Pretty much every team has a strong rotation this playoffs. 2 deep if not more. The Mets just lost in three with a starting rotation of Scherzer, Degrom and Bassitt. I don't think anyone's counting their chickens but the M's are notable for being playoff rookies.
Lance was not a rookie in 2017. He was also the one that shut the Yankees down in the ALCS with his breaking ball over and over and over again. That takes incredibly sized brass balls to do that.
Having day games for the first two also make me nervous. I know it will still be a crazy atmosphere but theres nothing like a night playoff game.
they've been playing day games for several years now in the postseason. this isn't new and the stros have been winning them
Lance has a 2.83 ERA and 1.081 WHIP in over 57 playoff innings. He will always hit his share of batters ( and walk batters) because of the type of pitcher he is. But his low batting average against evens it out. He has proven to be dependable in the playoffs.
Every ALDS home game they’ve played since 2015, except ONE (game 5 2019), has been a day game. Astros record: 9-1 (only loss being 2015 game 4 against KC, the Will Harris/Correa error game).
They weren’t ready. They were embracing the HR or bust philosophy, which took them far, but KC exemplified that less K’s (regardless of HR’s) was the superior strategy. They revamped things for 2017 and went from last in the league in K’s to first (In part by getting McCann, Reddick, Yuni’s first full year, Bregman’s first full year).
That one still haunts me. It would've been a tossup against the Blue Jays in the ALCS, but they absolutely beat the Mets in the WS if they manage to get past Toronto.
Personally I think JV, Framber, LMJ, Javier all deserve a start. If it goes 5 then JV by all means. The strength of his team has been multiple great arms. LMJ should go game 2 he's a little better at home. Framber is 4-0 with a 1.65 in Seattle. Give him game 3. Jose Altuve is about to hit that prime time button and break Scott Servais ugly mug of a face.