Players in the Postseason: #WinorGoHome #ItsBlackandWhite (Oct. 9)

Updated: Oct. 9

The Heroes

Astros right-hander Collin McHugh wasn't about to come out of the game because of the 49-minute rain delay in the second inning in Kansas City. A 19-game winner who pitched more than 200 innings in the regular season, the 28-year-old came back out and shut down the Royals (OK, maybe not Kendrys Morales, who tagged him for two solo homers) for six innings in the Astros' 5-2 win over the Royals.

Hitting in the ninth spot in the order, north of the border, catcher Robinson Chirinos hit a decisive two-run homer off Blue Jays ace David Price in the top of the fifth inning to propel the Rangers past the Jays, 5-3.

"I think he relaxed a little bit with the people at the bottom of the lineup," Chirinos said.

The Spark Plug

Jose Altuve played Game 1 like Jose Altuve, sparking the Astros' offense with three hits. He got a leadoff single in the first and scored on a groundout, and his second-inning single plated the team's third run.

The Home-Field Disadvantage

The first four games in this year's postseason went to the visiting team, despite crowds that clearly did their part. It was the first time this has happened since 1970 and only the fourth time ever, according to STATS Inc. The previous two occurrences were in 1906 and 1923.

The Scare

Superstar Adrian Beltre aggravated his lower back hitting an RBI single to center field in the third inning, and while he stayed in to run the bases, he needed to pull himself from the game. The club later said that there was no structural damage, that Beltre had been given an anti-inflammatory injection and that his playing status was day-to-day.

The Trivia

This player grew up in the Dominican Republic playing with a stick and tennis ball. He didn't start playing organized baseball until he was 13, but it didn't take him long to get noticed. He met his wife during his first week in the big leagues, and is now a father of three. Who is he?

The No-So-Surprising News About Yadi

Did anyone really think the Yadier Molina was going to miss postseason games because of his torn thumb ligament?

"I'm ready to go," he pronounced after the club workout Thursday.

The injury was excruciating enough for the seven-time Gold Glove winner to go on the DL for just the second time in his career and miss the final 12 weeks of the regular season. He's still not 100 percent -- not that anyone else is come October, either -- but he's been suited for a custom splint for catching and different protection for hitting.

The Quote

"I want to apologize for allowing my emotions to control my actions in a negative manner. I also spoke to the cooler, apologized personally, and he's forgiven me as Christ forgives all."
-- Sean Rodriguez via Twitter

The Legendary Broadcaster

It was unsettling to hear that legendary broadcaster Vin Scully had undergone an undisclosed "medical procedure" and won't be handling his duties on Dodgers radio broadcasts during the postseason. He had been scheduled to do the first three and last three innings of each game. Scully, 87, had missed the club's final homestand with an illness. The Hall of Fame voice of the Dodgers has announced he will be back for a 67th and final season in 2016. He joined Red Barber in the booth back in 1950.

The Scene Setter

It's a four-game Friday to lead into one of the great baseball weekends of the year.

ALDS Game 2 TEX at TOR (TEX leads 1-0): Cole Hamels vs. Marcus Stroman (12:30 p.m. ET, MLB Network)
ALDS Game 2 HOU at KC (HOU leads 1-0): Scott Kazmir vs. Johnny Cueto (3:30 p.m. ET, FS1)
NLDS Game 1 CHC at STL: Jon Lester vs. John Lackey (6:30 p.m. ET, TBS)
NLDS Game 1 NYM at LAD: Jacob deGrom vs. Clayton Kershaw (9:30 p.m. ET, TBS)

The NL clubs will play Game 2 on Saturday, with the Cubs and Cardinals at 5:37 p.m. ET, followed by the Mets and Dodgers at 9:07 pm ET. Both games are on TBS.

The AL clubs will play Game 3 on Sunday with the Royals and Astros at 4:10 p.m. ET on MLB Network and the Blue Jays and Rangers at 8:10 p.m. ET on FS1.

The Trivia Answer

Adrian Beltre

Follow us @MLB_Players and to catch our postseason social media series, titled #WinOrGoHome #ItsBlackandWhite, featuring some up-close photos courtesy of Getty Sports.