While the Houston Astros forcing a Game 6 against the Atlanta Braves is the main storyline at the 2021 World Series, free agency is drawing a few headlines, too...
The World Series may not be over yet, but it's now been several weeks since the sun set on Major League Baseball's 2021 regular season. Or more than enough time to ponder which 100 players were the best of '21...
Astros Back from the Dead in World Series After Slashing Braves' Clinching Hopes
Nov 1, 2021
Houston Astros' Martin Maldonado celebrates after his RBI-single during the seventh inning in Game 5 of baseball's World Series between the Houston Astros and the Atlanta Braves Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Before the first inning of Game 5 of the World Series was even over, Atlanta had a 4-0 lead on the Houston Astros, and Truist Park was generating the kind of noise that can only come from long-suffering fans finally staring a championship in the face.
But the longer the night went on, the more that face started to look like the pale, lifeless visage of a repurposed William Shatner mask.
There wasn't any one moment that turned this Halloween into the sort of nightmare with which Atlanta fans are all too familiar. It was more like death by a thousand cuts from knife-wielding slashers, as Houston's offense finally came alive to bang out 12 hits and draw six walks to turn its early 4-0 deficit into a 9-5 win.
If there was one cut that hurt the most, though, it was probably Marwin Gonzalez's go-ahead, two-run single in the fifth inning:
Though there was no Dr. Loomis to save the day for Atlanta on Sunday night, the club will at least live to fight another day.
All the Astros did was trim Atlanta's lead in the series from 3-1 to 3-2. As was the case going into Game 5, Atlanta still only needs one win the clinch the organization's championship since Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz and Co. won the World Series in 1995.
But now that the Astros are back from the dead, Atlanta may well come to rue not burying them when it had the chance.
Astros Players of the Game
PH Marwin Gonzalez: 1-for-1, two RBI. Though not the most important hit he's ever had for the Astros in a World Series game, his clutch single in the fifth was nonetheless his first hit of this postseason.
C Martin Maldonado: 1-for-3, BB, three RBI. He went into Game 5 with just two runs batted in through his first 14 games of the playoffs. He deserves all the credit for beating that number on Sunday, as he generated a bases-loaded walk and took two great swings for a sacrifice fly and a run-scoring single.
SS Carlos Correa and 1B Yuli Gurriel: They had five hits between them in this series entering Sunday. That number is now up to 11 after each collected three knocks in Game 5.
Atlanta Players of the Game
CF Adam Duvall: 1-for-4, HR, R, four RBI. His grand slam in the first inning seemed to ice the series for Atlanta. Emphasis on "seemed."
1B Freddie Freeman: 1-for-4, HR, R, RBI. It was ultimately for naught, yet his 460-foot solo home run in the third inning is still notable for being the longest home run of this postseason.
The Astros' Very Own Halloween: Resurrection
After losing Game 4 in heartbreaking fashion on back-to-back home runs by Dansby Swanson and Jorge Soler in the seventh inning, probably what the Astros wanted most for Game 5 was to get off to a fast start.
Which is to say, not fallinto an early four-run hole on a grand slam:
According to FanGraphs, Atlanta had an 84 percent chance of winning Game 5 once Duvall crossed home plate. Given that the Astros had scored just two runs in Games 3 and 4 combined, even that figure perhaps understated how high Atlanta was riding.
Then the real Astros offense showed up.
It wasn't exit velocity that heralded the return of Houston's usual offensive might, as Atlanta still ended up with eight of the game's nine hardest-hit balls. It was more so that Astros hitters stopped trying to do too much. They worked six walks (though one was intentional) after drawing only 13 through the series' first four games and swung with a general emphasis on hitting the ball through the holes of Atlanta's defense rather than over the fence.
It's not exactly a virtue that the Astros didn't hit any home runs in Game 5, but that they nonetheless collected a dozen hits was a taste of their good ol' days of the regular season. They led Major League Baseball in hits and by an especially large gap over the next team with regard to non-homer hits.
With their collective approach back on track in Game 5, the Astros were finally able to get the line moving. They went into the contest with just four hits in 31 at-bats with runners in scoring position for the series. They're now 9-for-46 after tallying five knocks in such situations on Sunday.
You could make the case that such an effort was inevitable but spare some credit for Astros manager Dusty Baker too.
