KENLEY JANSEN

Should the season end Wednesday in a tie, Atlanta would win the division after claiming the season series 10-9 with Sunday's victory. The Braves won five of the last six games in the series, outscoring the Mets 42-19 over that stretch. TWO, DARN HOTMcNeil went 3 for 5 and has multiple hits in five straight games. ... Braves RHP Spencer Strider still has not thrown as he gets treatment on a sore left oblique. Braves: RHP Bryce Elder (2-3, 2.76 ERA) will face Marlins LHP Jesús Luzardo (3-7, 3.53).

Dansby Swanson and Matt Olson homered for the third straight game, Travis d’Arnaud hit a go-ahead two-run single in the third inning, and Atlanta Braves beat the New York Mets 5-3, completing a three-game sweep of their NL East rival and taking a two-game lead in the division with three games to play.

It's been a decade, at least, since two teams fighting for first have played each other so late in the season. Anything in between and the race would go down to the wire, with each team playing three more games against other opponents. And then the Braves won two more against the Mets themselves to switch spots in the standings, now up one. The season series, which will function as a tiebreaker, is currently knotted at nine apiece. “I don’t know if it’s a rivalry,” Vogelbach said, “it’s two really, really good teams.”Of course, that is the recipe for a rivalry.

Dansby Swanson and Matt Olson homered off Max Scherzer, lifting the Atlanta Braves to a crucial 4-2 victory over the New York Mets and a one-game lead in the NL East.

Austin Riley and Matt Olson hit back-to-back homers off Jacob deGrom in the second inning and Dansby Swanson later connected off the Mets ace as the Atlanta Braves beat New York 5-2 to move into a tie for the NL East lead.

Los Angeles Dodgers closer Craig Kimbrel is taking the mound to the song “Let It Go,” known to millions as the big hit from the movie “Frozen.” Since Kimbrel's wife, Ashley, suggested the tune, the 34-year-old right-hander hasn't given up a hit in his last six games as the song blares from Dodger Stadium's speakers.

Matt Olson hit a three-run homer against his former club and the Atlanta Braves won their sixth in a row, outslugging the Oakland Athletics 10-9 and finally catching the slumping Mets atop the NL East.

Rookie Spencer Strider set an Atlanta record with 16 strikeouts while allowing only two hits in eight innings to lead the Braves to a 3-0 win over the Colorado Rockies.

ATLANTA — (AP) — Kyle Wright pitched seven scoreless innings to earn his major league-leading 17th victory, Austin Riley and Ronald Acuña Jr. homered, and the Atlanta Braves beat the Colorado Rockies 3-2 on Wednesday night. Atlanta, with the NL’s third-best record at 80-51, remained three games behind the New York Mets in the East Division. Hall of Famer Tom Glavine was the last Atlanta pitcher to lead the majors in victories with 21 in 2000. Riley’s 32nd homer, an opposite-field, two-run shot to right-center off Ryan Feltner (2-6), put the Braves up 2-0 in the first. Prior to Atlanta’s four-game sweep June 2-5 at Coors Field, the Rockies had won 30 of 42 games against the Braves.

Kyle Wright pitched seven scoreless innings to earn his major league-leading 17th victory, Austin Riley and Ronald Acuña Jr. homered, and the Atlanta Braves beat the Colorado Rockies 3-2.

Ronald Acuña homered on the first pitch of the game, Matt Olson hit his 24th homer and the Atlanta Braves beat the Miami Marlins 6-2 to sweep their doubleheader.

Looking to replicate the deals that helped carry them to a World Series title in 2021, the Atlanta Braves have pulled of a flurry of trades ahead of the deadline.

Major League Baseball is considering a pitch clock for next year along with shift limits, larger bases and restrictions on pickoff attempts.

The New York Mets won two of three in their NL East showdown with the Atlanta Braves despite playing without two of their four All-Stars. It helped that Francisco Lindor played like he should be included at the Midsummer Classic. Lindor led New York’s home-run barrage with a three-run shot, Chris Bassitt threw six strong innings and the Mets beat the Atlanta Braves 7-3 on Wednesday.

