Best games on Thursday, September 3

Thursday, September 3, 2026 · final

The Lineup Is ranked 63 games on Thursday, September 3 and found 4 worth watching, led by Brewers at Cubs at 74/100. Here's how that day's slate finished.

  1. #1 · MLBImportance 74/100
    Final·MLB.TV

    Brewers at Cubs

    Brewers87-541
    Cubs79-622

    The Cubs beat the Brewers by a run in a game that produced three runs in total. Gausman finished with seven innings and nine strikeouts. The Cubs won the last meeting 2-1 earlier today.

  2. #2 · MLBImportance 57/100
    Final·MLB.TV

    Red Sox at Orioles

    Red Sox76-656
    Orioles69-725

    The Orioles led after six innings and did not lead after nine: the Red Sox scored two in the eighth and won by one run. The Red Sox are 76-65. They won the last meeting 6-5 earlier today.

  3. #3 · ATPImportance 52/100
    Final·ESPN Unlmtd

    A. de Minaur at B. Van De Zandschulp

    A. de Minaur#7
    B. Van De Zandschulp#70

    Van De Zandschulp is ranked 70th and beat world No. 7 de Minaur in straight sets, closing the third 6-2. De Minaur was the sixth seed in the draw. Van De Zandschulp conceded 11 games across three sets.

  4. #4 · MLBImportance 56/100
    Final·MLB.TV

    Cardinals at Dodgers

    Cardinals70-712
    Dodgers83-573

    The Dodgers won it by one run in the ninth, tied or behind when the inning began and ahead when it ended with the Cardinals on two in the run column. Skubal led the way with 5.1 innings and five strikeouts. The Dodgers won the last meeting 3-2 earlier today.

How the ranking works

Every game gets an importance score, built from 11 factors — rankings, playoff stakes, rivalry, star power, elimination pressure, how close the game actually projects to be, and more. The score is explained, never a black box. Narratives are written from the real state of the season — not "tune in tonight."

Get The Lineup Is on iOS — free See how the app decides →