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National League Division Series, Game 1: Pirates vs. Cardinals, Braves vs. Dodgers

A doubleheader of N.L. playoff games awaits you this afternoon and evening.

By Al Yellon
Harry How

Remember back in 2008, when the Cubs were in the playoffs? I know, it seems like a million years ago. You'll recall, perhaps, that Game 2 of the Division Series that year against the Dodgers at Wrigley Field started at 8:30 p.m. CT, which was the latest-ever scheduled start of a game at Wrigley. It seemed really late, and the game ran over three hours, ending just before midnight.

This year, TBS and MLB are doing something even more ridiculous. The Braves are going to be hosting Game 1 against the Dodgers tonight... at 9:30 p.m. ET. I mean... seriously? I understand they're trying to get this game into prime time in Los Angeles, but really? A game that will likely end well after midnight in Atlanta?

They should have made that game the early game -- it would have started at 5 p.m. ET and 2 p.m. in Los Angeles -- and had the Cardinals and Pirates in prime time.

And they wonder why TV ratings are low.

Cardinals lineup:

Carpenter 2B, Beltran RF, Holliday LF, Adams 1B, Molina C, Jay CF, Freese 3B, Descalso SS, Wainwright P

Pirates lineup:

Marte LF, Walker 2B, McCutchen CF, Morneau 1B, Byrd RF, Alvarez 3B, Martin C, Barmes SS, Burnett P

Lineups for the Dodgers/Braves game weren't available at posting time.

Pirates/Cardinals pitchers:

W-L G GS CG SHO SV BS IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP
2013 - A.J. Burnett 10-11 30 30 1 0 0 0 191.0 165 79 70 11 67 209 3.30 1.21
W-L G GS CG SHO SV BS IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP
2013 - Adam Wainwright 19-9 35 34 5 2 0 0 241.2 223 83 79 15 35 219 2.94 1.07

Dodgers/Braves pitchers:

W-L G GS CG SHO SV BS IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP
2013 - Clayton Kershaw 16-9 35 33 3 2 0 0 236.0 164 55 48 11 52 232 1.83 .92
W-L G GS CG SHO SV BS IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP
2013 - Kris Medlen 15-12 32 31 0 0 0 0 197.0 194 77 68 18 47 157 3.11 1.22

Today's games are on TBS. Pirates/Cardinals announcers: Dick Stockton, Bob Brenly and Matt Winer. Dodgers/Braves announcers: Ernie Johnson, Ron Darling, Cal Ripken and Craig Sager.

MLB.com Gameday for Pirates/Cardinals

MLB.com Gameday for Dodgers/Braves

Baseball-reference.com game preview for Pirates/Cardinals

Baseball-reference.com game preview for Dodgers/Braves

SB Nation game preview for Pirates/Cardinals

SB Nation game preview for Dodgers/Braves

SB Nation Cardinals site: Viva El Birdos

SB Nation Pirates site: Bucs Dugout

SB Nation Dodgers site: True Blue LA

SB Nation Pirates site: Talking Chop

This will serve as your one and only game thread for tonight's games. Enjoy, and discuss amongst yourselves.

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