MLB Playoffs

The Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers jumped out to 1-0 series leads in their respective ALDS series on Friday night, and while there is certainly still plenty of baseball to be played for their opponents, Game 2 will be crucial.

The Tampa Bay Rays and Oakland A's will be looking to even things up in Game 2 and avoid falling behind 0-2 prior to heading back home.

There are a few key adjustments for these two teams to make if they want to come away with a victory on Saturday, so here is a look at what they need to do before it's too late.

Now that every team has played at least one playoff game, here's a look at which teams have the best chance to win the World Series based on talent.

Regardless of how the early games of the series have played out, these are the teams that are the most dangerous. There is no clear favorite in the field, so each one of these teams should be viewed as contenders.

The Boston Red Sox will once again host the Tampa Bay Rays from Fenway Park on Saturday, as these rivals clash in Game 2 of the ALDS.

Each team enters with its own clear aspirations. Coming off a 12-2 rout, the Red Sox aim to repeat the process and open a commanding 2-0 series advantage. Tampa Bay, meanwhile, will do everything possible to stop the bleeding now and even up the matchup before the backdrop shifts to Tropicana Field.

The Detroit Tigers and Oakland Athletics will compete in Game 2 of the ALDS Saturday after the Tigers took Game 1, 3-2.

With the Tigers up in the series, the A's have some work to do in Game 2. Any mistake could be the difference between being down 2-0 or tied 1-1 heading to Detroit.

So, what does each team need to do to ensure they come out on top Saturday?

Here's a look at a few keys for each team to succeed in Game 2.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves are now tied at a game apiece for the National League Division Series title. Matt Kemp watched both games from the bench and will likely do the same for the entirety of the Dodgers' 2013 playoff run.

The Detroit Tigers wrested away home-field advantage from the Oakland Athletics, winning Game 1 of the ALDS, 3-2, on Friday night in the O.co Coliseum.

The Tigers hit the ground running in the top of the first inning.

Austin Jackson led off with a double to right field. The next batter, Torii Hunter, was hit by a pitch from A's starter Bartolo Colon and got a free pass to first base.

The Associated Press' Janie McCauley noted Colon had not hit a batter the entire regular season.

The Atlanta Braves can exhale after their exhilarating 4-3 win against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night tied the NLDS at 1-1.

Putting it another way, however, they'll need to take at least one of the next two games in L.A. to ensure that the series returns to the friendly confines of Turner Field.

Postseason success can define a baseball player's career.

Without his three home runs in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series, Reggie Jackson probably isn't remembered. Conversely, Alex Rodriguez is probably looked at more fondly if he made a better account of himself in the playoffs.

So who's going to be the hero of this postseason?

Mike Minor out-dueled Zach Greinke on Friday night, helping the Atlanta Braves tie the NLDS with a 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in front of a raucous crowd at Turner Field. 

After giving up a first-inning RBI double to Hanley Ramirez, it appeared as though Minor was intent on repeating Kris Medlen's performance from Thursday night's 6-1 drubbing. 

If St. Louis Cardinals fans partied it up on Thursday night in celebration, it’s likely that on Friday night they’re hitting the bottle.

What happened at Busch Stadium Friday afternoon was the polar opposite of Game 1 of the National League Division Series between the Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates.