The Minnesota Twins have a new home run celebration — and players and fans are going crazy over it.

Eight days ago, the Minnesota Twins were baseball’s hottest team and winners of 17 of 20 games.

There’s been a sense all season that whoever wins the AL Central will be the weak link in the American League playoffs.

Kyle Schwarber hit his NL-leading 38th homer for Philadelphia in the playoff-contending Phillies’ 5-3 loss to the Miami Marlins on Thursday night on Roberto Clemente Day throughout the majors.

A day after Cincinnati piled up 11 runs in a romp, López turned in a stopper-like performance for the Marlins.

Pablo López of the Miami Marlins has not allowed a hit through six innings against the Washington Nationals.

Major League Baseball will certainly soon be handing out penalties after the Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Angels got into a huge brawl at Anaheim.

The victory pushed the Marlins above .500 for the first time in 2022.

Miami Marlins right-hander Pablo López will carry a majors-leading 0.52 ERA into his start at Washington.

Miami Marlins right-hander Pablo López will carry a majors-leading 0.52 ERA into his start at Washington.

López struck out nine, including Cardinals star Albert Pujols three times.

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In one of the year's odder musical ideas, Elvis Costello is releasing a Spanish-language version of his 1978 classic album ‘This Year’s Model.'.

Marlins right-hander Pablo López set a major league record by striking out the first nine batters to start a game, pitching Miami past the Atlanta Braves 7-4.

Miami Marlins right-hander Pablo López set a major league record with nine strikeouts to start the game against the Atlanta Braves.

Marlins starter Pablo López was ejected after plunking Ronald Acuña Jr. with his first pitch, leading to the only run as the Atlanta Braves edged Miami 1-0.

Jesus Aguilar drove in two runs, while Jazz Chisholm and Jon Berti each scored twice.

New York starter Jordan Montgomery gave up two hits in three scoreless innings. Brubaker allowed two hits over two scoreless innings and Chase De Jong followed with two shutout innings. MARLINS 4, METS 4Miami starter Pablo Lopez gave up a hit and a walk over three scoreless innings. German Marquez scattered three hits and a walk over three scoreless innings for Colorado. Kansas City starter Jakob Junis pitched three innings and gave up one hit, a leadoff homer to Trent Grisham.

The two-time AL Central champion Twins are hoping Happ can give them a veteran presence at the back of their rotation. Ian Anderson pitched two scoreless innings, allowing three hits and a walk. Houston piggy-backed a pair of starters with Framber Valdez yielding McNeil's homer in the first two innings, striking out two. AdBLUE JAYS 4, PHILLIES 2 (6)Steven Matz allowed a hit in two scoreless innings, striking out three without a walk. CUBS 3, ROYALS 2 (7)Outfielder Rafael Ortega, who signed a minor league deal with Chicago after playing 34 games for Atlanta last season, hit a bases-loaded triple.

The Braves have pitched three shutouts in four games during this year’s playoffs. Travis d’Arnaud and Dansby Swanson each homered for the second straight day, putting the Braves one win away from a sweep in the best-of-five matchup. “It’s hard to bunch hits together, pitching is too good,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. On a day when Atlanta got only four hits, Swanson and d’Arnaud provided the offense. Swanson’s homer off Pablo Lopez put the Braves up 1-0 with two outs in the second inning.

Atlanta Braves' Ian Anderson delivers a pitch during the fourth inning in Game 2 of a baseball National League Division Series against the Miami Marlins Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020, in Houston. Anderson blanked Miami into the sixth inning, Markakis made a nifty play in right field to help preserve the lead late, and the Braves threw another playoff shutout in a 2-0 victory Wednesday for a 2-0 lead in the NL Division Series. “It’s hard to bunch hits together, pitching is too good,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. Miami manager Don Mattingly didn't fault Dickerson for being thrown out because he said Markakis could've dived to catch it. On a day when Atlanta got only four hits, Swanson and d’Arnaud provided the offense.

(AP Photo/Gregory Bull)A look at what's happening around the majors on Wednesday:STANTON'S STREAKYankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton has homered in all four of the team's postseason games this year. The two-time NL home run champion is from the Los Angeles area and says “that SoCal air" is helping the ball fly. If the Dodgers advance to the NL Championship Series or World Series, fans will be allowed at those games. “At this point I think we’ve grown accustomed to it.”Alcantara insisted he didn’t intend to hit Acuña and that Miami’s game plan is simply to pitch inside to him. Springer’s 17 postseason homers tied Nelson Cruz and Jim Thome for most through a player’s first 54 postseason games.

And another hit — once more by the Marlins, this time with Sandy Alcantara's fastball to the left hip — fired up the Braves and fueled their comeback in a 9-5 win Tuesday. “I think it woke us up,” said Travis d’Arnaud, who launched a tiebreaking homer during Atlanta’s six-run rally in the seventh inning . Braves manager Brian Snitker said that even though he didn’t believe this pitch was on purpose, the Marlins have hit Acuña far too many times. The Braves trailed 4-3 in the seventh before Austin Riley and Acuña hit consecutive singles with no outs to chase Alcantara. UP NEXTRight-hander Pablo Lopez will make his postseason debut when he starts for the Marlins in Game 2 against Ian Anderson.

