hit

Reality TV queen Kim Kardashian has emotionally revealed that someone close to her allegedly put a ‘hit’ on her life in a shocking trailer for the new Kardashian series

Kim Kardashian has claimed someone close to her put a “hit” on her life in a dramatic admission. The reality TV star, 44, was seen crying as she shared the situation for the first time.

She revealed she learned of the alleged plot through her investigators as the scenes are expected to play out on her family’s reality show. The Kardashian clan have let cameras into their lives once again, but this time things have appeared to take a harrowing turn.

In a trailer for the upcoming series, Kim was left in tears as she opened up on someone wanting her dead. “I got a call from investigators,” she said.

READ MORE: Kylie Jenner steps out in little black dress with famous pals at Paris Fashion WeekREAD MORE: The Kardashians season 7 release date announced as new trailer ‘feels like old times’

“Someone extremely close to me put a hit out on my life.” Short clips of Kim pacing a room and then being left in tears were show as she made the shocking revelation.

Her younger sister Kendall Jenner appeared as she said: “Everybody’s kind of on edge.” The trailer cut to Kylie Jenner, who was sat speaking to her mum Kris, as she recounted: “I heard footsteps walking into my room.”

It ended with a shot of Kim speaking directly to the camera as she admitted: “I am happy it’s over.” The series is set to feature Kim’s Paris jewel robbery trial as well as brother Rob, who has taken a step away from the spotlight in recent years.

Caitlyn Jenner is also poised to make an appearance as the 75-year-old is seen in the explosive trailer. There are also big changes for the family as they bid farewell to their Hidden Hills mansion, where they filmed Keeping Up with the Kardashians.

They revisited the home for one last time as they prepared for an emotional goodbye. It also left many of the sisters spilling their confessions from life at the property.

The youngest sisters, Kendall and Kylie, admitted to sneaking boys into the home, while Khloe left her family stunned by confessing to having sex in many of the home’s rooms.

The Kardashians teases in their official synopsis: “The Kardashian-Jenners are back, and it feels like old times! Kris, Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, Kendall, and Kylie are diving head-first into the drama, the hustle, and the heart.

“They must revisit their past as they chase passions that push them further than ever before. Through unforgettable moments and deeply personal challenges, the family continues to evolve and redefine their legacy.”

The upcoming series has been branded a “whole different beast” as viewers are warned: “You better watch out.”

It marks the seventh season of The Kardashians and begins on streaming site Hulu on October 23, with new episodes are shown on Thursdays.

READ MORE: ‘I tested this £28 foundation – it’s a dream and made my face glow all day’

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

One way to keep Dodger relievers from ruining the team’s postseason run is to keep the bullpen gate closed for as long as possible.

Blake Snell gave that strategy a whirl in Game 1 of the National League wild-card series Tuesday, pitching a solid — sometimes brilliant —- seven innings. But even then he and his teammates had to wait out the nightly bullpen meltdown before escaping with a 10-5 win over the Cincinnati Reds to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.

“Blake was fantastic tonight,” manager Dave Roberts said. “You could see he was in complete control. The fastball was great. The change-up was plus.

“Kind of mixing and matching and he really was in control the entire game.”

The bullpen? Not so much. But we’ll get to that in a minute.

For Snell, it was that mixing and matching that made him so tough, Cincinnati manager Terry Francona said.

“The big difference-maker was his change-up,” Francona said. “It was his ability to manipulate the change-up, even vary it. He’d throw one that was 87 [mph] and one that was 82. And he threw two, three, four in a row at times at times, all different speeds.

“You throw a 97 [mph fastball] in there, and it becomes difficult.”

Snell was efficient from the start, retiring the side in the first on seven pitches. He set down the first eight Reds in order, then after giving up a double and walk in the third, retired the next 10 in a row, allowing him to pitch deep into the game.

Given the bullpen’s continued struggles, that’s likely to be a blueprint the Dodgers will continue to follow in the playoffs.

“It felt good to go deep in the ballgame,” said Snell, whose seven innings matched a season high. “I felt really in control, I could read swings and just kind of navigate through the lineup.

Dodgers fans cheer for Blake Snell as he walks off the mound in the fifth inning.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

“The deeper that the starters go in the game, it means we’re pitching good. But it means you’re giving the bullpen a break. So it just makes for a different game that favors us.”

Tuesday’s start was Snell’s 11th, for three teams, in the postseason. But it was his first since 2022. Getting back to October was one reason why the left-hander signed with the Dodgers 10 months ago (the five-year $182-million contract the team was offered was another reason).

“It’s awesome,” said Snell, who was wearing a blue hoodie emblazoned with the Dodgers playoff slogan “Built For Fall” across the front. “There’s nothing better than pitching a postseason game in front of your home crowd. To be able to enjoy that, it meant a lot.”

And Snell took advantage, breezing into the seventh having given up just a hit. He didn’t give up a run until Elly De La Cruz’s fielder’s choice grounder with two out in the inning.

De La Cruz would score the Reds’ second run on Tyler Stephenson’s double three pitches later.

Snell got the next hitter to end the threat, with the seven innings pitched marking a career playoff best. He had matched his playoff high with nine strikeouts by the sixth inning, which he needed just 70 pitches to complete. He wound up throwing 91 pitches, giving up four hits and a walk, before Roberts went to the bullpen to start the eighth, with predictable results.

Alex Vesia was the first man through the gate and he retired just one of the three batters he faced. He was followed by flamethrower Edgardo Henriquez, who walked the first two hitters and gave up a hit to the third, forcing in two runs.

Jack Dreyer was next and he walked in another run. After entering the inning down by eight runs, Cincinnati brought the tying run to the on-deck circle with one out.

Dreyer eventually settled down, retiring the side, but the three pitchers needed 59 pitches — and 30 minutes — to get through the inning. By the time Blake Treinen came on to finish things off, starter Emmet Sheehan had started warming up.

All told, Roberts needed four relievers to get the final six outs, leaving the Dodgers hoping for a Snell-like performance from Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 2 on Wednesday to avoid straining the bullpen further.

“Those guys are on their heels with the lead we have,” Roberts said of the Reds entering the eighth inning. “When you start being too fine and getting behind, you start giving them free bases, that’s how you can build innings and get momentum. So that’s what I saw in that inning there for sure.

“If we don’t feel comfortable using certain guys with an eight-run lead, then we’ve got to think through some things.”

Maybe Snell will get a chance to finish what he starts next time out. It’s certainly no worse than the alternative.

