DENVER (AP) — Colorado's wait for a World Series title will extend past a quarter century.The Rockies scored in one of 28 innings against Milwaukee, hit .146 with three extra-base hits, no homers and two runs — none in their last 19 innings.So much for a return to the thin air of Coors Field to spark a dormant offense.Colorado was swept in the best-of-five NL Division Series when Milwaukee won 6-0 Sunday. The Rockies, an expansion team that started play in 1993, are 2-11 in the postseason since reaching their only World Series 11 years ago.Rockies fans have a long winter to lament manager Bud Black's decision to start German Marquez in Game 3 rather than hometown hero Kyle Freeland, who was 17-7 and pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings in the 2-1 wild-card win at Wrigley Field last Tuesday.After losing the NL West tiebreaker 5-2 in Los Angeles to the Dodgers and flying to Chicago for the win over the Cubs, the Rockies seemed flat as they lost 3-2 in 10 innings at Miller Park and then 4-0."It... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:2-0 CHANGEUPSean Newcomb will start Game 3 of the Braves' NL Division Series against the Dodgers instead of Kevin Gausman. With Atlanta trailing 2-0 in the best-of-five series, manager Brian Snitker made the swap Saturday. The 25-year-old Newcomb came within a strike of throwing a no-hitter against the Dodgers at home on July 29, and also threw two scoreless innings in relief in the series opener Thursday."We need to win," Snitker said. "Not that Gausman doesn't give us that opportunity. We like how Newcomb matches up with them and the success that he's had against the Dodgers this year."Rookie right-hander Walker Buehler is expected to start for Los Angeles. He allowed one hit in 6 2/3 scoreless innings Monday during the 5-2 win over Colorado in the NL West tiebreaker and finished 8-5 with a 2.62 ERA.COMING TO COORSThe Rockies hope the thin mountain air in Denver might help them solve Milwaukee's pitchers. Colorado is facing elimination... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Sunday:2-0 CHANGEUPSean Newcomb will start Game 3 of the Braves' NL Division Series against the Dodgers instead of Kevin Gausman. With Atlanta trailing 2-0 in the best-of-five series, manager Brian Snitker made the swap Saturday. The 25-year-old Newcomb came within a strike of throwing a no-hitter against the Dodgers at home on July 29, and also threw two scoreless innings in relief in the series opener Thursday."We need to win," Snitker said. "Not that Gausman doesn't give us that opportunity. We like how Newcomb matches up with them and the success that he's had against the Dodgers this year."Rookie right-hander Walker Buehler is expected to start for Los Angeles. He allowed one hit in 6 2/3 scoreless innings Monday during the 5-2 win over Colorado in the NL West tiebreaker and finished 8-5 with a 2.62 ERA.COMING TO COORSThe Rockies hope the thin mountain air in Denver might help them solve Milwaukee's pitchers. Colorado is facing elimination... [More]

