The MLB Standings saw drama and had to patiently wait for a result on Friday as the N.L. Championship Series began. It took 13 innings to decide a winner, but ultimately, it was Carlos Beltran who proved the most valuable player of the evening. Here's a look at the standings in the playoffs with Friday's results and what to look forward to on Saturday.
Beltran Already MVP
In total, Beltran should have four runs credited to himself. He drove in three runs and saved the go-ahead run from scoring in the top of the 10th. Had Mark Ellis scored, the St. Louis Cardinals would have found themselves down 0-1 in the series. The bottom of the 10th passed by so quickly, the Los Angeles Dodgers would have easily captured the victory.
However, Beltran kept things going, giving the Cardinals another chance, one he took advantage of in the 13th inning. Kenley Jansen, who only threw one pitch, saw Beltran send his fastball down the right field line, scoring Daniel Descalso from second base. The Cardinals proved clutch, stealing momentum from a red hot Dodgers team. It would take something amazing from another Cardinal to rip the MVP from Beltran after the Puerto Rican veteran set the table for St. Louis in this series.
The Cardinals won another game without Adam Wainwright on the mound. This could prove deadly for the Dodgers, but they are not panicking.
Saturday Baseball
The Dodgers will have Clayton Kershaw on the mound. However, all the attention is on the Cardinals' right-hander, Michael Wacha. He kept St. Louis alive in the NLDS and he will now have a chance to give St. Louis a 2-0 series lead.
The A.L. Championship Series will kick off as the Boston Red Sox host the Detroit Tigers in the series opener. IT will be Jon Lester versus an Anibal Sanchez who struggled in his first postseason start of 2013.
MLB Standings through Saturday
St. Louis Cardinals (4-2)--- 1
Los Angeles Dodgers (3-3) 0
Boston Red Sox (3-1)
Detroit Tigers (3-2) -- 0
Eliminated Teams
Oakland A's (2-3)
Pittsburgh Pirates (2-3)
Atlanta Braves (1-3)
Tampa Bay Rays (1-3)
