MLB play-offs: Saturday Showdown live on BBC with four games from ALDS & NLDS
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MLB Saturday Showdown |
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Date: Saturday, 7 October Start time: 18:00 BST |
Coverage: Watch four live games back-to-back on BBC iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website & app |
With Major League Baseball's play-offs in full swing, the BBC is the place to watch four back-to-back games as the MLB Saturday Showdown hits the airwaves.
The four top-ranked teams from the regular season enter the action in the American League Division Series (ALDS) and National League Division Series (NLDS), facing the four teams who have made it through the wildcard round.
Expect home runs, gravity-defying catches, and possibly the occasional managerial meltdown as passions rise and tensions build.
Felix White heads a specialised commentary team ready to bring you a marathon night of action - which you can watch on the BBC iPlayer, Red Button and the BBC Sport website and app from 18:00 BST on Saturday.
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How do the play-offs work? Which teams are playing?
18:00 BST: Baltimore Orioles v Texas Rangers (ALDS) |
21:45 BST: Houston Astros v Minnesota Twins (ALDS) |
23:00 BST: Atlanta Braves v Philadelphia Phillies (NLDS) |
02:20 BST (Sun): LA Dodgers v Arizona Diamondbacks (NLDS) |
Home team listed first. All matches are first game of best-of-five series |
The two American League divisional winners with the best records from the regular season, plus the top two from the National League, earn a bye through to the Division Series.
That includes the past three World Series champions - the Houston Astros (2022), Atlanta Braves (2021) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2020) along with this year's surprise package, the Baltimore Orioles who were the AL's top-ranked team with 101 wins.
Four teams have already been eliminated after losing best-of-three series in the wildcard round, with the four winners progressing to the ALDS and NLDS, which are best-of-five series, beginning on Saturday.
The two winning ALDS teams meet in the American League Championship Series (ALCS), with the two NLDS winners facing off in the National League Championship Series (NLCS), both over seven games. The ALCS and NLCS winners then lock horns in the best-of-seven World Series.
Who are the star players to look out for?
Altuve, Acuna, Henderson and Betts will be among the star names playing on Saturday
At 5ft 6in, Jose Altuve is the shortest active player in the majors, but the Houston Astros second baseman should never be underestimated in the postseason.
Altuve is second on the all-time list of MLB play-off home run hitters with 23 to his name. A broken thumb meant he missed the early part of the season, but he helped the defending World Series champions make a late run to the AL West division title.
No team has topped the Atlanta Braves' 104 regular-season wins in 2023, ensuring they will have home-field advantage throughout the play-offs, and right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr has been at the heart of their success.
He became the first player to break the '40-70' mark in MLB history, finishing the season with 41 home runs and 73 stolen bases.
Infielder Gunnar Henderson has led the charge as the Baltimore Orioles won the AL West, consigning the titanic New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox to fourth and fifth place.
Henderson, who can play third base and shortstop, has smashed 28 home runs in 2023, was named Most Valuable Oriole by local media and is a leading candidate for AL Rookie of the Year.
One of Acuna's leading rivals in the NL end-of season awards should be Mookie Betts, a World Series winner with the Red Sox in 2018 and with his current Los Angeles Dodgers side in 2020.
He celebrates his 31st birthday on Saturday after another stellar season with a batting average of .307, 39 home runs and 107 runs batted in, splitting his season between right field and second base, with also a few games at shortstop.
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Who will be on commentary?
Musician, broadcaster and BBC cricket podcaster Felix White takes a break from his Tailenders duties to lead the BBC's coverage, having fronted this year's London Series between the St Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs.
Cricket fans will also be able to watch England legend Stuart Broad learn about baseball from six-time All-Star Chase Utley during the coverage.
The commentary team includes former pitcher Jake Peavy, who won back-to-back World Series in 2013 and 2014 with the Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants, ex-Major League player Xavier Scruggs, and US broadcasters Melanie Newman and Matt Vasgersian.
With four successive games, it will be a marathon - so grab your hot dogs and popcorn, and settle in for the night.
Doughnut burgers and giant nachos - the London Series snacks are incredible