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The two league championships series are underway, but there is clearly a long way to go for any of the teams to clinch a spot in the World Series.

The Cleveland Indians are obviously in the best shape after their two wins over the Toronto Blue Jays, but they will have to find a way to keep it up when they go on the road. Considering the impact of the Rogers Centre in the postseason, this will not be easy.

In the National League, the Chicago Cubs got a big momentum boost when Miguel Montero hit a game-winning, pinch-hit grand slam in the eighth inning of an eventual 8-4 win. Still, this was just one win of four needed before knocking out the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

The rest of both series will be worth watching regardless of your rooting interests.

ALCS

This series was supposed to feature a lot of scoring and plenty of home runs, but that hasn’t been the case through the first two games. Instead, the Indians were able to jump out to a 2-0 lead thanks mostly to their pitching.

Zack Meisel of Cleveland.com noted just how good the pitchers have been in the postseason:

Josh Tomlin keyed a 2-1 win in Game 2 after Corey Kluber was the star in a 2-0 Game 1 victory. Of course, the bullpen has also been a major part of the success. According to Jeff Sullivan of FanGraphs, Cleveland’s relievers have combined for a 1.10 ERA while allowing a .473 on-base plus slugging percentage and earning strikeouts at a 44 percent rate.

Andrew Miller has been the real star of the show so far in the ALCS, pitching 3.2 scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts and just one hit allowed. He really mowed down the batters in Game 2:

If he and Cody Allen can keep up their strong play out of the bullpen, it will be a challenge for the Blue Jays to get any runs in this series.

Still, Toronto will not go down without a fight. Manager John Gibbons discussed the urgency down 0-2, per Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet:

The Blue Jays are hitting .212 as a team with zero home runs in the first two games. This came after hitting eight home runs in three games in the ALDS. Josh Donaldson and Edwin Encarnacion are still getting hits, but it isn’t enough.

While the pitchers have held their end of the bargain for the most part, the offense has clearly been disappointing so far.

They now have a chance to turn things around against Trevor Bauer, who had a 4.26 ERA during the regular season and failed to get out of the fifth inning in his only postseason start. The right-hander allowed two home runs in that game and 20 during the year, which could put him in danger against Toronto.

With the crowd likely to inspire the Blue Jays players throughout the game, look for the squad to try to turn things around in Game 3 Monday.

NLCS

The big story after Game 1 was undoubtedly the big swing by Montero. The catcher came up to the plate in a 3-3 game and took an 0-2 pitch off Joe Blanton and sent it deep into the bleachers.

Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports didn’t mince words with his thoughts on the play:

Montero didn’t have a single hit in the NLDS while going 0-for-4, but he is now batting 1.000 in the NLCS, and that is all fans care about right now.

While the home run was clearly the biggest moment of the game, the Cubs showed a lot of ability throughout the nine innings.

Jon Lester was impressive as a starter with six innings of one-run ball. Dexter Fowler, Kris Bryant and Javy Baez each had two hits. Baez even found a way to steal home for the team’s third run of the game.

Add in some incredible defense all around, and Chicago truly has all the tools necessary to keep winning. It’s not a surprise this group won 103 games during the regular season.

While there is concern over Aroldis Chapman, who suffered his second blown save of the playoffs, the 1.55 regular-season ERA and the lights-out fastball should allow Cubs fans to rest easier.

On the other hand, the Dodgers had an uphill battle in this game to start. The pitching staff was short-handed after a dramatic Game 5 win against the Washington Nationals two days earlier and still needs a little bit of time to recover.

With ace Clayton Kershaw on the mound in Game 2, Los Angeles should have plenty of confidence in its ability to even the series.

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The MLB playoffs have been everything fans could have hoped for, from shocking game finishes to surprising series wins.

As Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports noted, one team is going to get its first World Series win in a long time:

Obviously, the Chicago Cubs have been waiting the longest, but all these teams are in new territory for this generation, creating plenty of unknowns moving forward. While uncertainty makes the game fun, here is an attempt to predict what will happen over the next couple of weeks.

