MLB playoffs is down to five teams

The GIST: And then there were…five. The MLB Championship Series (CS) are nearly set, and they could feature just one of the top four seeds. Will the underdogs come out on top again tonight?

American League (AL): After the No. 3 Cleveland Guardians walked off with a 6–5 Saturday win, the No. 2 NY Yankees reclaimed the momentum last night, evening the best-of-five series with a 4–2 victory.

• Now it’s back to New York for tonight’s winner-take-all 7:07 p.m. ET Game 5. With limited off days, both squads are strapped for starting pitching. Anything can happen with it all on the line.

• And they’ll be playing for a chance to face the No. 1 Houston Astros, who cut the No. 5 Seattle Mariners’ Cinderella run short with a record-tying 18-inning (!!!) 1–0 win on Saturday. Tired just thinking about it.

National League (NL): It was certainly sunny in Philadelphia when the No. 6 Phillies eliminated the defending World Series champion No. 2 Atlanta Braves to advance to their first NLCS since 2010.

• Their opponent? The No. 5 San Diego Padres, who delivered for the Friar Faithful by stunning the juggernaut No. 1 LA Dodgers with a come-from-behind 5–3 W. Goliath, meet David.

• That sets up an all Wild Card team NLCS and the first-ever postseason meeting between the Phillies and Padres. With these explosive offenses, there’s sure to be plenty of fireworks. First pitch is tomorrow at 8:03 p.m. ET.