At least so far, this has not been one of Dustin Pedroia’s best postseasons. His offense has been inconsistent and even his typically flawless defense showed a crack in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series on Wednesday.

As the League Championship Series round takes us into the second half of October, one win is all that separates the Cardinals from the World Series bid they were so close to taking a year ago as they seek their 19th National League title in franchise history. And one run has put the Red Sox in control of the battle for the American League pennant.

With fewer than two full seasons in the big leagues, Joe Kelly is still considered a young pitcher, but the Cardinals right-hander is already a veteran of sorts in the postseason. Kelly will take on the Dodgers in Game 5 of the NLCS on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium (3 p.m. CT on TBS).

A roundup of Tuesday’s action in the Venezuelan Winter League and Mexican Pacific League.

Joe Kelly looks to pitch the Cardinals into the World Series against Zack Greinke and the Dodgers in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series on Wednesday.

Trevor Rosenthal followed fellow rookies Seth Maness, 25, and Carlos Martinez, 22, in shutting out the Dodgers over the final 3 2/3 innings of the Cardinals’ Game 4 win. Game 5 is Wednesday (3 p.m. CT on TBS).

On the 25th anniversary of Kirk Gibson’s iconic home run sailing into the night air at Dodger Stadium in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, 5-foot-9 Cardinals reserve Shane Robinson came off the opposite bench to hit a homer that will take its own small place in postseason history.

Manager Don Mattingly, whose Dodgers are trailing 3-1 in the National League Championship Series, will return in 2014, a baseball source confirmed Tuesday night.

Shortstop Hanley Ramirez started Game 4 of the National League Championship Series on Tuesday despite having a fractured rib in his left side, but he was removed after six innings as the pain worsened and the Dodgers decided Ramirez needed to start treatment early in hopes of playing Game 5 on Wednesday.

With one swing of the bat in the third inning of Game 4, Matt Holliday made a Ricky Nolasco pitch disappear into the night for a two-run homer that ended his slump and helped lead St. Louis to a 4-2 win and a commanding 3-1 lead over the Dodgers in the best-of-seven NLCS.

In a tension-filled Dodger Stadium, with 53,992 fans on their feet and Game 4 of the National League Championship Series teetering in the balance, Cardinals starting pitcher Lance Lynn appeared ready to implode.

Mike Matheny managed brilliantly in the Cardinals’ 4-2 win in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium.

This October, the Cardinals’ way doesn’t involve much in the way of a margin for error, or room for taking a deep breath for that matter. But it does have the Redbirds one victory away from the World Series.

With Los Angeles on the verge of elimination, Zack Greinke will start Game 5 of the NLCS on Wednesday hoping to duplicate the effectiveness he displayed in last Friday’s series opener at St. Louis.

Ten Major League players on Tuesday were named nominees for the 49th annual Hutch Award, given yearly in honor of former Major League player and manager Fred Hutchinson.

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny discussed the Cardinals being one win away from the World Series.

With his two-run homer to cap a three-run third, Matt Holliday helped move the Cardinals to the precipice of earning their fourth World Series appearance in the past decade. A 4-2 win in Game 4 on Tuesday night puts the Cardinals ahead, 3-1, in the best-of-seven National League Championship Series against the Dodgers.