Worldwide Sports News

After reports emerged last night that the Nats were closing in on an extension with Cade Cavalli, the team made it official this afternoon. The 28 year old right hander is signing a 4-year contract that includes a club option for a 5th year. Those first four years will cost $47 million and the team option is for $23 million.

This is not some super long term deal, but given Cavalli’s age and team control that makes sense. After this season, Cavalli had three more years of club control. That means that the Nats will be buying out at least one free agent year with a chance to buy out a second.

With that context, a five year deal always felt like the sweet spot. That is pretty much what this contract is. If the club option is picked up, it will be a 5 year $70 million deal. That is actually $10 million less than what I predicted this morning. 

That feels like a great length and takes Cavalli right through his prime years. By the end of the fifth season, Cavalli will be 33 years old. This deal means that Cade Cavalli will spend his prime years in DC. That should be music to Nationals fans ears.

In their announcement of the deal, both Paul Toboni and Mark Lerner were quoted. They spoke of Cavalli’s resilience and character, as well as his baseball ability. That resilience was really tested in Cavalli’s journey. As we know, his Tommy John recovery was less than smooth. About 18 months ago, this day felt very unlikely, but here we are.

This contract has been well earned and feels like a great deal for both sides. For the team, they lock up their ace for four to five years. Meanwhile, Cavalli gets long term security after his career looked to be in jeopardy only a couple years ago.

If Cavalli continues to pitch like he has this year, the deal will be a bargain. On the season, Cavalli has a 3.12 ERA with 194 strikeouts in 164.2 innings. The newly extended Cavalli will have a chance to get his 200th strikeout tonight against the Cardinals.

This is a massive day for both Cavalli and the Nats. It is a statement that the Nats are actively looking to keep core pieces in the building long term. You can question whether the deal should have been longer, but it is done and Cavalli will be a National for the foreseeable future.

Tonight will be a celebration of Cade Cavalli and his new contract. Hopefully he can continue to do what he has been doing all season and deliver another quality start. This is a big win for the Nats and hopefully this is the first of many extensions.

Texas Rangers lineup for September 18, 2026 against the Toronto Blue Jays: starting pitchers are Kumar Rocker for the Rangers and Dylan Cease for the Jays.

Its the beginning of a three game set at home against the team that is currently tied with the Rangers in the Wild Card race. Exciting September baseball is on tap.

The lineup:

Duran — 3B

Seager — SS

Jung — DH

Nimmo — RF

Langford — LF

Burger — 1B

Lopez — 2B

Diaz — C

Carter — CF

7:05 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are +115 underdogs.

The Mets placed first baseman Jared Young on the injured list with a concussion and called-up Ronny Mauricio from Triple-A Syracuse, but the news was positive after Young's scary injury in Thursday's game.

Interim manager Andy Green said Young is doing "as good as expected or we could have hoped for," ahead of Friday's game with the Philadelphia Phillies.

"All the tests that were ran, he got the right kind of results," Green said. "He has got his sense of humor in tact, I've texted back and forth with him quite a bit today, he also lamented not being able to finish the season on the active roster and continue playing; he was gonna finish strong.

"Mostly, he is doing pretty well."

It was a ghastly sight when Young's head slammed into the knee of pitcher Nolan McLean and the first baseman laying motionless on the ground. He would be taken off the field on a stretcher. 

The Mets announced Young had feeling in his extremities and was being taken to the hospital for further evaluation. He flashed a thumbs-up to the crowd as he was exiting the field on a cart.

Young was discharged from the hospital sometime in the early hours of Friday morning and able to go home. He has "full motion of his arms and legs," and is dealing with a concussion, the manager said on Friday, adding he is experiencing some "short-term memory loss" and a "pretty bad headache."

"More tests over the next few days to really understand all that he is dealing with," the skipper added. "But everything we have heard has been really optimistic from a recovery standpoint, from getting back on the field eventually standpoint.

"Relieved, I think everybody is. His family, all in all, about as good as we could hope for."

Young, 31, was having a breakout year for the club. In 103 games, he has tallied 29 extra-base hits (nine home runs) with a .266/.330/.429 slash line for a .759 OPS (112 OPS+ and 111 wRC+). Before the 2026 season, Young had played just 44 big-league games for the Mets and Cubs since his MLB debut in 2022.

