Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo fires manager Matt Williams and his entire coaching staff after the team’s disappoint second-place finish that means the preseason favorites to represent the National League in the World Series will miss the postseason altogether.

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Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo fires manager Matt Williams and his entire coaching staff after the team’s disappoint second-place finish that means the preseason favorites to represent the National League in the World Series will miss the postseason altogether.

On the eve of the Wild Card Game, Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia checks himself into a rehabilitation facility to treat an alcohol dependency problem. He will miss the postseason but explains that he owes this to his family.

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On the eve of the Wild Card Game, Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia checks himself into a rehabilitation facility to treat an alcohol dependency problem. He will miss the postseason but explains that he owes this to his family.

The Astros claim the final available postseason slot in spite of losing to the Diamondbacks, 5 – 3, thanks to the Rangers’ 9 – 2 win over the Angels. They will face the Yankees in the Wild Card Game for their first postseason appearance since moving to the American League.

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The Astros claim the final available postseason slot in spite of losing to the Diamondbacks, 5 – 3, thanks to the Rangers’ 9 – 2 win over the Angels. They will face the Yankees in the Wild Card Game for their first postseason appearance since moving to the American League.

The Cardinals clinch the NL Central title and a 100-win season when they win the nitecap of a doubleheader with Pittsburgh, 11 – 1. Tyler Lyons is the winner in a spot start, while Jason Heyward keys the offense with a grand slam. The Pirates had pulled to within three games by winning the opener, 8 – 2, behind Gerrit Cole’s 19th win and a grand slam by Francisco Cervelli. The Pirates will now host the Wild Card Game for the third straight season. The Cards get even more good news when ace Adam Wainwright pitches an inning in relief in the opener, returning to action from a torn Achilles tendon a good four months ahead of schedule.

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The Cardinals clinch the NL Central title and a 100-win season when they win the nitecap of a doubleheader with Pittsburgh, 11 – 1. Tyler Lyons is the winner in a spot start, while Jason Heyward keys the offense with a grand slam. The Pirates had pulled to within three games by winning the opener, 8 – 2, behind Gerrit Cole’s 19th win and a grand slam by Francisco Cervelli. The Pirates will now host the Wild Card Game for the third straight season. The Cards get even more good news when ace Adam Wainwright pitches an inning in relief in the opener, returning to action from a torn Achilles tendon a good four months ahead of schedule.

Toronto clinches its first division title since 1993 by routing the Orioles, 15 – 2, in the first game of a doubleheader. Marcus Stroman pitches 8 innings for the win, continuing his remarkable comeback from a spring training injury, Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Justin Smoak hit homers and Ryan Goins has five hits in an offensive display typical of the Jays’ season. The Orioles do come back to win the now meaningless second game, 8 – 1.

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Toronto clinches its first division title since 1993 by routing the Orioles, 15 – 2, in the first game of a doubleheader. Marcus Stroman pitches 8 innings for the win, continuing his remarkable comeback from a spring training injury, Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Justin Smoak hit homers and Ryan Goins has five hits in an offensive display typical of the Jays’ season. The Orioles do come back to win the now meaningless second game, 8 – 1.

The Angels are also on a roll, as they win their 7th straight game, 8 – 1 over the Athletics, leapfrogging over Houston into the second wild card slot in the American League. Albert Pujols has three hits and Erick Aybar drives in two runs in support of Nick Tropeano’s pitching.

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The Angels are also on a roll, as they win their 7th straight game, 8 – 1 over the Athletics, leapfrogging over Houston into the second wild card slot in the American League. Albert Pujols has three hits and Erick Aybar drives in two runs in support of Nick Tropeano’s pitching.

The Dodgers clinch a third consecutive NL West title thanks to a superlative performance by Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw throws a one-hitter and strikes out 13 in an 8 – 0 win over the Giants. He finally defeats his personal nemesis, Madison Bumgarner, in the fourth meeting between the two aces this year.

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The Dodgers clinch a third consecutive NL West title thanks to a superlative performance by Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw throws a one-hitter and strikes out 13 in an 8 – 0 win over the Giants. He finally defeats his personal nemesis, Madison Bumgarner, in the fourth meeting between the two aces this year.

The Dodgers are all set to clinch the NL West title for a third straight year, but the Giants delay their party for at least a day as pinch-hitter Alejandro De Aza drives in the winning run with a 12th-inning sacrifice fly. The 3 – 2 loss is the fourth in a row for Los Angeles, which fails to take advantage of the presence of ace Zack Greinke on the mound. The Dodgers’ magic number remains at 2 with 6 games left to play.

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The Dodgers are all set to clinch the NL West title for a third straight year, but the Giants delay their party for at least a day as pinch-hitter Alejandro De Aza drives in the winning run with a 12th-inning sacrifice fly. The 3 – 2 loss is the fourth in a row for Los Angeles, which fails to take advantage of the presence of ace Zack Greinke on the mound. The Dodgers’ magic number remains at 2 with 6 games left to play.

Chris Denorfia of the Cubs does something unprecedented when he homers as a pinch-hitter for Fernando Rodney in the bottom of the 11th inning to give his team a 1 – 0 win over the Royals. His blast off Miguel Almonte is the first-ever pinch-hit, walk-off homer in extra innings in a 1-0 game.

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Chris Denorfia of the Cubs does something unprecedented when he homers as a pinch-hitter for Fernando Rodney in the bottom of the 11th inning to give his team a 1 – 0 win over the Royals. His blast off Miguel Almonte is the first-ever pinch-hit, walk-off homer in extra innings in a 1-0 game.

The Mets clinch their first NL East title and first postseason berth since 2006, when the team routs Cincinnati at the Great American Ball Park, 10-2. New York, needing only an 88-67 record to capture the flag, took advantage of the season-long woes of the heavily-favored Nationals.

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The Mets clinch their first NL East title and first postseason berth since 2006, when the team routs Cincinnati at the Great American Ball Park, 10-2. New York, needing only an 88-67 record to capture the flag, took advantage of the season-long woes of the heavily-favored Nationals.