The San Diego Padres declined to sacrifice their top prospects to acquire a frontline starting pitcher before the July 31st trade deadline. Instead, their primary rotation addition was the awaited return of Michael King to the active roster. Unfortunately, this gamble has not paid off.

With their three-game sweep of the San Diego Padres, the Dodgers proved they are deeper and more focused than their budding NL West rivals.

LOS ANGELES — It was touted as the biggest series of the month. It was billed as a potential passing of the torch, with the San Diego Padres threatening to win the National League West for the first time in 19 years. Instead, Sunday’s finale ended in a three-game sweep — and a relatively convincing one, at that.

Since the trade, the A's have had all of one save situation on their schedule, which came last Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles. Trailing 2-1 entering the top of the ninth, the A's scored twice to take a 3-2 lead, and decided to leave right-hander Elvis Alvarado in the game since manager Mark Kotsay liked how he was throwing the ball.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has a candid take on the team after having a dominant series sweep against the Padres.

Mookie Betts hits a tiebreaking solo homer in the eighth inning, helping the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres 5-4 on Sunday.

Betts’ eighth-inning home run breaks a 4-4 tie and completes the sweep with a 5-4 victory over the Padres. It also extends a hot streak born of a different approach.

Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia slammed the door on the San Diego Padres, and cemented a series sweep.

Sources: MLB's No. 3 prospect, shortstop Leo De Vries, was promoted to Midland, the Double-A affiliate of the Athletics. De Vries, 18, hit .246 with 10 home runs in 97 games at High-A between Lake Elsinore and Lansing.