Hi and welcome to another edition of Dodgers Dugout. My name is Houston Mitchell, and our long regular-season journey has ended with more October baseball.

The Cincinnati Reds won the final wild-card spot and will face the Dodgers in a best-of-three wild-card series starting today at 6 p.m. at Dodger Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN; in fact, all three games will be at 6 p.m. on ESPN (and on the usual Dodgers radio stations).

On paper, the Dodgers should beat the Reds, but we all know what that is worth.

Let’s take a look at how the two teams compare and where they ranked among the 30 teams:

Batting

Runs per game
Dodgers, 5.09 (2nd)
MLB average, 4.45
Reds, 4.42 (14th)

Batting average
Dodgers, .253 (5th)
MLB average, .245
Reds, .245 (18th)

On-base %
Dodgers, .327 (5th)
MLB average, .315
Reds, .315 (16th)

Slugging %
Dodgers, .441 (2nd)
MLB average, .404
Reds, .391 (21st)

Doubles
MLB average, 258
Dodgers, 257 (13th)
Reds, 250 (18th)

Triples
Reds, 23 (10th)
MLB average, 21
Dodgers, 21 (T12th)

Home runs
Dodgers, 244 (2nd)
MLB average, 188
Reds, 167 (21st)

Walks
Dodgers, 580 (2nd)
Reds, 527 (12th)
MLB average, 513

Strikeouts
Reds, 1,415 (9th)
MLB average, 1,355
Dodgers, 1,353 (16th)

Stolen bases
MLB average, 115
Reds, 105 (19th)
Dodgers, 88 (T21st)

Sacrifice bunts
MLB average, 19
Dodgers, 13 (T20th)
Reds, 12 (24th)

Batting average with two out and runners in scoring position
Dodgers, .271 (1st)
MLB average, .233
Reds, .208 (28th)

Pitching

ERA
Reds, 3.86 (12th)
Dodgers, 3.95 (16th)
MLB average, 4.15

Rotation ERA
Dodgers, 3.69 (5th)
Reds, 3.85 (9th)
MLB average, 4.21

Bullpen ERA
Reds, 3.89 (14th)
MLB average, 4.08
Dodgers, 4.27 (20th)

FIP (click here for explainer)
Dodgers, 3.93 (7th)
Reds, 4.11 (18th)
MLB average, 4.16

Walks
Dodgers, 563 (5th)
MLB average, 513
Reds, 494 (20th)

Strikeouts
Dodgers, 1,505 (1st)
MLB average, 1,355
Reds, 1,380 (13th)

Saves
Dodgers, 46 (5th)
Reds, 41 (T15th)
MLB average, 40

Blown saves
Dodgers, 27 (T7th)
MLB average, 24
Reds, 22 (16th)

Inherited runners who scored %
Dodgers, 26.1% (3rd)
MLB average, 31.8%
Reds, 31.8% (14th)

Relief innings
Dodgers, 657.2 (1st)
MLB average, 595
Reds, 569.1 (25th)

Relief wins
Dodgers, 44 (T1st)
MLB average, 33
Reds, 30 (20th)

Relief losses
Dodgers, 33 (T7th)
Reds, 30 (11th)
MLB average, 29

The players

When comparing the main players on the teams, keep in mind that players can move around depending on who is starting and managerial whim. Gavin Lux, for example, has started at left field, DH and second base for the Reds. For a full look at the Reds statistically, click here.

DH
Dodgers, Shohei Ohtani. .282/.392/.622, 25 doubles, 55 homers, 102 RBIs
Reds, Miguel Andujar, .359/.400/.544, 7 doubles, 4 homers, 17 RBIs

Catcher
Dodgers, Will Smith, .296/.404/.497, 20 doubles, 17 homers, 61 RBIs
Dodgers, Ben Rortvedt, .224/.309/.327, 2 doubles, 1 homer, 4 RBIs
Reds, Jose Trevino, .238/.272/.351, 20 doubles, 4 homers, 22 RBIs
Reds, Tyler Stephenson, .231/.316/.421, 18 doubles, 13 homers, 50 RBIs

First base
Dodgers, Freddie Freeman, .295/.367/.502, 39 doubles, 24 homers, 90 RBIs
Reds, Spencer Steer, .238/.312/.411, 21 doubles, 21 homers, 75 RBIs
Reds, Sal Stewart, .255/.293/.545, 1 double, 5 homers, 8 RBIs

Second base
Dodgers, Miguel Rojas, .262/.318/.397, 18 doubles, 7 homers, 27 RBIs
Dodgers, Kiké Hernández, .203/.255/.366, 8 doubles, 10 homers, 35 RBIs
Reds, Matt McLain, .220/.300/.343, 18 doubles, 15 homers, 50 RBIs

Third base
Dodgers, Max Muncy, .243/.376/.470, 10 doubles, 19 homers, 67 RBIs
Reds, Ke’Bryan Hayes, .234/.315/.342, 6 doubles, 3 homers, 13 RBIs

Shortstop
Dodgers, Mookie Betts, .258/.326/.406, 23 doubles, 20 homers, 82 RBIs
Reds, Elly De La Cruz, .264/.336/.440, 31 doubles, 22 homers, 86 RBIs

Left field
Dodgers, Michael Conforto, .199/.305/.333, 20 doubles, 12 homers, 36 RBIs
Reds, Gavin Lux, .269/.350/.374, 28 doubles, 5 homers, 53 RBIs

Note: Lately, when a left-hander is on the mound, Steer moves from first to left, Stewart starts at first and Lux hits the bench.

Center field
Dodgers, Andy Pages, .272/.313/.461, 27 doubles, 27 homers, 86 RBIs
Dodgers, Tommy Edman, .225/.274/.382, 13 doubles, 13 homers, 49 RBIs
Reds, TJ Friedl, .261/.364/.378, 22 doubles, 14 homers, 53 RBIs

Right field
Dodgers, Teoscar Hernández, .247/.284/.454, 29 doubles, 25 homers, 89 RBIs
Reds, Noelvy Marté, .263/.300/.448, 17 doubles, 14 homers, 51 RBIs

The three probable starting pitchers

Dodgers
*Blake Snell, 5-4, 2.35 ERA, 61.1 IP, 51 hits, 26 walks, 72 K’s
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, 12-8, 2.49 ERA, 173.2 IP, 113 hits, 59 walks, 201 K’s
Shohei Ohtani, 1-1, 2.87 ERA, 47 IP, 40 hits, 9 walks, 62 K’s

