Playoff baseball is finally here! If the start of October baseball doesn't get you excited, how about kicking off the postseason Tuesday with Max Scherzer facing the hottest team in the majors?

What's on tap

The most important thing of the day: The Nationals are a popular pick as the National League team most likely to knock off the Dodgers, but that won't matter one bit if Mad Max & Co. can't get past the red-hot Brewers in the one-game showdown between the NL wild-card teams.

The view from inside the stadium: Injuries be damned (see: Yelich, Cain, Braun), the Brewers are confident thanks to a filthy bullpen that fueled their Cinderella September run. But nobody is more confident than the battle-tested and Baby Shark-infested Nationals, who have won eight straight and for the first time in their playoff history seem to be peaking at just the right time. -- Eddie Matz

A stat to impress your friends: According to FanGraphs, the Nationals had a season-low 22.2% chance to make the playoffs on May 23 before going 74-38 the rest of the way to take the NL's top wild-card spot. But that's nothing compared to the Brewers, who had a 5.6% chance of making the playoffs as recently as Sept. 5 before an 18-2 stretch paved their way to the postseason.

Predictions: The Nats are way healthier than the team that got swept at home by Milwaukee in May. They're also starting some guy named Scherzer. Nationals 5, Brewers 3. -- Matz

The Nationals are starting Scherzer, but with a 5.16 ERA in September, he hasn't quite been the Scherzer we're used to seeing dominate. The Brewers bullpen their way to the victory. Brewers 3, Nationals 2. -- David Schoenfield

Off the diamond

Social media says:

The 2019 MLB postseason bracket is set ? pic.twitter.com/T1REvwUNhW

— ESPN (@espn) September 29, 2019

Quote of note: "We wouldn't be where we are without our starting pitching. In my very biased opinion, we have the best rotation in the game right now. A game like [Tuesday's], you put roles aside, you put egos aside, and you go with your best guys. Those are our best guys." -- Nationals reliever Sean Doolittle on the possibility of starters Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin being used out of the bullpen against Milwaukee

Australian thrower beats Chinese duo with last-round effort at the IAAF World Championships

Going into the final round of the women’s world javelin final on Tuesday night in Doha, Kelsey Barber was lying in fifth place with Chinese duo Shiying Liu and Lyu Huihui set for a one-two.

“Going into the sixth round it was a case of clearing my mind and believing there was more there,” Barber said. “It’s one thing to say it and believe it but another to actually do it.”

Barber believed and she delivered with a 66.56m throw to go into the lead. It was three metres better than she had thrown in the first five rounds and the 28-year-old’s face was full of joy as the enormity of what she had done sank in.

“I feel really proud to win in the Australian colours today and hopefully it’ll put track and field on the map a little bit more in my country,” she said, adding that taking her run-up back slightly gave her more space and was the technical tweak needed to give her gold.

Barber threw 67.70m in Lucerne earlier this year to go No.12 all-time. Otherwise she has been the perennial runner-up during 2019 – in Lausanne, Zurich’s Diamond League final and the Anniversary Games in London.

World No.1 Lyu Huihui led in the first four rounds with 65.06m in round two. But her team-mate Shiying Liu threw 65.88m in the fifth round to take the lead. At this stage it looked set for a Chinese gold and silver, but Barber passed them both with her big winning effort in the last round.

In the final round neither Huihui nor Shiying could improve, which meant Barber won Australia’s first world javelin title.

World javelin champion Kelsey Barber of Australia with silver and bronze medallists Shiying Liu & Lyu Huihui of China. "I feel really proud to win the Australian colours today and hopefully it’ll put track and field on the map a little bit more in my country," she says. pic.twitter.com/qgydxBJKj0

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) October 1, 2019

In his quest for a fourth successive world title, Pawel Fadjek of Poland led the hammer qualifiers with 79.24m from European champion Wojciech Nowicki’s 77.89m.

There was success for Britain’s Nick Miller, too, as the Commonwealth champion threw 76.26m in the third round to qualify as 10th of the 12 for Wednesday’s final.

Long-standing American and world championship 800m records fall in brilliant two-lap display in Doha

With 1:42.34 Donavan Brazier smashed Johnny Gray’s 34-year-old American record and Billy Konchellah’s 32-year-old championship record. The man from Michigan also registered the biggest winning margin in the event’s history at the world championships. So was it the perfect race?

“Yes, not sure what else I could have done better tactically,” the 22-year-old said. “When I made a move there was no looking back from there.”

