Browsing: Kyle

The Los Angeles Dodgers are well on their way to a second, consecutive World Series title after a sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series and will almost certainly open as favorites to win the Commissioner’s Trophy, regardless of whether they play Seattle or Toronto.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported the team will not be silent this offseason, with the Dodgers expected to target Kyle Tucker.

The third baseman missed time due to injury but still hit .266 and accumulated 133 hits, 22 home runs, and 73 RBI, so it is easy to see why the franchise would be interested in adding him to their lineup.

The team possesses an option on Max Muncy’s contract, and should they choose not to pick it up, they would need a new third baseman, making the potential for Tucker’s arrival in the City of Angels even greater.

There is something to be said about chemistry, though, and its role in the Dodgers’ second World Series trip.

The roster in 2025 is nearly identical to that of the 2024 championship squad. The extent to which manager Dave Roberts knows his players and how to utilize them to get the desired outcome.

The players know each other’s tendencies and skill sets. Potentially replacing Muncy to bring in Tucker, while it would be an upgrade offensively on paper, may disrupt the chemistry the team has at this point and threaten to derail the closest thing to a dynasty MLB has had since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees.

For that reason, while it is mighty appealing to add another superstar player to a lineup full of them, it is best not to toy with a good thing.

Especially if the 2025 squad is able to become the first repeat champions since those same Yankees.

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With two wins each and the AEW TNT Championship on the line, Kyle Fletcher and Mark Briscoe locked horns for a fifth time at AEW WrestleDream 2025. Despite being hit with everything Briscoe could throw at him, it was “The Protostar” who left St. Louis, Missouri with gold around his waist.

With both men knowing each other so well, the match started very evenly, trading holds and jockeying for position. Despite creating distance to stop Briscoe from gaining control, Briscoe took advantage of Fletcher’s showboating and eventually took control of the match on the outside. Referee Paul Turner caught a chair that Briscoe threw into the ring, which he would attempt to use as a springboard, but Fletcher moved it out of the way. However, Briscoe put Fletcher on the chair and hit a Tope to the outside, firmly putting himself in the driver’s seat.

That control didn’t last long as Fletcher ducked as Briscoe went for a flipping Senton off the apron, and the champion hit a nasty powerbomb onto the side of the ring steps in the hopes of Briscoe losing via count out. Briscoe returned to the ring, but Fletcher wore him down for several minutes, and even though Briscoe tried to fight back, Fletcher hit a Michinoku Driver and a Suplex for a pair of near falls. Briscoe got back into the match after a strike exchange, but couldn’t take control as both men hit each other with a Lariat at the same time for a double-down.

Once they got up, another strike exchange ensued with Briscoe coming out on top, who landed a Fisherman’s Buster for a two count. Briscoe looked to end it with a Jay Driller but Fletcher countered with a Half-and-Half Suplex, a big boot, and a Powerbomb for another two count. Fletcher landed another pair of big boots, but after going for the Turnbuckle Brainbuster, Briscoe looked to escape. However, he couldn’t escape a Superplex for another double-down. Both men ended up on the apron for another strike exchange, but Briscoe came out on top as hit the Jay Driller on the apron.

Briscoe once again went for the finish after rolling Fletcher back into the ring, but missed the Froggy Bow, which allowed Fletcher to hit another big boot. Fletcher took Briscoe back up to the turnbuckle, but Briscoe hit the Froggy Bow on the top rope and again to the outside. Briscoe hit a third Froggy Bow in the ring, but couldn’t get the win, which led to a series of roll ups and Briscoe finally hit the Jay Driller. However, Fletcher broke the count by getting one finger on the bottom rope.

Briscoe went to hit the Cutthroat Driver, but Fletcher grabbed the referee for a distraction and hit a Low Blow and a Brainbuster which didn’t get the job done. However, a big boot and a turnbuckle Brainbuster did get the job done, and Fletcher retained his title.

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There are a few stars on the AEW roster that Tony Khan is obviously pushing. It appears that he sees Kyle Fletcher as a future top name for the company, because WrestleDream was a big night for him.