(AP Photo/Ashley Landis) (Ashley Landis)A look at what's happening around the majors today:___SCHERZER'S STARTMets ace Max Scherzer will make a minor league rehab start for Double-A Binghamton. Scherzer will be pitching on seven days of rest after his first rehab start with the Rumble Ponies on June 21. SHO GOAngels two-way star Shohei Ohtani is coming off a dominant start as he pitches against the White Sox in Anaheim. Ohtani struck out a career-high 13 against Kansas City in his last outing, allowing two hits over eight scoreless innings. Ohtani is 6-4 with a 2.90 ERA in 12 starts, striking out 90 in 68 1/3 innings.

(AP Photo/Ashley Landis) (Ashley Landis)A look at what's happening around the majors on Wednesday:___SCHERZER'S STARTMets ace Max Scherzer will make a minor league rehab start for Double-A Binghamton. Scherzer will be pitching on seven days of rest after his first rehab start with the Rumble Ponies on June 21. SHO GOAngels two-way star Shohei Ohtani is coming off a dominant start as he pitches against the White Sox in Anaheim. Ohtani struck out a career-high 13 against Kansas City in his last outing, allowing two hits over eight scoreless innings. Ohtani is 6-4 with a 2.90 ERA in 12 starts, striking out 90 in 68 1/3 innings.

Giants Braves Baseball Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Kenley Jansen works in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Monday, June 20, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Hakim Wright Sr.) (Harkim Wright Sr.)PHILADELPHIA — (AP) — Atlanta Braves closer Kenley Jansen was put on the 15-day injured list Tuesday because of an irregular heartbeat, the latest heart-related issue in the veteran right-hander's career. The move was made retroactive to Monday when Jansen felt discomfort, manager Brian Snitker said. He was first diagnosed with irregular heartbeat issues in 2011 and had an ablation the next year. The 34-year-old Jansen signed a one-year, $16 million deal with the Braves in the offseason.

Atlanta Braves closer Kenley Jansen has been put on the 15-day injured list because of an irregular heartbeat.

Mark Appel is proof that even for a No. 1 draft pick, the road to the major leagues is sometimes a bumpy one.

Twins Orioles Baseball Minnesota Twins' Carlos Correa follows through on a swing against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning of a baseball game, Thursday, May 5, 2022, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) (Julio Cortez)Carlos Correa and the Minnesota Twins dodged a major problem this past week. Correa was just 4 for 30 through his first eight games with the Twins, but the star shortstop has hit .313 since then. Here's a look at how some of the other big free agent movers are doing so far:Freddie Freeman, Dodgers. A loss Sunday to Philadelphia was his first in his last 25 starts with the Nationals, Dodgers and Mets.

Carlos Correa and the Minnesota Twins dodged a major problem this past week.

Max Fried looked right at home, opening with five perfect innings while pitching the Atlanta Braves to a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Freddie Freeman slugged his first home run in a Dodgers uniform — against his former team, no less — and Los Angeles beat the Atlanta Braves 7-4 for its seventh consecutive victory.

Reds Dodgers Baseball Los Angeles Dodgers' Freddie Freeman, left, hits a solo home run as Atlanta Braves catcher Travis d'Arnaud watches during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, April 18, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) (Mark J. Terrill)LOS ANGELES — (AP) — Freddie Freeman arrived at Dodger Stadium and headed to the visiting clubhouse for an emotional reunion with his former Atlanta Braves teammates. Freeman joined the Dodgers in March on a $162 million, six-year deal that returned him to Southern California, where he grew up in Orange County. Jansen left the Dodgers the same month for a $16 million, one-year deal to be the Braves' closer. Freeman told a Braves employee wearing a World Series ring he didn't want to look at it.

LOS ANGELES — (AP) — Freddie Freeman arrived at Dodger Stadium and headed to the visiting clubhouse for an emotional reunion with his former Atlanta Braves teammates. Two players who had spent their entire careers with one team found themselves on opposite sides Monday night in the opener of a three-game series between the defending World Series champion Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Jansen left the Dodgers the same month for a $16 million, one-year deal to be the Braves' closer. Freeman dropped in Braves manager Brian Snitker's office for a chat and made his way around the clubhouse sharing memories of last year's World Series victory, the franchise's first since 1995. Freeman told a Braves employee wearing a World Series ring he didn't want to look at it.