Runner-up Amel Tuka won Bosnia and Herzegovina’s best medal at the world championships with silver in 1:43.47 with Ferguson Cheruiyot Rotich of Kenya third in 1:43.82, American Bryce Hoppel fourth in 1:44.25 and Puerto Rico’s Wesley Vasquez fifth in 1:44.48.

In trademark style Vasquez blasted into the lead, passing 200m in 23.61 with Brazier the only athlete to fully commit to going with him.

Coming into the home straight for the first time, Adrian Ben of Spain was already tailed off at the back, although he later rallied to move up to sixth.

Going through the bell in a fast 48.96, Vasquez looked strong but Brazier made his move down the back straight, cruising smoothly past with 250m to go as Vasquez began to tighten up.

Behind, the fast-finishing Tuka had been a few metres behind the leading duo at the bell in third place but on the last bend he caught the fading Vasquez as Brazier, who had gone through 600m in 76.18, extended his lead in pole position.

Entering the home straight Tuka surged past Vasquez but there was no catching Brazier who held his form to win by an emphatic 1.13 seconds as Gray’s US record of 1:42.60 and Konchellah’s 1:43.04 championship best fell.

“Going through the bell that fast is nerve wracking,” said Brazier. “I’ve only broken 50 one time before on a first lap and I locked up like crazy. But I had the confidence to go through that fast here and to see it come together strategically at such a late world champs is very rewarding.”

Brazier ran a PB of 1:42.70 on the eve of the championships to win in Zurich and is coached by Pete Julian from the Nike Oregon Project. With the news of Alberto Salazar’s four-year anti-doping ban breaking on the eve of Brazier’s final, the athlete was asked about it post-race but he stressed he is coached by Julian and has little to do with Salazar.

Donavan Brazier says he was unaware of the investigation into Alberto Salazar when he joined the Nike Oregon Project. The 800m runner stresses that he's coached by Pete Julian and has little do with Salazar. "The investigation started when I was still at high school," he says. pic.twitter.com/hUhZd76hm8

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) October 1, 2019

Brazier said it would be “ignorant” if anyone tarnished his victory by linking it with Salazar. “I’m coached by Pete Julian,” he stressed. “The investigation (into the Nike Oregon Project) started when I was still at high school and I didn’t even know what the Oregon Project was at the time.

“I joined the group early summer 2018. From start I was in contact with Pete and have never been asked to be coached by Alberto. I didn’t even know there was an investigation on and I still don’t know 100% what’s going on with the investigation.

“I just woke up to a text saying the founder of the Oregon Project, Alberto Salazar, had a four-year ban. I don’t know even what it means to the Nike Oregon Project.”

Seddon qualifies for steeplechase final

He was only seventh in his steeplechase heat but Zak Seddon produced a few noteworthy facts.

His 8:22.51 was the fastest by a Briton in the World Championships since Roger Hackney 32 years ago and he became the first finalist since Tom Hanlon in 1993.

He was drawn in the fastest heat which was led through 1000m in 2:45.51 and 2000m in 5:33.88 and he looked comfortable near the front. The last kilometre though got faster and faster with the leading quartet inside 2:40 and the race was won by Getnet Wale in 8:12.96, with three others at 8:13.12 or faster.

Only three got through in each heat by position with six places available by time. With Seddon only fourth best for time qualification, it meant no more than two could qualify in the other two races but that’s what happened. Lamecha Girma won heat two in 8:16.64 with fourth at 8:18.66 and fifth at 8:23.08 and the final heat was won by defending champion Conseslus Kipruto in 8:19.20 with fourth at 8:21.09 and fifth at 8:23.99 so the Briton qualified by half a second.

.@Zakeroo12 chats with @Jason_AW after his steeplechase heat and he has since been confirmed for the final #WorldAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/hL8Mc6R1Gx

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) October 1, 2019

Seddon said: “It was my second best time. That was the best I could give today, so I am happy with that. To turn up at a championships, in a championships-style race and get that close to my best is good, I am happy with myself.”

American retains his title after top competition in Doha

The jumps at the IAAF World Championships in Doha have all been great contests and of the highest standard and that continued with a pulsating pole vault competition that saw Sam Kendricks retain his title.

It took two make or break third attempt jumps for him to win gold as teenage sensation Armand Duplantis pushed him all the way.

