The Boston Red Sox have followed the same blueprint on the road to start the first two rounds of the MLB postseason.
In ALCS Game 2, the Red Sox used their bats to pull away from the Houston Astros, just like with their 14-run output in ALDS Game 2 versus the Tampa Bay Rays.
Boston has the edge in the series as it goes back home for Game 3. The Red Sox saved Eduardo Rodriguez for Fenway Park, and on paper, they have the advantage in the pitching matchup over Houston's Jose Urquidy.
Once the Boston bats woke up in the ALDS, they did not go quiet. Boston put up six runs in each of its two ALDS home games.
If the Red Sox continue to follow the same path as the ALDS, they may have a chance to close out the series at home on Wednesday.
ALCS Schedule
Game 3: Monday, October 18 (8:08 p.m. ET, FS1)
Game 4: Tuesday, October 19 (8:08 p.m. ET, FS1)
Game 5: Wednesday, October 20 (5:08 p.m. ET, FS1)
Game 6: Friday, October 22 (8:08 p.m. ET, FS1)*
Game 7: Saturday, October 23 (8:08 p.m. ET, Fox)*
* if necessary
ALCS Odds
Game 3: Boston (-120; bet $120 to win $100); Houston (+100; bet $100 to win $100)
Series Price: Houston (-125); Boston (+105)
Prediction
Boston in 6
The Red Sox flipped the complexion of the ALCS with two swings in the first two innings of Game 2.
The grand slams hit by J.D. Martinez and Rafael Devers did a few things to help Boston's chances of advancing to the World Series.
The most obvious is a leveled series heading into Boston, where the Red Sox are 3-0 this postseason. They beat the New York Yankees in the Wild Card Game at Fenway Park and defeated the Rays in ALDS Games 3 and 4.
Martinez and Devers upped their individual confidence levels with the big hits. Those home runs allowed Nathan Eovaldi to work 5.1 low-stress innings. That could help the right-hander when he returns to the mound later in the series.
If Boston jumps on Houston's starters for the rest of the series, it will not have to worry about getting runs off the power arms in Houston's bullpen: Phil Maton, Kendall Graveman and Ryan Pressly.
Urquidy has eight postseason appearances, but he was not great in the 2020 playoffs. The righty gave up four earned runs and conceded four home runs in the ALDS against the Oakland Athletics. He finished the regular season with nine earned runs conceded over his last three appearances. The 26-year-old struck out nine batters in a May 31 game against Boston, but his form dipped since then.
Rodriguez was decent enough in ALDS Game 4 to let the Red Sox lineup take the lead. The left-hander gave up two earned runs over five innings. Boston hopped out to a 5-0 advantage while he was on the mound.
If Boston gets the same type of outing from Rodriguez in Game 3, it should be in a decent position to take runs off Urquidy. If Boston's starters can do the same thing in Games 4 and 5, it has a chance to finish up the best-of-seven series at home.
However, the one weakness Boston could have is in Game 4 as it waits for Chris Sale and Eovaldi to come back for Games 5 and 6.
Eovaldi and Sale were both better than Framber Valdez and Luis Garcia in Games 1 and 2. If they continue to limit damage and pitch a step above their counterparts, Boston should find itself in the Fall Classic.
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The Tampa Bay Rays are moving onto the American League Division Series.
With an 8-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday that completed a two-game sweep in their Wild Card Series, Tampa returns to the ALDS for a second consecutive season.
The Rays jumped on Jays starter Hyun-Jin Ryu early with three hits and one run in the first inning as Tyler Glasnow tossed a quality start in his 2020 postseason debut. Hunter Renfroe provided more than enough offense with a second-inning grand slam.
After winning the AL East by seven games, the Rays will now face the winner of the Wild Card Series between the Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees.
Tampa Bay went 8-2 against the Yankees this season but did not face the Indians after the MLB schedule was adjusted because of COVID-19.
