The Latest Breaking News from Max Muncy

NEW YORK — What a pain in the neck.

LOS ANGELES — An hour before first pitch, one of the in-game hosts at Dodger Stadium described Wednesday night’s contest between the Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers as a “Game 7.”

With a month and a half left in the regular season, the Dodgers addressed one of their bigger offseason questions on Monday.

This game that didn't count for much, this midsummer game against another overmatched and underfunded opponent, was also a statement game.

LOS ANGELES — Arguably the best pitcher in baseball this season was no match for arguably the best lineup in baseball this season.

Walk to Gonzalez didn’t figure in 5-2 loss to Guardians but adds more scrutiny to White Sox manager’s performance

MILWAUKEE — Questioned before Wednesday’s game about Craig Kimbrel’s failure to protect a one-run lead at any point this season, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts tempted fate.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A day brimming with an appreciation for the past eventually had the Dodgers cherishing the present and peering excitedly into a future that gets more promising with every game. Call it a win, win, win.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Put this guy in pictures. Kansas City Royals reliever Josh Staumont entered a pristine game in the seventh inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers promptly lit him up with four hits and a walk en route to an 8-3 victory Friday night.

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers are averaging 6.9 runs per game during their nine-game win streak, batting .307 with an .865 on-base-plus-slugging percentage, 11 homers, 31 doubles and two triples since July 31.

Walker Buehler, the Dodgers’ top starting pitcher, is slowly working his way back from mid-June surgery to remove bone spurs in his elbow. Another lower-back injury sent Clayton Kershaw, the three-time National League Cy Young Award winner, to the injured list last week for the second time this season.