AEW WrestleDream 2025 went down on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Missouri. Mark Briscoe continued his pursuit of a top title in AEW, as he targeted Kyle Fletcher and his TNT Championship.

At AEW WrestleDream, the AEW TNT Championship match featured Kyle Fletcher defending his title against Mark Briscoe.

This match went on after the Hurt Syndicate retained their six-man tag team titles. Fans were ready for this war, as Mark Briscoe was the overwealming babyface.

This match spilled to the ringside area, and they traded moves after it got started. Then Kyle Fletcher tried to stall things to slow the match to his pace as Mark Briscoe called him back to the ring. Then Briscoe followed him to apply some much-needed abuse.

This match continued and Mark Briscoe had control of the match after hitting a few big moves, including a massive dive to the outside. Then they got back in the ring, where Briscoe hit a top rope elbow for a very close near fall.

There were several near falls that followed as Don Callis continued crowing on commentary. In the end, Kyle Fletcher pulled off the win after nailing a brutal move off the top rope that sent Briscoe into the top turnbuckle, and Don Callis was very happy to get in the ring to celebrate with his champion.

Whatâ€s your take on Mark Briscoeâ€s rise in AEW? Will he be a World Champion soon? Let us know what you think in the comments section!

October 18, 2025 10:01 pm

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This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastianâ€s Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CHICAGO — The Cubs achieved a number of goals this past season. The ballclub ended its postseason drought, won a playoff series and had Wrigley Field rocking again with its intimidating October environment. The next step for the team is to make this a regular event and to keep pushing for more wins and a division title.

“We need to constantly raise our level and get to that point where we can do that year in and year out,†Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said. “We have a really good foundation to build from. We just need to continue to focus on making good decisions and building from that foundation.â€

Here are five questions facing the Cubs this offseason:

1. Is there a chance Kyle Tucker is back with Cubs in ‘26?

The Cubs knew it might very well be a one-year arrangement when they swung the blockbuster trade with the Astros in December to add Tucker to the lineup. Tucker is 28 years old, ranks 11th in MLB in bWAR (25.4) over the past five seasons and is arguably the best all-around hitter on the free-agent market this winter.

The odds seem to point toward Tucker signing elsewhere, but the Cubs would certainly have an edge on the recruiting side of things. He just spent a season with the ballclub, getting familiar with the organization, teammates, staff, facilities and city. There is nothing to sell Tucker on from that perspective.

Will that make a difference?

“Weâ€ll see what happens,†Tucker said after the Cubs were eliminated from the playoffs. “I donâ€t know what the future is going to hold. If [I sign elsewhere], it was an honor playing with all these guys and I wish everyone the best of luck.â€

2. How will Cubs approach Shota Imanagaâ€s contract situation?

The quick version on Imanagaâ€s situation is that the Cubs have to decide whether to pick up a three-year, $57.75 million option that covers the ‘26-28 seasons (he earned a $250,000 bonus per year for his fifth-place finish in the ‘24 Cy Young race). If Chicago declines, Imanaga can choose between a $15.25 million player option for ‘26 or declining that and going the route of a potential one-year qualifying offer (likely north of $22 million). No matter how the sides proceed, the most likely outcome is Imanaga returns for at least one more season.

Given the cost of starting pitching, this seems like a no-brainer for the Cubs to just pick up the three-year option. Just last offseason, Chicago signed Matthew Boyd for a two-year deal worth $29 million guaranteed after the lefty logged just 11 starts between the regular season and playoffs. The cost of starting pitching is high, so an average of $19.25 million for Imanaga over three years looks like a good deal.

That said, Imanaga is 32 years old and just had a tough finish to his season with homer issues. For the Cubs, they will have to weigh the larger track record against the smaller-sample finish. To that end, the lefty had a 2.75 ERA with 1.4 homers per nine innings in his first 42 starts (248 1/3 innings) in MLB, versus a 5.17 ERA with 2.6 HR/9 in his last 12 (69 2/3 inning).