For the Blue Jays, it's the end of a short, strange season in which the club played its home games in Buffalo, New York, because to Canada's pandemic policies. The Jays finished third in the AL East with a 32-28 record to clinch the No. 8 seed in the postseason.
Notable Performers:
Tyler Glasnow, SP, Tampa Bay Rays: 6 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 8 K, 1 BB
Hunter Renfroe, LF, Tampa Bay Rays: 1-for-4, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2 K
Mike Zunino, C, Tampa Bay Rays: 2-for-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI
Hyun-Jin Ryu, SP, Toronto Blue Jays: 1.2 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 3 ER, 3 K, 2 BB
Nate Pearson, RP, Toronto Blue Jays: 2 IP, 0 H, 5 K, 0 BB
Danny Jansen, C, Toronto Blue Jays: 2-for-3, 2 HR, 2 RBI
Bichette Error Leads to Rays Grand Slam
It would be unfair to place all of the blame for the Blue Jays' Game 2 debacle on shortstop Bo Bichette.
Ryu wasn't sharp to begin the game and a lethal Rays offense took advantage, pelting him with four hits and one run before the veteran lefty could escape the first inning.
However, Bichette did his pitcher no favors with an error on a ground ball from Manuel Margot that bounced off his wrist with two out and two on in the second inning. It was the second error in as many innings for the shortstop. The first allowed Renfroe to reach base with two outs in the first. The second brought Renfroe back up to the plate with a chance to do some major damage.
Ryu had already allowed a two-run homer to catcher Mike Zunino in the second at-bat of the frame, but facing a bases-loaded jam against Hunter Renfroe after Margot reached quickly became the most troubling development of the day.
Renfroe strolled to the plate sporting a career .308/.286/.885 slash line with the bases loaded and mashed the third pitch he saw from Ryu into the left field stands to give Tampa an insurmountable 7-0 lead. It was the sixth grand slam of Renfroe's career as well as the last pitch Ryu would throw in 2020.
Ross Stripling came in for four outs of relief before handing the ball over to rookie Nate Pearson, who became one of the few bright spots for the Jays by striking out five of the six batters he faced without giving up a hit.
Bichette, meanwhile, enters the offseason after committing two errors in two postseason innings following a 60-game season in which the 22-year-old had committed only three errors.
The Blue Jays remain a young team with a wide-open window to contend for years to come. Wednesday also showed how much more they'll need to grow in order to realize those dreams.
Glasnow Finally Shines in Postseason
Glasnow rolled through the 2019 regular season as one of the most dominant arms in baseball. Just as amazingly, the owner of a 1.78 ERA in 60.2 innings pitched with 76 strikeouts on 14 walks watched his shine disappear in the playoffs.
In two previous postseason appearances before Wednesday, the lefty acquired in the 2018 Chris Archer trade was tagged with two losses a 7.71 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP in seven innings.
The Rays moved onto the ALDS last year in spite of his performance.
One year later, Tampa is going back to the division series because of it.
Glasnow dazzled in his third playoff start, going six innings with eight strikeouts, six hits and two earned runs—both by way of solo homers from Danny Jansen.
Jansen was seemingly the only Jays batter who could figure Glasnow out. The rest couldn't keep up.
Glasnow threw 86 pitches, with 27 going for called strikes or whiffs, per Statcast. His fastball sat at 97.1 mph with a curveball that broke into the zone at 82.5 mph. He used his changeup just twice.
If this is what Tampa can expect from Glasnow moving forward—and it has every right to at this point—the Rays will remain the team to beat in the American League not just for the postseason, but for years to come.
What's Next
Game 1 of the American League Division Series is set for Monday at San Diego's Petco Park. The start time has yet to be determined, but the game will be shown on TBS.
The good news for the Toronto Blue Jays is that they won't have to face Blake Snell again this season. The bad news is that they are one loss away from elimination largely because of him.
The Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher was brilliant in his 5.2 innings on Tuesday in Game 1 of their Wild Card Series, confounding Toronto's batters en route to a 3-1 win.
