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Jesse Rogers ESPN Staff Writer 

Watch Kris Bryant discuss the Cubs hanging tough to get a late win against Milwaukee on Thursday. Bryant homered in the tenth inning to help them to victory,

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David Schoenfield ESPN Senior Writer 

Magic number update: The Red Sox have clinched at least a wild-card spot while their magic numbers to win the AL East remains at 8. The Red Sox play at Cincinnati this weekend while the Yankees head to Toronto. Other magic numbers: Dodgers: 1 (to win NL West) Cubs: 6 (to win NL Central) Yankees: 2 (to clinch wild card) Diamondbacks: 3 (to clinch wild card)

David Schoenfield ESPN Senior Writer 

The Padres play spoiler, shutting out the Rockies as Clayton Richard and two relievers combine for 12 strikeouts. The Rockies are shut out for the second straight day and lose their fourth in a row as they drop to 0-3 on what was supposed to be an easy road trip to San Francisco and San Diego. Those road hitting blues are sneaking up at the wrong time. Also sneaking up: The Cardinals, who take advantage of Rockies and Brewers losses to inch 1.5 games behind the Rockies for the second wild card.

Jesse Rogers ESPN Staff Writer 

Watch Jake Arrieta discuss if he felt any soreness in his right hamstring during his first start back from his injury.

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Jesse Rogers ESPN Staff Writer 

Watch Jake Arrieta discuss his outing and the Cubs victory over Milwaukee on Thursday.

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David Schoenfield ESPN Senior Writer 

A gut punch of a loss for the Brewers as the Cubs just about wrap up the NL Central with an extra-inning win, but just like Wednesday, the Brewers made a crucial miscue in the field that led to a game-tying run and later lost on a two-run home run. They're now 4.5 back of the Cubs and they need to win the next three games of this series to have a chance at the division title.

Jesse Rogers ESPN Staff Writer 

The Cubs beat the Brewers 5-3 after Kris Bryant hit a two run home run in the tenth inning to finish off a drama filled night. A 2-1 Cubs lead turned into a 3-2 Mil advantage due to some shaky relief pitching but down to his last strike, with two outs in the ninth, Javy Baez drove in the tying run with a base hit. Then closer Wade Davis escaped a bases loaded, one out jam in the bottom of the inning getting a strikeout and a comebacker, before Bryant's heroics the next inning. Davis got the final 5 outs, including four by strikeout, for the win, as the Cubs magic number dropped to 6 after a thrilling victory.

David Schoenfield ESPN Senior Writer 

Will that ninth inning be the inning Brewers fans remember if they miss the playoffs by one game? Late covering first and then a two-out, two-strike hit to tie it, and then they load the bases with one out in the bottom of the frame and can't score the winning run. It's now a game of bullpen depth. Oliver Drake on for the Brewers -- who are 4-9 in extra innings.

David Schoenfield ESPN Senior Writer 

The Brewers were one strike from victory, but Javy Baez hit a slow grounder up the middle off a pretty good splitter from Jeremy Jeffress for the game-tying base hit. With Orlando Arcia shifted way over towards third base, he had no chance to make a play. And with a heavily taxed bullpen, if the Brewers don't win it here it will be interesting to see who Craig Counsell uses in extra innings.

David Schoenfield ESPN Senior Writer 

The Brewers take the lead! Domingo Santana doubles, steals third off Justin Wilson and then Eric Thames lines a single to right-center over a drawn-in infield. Craig Counsell could have hit for Thames, but left him in for the lefty-lefty matchup. It appears former Brewers closer Jeremy Jeffress will pitch the top of the ninth with Corey Knebel getting the day off after pitching three games in a row.

Jesse Rogers ESPN Staff Writer 

Jake Arrieta is done after 5 innings and 71 pitches which was about the plan from the outset in his return from a hamstring injury. He gave up a hit in every inning but just one run. His velocity was good and his stuff looked ok for not pitching for several week. He has two starts left to further lock in before the postseason.

David Schoenfield ESPN Senior Writer 

Domingo Santana homers for the third straight game and the Brewers are on the board. It's not a must-win game, but it kind of feels like a must-win game if Milwaukee is going to win the Central. With a win, they're 2.5 back with nine games remaining; with a loss, 4.5 back (and 5 in the loss column). Trouble is: Corey Knebel and Anthony Swarzak have both pitched three days in a row. Will they be available in the late innings?

David Schoenfield ESPN Senior Writer 

Francisco Lindor's three-run homer -- his 32nd -- was the big blow as the Indians won for their 27th time in 28 games. With his power numbers and solid defense, Lindor is starting to get some MVP talk. He's hit .349 with 11 HRs and 27 RBIs in this stretch, so I understand why. But the entire season counts. Jose Ramirez has an OBP 30 points higher and slugging percentage 64 points higher with good defensive metrics at two positions. Ramirez is still the best MVP candidate on the Indians.

Jesse Rogers ESPN Staff Writer 

Watch Cub GM Jed Hoyer discuss the struggles of Jon Lester as well as the weekend series against the Brewers.

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David Schoenfield ESPN Senior Writer 

The Dodgers avoided an embarrassing four-game sweep in Philly with a 5-4 win, cutting their magic number to one. The Diamondbacks are off tonight, so the Dodgers can clinch the NL West on Friday with a win at home against the Giants or a Diamondbacks loss to Miami. Other magic numbers: Yankees: 3 (to clinch wild card) Diamondbacks: 4 (to clinch wild card) Red Sox: 8 (to clinch AL East) Cubs: 8 (to clinch NL Central)

Jerry Crasnick ESPN Senior Writer 

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen logged the final four outs in today's 5-4 win over the Phillies. That earned him the right to be interviewed by teammate Yasiel Puig.

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Jerry Crasnick ESPN Senior Writer 

As if losing 20 times in a 25-game span weren't bad enough, the Dodgers are now suffering some dings to their lineup mainstays. Corey Seager, who is already dealing with a sore right elbow, has fouled balls off his calf and ankle this week and sat out today's series finale in Philadelphia. And Justin Turner had to leave today's game after being struck in the hand by a Mark Leiter Jr. pitch in the first inning. This is not the way manager Dave Roberts envisioned gearing up for the playoffs.

David Schoenfield ESPN Senior Writer 

Do the Dodgers have a bullpen problem heading into the postseason? Through July, the pen had a 2.83 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. Since then, it owns a 4.90 ERA and 1.31 WHIP. Kenley Jansen and Brandon Morrow seem like the only reliable relievers of late, but haven't pitched much as the Dodgers have lost 20 of their past 25 games.