3. What will the biggest need be this winter?

Lefty Justin Steele (left elbow surgery in April) is on a path to return early next season, so that is good news. Horton is coming off a fantastic rookie year, and Imanaga, Boyd, Colin Rea ($6 million club option) and Javier Assad could all be back. Beyond that, the Cubs have to sort out how Ben Brown and Jordan Wicks fit into the picture (bullpen or rotation). Maybe prospect Jaxon Wiggins (No. 67 on Pipelineâ€s top 100 list) breaks through in ‘26, too.

That seems like a solid place to start for the Cubs, but they could really use an impact arm added to the top of the list. There will be some solid rotation pieces in free agency (Framber Valdez and Dylan Cease heading that class), but expect Chicago to also explore the trade front, perhaps circling back on talks that fell apart at the Trade Deadline.

4. How will the Cubs rebuild the bullpen?

By the end of the year, the Cubs†main late-inning arms were Daniel Palencia, Brad Keller, Andrew Kittredge, Caleb Thielbar and Drew Pomeranz. Only Palencia is under control for ‘26. Keller, Thielbar and Pomeranz are set for free agency, while the Cubs have a decision to make on Kittredge ($9 million club option). Michael Soroka, Taylor Rogers, Ryan Brasier and Aaron Civale are also among the Cubs upcoming free-agents.

The Cubs have gone through mid-season makeovers of their bullpen in each of the last two years, bringing in reclamation projects and experienced veterans via trades, claims and signings to fill in gaps around some of the younger, in-house options. Expect that to continue to be a trend for Hoyer, who has leaned against long free-agent deals for relievers (last winterâ€s pursuit of Tanner Scott being an exception).

5. Where could the Cubs add offense?

Even with Tucker potentially exiting in free agency, the bulk of the Cubs†starting lineup is locked into place. Seiya Suzuki could move to right field from designated hitter, opening up possible playing time for Top 100 prospects like outfielder Owen Caissie (No. 47) and catcher Moisés Ballesteros (No. 53). If the Cubs want to bring in an impact bat from the outside, there will likely need to be a trade or two to loosen the inflexibility of the projected starting group.

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Kyle Schwarber four home run episode of Abbott Elementary airing Wednesday night

