SAN FRANCISCO -- The highlight of a cold, foggy night at AT&T Park came after the game, and not even on the field. Beyond the right-field wall, next to the Cable Car, stands a flag pole that has banners for the five teams in the National League West, arranged in order of the standings. It is rather inconspicuous, and many Giants fans may not have even noticed it was there.
Nyjer Morgan of the Washington Nationals has been given an eight-game suspension for three incidents this week: charging the mound and inciting a bench-clearing brawl with the Florida Marlins on Wednesday night, taunting Marlins fans on Tuesday, and unnecessarily running into St. Louis Cardinals catcher Bryan Anderson last Saturday.
The Padres took the first game of this weekend's NL West showdown series against the Giants in much the same fashion as they have been beating the Giants all year: By scoring just enough runs and then letting their phenomenal bullpen finish it off.
Atop their respective divisions, the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees both appear headed to the playoffs.
The Rangers have maintained their lofty position despite struggling mightily against the Yankees' division.
"After Stephen Strasburg finished his anticipated simulated game at Chase Field with no apparent issues, he said he "absolutely" remains on track to return from the disabled list Tuesday at Nationals Park against the Marlins.
Dodgers Money Line -165 : Over/Under 7
The first-place San Diego Padres have had plenty of problems scoring against the Los Angeles Dodgers this year, and have yet to cross the plate when facing Chad Billingsley.
The home-plate celebration broken leg.
The postgame-interview face pie torn meniscus.
These freak injuries have nothing on the pitching coach/reliever roughhouse-wrestling strained rib muscle.