The New York Yankees and the Oakland A's will get the American League

The New York Yankees and the Oakland A's will get the American League postseason started Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium.That game will determine who plays the Boston Red Sox in one of the American League Division Series.The other series has been set http://www.metsfanproshop.com/authentic-amed-rosario-jersey , seemingly for weeks. The Cleveland Indians and the Houston Astros, the last two American League participants in the World Series, will meet for the right to go to the American League Championship Series.The Indians lost the 2016 Series in heartbreaking fashion, dropping the seventh game in extra innings to the Chicago Cubs. The Astros won last year's championship, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games. Indians vs. Astros ScheduleFriday, October 5: Indians at Astros, Game 1, TBSSaturday, October 6: Indians at Astros, Game 2, TBSMonday, October 8: Astros at Indians, Game 3 Devin Mesoraco Jersey , TBSTuesday, October 9: Astros at Indians, Game 4*, TBSThursday, October 11: Indians at Astros, Game 5*, TBS*If necessaryAll postseason games can be live-streamed atMLB.TV.Even though the Red Sox led all of baseball with 108 wins, both the Indians and the Astros are powerful teams that could represent the AL in the World Series once again.The Indians have explosive power bats in the middle of their lineup whoare capable of devastating any pitching staff. Jose Ramirez led the Tribe with 39 home runs and he also had 106 RBI and a .555 slugging percentage. Shortstop Francisco Lindor tallied 38 home runs, scored 129 runs, drove in 92 and had a .519 slugging percentage. Edwin Encarnacion delivered 32 home runs and knocked in a team-high 107 runs.Former Blue Jay Josh Donaldson could turn out to be an X-factor in the series. Donaldson was traded to Cleveland at the trade deadline, and while he played in just 16 games this year due to injuries and had three home runs and seven RBI, he is capable of getting hot and driving the ball consistently in big situations.The pitching staff has largely been responsible for Cleveland's success, and Corey Kluber is once again the ace of the staff with a 20-7 record http://www.metsfanproshop.com/authentic-jason-vargas-jersey , 222 strikeouts, a 2.89 ERA and 0.99 WHIP. He is joined by starters Mike Clevinger, Carlos Carrasco and Trevor Bauer.The Indians are hoping that their once-formidable bullpen can dominate in the postseason.Cleveland manager Terry Francona believes the preparation in leading up to Friday's series opener is a big key."I think the Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (before the playoffs) are way more important than your last couple of games," Francona said, per Joe Noga of Cleveland.com. "I think the way you handle those off days is how you create momentum going into the playoffs."The Astros won the World Series a year ago largely because of their ability to come through with clutch at-bats. While they don't have quite the power that the Indians do from their top sluggers, the Astros are a confident team that has an excellent chance to repeat last year's postseason success.Alex Bregman had a brilliant year with a 31 home runs to lead the team, along with 103 RBI and a .532 slugging percentage. George Springer is one of the team's triggers as he belted 22 home runs and scored 102 runs.Jose Altuve battled through injuries this season but appears healthy for the playoffs. The 2017 MVP hit .315 with 13 home runs and scored84 runs in 137 games.The Astros may have the best starting pitching of any team in the postseason with Justin Verlander, Dallas Keuchel, Gerrit Cole and Charlie Morton. All four started 30 or more games, and Verlander is the ace of the group with a 16-9 record http://www.metsfanproshop.com/authentic-pedro-martinez-jersey , 290 strikeouts and a 2.52 ERA.These are two brilliant and experienced teams, and it would be somewhat surprising if the series does not go five games. The Boston Red Sox are in firm control of the 2018 World Series.Boston won Wednesday's Game 2 at Fenway Park over the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-2, building a 2-0 lead over its National League foe. David Price started for the victors and allowed two earned runs, three hits and three walks while striking out five in six innings, while J.D. Martinez spearheaded the offense with the decisive two-RBI single in the fifth.Los Angeles countered with Hyun-Jin Ryu, who gave up four earned runs, six hits and one walk with five strikeouts in 4.2 innings. Elite Price Another Nail in Dodgers' WS CoffinThe Dodgers don't have a chance in this World Series if the dominant version of Price is going to show up instead of the lackluster playoff one.Boston's offense led the league in runs (876), hits (1,509), doubles (355), batting average (.268), on-base percentage (.339) and slugging percentage (.453). Ace Chris Sale is arguably the best pitcher in baseball and figures to improve on his Game 1 showing (three earned