The American League Division Series resumes Sunday with both teams from Texas inching closer to a Lone Star showdown in the League Championship Series.

The Houston Astros are looking to overcome a late loss on Friday and break a 1-1 tie against the defending AL champion Kansas City Royals at Minute Maid Park, where they posted the majors’ fifth-best home record (53-28). 

Don't think for a second that Game 3 of the American League Division Series is a must-win game only for the Toronto Blue Jays.

For while the Blue Jays are on the brink of extinction and need a win to stay alive, the Texas Rangers can ill afford to give their opponents any momentum—or give David Price (potentially) a chance for redemption in Game 4.

There's nothing like October baseball. As fall ushers in a seasonal shift, it signals a change in Major League Baseball with the game's elite beginning their quest for a World Series title. 

With the division series rolling on, the American League takes center stage on Sunday with one team on the cusp of clinching its place in the AL Championship Series. 

With the American League Division Series showdown between the Houston Astros and Kansas City Royals knotted 1-1, the scene shifts to Houston's Minute Maid Park for Game 3 at 4 p.m. ET Sunday.

Fact: Mets vs. Dodgers was the 1st game in postseason history in which each starter had at least 11 strikeouts.

Baltimore Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr. admitted Friday that he'd "answer the phone" if the Washington Nationals reached out to him about their managerial vacancy this offseason.

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.

The Seattle Mariners fired manager Lloyd McClendon on Friday after a disappointing 2015 season that saw the team once again fail to reach the postseason.  

Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times first reported the news, and Greg Johns of MLB.com passed along confirmation from the team.