Division Series Open Thread: 10/12 BAL @ NYY, STL @ WSH

The final two games of the division series take place tonight, with the Orioles and Yankees facing off at Yankee Stadium, followed by the Cardinals and Nationals battling it out at Nationals Park.

The winner of the Baltimore-New York game will go on to the AL Championship Series to face yesterday's AL winners, the Detroit Tigers. Jason Hammel will make the start for the O's. Due to knee problems, Hammel only made 20 starts during the regular season, but he was effective in those starts, going 8-6 with a 3.43 ERA. He pitched in Game 1 of this Division Series, allowing two runs on four hits and going 5 2/3 innings, but didn't factor into the decision. Once again he'll be going against CC Sabathia, who recorded the victory in Game 1 after pitching 8 2/3 innings with plenty of run support from his lineup. A Yankees win would not only advance them to the ALCS, but also give them home field advantage against the Tigers.

In the final Division Series matchup of 2012, the Nationals will try to show why they were the best team in the league during the regular season while the Cardinals try to take advantage of this opportunity they got by winning the Wild Card matchup against the Braves.

Gio Gonzalez and Adam Wainwright will take the mound for Washington and St. Louis in a rematch of Game 1. Gonzalez won 21 games for the Nats in the regular season. But he struggled in the NLDS opener, giving up two earned runs on a hit and allowing an Edinson-Volquez-like seven walks in five innings. Wainwright lasted a bit longer (5 2/3 innings) and dominated the strike zone, collecting 10 strikeouts while allowing just one earned run on six hits and three walks to give the Cards the win. The Nationals are coming off an electric win that saw Jayson Werth hit a walk off home run, but the Cardinals have done well in eliminations games dating back to last year's playoff's. Tonight's winner will move on to face the Giants in the NLCS.