Reds
Hunter Greene, 7-3, 2.76 ERA, 107.2 IP, 75 hits, 26 walks, 132 K’s
*Andrew Abbott, 10-7, 2.87 ERA, 166.1 IP, 148 hits, 43 walks, 149 K’s
*Nick Lodolo, 9-8, 3.33 ERA, 156.2 IP, 138 hits, 31 walks, 56 K’s

The main relievers

Reds
Emilio Pagán, 2-4, 2.88 ERA, 32 saves, 68.2 IP, 41 hits, 22 walks, 81 K’s
Tony Santillan, 1-5, 2.44 ERA, 7 saves, 73.2 IP, 53 hits, 29 walks, 75 K’s
*Brent Suter, 1-2, 4.52 ERA, 67.2 IP, 69 hits, 18 walks, 53 K’s

Dodgers
Tanner Scott, 1-4, 4.74 ERA, 23 saves, 57 IP, 54 hits, 18 walks, 60 K’s
*Alex Vesia, 4-2, 3.02 ERA, 5 saves, 59.2 IP, 37 hits, 22 walks, 80 K’s
Emmet Sheehan, 6-3, 2.82 ERA, 73.1 IP, 49 hits, 22 walks, 89 K’s
Blake Treinen, 2-7. 5.40 ERA, 26.2 IP, 30 hits, 19 walks, 36 K’s

The wild-card roster

We know Clayton Kershaw will not be on the wild-card roster, as Dave Roberts announced that over the weekend.

Will Smith is still dealing with a hairline fracture of his right hand. Will he be able to play in the wild-card series? That’s a big question. And if they put him on the roster and have to take him off because he is too injured, then he would also have to sit out the next round.

Max Muncy is ready for the wild-card series; they were just being judicious with his playing time to protect the various sore body parts he has right now.

Brock Stewart won’t be on it. He’s having season-ending shoulder surgery.

Who makes it among Alex Call, Michael Conforto and Hyeseong Kim? If Smith makes the roster, do they add Dalton Rushing as a third catcher? Do they put Tyler Glasnow in the bullpen for this round or go with a true reliever?

Who’s going to win?

The Dodgers have been playing some of their best baseball lately, going 15-5 in their last 20 games. The Reds are a good team, but I think the Dodgers will get past them. Prediction: Dodgers in two.

The folks at baseball-reference.com simulated the postseason 1,000 times, and this is how many times each team won the World Series:

Milwaukee, 216
Philadelphia, 191
Toronto, 134
Seattle, 125
Boston, 68
New York, 52
San Diego, 46
Dodgers, 44
Cleveland, 38
Chicago, 37
Cincinnati, 25
Detroit, 24

Nice moment

Since he is not on the wild-card roster, Clayton Kershaw pitched what could be his final game Sunday in Seattle. He struck out the final batter he faced.

Striking him out seemed apropos, since a strikeout is what put Kershaw on the scene with Dodgers fans.

It was spring training of 2008, and the game was on TV, on a station where everyone could watch it (the good old days). Most fans knew Kershaw was a highly touted prospect, the seventh overall pick in the 2006 draft. But that’s all they knew.

And then Kershaw came in to pitch. Back then, fans didn’t trust anything unless it was told to them by Vin Scully, who was in the booth for the game. Kershaw was wearing not No. 22, but No. 96, as he wasn’t expected to make the team.

Scully was recounting Kershaw’s many accomplishments in high school and the minors when Sean Casey of the Boston Red Sox came up to the plate. Casey was a career .302 hitter, so he was no slouch at the plate. Kershaw got two strikes on him, then broke off his famous 12-to-6 curve. Casey’s knees buckled. Scully said

“Oh, what a curveball. Holy mackerel! He just broke off Public Enemy No. 1. Look at this thing. It’s up here, it’s down there and Casey’s history.”

People were talking about it the next day. “Did you see Kershaw yesterday? Did you hear what Vin said?”

That began the legend of Clayton Kershaw. Hopefully, there’s at least one more magical moment left.

Remember them?

The Dodgers used 25 position players and 40 pitchers this season (some, such as Kiké Hernández and Shohei Ohtani, did both). Do you remember them all? Here’s they are, listed in order of plate appearances and innings pitched.

Position players
Shohei Ohtani
Mookie Betts
Freddie Freeman
Andy Pages
Teoscar Hernández
Michael Conforto
Will Smith
Max Muncy
Tommy Edman
Miguel Rojas
Kiké Hernández
Hyeseong Kim
Dalton Rushing
Alex Freeland
Alex Call
Ben Rortvedt
Austin Barnes
James Outman
Chris Taylor
Esteury Ruiz
Buddy Kennedy
Eddie Rosario
Hunter Feduccia
Chuckie Robinson
Justin Dean

Pitchers
Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Clayton Kershaw
Dustin May
Tyler Glasnow
Ben Casparius
Jack Dreyer
Emmet Sheehan
Justin Wrobleski
Anthony Banda
Blake Snell
Alex Vesia
Tanner Scott
Shohei Ohtani
Kirby Yates
Landon Knack
Roki Sasaki
Tony Gonsolin
Matt Sauer
Luis García
Blake Treinen
Lou Trivino
Edgardo Henriquez
Will Klein
Michael Kopech
Alexis Díaz
Noah Davis
Evan Phillips
Kiké Hernández
Miguel Rojas
Bobby Miller
Yoendrys Gómez
Chris Stratton
Brock Stewart
Jack Little
José Ureña
Ryan Loutos
Paul Gervase
J.P. Feyereisen
Julian Fernández
Andrew Heaney

Up next

Tuesday: Cincinnati (Hunter Greene, 7-4, 2.76 ERA) at Dodgers (*Blake Snell, 5-4, 2.35 ERA), 6 p.m., ESPN LA, AM 570, KTMZ 1220

Wednesday: Cincinnati (TBD) at Dodgers (TBD), 6 p.m., ESPN, AM 570, KTMZ 1220

Thursday: Cincinnati (TBD) at Dodgers (TBD), 6 p.m., ESPN, AM 570, KTMZ 1220

*-left-handed

The other postseason games

In case you want to watch how the other teams are doing:

Tuesday
Detroit at Cleveland, 10 a.m., ESPN
San Diego at Chicago, noon, ABC
Boston at New York, 3 p.m., ESPN

Wednesday
Detroit at Cleveland, 10 a.m., ESPN
San Diego at Chicago, noon, ABC
Boston at New York, 3 p.m., ESPN

Thursday*
Detroit at Cleveland, 10 a.m., ESPN
San Diego at Chicago, noon, ABC
Boston at New York, 3 p.m., ESPN

*-if necessary

Note: Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Toronto and Seattle have first-round byes.

