MLB Playoffs

For one American League Division Series, Game 3 on Sunday could be an ending. For the other series, Game 3 on Sunday is all about controlling home-field advantage. In both series, winning Game 3 is critical.

Let's take a look at the remaining schedule and Game 3 odds while breaking down Sunday's crucial matchups.  

After earning a split in Kansas City, the Houston Astros now bring the American League Division Series to their home field and will have their ace on the mound for Game 3.

Left-hander Dallas Keuchel, who won 20 games during the regular season, including all 15 of his decisions (with a 1.46 ERA) at Minute Maid Park, will go for Houston against Kansas City Royals righty Edinson Volquez (13-9). Keuchel threw six shutout innings for the Astros on Tuesday in its AL Wild Card win over the New York Yankees.

We are already two games deep into each of the four Division Series matchups, and there are plenty of questions that need answering.

The Texas Rangers have stormed out to a surprising 2-0 lead on the Toronto Blue Jays with the series set to head to Arlington, while the other three series are all split 1-1 heading into a crucial Game 3.

The American League side will be back in action on Sunday, with the Kansas City Royals set to take on the Houston Astros at 4:00 p.m. ET and the Rangers/Blue Jays game following that one at 8:00 p.m. ET.

Don't think for a second that Game 3 of the American League Division Series is a must-win game only for the Toronto Blue Jays.

For while the Blue Jays are on the brink of extinction and need a win to stay alive, the Texas Rangers can ill afford to give their opponents any momentum—or give David Price (potentially) a chance for redemption in Game 4.

What happened to Ruben Tejada was awful. What happened to this division series was great.

A matchup that looked interesting before it began looks fascinating now. And Matt Harvey hasn't even pitched yet.

The Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals will face off Monday at Wrigley Field in Game 3 of the National League Division Series.

With the series tied 1-1, Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta will be taking the mound. Will the Cardinals be up to the challenge?

One road team has already snatched the early momentum in a pair of National League Division Series that look primed to go the distance entering Saturday's Game 2 action.

The first one was marvelous and historic. 

The pitching duel between New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom and Los Angeles Dodgers counterpart Clayton Kershaw is why pitchers get top billing in Game 1s. For the first time in postseason history, each starter struck out at least 11 hitters, but it was the Mets offense that broke through to take the lead in a National League Division Series with a 3-1 win Friday night at Dodger Stadium.

If Game 1 sets the tone for an entire series, the St. Louis Cardinals sent a serious message Friday night when they dominated the Chicago Cubs 4-0.

John Lackey continued his brilliance at Busch Stadium as he allowed just two hits over 7.1 scoreless innings, and the one-two punch of Kevin Siegrist and Trevor Rosenthal slammed the door on a three-hit shutout.

The Cubs offense will look to get back on track Saturday against left-hander Jaime Garcia, who has been equally impressive at home this year.

You can make this about Clayton Kershaw if you want. You can make this about Don Mattingly if you prefer.

Just don't forget why the Los Angeles Dodgers ace and manager are in a bind one game into a postseason that matters greatly to both of them. The seventh inning was only a problem because of what Jacob deGrom had already done in the first six.