theScore's 2016 MLB Postseason Primer

It's playoff time.

Following several days of dizzying tiebreaker explanations and "what if" scenarios, the postseason picture came into focus Sunday after a final day frenzy that saw three teams clinch playoff spots.

When the dust finally settled, the baseball world was left with compelling wild-card matchups, division series chock full of storylines, and a pair of juggernauts who still await their first-round opponent.

With the playoffs set to begin Tuesday night in Toronto, here's everything you need to know:

O Canada!

One of the best rivalries in baseball will add another feather to its cap Tuesday at Rogers Centre, when the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays resume hostilities. Both teams needed the final day of the regular season to clinch a berth in the do-or-die game, the winner of which will travel to Texas for Game 1 of the AL Division Series on Thursday.

How to watch

What: American League Wild Card
When: Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 8:08 p.m. ET
TV: TBS, Sportsnet
Streaming: MLB.com

Aces up

The New York Mets were lucky to clinch early-ish: Winning Saturday meant flamethrowing Noah Syndergaard will start Wednesday at Citi Field. Good thing, because he'll be facing San Francisco's former World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner. The Giants' even-year streak was kept intact Sunday with a last-minute wild-card clinch, setting up a showdown between the de facto dynasty of this generation and the defending NL champion Mets, who enter the sudden-death playoff having won 19 of their last 30 games. The winner will earn the unenviable task of playing the 103-win Chicago Cubs beginning Friday at Wrigley Field.

How to watch

What: National League Wild Card
When: Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 8:09 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN, Sportsnet
Streaming: MLB.com

AL Division Series

Red Sox vs. Indians

The real postseason begins Thursday with a pair of intriguing AL matchups. The injury-decimated Cleveland Indians will host the Boston Red Sox at Progressive Field in a best-of-five showdown that pits friends and Manager of the Year candidates Terry Francona and John Farrell up against each other. Several weeks ago, this would have been a classic power vs. pitching matchup featuring retiring slugger David Ortiz and 2014 Cy Young winner Corey Kluber. Since then, the Indians have lost Danny Salazar and Carlos Carrasco, among others, and Boston's pitching has been dynamite with Rick Porcello and David Price on the bump.

Probables

Orioles/Blue Jays vs. Rangers

Whichever team wins Tuesday's wild-card game will make for a compelling ALDS with the AL pennant-winning Rangers, who will maintain home-field advantage through the World Series should they make it that far. A Blue Jays-Rangers matchup would be a ratings bonanza for fans north and south of the border after last October's dramatic bat-flipping, name-calling five-game series became an instant classic. An Orioles-Rangers showdown would also be heavy on storylines, including the return of Chris Davis and Buck Showalter to Arlington. Texas is entering the postseason on the heels of its most successful regular season in five years and anchored by perhaps the most talented AL starting pitcher duo in the playoffs in Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish.

NL Division Series

Dodgers vs. Nationals

These preseason juggernauts will be limping into the postseason after fighting through key injuries down the stretch. In fact, the Dodgers have battled the injury bug all year, having set an MLB record for most players on the disabled list in a single season. Clayton Kershaw is back, though, and so too might be Andre Ethier, who was added to the NLDS roster despite playing in only 16 games. More dire is the situation in D.C., where ace Stephen Strasburg is not expected to return from a flexor strain until at least the NLCS and possibly the World Series. The Nats will also be without catcher Wilson Ramos (ACL) and possibly even All-Star second baseman Daniel Murphy, who hasn't played since Sept. 17 because of a strained buttocks.

Probables

Giants/Mets vs. Cubs

Pitty the team that has to play the championship-chasing Cubs, whose positive 252 run differential was more than 100 runs better than the next closest National League team. The Cubs have been playing without Kyle Schwarber for nearly the entire season, and they'll enter Game 1 of the NLDS on Friday relatively healthy. Interestingly enough, the Cubs' wild-card opponent will be a team that has played them tough: Chicago is a combined 6-8 versus the Mets and Giants, having been outscored 54-46. Most of that damage has been at the hands of the Mets, who swept Chicago out of the NLCS last October.

Probables

Rank 'em

Our editors sized up the 10 teams currently left in this year's playoff picture in theScore's MLB Power Rankings: October edition.

1. Chicago Cubs
2. Boston Red Sox
3. Texas Rangers

Full rankings here.