We’re all set for the American and National League Championship Series to kick off this weekend.
The Milwaukee Brewers will host the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the NLCS on Friday while the ALCS gets started on Saturday as the Boston Red Sox will play host to the Houston Astros.
It appears as the Dodgers are the only team that has announced a starting pitcher for Game 1 and it’s not a huge surprise that they’re going with Clayton Kershaw.
The Brewers had a bullpen game to open the NLDS against the Colorado Rockies and they got 3 shutout innings from Brandon Woodruff. Would the Brewers try to go that route again or will we see Jhoulys Chacin brought back for Game 1.
The Astros have some extra time to get their starting rotation et up for the ALCS, but which starter will they go with in game 1? Gerrit Cole had the best start of the Houston pitchers tat started against the Cleveland Indians, but it’s difficult to see Houston pass over Justin Verlander. Since the Astros swept the ALDS Charlie Morton never made a start; so their is an outside chance they’d go with him in Game 1, but you’d have to think it will be Verlander.
AS for the Red Sox you have to think that Chris Sale get the Game 1 start. Sale was planned to be the Game 5 starter in the ALDS if needed and ended up coming out of the bullpen to pitch one inning last night. Even with throwing that inning he should be just fine to make the Game 1 start as the Red Sox get three days off before the ALCS starts.
In the National League match up no matter who’s pitching they’re going to have to deal with some hot hitter from both teams. Ryan Braun hit .385 while Travis Shaw and Mike Moustakas each hit .364 and while Christian Yelich hit just .250 in the NLDS he drew 6 walks in three games and stole 2 bases. Justin Turner led the way average wise for the Dodgers in the NLDS hitting .357 while Yasiel Puig hit .333. Manny Machado and Max Muncy each hit two home runs apiece in the NLDS and Muncy also drew 6 walks. Don’t worry I didn’t forget Brewers catcher Eric Kratz. He was 5 for 8 (.625) with 2 RBI’s a double and a run scored in the two games he appeared in.
Over in the American League the Astros are bringing 5 players who hit .400 or better in the ALDS. Alex Bregman led the way with a .556 batting average plus 2 home runs. Marwin Gonzalez hit .538, Tyler White hit .500 while George Springer not only hit .429 he also had 3 home runs. Josh Reddick rounds out the hot Astros hitter as he hit .400 in the ALDS. The Red Sox aren’t sporting as high averages as the Astros as J.D. Martinez was their top hitter with a .357 average and 6 RBI’s. Steve Pearce hit .333 as did Mitch Moreland, but Moreland appeared in just 2 games. Christian Vazquez hit .333 plus what turned out to be the game winning home run in Game 4 of the ALDS. Brock Holt played in just one of the ALDS games, but it was memorable. Holt went 4 for 6 in that game hitting for the cycle and driving in 5 runs.
I’m sure you’ve heard the baseball phrase “good pitching beats good hitting”. In these two series we just might find out if that applies.
We’re through fie weeks in the NFL season and here’s how we did with our picks. For Week 5 I got the win going 10-5. Dan the Man and Schaumburg Stu where both 8-7 while Mr. Fantasy had a sub .500 week at 7-8. For the season I’m in the lead at 46-32. Schaumburg Stu is in 2nd place at 44-34 with Mr. Fantasy in 3rd at 43-35. Dan the Man is still at the bottom of the pile, but he’s gotten himself back to .500 at 39-39. Who knows how Week 6 will go.
While the Jacksonville Jaquars have one of the best defenses in the NFL their running backs seem to keep getting injured. There top running back Leonard Fournette has been battling a hamstring injury and has carried the football just 20 time this season. It looked as though the Jaquars would be just fine with T.J. Yeldon as the #1 running back and Corey Grant spelling him until Fournette returned from injury. Yeldon is averaging 4.4 yards per carry and has caught 22 passes while Grant hasn’t run the football as well just 3.1 yards per carry he’s done well in the passing game catching 9 passes.
Unfortunately for the Jaquars Grant was lost for the season in Week 5’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs as he suffered a Lisfranc injury and will miss he rest of the season.
With the injury to Grant Jacksonville would need someone to pair with Yeldon until Fornette can return; so yesterday the Jaquars signed veteran Jamaal Charles to a contract.
Charles spent last season with the Denver Broncos playing in 14 games for them, but carrying the football just 69 times for 269 yards and 1 touchdown. He also caught 23 passes for 129 yards.
Charles will turn 32 in December, but had five seasons where he rushed for over 1000 yards as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs. In 2012 Charles rushed for 1509 yards and in 2013 he led the NFL in rushing touchdowns with 12; so he has a solid resume.
Now Charles himself has had his share of injury issues in his career. in 2011 he played in just 2 games, in 2015 he played in just 5 games and in 2016 he played in just 3 games due to injuries.
Charles has a similar style to Yeldon’s; so it should be an interesting backfield mix for Jacksonville until Fornette returns. It also wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Jaquars add another running back before Sunday’s game since Charles and Yeldon are the only two healthy one’s on their roster right now.
Jacksonville is currently 3-2 and tied with the Tennessee Titans at the top of the AFC South. The Jaquars are on the road this week against the struggling Dallas Cowboys.
You can listen to the Sports Time Radio podcast live on BlogTalkRadio.com, but don’t forget that the podcast is available for you to listen to whenever you want at TuneIn.com.
Also you can follow me on Twitter @Burketime
Sports Time Radio 