Opinion

The Los Angeles Dodgers finally showed some signs of life in the NLCS, as they got back on track with a Game 3 win on Monday against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Still down 2-1 in the series, the Dodgers have some work to do as Lance Lynn (15-10, 3.97 ERA) takes the hill for the Cardinals. The Dodgers will counter with Ricky Nolasco (13-11, 3.70 ERA).

It’s difficult to imagine where the St. Louis Cardinals would be without their rookie pitchers.

Between Carlos Martinez, Seth Maness, Trevor Rosenthal, Kevin Siegrist and Michael Wacha, the Cardinals' young hurlers have individually and collectively played a crucial role in the team's success this October.

However, one very important name has been absent from the mix: Shelby Miller.

According to baseball writer Peter Gammons, some Boston Red Sox players are upset about Jhonny Peralta's inclusion on Detroit's postseason roster after a 50-game suspension for his connection to the Biogenesis scandal.

As Mick Jagger once half-sung, half-rasped as only he could, "You can't always get what you want / But if you try sometime, you just might find / You get what you need."

According to Mark Feinsand of The New York Daily News, there is mutual interest between impending free agent Carlos Beltran and the New York Yankees.

The Cubs will do some much-needed fine-tuning this offseason, making upgrades in the outfield and possibly around the infield. The bullpen will need some support after barely hanging on in 2013 and the Cubs will need a strong bench. 

Just two days ago, the Detroit Tigers blew a 5-0 lead and allowed the Boston Red Sox to pull even in the 2013 ALCS. Bouncing back from that type of devastating defeat is difficult to say the least.

Although Jim Leyland's club has the benefit of returning to the friendly confines of Comerica Park for Game 3 on Tuesday, there are several keys Detroit would do well to adhere to.

The New York Yankees' failure to reach the playoffs in 2013 has been written about ad nauseam, but rather than lament the disappointments of the recent past, there are some good reasons to look toward the future.

Yasiel Puig strong play and youthful exuberance helped the Los Angeles Dodgers turn their season around, but sometimes his antics can rub opposing teams the wrong way. 

St. Louis Cardinals veteran Carlos Beltran, who has more than 2,000 games under his belt, didn't approve of Puig celebrating what he thought might be a home run during Game 3 of the NLCS.

The St. Louis Cardinals find themselves in Game 5 of the National League Division Series yet again this year.

Just like 2012, they will turn to Adam Wainwright to lead them to victory and on to the National League Championship Series.  Wainwright hopes to put the team in a position to win instead of the team overcoming a poor start like what occurred last year.