Best moments from final day of 2019 MLB season

The 2019 regular season is officially over.

Ten teams will head to the playoffs, while 20 others will spend October on their couches.

Like the rest of the 162-game campaign - which featured no-hitters, a rookie home run record and four 100-win teams - Major League Baseball's final day was special.

Here are the best moments from the final day of the 2019 regular season:

Taijuan Walker returns from Tommy John surgery

On April 14, 2018, Walker was removed from a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers with forearm tightness in his throwing arm. Four days later, the Arizona Diamondbacks announced he would undergo Tommy John surgery to repair a partial tear in the ulnar collateral ligament of his elbow.

Following 20 months of recovery, which included a capsule strain in his right shoulder, Walker started Arizona's final game of the season Sunday against the San Diego Padres. He threw 15 pitches in a scoreless inning before Alex Young replaced him.

After Greg Garcia grounded out, Wil Myers hit a double, and Manny Machado flied out to right, Walker struck out Eric Hosmer to end his lone frame.

Last Manny standing

Machado may not be pleased with his first full season as a Padre after inking a 10-year, $300-million contract, but his dissatisfaction didn't prevent him from having some fun on Sunday.

Following the customary singing of the national anthem, Machado was involved in a stand-off with injured D-Backs outfielder David Peralta. Both players wore smiles as their teammates brought them refreshments.

Machado wound up claiming victory after Arizona manager Torey Lovullo tipped his cap toward the young Padres star and asked Peralta to head to the dugout.

Pirates salute Steve Blass

It's been a tumultuous season for the Pirates. They underachieved, suffered through internal conflict, and fired manager Clint Hurdle before Sunday's finale against the Cincinnati Reds.

But for a few minutes in Game 162, all of the negativity surrounding their 2019 campaign disappeared as Trevor Williams and other members of the Pirates tipped their caps to Steve Blass.

Blass, a former pitcher who spent his entire playing career with the franchise before joining the Pirates' television and broadcast team in 1973, called his final game Sunday.

A Royal send-off

Kauffman Stadium was chock-full of memorable moments during the season's final day.

Not only did Kansas City Royals slugger Jorge Soler become the American League home run champ, but his 48th dinger set the record for most big flies by a Cuban-born player.

Soler broke a tie with Rafael Palmeiro, who hit 47 in 1999 and 2001.

Alex Gordon, who's spent his entire career with the Royals, also received a standing ovation as the home audience thanked him for his 13 years of service.

Gordon, who has a $23-million mutual option for next season, has appeared in three All-Star Games, claimed six Gold Gloves, and won a World Series with the Royals.

Last, and certainly not least, Ned Yost managed his final game. The 65-year-old received the Salvy Splash after the Royals gifted the winningest manager in franchise history with a come-from-behind victory to conclude his marvelous career.

Blue Jays fans bid adieu to Justin Smoak

The final day of the regular season might have been the last time Smoak donned a Toronto Blue Jays uniform.

Smoak received a standing ovation from the Rogers Centre faithful during the final at-bat of his two-double, three-RBI day at the plate.

The veteran is a free agent this winter and doesn't appear to be in the rebuilding Blue Jays' plans. Smoak was part of Toronto's division-winning club in 2015 and was an All-Star for them in 2017.

Ben Zobrist strikes out Yadier Molina

Throughout his career, Zobrist has developed a reputation for versatility. On Sunday, he added one more position to his resume, appearing as a pitcher for the first time against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Zobrist entered in the eighth and recorded a scoreless inning, including a strikeout of Molina, who couldn't help but smile.

Zobrist is a free agent after the season and admitted at the beginning of September he isn't sure how much baseball he has left in him.

Rangers play final game at Globe Life Park

Globe Life Park has seen its fair share of notable moments and priceless events. On Sunday, it hosted the Rangers for the last time as Texas defeated the New York Yankees 6-1 in the team's final game at the facility.

In 2020, the Rangers move to Globe Life Field, a new retractable-roof stadium adjacent to the current venue.

Globe Life Park will still be put to good use, though: It will house the XFL's Dallas Renegades next year.

Dom Smith returns to end Mets' season with a bang

At the beginning of the season, Smith looked like he could be the New York Mets' starting first baseman on Opening Day. He ended up losing the job to Pete Alonso, who went on to put up historic numbers while Smith struggled through an injury-plagued campaign.

On Sunday, Smith stepped to the plate for the first time since July 26, replacing Alonso in the lineup and promptly smacking a game-winning, three-run homer over the right-field fence to end the Mets' season on a high note.

Gerrit Cole wins 20 games for 1st time

It's been a remarkable season for Cole, who constitutes half of the Houston Astros' lethal one-two punch alongside fellow Cy Young candidate Justin Verlander.

On Sunday, Cole topped his incredible year with a cherry, winning 20 games for the first time in his career with a 10-strikeout performance against the Los Angeles Angels.

Cole posted career-best numbers in strikeouts, ERA, FIP, and innings pitched in 2019.

Cardinals clinch NL Central in front of home fans

The Cardinal Way is back on top.

St. Louis defeated the Cubs in front of a packed house at Busch Stadium on Sunday to claim its first division title since 2015.

Jack Flaherty continued his dominant second half, pitching seven scoreless innings to help the Cardinals clinch the division.

St. Louis fended off a late-season surge from the feisty Milwaukee Brewers to win the division crown and will now play the Atlanta Braves in the National League Division Series beginning Oct. 3.

Oracle Park gives MadBum roaring ovation

Madison Bumgarner didn't pitch Sunday, but the San Francisco Giants treated their home audience at Oracle Park to one last performance from the four-time All-Star.

MadBum entered as a pinch-hitter in the fifth to a roaring ovation. He tipped his helmet, battled Clayton Kershaw in a seven-pitch at-bat, and ultimately lined out to third.

The 30-year-old's contract expires at the end of the season and there's wide-spread speculation he won't return to the Giants next year.

If that's indeed the case, he'll depart San Francisco with 119 career wins in over 1,800 innings pitched. His Giants tenure includes two Silver Sluggers, the 2014 NLCS and World Series MVP awards, and three championship rings.

Stevie Wilkerson makes play of the year

The best play of the year naturally came on the season's final day.

Wilkerson tracked a fly ball off the bat of Boston Red Sox hitter Jackie Bradley Jr. as it headed toward the short porch in right field at Fenway Park. Just before the would-be go-ahead home run traveled into the bleachers, Wilkerson leaped, snagged it, and rolled across the corner of the wall and back onto the playing surface.

What else can you say about the grab except: "Are you kidding me?"

Bruce Bochy manages last game with Giants

It's all over, folks.

Bruce Bochy's managerial career with the Giants officially ended Sunday with a 9-0 loss to the Dodgers.

The 64-year-old skipper began his final game with San Francisco by cradling his grandson in the Giants' dugout. He ended it with a tip of his cap and a farewell wave to opposing manager Dave Roberts.

In a postgame ceremony honoring the skipper, a horde of Bochy's favorite players walked toward him to shake his hand. Among them was Roberts, who had his Dodgers cap taken off his head and thrown away by Barry Bonds.

Bochy managed the Giants for 13 seasons after 12 years at the helm of the San Diego Padres. He won 1,052 games, three pennants, and three World Series titles with San Francisco.

His 2,003 managerial wins rank 11th all-time.