MLB Playoffs

Friday night at Nationals Park, we'll see something we haven't seen in more than 30 years: playoff baseball between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals. 

Of course, the last time these two teams met in the postseason, in the 1981 National League Championship Series, the Nationals were known as the Montreal Expos.

Thursday's Game 1s in the American League, which featured some of the most potent offenses in all of MLB, didn't lack the firepower we've come to expect from the the teams that have been doing it all year.

Given the quality of starting pitching in the National League this season, both National League Division Series openers, which will see three of the four teams' aces on the mound, should be high on excitement.

Don’t expect high-scoring affairs. But do expect every ground ball, relay throw and double play to matter.

Such is the case in playoff baseball, where everything is scrutinized. But while every stat will be dissected heading into these games, can you guess what’s most important to each team’s success?

Clayton Kershaw, David Price and Jon Lester are scheduled to headline a star-studded day of pitching Friday as the two American League Division Series roll on and both National League Division Series get underway after an entertaining first few days of playoff action.

The Cleveland Indians are attempting to match the Cavaliers by bringing a championship to their city in 2016.

From the way it was being billed, the American League Division Series showdown between the Toronto Blue Jays and Texas Rangers sounded less like a baseball affair and more like a prizefight.

If that's how it is, I'm compelled to say the Blue Jays have scored a first-round knockdown.

The Toronto Blue Jays took a 1-0 lead in the 2016 American League Division Series with a 10-1 victory over the Texas Rangers on Thursday in Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas. 

Marco Estrada pitched a gem for the Blue Jays. He stymied the Rangers offense over 8.1 innings, allowing one earned run on four hits and striking out six batters.

Former MLB reliever LaTroy Hawkins thought Estrada's changeup was particularly effective:

FINAL SCORE:  Indians 5, Red Sox 4, Cleveland leads the series, 1-0

The Cleveland Indians belted three home runs in the bottom of the third inning against Red Sox starter Rick Porcello, and defeated the Red Sox in the opener of the American League Division Series.

The Red Sox scored a run in the eighth inning on a Brock Holt home run, and had the tying run at third later that inning and on base again in the ninth but they could not push the tying run home.

Cody Allen struck out Dustin Pedroia on a breaking ball to end the game.

Two thrilling Wild Card Games are in the books, and we're set to begin the division series, with action kicking off on the American League side as the Texas Rangers host the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Blue Jays advanced to the ALDS with a 5-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles in Tuesday's AL Wild Card Game. Edwin Encarnacion delivered the big blow with a walk-off, three-run home run in the bottom of the 11th inning.

Meanwhile, the Rangers posted the best record in the AL at 95-67 en route to winning the AL West title by nine games over the Seattle Mariners.

The National League is the Chicago Cubs' to lose.

There are no locks in MLB's postseason, especially during the best-of-five division stage. Yet there's no argument over which club is best positioned to reach the World Series.