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11:55 AM ET, September 18, 2025

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 Top News: 
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
Dodgers considering Shohei Ohtani helping as reliever  —  LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani has proved to be a viable starting pitcher as the postseason approaches, but Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged Wednesday that the organization has considered whether he might …
RELATED:
Thomas Harrigan / MLB.com:
Ohtani in the outfield?  He says he's willing for the playoffs  —  Might we see Shohei Ohtani in the outfield this October?  —  Ohtani floated that possibility to members of the Japanese media after the Dodgers' 9-6 loss to the Phillies on Tuesday, during which the two-way superstar tossed five innings …
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
Ohtani throws 5 hitless innings but bullpen dooms Dodgers again  —  LOS ANGELES — In the brief moment between when Shohei Ohtani completed his fifth inning of no-hit baseball as a pitcher and prepared to lead off the next half-inning as a hitter, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts seized on an opportunity to gather intel.
ESPN:
Astros' Yordan Alvarez out ‘a while’ with left ankle sprain  —  Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez has a “pretty significant” left ankle sprain and will be out of the lineup indefinitely as Houston battles for a division title and an American League playoff spot as the season winds down, manager Joe Espada said Tuesday.
ESPN:
Raleigh hits HRs No. 55, 56 to pass Mantle, tie Mariners' mark  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Cal Raleigh broke Mickey Mantle's record for homers by a switch-hitter and tied the Mariners record set by Ken Griffey Jr. when the Seattle star hit his 55th and 56th of the season in consecutive at-bats against the Royals on Tuesday night.
RELATED:
ESPN:
Mariners' Cal Raleigh ties record, sets another with 54th home run
Discussion: Yahoo! Sports and The Bandwagon
Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
MLB drops plan for London games in 2026, says nearing TV deals with NBC, ESPN, Netflix  —  Major League Baseball has abandoned plans to play two games in London next season because of scheduling issues with West Ham's Olympic Stadium and the sport's television partner.
Associated Press:
Machado the man for bases-loaded moments as his 14th grand slam powers Padres past Mets  —  NEW YORK — With the bases loaded, the last man any opposing pitcher wants to see at the plate is Manny Machado.  —  The seven-time All-Star once again showed why Wednesday night.
Jorge Montanez / NBCSports.com:
Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Last call for saves as end of season nears  —  In this week's Closer Report, we run down the last week in saves around the league and examine every team's closer situation as we come down to the final week of baseball.  —  Fantasy Baseball Closer Rankings  —  Tier 1
Mark Chiarelli / Baseball America:
MLB Farm System Grades For Every Team In 2025  —  With the minor league season winding down, Baseball America is shifting into offseason mode—which means Prospect Handbook rankings season is almost here.  The best predictor of the future is often a look at the past.
Discussion: Battery Power
Associated Press:
Tests OK on Bo Bichette's knee; he could return for playoffs  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette will miss the remainder of the regular season with a sprained left knee, but the AL East leaders hope to get him back during the playoffs.  —  Bichette has been sidelined since Sept. 7.
Jorge Castillo / ESPN:
Four rivals, 13 days: Five things we learned about Yankees  —  With his New York Yankees in the thick of a 12-game gauntlet against four American League playoff contenders, manager Aaron Boone divulged his sleep strategy to manage the stress.  —  “Melatonin makes sure it doesn't keep me up,” Boone said last week.
Dan Szymborski / FanGraphs Baseball:
Which Teams Have Suffered the Most From Injuries?  —  Major League Baseball's injured list is the sport's unofficial 31st team, one that never makes the playoffs but always plays spoiler.  In the last week, 22 players were placed on the IL.  The biggest name was Will Smith …
Discussion: Camden Chat and The Crawfish Boxes
 
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 More News: 
James Schiano / NBCSports.com:
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Trey Yesavage, Bryce Eldridge, and Josh Smith
Discussion: Yahoo Sports
D.J. Short / NBCSports.com:
MLB Power Rankings: Brewers, Phillies clinch playoff spots, Mariners surging, races galore
 Earlier Picks: 
Associated Press:
Odds by Looking for a pesky spoiler? The Athletics just swept the Reds — and have been above .500 since the break
Discussion: Viva El Birdos
Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
Giants calling up top prospect Bryce Eldridge to help their playoff bid
 

 
From WeSmirch:

Ginny Dougary / Radio Times:
Dame Judi Dench opens up on her declining eyesight, family history, and having a temper: “Oh yes, I'm sometimes very cross”

Matt Wilkinson / The Sun:
Prince Harry wins Govt review into demand for armed cops when he visits UK - paving way for King reunion with grandkids

The Times:
Kate Winslet: ‘Young women have no concept of what being beautiful is’

 
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