The Los Angeles Dodgers have swept the Chicago Cubs in the first round of the Major League Baseball playoffs.

The Dodgers beat the Cubs 3-1 late Saturday in Los Angeles to advance to the National League Championship Series.

The surprising three-game sweep of the team with the league's best record in the regular season ends the Cubs' chance to win the World Series for the first time in 100 years.

Who's Next?

The Dodgers will play either the Philadelphia Phillies or Milwaukee Brewers for the National League title.

The Brewers avoided a sweep by beating the visiting Phillies 4-1 Saturday. Philadelphia had the bases loaded with no outs in the ninth inning, but failed to score.

The Phillies still hold a two-games-to-one lead in the their best-of-five divisional series, with the Brewers hosting game four Sunday.

The two American League division series could end in three-game sweeps today with wins by the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays.

Boston hosts the Los Angeles Angels, while Tampa Bay visits the Chicago White Sox.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.