American League Championship Series

These two teams have been flawless to this point in the postseason.

The Cleveland Indians won all three games in their series against the Boston Red Sox and are +375 (bet $100 to win $375) to win the World Series, but the Toronto Blue Jays (+225) have won all four of their contests, including the AL Wild Card Game against the Baltimore Orioles.

Kirk Bohls of the Austin American-Statesman sums up what makes Toronto so dangerous:

The pitching came with Aaron Sanchez struggling, which means it could be even better in the next round. The real strength of the team, though, is the lineup, which has produced 10 home runs in four games so far in the playoffs.

Josh Donaldson hasn’t gone yard yet in the playoffs, but he does have five doubles to go with his .500 batting average.

This offense is a terror for opposing pitchers when it is clicking, especially for an Indians rotation that is already short-handed.

Cleveland does have a few tricks up its sleeve, however, including an elite bullpen. Cody Allen has been steady as the closer, although Andrew Miller is the real star as a versatile weapon who can be used in any inning.

“I know sometimes people don’t think a reliever can impact your team as much as a player position [can]. I would argue that point,” Indians manager Terry Francona said, per Dave Sheinin of the Washington Post. “He has been everything we hoped for. We gave up a lot of good players for him. That’s how much we think of Andrew.”

Francona has done everything he can to get the most out of the lefty, and he will be extremely valuable out of the pen to quiet Toronto’s bats for a couple of innings at a time. Unfortunately, there are only so many innings Miller will be able to pitch in a seven-game series.

The bullpen will make an impact, and Corey Kluber is still one of the most talented starters in the game, but the rest of the staff is full of question marks.

Cleveland has an elite offense as well, with Jason Kipnis and Jose Ramirez hitting well so far in the playoffs, but the Blue Jays will be able to match on the scoreboard for most of the series. Each game should be a back-and-forth battle, but Toronto should be able to advance to the World Series.

Prediction: Blue Jays 4, Indians 3

National League Championship Series

Like the Indians, the Los Angeles Dodgers showed a lot of creativity with their ability to win in the division series.

Game 5 against the Washington Nationals featured a save by Clayton Kershaw just two days after he threw 110 pitches as a starter. Kenley Jansen also came up big with 2.1 innings of relief work, all after Rich Hill pitched 2.2 innings on three days’ rest.

Los Angeles began Thursday at +900 to win the World Series, although that will likely drop to closer to 4-1 or 5-1 odds after moving on to the NLCS.

The Dodgers have trustworthy starters and a lineup that mixes youngsters and veterans, any of whom are able able to come through with a big hit when needed.

On the other hand, the squad is coming into the next round in rough shape after leaving everything on the line against Washington. There are a lot of question marks about who will pitch the first couple of games, not to mention whether anyone in the bullpen will be available.

The Chicago Cubs have no such problems after having a few days of rest leading up to Game 1.

Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta and Kyle Hendricks are all elite starters who can shut down an opposing lineup, while the Cubs offense is almost unstoppable from top to bottom.

There is a reason the squad is only +160 to win the World Series despite the organization not winning it all since 1908.

Chicago was by far the best team in the league during the regular season and is built to win over a seven-game series. This one should go according to plan.

Prediction: Cubs 4, Dodgers 1

Note: All World Series odds courtesy of Odds Shark.

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It was truly all hands on deck for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5. 

Clayton Kershaw got the save on one day of rest after starting Game 4, following 2.1 strong innings from Kenley Jansen out of the bullpen. Six different pitchers took the mound for the Dodgers on Thursday as they secured a 4-3 win over the Washington Nationals in a winner-take-all battle.

Mike Petriello of MLB.com summed up the drama in the last inning:

MLB Stat of the Day provided an interesting note on Kershaw’s performance:

While the game was good throughout, the action picked up in the seventh inning. Down 1-0, the Dodgers scored four runs against a record six different Nationals pitchers to take the three-run lead.

Washington was able to answer back with two runs in the bottom of the inning but failed to capitalize on a bases loaded situation that would have tied the game or given the Nationals the lead.

