MLB Playoffs 2020: Odds, TV Schedule, Predictions for Tuesday's ALDS

The League Division Series got underway on Monday, with four American League rivals hoping to fire the opening salvo in unprecedented circumstances.

Indeed, there were no "home" teams on Monday with MLB instituting postseason bubbles. The Houston Astros and Oakland Athletics played the afternoon game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, while the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays had the nightcap at Petco Park in San Diego.

Both of the lower seeds took Game 1 in their respective series. Astros shortstop Carlos Correa hit a pair of homers and had four RBI as Houston won a 10-5 slugfest featuring six long balls.

Meanwhile, the Yankees and Rays traded big hits for the first five innings, with the Bronx Bombers taking a 4-3 lead after both Kyle Higashioka and Aaron Judge homered off Tampa Bay starter Blake Snell. The two lineups were then held in check until the ninth, when Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton clubbed a grand slam to break the game wide open.

While play in the National League also begins on Tuesday, the A's and Rays face pivotal contests that might determine their fates in this best-of-five series.

ALDS Schedule: Tuesday, October 6   

Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros (HOU leads series 1-0): 4:30 p.m. ET on TBS (at Dodger Stadium)

Tampa Bay Rays vs. New York Yankees (NYY leads series 1-0): 8 p.m. ET on TBS (at Petco Park)

Game 1 Previews   

Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros

Odds (via Moneyline via DraftKings): Astros -103, Athletics -114   

Jim Mone/Associated Press

It should come as no surprise the Astros are the early betting favorite to take a commanding 2-0 series lead on Tuesday.

Houston's offense exploded for 16 hits on Monday. George Springer collected four knocks, while Correa collected three. This is a huge momentum boost for the Astros, whose stars had been mostly dormant throughout the regular season.

Moreover, the Astros should feel confident sending Framber Valdez to the hill. He emerged as a key arm in the rotation after Justin Verlander went down early, posting a 3.57 ERA and 2.85 fielding independent pitching (FIP) mark in 70.2 innings.

Valdez also dominated in his relief appearance during Game 1 of the Wild Card Round against the Minnesota Twins, allowing just two hits in five scoreless innings.

Meanwhile, the A's will hope left-hander Sean Manaea can get them back on track. He had a 4.50 ERA in 54.0 innings during the regular season, but his 3.71 FIP suggests he might have been better than the results indicate. That said, he also gave up 1.2 homers per nine innings during the regular season, and the ball was flying at Dodger Stadium on Monday.

Can the A's make more of their scoring opportunities? They were 0-6 with runners in scoring position on Monday and will need to capitalize in order to even the series. 

There is reason to be encouraged, though. As good as Valdez was during the regular season, he ranked at or below the fifth percentile in both average exit velocity and hard-hit rate, per Baseball Savant. Oakland could have success if its hitters stay aggressive on the fastball and avoid two-strike counts, when Valdez can deploy his biting curveball.

However, the major storyline might be Oakland's bullpen. Bob Melvin used a ton of his relievers against the Chicago White Sox in the Wild Card Round and employed seven more relief arms on Monday.

Additionally, the A's bullpen—which ranked first in bullpen ERA, per FanGraphs—has looked susceptible during the playoffs, and that could be a confidence-booster for the Astros.

Oakland's lineup misses Matt Chapman, and the A's might be running on empty. The Astros, meanwhile, seem to be building momentum, and they are sending one of their best arms to the mound. Houston, and notably Correa, also seems to have a chip on its shoulder, which could make for a scary postseason run.   

Prediction: Astros 6, Athletics 2   

Tampa Bay Rays vs. New York Yankees   

Odds (via Moneyline via DraftKings): Rays -122, Yankees +105 

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

The Rays hung tough against Yankees starter Gerrit Cole, scratching across three runs in the first four innings thanks to a solo homer by Randy Arozarena and a two-run shot by Ji-Man Choi. 

But the Yankees had just as much success against Snell and eventually got to Tampa Bay's bullpen.

The Bronx Bombers are looking scary now that they are back to full strength. Judge and Stanton provided big blows, but the Yankees also got a long solo homer from Clint Frazier in addition to three hits from Aaron Hicks and a pair of knocks from both DJ LeMahieu and Gio Urshela.

New York's lineup is one of the deepest in baseball and should pose a tough test for the Rays' pitching staff going forward. Fortunately for Tampa, Tyler Glasnow will take the mound for Game 2. 

Glasnow was not quite the same dominant force he looked to be in 2019, posting a 4.08 ERA in 60.2 innings. However, his 2.75 xFIP actually ranked fourth among all starters with at least 50 innings, per FanGraphs, and he boasts some of the best strikeout stuff in the game.  

The 27-year-old also had a strong performance in Game 2 of the Wild Card Round against the Toronto Blue Jays, striking out eight in six innings. He did give up a pair of homers, which could be a concern against a powerful Yankees lineup. But he can throw innings and bail himself out of jams.

Glasnow will be pitted against Yankees rookie Deivi Garcia, whom manager Aaron Boone tabbed in a somewhat surprising move. Garcia had a 4.98 ERA during the regular season and, while Boone has lauded his stuff, he has yet to experience the pressures of October baseball.

It is possible Boone will go with a committee look to lessen the burden on Garcia. Left-handers J.A. Happ and Jordan Montgomery could see some work in long relief, depending on how the game plays out. But the Yankees could be up against it if Garcia struggles early and Tampa's hitters battle tooth and nail.

The Rays will not go down without a fight. They took two straight after losing the first two games of the ALDS against the Astros last year and will be motivated to avoid a similar 0-2 hole this year. Do not be surprised if Austin Meadows makes an impact after being activated on Monday. 

Kevin Cash and Co. have too much pride to allow the Yankees to get the upper hand in the series. They will tie things at one game apiece.   

Prediction: Rays 5, Yankees 3   

All stats obtained via Baseball Reference, unless otherwise noted.