Machado powers the Padres past the Dodgers 5-1, snapping Los Angeles' 11-game home winning streak

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Manny Machado homered and drove in three runs as the San Diego Padres beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 on Wednesday night to take sole possession of the top spot in the National League wild-card standings.

The loss snapped the NL West champions' 11-game home winning streak and kept the Dodgers (97-61) from clinching at least the No. 2 seed in the National League and a first-round playoff bye. To secure that, they still need one win or an Atlanta loss.

The Padres (88-70) were prevented from clinching their franchise-record third consecutive playoff berth when Arizona beat Colorado 5-3. But they need just one win or a Diamondbacks loss to punch their ticket to the postseason.

San Diego leads Chicago (87-71) and Philadelphia (87-71) by one game for the first National League wild card, a spot that would bring home-field advantage throughout a best-of-three Wild Card Series.

In his return from the injured list, Shohei Ohtani went 1 for 4 with a single, a walk and two strikeouts for Los Angeles. He went down swinging with the bases loaded to end the fourth inning. His long drive to center field was caught near the wall leading off the eighth.

Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto (14-9) retired nine of his first 10 batters before the Padres got to him in the fourth and fifth innings of his final regular-season start.

San Diego grabbed a 2-0 lead on Machado's 409-foot homer to center that scored Dustin Harris, who was hit by a pitch from Yamamoto leading off the fourth.

The Dodgers closed to 2-1 in the bottom half when Teoscar Hernández scored on Tommy Edman's sacrifice fly on the first pitch from reliever David Morgan.

The Padres extended their lead to 4-1 in the fifth on Yamamoto's second career throwing error and Machado's shallow sacrifice fly.

Freddy Fermin's RBI single in the ninth scored Samad Taylor, who walked and stole second and third on consecutive pitches by reliever Blake Treinen, making it 5-1.

Bradgley Rodriguez (4-3) got the win with two scoreless innings of relief.

San Diego starter Robbie Ray allowed one run and seven hits in 3 1/3 innings with two strikeouts. The left-hander needed 70 pitches to get through the first three innings.

Padres RHP Nick Pivetta (3-2, 3.30 ERA) starts Thursday in the series finale against RHP Tyler Glasnow (5-1, 3.46).

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San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. celebrates after scoring on a sacrifice fly by Manny Machado after Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith made a late tag during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr., right, scores on a sacrifice fly by Manny Machado as Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith makes a late tag during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani heads to first for a single during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

San Diego Padres' Manny Machado, right, hits a two-run home run as Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, left, and catcher Will Smith watch during the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

CHICAGO (AP) — Kyle Stowers homered and the Miami Marlins prevented the Chicago Cubs from clinching a playoff berth for the second straight night with a 3-2 victory Wednesday.

Dansby Swanson drove in both runs for the Cubs, who needed a win or an Arizona loss at Colorado to secure a National League wild-card spot. The Diamondbacks beat the Rockies 5-3.

Chicago is tied with Philadelphia at 87-71 for the second of three NL wild cards — one game behind San Diego with four to play. None of them have wrapped up a trip to the postseason.

The Padres won 5-1 at Dodger Stadium, hours after the Phillies lost 4-1 at home to NL Central champion Milwaukee.

Joe Mack’s groundout brought home Agustín Ramírez with the go-ahead run in the seventh inning and the Marlins retired the next nine Chicago batters to win their second straight game after dropping three in San Diego.

Stowers hit his 21st homer, a two-run shot, off Kevin Gausman in the sixth to break a scoreless tie. The Cubs evened things in the bottom of the inning when Swanson hit a broken-bat single into left field to bring home a pair of runs.

Cade Gibson (6-2), the second of four Miami relievers, struck out two in the seventh and Sandy Alcantara worked the ninth for his second save.

Ryan Rolison (9-2) took the loss.

Gausman struck out seven and allowed two runs, six hits and a walk in the first 5 2/3 innings. Miami’s Ryan Gusto allowed six hits and two walks while striking out five in 5 1/3 innings.

Chicago’s Pete Crow-Armstrong needed a stolen base to become the seventh player to join the 40-40 club but went 0 for 3 with a walk and remained at 45 home runs and 39 steals.

The Cubs had not announced a starter for Thursday afternoon’s home finale. RHP Tyler Phillips (5-6, 3.45 ERA) is scheduled for the Marlins.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Miami Marlins' Kyle Stowers celebrates his two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

Chicago Cubs' Dansby Swanson breaks his bat hitting a two RBI single during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

Chicago Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong watches Miami Marlins' Kyle Stowers two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)