First season to have 2 tiebreaker games
The Rockies were swept two weeks ago in Los Angeles, and their NL West title hopes looked finished. Well, look who’s back. The Rockies have a chance to end the Dodgers’ five-year reign as division champions in a tiebreaker game Monday in Los Angeles. Colorado has not celebrated an NL West crown in franchise history.
“At this point, I think everybody understands the magnitude of the game,” said Colorado outfielder Matt Holliday, whose team trails the season series 12-7. “Take a deep breath and go out there and try to execute and just do what you can do.”
The winner hosts Atlanta in a best-of-five Division Series starting Thursday; the loser is on the road for the NL wildcard game Tuesday against the loser of Monday’s MilwaukeeChicago NL Central tiebreaker.
Walker Buehler (7-5, 2.76 ERA) gets the start for the Dodgers after getting scratched from Sunday’s outing. The Rockies will counter with German Marquez (14-10, 3.76 ERA), who struck out eight straight to begin his last start.
“It’s two of the best young starting pitchers in the big leagues pitching,” Colorado manager Bud Black said. “It’s great.”
Not many saw this type of scenario shaping up when the Dodgers won three straight over Colorado, Sept. 17-19. But the Rockies won nine times in 10 games to force a game 163, part of the first season in majorleague history with two tiebreakers. In the early tiebreaker, the Cubs have Jose Quintana on regular rest at Wrigley Field. The left-hander is 6-2 with a 1.60 ERA in 10 starts against Milwaukee.
Jhoulys Chacin gets the ball for Milwaukee. He is 15-8 with a 3.56 ERA in 34 starts.
Royals’ Yost to return: Ned Yost will return as the Royals’ manager next year following Kansas City’s poorest season since 2005. Kansas City announced a one-year extension Sunday before the season finale against Cleveland.
More Céspedes surgery: Mets outfielder Yoenis Céspedes is scheduled for his second heel surgery in a few weeks.
Céspedes, who spent 2½ seasons with the A’s, had surgery Aug. 2 to remove bone calcification in his right heel. The procedure on his left heel is set for Oct. 23, and he is expected to be out eight to 10 months.
Céspedes has played in 119 games over two seasons after signing a $110 million, four-year contract.
Indians set rotation: Cleveland manager Terry Francona confirmed the club will open its AL Division Series in Houston on Friday with reigning Cy Young winner Corey Kluber (20-7) in Game 1. Carlos Carrasco (17-10) is set for Game 2.
Kluber was 1-0 with 17 strikeouts and two runs allowed in two starts against Houston this year. Carrasco split two decisions while allowing three homers in his two starts against the Astros.