Dodgers, Astros Stay Alive: Game Times, TV, Starting Pitchers for Thursday

The Los Angeles Dodgers set a playoff record with 11 first-inning runs to get back into their series, and Houston stayed alive with a 4-3 win over Tampa Bay, which will make Thursday very interesting.

Watch baseball long enough, and you'll see something you've never seen before. If you were tuned in Wednesday night, that happened again.

The Los Angeles Dodgers scored 11 runs in the first inning of Game 3 against the Atlanta Braves, setting a postseason record on their way to an easy 15-3 win. With their backs to the wall, they came out swinging, and now they're right back in the series with Game 4 coming tonight with ace Clayton Kershaw on the mound.

The Dodgers looked like they might threaten the all-time playoff record for runs scored — 23 by the Boston Red Sox in 1999 — but were held scoreless in the final six innings.

There is also history in the making in the American League. Tampa Bay lost Game 4 to Houston, but Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena hit another home run. That's five now in the postseason, second-most ever by a rookie, tying Chicago Cubs star Kyle Schwarber. Only Evan Longoria has ever hit more, banging out six in 2008.

The red-hot outfielder added to his amazing accomplishments Wednesday with a fourth-inning home run that was his fifth in 11 postseason games, though he also struck out three times.

With 19 hits now in the postseason, Arozarena is now only three hits away from Derek Jeter’s rookie record of 22 hits in 1996. 

MLB announced the game times for the remainder of both the ALCS and NLCS. Here's the schedule and the series recaps:

ALCS: Rays vs. Astros

• Game 1, RAYS 2, ASTROS 1: Blake Snell allowed only a first-inning home run, going five innings and then let the bullpen do its thing in Tampa Bay's 2-1 win over Houston. Snell struggled with his control, but kept working out of jams. Four bullpen pitchers threw four scoreless innings, allowing only three hits. The Rays tied the game in the fourth inning on a Randy Arozarena home run and won it on Mike Zunino's single in the fifth. (Tampa Bay leads series 1-0.)
• Game 2, RAYS 4, ASTROS 2: Manuel Margot hit a three-run home run in the first inning after an error and made a tremendous catch while falling over the wall to help Tampa Bay beat Houston, 4-2. Houston starter Lance McCullers Jr. was really good, but was victimized by his own defense, which made two errors. He pitched seven innings and struck out 11. Charlie Morton got the win for the Rays, pitching five scoreless innings. Houston had plenty of chances to score, but left 11 men on base. (Tampa Bay leads series 2-0.)
• Game 3, RAYS 5, ASTROS 2: Tampa Bay took advantage of another Jose Altuve error and exploded for five runs in the fifth inning to break the game open. Ryan Yarbrough went five innings for the Rays to get the win, and the bullpen pitched four scoreless innings. For the third straight night, Houston squandered all sorts of scoring opportunities, leaving 10 men on base. (Tampa Bay leads series 3-0.)
• Game 4, ASTROS 4, RAYS 3: Jose Altuve hit another first-inning home run and George Springer hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning to break a tie, as the Astros won to keep the series alive. Zach Greinke pitched six innings and allowed only two runs to pick up the win for Houston, beating Tampa Bay star Tyler Glasnow.
• *** Game 5, Thursday, 5:07 p.m. ET (TV: TBS): Update (1:37 p.m.) Tampa Bay has announced that John Curtiss will start Game 5. Curtiss, a 27-year-old right-hander, has made four appearances in the postseason, allowing five runs and nine hits in just 4 1/3 innings. Update (2:26 p.m.) Houston has announced a starter now, too. Luis Garcia will begin the game for the Astros. Garcia was 0-1 with a 2.92 ERA in the regular season, but hasn't pitched at all in the playoffs. 
• Game 6, Friday, 6:07 p.m. ET if necessary (TV: TBS): If we get to Game 6, look for a rematch of Game 1, when Tampa Bay's Blake Snell beat Houston's Framber Valdez.
• Game 7, Saturday 8:37 p.m. ET, if necessary (TV: TBS):

