If Garcia catches lightning in a bottle, and we beat Eovaldi (their best pitcher). This could be a very quick series. We shall see today! Go ‘stros!!
Actually, Eovaldi is their best. We beat him, then the path to the World Series is much easier. They have openers fir 3 and 4. Just like Sale was last night.
Sale is a real starting pitcher who has been injured, not an opener. Rodriguez started 33 games, not an opener. Pivetta started 30 games, not an opener. Richards is a real starting pitcher who was moved to the bullpen in mid August.
In terms of pitching usage, Game 4 is the most important. Houston gets an off day Sunday, so they can re-use all their relievers from last night again tonight and still have them fresh on Monday for Game 3. But then they play Tuesday AND Wednesday (if necessary) before another off day on Thursday, with games 6 and 7 scheduled for Fri and Sat. Everyone will be rested for game 6 and game 7 will be all hands on deck. So as long as they can rest their bullpen in Game 4, they should be able to avoid running out a tired arm that could cost them the game. They may save Odorizzi and Greinke for Game 4 and hope they can get thru 7 innings with just those 2. If they have to do game 5 (if necessary) without Graveman and Pressly but otherwise a full bullpen then they should be in good shape, pitching-wise.
Very aware that their staff are not openers like Tampa Bay made “normal”. However, Sale is not stretched out and the other 2 are not exactly killer starters. Guess I was comparing them to a staff of starters like the Dodgers. I forgot that everything is incredibly literal in forums like this.
Winning at home is always paramount in 2-3-2 format series’, especially when you can bet a hostile crowd awaits their villain in Beantown
Sale is certainly stretched out for 5 innings which is clearly not an opener. He has just sucked lately. Unless Cora does something unexpected, none of their probable 4 starters are openers.
Yesterday's game does not exist on Monday, thus your post is not applicable. I'm being literal, because that's how we roll in forums like this.