Yeah, and Game 3 is a quick turnaround. Not a B2B, but Game 2 ended at midnight, today is a travel day, and Game 3 starts at 3 PM CST. Plus the Astros have Cole who not only hasn't lost in nearly 5 months, but can go 7 or 8 innings and throw 115 pitches. By comparison, Severino went only 4 innings in the ALDS after throwing 83 pitches(although he didn't give up a run). Long story, less long, the Astros MUST win Game 3. It's by far the most winnable of the 3 games they'll play at Yankee Stadium. And if their offense gets off early and gets to the Yankees bullpen, it could really tax their pitchers and make Games 4 and 5 even more winnable.
So if the game get cancelled tomorrow due to rain, the Astros and Yankees will play 5 straight games against each other. Game 3 Cole Game 4 Greinke Game 5 Verlander Game 6 Urquidy Game 7. Bullpen day or Cole on 3 days rest. Yankees/Astros bullpen would really feel the heat in this scenario, tons of tired arms here. Astros bats need to be ready because game 6/7 would look to be a slug fest with a bunch of tired arms pitching for both teams. *If it’s a possible rain out, Hinch needs to fight for the cancellation. You don’t want Cole to pitch two innings and then rain delay thus taking him out of the game. Also this scenario takes a second start for Cole on full rest out for game 7. I’m not a big fan of 3 days rest.
Aledmys Diaz had a very underrated at bat against Chapman. He and Springer extended Chapman’s outing and forced Boone to take him out after one inning. Otherwise, Happ probably isn’t in the game to surrender the bomb.
Hang on. First of all, I thought Game 4 was the one at risk of being rained out. Second, if that happens, they'd cancel the travel day off and make them play in NYC one night and H-Town the next?
I might have heard wrong but I thought it was tomorrow with the ran but yes, they would just play on the travel day. Could get difficult for both bullpens losing that day off. All speculation right now.
Tuesday's game will be fine, Wednesday could be rained out but this mornings forecast was a little better. Rain possibly clearing out by 8pm EST. It's a gamble having Urquidy slotted for what might be a win or go home Game 6. I'd say Verlander only goes in game 5 (if it's Friday due to a rainout) if they are down 3-1. Regardless how a Wednesday possible rainout changes things, Cole would be on normal rest for Game 7 so no worries there.
Yeah, it's supposed to be Game 4 at risk. Which kinda evens out if it does get postponed. The Yankees bullpen would get a breather. But the Astros likely run Greinke out there on full rest instead of starting Urquidy. Not to mention it sets up Verlander in Game 5.
Why wouldn't you start Verlander in Game 5 regardless should it get delayed til Friday? He'd be on full rest. I don't give a damn what the series record is at that point, you give him the ball and give yourself the best shot at winning that game.
If game 5 is on a Thursday, JV will only get 3 days of rest. Do we need to see him do that again? I don’t but in case it’s an elimination game for us, I’m sure AJ/JV will have to go that route.
The other factor with Alvarez batting in front of Yuli is that they both will likely face lefties late in games. With them batting back to back, Boone can slot in a leftie and try and steal two outs with a lefty on lefty matchup and Yuli's reverse splits against southpaws.
I'm sure you're right. Just that when the ALDS went 5 games we heard the benefit was that we'd have Verlander and Cole scheduled in deciding games (one way or the other) at MMP for games 6 and 7 and that felt good.
Grienke will be on full rest Thursday, JV will be on full rest starting Friday. If they have to make up Wednesday's game on Friday, you could go Cole-Grienke-Verlander for 3-4-5 (all on full rest) instead of Cole-Urquidy-Grienke Will probably depend on how the next game shakes out but JV should start as soon as he's ready. You can't save guys for games 6/7 -- have to get there first. Plus I'd rather have Urquidy start at home if we need him for a game.
No way. The Rays and Yankees are still obviously terrified of him. Pulling guys who are pitching well to get a LH specialist to face Alvarez. I think he'll come through, in any case he is forcing them to use lots of arms.
That's if everything goes as scheduled. But if God throws you an assist like a rain delay, you capitalize on it. Pitch Greinke in Game 4 and Verlander in Game 5. Hell, with a little luck, you'd take Game 3 and Game 5 and then have two shots at knocking off the Yankees at MMP next weekend. Either Urquidy(or Peacock) and the rest of the bullpen in Game 6 or Cole in Game 7.