Results

Oct. 11:
Game 5: Astros 12, Braves 3

Oct. 10:
Game 4: Cardinals 6, Dodgers 2
Game 4: Braves 6, Astros 5

Oct. 9:
Game 3: Astros 8, Braves 5
Game 3: Dodgers 4, Cardinals 0
Game 4: Yankees 6, Twins 5

Oct. 8:
Game 3: Angels 6, Red Sox 8
Game 3: Yankees 8, Twins 4

Oct. 7:
Game 2: Braves 4, Astros 2
Game 2: Cardinals 8, Dodgers 3

Oct. 6:
Game 2: Red Sox 8, Angels 3
Game 2: Yankees 7, Twins 6
Game 1: Astros 9, Braves 3

Oct. 5:
Game 1: Cardinals 8, Dodgers 3
Game 1: Red Sox 9, Angels 3
Game 1: Twins 2, Yankees 0

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The Red Sox were 10 games over .500 at the end of July. However, on the strength of their staggering offensive numbers, they then owned the best record in all of baseball with a 43-17 mark over the final two-plus months of the season. Although it wasn't good enough to win the AL East and overcome their longtime nemesis in the Bronx, getting into the playoffs as a wild card for a second straight year gives Boston another shot at securing a spot in the World Series, which the Sox haven't won since 1918.

The Red Sox will take a shot at making it back to the American League Championship Series for a second straight year as they battle the Anaheim Angels.

The Astros captured a franchise-record 18 straight home games to end the regular season and are a major-league best 36-10 since Aug. 15. However, they enter the 2004 playoffs versus Atlanta with a huge monkey on their backs. Houston has been to the playoffs seven times, but has yet to win a series.

Things look brighter though for the Astros, considering they have two of the top pitchers in the National League on their side in 20-game winner Roy Oswalt and six-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens. Houston also has closer Brad Lidge, who led the majors in strikeouts by a reliever with 157 this year.

Let's not dismiss the other two Division Series. They are also good matchups. The Yankees will be playing the AL Central champion Minnesota Twins in a rematch from the 2003 ALDS, won by New York in four games. The other series pits the NL Central champion St. Louis Cardinals, who struggled down the stretch, against the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

However, it's the Red Sox and Astros who will likely garner a lot of the attention because of their vigorous runs after the All-Star break.

HOUSTON ASTROS VS. ATLANTA BRAVES

Schedule: Wed. at ATL, 4 p.m. (EDT) -- Roger Clemens vs. Jaret Wright
Thu. at ATL, 4 p.m. (EDT) -- Roy Oswalt vs. John Thomson
Sat. at HOU, TBA -- Mike Hampton vs. Brandon Backe

The Braves have won 13 straight division championships and have made the World Series five times in that span, but winning the title just once (1995). Atlanta's accomplishment of winning the NL East this year after losing several huge playmakers in Gary Sheffield, Javy Lopez, Greg Maddux and Vinny Castilla, has given the Braves an incredible level of confidence heading into these playoffs.

The Astros are in the postseason for the first time since 2001 when they captured the NL Central, but were swept by the Braves in the Division Series. In fact, the Astros have made the playoffs four times since 1997, but have lost 12 of 14 games in that span. That includes a pair of three-game sweeps to the Braves, in 1997 and 2001. Houston and Atlanta have met three times in the playoffs since 1997 with the Braves thoroughly dominating the Astros. Atlanta also won in four games in 1999.

Here are five big questions entering the series.

1. Can Clemens recover from a stomach ailment and continue his top form?

The Rocket missed the regular season finale against Colorado due to a stomach virus. If he's ready to pitch the opener of the series, that could pose huge problems for the Braves. Clemens hasn't performed well on three days of rest in his career, but by starting the opener on Wednesday he would be on six days of rest. Clemens, who hasn't lost since August 8 against Montreal, hasn't been at his best in Division Series in the past, as he's 4-2 with a 4.50 ERA, his highest ERA of any postseason series.

2. What if Chipper, Thomson can't play?

There is a small concern that third baseman Chipper Jones won't be ready for this series, but a bigger doubt regarding starting pitcher John Thomson Jones, who is a career .331 hitter during the regular season against Houston, is suffering from a contusion on his right hand. Thomson, who won his last five decisions of the season, departed Saturday's game against the Cubs after three innings with a strained muscle in his left side. Thomson is slated to start Game 2, but if he can't go then look for Mike Hampton to be moved up and the possibility of an inconsistent Russ Ortiz to go in Game 3.

3. Can Atlanta's pitching staff continue to mystify opponents?

Despite the offseason changes, the Braves still incredibly managed to lead the majors in ERA for the season. Jaret Wright had the best year of his career and John Smoltz, for the most part, was again solid, although his ERA this year was much higher than 2003.