The Mets plan to use Mark Vientos and Brett Baty at first base for the remainder of the season. Christopher Morel could also see time at first, Green added. 

Mauricio, 25, has played 17 games this year for the Mets, with nine hits in 50 at-bats (.180) for a .440 OPS. In 71 games with Syracuse, he has 18 home runs and 57 RBI while batting .261 with a .795 OPS. 

Since making his big league debut in 2023, Mauricio has posted a .226/.278/.345 slash line for a .623 OPS in 104 games. A natural shortstop, he has also spent time at second base and third base.

Good afternoon everyone, it’s time to dive back into the mailbag and answer some of your questions. Remember to send in your questions for our weekly call by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.

IndyAnaJones asks:If the Yankees lose the division, at whose feet might you lay the blame, without resorting to excuses such as… injuries, or lack of options at the trade deadline, or too high prices for options that were available at the trade deadline, or even further back, last offseason?

The Rays have just been the better team in the regular season, is what it boils down to if you want to wave all of those other reasons off as just “excuses.” Frankly, with the team losing Aaron Judge after May and not getting him back until just recently, I’m amazed that they’ve held firmly onto the top Wild Card spot and have even been in a position to challenge for the division. But the team did punt away a handful of games over the summer due to their struggling offense and the Rays simply haven’t gone on as terrible a stretch, syncing up with the Yankees’ latest hot streak to prevent them from gaining any ground. If there’s any culprit to pin the blame on, collectively its the lineup as a whole — but sometimes you have to tip your cap and say that another team’s success is just legitimate this season, and at this point I’m not going to diminish the fact that the Rays are a contender that pulled ahead. It’s on the Yankees now to run the gauntlet that they couldn’t last year and beat them when it matters most, assuming that the standings don’t dramatically flip from their upcoming showdown in the Bronx.

golfhog54 asks:In lining up the pitching for the post season, against Boston, it’s probably Schlittler, Fried, and Cole. How does the Tampa Bay series line up after that?

I agree that it will probably be Schlittler, Fried, and Cole should the Wild Card Round go to a third game, but worries have certainly crept in about Cole’s spot there. The ace is in need of a get-right game after his last two outings have seen seven long balls launched over the last 11.1 innings he’s pitched, and if that carries over into a third consecutive start that officially becomes a capital-c Concern. Cole’s one of the best pitchers in the sport still when he’s right, but the home run derbies he can spawn from time to time are his biggest weakness and an elimination game is the worst possible timing to throw a pitcher like that out there. Cole has insisted that it’s a visibility issue with his pitching that he can tweak rather than an injury concern, but time is of the essence with only a handful of starts remaining in the regular season.

The Yankees have another viable postseason starter in Carlos Rodón, who could also line up as their Game 1 starter for the ALDS should they advance similar to how they pitched Luis Gil against the Blue Jays to open last year’s Division Series. Rodón could instead be the Game 3 Wild Card starter if Cole continues to look like a gamble, letting Cole rest until the ALDS instead where they could let him set the table and potentially steal back home field advantage from Tampa. I doubt they’d do this though, for two reasons: one, the Yankees believe in Cole and so long as he’s not running three-plus homer games all the way to October then he’ll be penciled in there, and two running Rodón has its own risks right now as his fastball velocity has dipped in September. The Sox offense would probably get woken up more facing Los’ heater right now than they would Cole’s, and so the status quo seems the most beneficial, with the rotation resetting for Schlittler grabbing a potential Game 2.

lidbit asks:A lot was seen this year of the potential of 18 year old center fielder Yostin Pena. He has shown hitting for average and power with excellent baserunning skills albeit in the lower minors. Is he a five tool prospect that can reach the Bronx in a few years? How excited are the Yankees’ player development personnel?

