The Latest Breaking News from NL

PHILADELPHIA — After an offensive explosion in the first five innings of Sunday’s game, the Phillies’ bats fell quiet once they returned from a rain delay that lasted 2 hours, 5 minutes. The Phillies entered the delay with a one-run lead, and for a while, it looked like the bullpen…

Mattingly’s contract expires when the season ends. He said he met with Marlins principal owner Bruce Sherman and general manager Kim Ng to talk about the future, and that “all parties agreed” that it’s time for a change.

Here’s the thing about possessing a playoff spot rather than chasing one: It’s unnecessary to always keep one eye on the out-of-town scores.

No. 60 was just the beginning.

If this series is a playoff preview, the Cardinals are seeing a Padres team that might actually be ready.

He spent 12 of his 14 big-league seasons with Los Angeles, and was a member of three World Series championship teams.

Batting average is considered old-fashioned in today’s analytics-driven game, a statistical relic that has been replaced by on-base percentage, slugging percentage and wins above replacement as more accurate measures of offense, and a batting title doesn’t carry the weight it once did.

The Braves and the Mets are still neck and neck, but the gap in the AL Central widens as just 15 teams in MLB are left fighting for 12 October playoff spots.

PHOENIX — It wasn’t perfect by any means, but a 6-1 victory over the Diamondbacks and two losses that occurred elsewhere made for a good Sunday for the Padres.