Preview/Prediction

After losing the National League Division Series to the Chicago Cubs in four games, it'd be easy to call for sweeping change in St. Louis this winter.

But once emotions calm and sanity creeps back in, we'll remember that the Cardinals were baseball's most successful team during the regular season—and that a large part of that roster will be back in 2016.

The Chicago Cubs look to take care of business and eliminate the rival St. Louis Cardinals from the postseason behind starter Jason Hammel in front of the home crowd at Wrigley Field during Game 4 of the National League Division Series at 4:30 p.m. ET Tuesday.

Everything from late-game heroics to surprise outcomes to controversy has come about in six combined games of the National League Divisional Series, leaving no shortage of storylines for Tuesday's slate.

After scoring a combined 11 runs over the first two games of the National League Division Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets put on a show in Game 3, which saw 20 runs scored, 26 hits and the home team jump out to a 2-1 series lead.

But the series is far from over.

The American League is taking the day off ahead of two decisive Game 5's, so Tuesday's MLB Playoff stage belongs exclusively to the National League, as the Chicago Cubs and the New York Mets look to lock up their respective series. 

Monday's Home Run Derby at the Wrigley wind tunnel ended with the Cubs on top, giving them a 2-1 lead in their NLDS matchup. And the Mets broke the deadlock in their series in record-breaking fashion with 13 runs against the Dodgers. 

In just a few hours, (5:07 p.m. CT to be exact), a pivotal Game 3 of the of the National League Division Series will take place at the historic Wrigley Park, where the hometown Chicago Cubs are looking to break the series tie against the St. Louis Cardinals.

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.

While two teams reach the World Series, only one ultimately goes the distance, winning the four games necessary to sit atop the baseball world...at least until next year's Opening Day rolls around.

Not reaching the playoffs, much less the Fall Classic, fills players and fans alike with a deflating feeling, one that makes everyone involved believe that their combined efforts over the past six months were nothing more than a gigantic waste of everyone's time.

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.