We had an abbreviated 10-game slate on Thursday, as is customary before the full schedule of weekend series kick off. Here is everything you need to know about Thursday's MLB action.

Thursday's scores

Peralta, D-Backs take series opener from Dodgers

The most important series of the weekend is taking place in Los Angeles. The third-place Dodgers are playing host to the first-place D-Backs for four games at Dodger Stadium. Going into Thursday, Arizona was a half-game up on the Rockies and one game up on the Dodgers. The NL West is easily the tightest division race in baseball.

Thursday night the D-Backs beat the Dodgers to increase their lead to two games over Los Angeles. The hero? Well, the pitching staff, first and foremost. Robbie Ray and five relievers held the Dodgers to one run, a Manny Machado solo homer, in the game. They combined for 15 strikeouts. David Peralta provided the offense with a three-run home run against Rich Hill.

Peralta has been on a rampage in August. He went into Thursday's game with a .382/.433/.753 batting line and nine home runs in 23 August games. He's hitting .336/.387/.621 with 18 home runs in his last 71 games dating to June 1 .

With the win Thursday night, the D-Backs improved to 9-4 against the Dodgers this season, outscoring them, 65-50, in the 13 games. The two clubs have three more games to play this weekend plus three more in Arizona late next month. Something tells me the NL West race is going to go down to the wire.

Cubs best Braves in battle of NL's best

Coming into Thursday, the two best records in the National League belong to the Cubs (78-84) and Braves (74-58). The two teams met Thursday night at SunTrust Field to play a makeup game for their May 17 rainout. Chicago jumped out to an early 3-1 lead, the Braves took a 4-3 in the fifth, then Tommy La Stella did this:

The go-ahead pinch-hit two-run home run was La Stella's first home run of the season, if you can believe that. He's a bench guy, so he doesn't play much, hence the lack of homers. The homer came in his 169th plate appearance of 2018. Safe to say La Stella saved his first dinger for a good time. The Cubbies can further claim NL superiority.

Stanton hits 300th home run

The 300 home run club has a new member. Thursday night Giancarlo Stanton became the 147th member of the 300-homer club with a two-run opposite field home run against Francisco Liriano. To the action footage:

Only Ralph Kiner (1,087), Ryan Howard (1,093), Juan Gonzalez (1,096), and Alex Rodriguez (1.117) reached 300 career home runs in fewer games than Stanton (1,119). At 28 years and 295 days, Stanton is the ninth youngest player to reach the 300-homer milestone.

Cain gives Brewers extra-inning win

For the second straight day, the Brewers needed extra innings to beat the Reds, but a win is a win and the Crew really needed these two. It was but 1-1 when this one went to 11 on Thursday. Stealth MVP candidate Lorenzo Cain sent this liner into the front row: 

Cain is now hitting .311/.402/.439 on the season. His excellent defense and baserunning show up in WAR, where he entered Thursday third in the NL in Fangraphs' version and first in Baseball-Reference's version. 

More importantly, the Brewers get the victory here. They entered Thursday just a half-game up for the second NL wild card, so it was a big one, as every game the rest of the way is likely to be. 

Tigers stun Yankees in the ninth

The Yankees grabbed defeat from the jaws of victory Thursday night. With Aroldis Chapman on the disabled list with a knee problem, ace setup man Dellin Betances entered to protect a 7-5 lead in the ninth. Betances allowed three runs total in 39 appearances and 38 2/3 innings prior to Thursday. He then allowed three runs in the span of three batters. 

Victor Martinez (two-run) and Niko Goodrum (solo) hit back-to-back homers to give the Tigers an 8-7 lead. They were the team's fourth and fifth home runs of the night. Detroit went into Thursday's game with 106 home runs, the fewest in baseball. The Tigers had not hit five homers in a game in almost exactly a year, since September 5 of last season.

Thursday was Betances' 346th career game, the 15th most in Yankees history, and it was the first time he'd ever allowed multiple home runs in an outing. In the last four days the Yankees have two losses to the rebuilding Tigers and one loss to the rebuilding Tigers, all at home. Ouch.

Indians push division lead to 14

The biggest division lead in the majors belongs to the Cleveland Indians, and it's now 14 games over the Twins in the hapless (aside from the Indians!) AL Central. The Indians actually trailed the Twins, 2-1, through five innings on Thursday, but Jason Kipnis' three-run homer as part of a four-run sixth put them up for good: 

The Indians took two of three from the Twins and have won three of four to rebound since losing four straight. And, as if a 14-game division lead isn't enough, Cleveland has the second easiest remaining schedule in baseball. Their remaining opponents have a combined .439 winning percentage. Only the Twins (.428) will have it easier the rest of the way.

Quick hits

  • The Yankees are reportedly working to acquire OF Andrew McCutchen from the Giants. Two prospects are said to be heading to San Francisco. The two teams must complete the trade by 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday for McCutchen to be eligible for the postseason roster.
  • Former Red Sox slugger David Ortiz denied any link gambling after allegations were made in a recent book. The book alleges Ortiz was connected to a known gambler who was a frequent guest in the Boston clubhouse.
  • Angels RHP/DH Shohei Ohtani will take the mound Sunday. He has not pitched since June 6 due to an elbow injury. Ohtani has a 3.10 ERA with 61 strikeouts in 49 1/3 innings this year and is hitting .275/.352/.545 with 15 home runs in 78 games.
  • Yankees C Gary Sanchez is expected to return to the team Saturday, reports MLB.com. He is playing his final minor league rehab game Thursday night. Sanchez has missed most of the last two months with a groin injury.
  • The Cubs have have acquired C Bobby Wilson from the Twins for C Chris Gimenez and either cash or a player to be named later, the teams announced. The move gives the Cubs a better defensive backup catcher for the stretch run.
  • The D-Backs have acquired C Chris Stewart from the Braves for cash considerations, the team announced. Stewart has spent most of the season in Triple-A, where he's hit .219/.299/.277 in 47 games.
  • Mets LHP Jerry Blevins has cleared waivers, meaning he can be traded to any team, reports The Athletic. The impending free agent has been much better against righties (.152/.273/.227) than righties (.302/.384/.508) this year.
  • Twins outfielder Eddie Rosario left Thursday's game due to a strained quad muscle, the team announced. It's unclear how long he will be sidelined. Rosario went into Thursday's game hitting .291/.329/.484 with 22 home runs.
  • The Tigers put shortstop Jose Iglesias on the DL due to an abdominal strain, the team announced. He suffered the injury during Wednesday's game. IF Dawel Lugo was called up in a corresponding move.

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