If the series goes 5 games (in 5 days), you'd think he would have to pitch sometime, either starting or relieving.
They'll save him to start Game 5, thus, excusing his absence in 1-4, and just hope there is no Game 5. If there is, he'll fake an injury, or positive COVID test, or something. No other possibility. I'm not buying that "it's just a coincidence" that his turn in the rotation was missed all three times we faced them.
Can't do that anymore this year because there are no off days. Next round will be 5 games in 5 days, meaning you need all your starters.
Just think a few days ago people were wondering if this team was going to get swept.. I loved the last two days and would love to see all the handwringing of the rest of MLB and the sports media. I'm still expecting to hear people claiming the Stros are cheating on the road in the bubble.. All of that said realistically I don't think we have enough talent left on this team to get to the WS. The Twins are a very good team but clearly a team that just wasn't mentally tough enough. I'm not sure we can count on other teams to implode like that.
Curious to see what their current odds are. Rays should be the overwhelming favorite to come out of the AL... and I'd expect heavy money on the Yankees after what they've shown the last two days, but not sure if that would be enough to overtake Houston's odds. Any team can beat any team 3 out of 5 games... and 4 out of 7 games. Its amazing how baseball media glorifies teams, and ***** on teams, due to small sample playoff performances. The Astros definitely deserve credit for showcasing some elite pitching over 2 games... and the Twins bats were MIA for 2 games... but it was just two games. Over the course of a season, all teams (even the greatest teams ever) have poor stretches. In the end, you can either treat the playoffs like a completely different sport... where one game performances and historical playoff performances mean everything... or you accept the variance/randomness for what it is.
It's certainly possible. Look at what the Nats did last year. If I'm putting money on what AL team gets to the WS as much as I love the Stros I'm not going to bet on them. That might change if they look as dominating next series as they did this series but for how well the Stros played the Twins played as poorly.
Sure wish we could bring in Beltran to consult before the ALDS on tendencies, tipping, and batting adjustments. Tuve and Yuli (and Carlos) could use some sage guidance to hopefully snap out of their funks.
Definitely showed flashes in Arlington. Hitting the ball hard the other way is another great indicator that he's seeing the ball well. He seems like someone who would thrive off of playing the proverbial heel in the sense that any attention is good attention. Altuve seems to play off of the adoration and so this year has probably been a mental and emotional grind (especially since he didn't partake in the banging scheme per reports). Carlos, hopefully, gets a big boost playing in Dodger Stadium as part of his personal "FU" tour.
Tandem pitching of Greinke, Urquidy, and McCullers as the starters with Valdez and Javier ready to throw 3-4 innings in 2 of those games could be extremely effective. But there’s almost no chance they get through this long playoff gauntlet unless the offense gets going full steam. Altuve and Gurriel have been awful this year. I’d like to see this be the playoff lineup: CF Springer LF Brantley 3B Bregman RF Tucker SS Correa 1B Gurriel 2B Altuve DH Diaz C Maldonado
If the 2006 Cardinals can win it all after winning only 83 games in the regular season I'd say "why the hell not?"