ESPN Stats and Info recapped all the action from a busy inning:

The Nationals had two more chances to tie the game but couldn’t get it done against either Jensen or Kershaw, ending their season at home.

Los Angeles’ bullpen finished with 6.1 innings pitched after starter Rich Hill did all he could on three days’ rest, allowing one run in 2.2 innings while striking out six. Joe Blanton and Julio Urias kept the Nats off the board for the next 3.1 innings.

Justin Turner and the Dodgers then only needed one inning to get all of their offense to secure the win and move on to the National League Championship Series against the Chicago Cubs. 

Max Scherzer looked every bit of the Cy Young contender he is to start the game, throwing bullets out of the gate, per ESPN Stats and Info:

He sent the Dodgers down in order in each of the first two innings and didn’t give up a hit until the fifth. He ended up with six shutout innings before giving up his only run in the seventh.

Meanwhile, the Nationals were able to get on the scoreboard in the second inning when Danny Espinosa hit an RBI single to bring home Daniel Murphy.

Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post provided some perspective on the surprising hit:

Washington challenged once again in the third inning with two runners on base, forcing the Dodgers to make an early pitching change. Hill gave way to Blanton, who coaxed a fly ball from Anthony Rendon to get out of the inning.

The Dodgers then had their own chance in the top of the fifth but struggled once again with the bases loaded, as described by Scott Miller of Bleacher Report:

According to Baseball Tonight, they fell to 0-for-9 with the bases loaded in the series.

Scherzer was otherwise cruising on the mound, thanks in part to Jose Lobaton behind the plate, per Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports:

He ended the night with seven strikeouts in a strong effort to keep Washington in the game.

The two sides traded zeroes on the scoreboard as the game continued, with the Nationals only hurting themselves with outs on the basepaths. Bryce Harper was picked off to end the fifth, while Jayson Werth was thrown out at home by a mile in the sixth.

It took until the seventh inning for the Dodgers to get on the scoreboard. Joc Pederson drove a ball over the left field wall, knocking Scherzer out of the game in the process.

Later in the inning, a pinch-hitting Carlos Ruiz came through with an RBI single to give Los Angeles the 2-1 lead. Two batters later, Justin Turner drove in two more runs with a triple.

Brian McNally of 106.7 The Fan captured the moment at Nationals Park:

Of course, the game was far from over as Chris Heisey hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh to cut the lead to one. This led to a bold move from Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, which was praised by Kevin Burkhardt of Fox Sports:

Jansen got out of the inning after striking out Rendon with the bases loaded. The closer followed that up by getting through the eighth inning as well. By the time he got the first out in the ninth inning, he had set a career high in pitches in a game.

After walking Harper and Werth, however, it was time for Kershaw to get his moment, just one game after throwing 110 pitches.

Pedro Gomez of ESPN noted what makes this game different than all others:

The ace did his job, getting Murphy to pop out before striking out Wilmer Difo and securing the win.

Dan Plesac of MLB Network provided this amazing statistic on Kershaw’s save:

Passan explained what this means for the lefty going forward:

There isn’t a lot of time for the Dodgers to celebrate, as Game 1 of the NLCS is Saturday at 8 p.m. ET. The Chicago Cubs are waiting and rested after beating the San Francisco Giants in four games in the NLDS.

The Cubs are certainly favored following a season in which they posted by far the best record in baseball, but Los Angeles won’t go down without a fight.

Postgame Reaction

Nationals manager Dusty Baker expressed skepticism about where the Dodgers will go from here after using their best arms Thursday, per J.P. Hoornstra of the Southern California News Group:

On the other hand, Roberts was only concerned with using his best pitchers when it mattered, per Ryan Schuiling of 92.1 FM:

Considering the Dodgers are moving on while Washington is going home, Roberts likely feels good about his choices in Game 5.

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Terry Collins won’t commit to the New York Mets beyond the 2017 season.

The 67-year-old manager said Thursday the upcoming season could be his last, according to Adam Rubin of ESPN.com. 

“I just need to re-evaluate at the end of this coming year what’s going on, where I am, how I’m feeling,” Collins said. “I’ve always said a lot of it will be dictated by how I’m feeling. This was a tough year.”