4. Will the killer B's be just that?

Craig Biggio, Carlos Beltran, Lance Berkman and Jeff Bagwell need to be at the top of their game if the Astros are to win their first postseason series. The speed of Beltran could cause some problems for the Braves. Also put another B (Brad Lidge) in this category. He has been lights out as a closer.

5. Is Houston's playoff history really an intangible factor?

Will Astros manager Phil Garner, who has done an incredible job since taking over for Jimy Williams at the All-Star break, allow his players to get riddled by the curse of the franchise never winning a postseason series. Scrap Iron is a fabulous skipper and the matchup with future Hall of Famer Bobby Cox will be interesting to watch.

Season series: Tied, 3-3

Prediction: Braves in five

LOS ANGELES DODGERS VS. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

Schedule:
Tue. at STL, 1 p.m. (EDT) -- Odalis Perez vs. Woody Williams
Thu. at STL, 8 p.m. (EDT) -- Jeff Weaver vs. Jason Marquis
Sat. at LOS, TBA -- Matt Morris vs. Kazuhisa Ishii or Jose Lima

The Dodgers, who are in the playoffs for the first time since 1996, captured the NL West crown with a dramatic 7-3 win over the Giants on Saturday on Steve Finley's grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning. Los Angeles has lost its last six playoff games, getting swept in 1996 by the Braves and in 1995 by the Reds. The last postseason victory for the Dodgers came in 1988 when they beat the Oakland Athletics in the World Series.

The Cardinals clinched their third division title in five years on September 18, but went 8-7 the rest of the way. St. Louis' last trip to the playoffs in 2002 resulted in a Division Series win over Arizona, but a loss to the Giants in the NLCS.

Here are five big questions entering the series.

1. Can LA's pitching stop the prolific Cardinal offense?

The Cardinals had the top batting average in the NL this season and for good reason. With Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen, Tony Womack and Jim Edmonds all hitting over .300, Tony La Russa's team has the ability to score at will, especially if the Cardinals are facing an inferior pitching staff.

2. Can the Cardinals pick up the slack for an injured Chris Carpenter?

With Carpenter out for this series, the Cardinals are taking a big chance in going with Woody Williams as their starter in Game 1 instead of Matt Morris, who is 9-5 all-time in postseason games. The Cardinals should have rested Morris instead of pitching him this weekend. Add to the fact that Williams was drilled in his last outing against Houston, and the Cardinals could be asking for trouble.

3. Will LA's offense continue to impress?

Adrian Beltre, Shawn Green and Steve Finley will lead the offensive charge for the Dodgers. It's a huge difference from last year when LA's offense was so anemic it was treading on life support. Finley has been a clutch hitter since coming to LA in a trade from Arizona and Beltre will give Barry Bonds a small battle for NL MVP honors.

4. Will Milton Bradley lose his temper?

All the Dodgers need now is a hot-head in the clubhouse at playoff time. When Milton Bradley apologized and accepted his five-game suspension for his bottle smashing outburst, the outfielder wanted to take his temper head on and dismiss that there would be further problems. For Jim Tracy's club, it's a good thing the incident is behind him and won't be a distraction.

5. Will the Cardinals come back rested or rusty?

After choosing to rest a number of regulars the final two weeks, the Cardinals didn't play well the final two weeks of the season. They will need to get back the winning edge right away to avoid a confidence meltdown.

Season series: St. Louis, 4-2

Prediction: Dodgers in four

MINNESOTA TWINS VS. NEW YORK YANKEES

Schedule:
Tue. at NYY, 8 p.m. (EDT) -- Johan Santana vs. Mike Mussina
Wed. at NYY, 7 p.m. (EDT) -- Brad Radke vs. Jon Lieber
Fri. at MIN, 8 p.m. (EDT) -- K.Brown or O.Hernandez vs. Carlos Silva

Minnesota, which has three straight division titles, last won a playoff series in 2002 by beating Oakland before losing to Anaheim.

The Yankees enter the playoffs on the heels of their seventh straight AL East crown. New York has won the AL pennant in five of the last six years, capturing the World Series from 1998-2000, but lost the Fall Classic in six games last year to the Florida Marlins.

Here are five big questions entering the series.

1. Can the Yankee pitching staff keep up with the Twins?

The Yankees would seem to have a decided disadvantage as far as starting pitching goes, or do they? Johan Santana was dominant most of the year and on Tuesday he'll face Mike Mussina for the third time in 2004. The two battled last Wednesday at Yankee Stadium with both throwing well in no- decisions. The Yankees won the final seven times Jon Lieber took the mound, while Brad Radke didn't allow more than three earned runs in any of his September starts. After that though there's a considerable drop off for both starting staffs as injuries to Kevin Brown and Orlando Hernandez, along with an ineffective Javier Vazquez are a concern for the Yankees, while Minnesota's Carlos Silva has never appeared in the playoffs.

