Mookie Betts is Dodgers' shortstop, and Dave Roberts repeated it to erase any rumor of a late-season move. Betts’ defense has been elite, leading shortstops in defensive runs saved and ranking highly in outs above average and fielding percentage, while his instincts have turned him into a steady core of the infield.

Betts has also carried a late-season offensive surge (.329 in the last three weeks) and has become a vocal mentor, helping rookie Alex Freeland. The Dodgers’ leadership trio—Betts, Freeman, and Kershaw—has Roberts confident they’ll stay at the position through the postseason.

Contreras over 0.5 HR at +300, Pasquantino over 0.5 HR at +475, Freeland over 0.5 HR at +650, Buxton over 0.5 HR at +280 headline Friday’s MLB HR prop slate. Value plays bend toward favorable righty matchups, weather, and park factors to beat the odds, not chase the obvious. Shop for the best line to juice round-robin upside.

Contreras faces Littell, a pitcher with trouble handling right-handed power; Pasquantino has shown power against righties and Paddack has leaked homers recently; Freeland thrives against right-handers while Gallen has allowed hard contact; Buxton’s big righty power and Cortes’ lefty splits tip the scales. These picks hinge on plus-money outcomes and volatility in a large slate.

Stay agile with lineup updates and weather; small line movements can turn these long-shot bets into meaningful round-robin gains, especially when multiple picks connect in a single card.

Padres’ bullpen dominance and a surprising late-season surge carried San Diego back into a tie atop the NL West after a 5-1 win over Los Angeles. Nestor Cortés, a Deadline addition, worked six scoreless frames, wiping away earlier-season rust with a heavy cutter and relentless rhythm. Tyler Glasnow faltered in the fourth as the Padres pieced together a multi-run inning behind walks, a Laureano two-run single, and timely hits. Alex Freeland’s pinch-hit homer capped the night as San Diego rode bullpen depth to the win.

The weekend narrative flips the division race, with San Diego taking a one-game lead and threatening a weekend sweep that no one foresaw given the Dodgers’ healthy rotation. Cortés’ redemption arc—from the World Series moment against Freeman to this six-inning gem—illustrates how the deadline haul can pay off immediately. In fantasy, the Padres’ surge behind a deep bullpen and timely offense elevates several depth pieces into plausible weekly contributors.

As Dodgers pitchers scuffled, San Diego’s mid-rotation and bullpen arms fed off that momentum, while the lineup leaned on Machado, Bogaerts, Laureano, and Tatis Jr. to pressure the LA staff. The resurgence of the Padres’ pitching staff, combined with Freddie Freeman and Betts in the Dodgers lineup and Freeland’s breakout, reshaped the energy of the final meeting this season. The standings swing sets up a fantasy-friendly finish to the season, with upside from Padres relievers and the higher-leverage roles of key position players.

Padres beat Dodgers on a 102-mph heater amid a Petco Park glow, a win that tightens the NL West with 31 games left and the division race capping off in a dramatic showdown. The rivalry remains electric as both sides navigate injuries, returns, and a schedule that could shape October. Small-ball and timely pitching kept San Diego in the moment, while Dodgers’ lineup adjusts to reignite its power and positional depth.

From a fantasy lens, Snell and Darvish anchor the Padres’ late-season push, while Padres call-ups like Alex Freeland supply a spark, and Dodgers reinforcements like Kiké Hernández and Max Muncy offer offense and stability. The narrative isn’t settled; it’s a race to see who can sustain momentum through October’s crowded calendar.