The 2016 season was a strenuous one for the oldest manager in the majors, featuring an assortment of injuries to key players like David Wright, Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and others. Despite the issues, the Mets were still able to reach the postseason with an 87-75 record before losing to the San Francisco Giants in the National League Wild Card Game.

In addition to the stress involved in coaching, Collins also cited the travel as holding him back:

It takes a toll on everybody. You talk to the players. If you noticed, that [Labor Day game] was the day we gave everybody off because they were stinking beat. This travel is hard, especially with the late-night scheduling that is prevalent throughout baseball. There are so many night games where you’re traveling after the game and getting into towns at 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning. And the next thing you know, if you ever have a day game pop up on you, it’s tough to do.

Collins has managed the Mets for six seasons, compiling a 481-491 record in that span. He led the squad to the World Series in 2015 and became just the second manager in franchise history to take the team to the playoffs in consecutive seasons. 

Prior to his time in New York, he spent six years managing the Houston Astros and the then-Anaheim Angels during the 1990s and has a 925-925 record in his career.

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Three of the four spots in the league championship series are set, with only the Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Dodgers left to decide who will advance.

The divisional series provided plenty of drama, between the Toronto Blue Jays’ walk-off win to the Chicago Cubs’ improbable comeback in Game 4. On the other hand, these two teams and the Cleveland Indians combined to lose just one game as they advanced to the next round of the playoffs.

Fans will at least get to watch one winner-take-all battle in the opening round, and this has the potential to exceed expectations. Here is what you need to know for the final NLDS battle.

Dodgers vs. Nationals

When: Thursday, Oct. 13

Where: Nationals Park; Washington, D.C.

Time: 8 p.m. ET

TV: Fox Sports 1

Odds (via Odds Shark): Dodgers (+135), Nationals (-150)

Preview

As with most baseball games, the biggest story coming in is the pitching probables. The Nationals will use their ace in Max Scherzer, while the Dodgers will start Rich Hill on only three days’ rest. While both pitchers had outstanding seasons, they are each coming off poor showings so far in the postseason.

Scherzer, who is a top contender for the NL Cy Young Award, allowed four runs in six innings in a Game 1 loss. The talented pitcher took full responsibility for the loss after the game. 

“Giving up those two home runs, I really feel like that was the difference in the ballgame,” Scherzer said Friday, per Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press. “I’m accountable for that and I’ll shoulder that and I’ll take the blame for that. I know I’m capable of executing pitches at a higher level, and I’ve got to do it.”

While Scherzer does have a bad game every now and then, Nationals fans should be happy about the fact he rarely doubles up on these performances. Only once during the regular season did the veteran pitcher allow more than four runs in back-to-back starts.

Hill is also coming off an impressive season where he posted a 2.12 ERA, but there are more question marks for him entering Thursday’s game. The 36-year-old starter doesn’t go deep into games ordinarily, averaging 85.2 pitches per game with the Dodgers this year. Coming back on short rest, it would be almost a miracle for him to top five innings.

As Holden Kushner of TuneIn noted, Los Angeles will use as many pitchers as needed:

Julio Urias won’t get the start, but you can be certain the 20-year-old lefty will see the field at some point in this important game.

No matter who is on the mound for the Dodgers, however, it will be a serious challenge to keep this Nationals lineup off the scoreboard.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today gave praise for the red-hot Daniel Murphy after his four-RBI performance in Game 4:

Murphy is hitting .462 in the postseason a year after breaking out in the playoffs with the New York Mets. Meanwhile, Jayson Werth (.467), Trea Turner (.353) and Ryan Zimmerman (.333) have been outstanding as well in the four games to this point. If Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon play to their abilities, this could be a high-scoring effort.

The Dodgers just haven’t seen the same type of effort from their offense with the exception of Justin Turner. Even Corey Seager has lacked consistency outside of a few big hits.

At the least, Washington should be able to get enough runs at home to give Scherzer breathing room. The starter can take care of the rest and lead the Nationals into the NLCS.

