The Colorado Rockies and the Chicago Cubs still have work to do to win

the National League West and Central division titles Fernando Valenzuela Jersey , respectively, but both helped their cause with victories Thursday.The Rockies won their seventh straight game with a 5-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies, and they head into the final weekend of the season with a one-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers.Dave Roberts and the Dodgers (88-71) were idle Thursday as they traveled from Arizona to San Francisco. They will conclude the regular season with a three-game series against the Giants, their traditional and oft-times hated rival.The Rockies (89-70) conclude their regular season with a three-game series at Coors Field with the Washington Nationals.The Cubs go into the final weekend with a one-game lead over the Brewers.Jim Young/Associated PressThe Cubs (93-66) picked up a 3-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field, and they lead the Milwaukee Brewers (92-67) by one game with the final weekend of the season at hand.The Cubs and Brewers clinched postseason appearances Wednesday when the Brewers beat the St. Louis Cardinals (87-72), but the two teams are in a tight battle for the NL Central title.The Brewers appear to have the better matchup in the final series of the year as they host the Detroit Tigers (64-94). The Cubs close the regular season with a three-game series against the Cardinals.The Brewers would need to pick up two full games in the standingsto win the division outright. If they pick up one game during the final series, the two teams would be tied and they would meet in a one-game tiebreaker at Wrigley Field.If that happens, that game would not be considered a playoff game. It is Game 163, and the statistics accumulated in that game would be considered part of the regular season.The team that does not win the division title will play in the NL Wild Card Game.Kyle Newman KyleNewmanDPWith NL West race coming down to the wire, second-place Dodgers counted their chickens before they hatched as #Rockies caught fire, jumped L.A. in the standings: i4QQwmfxOS #MLBIf the Dodgers can't gain any ground on the Rockies, Colorado would clinch its first division title. If the Dodgers pick up one game, those two teams would meet in Game 163 at Dodger Stadium, while the Dodgers would win the division outright if they pick up two games over the final weekend.If the Rockies win the National League West crown, the Dodgers and the Cardinals will battle for the other wild-card spot.Going into the weekend http://www.dodgersfanproshop.com/authentic-jackie-robinson-jersey , the Dodgers are 88-71, one game ahead of the 87-72 St. Louis Cardinals.While the Rockies are surging and have an excellent opportunity to win the division, they have not clinched a playoff spot yet. Their magic number is two to ensure they will play postseason baseball. The Dodgers have a magic number of three.The Cubs have a magic number of three to clinch the division title.If the Rockies, Dodgers and Cardinals all have the same record at the conclusion of Sunday's action, the Rockies and Dodgers would play for the division title, while the loser would play the Cardinals Tuesday for a wild-card berth.The NL Wild Card game is scheduled for Tuesday, but in the event of the three-team tie mentioned above, it would be played Wednesday.The Atlanta Braves (89-70) have clinched the NL East title, and they cannot earn the National League's No. 1 seed since their maximum win total is 92, while the Cubs already have 93 victories.The Rockies cannot win more than 92 games, so that means the Cubs or Brewers will end up with the top seed.PredictionsThe Brewers have won four games in a row and seven of 10, and they have an excellent chance of sweeping the Tigers in the final series.It will be difficult for the Cubs to do the same to the Cardinals. While St. Louis cannot be happy after being swept at home by Milwaukee this week, the Cards should be able to win at least one game or possibly two against the Cubs.The Brewers and Cubs will end up in a one-game playoff for the NL Central title, and the home team would certainly have the best chance to win that game.In the NL West, the Dodgers will have a difficult time with the Giants Kenley Jansen Jersey , and nothing would make San Francisco and its fans happier than knocking the Dodgers out of the playoffs. San Francisco wins two of three in the final series.If that happens, the Rockies would need just one win against the Nationals to clinch the division title. We see them winning at least two and earning their first division