Pena turned a lot of heads with his performance down in Tampa this season after getting the promotion stateside following just 37 games in the Dominican Summer League. His bat stayed scorching, turning in a .941 OPS in 24 games with six homers and 10 steals. His discipline at the plate is still a little wild but that’s to be expected for the massive leap he’s made already, and he displayed an elite ability in several key facets of the game already. He’s also got a cannon of an arm, something that’ll play well in any portion of the outfield but would especially pair well with covering the deepest parts of Yankee Stadium’s center field should he make it to the majors. His trajectory is a complete unknown considering how quickly he appeared on the map in the first place — this could simply be the pace that he blazes through the minors and we could be talking about the possibility of seeing him a year or two from now, or he may get adjusted to as he faces older competition and take some more time. One thing for certain is that he’ll be gracing some top prospect rankings after the rise he’s had, and there’s potential for him to be the organization’s biggest name on the farm by the end of next season.

Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson was supposed to have two rehab games with Triple-A Iowa and then rejoin the team Friday in Cincinnati. Best-laid plans and all, both Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s I-Cubs games at Omaha got rained out.

So instead of action with Iowa, Swanson reported to Wrigley Field Wednesday. So did two Cubs pitchers currently on rehab assignments:

The Cubs then held a sim game for Swanson at Wrigley Field Wednesday afternoon, with those two serving as pitchers.

And so, Swanson will indeed be activated from the 10-day injured list for tonight’s game in Cincinnati against the Reds. To make room for Swanson on the active roster, infielder B.J. Murray Jr. was optioned to Iowa.

While the Cubs have a capable backup infielder in Pedro Ramirez, and Nico Hoerner can play shortstop, the Cubs defense is not nearly as good without Swanson at short and Nico at second, where they are both elite fielders. Swanson left the game against the Cardinals Aug. 16 with an oblique injury during his first plate appearance that afternoon, so he’s been out exactly a month. The Cubs were 72-52 entering that game against the Cardinals and they have gone 13-16 in Swanson’s absence, including that day.

I’m not suggesting that poor record since Swanson’s injury is cause-and-effect, but clearly, they have missed his defense. Hopefully he’s 100 percent (or close) and can provide some spark to the lineup as well as defensively. Swanson had been on something of a hot streak before the injury, batting .278/.409/.528 (10-for-36) in the 11 games prior, with three doubles, two home runs, seven walks and 10 runs scored.

As always, we await developments.

We recently asked whether Dodgers fans had a preference as to which playoff seed (between top and second) they preferred. Overwhelmingly, the easier path on paper looks to be through the second seed. For most of the year, no one would have questioned this logic. However, as September has unfolded, an interesting wrinkle has become possible, if unlikely, involving both Chicago baseball teams.

At first, I only noticed it with the White Sox, but as the Cubs have dropped five of seven games to the Milwaukee Brewers over the past two weeks, all but conceding the NL Central to the Brewers, who clinched on September 15, a question now must be publicly asked.

What on Earth is happening in Chicago?

We’ll start with the moribund American League, which has looked mediocre, to be generous, for most of the year.

The Pope’s Baseball Team

Interestingly enough, there are scenarios where current American League division leaders Chicago and Houston end up watching the postseason from home if things go sideways over the next two weeks, adding to this essay’s theme of chaos.

While no one in these parts will bang on about the Astros season ending up in the trash can, a White Sox collapse would be a sour ending to what has otherwise been a fun story.

As is well known, the White Sox have been nothing short of a dumpster fire over the previous two seasons, setting the record for losses in the modern era in 2024. It’s said that every team is guaranteed to lose a third of its games and win a third of its games, and it’s the remaining third that tells the story.

If a team can’t even win its “guaranteed” third of games, that’s how you know you’ve sunk into baseball hell. What a time for some divine intervention, no?

The Pope Mural at Rate Field on June 14, 2026

It is still mind-boggling that the current Pontiff is both American and a lifelong White Sox’s fan. The White Sox have clutched on to this unexpected event with gusto, with both a mural of the Pope in Rate Field to commemorate the fact that he went to Game 1 of the 2005 World Series and an official miter giveaway day.

The 2026 White Sox are not what I would call a good team, but the turnaround is remarkable. When I first visited Rate Field, it was a drab and joyless experience, only made memorable by a decent chocolate milkshake.

Rate Field is still bad, but when the locals have something to cheer about, the facility is less drab.