Two hours-plus earlier, none of the vaulters exited at the opening height of 5.55m but four found the increase to 5.70m too much.

At this stage, five of the eight had a perfect record – Olympic champion Thiago Braz, defending champion Kendricks, European champion Duplantis, London runner-up Piotr Lisek and Germany’s European under-23 champion Bo Kanda Lita Baehre.

The bar was raised to 5.80m and the big three – Kendricks, Lisek and Duplantis – maintained their perfect record with first time clearances.

None of the other five could clear it on their other attempts either and the three medallists were decided.

The bar was raised to 5.87m and all three failed at the first attempt.

Duplantis’ second attempt was excellent and he took the lead but only for a few minutes as a pumped up Lisek had an even better clearance to return to being a joint leader.

Kendricks’ second attempt was better but still came down and meant he was down to third for the first time.

Surprisingly, with nothing to gain, he elected to have his third attempt at this height rather than go higher and he produced the best vault of the competition so far but remained in third.

Neither Duplantis or Lisek went close with their initial attempts at 5.92m and suddenly, from being seemingly destined for third, the American went into the lead with a superb vault.

Lisek, not interested in strengthening his position in second, passed but Duplantis chose to have another try and again failed but with his final attempt he went clear to move into the silver medal position.

With the bar raised to 5.97m, no one came close initially and it meant Lisek bowed out at his second attempt.

At the third attempt though, much to the delight of the large Swedish crowd, Duplantis squeezed over and was back in front again.

His earlier hold of gold was a fleeting one and so it proved again as Kendricks showed what a great competitor he is by going over with his final jump to regain the lead thanks to his earlier clearance.

Duplantis had three reasonable attempts at 6.02m but couldn’t clear so the American had another gold.

After the competition Kendricks and Duplantis embraced and they were joined by Lisek for synchronised backflips in celebration.

“I am elated, stunned and excited, all at the same time. It’s almost hard to take it in,” said Kendricks.

“To have three men over six metres all going for it – the Titans of the event this year – made it such a memorable night. We weren’t duelling as enemies but as rivals and friends.”

Young American grabs his first global title while Briton is left heartbroken at having to settle for fourth in Doha

It might not have been spectacular, but Noah Lyles became world champion at the first time of asking when he came through to take 200m gold in Doha.

As the 22-year-old celebrated and savoured what will surely be the first of many major titles, however, Britain’s Adam Gemili found himself at the very opposite end of the emotional scale.

The Briton had run himself into a clear lead coming off the bend and, for a few moments, he dared to dream. The former European champion just could not hold his form, however, and Lyles began to edge past on his left, while Olympic silver medallist Andre De Grasse did likewise on the right.

The American hit the line first in 19.83 (0.3 m/sec) ahead of his Canadian rival’s 19.95, while Gemili’s agony was complete when Ecuador’s Alex Quinonez managed snatch bronze in 19.98 and he was forced to settle for fourth in 20.03.

“I had it,” said a disconsolate Gemili, who will now hope to bounce back as Britain’s 4x100m relay team prepare to defend their world title later this week.

“I just lost all my bounce at the end. I had nothing left. All my form went out of the window and I just ran like such an amateur. I just can’t believe that, I came so close.

“This was such a good opportunity. I’ve been running so well through the heats; my body feels good and I let it go when I had it. I don’t like apologising for a performance, but I feel like I’ve let so many people down. There are so many people that have believed in me who have sent me so many nice messages over the last few days.”

He added: “The last two years I’ve been plagued by injuries, but I’ve got back to where I should be, so to not to break 20 seconds is so disappointing and heart-breaking. I had the medal and it just slipped out of my hands.”

For Lyles, a sprinter renowned for his flamboyance, the nature of his victory almost felt low-key and Usain Bolt’s world record of 19.19 is safe for the time being.

The new champion’s satisfaction was clear, however, after he became the second world gold medal winner in his family – his father Kevin was part of the American squad which won the 4x400m relay in Gothenburg 24 years ago.

“So many times this year I’ve thought of being world champion, you wouldn’t believe it,” said Lyles.

“I have on my phone, I say it to myself in my car, I think it all the time – and finally to have done it feels unbelievable.

“I don’t know how many people come to their first World Championships and get the gold, but I’ve done it. I just knew no matter what position I found myself in I can always find a way to come through. And when I crossed the line I just felt relief. This time last year I’d only just started running. Think of that. Don’t say I’m the new Bolt. I’m me. If you like me, I’ll happily entertain you. It’s my time.”

