Maddie Meyer/Getty ImagesFollowing a full Friday of postseason MLBaction http://www.indiansfanproshop.com/authentic-b.j.-upton-jersey , the American League takes center stage for a pair of American League Division Series Game 2 showdowns.The Houston Astros commenced their title defense with four long balls and another Justin Verlander gem to take an early lead over the Cleveland Indians. Both division champions have another ace in tow for the second bout at Minute Maid Park.Reigniting their storied rivalry in October, the Boston Red Sox pegged J.A. Happ for five runs before the New York Yankees could hand a lead to their dominant bullpen. After escaping with a 5-4 triumph, they will rely on David Price to reverse his playoff struggles against a rival that has routinely given him trouble.With tons of star power on display, let's break down each of Saturday's pivotal Game 2 matchups.MLB Playoff BracketALDS: Houston Astros 1, Cleveland Indians 0ALDS: Boston Red Sox 1, New York Yankees 0NLDS: Milwaukee Brewers 2, Colorado Rockies 0NLDS: Los Angeles Dodgers 2, Atlanta Braves 0 ALDS Schedule: Saturday, Oct. 6Cleveland Indians at Houston Astros: 4:37 p.m. ET on TBNew York Yankees at Boston Red Sox: 8:15 p.m. ET on TBSLive Stream:TBS Watch Live Cleveland Indians vs. Houston AstrosThe Cleveland Indians will attempt to even the series behind Carlos Carrasco.Brian Davidson/Getty ImagesGame 1's battle between former AL Cy Young Award winners went far better for Verlander than Corey Kluber, who ceded home runs to Alex Bregman http://www.indiansfanproshop.com/authentic-omar-vizquel-jersey , George Springer, Martin Maldonado and Jose Altuve in a 7-2 loss.Springer stayed hot on the grand stage by depositing his eighth dinger in 25 career postseason bouts:MLB Stat of the Day MLBStatoftheDayGeorge Springer has hit a dinger in FIVE STRAIGHT #postseason games. That ties him with former Astro carlosbeltran15 for 2nd-longest streak in MLB history. FDyFAuaDRaThe onerous task of silencing Houston's young studs now falls to Carlos Carrasco. After tossing 5.2 scoreless frames in last year's 1-0 ALDS loss to the Yankees, Cleveland's overlooked ace netted a 3.38 ERA and career-high 231 strikeouts this season.He will face one of the few teams able to deploy another elite hurler. In his first season with the Astros, Gerrit Cole posted a 2.88 ERA and 276 strikeouts, the AL's second-highest clip behind Houston's Game 1 victor.Sports Info Solutions SportsInfo_SISLargest Increase in Strikeout Rate - 2017 to 2018Gerrit Cole 11.2 percentage ptsBlake Snell 9.8Patrick Corbin9.2Justin Verlander 9.0Largest declineCorey Kluber -7.7Clayton Kershaw -5.9In addition to de-emphasizing a sinker that yielded a 132 weighted runs created plus (wRC+) last season, the strikeout percentage on Cole's four-seam fastball soared from 24.5 to 32.8 percent. Per David Barron of the Houston Chronicle, the 28-year-old righty credited the Astros for unlocking his ace ceiling."They're really forward-thinking," Cole said. "They have a system analytically that's really advanced and is designed ... for the player to better themselves. And then A.J. [Hinch] plays his hand accordingly on how he wants to design the lineup or the defense and whatnot."It won't be easy to score off Cole, but Cleveland still needs an early lead. Although the strength of 2016's World Series run, the bullpen betrayed the AL Central champions by allowing a 4.60 ERA this season.On Friday Jason Kipnis Jersey , the Astros tacked on three insurance runs鈥攖wo against Cody Allen鈥攁t the backsliding unit's expense.The Astros, on the other hand, are so flush with bullpen options that Joe Smith, Brad Peacock and Chris Devenski didn't even make the ALDS roster.This advantage鈥攁nd Houston's superfluous power鈥攚ill make all the difference in a well-pitched game from Cole and Carrasco.Prediction: Astros 4, Indians 3New York Yankees vs. Boston Red SoxMasahiro Tanaka will look to replicate last years postseason success.Jim McIsaac/Getty ImagesRemember Cleveland's 1-0 loss started by Carrasco last year? Masahiro Tanaka tossed seven shutout innings on the other end of the pitchers' duel.It was the first of three sensational playoff turns for the righty, who yielded 13 baserunners (10 hits and three walks) and two runs through 20 frames. For those who justifiably dismiss October as old news, his 2.85 second-half ERA offers a more recent dose of success.Tanaka is nearly unhittable when effectively commanding a devastatingslider that flummoxed opponents to a .173/.227/.318 slash line and 27.4 strikeout percentage this season. Yet he also surrendered a 6.26 ERA in four starts against the Red Sox, who hit sliders better than any team in baseball.Despite Tanaka's 2018 struggles against the potent AL East rival, viewers will hear far more about Price's well-documented difficulties combatting the Bronx Bombers.Price has stumbled to a 4.90 ERA in 250 career innings against his long-term adversary. Although this marks the former AL Cy Young Award winner's ninth playoff appearance for a fourth AL squad, he has yet to encounter the Yankees in the postseason.Talk of his overall October shortcomings will also resurface if he falters. He lowered hiscareer playoff ERA to 5.08 by tossing 6.2 innings from the bullpen in last year's ALDS.Price is also rolling into October with a 2.25 ERA after the All-Star break. And at least the game takes place at Fenway Park Lonnie Chisenhall Jersey , where he posted a 2.98 ERA.Christopher Smith SmittyOnMLBDavid Price has given up 16 homers against the Yankees as a member of the Red Sox. 13 have come at Yankee Stadium, only 3 at Fenway Park.Yet the Yankees belted an MLB-high 82 long balls against southpaws during the season while stamping the second-best wRC+ (115) behind the Astros. Boston ranked second in wRC+ (116)versus righties, so don't be surprised if either or both starters are knocked out early.A battle of bullpens would favor the Yankees, and manager Aaron Boone should not hesitate to open the reliever floodgates. Pounded for a 7.91 ERA the third time through the order, Tanaka earned a 2.61 ERA in 120.2 previous innings.New York's starter just needs to hold the fort down for four or five frames before Boone unleashes his late-inning power pitchers on Boston.Prediction: Yankees 6, Red Sox 4 Note: All advanced stats are courtesy of FanGraphsunless otherwise noted. NEW YORK (AP) — Gerry Davis, who has umpired a record 144 postseason games, will be the crew chief for the NL Championship Series.Joe West, whose 5,194 regular-season games are second to Bill Klem’s 5 http://www.indiansfanproshop.com/authentic-larry-doby-jersey ,375, will be the AL Championship Series crew chief, the commissioner’s office said Thursday.Scott Barry will be behind the plate for Friday night’s NL opener between Milwaukee and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Alan Porter will be at first, Davis at second, Hunter Wendelstedt at third, Jim Wolf in left and Brian Gorman in right.Greg Gibson will be the replay umpire in New York for the first two games. He’ll join the crew for Game 3 while Barry switches to the replay room. Gibson would be behind the plate for a Game 7.James Hoye will call balls and strikes for Saturday night’s AL opener between Boston and Houston. Vic Carapazza will be at first, West at second, Mark Carlson at third, Chris Guccione in left and Mark Wegner in right. Bill Miller will be the replay umpire for the first two games. He’ll join the crew while Hoye goes to the video center. Miller would be the Game 7 plate umpire.