>>Cardinals Win; Can't Get Support To Make Postseason

 

Matt Carpenter homered and Randal Grichuk keyed a six-run seventh-inning with a two-run double to lead St. Louis to its fourth win in a row with a 10-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday, but the Cardinals still missed the playoffs for the first time since 2010.

 

San Francisco (87-75) beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-1 and earned the second NL wild card.

 

St. Louis starter Adam Wainwright allowed two runs and six hits over six innings. He did not get a decision.

 

St. Louis outfielder Matt Holliday was brought into the game briefly to play left field in the ninth inning. He was given a standing ovation and taken out before the first pitch. The Cardinals announced Friday they plan to decline his 2017 option and allow him to become free agent.

 

St. Louis was a big league-best 100-62 last year but lost to the Chicago Cubs in the Division Series. The Cardinals never led the NL Central at any point this season and finished with a losing record at home (38-43) for the first time since 1999.

 

After making the playoffs for three straight years, Pittsburgh dropped from 98-64 to 78-83.

 

Yadier Molina had three hits for the Cardinals. Stephen Piscotty singled in Molina to break a 4-4 tie in the seventh.

 

Carpenter hit his 21st homer of the season off Antonio Bastardo for a 4-2 lead.

 

Jonathan Broxton (4-2) won despite allowing two runs in one inning of relief.

 

Juan Nicasio (10-7) gave up three runs without recording an out in the seventh.

 

Andrew McCutchen hit a two-run single in the fifth to give his team a 2-1 lead.

 

Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle is ready to move on from the disappointing campaign.

 

>>Cubs Win 103rd of Season; Start Playoffs Friday

 

Matt Szczur doubled home two runs with two outs in the ninth inning, and Miguel Montero followed with a homer as the Chicago Cubs finished one of their most successful seasons with a flourish, beating the Cincinnati Reds 7-4 on Sunday.

 

With victory No. 103 in the books, the Cubs headed back to Wrigley Field for their first playoff game on Friday against the winner of the NL wild-card game.

 

The Cubs led the majors with their most victories since 1910. That's no longer the reference point, however. The postseason focus is 1908, the last time they won a World Series.

 

The final series at Great American Ball Park was more about personal milestones. Jon Lester failed to get his 20th win on Saturday, and Kyle Hendricks finished as the ERA leader at 2.13 on Sunday despite a ragged performance. He gave up four runs and six hits in five innings, forcing in one run with a bases-loaded walk.

 

>>Buxton Leads Twins Past Chi Sox in Season Finale

 

Byron Buxton hit the game's first pitch for an inside-the-park home run and the Minnesota Twins beat Chris Sale and the White Sox 6-3 on Sunday in what may have been manager Robin Ventura's final game with Chicago.

 

Miguel Sano added a three-run homer off Sale (17-10), who allowed five runs and six hits over five innings.

 

Ventura, in the last year of his contract, said he would announce his future plans after the game. The White Sox (78-84) finished their fourth straight losing season despite Jose Abreu's run-scoring single that gave him 100 RBIs.

 

Jose Berrios (3-7) allowed one run and four hits in five innings. The Twins (59-103) closed with two straight wins after setting the record for most losses since the franchise began play in Minnesota in 1961.

 

Brandon Kintzler got the final three outs for his 17th save in 20 tries.

 

>>Ventura Announces He's  Out as White Sox Manager

 

Robin Ventura has announced he will not return as manager of the White Sox next season.

 

Speaking after Chicago's season-ending 6-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Sunday, Ventura said it was "a personal decision." Ventura was in the last year of his contract.

 

The Chicago Sun-Times reported Saturday that bench coach and former Cubs manager Rick Renteria will likely take over. But the team did not immediately announce a replacement. White Sox general manager Rick Hahn is scheduled to address reporters Monday.

 

Ventura went 375-435 in five seasons with the White Sox. After an 85-77 debut in 2012 that wasn't good enough for the playoffs, Ventura suffered through four consecutive losing seasons.

 

The White Sox finished 78-84 this year despite a 23-10 start that gave them a six-game lead in the AL Central on May 9.

 

>>MLB Playoffs Set

 

After a clarifying slate on Sunday, we now know the field and the matchups for the 2016 postseason. 

 

The American League wild card will open the frenzy  Tuesday night when the Blue Jays host the Orioles, with the winner to move on to take on the Texas Rangers.

 

Boston, as the American League East champions, will open against the Cleveland Indians, the American League Central champions. 

 

In the National League, the New York Mets host the San Francisco Giants Wednesday night with the winner to take on baseball's best team, the National League Central champion Chicago Cubs.

 

The Los Angeles Dodgers, champions of the National League West will take on the Washington Nationals, the champions of the National League East.

 

Start times for game 1 of each series have yet to be announced but we do know the American League games will open Thursday, with National League games to open Friday.