American League
Rays (97-66) @ Astros (107-55)
Glasnow is 0-0, 1.46 in four starts (12.1 IP) since coming off the IL; he stretched out to 66 pitches in his last start. Glasnow is 1-0, 1.80 in one start vs Houston- this is his first playoff start. 

Verlander is 6-2, 1.94 in his last nine starts; he is 10-4, 3.17 in 20 starts vs Tampa Bay, and is 13-7, 3.19 in 25 playoff games (24 starts), 6-2, 2.83 in eight playoff starts for Houston. 

Rays won the Wild Card game Wednesday; they’re in playoffs for first time since 2013.  Tampa Bay is 1-3 in the ALCS, winning their first one in 2008, losing the last three. 

Houston is in playoffs for 4th time in five years; they won 2017 World Series, lost ALCS LY. Astros are 3-4 vs Tampa Bay this year; home side won five of the seven games. 

Twins (101-61) @ New York (103-59)
Berrios is 3-0, 2.08 in his last four starts; he is 1-2, 5.79 in three starts vs NYY, 0-2, 9.82 in two starts in the Bronx (allowed 8 runs in 7.1 IP). Berrios gave up three runs in three IP in his only postseason start, which was here two years ago. 

Paxton is 10-1, 2.51 in his last 11 starts; he is 3-1, 2.27 in six starts vs Minnesota. Paxton missed his last start with a pulled glute muscle; this is his first playoff start. 

Minnesota lost Wild Card game here in 2017, their only playoff appearance since 2010; they’re 2-4 vs NYY this year, with road team winning four of the six games. Average total in those six games was 13.5. 

New York is in playoffs for 4th time in last seven years, after making it 17 of 18 years before that; they won three of last five trips to the ALDS.

National League
Cardinals (1-0) @ Braves
Flaherty is 4-2, 1.13 in his last eight starts; he is 1-1, 4.32 in three starts vs Atlanta. This is his first playoff appearance. 

Foltynewicz is 4-1, 1.50 in his last five starts; he is 3-4, 7.64 in seven starts vs St Louis and is 0-1, 7.50 in two playoff starts. 

St Louis is in the playoffs for first time in four years, after making it every year from 2011-15. Cardinals are 3-4 in seven games with Atlanta this year, 2-2 in this ballpark- they scored six runs in last two innings yesterday. 

Atlanta is in playoffs for 2nd year in a row after a 4-year absence; they lost their last seven appearances in the NLDS, dating back to 2002. Atlanta’s seven relievers allowed six runs in Game 1, while getting only 14 outs. 

Nationals @ Dodgers (1-0)
Strasburg threw three scoreless innings in relief Tuesday; he is 2-0, 1.88 in his last four starts, and is 3-5, 2.54 in 11 starts vs LA, 0-3, 2.08 in four starts at Dodger Stadium. Strasburg is 2-2, 0.41 in four career playoff games (3 starts). 

Kershaw is 3-0, 2.79 in his last four games; he is 12-3, 2.23 in 17 games (16 starts) vs Washington, and is 9-10, 4.32 in 30 career playoff games (24 starts). 

Washington won the Wild Card game Tuesday, then got shut out last night; they’re in playoffs for fifth time in eight years. Nationals lost in NLDS last four times they were in playoffs, three times in a 5th game.. 

Dodgers are 5-3 vs Washington this year, 3-2 in games games played here; average total in the four games played in LA is 6.0. LA is in playoffs for 7th year in a row, losing the World Series the last two years.