The Warriors didn't lose because they expended too much energy. And it doesn't require more energy to win baseball games than lose them. They are batting more but pitching less.
Go back in History on teams with LONG/Historic win streaks near the end of the season. The Streak itself starts to take a toll. The pressure to keep it going. Hell......look what happened to the Dodgers' after their record run over like 50 games.
What's important for the Astros is Verlander. His integration and the way they perform for him (Defense and Clutch-wise) is more important for the playoffs than anything else they do.
As I mentioned, the Indians could win 5 more, and it would be fine. If I were an Indians fan, it would be like how I felt when the Rockets went on their 22 game winning streak. I was very happy about that Rockets streak. But it didn't guarantee a championship. And neither does this.
I am telling you right now, the Indians will not be the world champs. They peaked too early. It could be us, or the Nationals, or the Bosox, or the Dodgers- but it will not be the Indians. I will gladly eat crow if I am wrong, but I don't think I'm wrong this time.
I think we should concede the top seed at the rate this is going... and just align our rotation in the way we want it heading into the Divisional Series. (Still try to win games, but not pitching anyone on short rest in trying to grasp that #1 seed).
Right now we shouldn't worry about if the Indians run out of gas or not. We should worry about the pathetic Astros offense. We have Correa and Springer back yet can't seem to produce any run. Last six games we been averaging 2.8 runs a game. Even if Indians run out of gas, their pitching is good enough to completely shut us out. Like Kluber can no hit us no joke.
Yep... it seems McCullers could have played if it was a do or die situation. Keeping him healthy is a good thing, but I doubt he can pitch more than 4-5 innings effectively if he can't get stretched out a bit.
Season ends on a Sunday.... first playoff game is a Thursday. So, the only pitcher they have to "align" is their game one starter, and to do that on full rest they need to only ensure that he doesn't pitch that Sunday. Everybody else will be on full or extra-full rest.
They can urgently pursue best record and still set their rotation for the ALDS. The lingering concern is exposing what's been a brittle team to additional injury by asking them to go all out for what is a nice - but by no means necessary milestone.
Hm... for personal reasons, I prefer Red Sox @ Astros... under the assumption we will get the prime time slot... then I can drive down for the game.
A matchup with the Yankees has just as much chance of getting a prime time slot.... for any of the teams. I'd say Cleveland/Yankees will probably get a more favorable time-slot than Houston/Boston.... even though Houston is a bigger media market than Cleveland, Indians games ratings are much higher in Cleveland than Astros games are in Houston.
I'm pulling for a Twins-Astros ALCS. That way if the Astros don't get into the World Series, the Twins do and I have tickets.