MLB Playoffs: Astros Prove Too Much For Rays As Houston Finishes Off Tampa Bay To Get Shot At Yankees

At Houston:

In the final game of Major League Baseball's postseason divisional playoff round, Garrit Cole pitched eight innings of two-hit, ten-strikeout baseball while Michael Brantley and Jose Altuve each smacked a homer on Thursday as the Houston Astros defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 6-1 at home in the fifth and deciding game of their American League divisional playoff series and won their series three games to two.

The Astros will open the American League Championship Series at home on Saturday against the New York Yankees.

MLB Playoffs: Rays Top Astros Again, Force Game Five Of Divisional Playoff Series

At St. Petersburg, Florida:

Willy Adames hit a home run on Tuesday as the Tampa Bay Rays leveled their American League divisional playoff series with the Houston Astros at two games apiece following their 4-1 game-four home victory.

The series will be decided in Houston on Thursday with the winner to face the New York Yankees for the American League pennant and the Junior Circuit's World Series berth.

MLB: Rays Avoid Sweep By Thumping Astros; Yankees Complete Sweep Of Twins

Both American League divisional playoff series resumed on Monday.

At St. Petersburg, Florida:

Charlie Morton pitched five innings of one-run baseball and struck out nine batters while Kevin Kiermaier belted a three-run go-ahead homer off Zack Greinke as the Tampa Bay Rays belted four round-trippers altogether en route to a 10-3 thumping of the visiting Houston Astros in game three of their divisional playoff series, cutting the guests' lead to two games to one.

The Astros can still wrap up the series with a game-four road victory on Tuesday.

At Minneapolis:

Gleyber Torres hit a second-inning home run and scored after each of his two doubles as the New York Yankees completed a three-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins 5-1 in game three of their divisional playoff series and locked up a berth in the American League Championship Series.

The Twins have now lost a Major League Baseball record 16 straight postseason games and became the first team to win 100 or more regular-season games to be swept in a divisional playoff series and have now tied the 1975-79 Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL for the longest such losing streak in the four major American sports leagues.

MLB Playoffs: Yankees, Astros One Win Apiece From Playing For AL Pennant

Both American League divisional playoff series continued on Saturday.

At New York:

Didi Gregorius hit a grand-slam homer as the New York Yankees again ran roughshod over the Minnesota Twins, 8-2 in game two of their divisional playoff series.

The Yankees, who now two games to none, can finish off the Twins (who have now lost a Major League Baseball-record 15 straight postseason games) in Minneapolis with a game-three road win on Monday. 

At Houston:

Gerrit Cole registered 15 strikeouts as the Houston Astros handcuffed the visiting Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 in the second contest of their divisional playoff series.

The Astros, who now enjoy a two-games-to-none lead, can close out the Rays in St. Petersburg on Monday with a game-three victory.

MLB Playoffs: Astros, Yankees Grab AL Divisional Playoff Series Openers

Both American League best-of-five divisional playoff series opened on Friday as the Major League Baseball Postseason continued.

At Houston:

Justin Verlander pitched seven innings of one-hit, eight-strikeout, shutout baseball while Jose Altuve hit a home run and batted in two runs as the Houston Astros held off the visiting Tampa Bay Rays 6-2 in the opening game of their divisional playoff series.

At New York:

D.J. LeMahieu homered and drove in four runs as the New York Yankees opened their divisional playoff series be getting the measure of the visiting Minnesota Twins 10-4.