MEN’S 200m FINAL FACTS

Noah Lyles (USA)                    19.83               0.168 (reaction time)
Andre De Grasse (CAN)          19.95               0.168
Alex Quinonez (ECU)              19.98               0.189
Adam Gemili (GBR)               20.03 SB          0.158
Ramil Guliyev (TUR)               20.07               0.164
Aaron Brown (CAN)                20.10               0.163
Zhenye Xie (CHN)                    20.14               0.161
Kyle Greaux (TTO)                  20.39               0.170

Dina’s golden moment edging closer

Dina Asher-Smith’s chances of adding world 200m gold to her 100m silver were greatly enhanced when she progressed with ease in winning her semi-final on a night when Jamaica’s Olympic champion Elaine Thompson withdrew from the competition due to injury.

The Briton clocked 22.16 (0.5 m/sec), the fastest time recorded throughout the heats and semis. With no Dafne Schippers, Marie-Josee Ta Lou or Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce to concern her either, there will surely never be a better chance for Asher-Smith – already the favourite going into these championships – to claim her first global title.

Americans Brittany Brown and Anglerne Annelus were second and third-fastest qualifiers in running 22.46 (0.4) and 22.49 (0.4) to win semi-finals two and one respectively.

Asher-Smith will be Britain’s sole representative in the final. Jodie Williams ran 22.78 for fifth in semi-final one, while Beth Dobbin was sixth in the second semi-final with 23.11.

There was frustration for both.

“I backed off too much around the bend,” said Williams. “I’ve been going out too hard all season, so the plan was to hold, hold, hold. I just came off the gas a little too much. It is so frustrating because that is well within my capabilities, getting into that final. That should have been easy.It’s a massive missed opportunity for me.”

Dobbin said: “There is something missing. I don’t know what it is but I’ve just not found the shape I was in during July. I had a niggle after the Anniversary Games but I didn’t think it would set me back as much as it has but there is clearly something wrong.”

Hudson-Smith out, Yousif through, James fastest

There were mixed fortunes for Britain’s 400m athletes in the competition’s qualifying heats. European champion Matthew Hudson-Smith’s race last barely 80 metres of the first heat before he pulled up with a hamstring problem and was helped from the track in a wheelchair. Rabah Yousif, meanwhile, progressed in third from heat six with a run of 45.40.

With Wayde van Niekirk not competing, there will be a new champion crowned in 2019 and 2012 Olympic champion Kirani James was the fastest qualifier overall with 44.94, American Diamond League champion Michael Norman clocking 45.00 and Jamaican Demish Gaye 45.02. Kenya’s Emmanuel Korir (45.08) and America’s Fred Kerley (45.19) also progressed.

Smooth 400m progress for Shaunae

Gold medal favourite Shaunae Miller-Uibo unsurprisingly qualified fastest for the women’s 400m final, clocking 49.66 from the second semi, while Bahrain’s 2017 world silver medallist Salwa Eid Naser (49.79) was second-fastest overall and America’s Wadeline Jonathas third with a personal best of 50.07. Defending champion Phyllis Francis qualified in 50.22

Neither of the British duo of Laviai Nielsen and Emily Diamond were able to progress.

Nielsen was distraught after finishing eighth in her semi-final with 52.94, while Emily Diamond was encouraged by her season’s best of 51.62 in fourth from the last semi-final.

“I’m absolutely over the moon with that,” said the 28-year-old, who competed with the 4x400m mixed relay earlier in the week. “It’s been a gruelling four days. I have tested my body and I have surprised myself in each round. You should never doubt yourself about what you can do – the last few days have shown that if something is thrown at me, I can go out there and give it my all. To come away with a season’s best today, and another sub 52, I’m thrilled.”

McLaughlin and Muhammad clear first hurdle

Sydney McLaughlin led the way in the opening heats of women’s 400m hurdles qualifying, the young American easing her way to victory in the first race with 54.45. Her team-mate and world record-holder Dalilah Muhammad was third-fastest with 54.87 in winning heat three, with Norwegian Amalie Iuel was second-quickest in a national record of 54.72.

Britain’s Jessica Turner (55.72) and Meghan Beesley (55.97) both also made their way through.

WHEATLAND, Mo.- Much of the intrigue surrounding this weekend’s sixth annual Big Buck 50 Presented by Whitetail Trophy Hunt will be surrounding the O’Reilly Auto Parts Street Stocks, which is understandable considering the $10,000 check awaiting Saturday night’s feature winner.