Randy Arozarena got the Rays on the board in the bottom of the fourth after hitting a triple and scampering home on a wild pitch by Robbie Ray.
Manuel Margot's two-run dinger in the seventh gave Tampa the insurance it would need.
Toronto got the game-tying run to the plate in the top of the ninth, but Peter Fairbanks closed the door, earning the save.
The Rays, who won the season series between the teams 6-4 and posted an impressive 20-9 record at home, will now have two cracks to win another game and advance to the ALDS.
Key Stats
Blake Snell, TB: 5.2 innings, one hit, two walks, nine strikeouts, zero runs allowed, 82 pitches.
Rays bullpen: 3.1 innings, four hits, one strikeout, one run allowed
Randy Arozarena, TB: 1-for-4, one run
Manuel Margot, TB: 2-for-3, two-run homer
Matt Shoemaker, TOR: 3.0 innings, two hits, two strikeouts, no runs allowed
Robbie Ray, TOR: 3.0 innings, one hit, one walk, five strikeouts, one walk allowed
A.J. Cole, TOR: 0.1 innings, one hit, one walk, one strikeout, two runs allowed
Bo Bichette, TOR: 0-for-3, one RBI
Snell Was En Fuego and the Bullpen Finished His Masterpiece
When you strike out nine batters in 5.2 innings, you are dealing. When you carry a no-hitter through five innings and only allow three baserunners total, you are really dealing.
Here's what made Snell's fantastic performance so important: The Rays bullpen is so good that the team is 29-1 when leading after six innings, per the TBS broadcast. If you don't generate offense early in a game against this team, the Rays become borderline impossible to beat.
The Rays followed their blueprint to success perfectly on Tuesday night thanks to Snell's fantastic performance. Toronto needs to jump on Tyler Glasnow early in Wednesday's Game 2 to have a shot.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Toronto's Offense Better Wake Up Fast
When your top six hitters—for Toronto, that's Cavan Biggio, Bo Bichette, Randal Grichuk, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Teoscar Hernandez—combine to go just 3-for-19 with two walks and Bichette's eighth-inning sacrifice fly, well, it isn't much of a recipe for success.
Obviously Tampa Bay is a fantastic team with a brilliant pitching staff, particularly in the bullpen. A great pitching performance will always foil a dangerous lineup. But Toronto is going to have to adjust something in their approach on Wednesday. If their top five hitters barely muster any offense again, this best-of-five series will be over.
What's Next?
The teams will meet again Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET on TBS, with Glasnow expected to face Toronto's Hyun-Jin Ryu.
Heading into Sunday, the final day of play for this year's abbreviated MLB season, all eight teams for the American League Wild Card round were set; however, a few crucial games determined the final seeding.
The Minnesota Twins lost to the Cincinnati Reds, but they were still able to clinch the AL Central thanks to the Chicago White Sox falling to their crosstown rival Cubs.
Similarly, even though the New York Yankees lost to the Miami Marlins, the Toronto Blue Jays were also defeated by the Baltimore Orioles, allowing New York to lock up the No. 5 seed.
The Cleveland Indians did not control their own fate, but they locked down the No. 4 seed by defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates and thanks to the White Sox loss.
Given the truncated nature of the coronavirus-shortened regular season, the playoffs have been extended this offseason. Where typically the fourth and fifth-best teams in each division have a play-in wild-card game to determine the respective division series, there are eight teams that have advances this season.
This year, each of the eight teams will take part in a best-of-three wild-card series, with the higher seed hosting each matchup. The playoffs then move on to best-of-five divisional series followed by traditional seven-games series in the championship and World Series rounds.
The three teams to win their respective divisions were the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East, the Oakland A's in the AL West and the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central.
Let's take a look at the seeding for each of the eight teams in the AL Wild Card round, as well as their odds and the schedule of play for the next three games.
