Elephant Rumblings: Braves and Dodgers open NLDS with Game 1 victories

Good morning, Athletics Nation!

The Oakland A’s are down 0-2 in their ALDS against the Houston Astros, putting them on the brink of elimination. But given our history, wouldn’t you be just as nervous if they were up 2-0? It’s not like that’s worked out well either. All you can do is take it one day at a time and hope for a win in today’s game. Hopefully, when we look up in a few days, the opponent will suddenly be wearing pinstripes or baby blue instead of awful garish orange.

Meanwhile, there are three other series going on in the MLB postseason.

In the American League, the Tampa Bay Rays did what the A’s couldn’t by evening their series against the mighty New York Yankees. The Rays got off to an early lead, held it, and then added insurance, in a 7-5 victory.

The National League got started as well, and the Atlanta Braves got their series off on the right foot with a win over the Miami Marlins, who spent most of the year as the butt of jokes like “you’ll know this short season doesn’t mean anything when the Marlins make the playoffs.” In this case the Fish led early, but a six-run 7th by the Braves changed the tide. Sounds a lot like the A’s first game. Atlanta won 9-5.

Finally, the Los Angeles Dodgers continued their expected steamroll through October. The San Diego Padres bullpenned it and it almost worked, but the Dodgers came through in the 6th with four runs to win 5-1.

Here’s the schedule for Wednesday, all times Pacific (series standings in parentheses):

• 11:08 a.m.: Marlins @ Braves (0-1)
• 12:35 p.m.: A’s @ Astros (0-2)
• 4:10 p.m.: Rays @ Yankees (1-1)
• 6:08 p.m.: Padres @ Dodgers (0-1)

Let’s not be the first team knocked out of the LDS round!

A’s Coverage

• Gallegos and McTaggart: A’s-Astros Game 3 FAQ (TBS, 3:30 ET)
• Hickey: Hendriks Not Willing to Change His Game Just to Suit Dodger Stadium
• Slusser podcast: Guest is Ray Fosse
• News: Jesús Luzardo will start Game 3, but not Zack Greinke
• ALDS Game 2: Oakland A’s have no answers in 5-2 loss to Astros

MLB News & Interest

• I really should have removed this section for a couple weeks, oh well
• Today in Baseball History

Game 2 Highlights

Loss! A’s are on the brink. But dang, Khris is heating up.

And so is Pinder. Longest dinger in Dodger Stadium this year!

Best of Twitter

Khrushing it

Significant news for A’s/Astros

Fun fact: In the 80s the A’s had a pitcher named Moose Haas. He and Mule were unrelated.

“I also believe that hairless one escaped from prison or some such” - Susan Slusser

Great idea! Ummm can we have Green Day sing our pick next year??

It’s been done before. We’ve even seen it ourselves.