[Official] ALDS Astros vs. White Sox

You probably want 4 starters in the LCS. Based on last night, Grienke seems like a 1 or 2 inning guy for higher leverage situations mid-game more than an opener. I don't think Garcia has thrown out of the pen this year. Javier and Odorizzi are your long relievers / tandem starters. If they aren't going to drop Yimi/Maton (and I don't think they will) then I think you drop Siri to add Odorrizi. I assume they will keep at least one of Raley / Taylor on the roster and Stubbs as a third catcher. I guess if they think Diaz can play catcher in a pinch they could go with two catchers and keep Siri on the roster.

 

I'm probably the most vocal critic of Dusty on this board but props to him for starting Lance.

 

We better win tomorrow, that'll shut him up.

 

Did he make the announcement formal?

 

Yes about an hour ago

https://www.mlb.com/news/lance-mccullers-jr-to-start-game-4-of-alds-vs-white-sox

 

Yes

 

Now on to Line-up modifications.

1. R 2B Altuve is a fixture. He's not going anywhere.
2. R OF Meyers is having a good series and hits lefties.
3. R 3B Bregman is catching fire, especially vs lefties.
4. L DH Alvarez hits everybody.
5. R SS Correa in the rockin' chair. Don't move him.
6. L RF Tucker is another guy hitting everybody HARD.
7. R 1B Gurriel has been struggling this series, but he hits lefties well. He goes off.
8. R OF McCormick can do a nice job in the 8 hole.
9. R C Maldonado is an anchor.

Bench
1 L LF/DH Brantley is significantly worse against lefties, but would be a great clutch PH/DF Replacement against righties.
2. L C Castro PH against righties only.
3. R PR/OF I almost want him in the OF, but we have too many better options.
4. R UT Diaz I really hope we don't see him. He's ice cold right now.
5. R C Stubbs Emergency C and 2nd baserunner.

You could drop Bregman or Meyers or both down to 7 and it wouldn't hurt my feelings, 2,3,7 & 8 are interchangeable with this line-up. Who plays CF with Meyers and McCormick seems pretty random, Maybe start Meyers in CF and if we get a lead, swap him with McCormick for defensive purposes (arm strength). Meyers for range and McCormick for arm strength and both above average overall.

 

I laugh every time an opposing manager uses the old book and brings in a lefty to face Yordan, Carlos and Tucker.

 

I like the fact that they have another 24 hours to wallow in their misery of losing game three

 

You are insane if you think we are benching Brantley

 

Brantley will hit 2. Meyers should hit 8th.

 

He's the only guy with a deficit facing lefties. I'm not saying they will do it, just that the numbers would indicate we should,

Shifts are insane too, but they work more often than not.

 

Golden Girls pitcher (McClanahan) gave up big home run to Boston, which bodes well for home field for us if we get past Chicago.

 

If (God forbid) we lose, I'd hate to see a Sox vs Sox ALCS.

 

Yep I won’t be watching anymore baseball if we don’t close it out.

 

I'd just root for the winner of the Braves/Brewers NLDS in case we don't advance. I know both teams have history with us but I honestly don't have any problem with either.

 

I'm an Astro fan, not a baseball fan.

 

I'm both. I enjoy the game as a whole, and sports playoff as well so even if I'm unhappy with the results I'll still find a way to watch.

 

Hopefully McCullers can repeat. Sox has a chance to readjust after facing him in game 1. Or Hopefully Astros score decent amount of runs and McCullers only allows 2 or 3 and goes 7 innings.