MLB Playoffs soldier on without the mighty Cincinnati Reds

At least they held our interests until the playoffs began that time. This year, they chucked fans to the curb with months to spare, so you may have overlooked that the good teams are actually starting up the important games today.

The Philadelphia Phillies are in Atlanta taking on the Braves in matinee action this afternoon, with veteran ace Chris Sale on the mound for the home team. Later at 5:00 PM ET, the surprising Chicago White Sox make their own return to postseason play after a trio of 100+ loss seasons as they travel to Houston to take on an Astros club that is hosting a postseason series a month after firing their own GM.

The baseball bigwigs will celebrate at 8:00 PM ET as the marquee series of this round commences in the Bronx as the Yankees play host to their age-old rivals from Boston. Then, out west, the all-hit no-pitch Chicago Cubs will take on the surging San Diego Padres at 10:00 PM ET, and that makes Red Reporter officially a San Diego Padres bar for the next few days.