Dodgers sweep Padres to reclaim the NL West lead as Mookie Betts delivers a go-ahead solo shot in Sunday’s finale after San Diego had rallied to tie the game. Freddie Freeman and Andy Pages provided early offense, and the weekend stretch culminated in LA’s 5-4 win, its first three-game sweep of SD since July. The Padres had surged with a five-game win streak and briefly grabbed a division edge, while the Giants loomed in the rearview. The upcoming three-game set at Petco Park could again flip the balance, but for now the Dodgers hold a two-game cushion atop the NL West.

Betts’ big moment capped a weekend where the Dodgers showed depth and resilience in a tight division race. Freeman’s early three-run blast and Pages’ first-inning shot highlighted LA’s upside beyond Betts, even as Betts himself battles a career-worst .241 average. SD’s rallyability remains palpable, but the sweep locks in momentum for the Dodgers as they eye a potentially pivotal stretch with a cross-country rematch looming at Petco Park.

The Padres surge behind Bogaerts as August heats up, pushing San Diego to 64–51 and just two games back of the Dodgers. Bogaerts has ripped for a .333 average and a 0.971 OPS across six August games, adding eight hits and two homers to fuel a late-season push for a postseason return.

Meanwhile, Boston sits four games behind Toronto in the AL East as the Red Sox head into a pivotal series against their former shortstop. Alex Cora linked up with Bogaerts and Jose Iglesias during a day off, a moment that underscored Bogaerts’ enduring ties to Boston even as he helps power San Diego’s lineup alongside Machado, Tatis Jr., and Soto.

Bogaerts’ Sox legacy—two World Series titles, four All-Star selections, and five Silver Sluggers across 1,264 games—frames a compelling chapter in a Padres-era story that also features a Superteam-era cast. The exchange about Bogaerts paying for dinner adds a light, human texture to a veteran star rekindling championship-era vibes as San Diego eyes another postseason run.

In this cross-country clash, Bogaerts’ August burst becomes fantasy fodder: a reliable, high-OPS shortstop in a top-heavy Padres lineup. The series opener on Friday carries extra weight for both teams as they chase division crowns and playoff seeding, with Bogaerts anchoring a Padres attack that could shape the late-season fantasy landscape.

The New York Mets face a significant setback in their infield plans with Nick Madrigal's dislocated left shoulder during a split-squad game against the Washington Nationals. Madrigal entered spring training as the frontrunner to fill the utility infielder role previously occupied by Jose Iglesias. While the team awaits MRI results, they currently plan to fill the position internally, emphasizing depth and versatility within their roster rather than pursuing external options.

Options for the utility role include Brett Baty, Luisangel Acuña, Ronny Mauricio, Donovan Walton, and Jared Young. Signing Iglesias remains a possibility, but it would reduce roster flexibility, complicating the movement of prospects like Acuña and Mauricio. The Mets are focused on maintaining their internal talent pipeline while navigating the challenges posed by Madrigal's injury.