DENVER (AP) — Christian Yelich feels like he's not really locked in — no more than usual, anyway."Just taking it day by day," the Milwaukee outfielder said.He and the Brewers are certainly dialed in, though. They have won 10 straight and seized a 2-0 lead against Colorado in the NL Division Series heading into Game 3 on Sunday in what could be a cool and damp afternoon in Denver.The Rockies hope a return to Coors Field can ignite their frigid bats. The team hit .154 over the opening two games and went 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position.A rest day couldn't have come at a better time after a week that included travel to Los Angeles and Chicago, on to Milwaukee and then back home."Clear the mind a little bit," Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado said Saturday. "I'm ready to go. We'll be ready to go. It's no problem."Colorado's scuffle at the plate isn't exactly a new phenomenon. The Rockies hit .287 at Coors Field this season, one of their lowest averages in franchise history. Their... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The thin mountain air in Denver might do wonders for the slumping Colorado Rockies.They're going home again, down 2-0 in the NL Division Series to the Milwaukee Brewers. Game 3 in the best-of-five series is Sunday at Coors Field."I don't have a doubt that we're going to get things going," Rockies veteran outfielder Carlos Gonzalez said.If not, Gonzalez could be gone.The one-year, $5 million deal he signed last offseason to return to Colorado expires at the end of the year. After 11 seasons playing on Blake Street, the three-time Gold Glove winner and 2010 NL batting champion is about as synonymous with Colorado as dry air and beer.He's a lifetime .323 hitter at Coors Field, 72 points higher than his career road average. He knows how much of a difference playing at home can make for hitters.Playing in front of a friendly crowd might have help the team relax after a frustrating Friday night of breaking bats and slamming batting gloves into helmets.The Rockies finished among... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Chris Iannetta made contact, all right.He slammed his bat over his right knee, splitting it in half after a strikeout with the potential tying run at third base in the seventh inning.Connecting with the ball? Not so much.It was the same old story for the Colorado Rockies in Game 2 of the NL Division Series: Their power-laden lineup couldn't score runs.No wonder they're down 2-0 in the series following a 4-0 loss on Friday at Miller Park. Game 3 is Sunday in Denver, with the Rockies sending German Marquez to the mound against Milwaukee's Wade Miley.Facing elimination, maybe the thin mountain air will do Colorado some good."You just keep fighting through it and having good at-bats," manager Bud Black said. "So we've got to keep fighting the good fight."The Rockies finished among the major league leaders in several offensive categories this year. But they've scored just six runs in four games since slugging five homers in a 12-0 victory over Washington on Sunday that left... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Chris Iannetta made contact, all right.He slammed his bat over his right knee, shattering it in half after a strikeout with the potential tying run at third base in the seventh inning.Connecting with the ball? Not so much.It was the same old story for the Colorado Rockies in Game 2 of the NL Division Series: Their power-laden lineup couldn't score runs.No wonder they're down 2-0 in the series following a 4-0 loss on Friday at Miller Park. Game 3 is Sunday in Denver, with the Rockies sending German Marquez to the mound against Milwaukee's Wade Miley.Facing elimination, maybe the thin mountain air will do Colorado some good.The Rockies finished among the major league leaders in several offensive categories this year. But they've scored just six runs in four games since slugging five homers in a 12-0 victory over Washington on Sunday that left them tied for the NL West lead after 162 games.They dropped a tiebreaker with the Dodgers for the division title and then squeaked... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — German Marquez will start Game 3 for the Colorado Rockies in the NL Division Series against the Brewers.Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said he will likely turn to Wade Miley in the third game on Sunday unless the left-hander is needed out of the bullpen in Game 2.The Brewers won the opener 3-2 in 10 innings.Marquez going in Game 3 likely means that Kyle Freeland will start Game 4 if necessary on Monday at Coors Field.The 23-year-old Marquez was 14-11 with a 3.77 ERA this season. He last pitched on Monday, allowing four runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings in a loss in the NL West tiebreaker game to the Dodgers.Manager Bud Black said he went with Marquez over Freeland in part because that was how the starters lined up in the regular season. Freeland (17-7, 2.85) would also get an extra day of rest after starting the NL wild card game on Tuesday on three days of rest.Miley signed as a free agent with the Brewers in the offseason. He was one of the team's most consistent pitchers, going 5-2 with a 2.57 ERA in 16 starts.He was 3-0 with a 3.52 ERA in five September starts, though he has not pitched passed the fifth inning in his last four appearances.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Brewers manager Craig Counsell says left-hander Wade Miley will likely start Game 3 of the NL Division Series against the Colorado Rockies.But with Miley also available out of the bullpen for Game 2, Counsell says it's possible Milwaukee might turn to another starter Sunday in Denver.The Brewers won the opener 3-2 in 10 innings.Miley signed as a free agent with the Brewers in the offseason. He was one of the team's most consistent pitchers, going 5-2 with a 2.57 ERA in 16 starts.He was 3-0 with a 3.52 ERA in five September starts, though he has not pitched passed the fifth inning in his last four appearances.Colorado manager Bud Black has said Kyle Freeland or German Marquez may start Game 3.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Young right-hander Brandon Woodruff not only made the Milwaukee Brewers' playoff roster, but he's starting Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Colorado Rockies.The Brewers' playoff roster announced before the series opener on Thursday features an 11-man pitching staff that includes rookie right-handers Corbin Burnes and Freddy Peralta. Like Woodruff, they are promising starters who have been pitching out of the bullpen.Woodruff leads off what manager Craig Counsell called a bullpen day on Thursday against the Rockies, who are starting right-hander Antonio Senzatela (6-6, 4.38 ERA).Woodruff is 3-0 with a 3.61 ERA in 19 games this year with four starts. The 25-year-old has pitched exclusively in relief after Sept. 1, going 1-0 with a 0.73 ERA over 12 1/3 innings in seven appearances."He's just throwing the ball really well, and two, I think he has the potential to do a little more than a reliever, maybe," Counsell said.One of Woodruff's four starts came... [More]

