League Championship Series: news

• Astros look ahead to White Sox

• Press Row: Houston gets to celebrate

• Own the Astros' historic Game 6 clincher

• NLCS Game 6 postgame notes

• NLCS Game 6 pregame notes

Houston Astros News

• Oswalt wins NLCS MVP for his father

• McLane, Astros vindicated in St. Louis

• Biggio and Bagwell's long wait ends

• Astros' Lane hits big homer in Game 6

• Ausmus comes up big in Game 6

• Burke: World Series, here we come

• Old-time Astros celebrate victory

• Astros notes: Taveras back in lineup

• Garner, Oswalt, Biggio interview

• Lance Berkman pregame interview

St. Louis Cardinals News

• Cards end season with Game 6 loss

• Schlegel: St. Louis savors Busch memories

• Cards in position for another run

• Walker says goodbye to baseball

• Rodriguez: End of a great run

• Cards' King doesn't appear in playoffs

• Cards notes: Reyes undergoes surgery

10/18, OFF-DAY

Astros, Cardinals turn focus to Game 6
As the NLCS returns to St. Louis for Game 6 on Wednesday, both the Astros and Cards plan to put Game 5 behind them -- but for different reasons. Leading the series, 3-2, Houston looks to shake off the tough loss and avoid a repeat of last year's NLCS, while St. Louis' goal is to even the series after a thrilling comeback victory.

• Oswalt, Mulder meet again in Game 6

• Molony: Astros don't believe history will repeat

St. Louis Cardinals News

• Schlegel: Game 5 win is history for Cards

• Busch has chance for proper farewell

• Mulder aims to force a Game 7

• Carpenter earns nod from TSN

• Cards notes: Pujols ready to move on

• Mulder's off-day interview

Houston Astros News

• Astros feel loose heading into Game 6

• Oswalt out to pick up the pieces

• Ensberg, Taveras receive TSN awards

• Dierker: Garner caught in tight spot

• Astros notes: GM knows Lidge's resolve

• Oswalt's off-day interview

10/17, GAME 5: Cardinals 5, Astros 4 Wrap >

Pujols keeps Cards' season alive
Molina / Pujols By Matthew Leach / MLB.com After Lance Berkman put Houston ahead with a three-run homer in the seventh, Albert Pujols crushed a three-run blast in the ninth to send the NLCS back to St. Louis. Full story >

• NLCS Game 5 postgame notes

• Oswalt, Mulder meet again in Game 6

• NLCS Game 5 pregame notes

St. Louis Cardinals News

• Schlegel: Cards' Hard Nine fight on

• Eckstein starts fateful Cards rally

• Izzy keeps Cards in the mix

• Walker extends his Cards career

• Rodriguez: We're going to Game 6

• Cards notes: No lineup shuffle

• Pujols, Carpenter postgame interview

• Eckstein postgame interview

Houston Astros News

• Astros drop Game 5 heartbreaker to Cards

• Molony: Loss will test Astros' resilience

• Astros left stunned by turn of events

• Astros owner McLane undaunted by loss

• Burke: We'll bounce back

• Astros notes: RISP struggles of no concern

• Lidge, Biggio pregame interview

10/16, GAME 4: Astros 2, Cardinals 1 Wrap >

Astros put Redbirds on the ropes
Brad Lidge By Alyson Footer / MLB.com The Astros are now one win away from their first World Series appearance. Brandon Backe was solid, while Jason Lane's homer and Morgan Ensberg's late sac fly set the stage for some ninth-inning game-saving defense and a 2-1 win over the Cards. Full story >

• NLCS Game 4 postgame notes

• Oswalt, Mulder meet again in Game 6

• NLCS Game 4 pregame notes

St. Louis Cardinals News

• Cards in tough spot after loss

• Schlegel: Cards push frustrations aside

• Cards lose their cool in Game 4

• Marquis tested in Cards' loss

• Rodriguez: Pressure situation

• Cards notes: Sanders back in lineup

• Carpenter looks to continue roll

• Chris Carpenter interview

Houston Astros News

• Astros turn two in dramatic ending

• Molony: Astros' time has finally come

• Astros bullpen gets it done yet again

• Burke: What a thrilling game

• Astros notes: Burke back in center

• Pettitte says he's ready to start Game 5

• Ensberg, Lane postgame interview

• Brandon Backe postgame interview

• Andy Pettitte pregame interview

10/15, GAME 3: Astros 4, Cardinals 3 Wrap >

Astros take 2-1 lead in NLCS
Mike Lamb By Alyson Footer / MLB.com Manager Phil Garner's strategic lineup move paid off, and the Astros went on to ride Mike Lamb's potent bat and Roger Clemens' solid outing to a 4-3 win over the Cardinals. Full story >