He rolled the dice with a significant lineup change for Game 5, moving Alex Bregman from the No. 3 down to No. 7 while also bumping up Correa to Bregman's old spot and Gurriel to Correa's former slot at No. 5. Perhaps it's a coincidence that all three looked more comfortable and confident on Sunday. Then again, perhaps not.
For Atlanta, one silver lining to be gleaned from Game 5 is that its five runs represent its second-best output of any game in this series. With Duvall's and Freeman's contributions tonight, it also stretched its overall home run advantage to 8-2.
More worrying, though, was the extent to which manager Brian Snitker saw his pitching fall apart in Game 5.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 31: Tucker Davidson #64 of the Atlanta Braves is taken out of the game by manager Brian Snitker #43 during the third inning against the Houston Astros in Game Five of the World Series at Truist Park on October 31, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Said pitching had allowed just 11 runs through the first four games of the series, with six of those getting charged to Game 2 starter Max Fried. Making his first start for Atlanta since June 15, Tucker Davidson didn't do much better in coughing up four runs (albeit just two earned) of his own in two innings.
Yet the game didn't truly turn until, after initially entering in the fourth inning, A.J. Minter came back out in the fifth and finally hit a wall:
First 7 Playoff Appearances: 11.0 IP, five hits, two walks, one run, 16 strikeouts
Game 5: 1.0 IP,three hits, two walks, three runs, two strikeouts
Because he's a part of the "Night Shift" trio along with fellow left-handers Tyler Matzek and Will Smith, Snitker must hope that Minter's flop will prove to be a fluke.
Neither of the alternatives bode well for Atlanta. Either Minter is running out of gas, or Houston hitters have him figured after getting good looks at him in Games 1 and 3.
Mercifully, Minter and the rest of a relief corps that had to pick up a bunch of slack in Games 3 and 4 will have a chance to rest during Monday's travel day. Since Snitker spared him from starting on three days' rest in Game 5, Fried will now get to go on five days' rest in Game 6 on Tuesday. If needed, Ian Anderson would be on regular rest for Game 7 on Wednesday.
At least to these ends, Atlanta has a leg up on the Astros even without injured ace Charlie Morton. Houston's Game 6 starter will likely be Luis Garcia, who'll be on short rest after coughing up three hits and four walks in 3.2 innings in Game 3. Even if the Astros force a Game 7, they'd have to hope that Jose Urquidy can bounce back quickly after pitching one inning in relief on Sunday.
But if the Astros offense can stay alive after emerging from its death-like state in Game 5, the upcoming pitching matchups may prove to be immaterial.
As it is, it's something of a moral victory for the Astros that they now have the edge in runs scored (20-18) in this series. Of course, they also have recent experience riding a hot offense to a come-from-behind victory. The Boston Red Sox hit the Astros hard in the first three games of the American League Championship Series, but then the Astros hit them hard right back as they scored 23 runs over the next three games to win the series.
If what everyone saw in Game 5 was the Astros offense tapping back into that very same mojo, they can ensure that Atlanta never wakes from this nightmare.
What's Next for Houston and Atlanta?
After an off day on Monday, the World Series will resume at Minute Maid Park in Houston for Game 6 on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 8:09 p.m. ET. The presumed matchup is Fried for Atlanta and Garcia for the Astros.
If the home team wins, Game 7 would be on Wednesday.
Carlos Correa, Astros Rally Past Braves in Game 5 to Stave off Elimination
Nov 1, 2021
Houston Astros' Carlos Correa hits an RBI-double during the third inning in Game 5 of baseball's World Series between the Houston Astros and the Atlanta Braves Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
The Houston Astros aren't done yet.
Houston defeated the Atlanta Braves 9-5 in Sunday's Game 5 of the World Series at Truist Park. Carlos Correa, Martin Maldonado and the bullpen led the way for the victors, who still trail 3-2 in the series but can capture the championship if they win the next two games at home.
Home runs from Adam Duvall and Freddie Freeman weren't enough for the Braves, who dropped a home game for the first time in these playoffs.
Houston needed a quick start Sunday to silence a raucous crowd that sensed the championship moment from the opening pitch.
So much for that.
