MLB Playoffs Standings, Bracket & Schedule: Cubs Advance to NLCS; Blue Jays & Royals Try to do the Same in AL
The Chicago Cubs have eliminated the St. Louis Cardinals in just four games.
The Cardinals had the best record during the regular season (100-62), but that didn't affect the Cubs one bit. The Cubs dominated the Cardinals three games to one in the National League division series. The last time the Cubs were in the National League Championship Series was 2003, when they lost to the Florida Marlins. Joe Maddon is doing a phenomenal job as a manager in his first season with the team.
The Cubs will take on the winner of the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers series. That NLDS series is tied up at two games apiece thanks to a one run gem by Clayton Kershaw in Game 4. Now tied at two, the winner of Game 5 will advance to the next round. Baseball fans couldn't ask for much more in Game 5. We get a pitching duel between Jacob deGrom and Zack Greinke.
Game 5 will be played on Thursday, Oct. 15 at 8 p.m. EDT on TBS. The Dodgers will have home-field advantage in that game. The National League Championship series will begin on Saturday. Jake Arrieta will be starting in Game 1 in that series.
We also still have two series still underway in the American League.
The Toronto Blue Jays were down 0-2 in their series against the Texas Rangers, but have rallied back to even the series, 2-2. The Rangers and Blue Jays will face off in a winner take all Game 5 on Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 4 p.m. EDT on FOX Sports 1. Cole Hamels will get the start against Marcus Stroman.
The Blue Jays haven't won a playoff series since they won the World Series back in 1993. Joe Carter won't be walking through those doors anytime soon, but Josh Donaldson's bat has finally come alive this postseason. Oddly enough, the home team is 0-4 so far in this series. The Blue Jays used David Price in a relief position for Game 4, which worked. They got the win, but manager John Gibbons has been criticized for that decision because Price will not be able to start the decisive Game 5. We'll find out soon if that was a wise decision.
The other series going on the AL is between the Kansas City Royals and Houston Astros. You just can't count out these Royals, who are after all the defending AL champions. The Royals, who were just two innings away from elimination in Game 4, rallied to score seven runs in the final two innings. The series is now tied, and we will have to play another winner take all game.
Dallas Keuchel has been great this year for the Astros, but he will not be starting Game 5. Collin McHugh will get the start against Dominican ace Johnny Cueto. This is huge for Cueto, who was acquired midseason before the trade deadline from the Cincinnati Reds. Cueto is a dominant ace pitcher, but he has struggled big time in the postseason with a career 5.52 playoff ERA. This is the biggest game of his career.
Game 5 will be played on Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 8 p.m. EDT on Fox Sports 1.
Follow Damon Salvadore on Twitter @DamonSalvadore1
Subscribe to Latin Post!
Sign up for our free newsletter for the Latest coverage!