Members of the Miami Marlins celebrate after defeating the Chicago Cubs in Game 2 of a National League wild-card baseball series Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, in Chicago. The Marlins won the series 2-0 to advance to the division series. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)MIAMI – Their T-shirts say Bottom Feeders, even though the Miami Marlins are showing they’re a different kind of fish in 2020 — the sort that rises to make a splash. After holding the Cubs to one run and nine hits in two games, the Marlins posed for a team photo in the Wrigley Field infield. They are young and inexperienced, but it's just baseball.”And the Marlins are getting better at it.

Miami Marlins players Lewis Brinson (25) Magneuris Sierra, center, and Jon Berti celebrate after the Marlins beat the Atlanta Braves 8-2 in a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)MIAMI Jesus Aguilar drove in three runs, Jon Berti stole home and the NL East-leading Miami Marlins won their long-awaited, coronavirus-delayed home opener, beating the Atlanta Braves 8-2 Friday night. Miami returned to Marlins Park following a 23-day road trip, interrupted when 18 players and two coaches tested positive for the virus. The Braves will be without All-Star center fielder Ronald Acua Jr. in the series while he recovers from a sore left wrist. Marlins: LHP Daniel Castano (0-1, 8.31) will make his second major league start Saturday.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)NEW YORK Injury fill-in Clint Frazier had three hits, including a home run, and scored twice in his season debut as the Yankees beat Atlanta 6-3 Wednesday night, sweeping a two-game set. The Yankees tied it in the bottom of the frame, clubbing back-to-back homers for the first time this season. Yankees: Judge (lower body tightness) did not play, a night after the oft-injured slugger was lifted for a pinch-hitter. Yankees: RHP Gerrit Cole (3-0, 3.22 ERA) should get his first taste of baseballs longest-running rivalry.

Manager Don Mattingly said he has never spoken with some of the players joining the team. With only about eight weeks left in the season, Ohtani might not pitch again until 2021. Ohtani reported discomfort in his arm Sunday after struggling through his second start since having Tommy John surgery in 2018. HAPPY BIRTHDAYKansas City right-hander Brady Singer makes his third major league start on his 24th birthday at Wrigley Field. Luzardo made six appearances as a September callup last season and made two appearances out of the bullpen this season.

With only about eight weeks left in the season, Ohtani might not pitch again until 2021. Ohtani reported discomfort in his arm Sunday after struggling through his second start since having Tommy John surgery in 2018. Betts sat out Monday with swelling on a finger on his left hand that manager Dave Roberts described as substantial. HAPPY BIRTHDAYKansas City right-hander Brady Singer makes his third major league start on his 24th birthday at Wrigley Field. Just shy of his 23rd birthday, Luzardo will be the youngest starter for the As since Brett Anderson in 2010.

Curtis Granderson #21 of the Miami Marlins runs the bases after hitting a home run in the eighth inning of their game against the New York Mets at Citi Field. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)NEW YORK - Curtis Granderson, Tyler Heineman and Austin Dean hit late home runs and the Miami Marlins rallied against Zack Wheeler to beat the New York Mets 4-2 Thursday night. Wheeler, a potential free agent pitching perhaps for the last time with the Mets, hit an RBI single to break a scoreless tie in the seventh inning. Marlins starter Jordan Yamamoto allowed one hit and walked three while striking out a career-high 10 over six innings. 2B Robinson Cano left the game after being hit in the right arm by a pitch in the eighth inning.

Jon Berti of the Miami Marlins turns a double play against the Washington Nationals at Marlins Park on September 22, 2019. MIAMI - Three relievers each gave up an extra-base hit in a seventh-inning meltdown Sunday, and the Washington Nationals' streak of 11 consecutive wins against the Miami Marlins ended with a 5-3 loss that tightened the NL wildcard race. The Nationals started the game with three consecutive singles to take a 1-0 lead, but a nifty 3-6-1 double play helped Lopez escape further damage. Victor Robles hit into an apparent inning-ending double play, but the Nationals' challenge of the forceout at second was upheld. Marlins: They have seven games left, all on the road, and start a four-game series Monday at the Mets with LHP Caleb Smith (9-10, 4.24) scheduled to start.

Pablo Lopez #49 of the Miami Marlins throws a pitch during the third inning against the Kansas City Royals at Marlins Park on September 6, 2019. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)MIAMI - Jorge Lopez pitched six innings of four-hit ball and Hunter Dozier homered, leading the Kansas City Royals to a 3-0 victory over the Miami Marlins on Friday night. Lopez (3-7) struck out six in his longest outing since May 3, when went seven innings against Detroit. O'Hearn's double off Miami starter Pablo Lopez in the seventh gave the Royals a 2-0 advantage. Pablo Lopez (5-8) had his longest outing since returning from the injured list Aug. 26.

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty ImagesMIAMI - Starlin Castro's two-run double in the sixth inning capped a comeback by the Miami Marlins, who rallied against Aaron Nola to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2 Sunday. The last-place Marlins improved to 9-7 against the Phillies with three games yet to play in late September. Nola (12-4) faced the minimum until the sixth, when he allowed four consecutive batters to reach as the Marlins erased a 2-0 deficit. ROSTER MOVESBefore the game, Miami recalled RHP Kyle Keller from Triple-A New Orleans and optioned RHP Tyler Kinley to New Orleans. Marlins RHP Pablo Lopez (5-5, 4.23) is scheduled to come off the injured list to pitch Monday night against Cincinnati.