In the wave of personnel changes in Major League Baseball since the season ended, the Philadelphia Phillies have been quiet in their pursuit of a new general manager, until now.

Continue for updates. 

After just two seasons as the manager of the Seattle Mariners, both without a playoff appearance, Lloyd McClendon is without a job.

Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times first reported McClendon would be relieved of his duties due largely to a change in the balance of power in Seattle's front office. Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal confirmed the firing.

There's not much time to rest for the Houston Astros and Kansas City Royals. About 16 hours after playing the first game of their American League Division Series, they will be at it again on Friday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium.

The rain was coming down during Thursday’s opening contest of the American League Division Series between the Houston Astros and Kansas City Royals.

Seriously, it was pouring:

There was a rain delay in the top of the third, so the Royals grounds crew had to roll out the tarp. One guy almost got eaten alive.

Two of the hottest lineups in baseball are slated for a showdown Thursday, as the Toronto Blue Jays host the Texas Rangers in Game 1 of the American League Division Series starting at 3:37 p.m. ET.

The Jays used a consistent attack and a successful trade deadline as fuel to skyrocket themselves to the top of the AL East for the past several months. Toronto accounted for a 48-23 record in the second half. Its offense averaged 5.5 runs per game and led the majors in home runs (232).

The New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers have been slated to clash in the National League Division Series for a few days now, but the St. Louis Cardinals' first postseason opponent was finalized Wednesday by virtue of the Chicago Cubs' 4-0 Wild Card Game win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. 

Improbable, a second chance, turnaround and a long time coming. Those four words and/or short phrases are apt descriptions for the four teams in play when the two American League Division Series begin on Thursday.

Baseball children: still the undefeated featherweight champions of the sports children world.

I've covered it before, so I won't elaborate further on the stranglehold of awesomeness baseball children have on the sector of youth/sports fandom.

Fact: Jake Arrieta is the first pitcher in MLB postseason history to throw a shutout with at least 10 strikeouts and no walks.

Bleacher Report will be bringing sports fans the most interesting and engaging Cold Hard Fact of the day, presented by Coors Light.

Source: SportsCenter

If you live in the Atlanta metropolitan area and hear a loud, prolonged steak-fart coming over your radio Wednesday, don't be alarmed.

That's just Mike Bell explaining his tweets.