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Baseball’s⁢ Tightest Races: nine Key Questions as September Dawns

NEW YORK – With Labor Day passing, baseball’s playoff picture is coming into sharper focus, but crucial ⁤questions remain unanswered as teams battle for division titles, Wild Card spots,‌ and individual accolades. here are nine storylines dominating the conversation as September begins:

1. Dodgers⁢ Dominance: ‌Can the Los Angeles Dodgers maintain their notable ‍form? Pitcher Bobby Miller‘s August performance⁤ -‌ 5-0 with a 1.88 ERA – has been pivotal, contributing to his ⁣9-2 record ‍and 3.06 ERA ⁢overall. He’s become‍ invaluable to the team’s success.

1. Mets’⁤ Helsley Headache: The New York Mets are ‌struggling to integrate reliever⁣ Ryan Helsley, acquired from the Cardinals at the trade deadline. Helsley has‍ blown four ‍saves and posted a 10.38 ERA‌ in his first 11 games with the ​team. ​Manager Carlos mendoza acknowledged the issue,stating,”We’ve got​ to look back‌ and see what we’re missing here,because for⁣ teams to ⁤have agreeable at-bats like that,something’s going ⁣on here.”

1. Cardinals’ Attendance Dip: A paid crowd⁤ of just 17,675 attended a Cardinals game at Busch Stadium,marking the ‌first time the ‌team has drawn ⁣fewer than 20,000 fans as 1997.

1. No-Hitter Drought: Major League Baseball remains without ⁤a no-hitter ⁤this ‍season. The last one occurred in 2005, leaving fans wondering if this will⁤ be the year the streak ends.

1. Guardians’ Power ⁤void: The Cleveland Guardians continue to lack a power hitter, with no player projected to ‌reach 40 home runs this season. Travis Hafner was the last Guardian to⁤ achieve that feat,in 2006.

1. Yankees-Red Sox⁤ Rivalry Reduced: The New⁣ York Yankees and Boston Red Sox​ will play only ⁢three games against each other after June next season, a schedule decision drawing criticism from fans.

1. Cherington’s⁤ Return to Fenway: Pittsburgh Pirates GM Ben Cherington returned to Fenway Park for the first time⁤ as his 2015 firing by the red Sox.‌ He served as a Red Sox executive from 1999-2015, including his ‌final four years as GM.

1. Padres’ Laureano‌ Boost: ‍ The San Diego Padres’ acquisition of outfielder Ramon Laureano has ​proven impactful. ⁢He’s ‌hitting .316 with six ‌home runs, 20​ RBI, and a .968 OPS since joining the team from Baltimore.

1. Boyd’s Endurance⁤ Question: The Chicago Cubs are monitoring ‌starter Matthew Boyd, who has already thrown a team-leading 153 innings – the most by a Cub⁢ in ⁤a season since 2019. Boyd posted a 2.34 ERA in​ the first half, earning an All-Star ⁤berth, but⁢ his ERA ⁤has risen to 4.10 in the second half, raising concerns about fatigue after throwing just 51 innings last season and a combined 146 over the previous three years.