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Aaron Nola, Phils tune up for NLDS in finale vs. Nats

MLB: Philadelphia Phillies at Milwaukee BrewersSep 18, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola (27) pitches in the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

The rebuilding Washington Nationals have been locked into a fourth-place finish in the National League East heading into Sunday’s regular-season finale with the visiting Philadelphia Phillies. But manager Dave Martinez’s squad still can finish on a high note.

A win would give Washington (71-90) a series sweep of the NL East champs heading into the offseason.

The Nationals guaranteed themselves a series victory with a 6-3 win on Saturday, matching their 2023 win total in the process.

Rookie James Wood hit a two-run homer and also tripled and Joey Gallo hit a three-run home run to highlight a four-run eighth for the Nationals, who got another dazzling start from left-hander MacKenzie Gore.

“I love the energy,” Martinez said. “I love the excitement. I love the boys playing hard and not backing down. … I’ve never seen them give up once and today was a testament to that.”

The 24-year-old Gore (10-12) outdueled NL Cy Young Award contender Zack Wheeler, allowing just three singles over six shutout innings. Gore walked one and struck out nine, including the side in order — Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner and Bryce Harper — in his final inning of the season. Gore allowed just one earned over 19 innings (0.47 ERA) in his final three starts while striking out 23.

“I’m really proud of the way he finished up,” Martinez said. “That’s a great building block for next year. He’s a guy who can win 18, 20 games for us. When he’s in the strike zone, he’s really good. Today he proved that.”

Wheeler wasn’t bad either, allowing just three hits, including a two-run, opposite-field homer by Wood in the sixth, over 6 1/3 innings to reach the 200-inning mark for the season. It marked the 11th consecutive start that Wheeler threw six-plus innings and allowed two or fewer runs, the first Phillies pitcher to accomplish that feat since 1893 when the mound was moved to its current distance.

Wheeler (16-7, 2.57 ERA, 225 strikeouts), who is slated to start next Saturday in Game 1 of the NL Division Series, also struck out 11, the fourth time this season he whiffed at least 10 in a game.

“I just told him it’s been a hell of a year,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said he told Wheeler when he came out to replace him in the seventh. “I mean, that’s Cy Young-worthy to me.”

Aaron Nola (13-8, 3.52), who has allowed two earned runs over 19 1/3 innings (0.93 ERA) in three starts against the Nationals this season, will start Sunday’s finale for the Phillies. Fellow right-hander Jake Irvin (10-13, 4.22 ERA), who is 0-2 with a 4.70 ERA in four career starts against Philadelphia, will start for Washington.

The Phillies (94-67) saw their chances of a No. 1 seed over the Los Angeles Dodgers (97-64) in the NL vanish with Saturday’s loss but Philadelphia can still clinch home-field advantage for a potential World Series matchup with the New York Yankees (93-68) with a win Sunday. The Phillies are a major-league-best 54-27 at home this season.

“It would have been nice to have home-field advantage throughout but we’ve won on the road too,” Thomson said. “We’ve just got to go out and play.”

–Field Level Media

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Phillies snap 10-game skid with extra-inning defeat of Braves

MLB: Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta BravesApr 25, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Adolis Garcia (53) runs to third on an RBI triple against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Bryce Harper’s bases-loaded single in the 10th inning drove in two runs and sparked the visiting Philadelphia Phillies to an 8-5 win over the Atlanta Braves on Saturday to end their 10-game losing streak.

After Tyler Kinley (3-1) started the inning with a walk and left-hander Jose Suarez walked the first batter he faced, Harper, who was 2-for-3 with four RBIs, lined a sinker into left to drive in automatic runner Garrett Stubbs and Trea Turner. Brandon Marsh followed with a two-run single to widen the lead and help the Phillies win their first game since April 13.

Brady Keller (1-0) retired all four batters he faced, and Kyle Backhus pitched the 10th, allowing one run on two hits.

Philadelphia right-hander Zack Wheeler made his first appearance since August 15 of last year after missing time due to undergoing surgery to treat thoracic outlet syndrome. He pitched five innings and allowed two runs on three hits and three walks, striking out six. He left after throwing 84 pitches.

Atlanta right-hander Bryce Elder pitched seven innings, matching his season high, and allowed three runs on six hits and one walk, striking out two.

The Phillies scored a run in the first inning when Harper walked with two outs and scored when Adolis Garcia lined a ball to left field that Mike Yastrzemski missed on a dive for an RBI triple.

Philadelphia scored another run in the fourth inning when Bryson Stott smacked a triple off the right-field brick wall to score Brandon Marsh.