AL Wild Card Round Matchups and Odds to Win League
No. 1 Tampa Bay Rays (3/1) vs. No. 8 Toronto Blue Jays (15/1)
No. 2 Oakland A's (5/1) vs. No. 7 Chicago White Sox (13/2)
No. 3 Minnesota Twins (11/2) or vs. No. 6 Houston Astros (11/1)
No. 4 Cleveland Indians (13/2) vs. No. 5 New York Yankees (14/5)
AL Wild Card Round Schedule
Tuesday, Sept. 29
Game 1: Blue Jays at Rays
Game 1: White Sox at A's
Game 1: Astros at Twins
Game 1: Yankees at Indians
Wednesday, Sept. 30
Game 2: Blue Jays at Rays
Game 2: White Sox at A's
Game 2: Astros at Twins
Game 2: Yankees at Indians
Thursday, Oct. 1
Game 3: Blue Jays at Rays
Game 3: White Sox at A's
Game 3: Astros at Twins
Game 3: Yankees at Indians
Start times and TV schedule TBD
The Rays head into the postseason with momentum; even though they earned the No. 1 seed in the AL when the A's fell to the Mariners, the Rays took their own game against the Phillies 4-3. Mike Zunino returned from the injured list on Sept. 20, and Tampa Bay sure is glad he did, as he went 2-for-3 with an RBI Sunday and should be a key contributor in the postseason. The Blue Jays are healthy and should be feeling confident after clinching their first postseason berth in four years, but it's a tall order to defeat these No. 1 Rays. Prediction: Rays.
The White Sox, powered by starters Lucas Giolito and Dallas Keuchel, have played lights-out against left-handed pitchers so far this shortened season, going 14-0 when facing them. How will that play out against the A's?
Both teams are looking to win their first playoff round since 2005 (White Sox) and 2006 (A's). Unfortunately, both would have liked to enter the Wild Card Round with more momentum. The White Sox have lost nine of their last 12; the A's have been downed three of their last five. But the White Sox, who had the opportunity just days ago to clinch the No. 1 seed in the AL, are primed to take this series. Prediction: White Sox.
Along with the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL, the Astros (29-31) become the first team to reach the postseason with a losing record (29-31), as USA Today's Bob Nightengale pointed out:
The repeat AL Central champion Twins host the Astros, who have been injury-plagued and have gone 9-23 away from Minute Maid Park. Prediction: Twins.
The Yankees limp into the postseason having lost six of their final eight games and have to face Cy Young Award favorite Shane Bieber in Game 1 against the Indians. That's not exactly a recipe for postseason success. Prediction: Indians.
Odds via DraftKings and current as of Sept. 27
New York Yankees star Giancarlo Stanton could be a factor in the American League Championship Series despite a quadriceps injury that has kept him out for the past two games.
Per MLB.com's Bryan Hoch, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Stanton is an option as a pinch hitter and designated hitter after running at about 60 percent prior to Thursday's Game 4 against the Houston Astros.
During his pregame press conference, Boone told reporters today was an "encouraging" step for Stanton and there is the "possibility" of him being used.
Per ESPN's Marly Rivera, the earliest Stanton would play is in Game 5 on Friday night. He was kept out of the Yankees' Game 4 lineup, with Edwin Encarnacion at designated hitter and Brett Gardner in left field.
Stanton was a surprise absence in Game 2 of the ALCS due to a strained right quad he suffered while running out an infield single in the second inning of New York's 7-0 victory in the series opener. The four-time All-Star finished Game 1, going 2-for-4 with a solo homer in the sixth inning.
Per MLB rules, if the Yankees had to replace Stanton on the roster with a healthy player, he would also have to sit out the World Series should they advance.
Injuries have been a problem for Stanton throughout the 2019 season. He only played 18 games during the regular season due to two separate stints on the injured list for a biceps strain and a knee injury.
With Stanton unavailable for Game 4, the Yankees will attempt to even the ALCS against the Astros, with the first pitch scheduled for 8:08 p.m. ET Thursday.