In case you missed it

Dodgers feel an urgency to deliver another World Series title to L.A.

‘That’s why I came here.’ Dodgers bet on Blake Snell’s potential as a postseason ace

Dodgers-Reds wild-card preview | Dodgers Debate

Nine concerns the Dodgers should have about facing the Reds in the NL wild-card series

Plaschke: Dodgers hero Kirk Gibson now tries to be a hero for those battling Parkinson’s disease

Dodgers find out Brock Stewart won’t return this season before win over Mariners

World Series hangover? Dodgers feel battle-tested for October by repeat challenges

And finally

Freddie Freeman removes Clayton Kershaw from his final regular-season start. Watch and listen here.

Until next time…

Have a comment or something you’d like to see in a future Dodgers newsletter? Email me at [email protected]. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.

The Taliban in Afghanistan have imposed a nationwide shut down of telecommunications, weeks after they began severing fibre-optic internet connections to prevent what they call immorality.

The country is currently experiencing a total connectivity blackout, internet watchdog, Netblocks reports.

International news agency AFP says it lost contact with its office in the capital Kabul, including mobile phone service. Mobile internet and satellite TV has also been severely disrupted across Afghanistan.

Since seizing power in 2021, the Taliban have imposed numerous restrictions in accordance with their interpretation of Islamic Sharia law.

Flights from Kabul airport have also been disrupted, according to reports.

Several people in Kabul have told the BBC that their fibre-optic internet stopped working towards the end of the working day, around17:00 local time (12:30 GMT)

Because of this, it is understood many people will not notice the impact until Tuesday morning, when services like banking and border services are due to resume.

Fibre-optic cables transfer data super fast, and are used for much of the world’s internet.

In a post on social network Mastodon.social, Netblocks said:

“Afghanistan is now in the midst of a total internet blackout as Taliban authorities move to implement morality measures, with multiple networks disconnected through the morning in a stepwise manner; telephone services are currently also impacted”.

For weeks internet users in several Afghan provinces have been complaining about either slow internet access or no connectivity.

The Taliban earlier said an alternative route for internet access would be created, without giving any details.

Business leaders at the time warned that if the internet ban continued their activities would be seriously hit.

The blackout is the latest in a series of restrictions which the Taliban have enforced since returning to power.

Earlier this month they removed books written by women from the country’s university teaching system as part of a new ban which has also outlawed the teaching of human rights and sexual harassment.

Women and girls have also been particularly hard-hit: they are barred from accessing education beyond the age of 12, with one of their last routes to further training cut off in late 2024, when midwifery courses were quietly shut down.

The Taliban, a hardline Islamist group, retook control of Afghanistan in 2021 in a lightning advance that lasted just 10 days.

Published on
29/09/2025 – 14:05 GMT+2

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The price of gold climbed to a new record on Monday, rising above $3,850 an ounce in the afternoon in Europe, up more than 1% on the day.

Precious metals across the board surged, fuelled by a weak dollar and high uncertainty around funding for the US federal government.

On Monday, US President Donald Trump and the Republican Party are meeting with Democrats to discuss a short-term spending bill to avoid a government shutdown on Tuesday. Republicans need at least seven votes from Democrats to pass the legislation.

Uncertainty is high, which historically sees investors flocking into so-called safe-haven assets such as gold. The precious metal is a more stable option in turbulent times when other asset classes are far more volatile.

So far this year, gold has shown itself to be an investor favourite amid increased geopolitical tensions and trade uncertainties. Since January, the precious metal has gained over 45%, rising from $2,669 an ounce.

Other factors are also supporting gold prices, including expectations of further rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. On 17 September, the Fed lowered its target range for its main lending rate to 4% – 4.25%, and officials indicated that there could be two more rate cuts this year.

Lower rates tend to weaken the US dollar, in which gold is denominated, increasing the metal’s appeal. This is particularly the case when other interest-bearing assets like bonds and savings accounts offer lower yields, following rate cuts.

“Gold prices continue to mark new records, with expectations for further rate cuts from the Fed supportive, given the precious metal does not offer income,” said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.

“Now above $3,800, gold has also been boosted by central bank buying over several years, weaker demand for traditional safe havens like US government bonds driven by concerns over US deficits and trade policy, dollar weakness and geopolitical tensions, including conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine,” Mould added.

“The threat of a shutdown in Washington, as policymakers engage in tense negotiations ahead of a deadline at midnight on Tuesday, is yet another factor driving support for gold.”

Disclaimer: This information does not constitute financial advice; always do your own research on top to ensure it’s right for your specific circumstances. Also remember, we are a journalistic website and aim to provide the best guides, tips and advice from experts. If you rely on the information on this page, then you do so entirely at your own risk.

Ruling party decisively victorious in parliamentary election widely viewed as a choice between Europe and Russia.

Moldova’s pro-Western ruling party has decisively won a parliamentary election which was plagued by claims of Russian interference and was widely seen as a definitive choice between staying in Europe’s orbit or lurching into Moscow’s.

With nearly all polling station reports counted on Monday, electoral data showed the pro-European Union Party of Action and Solidarity had 50.2 percent of the vote, while the pro-Russian Patriotic Electoral Bloc has 24.2 percent, according to the Associated Press News agency. The Russia-friendly Alternativa Bloc came third, followed by the populist Our Party.

The pivotal ballot in the nation’s future Sunday pitted the governing pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity against several Russia-friendly opponents.

Leading up to Sunday’s vote, Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean warned of Russian interference, saying Moscow is spending “hundreds of millions” of euros as part of an alleged “hybrid war” to try to seize power, which he described as “the final battle for our country’s future.”

Russia had denied Moldova’s claims that it was waging a disinformation campaign and looking to buy votes and stir unrest.

Geographically, Moldova is landlocked between Ukraine and EU member Romania.

The country has, in recent years, moved westwards in attaining candidate status to the EU in 2022, just after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Cristian Cantir, a Moldovan associate professor of international relations at Oakland University, told AP that PAS’s victory is “a clear win for pro-European forces in Moldova, which will be able to ensure continuity in the next few years in the pursuit of their ultimate goal of EU integration.”

“A PAS majority saves the party from having to form a coalition that would have most likely been unstable and would have slowed down the pace of reforms to join the EU,” he said, adding that “Moldova will continue to be in a difficult geopolitical environment characterized by Russia’s attempts to pull it back into its sphere of influence.”