2. Will the Bronx Bombers be just that?

The Yankees set a franchise record for homers in a single season with 242. Alex Rodriguez (36), Gary Sheffield (36), Hideki Matsui (31), Derek Jeter (23), Bernie Williams (22) and Jorge Posada (21) are all deep ball threats. The Twins won't be able to pitch around too many Yankee hitters in a lineup chock full of All-Stars.

3. Can Twins penetrate Yankee middle relief?

The Twins have been known as a small ball team during Ron Gardenhire's tenure, and if they can get past the starters Minnesota would be able to build some innings on Tom Gordon, Paul Quantrill and Felix Heredia. The advantage the Yankees have is that Esteban Loaiza can perform in long relief and Mariano Rivera is the best closer all-time in the postseason. Unless Minnesota can manufacture runs early, getting past the Yankees will be difficult.

4. Will Minnesota be able to use their speed?

The Twins were third in the American League in stolen bases and must take advantage of their ability to hit-and-run and take an extra base because they do not have the power numbers like the Yankees. Look for Torii Hunter and Lew Ford to be aggressive on the bases.

5. Will pressure become a factor?

The Twins wilted last year after winning Game 1. Not many people are expecting the Twins to win this series, but it's possible for a small market surprise if they can block out the Yankee mystique.

Season series: New York, 4-2

Prediction: Yankees in four

BOSTON RED SOX VS. ANAHEIM ANGELS

Schedule:
Tue. at ANA, 4 p.m. (EDT) -- Curt Schilling vs. Jarrod Washburn
Wed. at ANA, 10 p.m. (EDT) -- Pedro Martinez vs. Bartolo Colon
Fri. at BOS, 4 p.m. (EDT) -- Kelvim Escobar vs. T. Wakefield or B. Arroyo

The Red Sox distanced themselves from the competition for the wild card with a 10-game winning streak that stretched into early September. Boston won seven of its final nine games.

The Angels waited until the final weekend of the season to win their first division championship since 1986 with a win at Oakland on Saturday. Anaheim is back in the playoffs for a second time in three years, winning the World Series for the first time in franchise history in 2002.

Here are five big questions entering the series.

1. Will Pedro and Schilling be enough?

With the downfall of Derek Lowe, who has been moved to the bullpen after a horrendous September stretch, the pressure is squarely on Curt Schilling and Pedro Martinez to perform at a high level in this series. It's a given that Schilling will likely have a good outing in Game 1, but Martinez has been awful, allowing 18 earned runs over his final three starts of the season. Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, who shined in last year's playoffs, is a strong candidate to start Game 3. In order to keep the bullpen fresh, it's imperative for Schilling and Martinez to go at least seven innings.

2. Will Francona's inexperience help or hurt?

Never being in the postseason as a manager has its positive and negatives, but for Francona he knows a lot was expected of the Red Sox at the start of the season. He can't be worried about making a (Grady) Little mistake like last year.

3. Will the Angels be able to recapture magic from 2002?

Two years ago was the era of the Rally Monkey. The Angels are a different team from then with better pitching, as Jarrod Washburn, Bartolo Colon, and Kelvim Escobar are all capable of dominating. John Lackey can also be a solid starter if called upon or can be used in long relief. It's hard to believe, but statistics show that Anaheim's offensive numbers this year were very close to that of 2002.

4. How will Vlad fare in first playoff series?

Of course, leading the way offensively for the Angels is Vladimir Guerrero, who will be the AL MVP. Guerrero tied a career-high with 206 this year to go along with 39 homers and 126 RBI. What really stands out is his superior September, when he hit .371. Vlad can virtually any pitch thrown to him, even one at his shoelaces, as he proved earlier this season when he homered on a ball nearly in the dirt. Vlad's confidence is at an all-time high, and with Garret Anderson and Chone Figgins firing on all cylinders, it may not matter that the team won't have Jose Guillen for the playoffs.

5. Will Boston's defense actually put them over the top?

Defense and pitching usually wins championships, as was the case last year with the Florida Marlins. With Manny Ramirez, Johnny Damon and David Ortiz, the Red Sox certainly have the offensive power to win this series. However, what they did to the middle of their infield with the acquisition of Orlando Cabrera, could be the difference. He's in the playoffs and Nomar's not. Enough said.

Season series: Boston, 5-4

Prediction: Red Sox in five