Duvall wasted no time playing the role of early hero and launched a grand slam in the first inning. It was more of the same for Framber Valdez, who also struggled in Game 1. He gave up five runs in 2.2 innings in Game 5 and made things worse for the visitors by allowing a solo homer to Freeman in the third inning right after they battled back to tie the game at four.
The only chance for the Astros was a strong showing from the bullpen after Valdez's start, and the collective was up to the task.
Yimi Garcia cleaned up Valdez's mess in the third, Jose Urquidy threw a scoreless fourth, and Phil Maton worked the fifth and sixth innings without giving up a run. He retired Eddie Rosario with a runner in scoring position at one point and eventually gave way to Ryne Stanek, who pitched a scoreless seventh.
It was a brilliant showing from the middle relievers following a start from Valdez that could have very well ended Houston's season. By the time Kendall Graveman entered the game in the eighth, the American League representative had a comfortable four-run lead.
Graveman put the finishing touches on the impressive comeback victory that was only possible because of the bullpen's overall effort.
Astros Offense Finally Comes Alive
The biggest storyline coming into Game 5 was Atlanta's decision to start Tucker Davidson, who had a grand total of five career appearances on his resume before taking the place of the injured Charlie Morton on the roster.
The 25-year-old made four starts this year with the last one coming in June. He had the chance to be an unlikely World Series hero, especially when his offense staked him to a 4-0 lead in the first inning.
Davidson missed his chance, though, and gave up four runs in two-plus innings. Two of the runs were unearned thanks to a Dansby Swanson error, but Houston deserves plenty of credit for erasing the 4-0 deficit so quickly thanks to RBI doubles from Alex Bregman and Correa to go with RBI from Maldonado and Yuli Gurriel.
That put Atlanta's bullpen firmly in the spotlight, which hasn't been a problem for much of the Fall Classic, but was with the chance to clinch the title.
Jesse Chavez wasn't charged with any earned runs but allowed two inherited runners from Davidson to score. Then A.J. Minter gave up three runs in a critical fifth inning that saw him walk Maldonado with the bases loaded and give up a two-run single to Marwin Gonzalez in back-to-back batters.
And the Astros take the lead in the 5th! 😤 @BRWalkoff
Maldonado continued to leave his mark on the game with an RBI single off Drew Smyly in the seventh, and Correa's RBI single off the southpaw in the eighth opened up some breathing room for the team with its back against the wall.
Houston scored a combined two runs in the first two games in Atlanta in this series. The overarching storyline was going to be the offense's disappearance, but the Astros changed the script by coming alive Sunday.
What's Next?
The series shifts back to Houston for Tuesday's Game 6.
For Major League Baseball's free agents, oftentimes the best move is no move at all. There were 12 free agents last year who signed a deal with an average annual salary of at least ...
MLB Rumors: Latest Buzz on Carlos Correa, Corey Seager and Anthony Rizzo
Oct 26, 2021
Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa celebrates after tagging out Boston Red Sox's Alex Verdugo at second to end the top of the seventh inning in Game 6 of baseball's American League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 22, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
The free-agent class in the upcoming MLB offseason is going to be loaded. Players like Kris Bryant, Max Scherzer, Robbie Ray, Freddie Freeman and Kevin Gausman, among others, should have offers from all over the baseball world.Â
But no other position will offer as much intrigue as shortstop, where five players—Corey Seager, Carlos Correa, Trevor Story, Marcus Semien and Javier Baez—represent one of the most talented crops of free agents at the position in...well, ever.Â
And according to ESPN's Buster Olney, one team to watch out for—particularly when it comes to the pursuit of either Seager or Correa—is the New York Yankees:
"After a year of limiting their spending, the expectation is that the Yankees will land a shortstop, and that will likely be either Seager or Correa -- perhaps with the intention of eventually shifting that player to another spot. New York's top prospect, shortstop Anthony Volpe, is expected to graduate to the big leagues sometime in the next two seasons. There is a lot of sentiment that Seager will need to move to another spot sooner rather than later over the course of a long-term deal."
One evaluator told Olney that Seager was tailor-made for New York.Â
"He's perfect for the Yankees, in what they need right now," that person said. "Left-handed hitter, big-market experience, a great hit tool. ... I have the same concerns about him that I do about Correa, about the games he's missed. But with [him], it's a bunch of different injuries, and not one major problem. ... He's going to need an almost near-immediate move to third base."
