The Dodgers win Game 7 of the NLCS, 5 – 1 over Milwaukee, to return to the World Series. The Brewers open the scoring on a 1st-inning homer by Christian Yelich, but Los Angeles replies with a two-run shot by Cody Bellinger off Jhoulys Chacin in the 2nd, and a three-run shot by Yasiel Puig off Jeremy Jeffress in the 6th. Bellinger is named the NLCS MVP.

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The Dodgers win Game 7 of the NLCS, 5 – 1 over Milwaukee, to return to the World Series. The Brewers open the scoring on a 1st-inning homer by Christian Yelich, but Los Angeles replies with a two-run shot by Cody Bellinger off Jhoulys Chacin in the 2nd, and a three-run shot by Yasiel Puig off Jeremy Jeffress in the 6th. Bellinger is named the NLCS MVP.

In an unexpected move, the Nationals announce that Dusty Baker will not be back as the team’s manager next year. Baker is coming off consecutive division titles, but the Nats exited the postseason early both years. Also on the managerial front, the Tigers announce that they have hired former Minnesota Twins skipper Ron Gardenhire to replace the fired Brad Ausmus.

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In an unexpected move, the Nationals announce that Dusty Baker will not be back as the team’s manager next year. Baker is coming off consecutive division titles, but the Nats exited the postseason early both years. Also on the managerial front, the Tigers announce that they have hired former Minnesota Twins skipper Ron Gardenhire to replace the fired Brad Ausmus.

The Astros force a Game 7 in the ALCS by defeating the Yankees, 7 – 1, in Game 6. Justin Verlander has another great performance, with 7 scoreless innings, and Houston scores three times in the 5th against Luis Severino on a double by Brian McCann and a two-run single by Jose Altuve. Aaron Judge brings the Yankees close with a monster home run off Brad Peacock in the 8th, but Altuve leads off the bottom of the inning with a solo shot off David Robertson, starting a four-run inning that puts the game away.

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The Astros force a Game 7 in the ALCS by defeating the Yankees, 7 – 1, in Game 6. Justin Verlander has another great performance, with 7 scoreless innings, and Houston scores three times in the 5th against Luis Severino on a double by Brian McCann and a two-run single by Jose Altuve. Aaron Judge brings the Yankees close with a monster home run off Brad Peacock in the 8th, but Altuve leads off the bottom of the inning with a solo shot off David Robertson, starting a four-run inning that puts the game away.

2016 – The Cubs move to within one game of the World Series with an 8 – 4 win over the Dodgers in Game 5 of the NLCS. Addison Russell breaks a 1 – 1 tie with a two-run homer off Joe Blanton in the 6th and Javier Baez adds a bases-loaded double in the 8th Jon Lester gives up only one run in seven innings to pick up the win as the series heads back to Wrigley Field.

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2016 – The Cubs move to within one game of the World Series with an 8 – 4 win over the Dodgers in Game 5 of the NLCS. Addison Russell breaks a 1 – 1 tie with a two-run homer off Joe Blanton in the 6th and Javier Baez adds a bases-loaded double in the 8th Jon Lester gives up only one run in seven innings to pick up the win as the series heads back to Wrigley Field.

The Mets beat the Cubs, 5 – 2, to take a three games to none lead in the NLCS. Daniel Murphy homers in his fifth consecutive postseason game, tying a major league record, while Jacob deGrom overcomes a rocky 1st inning to pick up his third win of the playoffs.

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The Mets beat the Cubs, 5 – 2, to take a three games to none lead in the NLCS. Daniel Murphy homers in his fifth consecutive postseason game, tying a major league record, while Jacob deGrom overcomes a rocky 1st inning to pick up his third win of the playoffs.

The Royals demolish the Blue Jays, 14 – 2, in Game 4 of the ALCS. Things start with a bang as Kansas City scores four runs off R.A. Dickey in the top of the 1st inning and the hitting never stops, to the point that Cliff Pennington is sent to the mound for the last inning, becoming the first position player to pitch in a postseason game.

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The Royals demolish the Blue Jays, 14 – 2, in Game 4 of the ALCS. Things start with a bang as Kansas City scores four runs off R.A. Dickey in the top of the 1st inning and the hitting never stops, to the point that Cliff Pennington is sent to the mound for the last inning, becoming the first position player to pitch in a postseason game.

The Arizona Diamondbacks make a pair of trades, sending CF Chris Young to the Oakland A’s for SS Cliff Pennington and minor league infielder Yordy Cabrera, then flip Cabrera to the Miami Marlins for disgruntled high-priced reliever Heath Bell. But Bell may not be the D-Backs’ closer, as they also re-sign J.J. Putz to an extension for next season.

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The Arizona Diamondbacks make a pair of trades, sending CF Chris Young to the Oakland A’s for SS Cliff Pennington and minor league infielder Yordy Cabrera, then flip Cabrera to the Miami Marlins for disgruntled high-priced reliever Heath Bell. But Bell may not be the D-Backs’ closer, as they also re-sign J.J. Putz to an extension for next season.

The Red Sox select John Farrell as their new manager to replace fired Bobby Valentine, who let go the day after the season ended after piloting the club to a last-place finish in his only year in the Boston dugout. The team’s new skipper, who spent the previous two seasons managing the Blue Jays, is obtained from Toronto by sending infielder Mike Aviles north of the border as compensation for the opportunity to hire their former pitching coach.

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The Red Sox select John Farrell as their new manager to replace fired Bobby Valentine, who let go the day after the season ended after piloting the club to a last-place finish in his only year in the Boston dugout. The team’s new skipper, who spent the previous two seasons managing the Blue Jays, is obtained from Toronto by sending infielder Mike Aviles north of the border as compensation for the opportunity to hire their former pitching coach.

After agreeing to pay $8 million of the remaining $21 million they owe to Heath Bell, the Marlins deal their disappointing closer to the Diamondbacks in a three-team trade in which Miami obtains 22 year-old minor league shortstop Yordy Cabrera, acquired by Arizona along with Cliff Pennington from the A’s for outfielder Chris Young. The 35 year-old right-handed reliever is expected to set up closer J. J. Putz, who earlier in the day had his $6.5 million option picked up by the D-Backs.

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After agreeing to pay $8 million of the remaining $21 million they owe to Heath Bell, the Marlins deal their disappointing closer to the Diamondbacks in a three-team trade in which Miami obtains 22 year-old minor league shortstop Yordy Cabrera, acquired by Arizona along with Cliff Pennington from the A’s for outfielder Chris Young. The 35 year-old right-handed reliever is expected to set up closer J. J. Putz, who earlier in the day had his $6.5 million option picked up by the D-Backs.