I agree on the 5 IP. Just need to avoid a 2-3 IP game from Urquidy tonight because if it is it means he $ucked just like Framber and Garcia. ESPECIALLY with tomorrow being a bullpen game for us.
I really feel like it is with the uncertainty of tomorrow's game. We could still win all 3 in Boston. Just need everything to go perfect lol
Not necessarily a must win, but the most winnable game of the 3 and a victory tonight would improve the Astros' chances in Games 4 and 5.
For game 4, I assume Javier / Grienke covering 4-5 innings is plan A. If they have to come into game 3 (Urquidy gets hurt, it's extra innings, etc.) then Framber on short rest is plan B. Don't think there is a plan C - maybe that means someone else is hurt and Solomon / Bielak are pitching game 4 which is not something I want to talk about.
Game four is definitely a bullpen game. They're not pitching Framber on three days rest especially after he wet the bed last game. If he starts Javier, Stanek, Greinke or whoever they've all been coming out of the pen.
If Javier and Grienke pitch today, can they even do a bullpen game? Just thinking who is left: Stanek, Graveman, Pressly, Taylor, Timi, Maton, Raley. Assuming at least a few of them pitch tonight and will be needed in a game 5, I don't see how you could make that work. If you add Grienke to that mix, I'm not sure it's all that practical given he can't go more than 2 innings right now. If we see Javier today, I think that means it's Framber on short rest in game 4. We could see Grienke today though.
Some guys will be going back to back. Some guys will eventually have to pitch on short rest. You guys are getting a tad ahead of yourselves... they have a viable starter tonight and are facing a starter they've had a lot of success against in the past. The narrative was always going to be about the Astros lineup doing damage to the Red Sox pitching after Eovaldi. We'll worry about game 4, and plan around who's available, after tonight.
If Dusty pitches Framber on three days rest (again as I mentioned how much he $ucked last game) than he's an F'n idiot!! They'll just have to throw whatever they have in the pen in game 4 and if that means guys got to go two nights in a row (guys like Stanek, Maton, Raley, Taylor, Graveman, Odo, and Pressly) so be it.
Three pitchers with starting experience this season, but now in the bullpen. Javier Odorizzi Greinke Three pitchers considered Starters on the ALCS Roster Valdez Garcia Urquidy Two Aces unavailable Verlander McCullers
I agree tonight is a must-win, and almost as importantly Urquidi has to pitch a good 5 innings, 6 even better so the bullpen isn't taxed for tomorrow's BP game. I can see a Greinke-Javier tandem tomorrow, hopefully 4/3 or 3/4 then hand off to Graveman and Pressley for 8 and 9.