MLB Playoff Bracket 2013: Updated Breakdown of Postseason Schedule

As the Major League Baseball playoffs inch closer to the league championship series rounds, the contenders are being separated from the pretenders and the World Series picture is slowly coming into focus.

With the San Francisco Giants way out of the picture, one thing is certain: There will be no repeat champion this year. However, if the Cardinals can pull it out, they'll make it two MLB crowns in three years. 

Let's take a look at the updated playoff bracket and schedule:

*Watch postseason baseball live on TBS.com or your mobile device. 

Notable Teams

Los Angeles Dodgers

After eliminating the Atlanta Braves in four games, the Los Angeles Dodgers head into the NLCS and await the winner of Game 5 between St. Louis and Pittsburgh.

The Dodgers are led by mound ace Clayton Kershaw, who posted two solid outings in Los Angeles' NLDS victory over Atlanta and is riding the heels of another campaign worthy of a Cy Young Award.

But it's been the hot bats that have played the biggest role in L.A.'s emergence, boasting stellar seasons from Yasiel Puig, Hanley Ramirez, Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and plenty others.

The Dodgers disposed of one of the NL's most talented clubs and torched a great pitching staff. If it's any indication as to how the NLCS will go, the Dodgers shouldn't have much more trouble with either the Cardinals or the Pirates.

Pittsburgh Pirates

The best Pittsburgh Pirates season since 1992 will yet again come down to a must-win game on Wednesday when they face St. Louis for the right to face the Dodgers in the NLCS.

Manager Clint Hurdle opted to go with rookie Gerrit Cole as his starter in Game 5 over veteran A.J. Burnett, which is likely due to the vast differences in performance between the two in this series.

Cole led the Pirates to a 7-1 win in Game 2, allowing just three hits and one run over six innings after the Cardinals' bats had scorched Pittsburgh for nine runs in Game 1. Meanwhile, Burnett folded in the third inning of that game, leading to seven runs and a deficit his team couldn't overcome.

Considering a strong start has been key to the Pirates in this series, going with Cole seems like the more sensible choice despite his inexperience. 

St. Louis Cardinals

The Cards held off the pesky Pirates all season in the NL Central, winning the division by three games. 

Now they'll have to hold them off one last time to keep their season alive.

St. Louis will feature its ace Adam Wainwright in the decisive game, which seems to give the Cardinals somewhat of an advantage on the mound despite Cole's strong performance earlier in this series. 

Wainwright pitched the best game that the Cardinals have had all series. Cole pitched the Pirates' best game all series. Something has got to give.