Freddie Freeman arrived at Dodger Stadium and headed to the visiting clubhouse for an emotional reunion with his former Atlanta Braves teammates.

Freddie Freeman faces the Braves in Los Angeles for the first time since leaving the World Series champions and signing a $162 million, six-year deal with the Dodgers last month.

The Los Angeles Dodgers completed a four-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds with a 9-1 victory.

Reds Braves Baseball Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Charlie Morton (50) works in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds Friday, April 8, 2022, in Atlanta. Asked to hold a 7-3 lead, new Braves closer Kenley Jansen gave up three ninth-inning runs in his Atlanta debut. With two outs, Kyle Farmer hit an RBI single and Jake Fraley had a two-run single before Jansen retired Jonathan India on a flyball. Sanmartin allowed five runs on four hits, including a run-scoring double by Adam Duvall in Atlanta's big third inning. Jeff Hoffman, who replaced Sanmartin, allowed d'Arnaud's two-run single and a run-scoring single by Orlando Arcia.

Charlie Morton allowed only two hits while pitching into the sixth inning while returning from a broken leg, Travis d’Arnaud drove in three runs and the Atlanta Braves held off the Cincinnati Reds 7-6.

Many familiar faces with impressive resumes are in new places following one of major league baseball’s wildest free agent frenzies.

It was a 1-2 punch to the gut for Atlanta’s sports fans.

Twins Braves Baseball Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Bryce Elder gets a fist pump from catcher William Contreras in the third inning of a spring training baseball game against the Minnesota Twins in North Port, Fla., Friday, March 18, 2022. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) (Curtis Compton)ATLANTA — (AP) — The Atlanta Braves capped a busy week with another stunning move, signing three-time All-Star closer Kenley Jansen to a $16 million, one-year contract Friday night. The left-hander had 37 saves and was especially effective down the stretch and in the postseason for the World Series champions. Jansen has 350 saves in his 12-year career which had been spent entirely with the Dodgers. The Dodgers and Braves have squared off in the last two NL Championship Series, each winning once on the way to a World Series title.

The Atlanta Braves capped a busy week with another stunning move, signing three-time All-Star closer Kenley Jansen to a $16 million, one-year contract.

With a possible lockout on the horizon, it’s been mostly business as usual on the free agent market — so far.

Chris Taylor hit three homers and drove in six runs to help the Los Angeles Dodgers beat Atlanta 11-2, cutting the Braves' lead to 3-2 in the best-of-seven NL Championship Series.

The 25-year-old lefty excelled as a starter and reliever in the postseason last year, helping the Dodgers win their first World Series championship since 1988. On Tuesday night, the Boston Red Sox used Nathan Eovaldi in relief for the first time since 2019. SWATTING STARTERSKyle Schwarber, Xander Bogaerts and the slugging Red Sox are making short work of opposing starting pitchers this postseason. Tampa Bay's Shane McClanahan did the best against the Red Sox, going five innings in the opener of the AL Division Series. Chris Sale starts for the Red Sox after allowing one run over 2 2/3 innings in Game 1.

In a postseason already marked by curious pitching strategy, Julio Urías returns to his regular role in the rotation when the Los Angeles Dodgers play Atlanta in Game 4 of the NL Championship Series.

ALCS Astros Red Sox Baseball Houston Astros starting pitcher Zack Greinke is taken out of the game against the Boston Red Sox during the second inning in Game 4 of baseball's American League Championship Series Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson) (Winslow Townson)A look at what's happening around the majors on Wednesday:___SWATTING STARTERSKyle Schwarber, Xander Bogaerts and the slugging Red Sox are making short work of opposing starting pitchers this postseason. Tampa Bay's Shane McClanahan did the best, going five innings in the opener of the AL Division Series. Going into Game 4 of the AL Championship Series, it wasn't certain who the Red Sox would face next — Astros manger Dusty Baker hadn't announced a starter. Red Sox manager Alex Cora rebuked Boston pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez for tapping a wrist with a six-run lead Monday night, mimicking the Game 1 celebration by Houston's Carlos Correa.

