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It’s do or die for the Diamondbacks in Arizona Monday night against the Dodgers. The Astros-Red Sox game was already in progress as this was going to press.
Nationals-Cubs (H:100 A:-107 T:7.5)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Max Scherzer (16-6, 2.51 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Jose Quintana (11-11, 4.15)
Scherzer is 0-3 in his last five postseason starts, but he posted a 3.75 ERA in two outings in last year’s NLDS against the Dodgers. He is 3-1 with a 2.92 ERA in six career starts against the Cubs.
Quintana has gone 7-3 with a 3.74 ERA in 14 starts since the Cubs acquired him from the cross-town White Sox. The Cubs have won the 28-year-old’s last six starts, and he has posted a 2.82 ERA over that span. Quintana has never faced the Nationals.
Indians-Yankees (H:-156 A: 145 T:7.5)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Trevor Bauer (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Luis Severino (0-0, 81.00)
Bauer has allowed two runs and 11 hits over 19 2/3 innings in a three-start span dating to the regular season. The 26-year-old posted a 4.54 ERA on the road this year but owns a 2.87 mark in three career turns at Yankee Stadium.
Severino made a pair of starts against Cleveland in August, allowing a total of four earned runs and six hits in 13 1/3 innings while recording 18 strikeouts. He owns a 2.49 ERA in four career starts versus Cleveland.
Dodgers-Diamondbacks (H:-104 A: -106 T:0)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Yu Darvish (10-12, 3.86 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Zack Greinke (playoffs: 0-0, 9.82)
Darvish finished the season strong by going 2-0 in his last three outings, allowing just one earned run in 19 1/3 innings during the stretch.
Greinke has been ineffective over his last three turns - giving up 14 runs in 11 2/3 innings - and lasted just 3 2/3 frames in the wild-card contest against the Colorado Rockies. The 33-year-old is 3-3 with a 3.92 ERA in 10 career postseason outings.
- Dan Shapiro, Gambling911.com