Home plate umpire Jeff Nelson was forced to leave Tuesday's American League Championship Series game between the Houston Astros and New York Yankees after suffering a head injury, according to Bleacher Report's Scott Miller.
Nelson was hit in the mask by a foul ball during the fourth inning. While he initially remained on the field, he eventually left Game 3 between innings, causing a slight delay.
He was reportedly diagnosed with a concussion, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
Per James Wagner of the New York Times, Kerwin Danley replaced Nelson behind home plate.
Danley had been working at second base prior to the switch, and he was replaced by left field umpire Marvin Hudson. Though the crew remains one man short, the extra bodies during the playoffs will help ensure there will be limited problems.
Nelson is one of the more experienced officials in the playoffs with 20 years in the majors. He has been a crew chief since 2014.
The 54-year-old has worked three World Series in his career, most recently in 2014.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today had high praise for the umpire after the latest incident:
Game 4 of the ALCS is scheduled to start at 8:08 p.m. ET Wednesday in Yankee Stadium.
Safety was a major talking point during Major League Baseball's regular season, and the Houston Astros and New York Yankees' American League Championship Series matchup Sunday night brought it to the forefront again.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Astros left fielder Michael Brantley scorched a foul ball into Houston's dugout that hit a paramedic supervisor. Harris County Emergency Corps, the man's employer, disclosed the following in a statement (h/t Chandler Rome): "He was immediately taken to the hospital, evaluated and is currently in stable condition."
When the ball struck the unnamed man, players in the Astros dugout appeared visibly concerned with their hands on their heads. Brantley walked away from the batter's box and solemnly stood next to manager AJ Hinch.
According to the Fox broadcast (h/t Ben DuBose), Astros starting pitcher Gerrit Cole followed the injured paramedic into the tunnel and waited with him until he departed for the hospital. Prior to leaving Minute Maid Park, per the Houston Chronicle's Matt Young, "He was sitting up and alert, but was holding a towel up to his head where the foul ball hit him. The white towel had drops of blood on it."
Previous incidents this year have involved fans in the stands, which has drawn calls for stadiums across the league to extend foul ball netting. The Astros did on Aug. 19:
Perhaps the most horrific instance involving a rogue foul ball came on May 29 at Minute Maid Park when Chicago Cubs outfielder Albert Almora Jr.'s line drive hit a two-year-old girl and fractured her skull.
Prior to the Astros doing so, the Chicago White Sox, Washington Nationals and Pittsburgh Pirates announced in June they would extend protective netting.
Houston and the New York Yankees will face off in the American League Championship Series for the second time in three years.
In 2017, the Astros won in seven games on their way to the first World Series crown in franchise history. They are the first team to qualify for the ALCS in three straight years since Detroit did so from 2011-13.
The Yankees have lost their last three ALCS appearances in 2010, 2012 and 2017. Their presence marks the eighth year in a row in which an AL East squad has made it this far.
ALCS Schedule
Game 1: Saturday, October 12, at Houston (8:08 p.m. ET, Fox)
Game 2: Sunday, October 13, at Houston (8:08 p.m. ET, FS1)
Game 3: Tuesday, October 15, at New York (Time TBD, Fox or FS1)
Game 4: Wednesday, October 16, at New York (Time TBD, Fox or FS1)
Game 5: Thursday, October 17, at New York (Time TBD, Fox or FS1)*
Game 6: Saturday, October 19, at Houston (Time TBD, Fox or FS1)*
Game 7: Sunday, October 20, at Houston (Time TBD, Fox or FS1)*
* if necessary
ALCS Odds
To Win Series
Houston (-165; bet $165 to win $100)
New York (+145; bet $100 to win $145)
Series Prediction
Houston over New York in 7
The Yankees have an advantage in rest, as they closed out their series with Minnesota on Monday.
A year ago, Houston benefited from extra rest and earned a road Game 1 victory over Boston before falling in that series.
The key for AJ Hinch's side is to protect home field before Gerrit Cole enters the fray. He would likely appear in Game 3 after finishing off the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday.
