The Sunday American League Playoffs game thread

We break, for a day at least, from the National League nonsense to get back to real baseball. It might actually be interesting to follow up on the NL matchups after last night's screwjob that MLB performed on the Mets in benefit of the Dodgers. But none of that today - only a return to the AL series, where what's probably the two most hated teams in this playoffs by Orioles fans will be playing. One can lose it all tonight. The other can fall down 2-1 or take a 2-1 lead.

For the Astros, who split the games in Kansas City, things are looking fairly good. They've got the probable AL Cy Young winner, Dallas Keuchel, going in this game. They're back at home for the next two games. That's a positive.

The Rangers must surely feel even better about their chances, needing only one win in the next two games to take the series without it going back to Toronto. But the Blue Jays probably won't be folding up their tents and packing it in, so the Rangers will need to keep pitching well and hitting well to make it onward.

The schedule is as follows:

4:10pm Eastern: Royals @ Astros (Series tied, 1-1)
Starters: Edinson Volquez (KC), Dallas Keuchel (HOU)

8:10pm Eastern: Blue Jays @ Rangers (Texas leads, 2-0)
Starters: Marco Estrada (TOR), Martin Perez (TEX)