Just like they drew it up.

While any number of factors — many of them unforeseen — wind up deciding both the October field and its ultimate result, it is only natural that our first order of business in assessing the postseason picture is to hone in on the rotations.

Despite a 5-4 loss to the Brewers at Wrigley Field on Thursday night, the Cubs clinched the National League Central Division title with a Cardinals loss to the Giants in San Francisco.

Down by three going into the bottom of the ninth, the Red Sox dropped five runs on the Yankees and came away with a 7-5 win. Entering the game, the Yankees had been 67-1 when leading after eight innings, while the Red Sox entered the contest 3-55 when trailing after eight.

J.A. Happ allowed two runs over six-plus innings to pick up his 19th victory in Toronto’s 7-2 win over the Angels on Thursday night at Angel Stadium. The victory allowed the Blue Jays to keep pace with first-place Boston while also moving into a tie with Baltimore for the first American League Wild Card spot.

Hanley Ramirez dealt the decisive blow to complete perhaps the biggest win of the season for the Red Sox, a three-run, walk-off homer to secure a 7-5 win over the Yankees on Thursday night at Fenway Park. Ramirez’s homer, which came off closer Dellin Betances, capped a five-run ninth for Boston.

This spring, Joe Maddon arrived in Mesa, Ariz., with a checklist. One of those items was to win the National League Central, which the Cubs did late Thursday for the first time since 2008, with some help from the Giants.

Denard Span lined a two-run single to right field as part of the Giants’ 6-2 series-opening victory over the Cardinals at AT&T Park on Friday night. The win moved the Giants one game in front of the Mets and two games ahead of the Cardinals in the National League Wild Card standings.

When David Ortiz smashed a solo homer to center in the bottom of the eighth inning on Thursday night to pass Mickey Mantle with career homer No. 537, it seemed like it would be a nice milestone moment in a tough loss to the Yankees. Instead, it was the hit manager John Farrell and many teammates credited with turning the night around and leading to the dramatics that would follow in a wild, 7-5 win at Fenway Park.

By the time Hanley Ramirez’s three-run, walk-off rocket landed in the bleachers in center field on Thursday night, the Red Sox — and all of their fans — were over the moon following an exhilarating 7-5 victory over the Yankees.

So now things get interesting for the Mariners. Sixteen games to play, and with an American League Wild Card berth squarely in sight.

Laugh like everyone’s watching.

Cutch doesn’t break promises.

There have been plenty of champions among champions in Major League Baseball. Let’s see who rises above the rest.

He’s strong.

Jose Abreu met with 11-year-old Shane Callaghan, who is undergoing treatment for bone cancer in his left leg, before Thursday’s game. “I promised him I will try to hit a homer, and I did,” Abreu said.

Major League Baseball announced today that A.J. Preller, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Padres, has received a 30-day suspension without pay.