One and not done: Brews-Cubs, Rockies-Dodgers in tie-break | national

Two ties the same day for the first time in the history of the major leagues. Both to divide divisions, too.

"It's interesting to note that baseball is a perfect game in some ways, it takes 162 to decide nothing," said Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon.

Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and the Cubs begin the double-headed drama when they host Milwaukee for NL's central crown. Later in the afternoon, Dodgers rookie Walker Buehler is set to begin when Los Angeles takes on Colorado for the NL West title.

The four teams have already their place for the series, either as division champion or as wild card. The Dodgers, Rockies, Brewers and Cubs knew it before Sunday, the last day of the regular season, and then had a combined score of 48-5.

So, this means this: These confrontations are not one-and-done.

Never before has a team that lost a tie had to keep playing. Matt Holliday slipped home – and perhaps hit the plate – to eliminate San Diego in 2007. David Price beat Texas at Tampa Bay in 2013 to win the most recent game.

This time, they are all in the game. But, there is always a big difference between winning the division or entering the playoffs as a wild card.

The winner of the Brewers-Cubs has the opportunity to launch the best series of home divisions Thursday at home against the winner of the wild card. The Colorado-Los Angeles winner also begins the home LNDS against Atlanta.

"It's a match where it's obviously not the case, but I think it's a must match," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts after a 15-game loss. 0 in San Francisco.

"Win the match and take a few days off, organizing the Division Series is very important," he said.

The losers of the tie-break play Tuesday on the site of the NL power plant to determine who is ahead.

The scenario of the AL playoffs is defined.

Oakland and the Yankees host the wild card match Wednesday night in New York and the winner will travel to Boston on Friday. Houston, reigning World Series champion, opens the ALDS against Cleveland.

Arenado scored two goals and Charlie Blackmon scored for the cycle as the Rockies faced Washington 12-0. The Nationals have decided to pass Max Scherzer instead of starting Erick Fedde.

Colorado, which has never won a division title since its debut in 1993, will try to deny Dutch champions Dodgers their sixth straight title. German Marquez, who has beaten eight players in a row to start his last start, faces Manny Machado, Justin Turner and their Los Angeles teammates.

"These are two of the best young pitchers from the big leagues in this type of match," said Rockies coach Bud Black. "That's good."

The Dodgers dominated Colorado 12-7 in the season series. The Cubs are 11-8 against Milwaukee.

In Wrigley, left-handed Jose Quintana is about to start for the Cubs. He is 6-2 with a 1.60 ERA in 10 starts against Milwaukee. The Brewers have not announced their entry.

The Cubs put themselves in this position with a 10-5 win at home against St. Louis. Milwaukee was seventh in a row, beating Detroit 11-0.

"We expect it to be pretty hostile tomorrow," Yelich said. "Every time we play against the Cubs, it's a hostile environment, especially at Wrigley Field, it will be a lot of fun, and we're looking forward to it."

Yelich has a .323 average in his first season with Milwaukee, sealing the first batting title in the Brewers' history. He has 109 RBIs, tied with Arenado and two behind Javier Baez of the Cubs. Yelich's 36 homeruns are comparable to those of Colorado, Trevor Story and Matt Carpenter of St. Louis, behind Arenado.

Since the tiebreakers are considered the regular season number 163 game, all Monday statistics will count, giving Yelich the opportunity to win the first Triple Crown NL since Joe Medwick in 1937.