Is it? Astros only had 2 SP post >2 fwar (McCullers and Garcia), and Garcia faded badly. McCullers is easily the only pitcher Houston can run out right now who can tip the odds in their favor by himself. It won’t shock me if Urquidy or Valdez or Garcia throws a gem, but losing McCullers is huge.
So you thought we were likely gonna lose 5 of the first 6? The other pitchers pitch poorly, were gonna lose. That one start LMJ is gonna make before a potential game 7 won't change that.
Odorizzi can give you a few innings against some of the poorer teams in the league, but he's not good enough to pitch against the best in the playoffs. Look at what the Dodgers did to him, and the Red Sox are better hitters. He should only get innings in long relief when the Astros are losing. Give the start to Grienke.
Awful news. Going to need 3 miracles to win the world series. Bats stay alive, Greinke revival and Braves upset their matchup. I've seen crazier things.
1. We can beat Red Sox without McCullers 2. Please Giants beat Dodgers tonight. 3. Hope for a Miracle with the Braves winning NLCS. 4. Astros vs Braves in WS 5. Astros in 7. There… that’s the blueprint.
Anything official yet? I am still holding out hope this is a false rumor. If it is true I am still not counting the Astros out. Javier pitched well in the playoffs last year and Greinke has stepped up his game in the playoffs before although neither are really stretched out but could give some decent innings going 2-3 innings each if needed. Have seen Framber and Garcia pitch well against good teams so hopefully they bring it. Not sure what to think about Odorizzi but maybe he will do his best to prove Astros brass wrong for keeping him off of the ALDS roster but just not sure his stuff is good enough anymore. Maybe he can make it once through the lineup and give solid innings? Either way, Astros bats won't be quiet. I can pretty much guarantee that so as lack as our pitching keeps games close, anything can happen.
Pitchers not named Lance McCullers are gonna throw 90% of our innings over the first 6 games even if he pitches. If it does get to a game 7, those are 50/50 games no matter who pitches (he pitched like s**t in game 7 and we still won, Greinke threw a gem and we lost) Not saying it doesn't hurt, of course it does, but I don't understand how people thought we ever had any chance of winning if the other pitchers are so bad. Bats are gonna have to produce and pitchers are gonna have to pitch well enough, either one doesn't happen we likely lose. With or without him that doesn't change. Still hoping for good news, but the silence from the organization has me not feeling optimistic.
Yeah, c'mon now. I want McCullers healthy and playing as much as anyone, but our rotation is capable. It was always going to require a few guys stepping up and performing well. That starts with Framber tomorrow night. Just remember how we felt about him a year ago. He's definitely capable of being a horse and carrying us in a series. And our offense can pick up the pitching staff when they aren't locked in. Let's get this!
We can beat anybody with or without McCullers. It decreases our chances but there’s no guarantee your ace even pitches well to begin with. We’ve certainly overcome **** Verlander playoff starts.
Garcia is fine against another team’s #3 or #4. But there’s a reason they ran McCullers out for game 4. The playoffs are a crapshoot, but SP quality is what tips the odds 5-10% one way or the other. And ratcheting up each pitcher a game (so for example Garcia is going up against Boston’s #2 SP instead of their #3 without the benefit of Lance going against their #3) tips the odds even further. It’s not like the Astros have zero chance without McCullers, but losing him definitely changes the outlook from the Astros being favored to Boston being favored.
Jose Urquidy is about to step up and give us some Fernando Valenzuela Mexican magic. Urquidy has a great postseason track record -- we're good.
