The Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers have opened their respective National League Division Series with victories. The Cubs did it on the strength of a late-inning homer and superb starting pitching. The Dodgers relied on great bullpen work after their ace struggled yet again in a playoff game.

Three hits were enough for the Chicago Cubs as Jon Lester fired five-hit ball over eight innings of a 1-0 verdict over San Francisco at Wrigley Field. Lester was perfect over his last four innings and kept the game scoreless until Javier Baez smashed a home run in the bottom of the eighth.

Giants starter Johnny Cueto  served up the blast but was otherwise outstanding in tossing a three-hitter. Cueto struck out 10 and retired eight in a row until Baez socked his second career postseason home run.

Buster Posey had two hits for the Giants, including a two-out double in the ninth before Aroldis Chapman got Hunter Pence to hit a game-ending grounder.

The series stays at Wrigley Field for Game 2 on Saturday. The Cubs will go with major league ERA leader Kyle Hendricks against Matt Moore.

Three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw struggled in Washington, but Justin Turner belted a two-run homer and Corey Seager hit a solo shot while the Dodgers were building a 4-0 lead in a 4-3 win over the Nationals. Seager put the Dodgers ahead two batters into the game, going deep against losing pitcher Max Scherzer.

Chase Utley doubled the Dodgers’ lead with an RBI single in the top of the third before Turner gave Los Angeles a four-run cushion later in the inning.

Scherzer surrendered both home runs over six innings after yielding 31 home runs during the regular season.

Kershaw gave most of the lead back by the fourth inning. Anthony Rendon nicked him for a two-run single in the third and Trea (tray) Turner lifted a sacrifice fly the following inning. The lefty was reached for eight hits over just five innings after entering the game just 2-6 with a 4.59 ERA in 13 postseason games.

The Dodgers’ bullpen was terrific, holding the Nats to one hit over four innings. Kenley Jansen struck out three in a five-out save.

Game 2 is Saturday at Nationals Park. The home team will send Tanner Roark (ROH’-ahrk) to the mound against Rich Hill.

The Cleveland Indians will travel to Boston with a two-games-to-none lead in the American League Division Series against the Rangers. And the Toronto Blue Jays have put themselves in position to wrap up their ALDS as early as Sunday at home against Texas.

The Indians rode Corey Kluber’s outstanding pitching and Lonnie Chisenhall’s three-run homer to a 6-0 shutout of the Red Sox. Kluber held the Bosox to three singles and three walks over seven innings in his postseason debut. His only trouble came in the fourth inning, when he walked Dustin Pedroia (peh-DROY’-uh) and Mookie Betts before retiring David Ortiz and Hanley Ramirez to end the threat.

The Indians put together a four-run second off Price with three straight singles and a blast into the right-field stands. Brandon Guyer (GY’-ur) laced an RBI single and scored on Chisenall’s blast off loser David Price.

Guyer had three hits for the Indians, who also got RBIs from Jason Kipnis and Rajai (RAH’-zhay) Davis.

Game 3 is Sunday in Boston. Clay Buchholz will try to extend the Red Sox’s season when he opposes Josh Tomlin.

Price was reached for five runs and six hits in just 3 1/3 innings to fall to 0-8 in nine career playoff starts. He had been 5-0 lifetime at Progressive Field.

The Blue Jays banged out four home runs in a 5-3 triumph over the Rangers in Texas. Kevin Pillar (pee-AHR’), Ezequiel Carrera and Edwin Encarnacion (ehn-kahr-nah-see-OHN’) slammed solo shots off Yu Darvish after Troy Tulowitzki (too-loh-IHTS’-kee) hit a two-run blast off the Rangers’ starter. Toronto has slammed six home runs while outscoring the Rangers 15-4 in the series.

J.A. Happ was reached for nine hits but only one run over five-plus innings as he stranded two runners in each of his first four frames. Roberto Osuna (oh-SOO’-nuh) worked out of an eight-inning jam and recorded five outs to get the save.

Darvish was lifted after five innings, charged with five runs and five hits.

Ian Desmond had two RBIs for the Rangers, who are 1-11 in ALDS home games.

Game 3 will have Aaron Sanchez on the mound for the Jays against Colby Lewis.