MLB

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.

The New York Mets grinded out a massive 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the National League Division Series, notching the club's first playoff win since 2006 and seizing home-field advantage. 

In their first game of the 2015 postseason, the St. Louis Cardinals got a boost from two rookies and one guy who's being paid like a rookie.

The big difference, of course, is that the guy they're only paying like a rookie is 36 years old and is in the middle of what might be the finest season of a long, successful career.

The St. Louis Cardinals jumped out in front immediately against the Chicago Cubs and didn't look back, taking a 4-0 victory in Game 1 of the National League Division Series at Busch Stadium. 

Back-to-back hits from Stephen Piscotty and Matt Holliday put the Cardinals on the board in the first, giving John Lackey the chance to find his command and shut down the Cubs bats. Lackey pitched a dazzling two-hit shutout in 7.1 innings of action.

It worked out pretty well last year, didn’t it? 

The Kansas City Royals had a definitive formula to winning games during last year’s postseason, and quite frankly it is what they tried to rely on for much of the last two regular seasons.

It's October, and Kolten Wong is feeling himself.

The St. Louis Cardinals second baseman celebrated his two-out double in the second inning of Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Chicago Cubs by hitting the whip.

Wong was left on base, but the Cardinals still carried a 1-0 lead into the third.

The Kansas City Royals overcame an early three-run deficit to earn a 5-4 Game 2 win, evening the American League Division Series at 1-1.

It seemed like the Houston Astros were in great shape after winning Game 1 and scoring in each of the first three innings Friday, but the Royals offense totaled 11 hits and knocked opposing starter Scott Kazmir out in the sixth inning. Kansas City was then able to attack the bullpen, with Ben Zobrist hitting the go-ahead single in the seventh.