Mets and Dodgers tighten grip on divisions after victories over rivals

• Both teams were relatively quiet at trade deadline
• San Diego made splashy move for Juan Soto this month

The Dodgers swept a three-game series against San Diego to take a 15.5-game lead in the NL West, and the Mets took four of five from Atlanta to move 6.5 up on the Braves in the NL East. That was after the Padres made serious waves at the deadline by acquiring Juan Soto, and the Braves added Jake Odorizzi and Raisel Iglesias.

Los Angeles weren't all that active, The Dodgers took Joey Gallo off the Yankees' hands but otherwise seemed content to lie low. Then they beat Soto, Manny Machado and the Padres three times by a combined 20-4 over the weekend. Los Angeles have won eight in a row and 30 of their last 35.