Game 1.


Kyle Tucker finds redemption for a miserable season with a two-run homer in Game 1.

Well, just when you think maybe the Dodgers are beatable, you realize, they aren’t. If guys who had miserable seasons like Kyle Tucker and Teoscar Hernandez suddenly figure it out at the plate, like they did in Game 1 on Saturday, it’s going to be hard to beat Los Angeles. They just have too many ways to beat you.

Shoehei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman. If you somehow get through them, then you have to deal with Will Smith, Andy Pages, and Max Muncy. And if you get through them, you still have Teoscar Hernandez and Kyle Tucker and Tommy Edman.

To get an idea of how far the Rangers would need to go to be elite, realize that every hitter in the Dodgers lineup is better than any hitter in the Rangers lineup, with the possible exception of Corey Seager.

This isnt’ even taking into account their pitching.

The Dodgers beat the Braves yesterday 5-3 in Game 1 of their Division Series. Yes, it’s only one game. But today’s game is a must-win for the Braves. Being down 2-0 would make it virtually impossible for them to win, especially when you consider the Dodgers best pitcher, Yoshinobu Yamamoto doesn’t pitch until Game 3. Being down 0-2 then having to beat Yamamoto is not what any team would want.

The Braves rotation has been decimated by injury. It avoided another catastrophe by failing to acquire Jacob deGrom at the trade deadline. Atlanta has a strong lineup. But guys like Ronald Acuña and Matt Olson need to come through when they have the chance.

The White Sox shutout the Guardians 3-9 in their Game 1, the Rays shut out the Yankees 1-0, while Milwaukee snuck by the Padres 3-2.

In the most foolish scheduling quirk, to appease TV networks, the American League takes a day off today. The only two games are Game 2 of each N.L. Division Series.

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