Prediction: Nationals 4, Dodgers 2

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One division series is already in the books, and two more could end Monday in a loaded day of action in the MLB playoffs.

The Toronto Blue Jays were the first team to earn a spot in the American League Championship Series with their walk-off win over the Texas Rangers. The Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians, both up 2-0 in their respective series, have a chance to move on to the next round by the end of the night.

Only the Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Dodgers are tied in their series as we head to Game 3.

Still, nothing is decided until the series are over, so make sure to tune in to the upcoming battles.

Previews

Nationals vs. Dodgers

The Nationals saw their best hitter on the season go 3-for-3, while an unlikely source had the biggest hit of the day. Backup catcher Jose Lobaton came through with a three-run home run in the fourth inning that ended up being the deciding factor in the game.

Joe Sheehan of Sports Illustrated summed up an unlucky day for the Dodgers:

Los Angeles only scored two runs but certainly had opportunities on the day. As ESPN Stats & Info noted, the missed chances were out of character for this squad:

From a long-term perspective, it’s a positive the Dodgers were getting so many runners on. It is only a matter of time before these turn into runs.

In reality, the game will likely be decided by Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez. The lefty is one of the most volatile starters in the league, capable of fantastic performances but also devastating starts that give his squad little chance of victory.

After posting a 7.43 ERA in five September starts, it’s difficult to trust him in the upcoming road battle.

Prediction: Dodgers 5, Nationals 3

Indians vs. Red Sox

Game 3 of the Indians vs. Red Sox was initially scheduled for Sunday but was rained out and rescheduled for Monday, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today.

In reality, it won’t matter when the game is played if the Boston Red Sox can’t get a better performance from the pitching staff. After Cy Young candidate Rick Porcello allowed five runs in Game 1, David Price followed up with five runs allowed in Game 2.

All of a sudden, Boston is forced to turn to Clay Buchholz, who had just a 4.78 ERA on the season while bouncing in and out of the starting rotation.

The Cleveland Indians have a deep lineup that ensures few easy matchups for Buchholz throughout the day. With the way Jason Kipnis, Jose Ramirez and others have performed to this point, it’s hard to imagine this offense is going to quiet down any time soon.

On the other side, the Red Sox offense is much better than it has shown so far in this series, with players such as David Ortiz and Mookie Betts barely making an impact. It seems like only a matter of time before this group explodes for a big outing.

Still, Josh Tomlin has pitched well for Cleveland down the stretch, holding opponents to two or fewer runs in each of his last four starts. The Red Sox could finally get on the board at home in Fenway Park, but it might not be enough to hang with the opposition to stay in the series.

Prediction: Indians 7, Red Sox 4

Cubs vs. Giants

It’s clear that the Chicago Cubs are the best team in baseball. They can win with pitching, they can win with hitting and they recently showed they can even win with hitting pitchers.

Travis Wood hit a home run in Game 2 as a reliever, helping the home team secure an ugly 5-2 win over the San Francisco Giants. 

While this isn’t something the squad will rely on each game, the Cubs can count on a long list of players to step up when needed.

“We’re a very deep team,” catcher David Ross said Saturday, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post. “We have a group that [manager] Joe [Maddon] has utilized all year. We are not the typical best team in baseball that uses the same lineup every day.”

On the other hand, it might not matter what lineup the Cubs throw out Monday with a matchup against Madison Bumgarner.

Sporting News contributor Ryan Spaeder explained just how good the left-hander has been in big moments in his career:

This isn’t a winner-take-all game, but the Giants’ season is on the line down 0-2. Bumgarner also has a 1.94 ERA in his 15 career postseason appearances.

While Chicago is still in the driver’s seat in this series, one unstoppable pitcher will keep San Francisco’s hopes alive.

Prediction: Giants 2, Cubs 0

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A wild play in the bottom of the 10th inning helped the Toronto Blue Jays complete a three-game sweep of the Texas Rangers with a 7-6 win in Game 3 to close out the American League Division Series on Sunday.

