Major League baseball's grinding, almost interminable 162-game regular season has finally come to an end, and its playoff time. Unlike other professional sports, where half the teams make it into the post-season, just eight of 30 MLB teams qualify.

Two regular season races went down to the very last day of the season. A New York Yankees' loss and a Tampa Bay win gave the Rays the American League East title, while the Yankees grabbed the wildcard. In the National League West, the San Francisco Giants beat the San Diego Padres to win the title, as well as help the Atlanta Braves earn the wildcard.

Two Australians will compete in the playoffs, and both are relief pitchers. Peter Moylan will pitch for the Braves, while Grant Balfour throws for the Rays.

Here's a quick rundown on the American League Division Series (ALDS) and the National League Division Series (NLDS).

These are best-of-five series. Games live on Fox Sports.

American League Division Series

Tampa Bay Rays (96-66) v Texas Rangers (90-72)

(Rays won season series 4-2)

Ed says: Tampa Bay surprised a lot of people by finishing ahead of the Yankees and Red Sox. They're not a big-hitting team, but they know how to grind out wins. Pitcher David Price (19-6) is the ace, while Carl Crawford and Evan (Not Eva) Longoria are the stars. The Rangers, on the other hand, have some serious bats. Josh Hamilton lead the American League in hitting (.359), while veteran Vlad Guerrero hit .300 with 59 home runs. Mid season pickup Cliff Lee heads the rotation.

The Pick: Rays in 4

Minnesota Twins (94-68) v New York Yankees (95-67)

(Yankees won season series 4-2)

Ed says: These same two teams met last year, with the Yankees sweeping the Twins 3-0. But Minnesota plays in a new, outdoor stadium - where they compiled the AL's best home record - so perhaps that can "reverse the curse." The Yanks have a great starting pitcher in C.C. Sabathia (21-7), a pretty good second starter in Phil Hughes (18-8) and legendary closer Mariano Rivera. They also have superstars Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, as well as big hitting Mark Texeira. Minnesota will be without first baseman Justin Morneau (concussion), but Joe Mauer (.327), Delmon Young (.298) and Jim Thome (.283) can all get it done. The pitching is led by Francisco Liriano (14-10) and Carl Pavano (17-11).

The Pick: Yankees in 4

National League Division Series (NLDS)

Philadelphia Phillies (97-65) v Cincinnati Reds (91-71)

(Phillies won season series 5-2)

Ed says: Hard to get two more different teams. The Phillies have been in the World Series the past two years, while the Reds are returning to the post-season for the first time since 1995. Philadelphia features some of baseball's best players, including first baseman Ryan Howard (31 HRs) and second baseman Chase Utley, but their pitching is extraordinary. Roy Halladay (21-10) might be the best in the game, while Cole Hamels was just 12-11, but finished strong, and Roy Oswalt was 7-1 after coming over from Houston. Cincinnati features few big names, but Joey Votto (.324, 37 HRs) has been phenomenal. Brandon Phillips, Scott Rolen and Jonny Gomes have also been good, while former Red Sox pitcher Bronson Arroyo was 17-10 on the mound.

The pick: Phillies in 3

San Francisco Giants (92-10) v Atlanta Braves (91-71)

(Braves won season series 4-3)

Ed says: The Giants put on a magnificent rally to overtake the San Diego Padres in the National League West. They aren't a big slugging club, but Freddy Sanchez (.292) and Aubrey Huff (.290) are solid hitters. The pitching is excellent, led by the exciting Tim Lincecum (16-10), Jonathan Sanchez (13-9) and Matt Cain (13-11). The Braves are a great story, sneaking into the wildcard spot in manager Bobby Cox's final season. Cox, 69, has managed the Braves for 25 seasons. It's a new Atlanta team, with young stars Omar Infante (.321) and Jason Heyward (18 HRs) leading the way. Veterans Tim Hudson (17-9) and Derek Lowe (16-12) are the pitching standouts.

The pick: Giants in 5

American League teams in a nutshell

Minnesota Twins

Payroll: $97.5 million (11th in MLB)

Last time in playoffs: 2009

World Series history: Have won three World Series championships, the last in 1991.

Fun Fact: Musicians Paul Westerberg (Replacements) and Craig Finn (The Hold Steady) are huge Twins' fans.

New York Yankees

Payroll: $206 million (1st in MLB)

Last time in playoffs: 2009

World Series history: Baseball's most successful team, the Yankees have won 27 World Series championships, including last season.

Fun Fact: The Yankees have retired 16 of their players' numbers. That means no one will ever wear Babe Ruth's #3, Lou Gehrig's #4 or Joe DiMaggio's #5.

Tampa Bay Rays

Payroll: $71.9 million (21st in MLB)

Last time in playoffs: 2008

World Series history: Lost in 2008 World Series.

Fun Fact: Team used to be named "Devil Rays," after a type of sea creature, but became simply the Rays after the 2007 season.

Texas Rangers

Payroll: $55.2 million (27th in MLB)

Last time in playoffs: 1999

World Series history: Have never played in World Series.

Fun Fact: The Rangers were once co-owned by former US President George W. Bush.

National League teams in a nutshell

Atlanta Braves

Payroll: $84.4 million (15th in MLB)

Last time in playoffs: 2005

World Series history: Won one World Series championship as Atlanta Braves (1995), one as Milwaukee Braves (1957), and one as Boston Braves (1914).

Fun fact: The Braves used to have a Native American mascot called "Chief Noc-A-Homa" who would come out of a teepee and do a victory dance after a home run.

Cincinnati Reds

Payroll: $72.3 million (19th in MLB)

Last time in playoffs: 1995

World Series history: Have won five World Series titles, the last in 1990.

Fun fact: The team used to be owned by eccentric Marge Schott, who let her St. Bernard dogs run free at Riverfront Stadium, and rarely cleaned up after them.

Philadelphia Phillies

Payroll: $142 million (4th in MLB)

Last time in playoffs: 2009

World Series history: Won two World Series championships, the last in 2008.

Fun fact: The Phillies have lost more than 10,000 games in their history, which is believed to be the most of any American professional sports franchise.

San Francisco Giants

Payroll: $97.8 million (10th in MLB)

Last time in playoffs: 2003

World Series history: Lost in only appearance as San Francisco Giants (1989), but won five titles as New York Giants, the last in 1954.

Fun fact: Former Giant Lefty O'Doul was instrumental in the growth of baseball in Japan. The country's biggest team, the Yomiuri Giants, are named after and have the same uniforms as the New York/San Francisco Giants.