The best-of-five quarter-finals begin Monday in the American League and Tuesday in the National League. A look.

Houston (29-31) v. Oakland (36-24)

The first duel, starting at 4:07 p.m., let's be precise, will pit two teams, which in principle arouse very different feelings ... The Astros are obviously no longer popular since the scandal of theft of signals unveiled at the end of the 2019 season The players are fully aware of this, and it is surely no stranger to their difficult 2020 campaign. “Silencing those who hate us. That's what summed up our season, ”said outfielder Josh Reddick after his team swept the Minnesota Twins in the first round. The 2017 World Series champions are now taking on the Athletics… who have in their ranks the one who exposed the scandal: their ex-teammate Mike Fiers. On the pitch, watch out for star shortstop Carlos Correa, who had a good, albeit short, streak against Minnesota. But it was their pitching staff that propelled the Astros into the next round, allowing just two points in two games, the best performance among the American's eight teams. As for Oakland, who got rid of the Chicago White Sox at the limit of three meetings after losing the first, there is little to say about this hard-fought first round. Except that they sent eight pitchers to the mound in the last game. Will the A's be able to please a large proportion of the fans? there is little to say about this hard-fought first round. Except that they sent eight pitchers to the mound in the last game. Will the A's be able to please a large proportion of the fans? there is little to say about this hard-fought first round. Except that they sent eight pitchers to the mound in the last game. Will the A's be able to please a large proportion of the fans?

PHOTO JACK DEMPSEY, ARCHIVES ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mike Fiers of the Oakland Athletics

New York (33-27) c. Tampa Bay (40-20)

We had mentioned the possibility of a one-two punchYankees' first-round haste against the Cleveland Indians. And that's exactly what happened. Still, the Bronx color-bearers faced Shane Bieber in the first game, quite possibly the Cy-Young Trophy winner in the American. The poor man was cut to pieces by the New York hitters. In two games, they have hit 7 home runs and scored 22 points. Heavy. But one should not underestimate the balanced formation from Florida, which compiled the best record of the American in season. His pitching staff mocked the young but dangerous Toronto Blue Jays hitters in the first round. No surprise, as Tampa Bay finished the season third in majors in earned runs average. Their work against the Blue Jays was therefore only a logical continuation of their achievements in the previous 60 games. But Toronto is not New York. Can we resist night after night the impulses of LeMahieu, Stanton, Judge, Urshela, Sees, Torres? Every throw on autopilot could get expensive. That said, in season, Tampa Bay has taken eight of the ten games between the two teams and therefore should not suffer from an inferiority complex. An interesting face-to-face. Tampa Bay has taken eight of the ten games between the two teams and therefore should not suffer from an inferiority complex. An interesting face-to-face. Tampa Bay has taken eight of the ten games between the two teams and therefore should not suffer from an inferiority complex. An interesting face-to-face.

PHOTO DAVID DERMER, ARCHIVES ASSOCIATED PRESS

Aaron Judge, New York Yankees

San Diego (37-23) v. Los Angeles (43-17)

You would think that the chief statistician of major baseball is the brother-in-law of Fernando Tatis Jr., so much he floods the MLB Stats account with numbers about him! In defense, the young Padres sensation gave him plenty of material against the St. Louis Cardinals in the first round. In his first three career playoff games, the 21-year-old shortstop had 5 hits in 11 appearances, walked 3 times to first, scored and produced 5 runs and hit 2 homers. Not bad. In addition, by both hitting more than one homerun in Game 2, Tatis Jr. and Wil Myers became the second pair in history to achieve this post-season feat. The other time was in 1932. Two strangers named Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. But the partycould end in a few days in San Diego. As expected, the Dodgers got rid of the Milwaukee Brewers without even having to pull out all the stops: 4-2, 3-0, thank you, good evening. Only two points awarded which, surprisingly, place them third in this chapter in the National, behind the two teams who will pay the price of the other semi-final. But unlike Atlanta and Miami, the overall effectiveness of LA Gunners had already been demonstrated this season, with the majors having the highest earned points average. A huge test for the young Padres.

PHOTO KEITH BIRMINGHAM, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER ARCHIVES

Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers

Miami (31-29) v. Atlanta (35-25)

There's a lot to be said about these Marlins, first-round Chicago Cubs knockouts. First, things started off badly for them with an outbreak of COVID-19 at the start of the season. Two months later, they became the first team to make the playoffs after a campaign of more than 100 losses. And, while their opponents, the Braves, have just put the brakes on a nasty streak of ten consecutive lost series, the Marlins, them, have never lost one! In their two other fall appearances (1997 and 2003), they simply won the championship. As we have already written, Miami has not yet accomplished anything exceptional in season, neither collectively nor individually. Their best player, statistically at least? Third baseman Brian Anderson, 11 home runs, 38 RBIs. Atlanta gave up a grand total of zero points in two games against the Cincinnati Reds. It's only one less than Miami, though. Few fireworks in sight, could we therefore anticipate. But, in season, the Braves finished second in the National for points, homers and batting average. Not a piece of cake for the Marlins pitchers, who really didn't have such a challenge ahead of them against the Cubs. And which they are likely to miss. who really didn't have such a challenge ahead of them against the Cubs. And which they are likely to miss. who really didn't have such a challenge ahead of them against the Cubs. And which they are likely to miss.