Rangers first team ever to make the post season while having more blown saves than saves in the regular season. Look for them to go get a legit closer this off season.
Springer has basically said he wasn’t going to sign an extension here because of how they delayed his promotion/service time intentionally. There were plenty of attempts to get him locked up well before the scandal stuff broke. That didn’t help but it wasn’t the main reason. Luhnow and the front office also stopped doing that to that extreme after Springer (plus the team was ready to win).
Potential pitching matchups vs Twins: G1 Verlander vs Ober/Maeda G2 Valdez vs Lopez G3 Javier vs Gray G4 Urquidy vs Ryan G5 Verlander vs Lopez Verlander sterling career post season record of 15-5 in AL playoff games. Astros absolutely must win game 1 and possibly needs to end this series by game 4. Game 5 is scary.
There are as many people in Clearwater/St Petersburg (no bridges to cross) as Tampa. Location isn't as much a problem as the crap stadium is -- and the "bad" location narrative is nowhere near a comparison to Spring, Katy, Pasadena, or Kemah in relation to Houston. Tampa's market is likely too flooded with teams proportional to its population -- 3 major sports for 3 million people. Outside of the northeast quadrant of the country, there's not many other cities that have a 1:1 ratio.
G3 Javier vs Gray… that game doesn’t look great for Astros. Gray has been very good this year. Javier has been a struggle.
think Gray will be back? Doesn’t he have forearm tightness ie death sentence for a pitchers season (see DeGrom, Eovaldi)
Gray had one good month (May) of performance this season. Every other month he posted a 4.00 ERA and had a 6.00 ERA in September. He surrendered 13 ERs in 13 innings vs Houston this year. A rested Javier is far more likely a problem for Arlington than Gray is for Houston.
Ok this is not correct about Gray vs Astros this yr. He faced us twice this yr. 4/7 7 IP 4 H 1 R 13 K Twins won 3-2 5/29 6 IP 5 H 3 R 3 K Twins won 7-5
Minneapolis is still pretty excited after snapping that 18 game playoff losing streak. I wouldn’t yet look forward to an inevitable Twins at Stros second round as it’s a Minnesota tradition to lose in the first round.
Oh snap... I read "Gray" and immediately thought Jon Gray with the Rangers. The corresponding post listed Rangers pitchers, which reinforced my disposition. Jon Gray is having health issues too. Sonny Gray is a good pitcher and pitched well overall vs Houston this season -- albeit one game was without Altuve and both featured injured-Abreu and no Diaz. The silver lining is Javier will be entering his most rested since the ASB, he hasn't been pushed to 100 PC in over a month (especially his last start being only 80), and he pitched exceptionally his last start. There's no obvious advantage for either team in a Gray-Javier matchup.
Grey has been crushing it in September. 2.00 era for the month. 1.55 era last 41 innings. javier has a 4.67 era last 35 innings.
Grey has been crushing it in September. 2.00 era for the month. 1.55 era last 41 innings. javier has a 4.67 era last 35 innings. I would say Advantage Twins in Grey/Javier matchup. Not saying we can’t win but Vegas is gonna side with Grey.
He's been very good in September, but taking closer look, he faced the bottom 5 OPS offenses in 3 of his 5 starts (CLE, OAK, CWS). He only lasted 4 innings in two of those starts. Seems you're overestimating Sonny and underrating Javier. I would say slight advantage Twins. Astros offense is better even despite Houston having more injuries/issues over the course of the season.
Let's see if the Twins can close the deal. Personally I'd like to see Toronto win today so that the series goes three games. This way the Twins or Toronto would have to throw their #4 SP on Saturday.
We would be playing on the road and that is an advantage for Astros. Need to beat our biggest nemesis… the batter’s eye at Minute Maid. From Mctaggart: Take a look at the home-road splits: Bregman Home: .250/.355/.405, 11 homers, 42 RBIs Road: .273/.368/.472, 15 homers, 56 RBIs Tucker Home: .251/.330/.455, 10 homers, 48 RBIs Road: .315/.404/.576, 19 homers, 64 RBIs Alvarez Home .278/.390/.488, 10 homers, 41 RBIs Road: .307/.425/.678, 21 homers, 56 RBIs Altuve Home: .268/.380/.399, four homers, 19 RBIs Road: .349/.405/.630, 13 homers, 32 RBIs
Biggest advantage for Astros is if the wild card goes 3 games. We get the 4th starter game one root for Jays today and for 14 inning games
Yep. I'm not sweating the Twins or Blue Jays, but we definitely want either one with only a day off between series. I remember being pissed at Toronto for choking away that huge lead against Seattle in Game 2 last year. It allowed Castillo to pitch against us in Game 2 of the ALDS.
