3B Kris Bryant clubbed his first home run of the postseason in the Cubs' season-ending loss to the Dodgers on Thursday night. The blast gave Bryant six career postseason home runs in 36 games.

1B Anthony Rizzo finished 0-for-4 as the Cubs' season ended Thursday with an 11-1 loss to the Dodgers. The performance capped a miserable series for Rizzo, who hit .059 (1 of 17) with eight strikeouts. That was a far cry from last year's NLCS, when Rizzo hit .320 (8 of 25) with two doubles, two home runs and five RBIs.

LHP Jose Quintana drew the Cubs' season-ending loss against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series. He allowed six runs on six hits in two-plus innings as his postseason ERA ballooned from 1.59 to 5.40. The southpaw expects to be a mainstay in the Cubs' rotation next season.

RHP John Lackey gave up two runs in two innings out of the bullpen in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series. The appearance might have been the last of Lackey's storied career, although he has yet to make an announcement about his plans for 2018. Cubs manager Joe Maddon's eyes watered as he discussed Lackey, who will turn 39 years old later this month. "It's really special for me with John," he said. "Hopefully it's not (the end), but if it is, having that chance to be with him in that moment is pretty special for me."

CF Chris Taylor shared the NLCS MVP with third baseman Justin Turner. Taylor went 2-for-4 with a walk in Thursday night's 11-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs with a double and single and a run scored. Taylor, who split his time between center field and shortstop, hit .316 in the NLCS with two home runs and three RBIs and scored five runs.

SS Charlie Culberson was one of six Dodgers hitters to hit better than .300 for the NLCS. Culberson, who moved into a starting role after Corey Seager was forced to miss the series with a back injury, hit .455 in the five games with two doubles and a triple and finished 2-for-4 in Thursday night's 11-1 victory.

LF Enrique Hernandez tied a league championship series record with seven RBIs in Thursday night's pennant-clinching victory over the Chicago Cubs. Hernandez homered three times, hitting a solo shot in the second inning, a grand slam in the third inning and a two-run homer in the ninth inning to cap his record-tying night.

3B Justin Turner earned NLCS co-MVP honors along with center fielder Chris Taylor. Turner went 1-for-5 in Thursday night's 11-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs, but extended his streak of reaching safely in the postseason to eight games with his RBI single in the third inning. Turner has now reached safely in 23 of his last 24 postseason games dating back to Oct. 9, 2015.

LHP Clayton Kershaw allowed just one run on three hits over six innings to earn his sixth postseason victory. The victory moved Kershaw into a tie with Burt Hooton for the most postseason victories in franchise history. Before Thursday's stellar showing, Kershaw already held the Dodgers' postseason records for starts, innings pitched, strikeouts and losses. Kershaw may be in line to start Game 1 of the World Series against either the New York Yankees or Houston Astros.

OF Michael Brantley underwent surgery on his right ankle and will require four to five months of rehab, the Indians announced Thursday. Brantley, a two-time AL All-Star, missed 50 games over the final two months of the regular season due to the injury. Brantley was active for the AL Division Series against the Yankees but was just 1-for-11. The surgery was performed Wednesday in Charlotte, N.C., and was designed to strengthen damaged ligaments in Brantley's right ankle.

NEW YORK -- The New York Yankees, the most accomplished franchise in American sports, are on the verge of an unprecedented baseball feat. The Houston Astros, meanwhile, are trending toward sadly familiar territory.The Yankees moved to the edge of the World Series with a 5-0 victory over the Astros on Wednesday night in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium. New York leads the series three games to two and will try to win the pennant in Game 6, scheduled for Friday night in Houston.The 41st trip to the World Series in team history would be different than any other for the Yankees -- or anyone else in baseball history, for that matter.The Yankees, who dropped the first two games of the ALCS after storming back from an 0-2 deficit to knock off the Cleveland Indians in the best-of-five AL Division Series, are trying to become the second team to reach the World Series by overcoming a pair of two-game deficits and the first to do it after twice trailing two games... [More]

INF Gleyber Torres began hitting after his recovery from Tommy John surgery on his left elbow Wednesday. Torres tweeted a video of himself in an indoor batting cage said: "After long months of recovery, I can finally hit again and that makes me super happy."

RHP Brad Peacock, who was a candidate to start Game 4 before Houston opted for RHP Lance McCullers Jr., made his first appearance of the series in Houston's 5-0 loss in Game 5. He pitched 1 1/3 innings and allowed a 407-foot homer to C Gary Sanchez while throwing 24 pitches.

LHP Dallas Keuchel allowed four runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings in the worst of his nine career starts against the Yankees in Game 5 of the AL Championship Series. Despite allowing those runs, he did get eight strikeouts. Keuchel is the first pitcher in baseball history to get at least seven strikeouts in his first five postseason starts. He also has 18 in the ALCS against the Yankees, the most in any series against the Yankees since Josh Beckett (19) in the 2003 World Series for the Florida Marlins.

2B Javier Baez broke out of an 0-for-20 skid in a big way Wednesday night in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series. Baez homered twice to help the Cubs prevail for a 3-2 win over the Dodgers. He became the fifth player in franchise history to hit two home runs in a playoff game.

RHP Justin Verlander will make his second start of the ALCS on Friday in Game 6. Verlander started Game 2 and threw 124 pitches in a five-hit complete game, setting a postseason career high with 13 strikeouts. Verlander is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in his two playoff starts for Houston. In his career, Verlander is 10-5 with a 3.18 ERA in 19 postseason appearances (18 starts). In the LCS, he is 4-2 with a 3.00 ERA in six starts. In elimination games, Verlander is 3-1 with a 1.50 ERA in four starts.

RHP Wade Davis set a career high with a 48-pitch save Wednesday night in Game 4 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Davis gave up a home run and walked three batters, but he held on for the six-out save in a 3-2 win. Davis will not be available to pitch in Game 5 on Thursday night, manager Joe Maddon said.

RHP Jake Arrieta delivered a gutsy performance in what might have been his final game as a player for the Cubs. The soon-to-be free agent limited the Dodgers to one run on three hits in 6 2/3 innings Wednesday night in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series. He walked five and struck out nine to help the Cubs stave off elimination.

C Yasmani Grandal made his series debut Wednesday night in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series. He went 0-for-1 and drew three walks. Grandal hit .247 with 22 home runs and 58 RBIs in 129 games during the regular season.

3B Justin Turner ripped a solo home run Wednesday night in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series. The blast gave Turner 23 career postseason RBIs, which moved him past Davey Lopes and Steve Garvey for third place on the Dodgers' all-time list. Ron Cey is No. 2 with 24 RBIs, and Duke Snider is the all-time leader with 26 RBIs.