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NLDS and ALDS Game 1 results and insights: Shohei Ohtani's initial hit, Mets' thrilling comeback, and more highlights from the MLB playoffs.

Major League Baseball's postseason progressed on Saturday with four games kicking off the League Divisional Series. The victors of these four best-of-five series will move on to the League Championship Series, competing for the pennants and a chance to reach the World Series.

Saturday's lineup featured plenty of exciting moments: Shohei Ohtani made his MLB postseason debut and secured his first hit—a massive game-tying home run—contributing to the Dodgers' win over the Padres. The Yankees and Royals exchanged the lead an unprecedented five times in a game that ended with a New York victory. Continuing a trend from last October, Philadelphia's pitching staff, aside from Zack Wheeler, let the team down again as the Phillies squandered a late lead against the Mets. Meanwhile, the Tigers' chaotic play style backfired against the Guardians, leading to a significant defeat.

What does a Game 1 win signify? Historically, quite a bit. Teams that secure a victory in Game 1 of a best-of-five series have triumphed in 72% of those series since 1995. Will this trend continue this October? We’ll see soon. For now, here are our detailed insights and the ongoing commentary and analysis from the day’s events. Read on...

2024 MLB playoff forecasts: Expert selections for the ALDS and NLDS as the Dodgers, Yankees, and Phillies encounter fascinating matchups.

The 2024 MLB postseason is intensifying now that the Wild Card Series has concluded. After the first round, eight teams remain, following the elimination of the Orioles, Braves, Brewers, and Astros.

The ALDS and NLDS will kick off on Saturday, featuring the Phillies vs. Mets and Dodgers vs. Padres in the National League, along with Yankees vs. Royals and Guardians vs. Tigers in the American League. Each team brings its unique strengths and, for some, notable weaknesses.

With that in mind, your CBS Sports MLB experts are ready to forecast the outcomes of each best-of-five series. The athletes will handle the competition; we’ll focus on the analysis. Read on...

The upcoming MLB season in 2024

Is set to kick off with a special two-game series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres in Seoul, South Korea on March 20-21. The regular season will then officially commence on March 28 and run until September 29. The highly anticipated 94th All-Star Game is scheduled to take place on July 16 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

Following the regular season, the postseason is slated to start on October 1, with the potential for a decisive Game 7 of the World Series on November 2. As the new season begins, the Texas Rangers hold the title of defending World Series champions.

In other news, the MLB owners have granted approval for the Oakland Athletics to relocate to Las Vegas. However, the specific timeline for the move is still being discussed and has yet to be determined.

TWINS vs ASTROS

The Minnesota Twins have chosen Bailey Ober as their starting pitcher for Game 1 of the AL Division Series against the Houston Astros, where he will face off against Justin Verlander.

Ober posted a record of 8 wins and 6 losses with an earned run average (ERA) of 3.43 over the course of 26 starts during this season. He spent approximately a month in Triple-A before making his return to the Twins on September 15th.

Following his comeback, he displayed solid performance, securing 2 wins and maintaining a 2.08 ERA in four starts. This upcoming game will mark the first time in his career that the substantial right-handed pitcher will start in a postseason match, as he wasn't part of the wild-card roster.

Verlander is set to make his 35th career postseason start, having rejoined the AL West champion Astros in a trade with the New York Mets earlier this summer.

He accumulated a record of 13 wins and 8 losses with an ERA of 3.22 throughout 27 starts in the current season. Following the trade, the three-time Cy Young Award recipient performed admirably for Houston, registering a 7-3 record with a 3.31 ERA in 11 starts.

For Game 2, the Astros are planning to begin with left-hander Framber Valdez on Sunday night in Houston. The Twins have not yet disclosed their Game 2 starting pitcher.

Keeping up with Major League Baseball scores is essential for fans and fantasy players alike. Fortunately, there are many resources available for checking current and past scores, including official league websites, sports news outlets, and dedicated score tracking apps.

In addition to getting the latest scores, fans can also access a wealth of statistics and analysis related to their favorite teams and players. This includes advanced metrics like WAR, OPS, and ERA+, as well as tools for tracking player trends and making informed decisions about fantasy drafts and betting.

Whether you're a die-hard fan or a casual observer, following Major League Baseball scores is a fun and exciting way to stay engaged with the sport and track the progress of your favorite teams and players. So why not check out some of the great resources available and start keeping up with the latest happenings in the world of baseball today?