Astros manager A.J. Hinch played coy Tuesday when asked about his potential pitching blueprint for the later innings of Wednesday’s decisive Game 5 of the American League Division Series vs. the Royals at 8 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1. His starter, meanwhile, was much more straightforward.

Despite a lower back strain that kept him out of Games 2 and 3 of the American League Division Series still hindering his movement, the Rangers expect to have Adrian Beltre in the lineup for Game 5 on Wednesday.

When Don Mattingly was asked who his starter was for Game 4 of the Dodgers’ National League Division Series against the Mets at Citi Field on Tuesday night and for an explanation regarding the decision, the manager was pretty succinct. “[Clayton] Kershaw,” he said. “Do you have to explain that one?”

Unable to show enough strength with his left thumb to grip a bat — or much of anything, for that matter — Yadier Molina was scratched from the Cardinals’ National League Division Series Game 4 lineup on Tuesday. With the Cards down 2-1 in the series and facing elimination against the Cubs, Tony Cruz drew his second career postseason start.

The Cardinals and Cubs have posted their starting lineups for today’s game at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

The Dodgers and Mets have posted their lineups for tonight’s National League Division Series game against the Dodgers at Citi Field in New York.

The hearing of Chase Utley’s appeal of his two-game suspension for his hard slide into Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada last week will be held on Monday.

Here are five things to look for as the Marlins pursue their 10th manager since current ownership assumed control in 2002.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said he didn’t start Chase Utley in Monday’s Game 3 of the National League Division Series because of a “baseball decision,” but added that he talked to Utley about safety concerns for the infielder and his family after Saturday night’s controversial slide in Game 2 that broke the leg of Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada.

Curtis Granderson drove home five runs on a pair of doubles, Yoenis Cespedes and Travis d’Arnaud homered and the Mets, despite an imperfect outing from Matt Harvey, waltzed to a 13-7 victory over the Dodgers Monday night in Game 3 of the National League Division Series.

The boos rained down upon Chase Utley, just as the forecasts had figured. And there were moments Monday night when Citi Field faithful’s demands for a pound of flesh — voiced in those rhythmic “We want Utley!” chants — were about as loud and nearly as long as the public discourse over Utley’s takeout tactics.

Yoenis Cespedes highlighted the first three-hit postseason game of his career with a three-run home run in the fourth inning that padded Mets’ lead in their 13-7 win in Game 3 of the National League Division Series on Monday night at Citi Field.

Mets fans flooded Citi Field for the first postseason game in its history, and the franchise’s first since 2006 — Monday’s 13-7 Mets win over the Dodgers in Game 3 of the National League Division Series.They came with purpose, many with signs saying “Win For Ruben,” alluding to injured Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada.

Scowling declarations are nothing new for Matt Harvey, so Mets manager Terry Collins was not particularly surprised to see Harvey walk into the dugout following a three-run second inning in National League Division Series Game 3 and vow, as Collins recalled it, that “that’s all they’re getting.” “And that,” Collins said, “is all they got.”

The Cubs put on a power show Monday night as rookies Kris Bryant, Jorge Soler and Kyle Schwarber hit half of Chicago’s six home runs to post an 8-6 victory over the Cardinals in Game 3 of the National League Division Series and take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series.

The eight teams remaining shattered the previous record for most home runs in a single day. From the Cubs setting a record for most in a single game by one team to rookies combining to hit more homers than ever before, Statcast was busy tracking long ball after long ball throughout the day on Monday.

Here are the top GIFs of the day, courtesy of @MLBGIFs.