Brewers outfielder and club Most Valuable Player Carlos Gomez underwent surgery on his right elbow after the season, and assistant general manager Gord Ash characterized it Saturday as “routine.”

After St. Louis defeated the Dodgers in Game 6 of the NLCS, the party was on inside the home clubhouse. Players screamed. Champagne corks popped. Beer poured. Music blared. It’s a common scene in October and one that is becoming a habit for the Cardinals, who are making their fourth World Series appearance since 2004.

Cardinals rookie right-hander Michael Wacha put together arguably the greatest National League Championship Series ever by a rookie pitcher, and he was named the NLCS Most Valuable Player Award winner after leading the Cards to the World Series with yet another sterling postseason performance in Friday night’s 9-0 blanking of the Dodgers in Game 6.

The celebration began early at Busch Stadium on Friday night, as the Cardinals chased Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw and cruised to a 9-0 victory to clinch the National League pennant in Game 6 of the NLCS.

Seven times before this crisp October night, Carlos Beltran’s team had played a game in which a win meant a trip to the World Series. Seven times, his team had lost. With the Cardinals’ 9-0 victory Friday in Game 6 of the NLCS, Beltran’s decade of heartbreak was over.

Who would blink first when the Dodgers and Cardinals reconvened at Busch Stadium on Friday night for Game 6 of the National League Championship Series? Apparently not Scott Van Slyke or Joe Kelly.

Ozzie Smith appropriately threw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 6 of the NLCS between the Cardinals and Dodgers on Friday at Busch Stadium. It was appropriate not only because he’s one of the most iconic players in St. Louis history. It was also relevant given his famous home run 28 years ago came against the Dodgers, whom the Cards played in their most recent NLCS.

Why were Dodgers president Stan Kasten and MLB executive Joe Torre in a heated conversation during batting practice before Game 6 of the National League Championship Series? It probably has something to do with Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig and umpires, according to a baseball source.

If you’re selling hope for the Detroit Tigers, you begin with Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. There you go. What could be simpler than that? If Tigers fans don’t have just a little bit of optimism, they haven’t thought things through.

Dodgers legend Steve Garvey met Annie Ruth in August 1977 when she was a paralyzed teen, and the two have remained friends since. Garvey even met his wife due to a connection with Ruth.

Dodgers legend Steve Garvey met Annie Ruth in August 1977 when she was a paralyzed teen and the two have remained friends since. Garvey even met his wife due to a connection with Ruth.

Injured Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez was added to the starting lineup 30 minutes before first pitch Friday after not being in the original lineup for Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the Cardinals.

Xander Bogaerts finds himself under a powerful microscope, as he has suddenly emerged as a viable starting position player in the ALCS vs. Detroit. His chance came in Game 5, when he received the start at third base over the struggling Will Middlebrooks.

After starting Jon Jay in center field against the first three left-handed starters the Cardinals faced this postseason, manager Mike Matheny chose instead to go with right-handed-hitting Shane Robinson against Dodgers lefty Clayton Kershaw in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series on Friday night.

Home-field advantage is something any team wants this time of year, but the Fenway factor is something the Red Sox and their rabid fans crave, because they know what a difference-maker it can be.

Allen Craig estimated that he stood in the batter’s box for an estimated 10 simulated at-bats early Friday afternoon. The live batting practice session “went well,” the first baseman said afterward, and it is the latest step in Craig’s efforts to be cleared to return if the Cardinals advance to the World Series.

The right-field bullpen at Fenway Park was vacant as the sun faded from view on Friday, but in your mind’s eye, it was easy to flick on the lights and call back the images from when we last saw the American League Championship Series underway here.