The election day was marked by a string of incidents, ranging from bomb threats at multiple polling stations abroad to cyberattacks on electoral and government infrastructure, voters photographing their ballots and some being illegally transported to polling stations. Three people were also detained, suspected of plotting to cause unrest after the vote.

On Friday, President Maia Sandu called the vote the country’s “most consequential election”. “Its outcome will decide whether we consolidate our democracy and join the EU, or whether Russia drags us back into a grey zone, making us a regional risk,” Sandu wrote on X.

Recean, in the meantime, had also stressed the threat from Russia: “I call on every Moldovan at home and across Europe: We cannot change what Russia does, but we can change what we do as a people,” he said. “Turn worry into mobilisation and thoughtful action … Help stop their schemes.”

TRADESPEOPLE are struggling to expand their businesses because of growing costs, bureaucracy and hiring pressures, a new study suggests.

A survey of 850 tradespeople working across the UK by Checkatrade showed they were eager to contribute to the Government’s plan for growth, but challenges were preventing them from doing so.

1

Four out of five of those surveyed said rising costs of materials and tools, plus increased levels of tool theft, were preventing them from growing their business.

A similar number blamed rising taxes, such as the increase in employer National Insurance Contributions.

In April the Government increased the rate of National Insurance contributions from 13.8% to 15%.

It also lowered the threshold at which employers start paying National Insurance from £9,100 to £5,000.

This has piled further pressure onto tradespeople already struggling to make ends meet.

Jambu Palaniappan, chief executive of Checkatrade, said: “The UK is a nation dependent on the trade industry — from carpenters to electricians, decorators to roofers.

“The 900,000 people behind it couldn’t be more important for propelling our economy.”

He said that the research shows how eager tradespeople are to contribute to the Government’s growth agenda.

As part of the plan the Government wants to improve the UK’s rate of economic growth and boost national productivity.

But while there is lots of optimism and significant opportunities for growth, there are still significant challenges tradespeople face.

Palaniappan said: “The Government needs to work with industry to close skills gaps, ensure apprenticeships work for small businesses, and do everything they can to reduce the burdens, the costs, and the taxes that can stifle tradespeople’s growth.”

What support is available?

If you are self-employed and are struggling with the higher cost of living, then there is support available to you.

Universal Credit

One way is to top up your income with Universal Credit.

You can apply if you need to top up your income and have low income and savings.

But you won’t be eligible if you live with a spouse or partner and have combined savings of more than £16,000 or your partner earns too much.

You can check if you are eligible and your claim is likely to be successful by using a benefits calculator.

Turn2us and Entitledto both offer calculators that can help you check whether you qualify.

You will need to attend a gateway interview with a DWP work coach so they can check that being self-employed is your main job.

They will also confirm if you are making a profit or are expected to if you’ve just started out.

This means you’ll need to provide evidence such as receipts, a business plan, copies of invoices, trading accounts or proof you’ve registered as self-employed with HMRC.

If you don’t have enough evidence, then they may decide that you’re not “gainfully” self-employed.

You will need to look and be eligible for other work while you get Universal Credit.

For more information and to apply visit the GOV.UK website.

Employment and Support Allowance

If you’re self-employed, then you can’t claim Statutory Sick Pay.

But if you’ve paid enough National Insurance, then you may be able to claim the new-style Employment and Support Allowance if you’re ill.

If you qualify for the benefit, then you can claim it regardless of your household income or savings.

But if you haven’t paid enough National Insurance, then you may be able to claim the limited capability for work and work-related activity element of Universal Credit.

To be eligible your savings must be less than £16,000.

If you live with a partner, then their income will also be taken into account as part of the claim for Universal Credit.

For information on if you qualify for Employment and Support Allowance and what to do if you don’t visit GOV.UK.

Cut your tax bill

You could be missing out on key tax allowances that could save you hundreds of pounds a year.

If you work from home, then you may be able to claim for costs associated with work, such as business phone calls, gas and electricity.

If you work from home between 51 and 100 hours a month, then you could get £18.

Meanwhile, if you work for more than 101 hours a month from home, then you could get £26 a month – or £312 a year.

If the amount of time you work from home varies month-to-month, then you can claim the relevant amount for that month.

To apply visit the GOV.UK website.

You may also be able to claim tax relief on your mileage if you drive a car or van for work.

You can claim 45p tax relief on every mile you do for the first 10,000 miles a year of business journeys.

If you travelled this distance in a year, you would get £4,500 in tax relief a year.

If you drive more than 10,000 miles, then you can claim 25p tax relief per mile.

You can also get an additional 5p per mile in relief if you carry a passenger.

You can log the number of miles you do and add reminders to report your mileage using apps including driversnote and Fuelio.

To use these apps just download them from the app store and create an account.

Read our helpful guide for more advice on how to cut your tax bill if you’re self-employed.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

Christian Walker homered twice and the Houston Astros beat the Angels 6-1 on Saturday night, a couple of hours after getting eliminated from playoff contention.

Zach Cole and Jesús Sánchez also went deep for the Astros, who will miss the postseason for the first time since 2016.

Walker was batting in the second inning when Cleveland scored in the bottom of the ninth at Progressive Field for a 3-2 victory over Texas that clinched the final American League playoff spot for the Guardians and eliminated the Astros.

That snapped Houston’s streak of eight consecutive playoff appearances, a run that featured seven straight trips to the AL Championship Series from 2017-2023 and World Series titles in 2017 and 2022.

With Saturday night’s game rendered moot, Astros manager Joe Espada pulled his top three batters — Jose Altuve, Isaac Paredes and Carlos Correa — after two innings.

Cole followed Yainer Diaz’s second-inning single with a two-run homer off Angels starter Caden Dana (0-4). Walker led off the fourth with a homer for a 3-0 lead. Cole walked and Sanchez lined a two-run homer to right field for a 5-0 lead. Walker’s solo shot — his 27th of the season — made it 6-1 in the ninth.

Houston starter AJ Blubaugh gave up one hit in four scoreless innings against the Angels (72-89), and reliever J.P. France (1-0) allowed one run and two hits in three innings, striking out five and walking one.

Dana, the Angels’ rookie right-hander, permitted five runs and five hits in seven innings.

Key moment: France gave up an RBI double to Jo Adell and walked Logan O’Hoppe to put two on with one out in the sixth, but the right-hander struck out Christian Moore and Oswald Peraza to preserve a 5-1 lead.

Key stat: Sunday’s season finale will be only the fourth game since the start of the 2015 season that the Astros (86-75) will play while out of postseason contention. The other three came at the end of 2016, when Houston was eliminated from the wild-card race on Sept. 29.