The White Sox are the figurative C-student doing their best in a remedial class where all of their classmates are either going through issues at home (Minnesota), spectacularly underachieving (Kansas City, Detroit), or have skinflint parents (Cleveland). Accordingly, the White Sox have held the division lead since June and currently have the second seed in the American League.

However, the wheels have started to wobble and come off since the All-Star Break. As of the start of play on September 18, the White-Sox are 28-30 since the break, which is middle of the road, and 20-24 since August 1. As we recently covered, the Dodgers and White Sox have generally feasted on sub-500 opponents in 2026. The Dodgers have since rebounded against over-500 opponents, but the White Sox have started to lose to teams that a contending team should beat.

A final three-game series with then-second-place Cleveland just concluded with the White Sox falling out of the division lead for the first time since June. As the White Sox now are looking up at the Guardians, the precipice for flights to Cancun looms because the gaggle of mediocre teams clamoring for the sixth seed is right there, including Toronto, Texas, and, in the distance, Baltimore.

Yes, it would be the most Blue Jays thing ever for them to be basically unwatchable all year, having their fanbase whine that they should have won last year’s World Series, literally not be two games above .500 since the first week of the season, just to sneak into the sixth seed due to the sheer ineptitude of the American League.

Vlad Guerrero, Jr. hit his first home run at Rogers Centre on Game 150, which made the following near-miss from Game 7 even more darkly funny and emblematic.

The only way this scenario could get worse is if the Blue Jays end up in the ALCS, because they somehow waltz over the “happy-to-be-here” second-seed AL Central Winner.

Dodgers/Blue Jays 2: Poutine’d (Again)!, which would hopefully end in five games in Toronto with a third consecutive title, would be the sequel nobody wanted, but everybody in Los Angeles needed.

Yes, the American League has generally been a disappointment in 2026, but that fact should not obscure the renaissance happening in the South Side of Chicago.

Meanwhile, at Wrigley…

I understand losing to the Brewers in the regular season.

The Dodgers rolled over in spectacular fashion last year and in the home half of the matchup this year. Apparently, the Brewers changed their win song at the request of Manager Pat “Pocket Pancake” Murphy. I would not know, as the Dodgers took care of business while I was in attendance in 2026.

It happens, and when the Brewers are right, their brand of baseball makes most teams look slow and silly. Where most, including me, predicted that this year would be the year the Cubs finally won the NL Central, the Cubs were hell-bent on proving everyone wrong through what can be generously described as manic swings in quality of play.

Originally, I saw the Cubs start to wobble, but then over the last week, just about every lower seed but the Padres (really?!?) decided to go ice cold. For a split-second, I thought we might get both Chicago clubs staying home this October.

Now it just looks like potential heartbreak in the Southside and maximum chaos for the Wild Cards in the National League.

As of the start of play on September 18th, there is a 4-game gap between the fourth seed and going to Cancun.

• 4) Cubs – 85-68, +1 game over the sixth seed, 4-6 over their last ten
• 5) Phillies – 85-68, +1 game over the sixth seed, 5-5 over their last ten
• 6) Padres – 84-69, 9-1 over their last ten
• 7) Diamondbacks – 80-73, 4 games back of the sixth seed, 5-5 over their last ten

This essay started while trying to answer the question “Are the Cubs really going to cough it up?” Now, one must openly wonder whether the matchups we have considered a given for about a month are going to fall by the wayside.

Before anyone in San Diego starts preparing a coronation ceremony for the Padres, it’s helpful to remember who the Padres have played over their few series:

• New York Yankees (at home), 2-1
• Washington Nationals (at home), sweep
• San Francisco Giants (in SF), sweep
• Colorado Rockies (in Denver), 3-1

I see one decent test and ten games against opponents any playoff contender should win. (See also, the Seattle Mariners who somehow went 3-9 against the Sacramento Athletics and Anaheim Angels — yikes).

Whether we are witnessing the Cubs or Phillies slowly crashing out, or the Diamondbacks crashing in, will be resolved in the next week and a half.

Even while hoping for maximum chaos, Arizona needs to either find another gear or get some significant help from some mediocre also-rans while navigating the Yankees, Rockies (in Denver), and Padres (in San Diego). Yes, the Padres and Diamondbacks conclude the regular season by playing each other in San Diego.

