The 2022 MLB playoffs are down to just four teams. After today, it could be down to two.
Will the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros punch their tickets to the World Series? Or will the San Diego Padres and New York Yankees save their seasons?
A potential double-elimination Sunday begins with Game 5 of the National League Championship Series between the Phillies and Padres, with Philly up 3-1 and playing in front of a home crowd. Later, the Yankees look to avert a sweep as they battle Houston in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series in the Bronx.
Follow the action below all day long with start times, pitching matchups and starting lineups as they’re announced, followed by in-game updates and takeaways after each game is concluded.
More: Who has the NLCS edge? Preview, predictions for Padres-Phillies | Who will rule the ALCS? Preview, predictions for Yankees-Astros | Bracket, results and more
San Diego Padres at Philadelphia Phillies
Phillies lead series 3-1
Soto gets Padres on the board
Juan Soto cuts the deficit in half with an absolute moonshot. 😳
(MLB x @FTX_Official) pic.twitter.com/zcRL6rk25s
— MLB (@MLB) October 23, 2022
Hoskins crushes his fourth homer of NLCS
RHYS DEAN Y’ALL pic.twitter.com/RSV4W15sjW
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 23, 2022
Schwarber’s there for his teammate
Kyle Schwarber: good teammate 🤣 #Postseason pic.twitter.com/4RuYpiRwdU
— Cut4 (@Cut4) October 23, 2022
Our picks
Phillies 3, Padres 2: Darvish will pitch his heart out but Philadelphia has that destiny look — at least to win the NL pennant. It will survive a tight, low-scoring affair — the exact opposite of Game 4 — and win the series with a tight win on Sunday. — Jesse Rogers
Phillies 5, Padres 2: The Phillies are 4-0 at home in the postseason and they look like they’re ready to pop some champagne. Wheeler has been outstanding over his three playoff starts and top relievers Jose Alvarado and Seranthony Dominguez didn’t have to pitch in Game 4 after a little extra workload in Game 3 (a combined 61 pitches), so everything is lining up for a boisterous celebration at Citizens Bank Park. — David Schoenfield
Houston Astros at New York Yankees (7:07 p.m. ET, TBS)
Astros lead series 3-0
Astros starter: Lance McCullers Jr.
Yankees starter: Nestor Cortes
Starting lineups:
ASTROS
1. Jose Altuve (R) 2B
2. Jeremy Pena (R) SS
3. Yordan Alvarez (L) LF
4. Alex Bregman (R) 3B
5. Kyle Tucker (L) RF
6. Yuli Gurriel (R) 1B
7. Trey Mancini (R) DH
8. Chas McCormick (R) CF
9. Martin Maldonado (R) C
YANKEES
1. Harrison Bader (R) CF
2. Aaron Judge (R) RF
3. Anthony Rizzo (L) 1B
4. Giancarlo Stanton (R) DH
5. Gleyber Torres (R) 2B
6. Josh Donaldson (R) 3B
7. Oswaldo Cabrera (S) LF
8. Isiah Kiner-Falefa (R) SS
9. Jose Trevino (R) C
What to watch for: The Yankees will need to look to the 2004 Red Sox as a source of inspiration as New York faces a 3-0 deficit in the ALCS against the Astros. Houston has cruised through the series, looking like the better team in every aspect of the game, highlighted by strong performances from starting pitchers Justin Verlander, Framber Valdez and Cristian Javier. McCullers will have the chance to close things out on Sunday against a Yankees lineup that looked totally lifeless in Games 2 and 3.
Houston will need more of the same to punch a ticket to the World Series: strong performances up and down the lineup. The Yankees will need a season-extending outing from Cortes, who has been their most consistent starter all year. New York’s lineup will need to wake up, starting with Aaron Judge, who has had an awful postseason, hitting .156/.182/.344. — Joon Lee
Our picks
Astros 4, Yankees 2: The Yankees’ season ends on a disappointing and uncompetitive note as the Astros continue their postseason undefeated streak off a solid all-around performance from the offense and a strong start from McCullers. — Lee
Astros 7, Yankees 2: It’s a not-very-analytical take, but the Yankees’ body language was very zombie-like on Saturday. They look done. — Bradford Doolittle
Astros 2, Yankees 1: Not even Cortes on full rest can stop the juggernaut that is Houston, with McCullers Jr. the latest to silence New York’s bats. — Jeff Passan
Source: www.espn.com