With two runners on and the score tied at 6-6, Russell Martin hit a potential inning-ending double-play ball to shortstop. However, Rougned Odor’s throw to first base was off and Josh Donaldson raced home for the walk-off victory:

The run put the Blue Jays in rare company, per ESPN Stats & Info:

Even Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau chimed in on the victory:

Britt McHenry of ESPN believes this is just the start for Toronto:

It was not a great night for pitching, as both starters struggled on the mound. Rangers pitcher Colby Lewis couldn’t get an out in the third inning, allowing five runs in 2.0 innings of work. Blue Jays starter Aaron Sanchez lasted 5.2 innings, but he was charged with six runs.

Mike Peasley of ESPN Radio praised the relievers on both sides, who performed better:

The Texas bullpen allowed only two unearned runs in 7.2 innings, while Toronto’s squad threw 4.1 scoreless innings.

However, the Blue Jays came through when it mattered in the 10th inning.

The Rangers got on the board without even recording a hit in the first inning. Carlos Gomez walked and eventually came home on a Carlos Beltran groundout.

However, the Blue Jays took control of the game thanks to first-inning home runs by Edwin Encarnacion and Russell Martin.

Alykhan K. Ravjiani of MLB.com broke down the impressive numbers on Encarnacion’s homer:

Martin also broke a rough stretch in the postseason, as Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports noted:

After an Elvis Andrus home run cut the Rangers’ deficit to 3-2 in the top of the third, the Blue Jays offense again came through with RBI hits by Josh Donaldson and Encarnacion to extend the lead to 5-2 in the bottom half of the inning.

The third inning got the Toronto crowd feeling excited about potentially clinching the series. The game was far from over, though.

Odor lived up to his role as the villain in Toronto by blasting a two-run home run to cut the deficit to 5-4 in the top of the fourth.

Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com noted the mood of the stadium:

Texas took the lead in the sixth inning on a two-run double by Mitch Moreland.

Barry Davis of Sportsnet noted how close Moreland’s hit was to being caught:

Nomar Mazara then made a great catch with runners on to keep Toronto from regaining the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Mazara’s play came immediately after Troy Tulowitzki tied things up at 6-6 on a passed ball.

Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News questioned All-Star catcher Jonathan Lucroy’s defense:

The bullpens stepped up, though, as the game remained tied for the next three innings.

Donaldson started the Blue Jays’ rally in the 10th with a leadoff double, and he eventually came through with the game-winning run a few batters later, helping Toronto into the next round.

The Blue Jays’ win sent them to the American League Championship Series, where they will face the winner of the ALDS battle between the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox. Game 3 in that series was postponed, but the Indians hold a 2-0 lead and can clinch Monday.

Game 1 of the ALCS is set for Friday.

Post-Game Reaction

The bullpens were a big story of this game with Toronto closer Roberto Osuna pitching two shutout innings and earning the win. Donaldson was happy with his teammate’s performance, per Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet:

Meanwhile, Rangers manager Jeff Banister had to give credit where it was due after the series, per Newy Scruggs of NBC Sports:

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The MLB offseason is here for the majority of teams around the league, and all of those squads are looking to see how to improve toward next season.

Although there aren’t many impact free agents available in the 2017 class, a team can add a game-changing talent if it is willing to pay the price.

Here are some of the latest rumors surrounding the top players on the market.

Yoenis Cespedes, OF

In a weak year for free agents, all eyes are going to be on Yoenis Cespedes.

The outfielder signed a three-year contract before the start of the 2016 season with the ability to opt out after the first year. It gave him protection against an injury or poor performance, but the smart financial decision is to become a free agent and see what he can get on the open market.

According to ESPN.com’s Adam Rubin, the Mets “fully expect” Cespedes to become a free agent.

This goes against what he said about honoring his three-year contract back in August, per Bob Klapisch of NorthJersey.com, although he wouldn’t be the first player to say one thing and change his mind later in the year.

