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.
There is still a chance for the latter teams to turn things around, but there isn't much time in a five-game series.
The National League teams have yet to play a game, but they all know how important an opening win could be in a short round like this one.
With current play much more important than regular-season records, anything can happen in what could be the only four-game day of the playoffs. In order to follow the action, here is a guide for Friday, Oct. 9.
Texas Rangers at Toronto Blue Jays
Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
TV: MLB Network
Live Stream: MLB Network Live
Probable Starters: Cole Hamels (Rangers) vs. Marcus Stroman (Blue Jays)
The first game couldn't have gone worse for the Blue Jays. Their ace, David Price, had a rough day on the mound, while key hitters Josh Donaldson and Jose Bautista came down with injuries. With Cole Hamels starting Game 2 for the Rangers, the favorites in this series could be in trouble.
However, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported good news on the injury front:
These men are needed to help take on a former World Series MVP on the mound. Hamels showed he still can be elite in big moments with his complete-game win on the final day of the season, but in 12 starts with Texas, he allowed four or more runs four different times. He also allowed at least seven hits nine different times in this stretch.
He is certainly beatable if you can time his changeup or pounce on the fastball.
If there is an offense that can get to him, it is that of the Blue Jays, which led the majors in runs this season but was even better against left-handers. As a team, it had a league-leading 0.818 on-base percentage plus slugging, led by Donaldson's 1.024 mark.
As long as Marcus Stroman can keep up his end-of-season form (1.67 ERA in four starts), Toronto should be able to even up this series at home.
Prediction: Blue Jays 6, Rangers 3
Houston Astros at Kansas City Royals
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
TV: Fox Sports 1
Live Stream: Fox Sports Go
Probable Starters: Scott Kazmir (Astros) vs. Johnny Cueto (Royals)
The Game 2 battle will be one between pitchers acquired at the deadline who haven't quite fared as well as expected with their new teams.
Johnny Cueto had a 2.62 ERA with the Cincinnati Reds before joining the Royals, but he has struggled in the American League to the tune of a 4.76 ERA. Scott Kazmir hasn't been quite as bad in his new location, but his 4.17 ERA with the Astros is certainly worse than the 2.38 he posted with the Oakland Athletics.
Both pitchers have the talent to have a shutdown performance, but based on what we have seen through the second half of the season, fans should expect a high-scoring battle in Game 2.
While the Royals have the more consistent lineup with high batting averages, don't overlook the Houston Astros with their young stars and ability to hit a home run at just about any time. Closer Luke Gregerson also discussed the energy helping out the young team, via ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick:
You've got to give credit to these guys. This is a young team. But they come out with a lot of intensity and a lot of enthusiasm, and they expect to win. That's a great feeling to have. If you expect to just keep it close and maybe pull it out at the end, it's not going to work. This team wants a little more than that.
In fact, the team the Astros most resemble is the 2014 Royals, a squad with nothing to lose that just came out firing. They carried their momentum all the way to the World Series, and while this is a lofty goal for the Astros, they have the ability to take one step closer with a win on Friday.
Prediction: Astros 8, Royals 5
Chicago Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
TV: TBS
Live Stream: TBS.com
Probable Starters: Jon Lester (Cubs) vs. John Lackey (Cardinals)
Both Jon Lester and John Lackey have been good in big moments in their careers, but Lester has especially turned it on in the postseason. In 14 appearances, the veteran has a 2.57 ERA, including a 2.46 mark in his 12 starts. He has been even better in the divisional round, posting a 1.63 ERA in four starts.
He is obviously at his best in the World Series (one run allowed in 21 innings, two titles), but that's something to worry about at a later date.
In any case, after posting a 2.36 ERA in September, the 31-year-old starter has a chance for another dominant outing against a left-handed-heavy Cardinals lineup. In fact, the team with the best record in the majors ended the year dead last in batting average versus southpaws at .230.
While Lackey has pitched extremely well all year long, he could have more problems with a balanced Cubs lineup. Young stars like Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Kyle Schwarber have shown the ability to take anyone deep, especially against a starter that has allowed a home run in nine of his last 11 starts.
The Cubs come into this game with a nine-game winning streak and have no intention of breaking it against their most hated rivals.
Prediction: Cubs 4, Cardinals 2
New York Mets at Los Angeles Dodgers
Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
TV: TBS
Live Stream: TBS.com
Probably Starters: Jacob deGrom (Mets) vs. Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers)
This whole series is going to be pitching at its finest. New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom posted a 2.54 ERA and 0.98 WHIP this season with high strikeout rates and low walk rates. In many years, his numbers would be among the best in the majors. This season, they won't be enough to sniff the Cy Young Award.
The trio of Jake Arrieta, Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw has put up insane numbers across the board this season, as all three of them completely shut down opponents.
Kershaw, who has three Cy Young Awards in the past four years, could end up third in the voting despite topping 300 strikeouts.
Daniel Brim of Dodgers Digest noted how well the left-hander pitched compared to others and even himself:
Although he has struggled in the playoffs in years past, Kershaw is still the best overall pitcher in the game and should be expected to perform at that level with the spotlight on him in Game 1.
With the Mets offense going cold down the stretch, including just two runs scored in the final four games, it will be tough to get a hold of Kershaw.
Prediction: Dodgers 2, Mets 0
Statistics courtesy of MLB.com and Baseball-Reference.com.
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