Up next: Astros RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (2-5, 6.71 ERA) will start Sunday against Angels LHP Sam Aldegheri (0-1, 8.00).

He stood taller than any other player on the field. His wingspan likely stretches far beyond any other wideout in the Mission League or, possibly, the Southern Section.

Tyran Stokes appeared as a man among men as he stretched and worked his way through pregame drills, cameras lined up along the sideline aimed at the senior as if he was back on the AAU basketball circuit — and for good reason.

The comparison was hard not to make during Sherman Oaks Notre Dame’s 57-14 victory over Culver City (3-2) on Friday night.

Is this what LeBron James looked like on the football field?

James, who played at St. Vincent–St. Mary High in Akron, Ohio, during his sophomore and junior yearsin 2000 and 2001, used his 6-foot-7 frame to earn all-state honors, the future four-time NBA most valuable player even garnering attention from Notre Dame and Urban Meyer, then a wide receivers coach for the Fighting Irish, according to ESPN. At 6-foot-8 and 250 pounds, Stokes is larger — and already plays for Notre Dame; well, the Knights of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (3-2).

The No. 1 high school senior in the nation — according to multiple college basketball recruiting sites — wanted more. Stokes jostled his love of a second sport, football, becoming a wide receiver and defensive end on the football team earlier in September, just months before his final season of basketball at begins.

Basketball standout Tyran Stokes of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame comes up short an attempt to make his first catch Friday against Culver City.

(Craig Weston)

“He improves our practice atmosphere, he improves our game atmosphere, he improves our mindset and our competitive spirit in the room,” Notre Dame coach Evan Yabu said, noting Stokes has been a “pleasure” to have on the team.

Towering over defensive backs, Stokes was a go-to target for senior quarterback Wyatt Brown — who put the game out of reach in the first half with a three-touchdown effort — anytime he appeared on the field. Brown finished 21-for-33 passing with 301 yards and five touchdowns. On the ground, he tallied 79 yards and one touchdown.

His final pass was the one that Notre Dame will remember.

Matched up on 5-foot-8 Culver City defensive back Derrick Huezo Jr., Stokes burst forward and created 15 yards of separation. Huezo could only shrug as he trailed Stokes.

The now-two=sport star took the ball 45 yards to the house to cement the final score.

On Stokes’ first play, in Notre Dame’s second drive of the first quarter, Brown caught Stokes across the middle of the field.

The ball slipped through Stokes’ hands.

He wouldn’t let that happen when it mattered most, the clock ticking on his first game. Stokes finishes with two receptions for 57 yards (he was targeted eight times).

“I know he’s a big-time hooper,” Brown said. “But when he came over here, he was very humble and open about learning — which is a testament to him.”

Stokes politely declined all interview requests following the game — so it goes being the most-sought-after basketball recruit in the nation.

But any kid — or fan — who asked for a picture, he waited and obliged.

The moment wasn’t just big for him, but for the whole school — Stokes, one of the last to trot to the locker room to get ready for a bus ride back to Sherman Oaks.

The star has been a familiar face on TV for many years, but in recent times he has also become a best-selling author

Richard Osman has long been a familiar face on the telly, known for his roles in popular shows like Pointless, Two Tribes and House of Games.

However, these days he’s also making waves in the literary world with his murder mystery novels. The TV star‘s series kicked off in 2020 with The Thursday Murder Club, which tells the tale of a group of pensioners who turn their hand to solving local crimes.

The book was a hit, with readers gripped by the adventures of elderly detectives Joyce, Elizabeth, Ron, and Ibrahim. A staggering 45,000 copies were snapped up in just three days, catapulting the book onto bestseller lists.

Three more stories quickly followed, with the fifth instalment, The Impossible Fortune, hitting shelves this week, reports the Manchester Evening News.

This summer, Richard’s debut novel was even adapted into a film, featuring a star-studded cast including Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, and Celia Imrie, under the direction of filmmaker Chris Columbus.

The film was a success for Netflix, racking up millions of views and topping the streaming giant’s most-watched films list in the UK.

While it boosted viewing figures, it’s also likely to have given the 54-year-old star’s bank account a healthy boost.

So, what is Richard Osman’s net worth?

It’s believed that Richard’s wealth primarily comes from his television work, production credits on various programmes, and book deals.

Estimates suggest his net worth sits somewhere between £3 million and £4 million.

The star and his wife, Ingrid, reside in Chiswick, an expensive corner of London where properties can easily cost millions. Occasionally, fans catch a glimpse of the luxurious home when Richard shares snippets from his life on Instagram.

Yet despite his substantial bank balance, the star doesn’t appear to be one for flaunting his wealth.

Richard, who has two children with his first wife, recently discussed money on his The Rest is Entertainment podcast whilst commenting on reports that Jeff Bezos’s multi-day wedding to Lauren Sanchez this summer cost over £30 million.

During a conversation about wealth with podcast co-host Marina Hyde, Richard revealed he’d handle things differently if he possessed the Amazon founder’s riches.

“You know what I am going to do? Nothing,” he said. “I am going to stay in and watch Below Deck. I’m going to look after the people that I love, I’m going to have my mates around… I’m going to do nothing.”

Richard Osman will be a guest on Saturday Kitchen Live, which airs at 10am on BBC One on Saturday September 27.

GOGGLEBOX fan were left devastated after fan-favourites Amira and Amani were “missing” on tonight’s show.

The sisters, who have been on the Channel 4 show since 2017, were noticeably absent, which prompted fans to worry they’d been axed.

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One viewer wrote: “Where’s Amira and Amani this week?”

A second said: “Missing Amira & Amani this week,” while another said: “I hope Amira & Amani haven’t left the show, they’re the best.”

Another added: “So two of the best people in the cast of Gogglebox are missing.”

But that wasn’t the only concern that Gogglebox fans had tonight.

Earlier this year, it was revealed that five new families had joined this series.

These include friends Jake and Calum from Glasgow, the Gordon family (Andre, Sarah, and Chee) from Surrey, married couple Andrew and Alfie from The Cotswolds, mother and daughter-in-law Sara and Lara from Yorkshire, and sisters Rosie and Susie from Edinburgh.

But some viewers have struggled to “warm” to the newbies and begged for Scottish couple Roisin and Joe to return after they were axed in July.

This viewer wrote: “Gogglebox why did you feel the need to change things up on a highly popular programme? I just don’t get why commissioners and production companies feel the need to change a winning recipe. The new ingredients haven’t enhanced the dish.”

