3 things you need to know: AL Wild Card

The MLB playoffs get underway Tuesday when the Kansas City Royals host the Oakland Athletics in the American League wild card Game.

Here are three things you need to know:

Jon Lester owns the Royals

The Oakland Athletics acquired left-hander Jon Lester at the non-waiver trade deadline for one reason: to pitch big games in October. The former Boston Red Sox ace is proven in the playoffs as evidenced by his huge part in the BoSox's last two World Series titles (2007, 2013). The 30-year-old has 11 postseason starts to his credit and boasts a stellar 2.11 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in nearly 77 innings of work in crunch time.

If those numbers don't intimidate Kansas City, then maybe his career numbers against the Royals will. Lester is 9-3 with a 1.84 ERA in 13 starts against the boys in the blue, including 3-0 with a 2.61 ERA this season.

The Royals will send their top arm to the hill to oppose Lester, but he's relatively unproven in the postseason. James Shields is 2-4 with a 4.98 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in six playoff starts.

Home is where the heart is

The Royals are back in the postseason for the first time since 1985 - the same year George Brett and Co. captured the franchise's first and only World Series title. Kansas City fans have been hungry for postseason baseball for nearly 30 years, so the crowd noise at Kauffman Stadium should be deafening, and go a long way to help inspire the team.

The Royals were just three games over .500 (42-39) at home and actually posted a better record on the road (47-34) this season. However, the playoffs are a completely different animal, especially when having home advantage in a one-game series. Additionally, the Athletics are only 1-5 in their last six playoff road games and 1-4 in their last five tilts against the Royals.

Rain, rain, go away

Thunderstorms are in the forecast. This is important because it could give the Royals a distinct advantage if the game slips into a lengthy rain delay. Kansas City's bullpen has been its greatest strength all year, while Oakland's 'pen fell apart down the stretch when closer Sean Doolittle hit the disabled list.

Many different scenarios could develop depending on when a potential rain delay takes place. If a delay is present from the onset, it shouldn't change the starting pitching matchups, but if the skies open up in the middle of the contest and there's a lengthy delay, both managers could have some difficult decisions to make.

Would Bob Melvin turn to Jeff Samardzija on three days rest in relief? Maybe Scott Kazmir? Or go to his shaky bullpen to decide the fate of the middle innings. Remember, Sonny Gray won't be available after throwing a complete-game shutout Sunday to get the A's into the play-in game.

The Royals have the same dilemma, but Ned Yost is probably more likely to turn to his middle men than a starter in the same scenario. Wade Davis has been the most dominant middle relief pitcher in the game this year, and can throw multiple innings if needed to bridge the gap to Kelvin Herrera and Greg Holland in the late innings.