NLCS even at 1-1, NY Yankees take commanding 2-0 ALCS lead

The GIST: And then there were four. The best-of-seven championship series are well underway, with two spots in the World Series — one from the American League (AL) and one from the National League (NL) — up for grabs. Here’s who’s knocking it out of the park as October baseball rolls on.

NY Yankees take commanding 2-0 ALCS lead over Cleveland Guardians: The Bronx Bombers turned in another all-around team performance in last night’s 6–3 Game 2 win, rallying behind a strong start from top pitcher Gerrit Cole and slugger Aaron Judge’s first home run of the postseason to put themselves two wins away from a record-extending 41st World Series appearance.

• Today’s an off day before things pick back up in Cleveland with tomorrow’s 5:08 p.m. ET Game 3. Guards fans will certainly be hoping a day of rest helps the bats come alive at home.

NY Mets even series with LA Dodgers ahead of tonight’s 8:08 p.m. ET Game 3 in New York: These NLCS foes split two high-powered games (LA won Game 1 9–0 and the Mets roared back 7–3 in Game 2). The offensive stars (Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts and Met Francisco Lindor) shined in Games 1 and 2, but all eyes are on the pitching as the series shifts to Queens.

• NY has the better starting pitching rotation and will send stout hurler Luis Severino to the mound, while LA counters with a strong bullpen. Which one will gain the edge tonight?