LEADING OFF: Homers fly in playoffs, Atlanta arms dominate

A look at what's happening around the majors on Thursday:

OCTOBER OCTANE

Maybe it’s the Southern California air or the indoors atmosphere in Texas, but the ball is really flying this postseason.

With Chad Pinder, Travis d’Arnaud and others powering up, there had been 75 home runs in just 26 playoff games this year through Wednesday afternoon. That was before the Yankees-Rays and Padres-Dodgers started their Division Series matchups.

That average of 2.88 homers per postseason game tops the regular-season mark of 2.57.

The Athletics and Astros combined to connect seven times as the A’s avoided a sweep with a 9-7 win. Houston will make another attempt to advance to the ALCS in Game 4 on Thursday at Dodger Stadium.

ATLANTA ARMS

The Atlanta Braves will try to reach the NL Championship Series for the first time since the days of Chipper Jones, the Big Three and Bobby Cox when they face the Marlins in Game 3.

Kyle Wright will make his postseason debut when he starts against Miami rookie Sixto Sanchez as Atlanta aims to sweep the best-of-five NL Division Series.

The last time the Braves made it to the NLCS was 2001 with Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz on the mound.

Ian Anderson, Max Fried and the current Atlanta staff has put on a Hall of Fame performance so far, throwing three shutouts in four games during this postseason.

Miami is on the cusp of losing the first playoff series in franchise history after entering this round 7-0 all-time in the postseason.

TAKE CARE

Cleveland manager Terry Francona is hoping his serious health concerns are behind him.

The 61-year-old skipper revealed Wednesday that he underwent several surgeries and required an extended stay in intensive care at the Cleveland Clinic this season...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/LEADING-OFF-Homers-fly-in-playoffs-Atlanta-arms-15629540.php