AROUND THE HORN
■ Mariners, Padres: The Mariners opened a threegame series as the home team in San Diego after the set was relocated due to air quality concerns in the Seattle area. The Mariners already had two games against the Giants moved from Seattle to San Francisco this week because of unhealthy air quality from numerous West Coast wildfires. The Padres could be in position to clinch their first playoff berth since 2006 while playing as visitors in their home ballpark.
■ Phillies: Zach Eflin struck out nine in a fourhitter, Bryce Harper hit another homer and the Phillies beat the Blue Jays 7-0 in the first game of a doubleheader Friday. The Phillies were the road team in their home ballpark for the opener, a makeup game from earlier in the season. Eflin (3-2) threw 92 pitches for his third career shutout and fifth complete game, though this one was seven innings. Harper has hit three home runs in two games.
■ Cardinals: Kolten Wong hit the second leadoff home run of his career, Tyler O'Neill added a two-run shot and the Cardinals held off the Pirates 6-5 in Game 1 of a doubleheader.
■ Nationals: Last year's champions must be content this year with spoiler's role, and Erick Fedde filled it. Fedde allowed one hit in six innings, and the Nationals beat rookie Sixto Sanchez and the Marlins 5-0 in the Game 1 of a doubleheader.
■ Rays: OF Austin Meadows was placed on the 10-day injured list with an oblique strain that will keep him sidelined into the postseason. The injury occurred while Meadows took a swing in the opener of Thursday's doubleheader against the Orioles. The Rays won both games to earn a berth in the AL playoffs, and they'll need a deep run to get Meadows back in the lineup. “We're going to have to play really, really well to see him at any point the rest of the season,” manager Kevin Cash said. Meadows is batting .205 with four homers and 13 RBIs. Last year he hit .291 with 33 home runs and 89 RBIs, so his bat is always welcome. “I don't need to talk about how important Austin is,” Cash said. LHP Sean Gilmartin was selected from the Rays' alternate site.
■ Braves: RHP Max Fried returned from the injured list and resume his bid for an unlikely NL Cy Young Award, allowing one run on three hits in five innings against the Mets. Fried had been out since Sept. 6 with a left-side muscle spasm in his lumbar spine. Prior to the injury, the 26-year-old looked like a prime candidate with a 6-0 record and 1.98 ERA. Fried is the only qualified starter in the majors who hasn't allowed a home run this season, and he could be the first starter to finish a season with zero homers allowed since Slim Harriss in 1926.
■ Brewers: Bench coach Pat Murphy rejoined the team just over six weeks after having a heart attack at Miller Park. Murphy said he was feeling “pretty good” while talking to reporters before the game against the Royals. Murphy said he had hoped throughout his recovery he would be back before the end of the season.