LEADING OFF: Brewers chase Cubs, Reds try to blank Dodgers

A look at what’s happening around the majors today:

LAST SHOT

The Brewers try to close ground on the NL Central-leading Cubs in their final showdown of the regular season. Chicago beat Milwaukee 3-0 on Tuesday night to stretch its division lead to two games. The Cubs will start right-hander Kyle Hendricks (11-10, 3.71) in the finale at Wrigley Field. He is 5-1 with a 2.90 ERA in his past eight starts. Chase Anderson counters for the Brewers. The right-hander has seldom thrown more than 90 pitches in a start down the stretch, but also hasn’t lost since July 14. He pitched seven innings of one-hit ball in a 4-0 win over Chicago on June 12.

SEEING RED

Cincinnati will try to complete its first season sweep of the Dodgers when Anthony DeSclafani starts at Great American Ball Park. The Reds 6-0 vs the defending NL champions this year and have slowed their chased for a playoff spot this season. Ross Stripling starts for Los Angeles. The franchises have been playing each other since the 1880s, dating to the Dodgers’ days in Brooklyn. This is the first year they haven’t won at least twice against Cincinnati.

SNEAK PEAK

Peter Alonso will join the Mets at Citi Field, but not in uniform. New York’s hulking prospect will be recognized as one of the team’s minor league players of the year and is slated to speak to reporters between games of a doubleheader against Miami. The first baseman hit 36 homers and led the minors with 119 RBIs between Double-A and Triple-A, but New York declined the call him up when rosters expanded in September. The Mets cited a lack of available playing time for Alonso, who is not yet on the 40-man roster. Fans were furious, though, after getting their hopes up that an otherwise sulky September might feature a boost from one of the team’s top prospects.

UP TOP

Rays left-hander Blake Snell goes for his major league-leading 19th win when he starts at home against Cleveland. Snell is 18-5, a year after he went 5-7. Carlos Carrasco (16-8) pitches for the Indians, who have a magic number of three for clinching their third straight AL Central title.