Cardinals vs. Cubs, Rockies-Nationals highlight weekend

NL Central, West divisions to be decided by final three games

A look at what’s happening around the majors today:

WRIGLEY FIELD SHOWDOWN: Right-hander Kyle Hendricks (13-11) starts for the Chicago Cubs in the opener of their big season-ending series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Right-hander Adam Wainwright will be on the mound for the Cardinals. While the Cubs have clinched a postseason berth, they are still in the chase for the NL Central title, holding a onegame lead over Milwaukee. St. Louis, shaken after getting swept in a three-game series at Milwaukee, is one game behind the Dodgers for the NL’s second wild card. In the West, Los Angeles is one game behind first-place Colorado.

HEADING UP INTERSTATE 94: Milwaukee also has clinched no worse than a wild-card berth and will be sending right-hander Zach Davies (2-7) to the mound against Detroit. The Brewers are 4-8 in his starts, and opposing batters have a robust .267 batting average against him, well above the major league average.

MILE HIGH: Left-hander Kyle Freeland (16-7) is on the mound at Coors Field for streaking Colorado in the start of a season-ending series against the Washington Nationals. Colorado has won seven straight, matching its longest winning streak this season and took over the lead in the West.

OLD RIVALS: The Dodgers close the regular season at the San Francisco Giants and start left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu (6-3).

WHAT’S LEFT IN THE AL: Not much is left to be decided in the AL, where East champion Boston hosts the wild-card winner, the New York Yankees or Oakland, in Division Series opener on Oct. 5 and West champion Houston is home against Central winner Cleveland. Only the home team for the wild-card game is undetermined.