• NLCS Game 3 postgame notes

• Backe opposes Suppan in key Game 4

• NLCS Game 3 pregame notes

St. Louis Cardinals News

• Cards unable to keep up with Astros

• Schlegel: Cards not catching breaks

• Collision knocks Nunez out of Game 3

• Morris haunted by Lamb in loss

• Rodriguez: We can't hang our heads

• Cards notes: Sanders misses Game 3

• Suppan well-rested for Game 4 start

• Jeff Suppan pregame interview

Houston Astros News

• Lamb, Burke moves pay off for Astros

• Molony: Astros bats quietly producing

• Clemens guts out six innings to earn win

• Burke: Vote of confidence from Garner

• Astros notes: Burke, Lamb both start

• Backe to get ball for Game 4 vs. Suppan

• Former President Bush attends Game 3

• Mike Lamb postgame interview

• Roger Clemens postgame interview

• Brandon Backe pregame interview

10/14, OFF-DAY

Dean makes selfless donation to Hall
Shaun Dean By John Schlegel Shaun Dean, who caught both homers in the Astros' historic Game 4 comeback victory over the Braves in the NLDS, handed over the baseballs to the National Baseball Hall of Fame during a special ceremony on Friday afternoon in Houston. Full story >

Houston Astros News

• 'Changed' Clemens to start Game 3

• Outfield or left out for Burke in Game 3?

• Dean makes selfless donation to Hall

• Astros notes: Burke mania sweeps Houston

• Morgan Ensberg: Oswalt came up big

• Clemens and Morris face off in Game 3

• Phil Garner workout day interview

• Roger Clemens workout day interview

St. Louis Cardinals News

• Cards' Morris hoping to steal the show

• Cards notes: Sanders, Walker expect to play

• Molony: Edmonds a handful for Astros

• Tavarez recalls bone-breaking night

• Clemens and Morris face off in Game 3

• Tony La Russa workout day interview

• Matt Morris workout day interview

10/13, GAME 2: Astros 4, Cardinals 1 Wrap >

Astros feeling good after earning split
Brad Lidge By Jim Molony / MLB.com Roy Oswalt and Brad Lidge combined to hold the Cardinals to one run on six hits as the Astros won their first NLCS game at Busch Stadium, dating back to '04, and earned the chance to close out the series at home. Full story >

• NLCS Game 2 postgame notes

• Clemens and Morris face off in Game 3

• NLCS Game 2 pregame notes

Houston Astros News

• Oswalt, Astros even NLCS

• Oswalt, Lidge combine to stifle Cards

• Press row: Oswalt evens the score

• Burke stays hot in Game 2

• Molony: Split has Astros feeling good

• Burke: Happy to get a split at Busch

• Astros notes: Pettitte's knee still sore

• Burke blossoming in postseason

• Oswalt, Biggio, Lidge interview

• Chris Burke pregame interview

St. Louis Cardinals News

• Mulder outdueled in Cards' loss

• Sanders' crash forces him to exit game

• Cards unable to break through

• Schlegel: Mulder not quite good enough

• Rodriguez: Thrust into action

• Cards notes: Pitchers like ground game

• Ozzie and Nikko Smith return home

• Cards' Nunez proving he belongs

• Abraham Nunez pregame interview

10/12, GAME 1: Cardinals 5, Astros 3 Wrap >

It's all fundamental for the Cards
Yadier Molina By John Schlegel Methodical in their approach and equipped to excel in every facet, the Cardinals demonstrated their unique mastery of the game with a win over the Astros in Game 1 of the NLCS on Wednesday that saw them improve to 4-0 this postseason. Full story >

• NLCS Game 1 postgame notes

• Press Row: The road more traveled

• NLCS Game 1 pregame notes

Houston Astros News

• Astros drop NLCS opener to Cards

• Molony: Astros in a familiar spot

• Pettitte struggles pitching on sore knee

• Astros unable to cash in on chances

• Burke: Tough way to start NLCS

• Astros notes: Comfortable as underdogs

• Quiet Oswalt focused on Game 2

• Mulder and Oswalt face off in Game 2

• Roy Oswalt pregame interview

St. Louis Cardinals News

• Cards pick apart Astros in Game 1

• Carpenter flashes Cy Young form

• Sanders does it again for Cards

• Schlegel: It's all fundamental for Cards

• Rodriguez: Game 1 to the good guys

• Cards notes: Suppan to start Game 4

• Mulder's arm ready for Game 2

• Mulder and Oswalt face off in Game 2