TEst 4

With the league championship series upon us, we break down the remaining teams and rank them on where they stand now.

Astros ace Gerrit Cole stifled the upstart Rays for the second time during the ALDS.

While Rays starter Tyler Glasnow said it was "pretty obvious" he was tipping his pitches Thursday night, both Tampa Bay and Houston said that wasn't what did in the Rays in the ALDS.

The Nationals got over their postseason hump, posting their first playoff series win in spectacular fashion, and see no reason to stop now.

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Second baseman Eric Sogard returned to the starting lineup for the Tampa Bay Rays for Thursday night's Game 5 of the ALDS against the Astros. A sore foot had limited Sogard to just one pinch-hit appearance in the series.

Second baseman Eric Sogard is in the starting lineup for the Tampa Bay Rays for Thursday night's Game 5 of the ALDS against the Astros. A sore foot has limited Sogard to just one pinch-hit appearance in the series.

Padres minor league pitcher Jacob Nix has been charged with two counts of criminal trespassing for trying to enter an Arizona home through the doggie door.

Nationals right-hander Anibal Sanchez will start Game 1 of the NLCS on Friday night, facing righty Miles Mikolas of the Cardinals, the teams announced Thursday.

Right-hander Anibal Sanchez will get the start for the Washington Nationals when the National League Championship Series opens Friday night in St. Louis.

The Nationals overcame long odds to beat the Dodgers and are now favored to knock out the Cardinals.

The Marlins have opted to keep pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr. and first base coach Trey Hillman on Don Mattingly's staff, while third base coach Fredi Gonzalez was not retained.

Gabe Kapler has been fired as manager of the Phillies after just two seasons, including an 81-81 finish this year after adding Bryce Harper amid a $401 million free-agent spending spree.

The Dodgers' dream season that included 279 home runs, 12 walk-offs, 106 regular-season victories and a seventh consecutive division title evaporated in the National League Division Series on Wednesday night.

John Farrell and Buck Showalter have joined Joe Maddon as candidates for the Los Angeles Angels job left vacant after the firing of Brad Ausmus, a source confirmed to ESPN on Wednesday. The LA Times first reported the news.

The Rays have the recent buzz. The Astros have Gerrit Cole. Only one can move on to the ALCS.

The Rays hope their momentum carries over from St. Pete, and the Astros look to rock Minute Maid Park yet again.

L.A.'s hopes of getting back to the World Series -- and winning this time -- died at the hands of its manager and his dubious moves.

Howie Kendrick hit a tiebreaking grand slam off Joe Kelly in the 10th inning, and the Washington Nationals overcame a three-run deficit with a late rally to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-3 on Wednesday and advance to the NL Championship Series.

Here's how the biggest opening frame in postseason history went down, in the players' own words.