A look at the best-of-five National League Division Series between the Colorado Rockies and Milwaukee Brewers:___Schedule: (All times EDT) Game 1, Thursday, at Milwaukee, 5:07 p.m. (FS1); Game 2, Friday, at Milwaukee, 4:15 p.m. (FS1); Game 3, Sunday, at Denver, 4:37 p.m. (MLB); x-Game 4, Monday, Oct. 8, at Denver, TBA; x-Game 5, Wednesday, Oct. 10, at Milwaukee, TBA.x-if necessary.___Season Series: Brewers won 5-2.___Projected Lineups:Rockies: CF Charlie Blackmon (.291, 29 HRs, 70 RBIs), 2B DJ LeMahieu (.276, 15, 62), LF David Dahl (.273, 16, 48) or Matt Holliday (.283, 2, 3, 12 walks, .849 OPS in 65 plate appearances), 3B Nolan Arenado (.297, 38, 110), SS Trevor Story (.291, 37, 108), RF Carlos Gonzalez (.276, 16, 64), 1B Ian Desmond (.236, 22, 88), C Chris Iannetta (.224, 11, 36).Brewers: CF Lorenzo Cain (.308, 10s, 38, 30/37 steals, .395 OBP), RF Christian Yelich (NL-best .326, 36, 110, 22/26 steals, 1.000 OPS), 1B Jesus Aguilar (.274, 35, 108, .890 OPS), 2B Travis Shaw (.241, 32, 86)... [More]

A look at the best-of-five National League Division Series between the Colorado Rockies and Milwaukee Brewers:___Schedule: (All times EDT) Game 1, Thursday, at Milwaukee, 5:07 p.m. (FS1); Game 2, Friday, at Milwaukee, 4:15 p.m. (FS1); Game 3, Sunday, at Denver, 4:37 p.m. (MLB); x-Game 4, Monday, Oct. 8, at Denver, TBA; x-Game 5, Wednesday, Oct. 10, at Milwaukee, TBA.x-if necessary.___Season Series: Brewers won 5-2.___Projected Lineups:Rockies: CF Charlie Blackmon (.291, 29 HRs, 70 RBIs), 2B DJ LeMahieu (.276, 15, 62), LF David Dahl (.273, 16, 48) or Matt Holliday (.283, 2, 3, 12 walks, .849 OPS in 65 plate appearances), 3B Nolan Arenado (.297, 38, 110), SS Trevor Story (.291, 37, 108), RF Carlos Gonzalez (.276, 16, 64), 1B Ian Desmond (.236, 22, 88), C Chris Iannetta (.224, 11, 36).Brewers: CF Lorenzo Cain (.308, 10s, 38, 30/37 steals, .395 OBP), RF Christian Yelich (NL-best .326, 36, 110, 22/26 steals, 1.000 OPS), 1B Jesus Aguilar (.274, 35, 108, .890 OPS), 2B Travis Shaw (.241, 32, 86)... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell says he will open the National League Division Series against the Colorado Rockies with a bullpen day on the mound.The Rockies are turning to Antonio Senzatela to start Game 1 at Miller Park on Thursday. The right-hander is 6-6 with a 4.38 ERA in 23 games, including 13 starts.Counsell says he hasn't decided the order of relievers he'll use in the series opener. The bullpen is a strength for the Brewers, who will have had two days' rest after beating the Chicago Cubs on Monday in a tiebreaking game for the NL Central.Counsell says right-hander Jhoulys Chacin will start Game 2 on Friday. Chacin has been the team's best starter after going 15-8 with a 3.50 ERA in 35 starts in his first season in Milwaukee.Manager Bud Black says he's leaning toward starting Tyler Anderson (7-9, 4.55) in the second game. After a day off Saturday, Black says he'll start either German Marquez (14-11, 3.77) or Kyle Freeland (17-7, 2.85) in Game 3 on Sunday.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Last year's World Series between the Astros and Dodgers was a thriller, ending in Houston's Game 7 victory for its first championship.Might they have an encore in store? Perhaps one with a Hollywood ending this time?Time to find out. After two tight NL division races stretched the regular season to a pair of Game 163s, the Rockies and Cubs are set to begin the playoffs Tuesday night with the NL wild-card game at Wrigley Field.Before they do, a look at the 2018 postseason, from A to Z:A: ACES OUT — Good news for NL hitters: Many of the league's top starting pitchers have already begun their offseasons. Cy Young Award favorites Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer and Aaron Nola won't throw a postseason pitch. Same for Patrick Corbin and 18-game winner Miles Mikolas. Of course, longtime rotation leaders like Clayton Kershaw and Jon Lester are still in play.B: BETTS IN SHOW — Mookie Betts enters his third postseason as the AL MVP favorite, though Boston's dynamic leadoff hitter has a... [More]

