MLB Playoffs

Separated for most of the division series, the American League and National League coalesce for a full batch of MLB playoff action on Monday.

The Texas Rangers and Houston Astros, both sporting 2-1 leads, can punch tickets past the American League Division Series by winning Game 4. Each squad has a chance to advance at home against the favored opposition.

Jake Arrieta was far from perfect Monday night, but the Chicago Cubs managed to slug their way to victory in a pivotal Game 3 against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Powered by their young stars, the Cubs blasted six home runs against Michael Wacha and Co. to take a 2-1 lead in the National League Division Series.

Kyle Schwarber, Starlin Castro, Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Jorge Soler and Dexter Fowler each hit a homer, and Wacha couldn't escape the fifth inning. The Cubs became the first team in postseason history to have six different players hit a home run in one game.

First Pitch: 4 p.m. ET, Globe Life Park in Arlington

TV: FS1

Pitching Matchup: R.A. Dickey (11-11, 3.91 ERA) vs. Derek Holland (4-3, 4.91 ERA)

Keep it right here for all the live updates of the much-anticipated Royals vs. Astros Game 4 matchup.

Will the Astros knock off the reigning American League champs and celebrate on their home field? We'll provide in-game updates and analysis throughout the ALDS contest!

SCORE UPDATE: Royals 0 - 0 Astros, Top 1st

Follow Dan Ferrara on Twitter @BigRed_BR for more postseason analysis.

The Toronto Blue Jays will look to push the American League Divisional Series back home for a decisive Game 5 with a second consecutive win Monday afternoon against the Texas Rangers in Game 4.

As R.A. Dickey and Derek Holland prepare to take the ball in such a pivotal game, both the Blue Jays and Rangers will feel good about their chances of scoring runs. There’s also the potential of a David Price bullpen sighting that could alter the landscape of the series.

After the St. Louis Cardinals dominated Game 1 behind John Lackey's terrific start, the Chicago Cubs rebounded to even the series at 1-1 in Game 2 when they capitalized on some big mistakes from Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia.

Now the series heads to Wrigley Field for the pivotal Game 3, and the Cubs will have ace Jake Arrieta on the mound, while the Cardinals will counter with All-Star Michael Wacha.

Given Arrieta's recent run of otherworldly success, it would seem to be advantage Cubs in this one, but as we've seen time and again, anything can happen in October.

The table is far from set for a pair of league championship series, as the 2015 MLB postseason is producing a memorable divisional round that has every team fighting for their playoff lives.

In a literal sense, the Toronto Blue Jays didn't need Troy Tulowitzki's three-run homer on Sunday.

The blast came in the sixth inning of Toronto's pivotal Game 3 win over the Texas Rangers. The Jays were already leading 2-0 and went on to win 5-1 to stay alive in the best-of-five division series, which the Rangers now lead 2-1.

Put away those brooms, Texas Rangers.

After Texas won the first two games of the American League Divisional Series on the road against the Toronto Blue Jays, it failed to finish the sweep at home during Sunday's 5-1 loss. Marco Estrada saved his team's season with a clutch pitching performance and earned the victory behind 6.1 innings of five-hit, one-run ball.

FINAL SCORE: Blue Jays 5 - 1 Rangers

Troy Tulowitzki belted a three-run homer in the top of the sixth to help lead the Toronto Blue Jays to a 5-1 win over the Texas Rangers in Game 3 of the American League Division Series on Sunday night.

With the win, the Blue Jays forced a Game 4 on Monday and put the pressure on the Rangers to try and end the series before having to go back to Toronto.