Cespedes was also thinking about returning after the wild-card loss to the San Francisco Giants, per Mike Puma of the New York Post:

However, the Mets front office might not be willing to give the talented player what he can get in other places. Rubin explained the team’s thought process:

The belief is that the Mets will offer a similar arrangement to Cespedes‘ current contract — a front-loaded, short-term deal with an opt-out after 2017, which would give Cespedes extra incentive to perform. General manager Sandy Alderson generally is averse to longer-term deals, and there is particular concern that Cespedes might not provide maximum effort for the duration of a lengthy contract without the carrot of an opt-out clause.

After Cespedes hit 48 home runs with 130 RBI in 189 games over the last year and a half with the Mets, he deserves a long-term deal. Plenty of other teams will likely offer him that type of contract.

While the 30-year-old might want to return to New York, another team that is willing to pay will be able to get him signed.

Predicted destination: Houston Astros

Edwin Encarnacion, DH

Few sluggers have been as underappreciated over the past few years as Edwin Encarnacion.

The Toronto Blue Jays star has 193 home runs over the last five seasons with at least 34 each year. This season, he led the American League with 127 RBI.

Although he might not be the most well-rounded player, Encarnacion is clearly a big-time middle-of-the-order hitter.

This is going to lead to a hefty contract for the 33-year-old veteran. Jon Morosi of MLB.com believed he could end up with $25 million per year for four or five seasons. Jeff Blair of Sportsnet also explained Encarnacion will have a bigger list of suitors because teams believe he can play first base every day.

It doesn’t seem likely the Blue Jays will be able to afford him, but there will be no shortage of teams interested in a player of his ability.

One is the Kansas City Royals, who had a disappointing follow-up season to their World Series title in 2015. As Jim Bowden of ESPN.com wrote, “The Royals’ top priority this offseason is to add a bat, preferably a right-handed slugger.”

Encarnacion appears to be the perfect fit for a team that should be back in contention next season.

Predicted destination: Kansas City Royals

Lourdes Gurriel, INF

Every team is looking for the next great young international player, and Lourdes Gurriel could be that target.

The brother of Houston Astros infielder Yulieski Gurriel, Lourdes is just 22 years old and possesses plenty of talent, leading to a lot of interest around the league.

According to Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball, the Cuban is “in the process of setting up private workouts for a half-dozen or so teams.”

He lists the Boston Red Sox, Astros, Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals as interested teams. 

Nick Krueger of SEC Country noted the player had a slash line of .344/.407/.560 against the best competition Cuba had to offer last year. While it is obviously a step up to the major leagues, there is a lot of potential in this young hitter.

Considering he can also play a premium position at either shortstop or second base, Gurriel could end up landing a big deal right out of the gate.

Predicted destination: Miami Marlins

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An exciting start to the 2016 MLB postseason should have fans ready for even more in the coming days.

The Toronto Blue Jays became the first big winner of October when Edwin Encarnacion hit a walk-off home run to seal a 5-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles in the American League Wild Card Game. It took 11 innings to decide the one-game battle, with plenty of drama on both sides.

Still, the playoffs are just getting started, with a handful of battles likely to go down to the wire. Here is a look at some of the upcoming matchups to watch as the postseason continues.

National League Wild Card

San Francisco Giants vs. New York Mets

The second winner-take-all game of the week, the NL Wild Card Game is even more heavily anticipated thanks to the pitching matchup.

Noah Syndergaard gets the ball for the New York Mets after an outstanding year in which he ranked in the top five in the NL in ERA (2.60) and strikeouts (218). Of course, San Francisco Giants starter Madison Bumgarner also accomplished that feat with a 2.74 ERA and 251 strikeouts. He also pitched 43 more innings than his upcoming opponent.

While Syndergaard performed well in his first taste of the playoffs last year, he can’t even approach what Bumgarner has done in his career, tallying a 2.14 career postseason ERA in 14 appearances. He already has three World Series titles in his career, winning MVP in 2014.

John Buccigross of ESPN noted how good the southpaw has been on the road:

He also isn’t planning on holding back in the one-game series:

Bumgarner pitched a complete-game shutout in his last start in this round, so the Mets should be afraid.

Relying on lefties in the lineup such as Curtis Granderson, Jay Bruce and James Loney also won’t make it easy for New York to get runs against Bumgarner.