NLCS: Braves vs. Dodgers

• Game 1, BRAVES 5, DODGERS 1: The Braves broke a tie in the ninth inning, scoring four times thanks to home runs from Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies to break the game open. The Dodgers, who had the best record in baseball this season (43-17), lost in the postseason for the first time after five straight wins. Starter Max Fried was great for Atlanta, allowing just one run and striking out nine over six innings. Three relievers pitched three hitless innings to grab the early lead in the series. (Atlanta leads series 1-0.)
• Game 2, BRAVES 8, DODGERS 7: Ian Anderson, a 22-year-old rookie, continued his consecutive scoreless innings streak and the Braves survived a ninth-inning scare to beat the Dodgers. Anderson pitched four stressful innings, walking five but not allowing a run. He's now gone 15 2/3 innings without giving up a run in the playoffs. Freddie Freeman was 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs and a homer and Ozzie Albies was 3-for-4 with 2 RBIs. The Dodgers, who trailed 7-0 at one point, scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth to make it interesting, but A.J. Pollock grounded out to end the game with a man on third. (Atlanta leads series 2-0.)
• Game 3, DODGERS 15, BRAVES 3: Right-hander Kyle Wright got pummeled in the first inning, allowing seven runs before getting yanked with just two outs in the inning. Los Angeles set a playoff record with 11 runs in the first, cruising to an easy victory. Dodgers starter Julio Urias was really good, going five innings and allowing just one run and three hits.  
• *** Game 4, Thursday. 8:08 p.m. ET (TV: FoxSports1): The Dodgers are back in the series now and they get to hand the ball to Clayton Kershaw, who was scratched from Game 2 with back spasms but seems ready to go now. Kershaw was 6-2 with a 2.16 ERA in the regular season and has struck out 19 batters in 14 innings in his first two playoff starts. Atlanta will counter with Bryse Wilson, a 22-year-old rookie who hasn't pitched since Sept. 27. He pitched only 15 2/3 innings during the season, going 1-0 with a 4.02 ERA.
• Game 5, Friday 9:08 p.m. ET, if necessary (TV: FoxSports1):
• Game 6, Saturday 4:38 p.m. ET, if necessary (TV: FoxSports1):
• Game 7, Sunday 8:15 p.m ET, if necessary (TV: FoxSports1 or FOX):

American League Division Series

Tampa Bay Rays vs. New York Yankees

• Best-of-5 series, all games played at Petco Park, San Diego
• Game 1, Yankees 9, Rays 3: Gerrit Cole struck out eight batters over six innings and Giancarlo Stanton hit a grand slam in the ninth inning to help the Yankees win the series opener. (New York leads series, 1-0.)
• Game 2, Rays 7, Yankees 5: Rays starter Tyler Glasnow struck out 10 Yankees in just five innings and earned the win in Tampa Bay's 7-5 victory. The Rays' bullpen was very good, too, allowing just one run and two hits over four innings, racking up eight more strikeouts. The Yankees' 18 strikeouts were a postseason record for a nine-inning game. Giancarlo Stanton hit two homers for New York. (Series tied 1-1).
• Game 3, Rays 8, Yankees 4: The Rays' Randy Arozarena is turning into a superstar right before our eyes. The 25-year-old Cuban rookie hit a home run for the third straight day and went 3-for-4 in the Rays' second-consecutive win. He has 11 hits in the Rays' first four playoff games, which ties a major-league record. Starter Charlie Morton went five innings, allowing just one earned run and striking out six, and the vaunted Tampa Bay bullpen took it from there. (Tampa Bay leads series, 2-1)
• Game 4, Yankees 5, Rays 1: Gleybar Torres hit a two-run homer, Jordan Montgomery pitched four solid innings, and the Yankees bullpen was perfect, pitching five hitless innings to beat the Rays and send the series to a deciding fifth game. Former Indiana star got the last four outs for Tampa Bay, allowing one run and three hits in his first outing since Sept. 26.
• Game 5, Rays 2, Yankees 1: Austin Meadows hit a home run off Gerrit Cole and reserve Mike Brosseau homered off of Aroldis Chapman in the bottom of the eighth to lead Tampa Bay to a 2-1 win. The Rays won the series 3-2, and that was after dominating the Yankees 8-2 during the regular season.

