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Depending on who pulls out this division, there's also a very important fact that at this moment, there is only a 3 1/2 game difference between your division leader and the Twins for the first round bye. Never saw that possibility a month ago. Considering that it would take all 3 contending teams to lose enough to make this difference, it is a slim possibility. Yet, it IS possible. The Twin's last 2 series are against the two worse teams in baseball.
With a couple more games against one of the worse teams in the league (Royals), the Astros have a good chance to get "some" momentum coming into 2 very tough series' with the Rangers and Diamondbacks. If the Royals win even one more game, the Astros are in trouble. It won't be easy.
Six spots in the AL playoffs, and all but 7 teams have been eliminated.
It looks like it will be the Astros and the Mariners fighting for the third Wild Card spot, with their three games against each other starting tomorrow in Seattle.
The Astros have to finish one game ahead of the Mariners in the standings in order to get the third wild card spot, as the first tie break is head to head, and the Mariners have won 8 out the 10 games they've played against each other so far this season.
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The Astros didn't accomplish anything stellar in this dreadful homestand with the exception of drawing 3 million fans in a season at home for the first time since the decade of the aughts. Good job there. Other than that, Houston made Jordan Lyles look like Justin Verlander on a good night and they also made the Kansas City Royals look like contenders.
They're out of excuses. Houston is in danger of losing the division and possibly even a playoff spot if they don't start winning games. This team needs A win. A win. This is urgency and an all-hands-on-deck moment for the time at hand in this, the final week of the regular season. Now, they must go to Seattle and defeat a very good Mariner team. If Houston players run into any luck at all, coupled with the Rangers and Mariners both having bad days (which, I don't think will be likely), then the Astros can reclaim their number 2 seed. Bad pitching and no clutch hitting simply means that they won't get it done.
The rest of the season just like 9/25's first 5 innings please .
2 RBI hits from the bottom of the order (Dubon and Maldonado), then another from Altuve.
Then a 439 foot bomb from Alvarez that had a 110 mph exit velocity to start off the next inning.
Combined with 59 pitches through 5 from JV, no runs, striking out the side twice, and getting himself out of a bases loaded jam with a ground ball double play in another inning.
Trying for the 27th complete game and 10th shutout of his career, Verlander gives up a double to start the 9th and Dusty pulls him....but what a gem...
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Originally Posted by RMESMH
Trying for the 27th complete game and 10th shutout of his career, Verlander gives up a double to start the 9th and Dusty pulls him....but what a gem...
It's alright, RMESMH. Justin did exactly what he needed to do. More breaking pitches to lefties and more fastballs to righties. This time, it worked. The Astros made their executions by taking advantage of one mistake pitch from Luis Castillo, who also, otherwise, pitched a gem.
Now, Houston must carry this same urgency for, at least, the remaining two games of the Mariner series. Even if they don't win the AL West, they could still take advantage by using the road to their benefit. Strategically, Houston might have to just ditch their home-field advantage and use the road. Why not? If it can't be done, then let's see if they can do it.
It's alright, RMESMH. Justin did exactly what he needed to do. More breaking pitches to lefties and more fastballs to righties. This time, it worked. The Astros made their executions by taking advantage of one mistake pitch from Luis Castillo, who also, otherwise, pitched a gem.
Now, Houston must carry this same urgency for, at least, the remaining two games of the Mariner series. Even if they don't win the AL West, they could still take advantage by using the road to their benefit. Strategically, Houston might have to just ditch their home-field advantage and use the road. Why not? If it can't be done, then let's see if they can do it.
The 'face frame' (the the captured shot that shows in the video location...the frame that has the arrow that one clicks on to start the video) on ESPN.com that 'summarized' his strikeouts showed perhaps the most intense, determined scowl I've ever seen on a pitcher .
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Astros win the series in Seattle!
They needed that. Now, they need help from at least two other teams just to get into the playoffs. They'll have to settle for a Wild Card although there's actually a slim chance at another AL West title, but I don't see Texas letting up. So, the Astros go to Phoenix to play the Diamondbacks and get that postseason berth. I'm fine with them not having home-field, as they've been better on the road this year.
And Mauricio Dubon really should be given his due credit. He hasn't been getting a lot of media hype, but he had what turned out to be the biggest hit of the game on Wednesday night. He's just done some fantastic things for Houston this year. And don't be surprised if he gets to be the clutch player for this postseason.
They needed that. Now, they need help from at least two other teams just to get into the playoffs. They'll have to settle for a Wild Card although there's actually a slim chance at another AL West title, but I don't see Texas letting up. So, the Astros go to Phoenix to play the Diamondbacks and get that postseason berth. I'm fine with them not having home-field, as they've been better on the road this year.
And Mauricio Dubon really should be given his due credit. He hasn't been getting a lot of media hype, but he had what turned out to be the biggest hit of the game on Wednesday night. He's just done some fantastic things for Houston this year. And don't be surprised if he gets to be the clutch player for this postseason.
I don't get why, as of yesterday (Thursday) morning....and still not this (Friday) morning, the Rangers aren't marked in the standings as having clinched a playoff berth.
It's my understanding that the first tie breaker is head to head over the course of the season.
The Rangers had a four game lead over Seattle on Thursday morning heading into their four game series with Seattle.
Before the series started, the Rangers had won 8 of their 9 previous games with Seattle during the season.
Even if the Rangers lost all four games, the season series would still be 8-5 in favor of the Rangers.
Between the Rangers, Astros, Mariners, and Blue Jays, only one of those teams isn't going to make the playoffs.
They needed that. Now, they need help from at least two other teams just to get into the playoffs. They'll have to settle for a Wild Card although there's actually a slim chance at another AL West title, but I don't see Texas letting up. So, the Astros go to Phoenix to play the Diamondbacks and get that postseason berth. I'm fine with them not having home-field, as they've been better on the road this year.
And Mauricio Dubon really should be given his due credit. He hasn't been getting a lot of media hype, but he had what turned out to be the biggest hit of the game on Wednesday night. He's just done some fantastic things for Houston this year. And don't be surprised if he gets to be the clutch player for this postseason.
When Speier came in to pitch for Seattle, my first thought was...I wonder if he is related to Chris Speier who played about half of his career for the Giants.
A few minutes later, the announcers mentioned that he's Chris Speier's nephew.
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