José Altuve, coming off an 0-for-8 in Game 3, is among the #Astros taking simulated at-bats now against LHP Blake Taylor in an otherwise empty Minute Maid Park. The Yankees-Guardians game is playing on the scoreboard. MLB Network

Justin Verlander on his desire to pitch into his 40s: “I want to play until they rip the jersey off me.” MLB Network @MLB Houston Astros

More context: Austin and Aaron Nola’s great grandparents were born in Nola, Italy, and immigrated to the U.S. Therefore, Austin and Aaron are in the third generation born here. MLB Network San Diego Padres Philadelphia Phillies

Aaron Nola vs. Austin Nola is a great storyline of the NLCS — and they could play on the same team as early as the spring, if they opt to represent Italy together at the 2023 World Baseball Classic. 🇮🇹 MLB Network

In Nola, Italy, it will be a memorable late night/early morning.

Nola -- ancestral hometown of Austin and Aaron's family -- is located about 20 miles from Mount Vesuvius and has roughly 34,000 residents.

First pitch there: 2:07 am.

🇮🇹 ☕️

MLB Network Philadelphia Phillies San Diego Padres

. Lance McCullers Jr.: 'The whole time I was rehabbing, there was a high potential of a surgery . . . We had a date circled. As that day was coming closer, I didn't think I was going to make it.'

He made it. Here's what Lance shared in our MLB Network interview. @MLB Houston Astros

What a photo: Manny Machado and Bryce Harper as onetime USA Baseball teammates.

Machado and Harper won gold at the 2009 Pan Am tournament with an 18U National Team that included Nick Castellanos, Kevin Gausman, Robbie Ray, and Jameson Taillon.

MLB Network MLB Pipeline @MLB

Bryce Harper and Manny Machado debuted about 3 months apart in 2012. Now they'll play against each other in an MLB postseason series for the first time.

Great story by Juan Toribio here . . . MLBNetwork

. Notre Dame Hockey’s Solag Bakich walked into a Bismarck, N.D., guitar shop 7 years ago. His life hasn’t been the same since — in all the best ways. Here’s a preview of our NBC Sports feature on Solag Bakich that airs Friday on Peacock. Bismarck Bobcats Dallas Stars The Fighting Irish

Happy Birthday -- and Happy Willie Horton Day -- to one of the all-time greats!

I learn something, and smile, every time I speak with Willie.

A local and national treasure.

@Tigers

All-time play by Dylan Larkin. What a moment from the Detroit Red Wings captain. Bally Sports Detroit

Baseball history today, as Sarah Langs describes here. ⬇️

Report from Lauren Shehadi on the scene at Yankee Stadium . . . MLB Network

Latest on Game 5.

Everything about this photo is outstanding. Well done, Andy Brown and Jeremy Peña.

To clarify, that's winner-take-all in a postseason series.

Yankee Stadium hosted single Wild Card Games in '15, '17 and '18.

MLB Network

Tonight is the first winner-take-all game at Yankee Stadium in 10 years.

The most recent instance: Yankees 3, Orioles 1, in Game 5 of the '12 ALDS.

Raul Ibañez, Ichiro Suzuki, and Curtis Granderson drove in the runs for New York. CC Sabathia earned the CG win.

MLB Network @MLB

.Houston Astros rookie sensation Jeremy Peña credits the maturity in his game to playing in the Dominican Winter League.

Jon Morosi joined #MLBCentral to discuss the 25-year-old ahead of his first ALCS appearance.