Atlanta tied the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth. Michael Harris II hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly and Austin Riley followed with an RBI double, knocking in the 500th run of his career.

The Phillies regained the lead in the fifth. Rafael Marchan singled and came around to score on Harper’s infield single which snapped Philadelphia’s 0-for-18 drought with runners in scoring position against the Braves this season.

The Braves took their first lead in the sixth, scoring twice against reliever Tanner Banks on an RBI double from Ozzie Albies and a run-scoring single from Harris.

The Phillies evened the game 4-4 in the eighth against Dylan Lee. Kyle Schwarber tripled when center fielder Eli White slipped on the wet turf and allowed the ball to get past him. He scored on Harper’s sacrifice fly.

–Field Level Media

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Timberwolves' Donte DiVincenzo (leg), Anthony Edwards (knee) exit early in win over Nuggets

NBA: Playoffs-Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver NuggetsApr 18, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) celebrates after a three-pointer during the second half against the Denver Nuggets in game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo was ruled out after injuring his lower right leg in the first quarter and was late joined on the sidelines by injured teammate Anthony Edwards in the first half of Saturday’s 112-96 victory over the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 of their playoff series in Minneapolis.

DiVincenzo sustained the injury on a non-contact play 79 seconds into the game. He planted his foot to go toward a loose ball, and he quickly went down as he grabbed toward the back of his right leg.

The team ruled out DiVincenzo before the end of the first quarter. ESPN reported that DiVincenzo, who left the arena at halftime in a wheelchair, hasa torn right Achilles.

Edwards, a four-time All-Star, appeared to hyperextend his left knee while leaping to defend Nuggets wing Cam Johnson’s drive to the basket with 2:43 remaining in the second quarter. He landed awkwardly and grabbed his left knee. Edwards was helped to the locker room.

Minnesota ruled him out for the rest of the game just after halftime. Edwards, who had five points and three rebounds in 18 minutes, is slated to get an MRI to determine the injury’s severity.

The Timberwolves lead the best-of-seven series 3-1, with Game 5 on Monday in Denver.

DiVincenzo averaged 12.2 points per game and shot 37.9% from 3-point range during the regular season. He averaged 14.3 points in the first three games of the playoff series against the Nuggets.

-Field Level Media

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T-wolves beat Nuggets, lose Anthony Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo to injuries

NBA: Denver Nuggets at Minnesota TimberwolvesApr 25, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun (0) defends against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ayo Dosunmu (13) in the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

Ayo Dosunmu came off the bench to score a career-high 43 points on 13-for-17 shooting, and the short-handed Minnesota Timberwolves pulled away for a 112-96 win over the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 of their Western Conference quarterfinals series on Saturday night in Minneapolis.

The victory, which gave Minnesota a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, came at a cost to the Timberwolves, who lost two starters due to injury.

Anthony Edwards, a four-time All-Star and the team’s top scorer, left in the second quarter and did not return because of a left knee injury. Edwards leaped to try to block a shot and landed awkwardly on his left leg, and he quickly dropped to the court and clutched his knee.

Team officials helped Edwards to his feet and he placed his arms around their shoulders. He put little weight on his left leg as he hobbled toward the locker room.

Earlier in the first half, Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo headed toward the locker room after he injured his right leg on a non-contact play. DiVincenzo planted his foot to pursue a loose ball and fell to the hardwood, and he grabbed the back of his right leg in pain.

Early reports indicated that DiVincenzo might have ruptured his Achilles tendon on the play.

Naz Reid added 17 points off the bench for Minnesota. Julius Randle finished with 15 points and nine rebounds, and Rudy Gobert grabbed a game-high-tying 15 rebounds to go along with four points.

Jamal Murray scored 30 points on 10-for-25 shooting to lead Denver. Nikola Jokic finished with 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists. However, he shot 8-for-22 from the field and missed all three of his 3-point attempts.

The series returns to Denver for Game 5 on Monday night.

Dosunmu took over in his teammates’ absence. He helped Minnesota outscore Denver 62-42 in the second half to take a commanding lead in the series.

The Nuggets led 76-74 late in the third quarter before Dosunmu helped Minnesota take charge. He made a pair of free throws as Minnesota finished the quarter on an 8-2 run to grab an 82-78 lead.

In the fourth quarter, Dosunmu continued to assert himself. He hit a driving layup and a pull-up bank shot to increase the Timberwolves’ lead to 95-82 with 7:53 to go.

Denver struggled to keep pace the rest of the way, and Jokic took exception to a layup by Jaden McDaniels with 2.1 seconds left. Jokic and Randle were ejected in the closing seconds after players from both teams shoved one another near the sidelines.

–Field Level Media

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