flag.Here's how we see the National League playing out:Atlanta Braves earn the No. 3 seed as the NL East championsChicago Cubs defeat the Milwaukee Brewers in one-game playoff and earn No. 1 seed as NL Central championsBrewers earn No. 1 wild-card spotColorado Rockies earn the No. 2 seed as the NL West champions.Los Angeles earn the No. 2 wild-card spot. At some point, an MLB player will score a contract worth a half-billion dollars.It's an absurd notion, but it's coming. And Mike Trout may be the man to cash in.Heading into this winter, all eyes will be on Bryce Harper and Manny Machado.Harper is 25 years old and Machado is 26. Both are generational talents with sterling resumes.That said, neither has performed at peak level in his contract year.Harper has cracked 34 home runs but is hitting a ho-hum .246 for the Washington Nationals, who will miss the postseason.Machado is slashing .296/.366/.541 overall, but his average (.267) and OPS (.824) have declined since a trade-deadline swap from the Baltimore Orioles to the Los Angeles Dodgers.Both players will get paid. Neither is likely to crack the $500 million threshold.What about Trout? You don't need his resume, but we'll supply it anyway. Between 2012 and today, he has made seven All-Star appearances, won a pair of American League MVP awards and amassed 63.7 WAR by FanGraphs' calculation.The next-highest WAR totals during that span belong to Andrew McCutchen (36.3) and Josh Donaldson (36.2). Trout is almost literally lapping the field.This year, he's launched 38 home runs and leads both leagues with a 1.093 OPS.Oh, and the guy celebrated his 27th birthday on August 7. Technically he's just entering his prime.Mike Stone/Associated PressOK, Trout is great. That's not news to anybody. How does his greatness translate to a $500 million payday?Let's turn to Fancred's Jon Heyman, who reported that http://www.dodgersfanproshop.com/authentic-corey-seager-jersey , "The Angels are expected to try again to make Mike Trout a lifetime Angel when they discuss a contract this winter, and one rival agent suggested Trout's agent would be wise to wait until free agents Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are signed to provide the floor."Yes, you read that right. Harper and Machado will be the floor.The Halos will pay Trout $33.25 million in 2019 and 2020. Barring a shocking trade, he'll remain in Anaheim for the next two seasons.After that, he could become the most coveted free agent in baseball history. Or, the Angels could lock him up for the long haul.In March 2014, Trout inked a six-year, $144.5 million extension with the Angels. It was a massive pact for a player who, at the time, had only a pair of full big league campaigns under his belt.It also displayed Trout's loyalty to the franchise that drafted him 25th overall in 2009.Will that loyalty lead him to another, larger, lifetime deal in the $500M range?Maybe. Here's the fly in the ointment: Trout has the hardware and individual accolades but doesn't have postseason success.Ted S. Warren/Associated PressTrout has played in a scant three playoff games, all losses. In 12 at-bats on the game's brightest stage, he's managed just a single hit plus three walks. In typical Trout fashion, the hit was a home run Enrique Hernandez Jersey , but that's still a minuscule sample size."Obviously I want to win," Trout said recently, per Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register. "It's not a good feeling being in early September and you're out of it. It's definitely in the back of my mind, but you've got to trust the front office."The Angels made moves last winter. Most notably, they signed two-way Japanese star Shohei Ohtani, who has been derailed by elbow problems but has displayed tantalizing power and pitching prowess this season.Despite the Angels' futility, there is a world where Trout sticks with them and finally makes a run.MLB might wish he'd go to a more high-profile club; up the I-5 freeway to the Los Angeles Dodgers or across the country to the New York Yankees. Earlier this season, Commissioner Rob Manfred all but said Trout was squandering his opportunity as the game's pre-eminent star.That's never been Trout's style, however. He's not flashy. He doesn't covet the spotlight.The Angels seem prepared to offer him untold riches to keep wearing their uniform. And nothing in Trout's brilliant, understated career indicates he'd say no.It's silly to suggest a player could humbly accept a half-billion dollars. But if anyone can do it, it's Mike Trout.All statistics and contract information current entering play Wednesday and courtesy of Baseball Reference and FanGraphs.