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The San Diego Padres are scorching heading into October, and Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Junior are leading the charge. Despite dropping the series opener to the Dodgers, San Diego remains the hottest team in baseball, and the question now is whether that momentum carries deep into the postseason.
Speaking of the Dodgers, the front office is already thinking beyond Freddie Freeman. The future Hall of Famer has been open about his retirement timeline, and Los Angeles may not need to panic — a top prospect is reportedly waiting in the wings, ready to step into one of the biggest shoes in the game.
Meanwhile, in Chicago, Kevin Gausman's day ended early against the Marlins after exiting with an injury following a diving tag play. The Cubs are still in the thick of the playoff race, fighting for seeding, and losing Gausman for any stretch of time could seriously complicate their October ambitions at exactly the wrong moment.
That's your play-by-play. Sports Desk, back to the booth.
