Aces wild: Playoffs open with Astros-Yankees, Cubs-Pirates

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The baseball playoffs are set to open Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium when 20-game winner Dallas Keuchel starts for the Houston Astros against New York ace Masahiro Tanaka in the AL wild-card game.

The Chicago Cubs, still trying for their first World Series title since 1908, play at Pittsburgh on Wednesday night in the NL wild-card game. Jake Arrieta led the majors with 22 wins for the Cubs and will pitch against Pirates star Gerrit Cole.

All of the playoff matchups were locked in Sunday on the final day of the regular season.

The Astros-Yankees winner will play at Kansas City in the best-of-five Division Series on Thursday. The same day, AL West champion Texas visits Toronto.

The Division Series in the NL begins Friday with the New York Mets at the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cubs-Pirates winner at St. Louis.

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Cole Hamels, back, is mobbed by his teammates after the final out of the baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015. The Rangers clinched the AL West title on the last day of the regular season with the 9-2 win. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2015/10/web1_106226981-ddfc830abe1c41b594ec7a5660ccf28c.jpgTexas Rangers starting pitcher Cole Hamels, back, is mobbed by his teammates after the final out of the baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015. The Rangers clinched the AL West title on the last day of the regular season with the 9-2 win. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Houston Astros’ Marwin Gonzalez (9) hits a line drive single against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the second inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2015/10/web1_106226981-9a6264732e7d496993c3df99177886a2.jpgHouston Astros’ Marwin Gonzalez (9) hits a line drive single against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the second inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)

Chicago Cubs players celebrate after a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Milwaukee. The Cubs won 3-1. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2015/10/web1_106226981-a49ecb829ac94788819e111eef9bf348.jpgChicago Cubs players celebrate after a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Milwaukee. The Cubs won 3-1. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

By The Associated Press

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