Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zack Greinke takes the field during a workout at Chase Field, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017, in Phoenix, as the team gets ready for a National League wild-card playoff baseball game. The Diamondbacks host the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Matt York)
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A look at what's happening around the majors today:
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DUEL IN THE DESERT
Nolan Arenado and the Colorado Rockies face Arizona Diamondbacks ace Zack Greinke in the NL wild-card game at 8:08 p.m. EDT. It's a matchup of teams that know each other well. The division rivals share a spring training facility and played each other 19 times this season. The winner of No. 20 heads for Los Angeles to play the NL West champion Dodgers in a best-of-five Division Series beginning Friday. "There's no secrets here," Rockies manager Bud Black said. "We know what they like to do. They know our players."
ONE DAY AWAY
The Red Sox and Astros work out in Houston ahead of their AL Division Series. Pitching matchups are set for the first two games, with Justin Verlander scheduled to start Thursday's opener for the Astros against Chris Sale. Dallas Keuchel gets the ball in Game 2 vs. Boston left-hander Drew Pomeranz. "It's really deciding between two really deserving, really good guys," Houston manager A.J. Hinch said. "So I didn't have a lot of stress about it other than we had to pick an order."
MOVING ON
After a wild-card win Tuesday night over Minnesota to start the 2017 postseason, Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees will be in Cleveland to prepare for their best-of-five Division Series against the defending AL champion Indians. In a surprise move, Cleveland plans to pitch Trevor Bauer (17-9, 4.18 ERA) in the opener Thursday rather than ace Corey Kluber (18-4, 2.25). Baseball's most dominant pitcher for months, Kluber is scheduled to start Game 2. Indians manager Terry Francona said part of his decision to go with the rubber-armed Bauer in Game 1 is so he can use his best pitcher - Kluber - in a potential Game 5. In other news, All-Star left fielder Michael Brantley will be on the ALDS 25-man roster as a pinch-hitter. Brantley was sidelined for 50 games with an injured ankle ligament before returning last week and getting a single in his first at-bat since Aug. 8. Francona said the hope is for Brantley's role to expand if the Indians advance.
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New York Yankees relief pitcher David Robertson laughs during a locker room celebration after the Yankees defeated the Minnesota Twins 8-4 in the American League wild-card playoff baseball game in New York, early Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
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Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black answers a question during a news conference Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017, at Chase Field in Phoenix as the team prepared for Wednesday's National League wild-card playoff baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Colorado Rockies center fielder Charlie Blackmon watches during practice for Wednesday's National League wild-card playoff baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
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FILE - In this Sept. 27, 2017, file photo, Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander winds up to throw to the Texas Rangers during a baseball game in Arlington, Texas. The Astros will start Verlander in Game 1 of the AL Division Series against Chris Sale and the Boston Red Sox on Thursday, Oct 5. Manager A.J. Hinch announced the decision Tuesday, adding that left-hander Dallas Keuchel, who won the AL Cy Young Award in 2015, will start Game 2 on Friday against Drew Pomeranz. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)
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Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Heath Hembree stretches out as he heads to the outfield during baseball practice at Fenway Park in Boston, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017. The Red Sox face the Houston Astros in the American League Division playoff series. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
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FILE - In this Aug. 24, 2017, file photo, Houston Astros' Dallas Keuchel delivers a pitch against the Washington Nationals during the first inning of a baseball game in Houston. Keuchel, who won the AL Cy Young Award in 2015, will start Game 2 of an ALDS on Friday, Oct. 6, matched up against Boston Red Sox's Drew Pomeranz. (AP Photo/Richard Carson, File)
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Boston Red Sox pitchers gather for a meeting in the outfield during a workout at Fenway Park in Boston, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017. The Red Sox face the Houston Astros in the American League Division playoff series. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
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New York Yankees' Aaron Judge, right, celebrates with Aaron Hicks, center, as Brett Gardner, left, watches after the Yankees defeated the Minnesota Twins 8-4 in the American League wild-card baseball playoff game, early Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
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Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Drew Pomeranz heads to the clubhouse during practice at Fenway Park in Boston, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017. The Red Sox face the Houston Astros on Thursday in Game 1 of an AL Division Series. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
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