\n\n”,”providerName”:”Twitter”,”providerUrl”:” Schwarber hit four home runs against the Braves, becoming just the 21st player in baseball history to homer four times in a game. It made everything about the episode more Hollywood than anybody in Hollywood could have imagined.\n\n“For it to be Kyle, for it to be Schwarbs, who homered four times, who was already such a big part of the episode, that was just wild and ecstatic,†said Chris Perfetti, who plays the character Jacob Hill. “It was surreal. We had the freedom to sort of react to the game, to just stay in character and be there. But I remember, it was after the third homer, I think, we all just stood up as ourselves, losing our minds that it was Kyle again.\n\n“I remember just looking at Quinta and being like, ‘What is happening?â€â€”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”Video”,”contentDate”:”2025-08-29T03:27:37.793Z”,”preferredPlaybackScenarioURL({\”preferredPlaybacks\”:\”mp4AvcPlayback\”})”:” Schwarber joins JP Morosi following hitting four home runs to discuss bouncing back after a series sweep and more”,”displayAsVideoGif”:false,”duration”:”00:02:12″,”slug”:”kyle-schwarber-on-historic-performance-four-homers”,”tags”:[{“__typename”:”TeamTag”,”slug”:”teamid-143″,”title”:”Philadelphia Phillies”,”team”:{“__ref”:”Team:143″},”type”:”team”},{“__typename”:”PersonTag”,”slug”:”playerid-656941″,”title”:”Kyle Schwarber”,”person”:{“__ref”:”Person:656941″},”type”:”player”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”vod”,”title”:”vod”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”mlb-network”,”title”:”MLB Network”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”mlbn-showcase”,”title”:”MLB Network Showcase”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”interview”,”title”:”interview”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”team-featured”,”title”:”team featured”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”rivalry”,”title”:”rivalry”,”type”:”taxonomy”}],”thumbnail”:{“__typename”:”Thumbnail”,”templateUrl”:” Schwarber on historic performance, four homers”,”relativeSiteUrl”:”/video/kyle-schwarber-on-historic-performance-four-homers”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”Long before that historic night, Major League Baseball had reached out to “Abbott Elementary†about its potential interest in shooting an episode at the ballpark with the Phillies.\n\nIt loved the idea.\n\n“Do you think we could shoot it at a game?†the show asked.\n\nAbsolutely.\n\nBoth parties got to work.\n\n“Theyâ€re pitching story and characters, weâ€re pitching how to make it baseball authentic,†said Nick Trotta, who is MLBâ€s vice president of global media programming and licensing. “But this was one of destiny. It was meant to be.â€\n\nItâ€s not uncommon to have scenes in TV shows and movies set at professional sporting events. Oftentimes, however, those scenes are not shot at the home ballpark, stadium or arena.\n\nAs a result, it looks and feels like it was shot at a random college outside Pasadena, Calif., which it probably was.”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”OEmbed”,”html”:””,”providerName”:”MLB”,”providerUrl”:null,”thumbnail_url”:” everything in this episode was real. It was all shot in Philly at the Bank.\n\n“Every time I see that happen on television, I cringe,†said \”Abbott Elementary\” executive producer and director Randall Einhorn. “We did it there. We filmed two days without anybody else there, and then we came back and filmed during the game. During the game is where we caught some real extra bonus energy. Seeing our cast feed off whatâ€s happening on the field, seeing Kyle Schwarber hit four home runs … oh my God, that was crazy. You canâ€t script that type of energy, and it really came across on the screen.â€\n\nThe episodeâ€s writer was on set, so when Schwarber hit his first homer, everybody could adjust and react accordingly.\n\n“The baseball gods were smiling on us,†Trotta said. “After the second homer, I joked with the writer, ‘This has to be part of the episode, because heâ€s gonna hit a third one.†And then he hits a third one and a fourth one. So while the show is completely fictional, Kyle Schwarberâ€s historic four-homer game is now part of Abbottâ€s cinematic universe.â€\n\nEinhorn made a point to be as authentic as possible throughout the episode, besides getting in-game footage of Schwarber homering and rounding the bases. Phillies public address announcer Dan Baker made the in-game announcements. Perfettiâ€s character references real Phillies programs, happenings and food offerings at the ballpark.\n\n“I donâ€t think you can fake that place or that energy,†Einhorn said.\n\nEinhorn wanted Schwarber to be real, too.\n\n“The first thing Kyle said during rehearsals is, ‘Look, I have no idea what Iâ€m doing. Iâ€m not sure what to say,â€â€ Einhorn said. “I said, ‘Anything Kyle Schwarber would say, Kyle Schwarber can say. Anything Kyle Schwarber would do, Kyle Schwarber can do. Just be Kyle Schwarber in the scene. Say what you want to say, think what you want to think and itâ€s going to be great.†What I wanted most was authenticity from Kyle. And he was fantastic. Thatâ€s a smart dude who can hit a baseball.â€\n\n“I really enjoyed making my acting debut with such a great crew on a show thatâ€s so Philly and hilarious,\” Schwarber said. \”Quinta and the team definitely brought me some luck that night.â€\n\nSure enough, Schwarberâ€s scene looks and feels natural.\n\n“I thought he killed it,†Perfetti said. “After you give a performance like that in your chosen field, Iâ€m sure he was riding high. But I appreciate him and the fact that he was able to come down from that game and be able to perform so well and be so generous with his time. I just couldnâ€t believe it. Weâ€re going to have to find some way for him to come back.\””,”type”:”text”}],”relativeSiteUrl”:”/news/kyle-schwarber-four-homer-episode-of-abbott-elementary”,”contentType”:”news”,”subHeadline”:null,”summary”:”Kyle Schwarber crushed it.\nHours before the Phillies played the Braves at Citizens Bank Park on Aug. 28, Schwarber rehearsed his cameo for a scene in Wednesday nightâ€s episode of ABCâ€s “Abbott Elementary,†whose creator and star is Philadelphia native Quinta Brunson. 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Oct 12, 2025, 08:00 AM ET

With the Chicago Cubs’ season having come to an end, the questions about Kyle Tucker’s future can start.