The Dodgers are about to play another end-of-season tiebreaker. It's a scenario that hasn't been kind to them over the years.Los Angeles will take on Colorado for the NL West title Monday, one of two one-game playoffs that day in the National League. The Cubs and Brewers also need to break a tie for the NL Central.These aren't elimination games — the losers will end up as the NL wild cards — but there will still be some pressure, since the division winners head straight to the Division Series. The tiebreakers are considered part of the regular season, and stats are counted accordingly.For the Dodgers, these not-quite-postseason games have been fraught with peril. When they were in Brooklyn, the Dodgers finished tied with the rival Giants for the 1951 NL pennant, and then famously lost a three-game series to New York on a home run by Bobby Thomson . The 1946 pennant was also decided by a best-of-three tiebreaker, with the Cardinals beating Brooklyn in two straight .After moving to Los Angeles,... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:WIN OR GO WILDIn a big league first, a pair of tiebreaking Game 163s will be played on the same day to sort out the NL playoff picture. First, the Cubs host the Brewers to settle the NL Central at Wrigley Field. Then the Dodgers host the Rockies to determine an NL West champ. The losers of those games will play Tuesday in the NL wild-card game.Chicago will call on left-hander Jose Quintana (13-11, 4.09), who is 6-2 with a 1.60 ERA in 10 starts against Milwaukee. The Brewers are countering with Jhoulys Chacin (15-8, 3.56). The Midwest rivals might not be done with each other after Monday, either — the winner of the wild-card game will face the NL Central champ in the NL Division Series. How about a rematch?Colorado is attempting to end Los Angeles' five-year reign atop the division and win its first NL West crown. Walker Buehler (7-5, 2.76 ERA) gets the start for the Dodgers, and the Rockies will counter with German Marquez (14-10, 3.76... [More]

Triple Crown contender Christian Yelich and the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field. Nolan Arenado and the big-hitting Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium.October baseball is about to begin with Game No. 163 on Monday.Two tiebreakers on the same day for the first time in major league history. Both to divvy up divisions, too."It's interesting that baseball is such a perfect game in some ways that it takes 162 to not decide anything," Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon said.Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and the Cubs begin the doubleheader drama when they host Milwaukee for the NL Central crown. Later in the afternoon, Dodgers rookie Walker Buehler is set to start when Los Angeles faces Colorado for the NL West title.There's a catch, though.All four teams are already assured playoff spots, either as a division champ or wild card. The Dodgers, Rockies, Brewers and Cubs knew that going into Sunday, the final scheduled day of the regular season, and then romped by a combined score of 48-5.So, it means... [More]

Triple Crown contender Christian Yelich and the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field. Nolan Arenado and the big-hitting Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium.October baseball is about to begin with Game No. 163 on Monday.Two tiebreakers on the same day for the first time in major league history. Both to divvy up divisions, too."It's interesting that baseball is such a perfect game in some ways that it takes 162 to not decide anything," Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon said.Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and the Cubs begin the doubleheader drama when they host Milwaukee for the NL Central crown. Later in the afternoon, Dodgers rookie Walker Buehler is set to start when Los Angeles faces Colorado for the NL West title.There's a catch, though.All four teams are already assured playoff spots, either as a division champ or wild card. The Dodgers, Rockies, Brewers and Cubs knew that going into Sunday, the final scheduled day of the regular season, and then romped by a combined score of 48-5.So, it means... [More]

Triple Crown contender Christian Yelich and the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field. Nolan Arenado and the big-hitting Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium.October baseball is about to begin with Game No. 163 on Monday.Two tiebreakers on the same day for the first time in major league history. Both to divvy up divisions, too."It's interesting that baseball is such a perfect game in some ways that it takes 162 to not decide anything," Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon said.Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and the Cubs begin the doubleheader drama when they host Milwaukee for the NL Central crown. Later in the afternoon, Dodgers rookie Walker Buehler is set to start when Los Angeles faces Colorado for the NL West title.There's a catch, though.All four teams are already assured playoff spots, either as a division champ or wild card. The Dodgers, Rockies, Brewers and Cubs knew that going into Sunday, the final scheduled day of the regular season, and then romped by a combined score of 48-5.So, it means... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Monday:WIN OR GO WILDIn a big league first, a pair of tiebreaking Game 163s will be played on the same day to sort out the NL playoff picture. First, the Cubs host the Brewers to settle the NL Central at Wrigley Field. Then the Dodgers host the Rockies to determine an NL West champ. The losers of those games will play Tuesday in the NL wild-card game.Chicago will call on left-hander Jose Quintana (13-11, 4.09), who is 6-2 with a 1.60 ERA in 10 starts against Milwaukee. The Brewers are countering with Jhoulys Chacin (15-8, 3.56). The Midwest rivals might not be done with each other after Monday, either — the winner of the wild-card game will face the NL Central champ in the NL Division Series. How about a rematch?Colorado is attempting to end Los Angeles' five-year reign atop the division and win its first NL West crown. Walker Buehler (7-5, 2.76 ERA) gets the start for the Dodgers, and the Rockies will counter with German Marquez (14-10, 3.76... [More]