The Boston Red Sox punched thier ticket to the World Series by beating the Houston Astros 4 games to 1 in the ALCS. The Red Sox will have to wait one more day to find out who their World Series opponent will be as the NLCS is headed to a Game 7 tonight. The Los Angeles Dodgers will send Walker Buehler to the mound while the Brewers counter with Jhoulys Chacin.
I have to tell you the outcome of the ALCS surprised me a little bit. I know there where a lot of people who thought that the New York Yankees would be the Red Sox toughest challenge this post season, but I thought all along it would be the Astros. As it turned out Boston didn’t have too much trouble getting by either team and advancing to the World Series.
The reason I thought that Houston would be a difficult team for the Red sox to face was the fact that they have a line up that can match up with Boston offensively and I thought they had the better pitching staff.
Now interestingly the two best hitters in the series may have been Astros as George Springer hit .381 while Carlos Correa was the only other player in the series to hit over .300 at .316, but the Red Sox got the big hits when they counted. Rafael Devers was a nice surprise as he hit .385 and homered in the four games he played in. Devers also added 6 RBI’s in the ALCS which was the second most behind only the 9 RBI’s that Jackie Bradley Jr. had. I know, I know Red Sox fans are going to point out that Mitch Moreland hit .500 in the series, but he only had 6 at bats; so let’s not get carried away.
The Astros even out homered the Red Sox 6 to 4 in the series, but it seemed as though when the Red Sox homered it was at a crucial time in the game. Bradley Jr’s grand slam for Boston and Devers home run off of Justin Verlander may have been the biggest hit in the series.
The Astros starting rotation which appeared to be their biggest advantage coming into the series didn’t really com through for them. While Verlander did pick up Houston’s only win he had an ERA of 4.50 in his two starts and walked 6 guys over 12 innings. Gerrit Cole gave up 5 runs, 4 earned in his only start pitching 6 innings. Charlie Morton ended up being the worst of the Astros starters as he lasted just 2 1/3rd innings giving up 3 runs on 3 hits while walking 2 and striking out 2. Now I’m sure if it was a regular season game Morton would’ve been given a chance to go out and settle down, but being that this was the ALCS, the plug was pulled on him early. Dallas Keuchel ended up having the best start for Houston against the Red Sox and there where some questions on if he should’ve been left in his start longer. Keuchel pitched 5 innings; he gave up 2 runs on 4 hits and walked 2 in that start. Keuchel took a no-decision in that game and I’m not sure it would’ve changed the outcome of the game had he stayed in to pitch more a few more innings.
It looked as though the starting pitching advantage swung the Astros way even more when Chris Sale was hospitalized for a stomach issue and wouldn’t be available for the Game 5 start. Instead of it being an advantage for Houston the much maligned David Price stepped in for Sale on short rest and had the best start of his post season career. We’ve all heard about Price’s post season struggles and even in his two post season starts before Game 5 against the Astros he had given up 7 earned runs over 6 2/3rd innings. So what did Price do; he threw 6 shutout inning giving up just 3 hits and striking out 9 in his Game 5 victory.
I’m not sure if that start will get the post season monkey off his back, but it was huge for the Red Sox. By pitching so well and allowing Boston to get the win and advance it gives Sale extra time to recover and be ready to go for Game 1 of the World Series. Also since the Red Sox had the best record in baseball they can return home and just try to relax as they wait for the winner of tonight’s Game 7 between the Dodgers and the Brewers.
Over in the National League the Dodgers are turning to 24 year old Walker Buehler for the Game 7 start. Buehler faced Milwaukee in Game 3 of this series and took the loss. He pitched 7 innings giving up 4 runs on 6 hits while striking out 8 and walking 1. While the Dodgers turn to one of their young arms, the Brewers are going with a veteran as Jhoulys Chacin is making the Game 7 start for Milwaukee. Chacin faced off against Buehler in Game 3 and picked up the win. Chacin pitched 5 1/3rd innings; he gave up 3 hits, but no runs while striking out 6 and walking 2.
Of course being that it’s a Game 7 you know that every pitcher is available if needed. I’m hearing a lot of talk about the fact that Josh Hader hasn’t pitched since Game 4; so he’ll be able to give the Brewers multiple innings if needed. Hader has been phenomenal this post season. In 6 games covering 7 innings Hader has allowed 4 hits, but he hasn’t allowed a run and hasn’t walked a batter while striking out 12. It’s clear that Hader is a big weapon coming out of that Brewers bullpen, but the Dodgers will have there own bullpen weapon as well. Who’s the Dodgers weapon? How about a former MVP and 3-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw pitched 7 innings in Game 5 which was on Wednesday. It’s quite possible that Kershaw could match Hader inning for inning tonight.
I’m guessing that unless the game goes deep into extra innings that every pitcher on both teams roster will be available tonight except for Hun-Jin Ryu who pitched 3 innings last night throwing 57 pitches and Wade Miley who made back to back post season starts. Miley threw just 5 pitches in Game 5, but last night he threw 87 pitches over 4 1/3rd innings last night in Game 6. I’m not sure if either guy could bounce back tonight, but you never know.
So who do you have going to the World Series out of the National League? Are you going with the Dodgers or the Brewers tonight in Game 7?
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