Royals, Rangers Win in AL Playoffs; Cubs, Cardinals Play Today

Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch has a "soft rule" when it comes to a rain delay during a game: If it lasts about an hour, he'll usually remove his starting pitcher. Good thing it's not a hard rule.

Hinch opted to keep Collin McHugh on the mound after a 49-minute stoppage Thursday night, and McHugh responded with a resounding performance. He shut down the Kansas City Royals over six innings for a 5-2 victory in the opener of their American League Division Series.

"We checked in with him a couple times, but he was never really coming out of that game," Hinch said of McHugh, a surprise 19-game winner this season. "That wasn't even his best tonight, and he got through a pretty good lineup and battled."

Three relievers took over and got the game to Luke Gregerson, who was part of Oakland's wild-card collapse in Kansas City last year. He handled the ninth for a save.

George Springer and Colby Rasmus went deep for the homer-happy Astros, but they also scored via the same sort of small ball the Royals used in reaching the World Series last season.

Rangers 5, Blue Jays 3

A big day by the bottom of Texas' batting order helped the Rangers overcome an injury to slugger Adrian Beltre in the start of their postseason run.

Robinson Chirinos hit a two-run homer against David Price, Rougned Odor added a solo shot, and the Rangers beat the Blue Jays 5-3 Thursday in their AL Division Series opener as postseason baseball returned to Toronto for the first time in 22 years.

Both starting third basemen left with injuries: Beltre left in the third with a strained muscle in his lower back, and Toronto's Josh Donaldson left in the fifth after he was kneed in the head while sliding in an attempt to break up a double play.

Rangers manager Jeff Banister said he wasn't sure whether Beltre would be available for Game 2 on Friday. In an effort to remain in the series, Beltre had a cortisone shot.

"Obviously we want Adrian in there," Banister said. "He's the heart and soul of this ballclub."

Friday, October 9 (Time Central)

Chicago Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals, 5:30 p.m.

NLDS - GAME 1

New York Mets at Los Angeles Dodgers, 8:45 p.m.

NLDS - GAME 1

Texas at Toronto, 11:45 a.m.

ALDS - GAME 2

Houston at Kansas City, 2:45 p.m.

ALDS - GAME 2

Saturday, October 10 (Time Central)

Chicago Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals, 4:30 p.m.

NLDS - GAME 2

New York at Los Angeles, 8:07 p.m.

NLDS - GAME 2

Sunday, October 11 (Time Central)

Kansas City at Houston, 3:10 p.m.

ALDS - GAME 3

Toronto at Texas, 7:10 p.m.

ALDS - GAME 3

Cubs, Cardinals Set To Go At It Today

The Chicago Cubs won the National League Wild Card Game, and their reward was a trip to the NL Division Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, the first-ever postseason meeting between the two longtime rivals.

The Cubs outlasted the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night in Pittsburgh, beating a 98-win Pirates team in order to face a 100-win Cardinals team in a best-of-five series. But the 97-wiin Cubs have arguably the best collection of young talent in the game, and will be a formidable foe for St. Louis.

The Cardinals are in the playoffs for a 12th time in the last 16 seasons and are seeking a fifth consecutive trip to the National League Championship Series. The Cubs, meanwhile, last made the playoffs in 2008, and their win in the Wild Card Game on Wednesday was their first playoff game victory since 2003.

TBS will broadcast every game of the series, with Brian Anderson on play-by-play alongside analysts Dennis Eckersley and Joe Simpson, plus reporter Matt Winer.

The Cardinals won 11 of 19 games against the Cubs in 2015, including 7-3 in St. Louis.

NLDS Schedule

(All Times Central)

Game 1: Friday, Oct. 9 at St. Louis, 5:45 p.m. (TBS)

Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 10 at St. Louis, 4:37 p.m. (TBS)

Game 3: Monday, Oct. 12 at Chicago, TBD (TBS)

Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 13 at Chicago, TBD (TBS)*

Game 5: Thursday, Oct. 15 at St. Louis, TBD (TBS)*

*if necessary