One of the biggest prizes on the market entering free agency, the outfielder said after Saturday’s loss in Game 5 of the NL Division Series to the Milwaukee Brewers that he isn’t sure what’s next.

“We’ll see what happens,” said Tucker, who agreed to a $16.5 million deal to avoid arbitration this season. “I don’t know what the future is going to hold. If not, it was an honor playing with all these guys and I wish everyone the best of luck, whether it’s playing next year or not with them. It’s a really fun group to be a part of.”

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The addition of Tucker, who was acquired via trade from the Houston Astros prior to this season, buoyed the Cubs’ hopes of a deep postseason run. And when Tucker was healthy and rolling early in the season, he was a viable MVP candidate and a catalyst in a dynamic, varied offense.

However, Tucker, who turns 29 in January, suffered a fractured right hand in June and a calf strain in September as the Brewers won the NL Central by five games over the Cubs, who landed the top wild-card spot at 92-70.

Still, he slashed .266/.377/.464 with 22 home runs, 73 RBIs and 25 steals in 136 games while earning an All-Star nod for the Cubs this season. He returned in time for the playoffs and was 7-for-27 with a home run and one RBI.

“He meant a lot,” Cubs first baseman Michael Busch told reporters. “The consistency of at-bat. Getting on base and driving [in runs]. He’s just as complete of a hitter as you can get. I think putting him in any lineup, he’s going to be right up at the top. I think he’s one of the best hitters in the game. He can change that lineup just with putting him in there.”

But Tucker and the Cubs never came to an agreement on a long-term deal as the season unfolded.

“I don’t really know right now,” Tucker said when asked if the Cubs have an advantage in signing him as a free agent. “I was more worried about the game tonight and everything. I’ll kind of get through this today and worry about that a little later.

“I think this team is really, really talented. A great group of guys. And I can definitely see this team having a lot of success in the future.”

ESPN’s Jesse Rogers and Bradford Doolittle contributed to this report.

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MILWAUKEE – When Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer swung the trade to bring Kyle Tucker into the fold last offseason, the goal was to transform the offense and make a run at the World Series. If those goals were met, the fact that Tucker was around for only one year would have been worth it.

On Saturday night, Tucker stood in front of his locker in the visitors†clubhouse at American Family Field, facing an uncertain future in the wake of the Cubs†3-1 loss to the Brewers in Game 5 of the National League Division Series. He did transform Chicagoâ€s lineup, but the North Siders†quest to be the last team standing is over.

“It sucks,†Tucker said. “But Iâ€m very proud of this group.â€

The question now, of course, is whether Tuckerâ€s one-year experience with the Cubs will carry any weight as the days tick toward his free agency. The star outfielder will be arguably the best all-around hitter on the open market, positioning Tucker to land a lengthy, lucrative contract even after an injury-marred 2025.

Other potential top free-agent hitters in this winterâ€s class – some weighing opt-out clauses – include Kyle Schwarber, Alex Bregman, Pete Alonso, Bo Bichette and Cody Bellinger.

Tucker was asked if his ideal outcome would be to sign a long-term deal with the Cubs.

“Weâ€ll see what happens,†Tucker said. “I donâ€t know what the future is going to hold. If not, it was an honor playing with all these guys and I wish everyone the best of luck, whether itâ€s playing next year or not with them. Itâ€s a really fun group to be a part of.â€

In the winner-take-all Game 5, Tucker went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, including one against lefty Aaron Ashby with two on and no outs in the sixth inning. It was an opportunity for Tucker to swing momentum Chicagoâ€s way, with the Brewers clinging to a 2-1 lead at the time.

