Ready for a full day of Major League Baseball playoff action? You better believe we are, because here it comes. On Friday, we'll get four straight playoff games. The American League Division Series will each have Game 2 while the two National League Division Series open play with Game 1. The division series round is a best-of-five series with the winners in each respective league moving on to square off in the League Championship Series.
Let's give the day a quick once-over with items of note in chronological order.
ALDS Rangers-Blue Jays, Game 2. 12:45p ET. MLB Network.
Rangers lead 1-0
Pitching matchup: Cole Hamels (13-8, 3.65) vs. Marcus Stroman (4-0, 1.67)
The Jays entered the postseason as the favorite to win it all, but they were outplayed in Game 1 and all the pressure is squarely on them for Game 2. As well, they have to deal with Hamels. In his postseason career, he's 7-4 with a 3.09 ERA. He won the NLCS and World Series MVPs in 2008.
Stroman is no slouch himself, as he's been lights out since returning from a torn ACL. He worked eight strong last time out, striking out eight and leading the Jays to clinching the AL East title.
We also know that both teams can hit good pitching, so it's not only going to come down to the men on the mound. The injuries are another matter.
For the Blue Jays, Josh Donaldson will be re-evaluated for a possible concussion before the game Friday. Jose Bautista also has a calf injury. If both of those players are out, the lineup looks significantly weaker.
On the Rangers side, it would be pretty shocking to see Adrian Beltre play, given how he could barely even jog before being removed in Game 2.
Unfortunately, injuries will have an impact on both lineups in this one.
ALDS Astros-Royals, Game 2. 3:45p ET. Fox Sports 1.
Astros lead 1-0
Pitching matchup: Scott Kazmir (7-11, 3.10) vs. Johnny Cueto (11-13, 3.44)
It seems rather imperative that the Royals get this game, as Astros ace and 20-game winner Dallas Keuchel awaits in Game 3. Not only that, but the Astros were awful on the road (33-48) and great at home (53-28) this year. What if they somehow win two on the road before coming home for two with their ace on the hill in Game 3?
The good news for Royals fans is that Scott Kazmir hasn't been very good for the Astros. Overall since the trade to Houston, he's 2-6 with a 4.17 ERA and 1.39 WHIP with a drastic decrease in strikeout rate. In his last two outings, he's coughed up 12 runs (10 earned) on 17 hits in just eight innings.
The bad news for Royals fans is that Johnny Cueto (4.76 ERA since coming to the Royals) is on the hill. There's some promise in his last four outings (3.24 ERA), but he's still allowed an opposing slash line of .296/.355/.378.
Maybe this comes down to the bullpens? If so, that favors the Royals.
NLDS Cubs-Cardinals, Game 1. 6:45p ET. TBS
Pitching matchup: Jon Lester (11-12, 3.34) vs. John Lackey (13-10, 2.77)
Riding a 97-win season and excellent Wild Card victory, the Cubs now get to face off against the mighty Cardinals. Former Red Sox teammates -- in fact, they just won the World Series together two years ago -- Lester and Lackey face off to begin what should be a must-watch series. The Cardinals won the season series, 11-8, but the Cubs took four of six from the Cardinals in September.
Check out the full series preview for more.
NLDS Mets-Dodgers, Game 1. 9:45p ET. TBS
Pitching matchup: Jacob deGrom (14-8, 2.54) vs. Clayton Kershaw (16-7, 2.13)
We're gonna hear a lot about Kershaw's 5.12 career postseason ERA compared to his regular-season resume leading up to the game and it's on him to stop that talk. He'll get the chance to do so against a Mets team that hit the ball much better in the season's final two months after the addition of Yoenis Cespedes and others (Kelly Johnson, Juan Uribe) during July, not to mention the promotion of Michael Conforto and return of David Wright.
As for deGrom, he had a terrible start on Sept. 15 and only started twice since then. He was impressive in six innings on Sept. 27 and then threw four no-hit innings on Oct. 4.
