News » AL Central to first place

DENVER — The Colorado Rockies clinched a spot in the postseason with a win Friday but are aiming to win the National League West for the first time rather than have to play a one-and-done wild-card game.To that end http://www.astrosfanproshop.com/authentic-mike-scott-jersey , the Rockies’ game Saturday with the Washington Nationals is vitally important. Jon Gray (12-8, 4.91) will start for the Rockies against Stephen Strasburg (9-7, 3.77).The Rockies won their season-high eighth consecutive game Friday night, beating the Nationals 5-2. That victory coupled with St. Louis’ 8-4 loss earlier in the day at the Chicago Cubs assured the Rockies of making the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time in their 26-year history.Article continues below ...With two games to play, the Rockies (90-70) lead the Los Angeles Dodgers by just one game and have their sights set on winning the division.Meanwhile, the Nationals (81-79) are highly motivated to block the Rockies’ road to the division crown. After Strasburg, the Nationals will send ace Max Scherzer to the mound Sunday in the final game of the regular season if the game has postseason implications for the Rockies.“I think we just got a lot of competitors,” Nationals shortstop Trea Turner said after Friday’s loss that ended Washington’s three-game winning streak. “The fact Max wants to pitch on that last day; there’s a possibility he’s going to pitch. That shows you want kind of competitor he is. The same with everybody in the lineup.“I think nobody wants to give anything away. If we win, we win. If we lose, we lose. But we’re definitely going to go out there and compete against these guys.”Strasburg, who was reinstated Aug. 21 after missing 29 games with a cervical nerve impingement, had a no-decision Monday against Miami. In a 7-3 win over the Marlins, Strasburg gave up three hits Alex Bregman Jersey , four walks and one run in four innings with five strikeouts while throwing 100 pitches.Still, the short start kept Strasburg’s streak intact of allowing two or fewer earned runs in six straight starts, five of which the Nationals won. During that stretch, Strasburg is 3-0 with a 2.60 ERA.He’s 4-4 with a 4.19 ERA in nine starts against the Rockies, including a no-decision April 15 at Washington when he allowed four hits and four runs in six innings in the Rockies’ 6-5 win.Gray is 0-2, 6.48 in three starts against Washington, including a loss April 14 at Washington when he gave up eight hits and five runs in 5 2/3 innings as the Rockies fell 6-2.Gray is coming off an outstanding start Monday against Philadelphia where he gave up four hits and one run in seven innings with three walks and seven strikeouts in the Rockies’ 10-1 romp over the Phillies.In three previous starts, Gray had gone 0-1, 10.80, allowing 15 hits, including five homers, and nine walks in 10 innings with 11 strikeouts.Gray had seven days of rest before he took the mound against the Phillies and took advantage of the extra time to regroup. The Rockies pitching coaches worked with Gray to quicken his tempo on the mound, which Carlos Beltran Jersey , in turn, helped him simplify things and not think about his mechanics.Rockies manager Bud Black said Gray’s start against the Phillies “was big for Jon obviously in a number of areas. I thought he threw the ball well. The slider returned, and I think there was an uptick in the velocity. He was throwing the ball harder.”Black said Gray’s work on his tempo led to a quicker delivery out of the windup and out of the stretch as well.“We saw better pitches, so I think that played a big part,” Black said. “And I think once Jon got rolling, gained more confidence, it set a nice tone, hopefully, as it relates to this start.” ATLANTA (AP) — Tommy La Stella is used to coming through off the bench.The homer was something new.The first pinch-hit homer of La Stella’s career tied a franchise record and carried the Chicago Cubs to a 5-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves in a matchup of NL division leaders Thursday night.“I don’t get to play much,” said La Stella, who homered against the team he started with in the big leagues. “I definitely appreciate the opportunities when I get them.”Chicago stopped off at SunTrust Park for a single game before starting a regularly scheduled 10-game road trip, making up a contest that was washed out May 17.La Stella made it a fruitful layover, tying the team record with his 20th pinch hit of the season. After Atlanta went ahead with a three-run fifth http://www.astrosfanproshop.com/authentic-brian-mccann-jersey , the infielder launched a two-run shot off Mike Foltynewicz that nearly reached the Chop House restaurant above the right-field seats .