If only they hadn't just played a 162 game season where most of their weeks featured games everyday.... Yes, you do run the risk of getting a really tired bullpen if your starter is only going 2-3 innings every playoff game.... and that risk gets much worse in a 7 game series (vs. a 5 game series) because of the 3 middle games. Its why what Tampa did the last series would not have been sustainable in a 7 game series. Its why stud starting pitching (guys who go at least 6) is still the most valuable commodity in playoff baseball.
If game 5 is a chance to clinch... and its pushed back a day, putting Verlander on full rest... he's going to pitch. If its an elimination game, he's also going to pitch. If its anything else, they probably stick with the game plan as is.... but keeping these guys on their set rotation/routine is about as important to future success as is where these games are played.
Did anyone catch what Pressly said when AJ came out to pull him after 1 pitch? It doesn't seem like the bite to his breaking stuff has returned yet. I didn't watch game 1 so didn't see what happened with his pitches, was it his breaking stuff that got hit or everything?
So is it time to move Correa up in the lineup especially when the bats still aren't really going 7 games into the playoffs?
https://www.wunderground.com/forecast/us/ny/new-york-city/10019 NY weather says >50% chance of rain from noon until 10pm Wednesday.
He had great bite on the 2nd pitch that induced a bad swing/miss. On an 0-2 count, he should have at least tried to reproduce that pitch... but either because of leg pain, weakness, or just rust, he could not reproduce his mechanics and hung one. He's gotta be perfectly right for that pitch to be executed... and if that pitch is not being executed, he's a liability for high leverage/one-run situations.
I dont think jockeying the batting order is going to help when only two guys (Bregman & Altuve) are hitting (only two guys with OPS>.635 for the playoffs). Not going to win with a 7 man hole in the lineup regardless of BO. (MM has a .800 OPS, but only 5 AB)
i mean yuli hasn't really generated anything. yordan too has been a bit spotty. just a thought since the offense really hasn't gotten going.
Looks like its raining all day tomorrow according to that sight. Is that supposed to clear? Really need Cole to start tomorrow so he is fully rested for game 7 and gets two games against the yankees. Delay Cole's start and that starts to cause some problems. Other sights show clear at game time Tuesday. We should be able to get that game in.
There are a lot of balls that are coming off astros bats hard...but they're right to a Yankee...or a Yankee makes a sensational play. Eventually that will even out, I think. I hope.