MLB Playoffs 2014: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Bracket Predictions for Day 6

The American League has already wrapped up its two divisional series in sweeps, but the National League wears on to a pair of Game 4 showdowns Tuesday night that will decide whether we have to wait for the National League Championship Series matchup to be set.

Monday began with the San Francisco Giants hoping to complete the sweep of the Washington Nationals, but the NL's best team showed its grit with a road win that trimmed the series deficit to 2-1.

The Nats' Gio Gonzalez will take to the mound aiming to keep blanking a San Francisco lineup that has only scored two runs in its last 18 innings, while Ryan Vogelsong looks to bounce back from three straight losses for the Giants. 

In St. Louis, Clayton Kershaw will get a chance at redemption from giving up a huge lead in Game 1 against the Cardinals. And the Dodgers certainly hope he can pull it off, because their season hangs in the balance after losing Game 3. 

Here's a look at everything you need to know for Tuesday's duo of National League Division Series games.

Day 6 Playoff Schedule

Matchup	Time (ET)	TV	Pitchers	Prediction
Los Angeles Dodgers at St. Louis Cardinals	5:07 p.m.	Fox Sports 1	Clayton Kershaw (LA) vs. Shelby Miller (STL)	Cardinals
Washington Nationals vs. San Francisco Giants	9:07 p.m.	Fox Sports 1	Gio Gonzalez (WAS) vs. Ryan Vogelsong (SF)	Nationals

Live Stream: MLB.TV (subscription required)

Game 4: Los Angeles Dodgers at St. Louis Cardinals

USA TODAY Sports

After threatening to come back home with the chance to sweep the series, the Cardinals allowed the Dodgers to claw out of Game 2 late. But they wasted no time making up for that, convincingly winning Game 3 and setting up a chance to end the series at Busch Stadium on Tuesday.

Clayton Kershaw will have something to say about that.

The Dodgers tabbed their Cy Young and AL MVP hopeful pitcher on short rest for Tuesday's game anticipating a must-win situation, and that's exactly what they got after the Cards' Game 3 win.

As Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports noted, it's set up to be a thriller:

So, L.A. has its ace—who happens to be arguably the most dominant single player in baseball right now—and its back against the wall. A resounding comeback from the winners of 94 regular-season games is expected, right?

Well, perhaps not. Kershaw fell to 1-4 for his postseason career in Game 1, giving up a 6-2 advantage only to allow the Cardinals to take a 7-6 lead that paved the way to a shocking L.A. defeat. That prompted the following quote from Kershaw, via CNN's Rachel Nichols:

Kershaw had the Cardinals' numbers through much of Game 1 before they got to him late, but there's no telling how he'll come out with such a shaky postseason record. Even if he has a stellar game, being on short rest will prompt Don Mattingly to go to the bullpen earlier than he wanted.

That's a bullpen that has allowed a home run in six straight games—including Kolten Wong's two-run shot in Game 3.

The Cardinals turn to 23-year-old Shelby Miller as the Game 4 starter, making his first-ever postseason start. But the meat of the Dodgers lineup is struggling considerably, with Yasiel Puig and Adrian Gonzalez combining for 5-for-24 on the series. 

L.A. might have its back against the wall, but the Cardinals will be playing desperate knowing its their last chance to clinch the series at home. The timely hits have come the way of St. Louis this series, and that will continue against a hapless Dodgers bullpen.

Prediction: Cardinals 2, Dodgers 1

Game 4: Washington Nationals at San Francisco Giants

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

Just hours ago, they were trying to complete a series sweep, but Tuesday, the San Francisco Giants return to AT&T Park as one more defeat in Game 4 would guarantee a trip back to Washington for a decisive Game 5 against the Nationals.

Coming from a wild-card drubbing of the Pittsburgh Pirates, manager Bruce Bochy's squad didn't slow its roll when the NLDS started despite the fact it faced the team with the NL's top record. Yes, one game took 18 innings, but the Giants left the nation's capital and came home with the chance to sweep in Game 3.

That didn't happen. The Nationals showed their resolve by battling to a 4-1 victory and rearing their heads to make sure the NL—specifically the Giants—didn't forget what they are capable of. Bryce Harper hit another home run, and Doug Fister was strong on the mound, as the Nationals' Twitter noted:

The Nationals will hope that Fister's strong performance is indicative of how deep their rotation is, because Gio Gonzalez will take the mound on Tuesday for a must-win Game 4 on the road.

They also hope his recent form continues, because he has won four of his last five starts, prompting manager Matt Williams to brag about his Game 4 starter.

"Over the last six weeks, he’s given us really good pitching performances," Williams told The Washington Times' Tom Schad. "His numbers the last month of the season, especially last four starts, were fantastic."

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

If the Giants lineup continues struggling, Gonzalez should have no trouble keeping the series alive. In San Francisco's last 18 innings of play, it has one Brandon Belt home run and an inconsequential late run from the ninth inning of Monday's loss.

As you'd expect from a wild-card representative, the Giants rotation doesn't go as deep, with Ryan Vogelsong taking the mound Tuesday. Not only does he have an 8-13 record on the season, but he has lost four of his last five starts. 

This series is going back to Washington, as the Nationals once again will show their grit and jump on a struggling pitcher.

Prediction: Nationals 5, Giants 2