NL West

The Arizona Diamondbacks fired general manager Kevin Towers as the team is going to miss the postseason for the third straight year. The team announced the move on Friday on Twitter:

San Francisco Giants pitcher Yusmeiro Petit set a major league record during Thursday's outing against the Colorado Rockies by retiring a 46th consecutive batter, per the Giants' official Twitter account.

SAN FRANCISCO — One night after Madison Bumgarner lit up AT&T Park by taking a perfect game into the eighth inning, Tim Hudson was electric. Stretch-run energy buzzed through the Giants clubhouse in that old, familiar way.

If Hanley Ramirez knew what was good for him, he wouldn't be playing shortstop for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

That's not to say Ramirez shouldn't be wearing Dodger blue. He should, however, consider wearing it at a different position.

Namely, third base.

The San Francisco Giants' 2014 regular season is winding down and has just over four weeks remaining.

As the Giants scratch and claw to make the playoffs, general manager Brian Sabean must also begin planning for the future. Sabean will have several critical decisions to make, as he builds the roster for the 2015 season.

As the 2014 season begins to wind down, the San Francisco Giants are battling for a playoff berth. 

In the NL West, the Giants currently trail the Los Angeles Dodgers by 3.5 games but only two in the all-important loss column.

The Giants are also in the hunt for a wild-card spot, along with St. Louis, Atlanta and Pittsburgh. 

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Ender Inciarte pushed his hitting streak to 18 games with a 10th-inning double in Monday's 5-4 loss to the Washington Nationals, thus extending his own franchise rookie record.

There are two ways to look at the San Francisco Giants in 2014.

No. 1: Entering play Tuesday, the Giants trail the hated Los Angeles Dodgers by just 3.5 games in the National League West, and they lead the Atlanta Braves by one game for the second wild-card slot. They're in it, in other words.

No. 2: After building a 9.5-game lead over the Dodgers on June 8, the Giants have imploded, and their chances of being a factor have diminished with each gut-wrenching defeat.

The stretch run is important for the Los Angeles Dodgers for multiple reasons: They’re preparing for the playoffs, and—with a 3.5 game lead in the NL West as of Aug. 18—the players on the roster are attempting to prove their worth.

Clayton Kershaw can do it all. Witness his most recent start on August 10 against the National League Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers.

Sure, Kershaw's line was typically dominant: 8 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 6 SO, 2 BB. But his contributions extended beyond the mound.