The Padres play the Dodgers for their final road games of the regular season just before this showdown with Arizona, but that’s just one more element of this unfolding chaos.

The Cincinnati Reds made a series of interesting roster moves on Friday prior to the final home series of the season at Great American Ball Park.

Chief among them was claiming the versatile Oswaldo Cabrera off waivers from the New York Yankees, who had designated him for assignment earlier in the week. Now 27, Cabrera is a switch-hitter with experience all over the diamond, though his bat has yet to live up to the 108 OPS+ he posted in a 171 PA first cup of coffee at the big league level back in 2022. Since then, he’s hit just .232/.291/.328 in 778 PA across a trio of seasons, and he entered his arbitration years for the first time in 2026 at a modest $1.2 million salary.

He’s got an option remaining, though, and as a switch-hitter profiles as a pretty great final roster piece with at least a modicum of upside. He’s got an option remaining, too, so it’s likely this is a move the Reds made with eyes on 2027 as much as the final two weeks of this season.

That wasn’t the only action on the roster, however. Julian Aguiar was recalled for the first time since his Tommy John surgery, and he’ll be taking the spot on the roster previously occupied by Julian Garcia. The latter’s season is over as he is going to have surgery to remove loose bodies in his right elbow. Adding Aguiar brings another arm with starting experience (and length), and considering that was done a) on the day Chase Burns is set to start and b) after Brandon Williamson was already used this week, my best guess is we’ll see Aguiar in bulk after Burns exits early at his pitch limit tonight.

Spencer Steer was moved to the 60-day IL to free up the other needed 40-man roster spot.

Three. That’s what the Red Sox care about right now. Both as the Magic Number and the number worn by Ceddanne Rafaela. It’s also Ranger Suarez’s ERA. All of it.

The series with the Texas Rangers went, well, not great. However it ended on mostly a high note. Aside from Willson Contreras begin hit in the hand (initial x-rays negative, not follow up announced, 2026 medical curse perhaps behind us?). One thing lining up for the Red Sox: the Rangers are fighting to get into October. The Rays have clinched. They didn’t clinch the division, but they might be, ever so slightly, less pedal to the metal.

The problem: the bats.

Not the problem: Payton Tolle.

Ranger Suarez is pitching the first game. He hasn’t faced the Rays this year but Boston signed him with big games in mind and his sterling postseason stats (1.48 ERA / 3.02 FIP). Sitting at a Magic Number of 3 a win tonight gets that to 2 minimum. Ian Seymour will try to prevent this. He’s faced the Red Sox twice this season – 3.0 innings, 3 runs and 4.0 innings, 1 run. Since the start of August batters have nearly an .800 OPS against the lefty.

Tolle himself might pitch Saturday, but it hasn’t been announced as of writing. he could also pitch Sunday and sneak in another day of rest. Monday is an off day regardless. The Sox might be waiting to see if the Magic Number is 1 after tonight’s games to decide. Regardless, the rays will send newly repaired Mets castoff Freddy Peralta. He had an ERA of nearly 5.00 in NY and under 4.00 with the Rays. If you toss out his first start with Tampa (7 runs in 3.2 innings) he’s got a 2.66 ERA / 3.78 FIP with 30 Ks in 40.2 innings.

Likewise Sunday is up in the air for Boston. Bello? Sandoval? It might depend on the Magic Number. Griffin Jax continues to covert from relief to starting. After missing a month he got rocked for 6 runs in 2.2 innings in his first start but then tossed 10 innings allowing just a single run over his next two. His first start against Boston was in May where he allowed 3 runs (2 earned) over 4.0 innings. The second was during the sweep in July where he was hit for 7 runs in 5.0 innings. Lets see that again!

Junior Caminero leads the league with 41 homers.

Chandler Simpson is tied for the batting title at .311. He is also leading ins steals (44) and caught stealing (14).

Catcher Liam Hicks has hit .297/.390/.465 since being acquired from the Marlins. What a steal.