But the storyline for the Warsaw Auto Marine & RV ULMA Late Models also is shaping up as a dandy. Full programs are set for both Friday and Saturday nights, with feature winners collecting $1,000 and $2,000. A season champion of the Lucas Cattle Company ULMA Series also will be crowned.

For Aaron Marrant of Richmond, Missouri, it’s a chance to lock down his second ULMA title in three years. He enters the weekend 54 points ahead of Rookie of the Year leader Cole Henson and 92 in front of Ryan Johnson, another top rookie contender.

“It means the world to us,” Marrant said of another championship bid for him and car owners Michael Meise and Bob Morton. “I couldn’t even imagine trying to do what we’re doing without those guys and just everything they do for me. They give me the opportunity to race every week. I’ve had my own race team and I know what it takes.

“For those guys  to let me do the fun part, it’s just awesome. Hopefully we can bring it home.”

Marrant said the ULMA division has rapidly ascended in the quality of competition the last few years. He cites the last two Lucas Oil Speedway points chases, in which he’s been locked in a three-way battle with eventual champion Johnny Fennewald and Kaeden Cornell until the final lap of the final race the last two years.

“This class, this is my fifth year in it and it has advanced to much from when we started,” Marrant said. “It’s gotten so competitive. All of us, when it comes down to two or three points in the top three positions, it shows nobody has a real advantage on the other. It’s who starts where, who gets out front. We’re all so close to the same speed. It’s just how things fall.”

Marrant has six feature wins and 11 other top-five finishes this season. He’s only been outside the top five one time in 18 ULMA events.

Marrant said he’s focusing on his usual strategy of chasing wins and top-fives and letting the points shake themselves out.

“That’s how we approach it every week,” Marrant said. “You figure if you go there and win, the points will take care of themselves. As long as we do what we’re supposed to do, the points will fall into place.”

Not far behind the top trio at Lucas Oil Speedway this season was Henson, a fast-learning newcomer to the Late Models. The Russellville, Missouri, driver has four feature wins and 10 other top-five finishes in ULMA features in 2019.

“It’s been a great season,” Henson said. “We started out and didn’t focus on points a lot. We were just focused on top-fives and getting as many wins as we could. We’ve picked up some great wins this year, some that are the biggest of my career.

“As the season started to wind down, we noticed that we were in the hunt for this championship. We started to focus on it a little more and make sure we were running as good as we could. My car owner Rob Schlup has been working hard and Tony Jackson Jr. has been helping us. It’s been a great season.”

Henson said he knows overtaking Marrant in points will be a longshot, adding that “some things will have to happen” to Marrant in order for that to happen.

“I never want to see anything bad happen to any of my competitors,” Henson added. “I want to race as hard and clean as I can, just like I want them to race me. Our focus is to just go out there and finish the best we can. If we win it, that would be amazing. But we would be happy with winning Rookie of the Year and finishing second in points. That would be pretty awesome.”

The ULMA Late Models will have heat races, B-mains and features both Friday (25 laps) and Saturday (30 laps).

“We’re excited. It’s always fun to get to stay at a track and run two nights in a row like this,” Henson said.

SARVER, Pa. – Tim Shaffer will join Sides Motorsports this weekend during one of winged sprint car racing’s marquee events.

Shaffer and team owner Jason Sides will be the drivers for the team during the Champion Racing Oil National Open on Friday and Saturday at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa. Shaffer was victorious at the half-mile oval in July during the most recent World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series two-day event at the track.

“The last time Shaffer was there he won the Friday night race and Saturday he was running good when the motor broke,” Sides said. “If we can get both our cars in the main event this Saturday it’d be a good weekend.”

Shaffer made his debut with Sides Motorsports last Saturday at Lernerville Speedway, which hosted the Commonwealth Clash. He qualified 12th quickest, advanced from third to second in a heat race and from eighth to seventh in the dash before closing the night with a ninth-place result in the A Main.

“He lives close to there so we went ahead and did it,” Sides said. “I knew he was out of a ride and we were going there so it just worked out. For the first night in the car it was pretty good. He was in the dash and ran seventh most of the race until the last restart.”

Shaffer lost his ride with Demyan-Rudzik Racing in mid-August and has driven for Sides Motorsports, Tony Stewart Racing, Ron Gorby and Johnny Mackison/Lee Stauffer since then.