A second posted: “Gogglebox too many posh families now no fun at all.”

A third said: “I’ve still not warmed to any of the new goggleboxers,” while another added: “Gogglebox has gone all posh and less diverse.”

Roisin and Joe joined Gogglebox in 2022, but announced they were leaving the show in the summer.

Taking to social media, Roisin wrote: “After three and a half years of sitting on the sofa Channel 4 have decided it’s time for Joe and I to stretch our legs and have not asked us back for season 26.

“Therefore we are leaving the Gogglebox family.

“We couldn’t be more grateful to Studio Lambert for the opportunity, the experience has actually been so mad and we will miss watching TV with you all on Friday nights!”

She added: “It’s been an honour to represent Scotland as some of the first Scottish people on the show and prove we don’t actually need subtitles.”

Roisin and boyfriend Joe, who were the first Scots to appear on the much-loved hit for over six years, added: “We have made friends for life and after filming every week for years you have become like our family!

“We could not have asked for better people to work with and we will miss you immensely.

“It for sure has been a once in a lifetime opportunity. Time to watch TV in silence for a bit and put down the popcorn.”

A spokesperson for Channel 4 said: “We thank Joe and Roisin for their contributions to Gogglebox over the years, and wish them all the best for the future.”

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Hi and welcome to another edition of Dodgers Dugout. My name is Houston Mitchell, reminding you to stock up on your favorite antacid before the postseason begins.

It was a lot closer than most expected, and it was quite a struggle, but the Dodgers have won the NL West. Some would have been disappointed if they didn’t win it by the All-Star break, but with three games left, the NL West is secure.

This is the 12th time in the last 13 years that the Dodgers have won the NL West. And, despite the travails of the season, that is a remarkable accomplishment. Of course, winning the division guarantees nothing except home-field advantage in the first round, but everyone should take a moment to enjoy it.

We still don’t know who the Dodgers will play starting Tuesday. The first round is three games, Tuesday-Thursday, all at Dodger Stadium. Of course, they will play the third game only if necessary.

Let’s take a look at the other times the Dodgers won the NL West (divisional play began in 1969):

1974: 102-60, lost in World Series to Oakland
1977: 98-64, lost in World Series to New York
1978: 95-67, lost in World Series to New York
1981: 63-47, won World Series over New York
1983: 91-71, lost in NLCS to Philadelphia
1985: 95-67, lost in NLCS to St. Louis
1988: 94-67, won World Series over Oakland
1995: 78-66, lost in NLDS to Cincinnati
2004: 93-69, lost in NLDS to St. Louis
2008: 84-78, lost in NLCS to Philadelphia
2009: 95-67, lost in NLCS to Philadelphia
2013: 92-70, lost in NLCS to St. Louis
2014: 94-68, lost in NLDS to St. Louis
2015: 92-70, lost in NLDS to New York
2016: 91-71, lost in NLCS to Chicago
2017: 104-58, lost in World Series to Houston*
2018: 92-71, lost in World Series to Boston
2019: 106-56, lost in NLDS to Washington
2020: 43-17, won World Series over Tampa Bay
2022: 111-51, lost in NLDS to San Diego
2023: 100-62, lost in NLDS to Arizona
2024: 98-64, won World Series over New York
2025: 90-69, ?

*-Houston (no relation) cheated

Most NL West titles

Dodgers, 23
San Francisco, 9
Cincinnati, 7
Arizona, 5
Atlanta, 5
San Diego, 5
Arizona, 3
Houston, 2

When I was a kid, it seemed to always come down to either the Dodgers or Cincinnati for the NL West title. I miss those days.

The Dodgers did a full clubhouse celebration after winning the title. I have done a full 180 on this. A few years ago I wrote they shouldn’t celebrate these things. But they should. Life is to be celebrated, and celebrating a division title is fine. For some of these guys, it is the first time, and it might be the only time, they won a division title. For someone like Clayton Kershaw, it’s the last time. Enjoy it. It doesn’t mean their focus is off the big prize.

Quotes about winning the division

Dave Roberts: “I do feel that in totality, we’re playing our best baseball of the season. The win-loss hasn’t reflected it, but I think that’s what’s most important. There’s just been a lot of good things and a lot of growth from a lot of players, which has been fun to see.”

Max Muncy: “This year was harder than ever, to get to this point. We went through a lot. We had a lot of injuries. We had a lot of ups and downs.”

Blake Snell (on guys coming together as a team): “That’s what’s going to make us stronger during October. It’s what we needed.”

Clayton Kershaw: “It’s been a weird year for everybody, but we’re here, we won again. Obviously, we’ve got a lot more to accomplish. But you’ve got to enjoy this moment. We are. It’s a great group of guys. And we’re going to have a ton of fun.”

The bullpen

Last time, we tackled the topic of “Is this the worst bullpen in L.A. Dodgers history?” and many of you wanted more stats to prove it is indeed the worst. So here come some more stats.

But first things first: Considering the amount of money sunk into this season’s bullpen, it seems like it’s the worst, no matter what the numbers say.

Most blown saves by an L.A. Dodgers bullpen

1. 29 (2024)
1. 29 (2019)
3. 27 (2025)
3. 27 (2021)
3. 27 (2018)
3. 27 (2001)
3. 27 (1998)
8. 26 (2009)
9. 23 (2000)

Amazing when you see last season’s bullpen, considered the team’s savior, shares the record for most blown saves.

The fewest is eight, for the 2003 team that finished 85-77.

Bullpen losses

1. 33 (2025)
1. 33 (2018)
3. 30 (2005)
4. 29 (1992)
4. 29 (1975)
6. 28 (2021)
6. 28 (2015)
6. 28 (1986)
9. 27 (1996)
9. 27 (1980)

Last season’s bullpen lost 24 games. The record for fewest in a full season is 12 in 1968.

Inherited runners who scored %

1. 43%, 64 of 149 (1994)
2. 41.6%, 72 of 173 (1979)
3. 41%, 110 of 268 (2010)
4. 40.6%, 58 of 143 (1974)
5. 40.3%, 60 of 149 (1966)
6. 39.4%, 56 of 142 (1971)
7. 39.2%, 74 of 189 (1966)
8. 39.1%, 93 of 238 (1959)
9. 38.3%, 110 of 287 (1958)
10. 38.2%, 76 of 199 (1998)

55. 26.2%, 60 of 229 (2025)

Looked at in the other order, the Dodgers this year are 14th-best in L.A. Dodgers history in this category. Seems wrong, but the numbers are the numbers. Maybe Dave Roberts should bring relievers in with runners on, not to start an inning.

