Playoffs are all about heroes. Yesterday there were two in particular.

Jose Altuve for Houston and Trevor Bauer for Cleveland.

All Altuve did was become the tenth player in major league history to hit three home runs in a post-season game. MVP voting was due on the last day of the season. Altuve should win it, but a lot of shoulds never happen. Altuve is working on making sure he wins it in the playoffs.

In the other game, Trevor Bauer, the surprise starter of Game 1 made Terry Francona look like more of a genius than he already is. He held the Aaron Judge Yankees hitless for 5 1/3 innings, left with two outs in the seventh inning having given up just two hits, no runs.

The Astros and Indians go up 1-0 in their series. The playoffs are underway. Baseball is great.

*****
TODAY’S GAMES:

Drew Pomeranz (17-6, 3.32) vs. Dallas Keuchel (14-5, 2.90)
Game time: 1:08 on FS1

How the Red Sox hit against Keuchel.
How the Astros hit against Pomeranz.
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CC Sabathia (13-5, 3.69) vs Corey Kluber (18-4, 2.25)
Game time: 4:08 on MLB Network

How the Yankees hit against Kluber.
How the Indians hit against Sabathia.
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Kyle Hendricks (7-5, 3.03) vs Stephen Strasburg (15-4, 2.52)
Game time: 7:38 on TBS

How the Cubs hit against Strasburg.
How the Nationals hit against Hendricks.
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Taijuan Walker (9-9, 3.49) vs Clayton Kershaw (18-4, 2.31)
Game time: 9:38 on TBS

How the Diamondbacks hit against Kershaw.
How the Dodgers hit against Walker.