After Tucker struck out, Chad Patrick took over for the Brewers and retired Seiya Suzuki (flyout) and Ian Happ (strikeout) to end the Cubs†potential rally. That 0-for-3 showing represented Chicagoâ€s only chances with runners in scoring position in the loss.

“That was the inning,†Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “Itâ€s really the only inning you could talk about. We just didnâ€t do much. We had six baserunners. Youâ€re going to have to hit homers to have any runs scoring in scenarios like that.â€

Throughout this season, the Cubs†offense functioned its best when Tucker was healthy and productive. He went 2-for-4 in Chicagoâ€s clinching win over the Padres in Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Series. In Games 3-4 of the NLDS at Wrigley Field, Tucker was 4-for-6, with three walks and a home run.

“He meant a lot,†Cubs first baseman Michael Busch said. “The consistency of at-bat. Getting on base and driving [in runs]. Heâ€s just as complete of a hitter as you can get. I think putting him in any lineup, heâ€s going to be right up at the top. I think heâ€s one of the best hitters in the game. He can change that lineup just with putting him in there.â€

Hoyer sent Cam Smith, Hayden Wesneski and Isaac Paredes to the Astros on Dec. 13 to land Tucker, knowing it might only be a one-year arrangement.

In 136 games, the 28-year-old Tucker hit .266/.377/.464 with 22 home runs, 25 doubles, 73 RBIs, 25 stolen bases and nearly as many walks (87) as strikeouts (88). He dealt with a hairline fracture in his right hand in June and later missed three-plus weeks in September due to a left calf strain, but he returned in time for the playoffs.

Tucker entered July with a .291/.395/.533 slash line and earned a spot in the starting lineup for the NL All-Star team. He was putting up MVP-caliber production, and the Cubs†lineup was one of the best units in baseball over the first three months, averaging 5.4 runs per game.

“The depth that he provides in our lineup is so obvious,†shortstop Dansby Swanson said. “[Heâ€s] somebody you can count on each and every day to show up and have professional at-bats and do things that help the team win ballgames. So, you know, any time you can have a player like that on your team, you obviously want that.â€

For what itâ€s worth, Tucker raved about the relationships he established in such a short time with the organization.

“I feel like weâ€re just kind of one big family,†Tucker said. “Weâ€re not just here to show up to work. Weâ€re hanging out outside the field and becoming close. I donâ€t know that thereâ€s many teams that are like that or not, but this team definitely built a lot of relationships on and off the field this year.â€

Tucker also believes the ballclub – with a foundation of young talent mixed with core veterans – has the ingredients for multiple postseason runs.

“I think this team is really, really talented,†he said. “A great group of guys. And I can definitely see this team having a lot of success in the future.â€

Does that give the Cubs any kind of advantage in free agency?

“I donâ€t really know right now,†Tucker said. “I was more worried about the game tonight and everything. Iâ€ll kind of get through this today and worry about that a little later.â€

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LOS ANGELES — As the third-oldest active ballpark in Major League Baseball, Dodger Stadium is filled with displays celebrating the rich history of one of the most storied franchises in the game.

And every now and then, a visiting player does something so notable that it’s worth recording for posterity.

As of Thursday, Kyle Schwarber is one of them. Just one day after the Phillies’ slugger launched a moonshot of a home run off Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 3 of the National League Division Series, the Dodgers installed a plaque commemorating the Statcast-projected 455-foot blast around where it landed beyond the Right Field Pavilion seats.

By giving Schwarber a plaque, the Dodgers have recognized him as one of a handful of players who have hit a home run out of Dodger Stadium. The others are Willie Stargell (Pirates, 1969 and ’73), Mike Piazza (1997, Dodgers), Mark McGwire (1999, Cardinals), Giancarlo Stanton (2015, Marlins) and Fernando Tatis Jr. (2021, Padres).