Most blown saves by an L.A. Dodgers reliever

12
Mike Marshall, 1974

11
Scott Radinsky, 1998

10
Jim Brewer, 1969
Tanner Scott, 2025

9
Steve Howe, 1980
Steve Howe, 1982
Ken Howell, 1986
Phil Regan, 1967
Jeff Shaw, 2001
Todd Worrell, 1996
Todd Worrell, 1997

On Wednesday, the Dodgers got two new bullpen members: Roki Sasaki and Clayton Kershaw. Not sure where they came from. Must be a couple of late trades. But they each pitched a scoreless inning, giving us a preview of what the postseason bullpen could look like. Unlike his first stint with the Dodgers, Sasaki was attacking hitters, striking out two. Kershaw was Kershaw.

They both could be big upgrades in the postseason. It doesn’t mean the problem is solved by any means. But if Sasaki can pitch like he did Wednesday, then he could be the guy the Dodgers rely on in the postseason.

My new dream is Game 7 of the World Series, Kershaw gets the save.

For a good cause

Four years ago, this newsletter mentioned Makenna Martin, a then-college student who was holding an online bracket (much like the NCAA bracket) where people could fill out their choices for the best-looking Dodger. She added a charitable aspect to it, raising money for a charity for women who are the victim of domestic violence.

Martin, now a college graduate, has continued the bracket, and this year is using it to raise money for “Peace Over Violence,” another charity that helps victims of domestic abuse. You do not have to donate to take part in the bracket challenge. Whether you donate or not, it’s a lot of fun to do. There’s also a raffle to raise funds, with a lot of Dodgers prizes to win. A tip of the cap to Martin and to all young people who try to make the world just a little bit better.

Martin answered a few question via email:

Q: When did you come up with the hottest Dodger bracket and how has it grown over the years?

Martin: It mostly started as a joke with some of my friends on Twitter when I was a senior in high school (8 years ago now!) but it really blew up unexpectedly so I have done it every year since given that everyone has so much fun with it. Four years ago I had the idea to add the fundraiser aspect given the allegations against Trevor Bauer and later on Julio Urías, so we have been able to use our silly annual tradition to bring real change to our community.

Q. What charity is the bracket benefitting this year?

Martin: We are once again supporting Peace Over Violence this year, an organization focused on supporting survivors of domestic violence with the resources they need to heal and thrive.

Q. How much money have you raised for charity over the years?

Martin: We are up to over $33,000 total over the last four years!

Q. Cody Bellinger won your bracket a couple of times, and Chris Taylor has won. Now they are gone. Who’s the odds-on favorite this year?

Martin: I think you can never bet against Shohei [Ohtani], he’s just too good at everything!

Q. Last time we talked, you were in college. What are you up to now?

Martin: I graduated from UC Davis in 2023 and for the last two years I have worked on campus in nutrition research.

Q. Your prediction for the playoffs this year?

Martin: I predict that the bullpen is going to give us all a heart attack.

Q. Finally, for people who want to fill out a bracket and learn more, where should they go?

Martin: All of the information and links can be found on my Twitter (makenna_m19) which is most likely to be up to date, or on Bluesky ([email protected]).

Poll time

We asked, “If all goes as expected this week and the Dodgers win the West, which team would you prefer the Dodgers play in the first round, New York, Cincinnati or Arizona?”

The results, after 8,130 votes:

Cincinnati, 55.9%
New York, 30.1%
Arizona, 14%

Up next

Friday: Dodgers (Emmet Sheehan, 6-3, 2.86 ERA) at Seattle (George Kirby, 10-7, 4,24 ERA), 6:40 p.m., Sportsnet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020

Saturday: Dodgers (Tyler Glasnow, 4-3, 3.30 ERA) at Seattle (Logan Gilbert, 6-6, 3.43 ERA), 6:40 p.m., Sportsnet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020

Sunday: Dodgers (*Clayton Kershaw, 10-2, 3.52 ERA) at Seattle (Bryce Miller, 4-5, 5.53 ERA), 12:10 p.m., Sportsnet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020

*-left-handed

In case you missed it

Shaikin: Dodgers fans should take a moment to appreciate team’s success before anxiety returns

Can Roki Sasaki’s return provide Dodgers trustworthy relief? Early signs were promising

How Bill Russell stayed connected to baseball, and reconnected with the Dodgers

MLB will use robot umpires in 2026, ushering in a new era for calling balls and strikes

And finally

The Dodgers celebrate winning the NL West. Watch and listen here.

Until next time…

Have a comment or something you’d like to see in a future Dodgers newsletter? Email me at [email protected]. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.

Vinnie Pasquantino homered and drove in three runs, Bobby Witt Jr. had four hits and the Kansas City Royals beat the Angels 9-4 on Thursday night.

Michael Lorenzen (7-11) gave up two earned runs and five hits with a season-high nine strikeouts and no walks in 5⅔ innings for the Royals.

Jo Adell, Nolan Schanuel and Mike Trout each homered for the Angels (71-88). Trout’s two-run shot — his 23rd of the season and 401st of his career — cut Kansas City’s lead to 5-4 in the eighth.

However, the Royals (80-79) scored four in the top of the ninth, a rally highlighted by Salvador Perez’s two-out, three-run double off Angels reliever Sam Bachman, to pull away.

Mitch Farris (1-3) gave up four earned runs and five hits in five innings, striking out five and walking two, for the Angels, who have lost 11 of 13 games.

Pasquantino’s team-leading 32nd homer, a two-run shot to right field in the first, gave him a team-high 110 RBIs on the season. Adell pulled the Angels to 2-1 in the second with his team-high 37th homer.

Pasquantino had a run-scoring fielder’s choice in the third and Witt had an RBI double in the fifth to push the lead to 5-1.

Schanuel’s solo shot in the sixth brought the Angels back within two, but Adam Frazier’s pinch-hit RBI single in the eight made it 5-2.

Key moment: Bachman was one strike away from escaping a bases-loaded jam in the ninth, but Perez hit a drive off the base of the center-field wall for his game-breaking hit.

Key stat: The Angels struck out 13 times, bringing their major league-leading total to 1,603 — tied for fourth-most in major league history. With three games left, the Angels are 51 shy of Minnesota’s single-season record of 1,654 strikeouts, set in 2023.

Up next: Angels RHP Kyle Hendricks (8-10, 4.79 ERA) will start against Astros RHP Jason Alexander (4-2, 4.83 ERA) at home on Friday.