Oakland A's vs. Houston Astros

• Best-of-5 series, all games played at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
• Game 1, Astros 10, A's 5: Carlos Correa hit two home runs and George Springer had four hits to help Houston beat Oakland in a slugfest. (Houston leads series, 1-0.)
• Game 2, Astros 5, A's 2: The Astros got an outstanding starter from Framber Valdez, who went seven innings and allowed only two runs in the 5-2 win. George Springer had another huge night at the plate, hitting two home runs and driving in three runs. He's had six hits in the first two games to help give Houston a commanding lead. (Houston leads series, 2-0.)
• Game 3, A's 9, Astros 7: Oakland kept its season alive with a huge rally from three runs down, tying the game on a three-run homer from Chad Pinder in the seventh and then scoring two runs in the eighth on sacrifice flys. Closer Liam Hendriks pitched the final three innings to get in the win, allowing just one hit and striking out four. (Houston leads series, 2-1.)
• Game 4, Astros 11, A's 6): Michael Brantley hit two home runs and a worn-out Houston bullpen closed out the deal as the Astros won the series and moved on to the AL Championship Series for the fourth consecutive season. Carlos Correa had a three-run homer for Houston to give them the lead after behind 3-0.

National League Division Series

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Diego Padres

• All games played at Globe Life Park, Arlington, Texas
• Game 1, Dodgers 5, Padres 1: The Dodgers' pitchers allowed only three hits and struck out 14 in an easy win over the Padres in the series opener. The Dodgers broke the game open with a four-run sixth inning. San Diego's starting rotation is decimated by injuries and Mike Clevenger, who tried to give it a go despite dealing with an elbow injuries, had to be pulled just two pitches into the second innings. San Diego wound up using nine pitchers, and allowed 10 walks. (Los Angeles leads series, 1-0)
• Game 2, Dodgers 6, Padres 5: Clayton Kershaw pitched six solid innings and the Dodgers survived a ninth-inning scare to put the Padres in a big hole. Cody Bellinger hit a home run for the Dodgers and saved a home run with a great catch over the wall. Corey Seager was 3-for-4, with two doubles. (Los Angeles leads series, 2-0.)
• Game 3, Dodgers 12, Padres 3: San Diego finally ran out of arms and got pounded by the Dodgers, who completed the sweep with a 14-hit performance. Catcher Will Smith led the way, going 5-for-6 with three RBIs. Cody Bellinger had three hits and 3 RBIs, as well.

Atlanta Braves vs. Miami Marlins

• All games played at Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas
• Game 1, Braves 9, Marlins 5: The Braves came from behind with a six-run explosion in the seventh inning to take down the Marlins in the season opener. Braves catcher Travis D'Arnaud had a huge day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double, a home run and two walks, driving in four runs. Robert Acuna Jr. and Marcell Ozuna also had multi-hit games for the Braves. (Atlanta leads series, 1-0). '
  
• Game 2, Braves 2, Marlins 0: The Braves' pitching continues to dominate in the playoffs, getting their third shutout in four games to take a commanding lead. Rookie Ian Anderson went 5 2/3 innings and struck out eight, and the bullpen took it from there, pitching 3 1/3 innings without even allowing a hit. (Atlanta leads series, 2-0.)
• Game 3, Braves 7, Marlins 0: The Braves' Kyle Wright pitched six scoreless innings, allowing only three hits as the Braves pitched their fourth shutout in five playoff games. Atlanta became the second team in history to throw four shutouts in the first five playoff games, joining the 1905 New York Giants behind Hall of Famers Christy Mathewson and Joe McGinnity.