runs in four innings) as he puts his American League Championship Series hospitalization further in the rearview mirror.Price's history of postseason struggles was a sliver of hope in an otherwise daunting task for the Dodgers Giancarlo Stanton Jersey , but he retired the final seven batters he faced as Boston took the lead for good in the middle innings.Sporting News sportingnewsDavid Price is becoming the surprise of the posteason. In a good way. VqZMu3oSpmChristopher Smith SmittyOnMLBSoft contact for the most part against David Price tonight. Only 3 balls put in play by the Dodgers over 95 mph:David Freese 100 mph single in 4th.Manny Machado 105.4 mph single in fourth. David Freese 96.3 lineout in the fifth.Charlotte Wilder TheWilderThingsThe Exorcism of David Price (2018)Much like Clayton Kershaw for Los Angeles, the difference between Price's regular-season performances and his playoff showings is a defining characteristic of his career. He has a Cy Young, two ERA titles and five All-Star nods to go with a 3.25 career ERA, but his postseason ERA was 5.04 entering Game 2.He started down a familiar path in this year's playoffs when he allowed a combined seven earned runs and three homers in 6.1 innings in his first two starts against the New York Yankees and Houston Astros, but he put some of his demons behind him with six scoreless innings in Game 5 of the ALCS.Price picked up right where he left off Wednesday and baffled a starting Dodgers lineup that was missing a combined 85 home runs with left-handed hitters Cody Bellinger, Max Muncy and Joc Pederson on the bench to avoid the southpaw.The loaded Red Sox present enough problems for an overmatched Dodgers team. This World Series is all but over if Price is going to perform at an elevated level as well.Dodgers Bullpen Can't Contend with Red Sox BatsThe Dodgers have a dangerous weapon at the back end of their bullpen in Kenley Jansen, but they have been unable to get to him against the mighty Red Sox offense.It started in Game 1 when manager Dave Roberts took the red-hot Pedro Baez out after two strikeouts with an eye on a lefty-lefty matchup of Alex Wood against Rafael Devers. However, Boston manager Alex Cora pinch hit Eduardo Nunez, who blasted a three-run homer into the seats and added insurmountable insurance.The inherited-runner issue reared its ugly head again in Game 2 when Roberts removed Ryu with two outs and the bases loaded in the fifth for Ryan Madson. It was a pressure-packed situation, but the bullpen must escape situations where it needs just one out to end an inning and preserve a lead if Los Angeles has any plans on winning this series.MLB MLB.JDMartinez14 is a hitting MACHINE. #WorldSeries nDc3GxKnkVJeff Passan JeffPassanRyan Madson has inherited five runners in the first two games of the World Series. All five have scored. The Red Sox lead, 4-2.Sung Min Kim sung_minkimYou can get Ryan Madson out of the Nats but you cant get the postseason Nats out of Ryan MadsonMadson did the opposite of that and imploded by allowing a bases-loaded walk to Steve Pearce and the critical two-run single to Martinez. Madson has allowed at least one hit or walk in eight of his nine playoff appearances, while Wood has done the same in six of his seven showings.The poor showings are adding all the more stress in the middle innings, which is something Los Angeles cannot afford against this Red Sox lineup.It is unrealistic to expect the starters to go through the best lineup in the league three times. Having bullpen concerns as well outside of Baez and Jansen http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-derek-jeter-jersey , who Los Angeles is yet to get to, is a recipe for disaster.Resurgent Craig Kimbrel Eliminates Remaining Red Sox ConcernIt wouldn't be October without plenty of baseball stress for fans, but closer Craig Kimbrel was going overboard for the Red Sox.The seven-time All-Star is one of the most dominant closers of his generation, but he allowed at least a run in each of his first four playoff appearances against the Yankees and Astros. Suddenly, the typically sure thing was arguably Boston's biggest question mark entering the World Series.However, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported former Dodgers closer Eric Gagne told Cora that Kimbrel was tipping his pitches early in the postseason. The manager informed his staff, and Kimbrel looks like the automatic finisher he has been throughout his career.Molly Knight molly_knightEric Gagne fixed Craig Kimbrel just in time for him to face the Dodgers in the World Series. Ban him from Dodger Stadium for life.He closed the door with a perfect inning in each of the first two World Series games and looked nothing like the version of himself who had Red Sox fans biting their nails to the nub.Boston is running out of reasons to be worried about this series with a fixed Kimbrel.What's Next?The series shifts to Los Angeles for Friday's Game 3. The Dodgers will need to win at least two of the next three at home to push the battle back to Boston.