No longer a rookie, right-hander Randall Delgado has made impressive strides in his promotion to the D-backs’ rotation.

Left-hander Clayton Kershaw is positioned to do for Dodgers Nation what Orel Hershiser achieved a quarter-century ago: create a magical ending to a storybook season.

The beginning of September offers baseball fans a prime opportunity to take a step back and evaluate the ongoing pennant races, and boy are there some appetizing ones this year.

On Thursday, we took a look at the most prominent situations still unsettled in the American League. In the NL, frankly, it’s a lot less complicated, and you can thank the Dodgers and Braves for that. But if you’re bored, it’s your own fault. Because we’ve still got a lot to watch in the September stretch.

The Indians and D-backs have agreed to a deal to send outfielder Jason Kubel to Cleveland in exchange for a Minor Leaguer and cash, a baseball source said on Thursday night.

Matt Kemp took the next step toward returning to the Dodgers on Thursday night, getting five at-bats in his first Minor League rehab game with Class A Rancho Cucamonga.

A big Tigers comeback and a walk-off homer in Detroit highlighted Thursday’s action, and Friday promises to raise the stakes as plenty of series with playoff implications open around the big leagues.

Nick Franklin and Franklin Gutierrez each homered to account for the Mariners’ offense in Thursday’s 3-2 win over the Astros, snapping a six-game losing streak.

Prospect. All-Star. Ace? Chris Tillman’s breakthrough season has brought him to the edge of baseball stardom, and he reached a milestone Thursday night unequalled by any Orioles starter in the past six seasons.

The Nationals used the long ball, hitting three homers, and blanked the Marlins, 9-0, at Nationals Park on Thursday night. The Nats swept the three-game series and are now 6 1/2 games behind the Reds for the second and final National League Wild Card spot.

Righty Kris Medlen fired seven scoreless innings and Brian McCann belted a decisive three-run homer to power the Braves to a series sweep of the Indians with Thursday night’s 3-1 win at Turner Field.

David Ortiz rarely goes on hitless streaks like the one he’s currently in. He rarely is the guy to strike out with the game on the line. Thursday night was one of those times. Ortiz went 0-for-4 and left three runners on base as the Red Sox lost to the Orioles, 3-2.

The offense couldn’t build an attack against Yovani Gallardo, Gerrit Cole settled in too late and the Pirates are a game back in the division after Thursday’s 4-0 loss to the Brewers.

Jerry Remy, who has called Red Sox games on NESN since 1988, will be out for the rest of the season as he continues to deal with the aftermath of a family tragedy.

Braves outfielder Justin Upton left Thursday night’s 3-1 victory in the fifth inning after being struck on the left hand by a pitch from Indians starter Ubaldo Jimenez at Turner Field.

On Friday, expect a warm ovation for former Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg when he returns to Wrigley Field for the first time as the manager for Philadelphia.

Rays left-hander Matt Moore made a rehab start with Triple-A Durham on Thursday night ahead of his projected return to the Tampa Bay rotation during next week’s series against the Angels.