Had they announced Happ as the starter? Edit: nvm, JR (the robot) just posted it is Green. All hail @J.R.
I'll go with a 9-6 win. We build a early big lead. Yankees chip away at it near the end but it's to little, to late for them. Correa either has some rbi's or he's the player scoring. Either way, I'm saying he'll have a multi hit game(important hits) and he earns himself the ALCS MVP. Alvarez hits a homer or a deep double. Peacock with the big lead ends up going 5 strong innings. Urquidy kind of struggles. Everyone will say thank God Hinch went with Peacock and not Urquidy.
I think the plan is going to be for Peacock to go through the order 1 time. Then same with Urquidy. Hopefully they get you through 5, then you go to your standard late game relievers being James/Smith/Harris/Osuna. If either Peacock or Urquidy is dealing then AJ may stick with them longer than planned to try to save the pen for late game/Game 7.
If things are going really well tonight, a project these changes: 1-4 Peacock 5 Urquidy 6 Smith 7 Pressly 8 Harris 9 Osuna
AJ will have a quick hook. JV going 7 last night allows for everyone to be available as well as G as the backup plan tomorrow night. I just hope the bats show some signs of life especially dealing with the high fastball.
My plan: Peacock: through the lineup once Joe Smith: takes the top 3 hitters the second time around Josh James: takes the rest of the lineup the second time around This should take us through ~5 innings If game is close, Pressly, Harris and Osuna finish the game depending on how late innings unfold. Urquidy: He will pitch if we are behind by 2 or 3 runs.
For the series, he's gone 13 2/3 innings giving up 6 runs (all earned and ALL courtesy of the longball). Out of the 10 hits he's given up, 3 have left the ball park and they accounted for all the scoring against him. Just snakebit by the homer this year/series. Hope the guys can pick him up tonight and advance to better set up the rotation for the next round. Go 'stros!!
I’m uneasily confident about this game.. if that makes any sense. I don’t want to this game to be a throw away game and just count on Cole tomorrow. As we saw with Verlander last night even the great ones can have a bad inning and one bad inning in game 7 might be all it takes.
The one thing I like about Houston pro teams is how they all support each other. I haven’t seen that in other cities.
You never know obviously but I see this game as a big advantage for us. Innings 4-7 could be an offensive explosion with having seen whoever is throwing for the Yankees multiple times at this point and running on fumes. Just a hunch. Similar to Tampa game five and Dodgers game 6 and 7 if I remember. Relying on your bullpen so heavily weighs on you as the series gets deep
Peacock was used yesterday. My guess is he get first 3 batters. Urquidy gets back of the lineup that has guys batting LH. Not sure if Urquidy will be allowed to face the top 3 batters for Yankees. Maybe once. Then I expect James to get it through 4. Smith, Harris, Pressly, Osuna get last 5 innings with guys going an inning or two.