“He’s always ready to hit,” manager Joe Maddon said. “He sees one pitch he can hit, and he crushes it.”Chicago won for the eighth time in nine games, maintaining its 4 1/2-game lead in the NL Central.Freddie Freeman had three RBIs for the Braves, who lost for the fourth time in six games but still lead the East by three games.Foltynewicz (10-9) was roughed up after an otherwise dominating August in which he went 3-1 with a 1.38 ERA over his first five starts. The right-hander surrendered six hits and five runs (four earned) over six innings, grooving a fastball to La Stella.“I went two curveballs there and I was trying to go up over the bat,” Foltynewicz said. “I think I might have missed right down at his belt there, and he got a good swing on it obviously.”Mike Montgomery came off the disabled list to make his first start for the Cubs since Aug. 7, going 4 2/3 innings.Brandon Kintzler (2-3) claimed the win by getting the final out of the fifth. Pedro Strop worked the ninth for his 11th save.BAEZ’S WILD RIDEChicago shortstop Javier Baez wreaked havoc in the dugout after striking out in the seventh.But he put that tirade behind him in the ninth, making a brilliant over-the-shoulder catch while running flat-out with his back toward home plate to help preserve the victory.“That was as good a catch as you’ll see,” Maddon said. “The important thing is they don’t carry defeat at the plate out with them on defense.”HEYWARD HURTCubs center fielder Jason Heyward had to leave the game in the fifth after diving for Freeman’s opposite-field liner. Heyward stretched out but failed to get a glove on the ball, which rolled all the way to the wall for a two-run triple .Heyward had tightness in his right hamstring but was able to walk slowly off the field, getting a hug from former teammate Freeman on his way to the Cubs dugout. Maddon said his player will need further evaluation but is expected to miss at least the next couple of games at Philadelphia.FOLTY’S BALKFoltynewicz wasn’t sure why he was called for a balk in the second inning Josh Reddick Jersey , which contributed to a two-run inning for the Cubs.“All I really did was just spit,” he said. “I’d take it like a man if it was really a balk, but I know in that moment I didn’t really do anything.”Shortstop Ozzie Albies also made a huge mistake in the second, unleashing a throw that bounced far in front of the plate for an error while trying to get Heyward breaking from third.DUDA ARRIVESLucas Duda is suddenly part of a playoff race after spending most of the season with a team going nowhere.The slugging first baseman joined the Braves on Thursday after being acquired from the Kansas City Royals. He instantly went from a team that was 37 1/2 games behind in the AL Central to first place.“I’m happy to fill my role and help the team in any way I can,” said Duda, who flied out in the sixth as a pinch-hitter in his first Atlanta appearance.The Braves optioned infielder Rio Ruiz to Triple-A Gwinnett.TRAINER’S ROOMCubs: 3B Kris Bryant (shoulder) struck out twice Thursday while batting leadoff during a rehab stint at Iowa. He’ll likely rejoin the big league club this weekend. … LHP Brian Duensing (shoulder) is also expected back after the rosters expand on Saturday. He’s been sidelined since Aug. 3.Braves: The bullpen could be rather crowded for the final month of the season. RHPs Shane Carle (shoulder), Peter Moylan (forearm) and Brandon McCarthy (knee) are rehabbing at Triple-A Gwinnett with no apparent issues. Closer Arodys Vizcaino (right shoulder) is set to throw a batting practice session on Friday, which could be a precursor to his rehab stint in the minors. RHP Jose Ramirez (shoulder) is showing signs of improvement after missing much of the season.UP NEXTCubs: Chicago travels to Philadelphia to face another playoff-contending team in a weekend series. LHP Jose Quintana (11-9, 4.33) will get the nod in Friday’s opener against Phillies RHP Nick Pivetta (7-10, 4.76).Braves: RHP Anibal Sanchez (6-5, 3.05) takes the mound for the opener of a three-game series against Pittsburgh at SunTrust Park. The Pirates will counter with RHP Jameson Taillon (10-9, 3.49).