Takeaways from Saturday's ALDS games

As the National League teams received a night off, both American League Division Series continued on Saturday.

With the New York Yankees defeating the Minnesota Twins 8-2 and the Houston Astros topping the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1, both series are on the verge of ending entering their respective Game 3s.

Here's a look at the top narratives stemming from Saturday's action.

Yankees vs. Twins

Yankees hitters are exhausting opponents

By the time the Twins managed to get out of the third inning, this game was over.

Devin Smeltzer followed starter Randy Dobnak and reliever Tyler Duffey in the frame, and the trio combined to allow eight runs on 10 hits, three walks, and 80 pitches at that point. Smeltzer, fortunately for Minnesota, stifled the Yankees for 3 1/3 innings, but the damage was done.

Every Yankees batter worked counts while causing massive headaches for Twins pitching, further proving that New York's lineup doesn't feature an easy out. Even Didi Gregorius, whose regular-season struggles resulted in a .276 OBP, obliterated a Duffey pitch for a grand slam to really put things out of hand.

Manager Aaron Boone seemed to look into his crystal ball prior to the game.

"Sometimes it just takes one at-bat, one swing to kind of turn it, and I believe that's what's in there for Didi still," Boone said, according to Lindsey Adler of The Athletic.

The Twins possess an equally potent offense, so a small deficit is hardly the end of the world. However, falling behind by eight runs early, and burning through relief arms in the process, isn't a recipe for success.

Minnesota used six pitchers on Friday, and seven on Saturday. Combined those hurlers threw 354 pitches over 16 innings.

Playoff Tanaka

Masahiro Tanaka may have only lasted five innings, but they were very good innings.

In fact, by limiting the Twins to one run on three hits, he became only the second pitcher in MLB history to allow two or fewer runs in each of his first six postseason starts, alongside all-time legend Sandy Koufax.

Tanaka was inconsistent (4.45 ERA) in the regular season, but picked the perfect time to find another gear to his game.

Thanks for coming out, Minnesota

Any hope of the Twins exorcising their playoff demons - particularly against the Yankees - has been dashed in short order. With Saturday's loss, the Twins have now dropped a ridiculous 15 consecutive playoff games dating back to 2004 (an ever-increasing MLB record).

Minnesota is just a few steps behind New York despite the team's similarly powerful bats. The Twins' lack of pitching depth has been repeatedly exposed during the first two games of the series, with only Brusdar Graterol in Game 1 looking up to the task. And the club's unbelievable offense looked punchless during Saturday's 8-2 loss. Minnesota struck out 14 times and went 1-for-7 hitting with runners in scoring position.

Even with the series shifting to Target Field for Game 3, the Twins look cooked.

Look, the Twins obviously have a chance - slim as it is - to come back and make everyone who's already written them off look like idiots. There is some precedent, too, as this decade alone has seen three teams mount comebacks to win division series after losing the first two games (the 2017 Yankees, 2015 Blue Jays, and 2012 Giants), and there are a pair of home games coming up for Minnesota.

But the Twins will need Jake Odorizzi to be spectacular in Game 3.

His worst start of the season came when he allowed nine runs on 10 hits to the Yankees in July. One of his best starts - a scoreless effort over six innings - also came against the Yankees in early May. Still, the odds aren't in Minnesota's favor.

Astros vs. Rays

Gerrit Cole - like Verlander - is inevitable

A day after the Rays got "Verlandered," Astros co-ace Gerrit Cole showcased his own brand of dominance by striking out 15 batters over 7 2/3 innings of work. He was hitting 100 mph on the radar gun in the seventh and eighth as he exceeded 100 pitches. Cole is inhuman.

It was an unbelievable performance, and the Astros needed every ounce of it as the Rays managed to hold Houston's offense to three runs.

Cole and Verlander are going to be a problem for any team looking to put a dent in the Astros' chances and that's without even factoring Zack Greinke into the equation.

Bregman rocks

The potential AL MVP put the Astros on the board with a solo home run, the seventh postseason homer of Alex Bregman's relatively brief career.

Those seven homers haven't come against just anybody, either. He's taken the likes of Chris Sale (twice), Clayton Kershaw, Kenley Jansen, Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer, and Blake Snell deep. Each of those arms has been an All-Star.

Snell latest starter unable to go distance

Tyler Glasnow ran out of gas Friday, and Snell was removed after throwing 58 pitches in 3 1/3 innings. He served up the Bregman homer but was otherwise solid. The 2018 AL Cy Young winner didn't walk a single batter and was generally effective before turning it over to the bullpen.

The reliever-heavy Rays are built to sustain short outings from their starters. Five Rays relievers combined to allow two runs in relief of the left-hander. It was an all-around gutsy performance against a dominant offense and yet it still wasn't enough.

With the 3-1 loss, the Rays - like the Twins - head home with their backs against the wall.