On the other side, Denard Span might have the biggest role on the team as a table-setter on top of the Giants lineup. If he can get on base, he can take advantage of Syndergaard‘s struggles at holding runners, quickly moving into scoring position.

This pitcher’s duel will likely come down to a handful of timely hits for either side, and San Francisco seemingly has a better chance to earn those big plays.

Game Prediction: Giants 2, Mets 1

American League Division Series

Boston Red Sox vs. Cleveland Indians

While pitching is the theme in the National League, the American League games will be decided by the hitters. This is bad news for the Cleveland Indians.

The Boston Red Sox had the top offense in baseball this season, averaging 5.4 runs per game while leading the majors with a .282 team batting average and .810 on-base plus slugging percentage.

Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal noted just how dominant the lineup was this season:

The depth has truly been incredible, with David Ortiz, Mookie Betts, Dustin Pedroia, Hanley Ramirez, Jackie Bradley Jr. and others always being a threat to carry the offense on a given night.

Cleveland had a quality rotation during the season, but injuries to Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar create question marks. Corey Kluber is the only trustworthy option, and even he is coming off a quad injury.

It will be a real challenge for the Indians pitchers to keep the Red Sox from lighting up the scoreboard no matter who is on the mound.

Although Cleveland should feel more confident about its lineup than its pitching heading into the playoffs, even that group has been quiet as of late. With the exception of Carlos Santana, the offense has been quiet in September with just a .249 batting average as a team.

There are still major threats in the lineup, but not enough to frighten opposing pitchers. If Rick Porcello and David Price can get over their past struggles in the postseason, the Red Sox will win this series.

Series Prediction: Red Sox 3, Indians 1

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Texas Rangers

The fans from both teams likely wanted this rematch.

Last year’s ALDS got ugly with fights, bat flips and plenty of drama, but the series will be decided by which team plays the best on the field.

We knew there would be a lot of home run threats no matter who won the AL Wild Card Game. Both the Orioles and the Blue Jays are heavily reliant on the long ball, and Toronto showed it by using a home run to pull out the win.

The question is whether the Texas Rangers can keep the ball in the park. Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish are as talented a one-two combo as any pitching staff in baseball, but both have struggled down the stretch. Hamels had a 5.86 ERA in September while allowing five home runs in five starts. Darvish had a 4.40 ERA in the final month thanks mostly to seven earned runs allowed in a start against the Oakland Athletics.

With the Blue Jays’ middle of the order featuring Josh Donaldson, Encarnacion and Jose Bautista, it will be difficult to avoid giving up at least some runs.

Adding in just enough pitching to hold off a strong Rangers offense, Toronto has what it takes to pull off the upset.

This will be an emotional series with a lot of back-and-forth play and a whole bunch of runs, but the Blue Jays are built for a deep run in these playoffs.

Series Prediction: Blue Jays 3, Rangers 2

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Tim Tebow will continue his development as a baseball player in the Arizona Fall League, the New York Mets announced Tuesday.

The 29-year-old former NFL quarterback will play for the Scottsdale Scorpions and manager Tom Goodwin, the Mets first base coach.

“We want Tim to play in more games to continue developing his skills on the field while facing advanced competition,” New York general manager Sandy Alderson said, per ESPN.com’s Adam Rubin.

Rubin noted Tebow went 4-for-14 with one home run and two walks in three instructional league games.

The home run came on the first pitch he saw as a professional baseball player:

After a successful few games against a relatively low level of competition, the AFL will represent a major challenge, as noted by Anthony DiComo of MLB.com:

Tebow was a first-round NFL draft pick in 2010 and spent two years with the Denver Broncos before struggling to find another opportunity. His last regular-season appearance came in December 2012 with the New York Jets.

With his football career behind him, Tebow chose to return to baseball, which he last played in high school. Tebow held an open workout Aug. 30, and on Sept. 8 the Mets signed him to a minor league contract with a $100,000 bonus.

Though the Heisman Trophy winner has an uphill climb ahead of him to reach the majors, performing well in the Arizona Fall League would be a big step toward accomplishing that goal.

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