All series talk goes in here. Non series talk goes somewhere else. No PBP, that can be found from other sources if you need it. All games are broadcast on AT&T Sports SW unless otherwise noted. 6-30 Ronel Blanco (R) vs. Jon Gray (R) 7:05 7-1 Hunter Brown (R) vs. Nathan Eovaldi (R) 3:05 7-2 TBD vs. Andrew Heaney (L) 1:35 7-3 TBD vs. Martin Perez 1:05. MLBN (out-of-market only)
Game 1 tonight is the one that worries me and will set the table. The Astros need to get Gray out of the game early (again) and get into the bullpen. Making them use 3+ relievers and maybe using Sborz more than 1 inning will help later in the series. The Astros bullpen is fully rested. Unless Blanco is pitching lights out and has a big lead he simply can't face the lineup a 3rd time. Game 2 will be a dogfight between Brown and Eovaldi. It will help if the Rangers bullpen is taxed. My guess is Framber against Heaney in game 3 and that is a great matchup for the Astros. If he can go 7+ it will help for game 4. I would bring up Bielak to start game 4 and give Javier extra rest. This will require at least 3 of the top 4 relievers being semi-rested and available. The Astros are set up well to win this series. Missing Dunning and a less than fresh Rangers bullpen helps. I see the Astros squeaking out game 1 and rolling in game 3. Game 2 is a pick 'em Game 4 depends on who they start and the condition of the bullpen. I say the Astros win 3 of 4.
Dust off the broomsticks... either one of these teams will have some decisions to make after this series... Realistically, at best: 3-1 Stros .... Expected reality: 3-1 or 4-0 Rangers
Getting some 2022 Seattle post AS game series vibes. Seattle was finally in the playoff race last year and feeling good about themselves and the Astros went in and thumped them with a sweep to remind them who's boss.
I'll be there tonight and Sunday. I'm pulling my Astros cap out of the closet that I wore essentially daily from March 2017 until I had to retire it this spring because it was falling apart. Hopefully that brings the boys some extra mojo...along with my playoffs outfit from last year.
When are these overachieving starting pitchers for the Rangers going to come back down to earth??? Tonight would be a good start.
Why does the Sun and Mon game have TBD for the Stros? Framber is going Sunday and Javier is going Monday.
Javier might get skipped. If they skip him then maybe they give Framber an extra day and pitch him Monday.
not necessarily. Javier might have a dead arm or a slight injury. It might be better to do a bullpen day Sunday, give Framber an extra day, and sit Javier until the All Star break.
If that's the case I certainly understand skipping Javier. Need to get him going because if they don't they're not going anywhere this yr. That said I haven't heard anything yet that they're planning on skipping him. I guess we'll find out.
And that is exactly why the starters for Sun and Mon have not been decided, or at least announced, yet.