ALCS Astros Red Sox Baseball Houston Astros starting pitcher Zack Greinke is taken out of the game against the Boston Red Sox during the second inning in Game 4 of baseball's American League Championship Series Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson) (Winslow Townson)A look at what's happening around the majors on Wednesday:___SWATTING STARTERSKyle Schwarber, Xander Bogaerts and the slugging Red Sox are making short work of opposing starting pitchers this postseason. Tampa Bay's Shane McClanahan did the best, going five innings in the opener of the AL Division Series. Going into Game 4 of the AL Championship Series, it wasn't certain who the Red Sox would face next — Astros manger Dusty Baker hadn't announced a starter. Red Sox manager Alex Cora rebuked Boston pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez for tapping a wrist with a six-run lead Monday night, mimicking the Game 1 celebration by Houston's Carlos Correa.

For the second straight season, the Atlanta Braves had a 2-0 lead on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Championship Series.

Cody Bellinger hit a tying, three-run homer and Mookie Betts then lined an RBI double as the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied in the eighth inning, beating Atlanta 6-5 and cutting the Braves’ lead in the NL Championship Series to 2-1.

The Braves won with a walk-off hit for the second night in a row when Eddie Rosario lined a two-out single off shortstop Corey Seager’s glove, giving Atlanta a 5-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Evan Longoria homered off Max Scherzer in the fifth inning and the San Francisco Giants edged the Los Angeles Dodgers 1-0 on a blustery night to take a 2-1 lead in their NL Division Series.

Two septuagenarians will be on the bench when 77-year-old Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa and the Chicago White Sox face the Houston Astros and 72-year-old skipper Dusty Baker in their playoff opener Thursday.

Chris Taylor hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Los Angeles Dodgers over the St. Louis Cardinals 3-1 in a scintillating NL wild-card game.

Two missing Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers earn nearly as much as the entire Tampa Bay Rays’ major league roster heading into the playoffs.

Trea Turner hit a grand slam and solo home run as the Los Angeles Dodgers extended the NL West race for at least another day, rallying past the Milwaukee Brewers 8-6 after starter Clayton Kershaw got hurt.

Corey Seager hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the eighth inning, when the Los Angeles Dodgers went deep four times to rally past the San Diego Padres 11-9.

Max Scherzer pitched seven shutout innings in another dominant performance for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who kept up their push in the NL West with a 5-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have clinched a postseason berth by beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-4 for their fifth straight win.

Houston Astros right-hander Zack Greinke makes his first start Tuesday night since testing positive for COVID-19 last month.

Scherzer retired his first 22 batters before Eric Hosmer doubled to deep right with one out in the eighth. The three-time Cy Young Award winner threw an immaculate inning in the second with three strikeouts on nine pitches. In a big blow, San Diego starter Blake Snell left after 11 pitches with a left adductor injury. Corey Seager and Mookie Betts hit solo homers, and Justin Turner added a three-run blast in the seventh to back Scherzer (14-4). Adams then nearly hit Trea Turner, who went down in a heap, drawing prolonged boos from the crowd.

Max Scherzer got his 3,000th career strikeout and took a perfect game into the eighth inning as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres 8-0 to complete a three-game sweep.

Padres Dodgers Baseball Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Julio Urias (7) throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) (Ashley Landis)LOS ANGELES — (AP) — Julio Urías pitched seven shutout innings for his major league-leading 17th victory, Max Muncy slugged a two-run homer and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres 3-0 on Friday night to snap a two-game skid. Urías (17-3) scattered three hits, struck out seven and walked one to remain unbeaten in his last 13 starts, going 8-0 in that stretch. But Wil Myers struck out swinging to end the threat. Dodgers: RHP Walker Buehler (13-3, 2.31) is unbeaten in eight career starts against the Padres, going 4-0 with a 1.54 ERA.

Julio Urías pitched seven shutout innings for his major league-leading 17th victory, Max Muncy slugged a two-run homer and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres 3-0 to snap a two-game skid.

Corey Seager hit a tiebreaking double in the eighth inning, lifting the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves in a matchup of playoff contenders.

