MLB Playoffs

Behind a brilliant outing from Jacob deGrom, the New York Mets opened their first postseason appearance in nine years with a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers, taking Game 1 of the National League Division Series.

One man. One pitch. That is what stands in the way of the New York Mets potentially taking a 1-0 National League Division Series lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night.

FINAL SCORE: Cardinals 4, Cubs 0

An old-fashioned pitching duel between good friends Jon Lester and John Lackey turned into a 4-0 victory for the St. Louis Cardinals as they jumped out to a 1-0 series lead over the Chicago Cubs.

Lester wound up the hard-luck loser after leaving the game with one on in the bottom of the eighth, as reliever Pedro Strop immediately served up a two-run bomb to Cardinals rookie outfielder Tommy Pham, who was taking his first career playoff at-bat.

There's not much time to rest for the Houston Astros and Kansas City Royals. About 16 hours after playing the first game of their American League Division Series, they will be at it again on Friday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium.

The rain was coming down during Thursday’s opening contest of the American League Division Series between the Houston Astros and Kansas City Royals.

Seriously, it was pouring:

There was a rain delay in the top of the third, so the Royals grounds crew had to roll out the tarp. One guy almost got eaten alive.

Four MLB playoff games will take place on Friday in what could be a wild day of baseball, so make sure you are prepared for all of the action.

Between the two Wild Card Games and the start of the division series, road teams are currently 4-0 in the 2015 postseason. This caused early exits for the New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates, while the Toronto Blue Jays and Kansas City Royals are on notice after falling behind in their series.

Less than one week into the 2015 MLB postseason, the road teams have debunked any home-field advantage.

After both away clubs advanced past the Wild Card Games, the road sides remained undefeated Thursday. The Texas Rangers beat the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre to open the American League Division Series, and the Houston Astros topped the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium to also take a 1-0 edge.  

On a full day of playoff baseball, the National League takes the Friday night shift to commence both NLDS matchups.

After eliminating the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday, the Chicago Cubs will now fight the St. Louis Cardinals for NL Central supremacy. Two veteran starters will collide to kick off their first-ever postseason meeting.

In 1995 the New York Mets felt they were on the verge of an All-Star pitching rotation consisting of Bill Pulsipher, Jason Isringhausen and Paul Wilson. This highly promoted young trio was dubbed "Generation K."

The Toronto Blue Jays entered their division-series matchup with the Texas Rangers as heavy favorites to not only win the series but to win the AL pennant, but the red-hot Rangers had other ideas.

Behind a solid start from Yovani Gallardo and some solid production from the bottom of the lineup, the Rangers walked away with a 5-3 win in Game 1.

So will the Rangers be able to jump out to a commanding 2-0 series lead on the road behind Cole Hamels in Game 2, despite being without third baseman Adrian Beltre?