Here's a recap of the 19 games played against the A's this yr. Obviously no idea who we'll face between the A's/Rays but wanted to look back at the games against the A's. 1) Apr 5th (in Houston) Astros won 3-2 McHugh started Montas started for the A's 2) Apr 6th (in Houston) Astros won 6-0 Miley started Brooks started for the A's 3) Apr 7th (in Houston) Astros won 9-8 Peacock started Fiers started 1.2 IP 6 ER 4) Apr 16th (in Oakland) Astros won 9-1 McHugh started A's bullpen game 5) Apr 17th (in Oakland) A's won 2-1 Miley started Montas started 6) May 31st (in Oakland) Astros won 3-2 Peacock started Fiers started 6.2 IP 2 ER 7) June 1st (in Oakland) Astros won 5-1 Verlander started 8 IP 1 ER Anderson started 5.1 IP 3 ER 8) June 2nd (in Oakland) Astros won 6-4 Cole started 6 IP 2 ER Bassitt started 6 IP 3 ER SECOND HALF 9) July 22nd (in Houston) Astros won 11-1 Cole started 7 IP 1 ER Bailey started 2.0 IP 9 ER 10) July 23rd (in Houston) A's won 4-3 (11) Miley started 8.0 IP 2 ER Fiers started 7.2 IP 2 ER 11) July 24th (in Houston) Astros won 4-2 Verlander started 6.0 IP 0 ER Bassitt started 6.0 IP 4 ER 12) Aug 15th (in Oakland) A's won 7-6 Sanchez started 5.1 IP 6 ER Fiers started 6.0 IP 5 ER 13) Aug 16th (in Oakland) A's won 3-2 Verlander started 7.0 IP 2 ER Roark started 6.0 IP 2 ER 14) Aug 17th (in Oakland) A's won 8-4 Armenteros started 4.0 IP 5 ER Bassitt started 6.0 IP 3 ER 15) Aug 18th (in Oakland) Astros won 4-1 Greinke started 7.0 IP 1 ER Anderson started 5.0 IP 4 ER 16) Sept 9th (in Houston) Astros won 15-0 Greinke started 6 IP 0 ER Fiers started 1.0 IP 9 ER 17) Sept 10th (in Houston) A's won 21-7 Miley started 0.1 IP 7 ER Roark started 5.2 IP 5 ER 18) Sept 11th (in Houston) A's won 5-3 Urquidy started 5.0 IP 1 ER Anderson started 5.0 IP 2 ER 19) Sept 12th (in Houston) A's won 3-2 Verlander started 6.0 IP 3 ER Bailey started 5.1 IP 1 ER Verlander (4 starts) 27 IP 6 ER Cole (2 starts) 13 IP 3 ER Greinke (2 starts) 13 IP 1 ER
Its information, certainly... but I also am of the mindset that the playoffs are a completely different entity. Is Oakland's young/untested roster ready for the pressure-packed environment that hinges on every pitch, combined with filled-to-the-rafter visiting environments that treat these games like a football event? Sometimes young teams surprise... see the Astros in 2015 vs. the eventual world champion Royals.
I go into these playoffs knowing I know nothing about how any of it is going to go. This week will be excruciating.
Agree the playoffs are a "completely different entity". Just wanted to go back through and remind myself (and everyone here) how the 19 games played out.
I suppose it could be some consolation that of those 8 regular season losses, 5 were against SPs for the Astros that will NOT be pitching in the playoffs (several by Miley, one by Sanchez and one by Armenteros). The other three were two Verlander games (where he pitched well enough to win) and an Urquidy start (not sure about him in the playoffs). I feel like unless our bats just go terribly quiet, we should win comfortably.