Probable Pitching Matchups

Friday, September 18: Ranger Suarez (3.33 ERA / 3.08 FIP) vs. Ian Seymour (4.27 ERA / 4.02 FIP)

Saturday, September 19: TBD (— ERA / — FIP) vs. Freddy Peralta (4.67 ERA / 4.39 FIP)

Sunday, September 20: TBD (— ERA / — FIP) vs. Griffin Jax (3.80 ERA / 3.86FIP)

When/Where to Watch

Friday, September 18: 7:10 PM ET on NESN

Saturday, September 19: 4:10 PM ET on NESN

Sunday, September 20: 1:40 PM ET on NESN

New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change.

The Mets’ final homestand of the 2026 season continues tonight against the Philadelphia Phillies.

At 7:15 p.m., the second game of the Mets-Phillies weekend series will air live tonight, Friday, Sept. 18, on Apple TV’s Friday Night Baseball.

Game 1 of the three-game set went to Don Mattingly’s playoff-bound club. Starting pitcher Aaron Nola twirled seven shutout innings, only giving up three hits over 81 pitches. Offensively, Bryce Harper led the way for the Phils. His 3-for-4 night at the plate and RBI was enough for the squad to prevail and win 3-0.

Over the course of the ’26 regular season, the Mets and Phillies have met nine times; Philadelphia has taken five of those contests. New York’s last win was on July 19 when Nolan McLean tossed six no-run innings and Francisco Lindor homered, doubled, singled, walked twice and drove in a trio of runs.

Tonight’s Friday Night Baseball is exclusively streaming on Apple TV, but it’s easy to subscribe and tune in — and completely free if you’ve never tried Apple TV before.

Mets vs. Phillies start time today (Sept. 18)

Tonight’s Mets vs. Phillies game is scheduled to begin at 7:15 p.m. ET.

How to watch Mets vs. Phillies for free

Tonight’s Mets vs. Phillies game is airing exclusively on Apple TV‘s Friday Night Baseball, so you’ll need a subscription to watch the game.

Apple TV offers a seven-day free trial for users, so you’ll be able to watch two weeks of doubleheaders before the $14.99/month payments kick in.

Amazon Prime members can also subscribe to Apple TV directly through Prime Video. It costs the same monthly price and also includes a seven-day free trial, but allows you to stream Apple’s content inside the Prime Video app.

Mets vs. Phillies pitching matchup

José Urquidy (2-2, 5.28 ERA) starts for the Phillies. Zac Thornton (4-5, 3.44 ERA) will be on the mound for the Mets.

Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post

This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.

The NL West crown has been secured, but the regular season grind carries on, with the next checkmark being a playoff bye, and if the Brewers stumble, maybe even the NL’s top record: the Dodgers open a series against the Giants, with the former looking like a near formality, four up on Atlanta with nine to go and threatening a Brewers team that’s only two games ahead after losing to the Pirates yesterday.

One might argue that more than specific and still important team accomplishments that the Dodgers may have between now and the end of the regular season, the key is to see individual players nearing their best form. For the purposes of this Friday game against the Giants, we’ll focus on Kyle Tucker and Tyler Glasnow, who fit the bill to a T of what we’re trying to discuss here.

Through his last eight games, Tucker isn’t just showing signs of life; he has been this team’s best hitter, securing 12 hits in just 29 at-bats and leaving the yard four times: the most home runs he has hit in such a short sample in the entire season. Outstanding during the road trip, Tucker has a chance to carry some momentum into the playoffs. At the same time, it’d be quite flat to see him reverse back into the hitter we’ve seen from most of the year as the team returns to Dodger Stadium, a place in which he carries a .572 OPS in 2026.

On the mound, it’ll be Tyler Glasnow, who, after returning from the IL with pristine control, walking just one batter in the first two starts back, has now walked seven in the last two, allowing a combined eight runs. Glasnow will be matched up against the offense with the lowest walk rate in baseball, the Giants at 7.5% BB%.

Tucker and Glasnow would be treated as the star players on most teams, but playing for the Dodgers, they serve slightly different roles even if the expectation for outstanding production is one and the same. Can Glasnow overcome his recent struggles while Tucker carries on in improved form? Standing in their way is the San Francisco Giants, a last-place club in everything but name, sitting in fourth place in the West with the second-worst record in the National League.

Friday game info

• Teams: Dodgers vs. Giants
• Ballpark: Dodger Stadium
• Start time: 7:15 p.m.
• TV: Apple TV
• Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)