. On to the playoffs!

Christian Rodriguez started and allowed three runs in 4.2 innings. All three runs came in on two homers. in the fourth inning. Carson Dorsey followed with 3.1 shutout innings. He gave up just one hit and walked two.

Leadoff batter DJ Layton was the offensive star of the game. Layton went had five hits, including two doubles. He knocked in two runs and scored two runs. Enddy Azocar knocked in Layton once as the pair hit back-to-back doubles. Azocar also walked. Jaiden Lo Re drove in two with a double, his only hit. The recently promoted Ty Head added a pinch-hit RBI single.

Box Score

Low-A: Delmarva Shorebirds 8, Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (CWS) 5

Stiven Martinez had just one hit in the game, but it was a big one. His 14th home run of the year was a grand slam that ended up being the difference in the game. The Shorebirds were kept off the board until the sixth inning. In the sixth, Carlos Sanchez and Jhomnardo Reyes pulled off a double steal of home and second. Reyes later scored on a ground out. In the seventh, Sanchez and Jimmy Anderson each knocked in a run with a single.

Eric Booth, Jr. reached base four times with three singles and a walk. Anderson and Adriander Mejía both had two hits.

Collin McKinney started on the mound and pitched two shutout innings despite allowing two hits and three walks. Javier González earned the save with 1.1 hitless innings.

Box Score

Today’s Schedule

• Norfolk vs Jacksonville, 1:05. Starter: Trey Gibson
• Chesapeake vs Portland, 1:05. Starter: Sebastian Gongora
• Frederick @ Brooklyn, 2:00. Starter: Jake Dykhoff
• Delmarva @ Kannapolis, 1:35. Starter: KK Clark