I'm not disagreeing with you but if our SP continue to do what they did the last two games it's a crap shoot on who wins because as good as our offense is digging out of a eight run deficit isn't going to happen.
5 IP and hand a lead to Maton/Yimi/Stanek/Graveman/Pressly and pray. That's pretty much it, right? Maybe try and replicate it tomorrow with Greinke for 2, Javier for 3, and then patch it together if we have the lead to get to the 7th.
5 innings is the new 7. 4 innings is the new 5. Need to get around a 3-4 run lead off their starter. I have confidence this offense can do that. look at the starters innings in the last 4 playoff runs… it’s not all 6+ inning starts.
I'm calling my shot now. 5 2/3 IP 2 runs given up for Urquidy. BP comes in and gives up another run. Astros win 6-3
Would have been good had he told someone about the on and off discomfort he had in his knee. As other posters mentioned with Grienke out, Odorrizi out with the foot issue, and meaningful games they probably felt they needed him to throw. Had they known he was having discomfort they may have tried something different, but starting pitching was thin in general to not have the "healthy" guys throwing. For sure his strike out rates were down, but he still had several effective starts in September and his August numbers were about the same as May-June (his July was amazing).
This team seems to have an issue of players wanting to hide injuries... Kent Emmanuel being the most notable case. Then Tyler Ivey... Pedro Baez maybe...
