More people paying more attention. More, much more, on the line. A big difference between the regular season and the postseason, Jim Leyland said Tuesday, is that everybody has an opinion on lineup changes, how the pitching should be handled and in-game strategy.

Small margins can determine the future, especially between teams who are separated by such a razor-thin margin. This will be the 24th time the Cardinals and Pirates have played each other this season. While the first two games of the NLDS were one-sided, it will be a surprise if winning this one doesn’t require Jason Grilli and his brethren in the Shark Tank bullpen to survive some agonizing moments.

Now that another once-promising season has ended with yet another early postseason exit, the Braves are once again left to ponder about what might have been.

Somebody used the phrase “West Coast Yankees” in the presence of Ned Colletti, and from the look on the Dodgers general manager’s face, you would have thought somebody had insulted his mother or, at the least, swiped the last cannoli from out of his grasp.

Travis Witherspoon, a 24-year-old center fielder in the Angels organization, was claimed off waivers Tuesday by the Mariners and added to their 40-man roster. To make room, Henry Blanco was designated for assignment.

Though the Rockies haven’t had much success in developing pitching in recent years, they now have a potential No. 1 starter who should reach Coors Field in a hurry. Jonathan Gray’s ceiling may be as high as the expectations are for him, and he’s off to a promising start in reaching both.

It’s not often an organization can draft, sign and quickly develop the type of hitter who could and should hit in the middle of a big league lineup, the kind of hitter you build a lineup around. And that’s why, using the clarity of a little hindsight, Kris Bryant should have been this year’s No. 1 Draft pick.

Listen, people, the Tampa Bay Rays are one of the most efficient, best-run businesses in this country. They’re not just one of the best-run baseball teams. That’s too narrow. The Rays can stand alongside businesses in almost any industry.

Former Indians manager Manny Acta and Padres bench coach Rick Renteria are the latest candidates added to the list for the Cubs’ managerial vacancy. The team also may find out soon if Joe Girardi is available.

The long ball was in vogue across baseball on Monday, with the latest set of Division Series contests producing — among other things — a homer to lead off the first, another to turn a deficit into a lead in the eighth, one to offer a team’s only scoring in a win-or-get-knocked-out scenario, another to end a no-hit bid in the eighth inning, yet another to mark a birthday, and finally, one to end a game and stave off elimination.

Don Mattingly’s job security has been a constant source of speculation, with his modest $1.4 million contract option for 2014 still dangling in front of him. Mattingly, though, has handled his twist in the wind with class and professionalism.

Clayton Kershaw added another accomplishment to his resume on Monday, pitching on short rest for the first time in his career — and pitching well, at that. Though he ultimately settled for a no-decision, Kershaw limited the Braves to just two runs, both unearned, off three hits while striking out six over six innings of work in the Dodgers’ 4-3 National League Division Series-clinching victory over Atlanta.

Juan Uribe became part of franchise lore Monday night with a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Dodgers clinched the best-of-five National League Division Series with a stirring 4-3 comeback win over the Braves.

The never-say-die Rays improved to 4-0 in elimination games this year, but the Red Sox are still in control of this Division Series with a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five set. On Tuesday night, Boston looks to clinch behind veteran Jake Peavy, who matches up with Tampa Bay right-hander Jeremy Hellickson.

Supported by Matt Holliday’s sixth-inning homer, Michael Wacha tossed 7 1/3 hitless innings before allowing a home run, extending the Cardinals’ season by dazzling in a 2-1 Game 4 win over the Pirates. The victory sends this National League Division Series back to St. Louis for a decisive Game 5.

Game 3 of the ALDS on Monday ended with an A’s 6-3 win and a flourish. Leading off the ninth, Tigers DH Victor Martinez fouled off a 1-2 pitch from Grant Balfour and stared down the A’s closer. Words were exchanged and Martinez headed toward the mound. No punches were thrown and Martinez flied out on the next pitch.

The decision by the A’s baseball people to start rookie right-hander Sonny Gray against the Tigers in Game 2 of their American League Division Series on Saturday night was certainly a prescient one.