MLB Playoffs Games for 10/8

The ALDS and the NLDS continue today, let’s take a look at both games.

National League Division Series Game 2

Washington Nationals vs. St. Louis Cardinals

4:37 PM ET, October 7

Busch Stadium

TBS

The Nationals and the Cardinals combined to leave 20 runners on base in Game 1 of the National League Division Series. It seemed like the only player that didn't leave anyone on was Tyler Moore, whose go-ahead two-run single gave the Nationals the lead and eventually a 1-0 lead in the series. The Cardinals have not lost back-to-back games since September 14-15 and will attempt to even the series when they host Game 2 on Monday.

The Cardinals totaled just three hits in Game 1 but still had the lead in the eighth inning before an error by shortstop Pete Kozma began a two-run rally, capped by Moore's single. The Cardinals lost the first game of both the National League Division Series and the National League Championship Series on the road last season before bouncing back to take Game 2. This time, however, the Cardinals are starting with the first two games at home before finishing with three straight in Washington. The Nationals have held opponents to two runs or less in four straight games dating back to the regular season and have a chance to grab a commanding 2-0 lead behind Jordan Zimmermann.

Pitching Matchup:

Jaime Garcia (7-7, 3.92 ERA) vs. Jordan Zimmermann (12-8, 2.94 ERA)

Jaime Garcia missed over two months during the regular season with a shoulder strain but hit his stride down the stretch, going 3-0 with a 2.10 ERA over his last four starts. The left-hander struck out 21 and issued only four walks in that span. Garcia struggled at Washington on August 30, getting pounded for six runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings to absorb the loss. Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth both homered off Garcia in that game. He is 2-1 with a 3.74 ERA in four career starts against the Nationals and went 0-2 with a 4.21 ERA in five starts against them this season.

Zimmermann was equally dominant down the stretch, going 3-0 with a 2.61 ERA in his last five turns. His final start came the Cardinals on September 29, and he allowed three runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings without factoring in the decision. That was a much better effort than his September 1 turn against the Cardinals, when Zimmermann was lit up for eight runs and eight hits in just 3 2/3 innings. He surrendered home runs to David Freese and Matt Holliday in that turn and is 0-2 with a 9.12 ERA in five career starts against the Cardinals.

American League Division Series Game 2

New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles

8:07 PM ET, October 8

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

TBS

The Yankees look to take a commanding lead in their American League Division Series against the Orioles when the division rivals square off in Game 2 at Camden Yards on Monday. The AL East champion Yankees drew first blood Sunday night, rallying for five runs in the ninth inning against Orioles closer Jim Johnson en route to a 7-2 triumph in a series opener whose start was delayed nearly 2 1/2 hours by rain.

Russell Martin snapped a 2-2 tie by leading off the ninth with a home run off Johnson, who led the major leagues with 51 saves in the regular season. The Yankees registered five of their 10 hits against Johnson, improving to 7-3 at Camden Yards this year. The Orioles held a 2-1 lead before surrendering six unanswered runs. They kept the red-hot Robinson Cano in check until the ninth as he went 0-for-4 before hitting a two-run double. Cano finished the regular season on a 24-for-39 tear.

Pitching Matchup:

Andy Pettitte (5-4, 2.87 ERA) vs. Wei-Yin Chen (12-11, 4.02 ERA)

Andy Pettitte, the all-time leader with 19 postseason wins, was better than expected as he returned from his one-year retirement. The 40-year-old, who made only 12 starts, tossed 11 scoreless innings over his first two starts following a broken fibula before allowing three runs in 5 2/3 frames of a loss at Toronto on September 29. Pettitte has dominated the Orioles over his career, going 27-6 with a 3.52 ERA in 42 games – including two relief appearances.

Wei-Yin Chen began his first major league season strong, winning his first four decisions while allowing two earned runs or less in six of his first seven starts. The 27-year-old native of Taiwan went 0-4 over his final seven outings but yielded more than three earned runs only twice during that stretch. Chen was 1-2 with a 5.25 ERA in four starts against the Yankees, surrendering a total of 11 runs in 11 1/3 frames in losing consecutive outings on September 1 and September 7.

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