The term "TASS" is mentioned in relation to Stan's unreliable mole. TASS is the state-owed news agency of Russia, which was set up in 1902. Unlike its western equivalents, United Press International (UPI) and Associated Press (AP), it does not rely on reports by a vast number of independent reporters world-wide, but on its own reporters, who are stationed at key locations around the world.
SDI is short for Strategic Defense Initiative. It was referred to by the term "Star Wars" because of the advanced nature of the system, which was intended to detect missile launches and use satellite-based lasers to destroy the missiles in flight. During its development it was found to be unworkable for a number of reasons, including accuracy and dispersion of lasers by atmosphere. This failure was a tightly-held secret. While various experts in the Soviet Union thought it would not be achievable, it had enough credibility - largely due to American posturing - that the U.S.S.R. diverted massive amounts of funds in projects to counter the threat. The success of "Star Wars" system was that it drove the Soviet Union to bankruptcy, forcing it into a position in which it not only lost the cold war but in which the communist system was overthrown.
A key theme in the sixth season of The Americans was the juxtaposition of the KGB and the "old guard" against Gorbachev's progressive policies. Russia's attempt at American-style governance failed, providing an opportunity for the old guard to reassert itself. Vladimir Putin, the perpetual head of state of Russia, was of the old guard, being the former head of the KGB.
In the lunch scene, the State Department employees are discussing the 1987 American League Championship Series between the Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins. The Twins would go on to beat the Tigers in 5 games to win the pennant and eventually the World Series. The discussion of starting pitchers dates this episode October 8, 1987.