MLB Playoffs 2020: Live-Stream Schedule, Bracket Predictions for Wednesday

The Houston Astros can become the first team to advance out of the Division Series, but that will not be an easy task Wednesday against Oakland's Jesus Luzardo. 

The left-hander pitched well in his two starts against the reigning American League champion and could swing the momentum back in the Athletics' favor in Game 3. 

Atlanta and the Los Angeles Dodgers could take commanding 2-0 leads in their respective NLDS matchups Wednesday. 

Los Angeles may be in the better position to do so since it sends Clayton Kershaw to the hill after he turned in one of his best-ever playoff starts. 

Wednesday MLB Playoff Schedule

Game 2: Miami vs. Atlanta (2:08 p.m. ET, MLB Network)

Game 3: Oakland vs. Houston (3:35 p.m. ET, TBS)

Game 3: Tampa Bay vs. New York Yankees (7:10 p.m. ET, TBS)

Game 2: San Diego vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (9:08 p.m. ET, FS1)

Games can be live-streamed on TBS.com, TBS app, FoxSports.com, Fox Sports app and MLB app.

Predictions

Jesus Luzardo Keeps Oakland Alive

Eric Risberg/Associated Press

Luzardo seems like the perfect option to help Oakland keep its season alive. 

The southpaw contained the Astros in his last start against them on September 9, as he fanned seven batters and conceded two earned runs over seven innings. 

Luzardo last pitched in Game 1 of the Wild Card Round, when he lasted 3.1 innings against the White Sox. While the short length of that outing could be concerning to some, it is worth noting he faced a Chicago lineup that was 14-0 against left-handed starters. 

His experience against Houston and on the Dodger Stadium mound from a September 24 appearance should help Luzardo get into a rhythm early on. 

Luzardo's biggest challenge will be the first one he faces, as he needs to get George Springer out from Houston's leadoff position. He leads the series with six hits and a 2.111 OPS and is tied with two players for the home run lead with two. 

In that game against Luzardo, Houston's second through fifth hitters each had a hit, while Springer earned two. If the lefty gets Springer out in any capacity, he could be set to retire Michael Brantley, Jose Altuve and others in the opening frames. 

Oakland's offensive success could start with its leadoff man, as Marcus Semien had two hits in Game 2. 

If Luzardo limits the Astros at the plate and Semien reaches base to set up run-scoring opportunities against Jose Urquidy, Oakland could force Game 4 on Thursday.

Clayton Kershaw Extends Dominance into NLDS Game 2

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

Kershaw produced the highest single-game playoff strikeout total of his career in Game 2 of the Wild Card Round against Milwaukee, as he fanned 13 batters over eight innings. 

The 32-year-old could come close to reaching double-digits strikeouts in Game 2 against San Diego since he struck out nine Padres in 6.1 innings on September 14. 

In Tuesday's Game 1, the Padres struck out 14 times and managed just three hits against Walker Buehler and four relievers. San Diego also struck out at a high rate in its three wild-card games against St. Louis. The Cardinals earned 26 punchouts versus the Padres lineup. 

All of those numbers suggest Kershaw could produce a high number of strikeouts in a quality start at Globe Life Field. 

If that is the case, San Diego's chances to put crooked numbers on the board could be scant. That could be beneficial to the Dodgers lineup in case it fails to record an abundance of runs in the first few frames, as was the case in Game 1. The Dodgers only scored in the fifth and sixth innings Tuesday.

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90

Statistics obtained from Baseball Reference