Schwarber’s majestic blast to right field cleared the seating bowl, but hit off the top of the pavilion roof. Even so, the Dodgers decided that it qualified as leaving the ballpark, taking into consideration the renovations in recent years that have changed the architecture in the area behind the outfield pavilions.

That makes Schwarber only the second left-handed hitter to accomplish the feat, joining Stargell. Both are the only ones who have done it out to right field.

Shohei Ohtani was very nearly the first to join Stargell in that regard in July 2024, when he clubbed a projected 473-foot shot to right that stands as the second-longest homer at Dodger Stadium in the Statcast era (since 2015), second only to Stanton’s 475 footer that left the yard. But Ohtani’s big blast did not clear the pavilion roof, one of the team’s criteria.

It may be only a matter of time until Ohtani has a plaque of his own out there. But for now, Schwarber and Stargell are in an exclusive club within an exclusive club.

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The Philadelphia Phillies avoided elimination with an 8-2 road win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 3 of the National League Division Series.

Kyle Schwarber starred, hitting two home runs and going 2-of-4 at the plate with three RBI.

Trea Turner went 3-of-5 with two RBI, while Brandon Marsh and J.T. Realmuto each added a RBI, with Realmuto also hitting a home run. Bryce Harper went 2-of-4 at the plate with one run scored.

Meanwhile, Dodgers’ ace Clayton Kershaw, pitching in relief, struggled, allowing four earned runs over 2 innings, giving up two home runs on six hits and five runs, posting an 18.00 ERA. Starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched four innings, allowing three earned runs and one home run, with a 2.53 ERA.

Schwarber and the Phillies uplifted fans by avoiding a sweep and forcing a Game 4.

The Dodgers struck first with a Edman home run in the bottom of the third, but the Phillies quickly halted their momentum, scoring eight unanswered runs.

Schwarber launched a 455-foot homer in the fourth to spark the rally, followed by an RBI from Bohm and another from Marsh that brought Bohm home.

Philadelphia piled on in the eighth with two more home runs — a 407-footer from Realmuto and a 368-foot two-run shot from Schwarber. Turner added a two-run RBI as the Phillies built a commanding 8-1 lead after eight innings.

Dodgers second baseman Edman drove in his second RBI in the bottom of the ninth to score their second run, but a Shohei Ohtani flyout to right field sealed the game, marking all three wins in the series on the road.

The National League Championship Series is set to feature the victor of the Dodgers and Phillies matchup against the winner of the Chicago Cub and Milwaukee Brewers showdown. Milwaukee currently holds a 2-1 edge in its series.

The series will remain in Los Angeles for Game 4 on Thursday with first pitch scheduled for 6:08 p.m. ET.

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PHILADELPHIA — Kyle Schwarber picked the perfect time — and way — to end his recent drought: a game-tying 455-foot Schwarbomb in a must-win Game 3 of the National League Division Series.

With the Phillies trailing by one entering the fourth inning on Wednesday night, Schwarber smashed a no-doubter off Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto that cleared the right-field seats at Dodger Stadium. It marked Schwarber’s 22nd career postseason home run, tying him with Yankees legend Bernie Williams for the third most in MLB history. Only Manny Ramirez (29) and Jose Altuve (27) have hit more.

Schwarber’s solo shot came off his bat at 117.4 mph, per Statcast, making it the second-hardest-hit home run of his career, including the regular season. It trails only the 119.7 mph homer he hit off Yu Darvish in Game 1 of the 2022 NLCS.

Of course, majestic postseason homers are certainly nothing new for Schwarber.

His latest blast was his fifth career postseason home run to travel at least 450 feet. That’s not only the most in the Majors since Statcast began tracking in 2015, but only one other player has even hit more than one such homer — and that’s Freddie Freeman … with two.

Schwarber’s homer snapped an 0-for-22 slump dating back to the regular season that included starting the NLDS 0-for-8 with five strikeouts. His first hit of the series was also the Phillies’ first hit of the night after Yamamoto had cruised through three innings — and it helped trigger a three-run inning to give the Phillies a 3-1 lead at the time.

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