Houston swept its three-game home set with the Yankees in April and took one game at Yankee Stadium in June behind Justin Verlander.
Whichever hurler steps to the mound has to limit New York's power. Five Yankees batters hit a home run off the Twins.
Additionally, seven players recorded three or more hits, with Gleyber Torres leading the club with five.
Houston can give up hits, but it can't allow New York to string them together for extended innings, like Tampa Bay did in Game 3 against Zack Greinke.
With Verlander and Cole recovering from their ALDS appearances, Greinke would likely be in line to start at Minute Maid Park, as could Jose Urquidy, who relieved Verlander at Tropicana Field on Tuesday.
If they can't contain New York's bats, Houston could head to the Bronx either tied or down two games.
Cole could flip the series in Houston's direction at Yankee Stadium. In his last five road starts, the 20-game winner gave up three runs over 33 innings.
Houston's ideal scenario would have Verlander and Cole throwing in Games 2 and 3, so they can come back on full rest for the final two games.
Aaron Boone could go in a few directions with his rotation getting four days off. Regardless of which pitcher starts, the Yankees would only need five or six innings out of him.
New York has the better bullpen depth with a quintet of hurlers capable of silencing Houston's order.
Zack Britton, Adam Ottavino, Tommy Kahnle, Chad Green and Aroldis Chapman combined to give up two earned runs in 9.1 ALDS innings.
The challenge facing the New York starters is limiting the production of Houston's order that scored 15 runs at home against the Rays.
Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Yordan Alvarez and Yulieski Gurriel had six or more hits in the last series, while George Springer came alive with three apiece in the final two contests.
Even if the Yanks steal one of the first two games in Houston, the Astros are capable of outhitting them to earn a victory back.
If the margins remain slim entering Games 6 and 7, the top seed has the advantage with Verlander and Cole potentially finishing off the series.
In September, the two aces gave up eight earned runs in six home starts, and they held the Rays to a single run in Houston during the ALDS.
Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.
Statistics obtained from Baseball Reference.
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New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman suffered an injury to his pitching hand during the team's celebration after sweeping the Minnesota Twins in the American League Division Series on Monday.
According to Dan Martin of the New York Post, Chapman was seen with a bandage on his left hand. The Cuban fireballer explained what happened through an interpreter: "I was just celebrating, and everyone was jumping around. I got hit with a bottle, but it's fine."
ESPN's Marly Rivera provided additional details on how Chapman was feeling: "I just spoke to Aroldis Chapman and he told me he iced his hand after being hit with a champagne bottle during last night's celebration. Chapman told me he's no longer wearing a bandage and feels fine. He's scheduled to go to the gym and have a full workout tomorrow."
Chapman recorded the final five outs of New York's 5-1 win in Game 3 of the ALDS and was credited with the save.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Chapman fist-bumped him with the injured hand and added: "He had a huge smile on his face, so I think that was a good sign."
Chapman was forced into extra action Monday since reliever Zack Britton had to leave in the eighth inning after jamming his ankle while covering first base. Britton said after the game: "I'll be fine."
The 31-year-old Chapman is a six-time All-Star who has long been considered one of the best closers in baseball. He spent parts of the past four seasons with the Yankees and has recorded 111 saves during that time.
This season has perhaps been Chapman's best as a Yankee. In 60 appearances, he went 3-2 with a 2.21 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 37 saves and 85 strikeouts over 57 innings.
The 37 saves were Chapman's most as a Yankee and the second-highest single-season total of his career. He had 38 saves for the Cincinnati Reds in 2012 and 2013.
Since the Yankees were the only team to earn a sweep in the Division Series, Chapman will have some time to rest his injured hand, as the American League Championship Series isn't scheduled to start until Friday or Saturday.
If Chapman's injury is more serious than expected, Britton is first in line to fill in as the closer, provided his ankle is good to go. Other options out of New York's deep and talented bullpen include Adam Ottavino and Tommy Kahnle.
