Breaking: New Starting Pitchers for Tuesday's NLCS Game After Kershaw Scratched

BREAKING NEWS: The Los Angeles Dodgers have scratched starter Clayton Kershaw for Tuesday's National League championship game with the Atlanta Braves. He has back spasms.

“We tried to kick the can down the road as long as we could, and today he just woke up and felt it wouldn’t be smart,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said just hours before Game 2 with the Braves. “Each day Clayton got a little bit better and our goal was to have him start tonight, but it never got to the point we got comfortable.”

Rookie Tony Gonsolin will start for Los Angeles. He made eight starts during the regular season, but hasn't pitched at all thus far in the playoffs.

On Monday, the Tampa Bay Rays found a new hero, and he helped them grab control of their American League Championship Series with the Houston Astros.

Outfielder Manuel Margot hit a three-run homer in the first inning and then made an incredible catch in the outfield in the second inning, tumbling over the right field wall to end the inning with two men in scoring position.

It was enough to help the Rays win 4-2 and take a 2-0 lead in the series. It was Margot's third home run of the playoffs, which is surprising because he only hit one home run during the entire 60-game condensed regular season.

"Manny, he has really turned it on with the home run," Rays manager Kevin Cash said of the outfielder. "We didn't see many during the regular season, but I think he's got now three huge home runs for us here in the postseason.

"And then the play, just to have the ability to know where you're at and the effort to say, 'Forget it, I'm gonna hit something, but I'm going in,' and still hang on to the ball was really, really impressive."

The National League series got started Monday night as well, with the Atlanta Braves winning 5-1.

Major League Baseball released the game times for the next two days. 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.
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.
*** Game 3, Tuesday, 8:40 p.m. ET (TV: TBS): It's an "opener'' day for Tampa Bay as Ryan Yarbrough will start the game but only pitch an inning or two, depending on matchups. It's a concept the Rays have used for several years and it works perfectly in this compacted playoff schedule. Yarbrough has pitched five innings in the playoffs thus far, allowing two runs and six hits. Houston will go with Jose Urquidy. He was 1-1 with a 2.73 ERA during the regular season, but was the losing pitcher in the Astros' lone defeat in the ALDS against Oakland.
Game 4, Wednesday, 8:40 p.m. ET (TV: TBS): Tampa Bay will pitch Tyler Glasnow on full rest. Houston is undecided.
Game 5, Thursday. Time TBA (TV: TBS):
Game 6, Friday, if necessary. Time TBA (TV: TBS):
Game 7, Saturday, if necessary. Time TBA (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.
*** Game 2, Tuesday, 6:05 p.m. ET (TV: FoxSports1): Ian Anderson, a 22-year-old rookie, will get the call for Atlanta. He was 3-2 with a 1.95 ERA during the regular season and has been even better in the postseason, pitching 11 2/3 scoreless innings over two starts. The Dodgers had to scratch All-Star Clayton Kershaw, and will start rookie Tony Gonsolin instead. He was 2-2 with a 2.31 ERA in eight starts during the regular season. He hasn't pitched yet in the playoffs, and hasn't seen any action since Sept. 26.
Game 3, Wednesday. 6:05 p.m. ET (TV: FoxSports1): Kyle Wright will start for the Braves, and the Dodgers will start Julio Urias.
Game 4, Thursday. Time TBA: The Dodgers are hoping that Kershaw, who was scratched from Game 2, will be ready by then.
Game 5, Friday, if necessary. Time TBA
Game 6, Saturday, if necessary. Time TBA
Game 7, Sunday, if necessary. Time TBA

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.

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