Chris Taylor broke an eighth-inning tie with a two-run double and the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied for a 5-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.

Max Scherzer struck out 10 in his Dodgers debut and got plenty of offensive support as Los Angeles hit four home runs to defeat the Houston Astros 7-5, capping a contentious two-game series at Dodger Stadium.

Lance McCullers Jr. threw 6 2/3 shutout innings and the Houston Astros withstood the raucous, heckling fans at Dodger Stadium to blank Los Angeles 3-0.

Los Angeles Dodgers fans waited a long time to let José Altuve and the Houston Astros know just how they felt about possibly being cheated out of a 2017 World Series championship.

Buster Posey scored the tiebreaking run on a throwing error by first baseman Cody Bellinger in the eighth inning, and the San Francisco Giants beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1.

San Francisco took three of four in a tense series between the longtime rivals. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts threw his cap and argued vehemently, leading to him being ejected in the ninth inning for the second consecutive night. Wade then hit a sinking liner to right field that dropped just in front of newly acquired Billy McKinney, giving San Francisco a 5-3 advantage. The teams have a three-game series beginning Tuesday in San Francisco before playing their final series of the season Sept. 3-5. Dodgers: RHPs Corey Knebel (right lat strain) and Jimmy Nelson (back) both pitched an inning during a simulated game.

LaMonte Wade Jr. broke a ninth-inning tie with a two-run single and the San Francisco Giants rallied against closer Kenley Jansen again for a 5-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Wilmer Flores hit a go-ahead, two-run homer off closer Kenley Jansen in the ninth inning and the San Francisco Giants rallied past the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2.

Dodgers Diamondbacks Baseball Los Angeles Dodgers' Albert Pujols (55) celebrates with Justin Turner after hitting a three-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the third inning during a baseball game, Sunday, June 20, 2021, in Phoenix. Kenley Jansen pitched a perfect ninth for his 18th save in 20 chances as Los Angeles won its sixth in a row. Arizona is approaching the longest losing streak of the wild card era, 19 games by the Kansas City Royals in 2005. Arizona is on the longest losing streak in team history and has lost 30 of 32 overall and 40 of 45. Los Angeles played in front of a crowd of 31,661 that featured many loud Dodgers fans.

Pitchers will be ejected and suspended for 10 games for using illegal foreign substances to doctor baseballs in a crackdown by Major League Baseball that will start June 21. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File) (Mark J. Terrill)A look at what's happening around the majors on Monday:STUCK UPMajor League Baseball begins its crackdown against pitchers using sticky substances when umpires start making regular, random mound checks. “I think I’m in the same boat as everyone else, just waiting for this to play out,” he said. Pitchers will be ejected and suspended for 10 games if caught using foreign substances to doctor baseballs. Kansas City lost 19 straight in 2005, the longest drought since baseball began having wild-card playoff teams in 1995.

Major League Baseball will begin its crackdown against pitchers using sticky substances, with umpires making regular, random mound checks starting on Monday.

Albert Pujols hit a three-run homer and passed Mel Ott for 14th on the career runs list, and the Los Angeles Dodgers extended the Arizona Diamondbacks’ losing streak to 17 games with a 9-8 victory.

Giants left fielder Mike Tauchman remarkably reached over the wall to rob Albert Pujols of a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning and San Francisco broke through in the 10th to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-5 in a thriller.

Will Smith hit a tiebreaking, solo home run in the seventh inning, Albert Pujols slugged a two-run shot, his first for the Dodgers, and Los Angeles defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2.

Diamondbacks Dodgers Baseball Los Angeles Dodgers' Albert Pujols bats during the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Monday, May 17, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) (Mark J. Terrill)LOS ANGELES — (AP) — Albert Pujols delivered an RBI single in his Dodgers debut, and Walker Buehler pitched seven scoreless innings of one-hit ball in Los Angeles' 3-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night. Pujols got his 3,254th hit and his 2,113th RBI — the second-most in major league history since it became an official stat. Gavin Lux added an RBI single in the eighth. Eduardo Escobar had an RBI single in the eighth for Arizona, which opened a four-game series at Chavez Ravine with its fifth loss in six games.