Seager, 27, hit .306 with 16 homers, 57 RBI, 54 runs and a .915 OPS in 95 games this season. There's no doubt he'd be a major upgrade for the Yankees, though the Los Angeles Dodgers will surely push to bring him back.Â
Correa, also 27, has long been a nemesis of the Yankees. He had another typically solid campaign in 2021, hitting .279 with 26 homers, 92 RBI and 104 runs in 148 games, posting a .850 OPS.Â
With the Houston Astros back in the World Series, Correa may be inclined to keep the team's core intact and return for the long haul. But if he tempts the market, it wouldn't be shocking to see the Yanks make a major play for his services.Â
Of course, another question for the Yankees is which players they'll bring back. One prospective free agent who reportedly wants to return to the team is Anthony Rizzo, whom the Yankees landed in a midseason trade:
According to a family member, Anthony Rizzo is quite eager to return to #Yankees in 2022. That’s an important first step, assuming NYY want him back. Have to assume they do.
Rizzo, 32, hit .249 with eight homers, 21 RBI and a .768 OPS in 49 games with the Yankees this season after spending the previous nine seasons with the Chicago Cubs. He's clearly on the wrong side of his prime years at this point, but he remains a solid enough option at first base and in the batter's box.Â
It wouldn't be surprising to see Rizzo return to New York, though it also likely won't be high on the team's priority list, with shortstop likely taking precedent and the need to bolster the rotation behind Cole Gerrit a major need as well.Â
Major League Baseball may be gearing up for the World Series, but attention is already being paid to the offseason and the plethora of high-profile free agents who could be soon joining different teams...
MLB Rumors: Latest Reports Heading into World Series
Oct 25, 2021
Houston Astros' Carlos Correa reacts after striking out against the Boston Red Sox during the fourth inning in Game 6 of baseball's American League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 22, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
The Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros will contest the 2021 World Series, which is set to begin Tuesday. For every other MLB team, the offseason has already begun, so it's time to start formulating plans for free agency.
From teams poised to go through overhauls to teams hoping to contend in 2022, reports are starting to come out that could reveal their offseason strategies.
Here we look at some of the latest buzz floating around the league.
Yankees Likely to Land Big-Name SS
Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa celebrates after tagging out Boston Red Sox's Alex Verdugo at second to end the top of the seventh inning in Game 6 of baseball's American League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 22, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
After five straight years of playoff appearances without advancing to the World Series, it appears that the New York Yankees are ready to return to their Evil Empire ways and spend big this offseason.
This year's free-agent class features a strong crop of shortstops in Carlos Correa, Corey Seager, Trevor Story, Javier Baez and Marcus Semien. According to ESPN's Buster Olney, the Yankees are expected to throw some cash around in the hopes of landing a star.
"After a year of limiting their spending, the expectation is that the Yankees will land a shortstop, and that will likely be either Seager or Correa—perhaps with the intention of eventually shifting that player to another spot," Olney recently reported.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman called shortstop "an area of need" this offseason. He believes Gleyber Torres is "best served" at second base after he was moved there late this season because of his poor performance at shortstop.
If the Yankees were to land one of the premier shortstops available, it would set them up with a solid foundation for years to come. New York has highly regarded infield prospects Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza waiting in the wings. When either of them get called up to the majors, the Yankees could make room by moving their shortstop to third base.
After signing manager Aaron Boone to a new three-year contract, New York believes it is a few on-field moves away from vaulting into contention. Signing one of the big-name free-agent shortstops would be a good start.
Dodgers' Competition for Clayton Kershaw, Max Scherzer Revealed
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 17: Max Scherzer #31 of the Los Angeles Dodgers tosses the ball in the air in between pitches against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning of Game Two of the National League Championship Series at Truist Park on October 17, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
After falling to the Atlanta Braves in the National League Championship Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers enter the offseason facing a few questions.
Los Angeles is known for having a large payroll, but it will have a hard time retaining all of its stars.
Let's start with former Cy Young winners Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw, both of whom are set to be free agents. A reunion is not out of the question for both pitchers, but the Dodgers won't be the only team pursuing them.
MLB Network's Jon Heyman believes the Dodgers are favorites to retain both Kershaw and Scherzer, though he also named the teams that could give Los Angeles a run for its money.
"Next most likely to sign Scherzer are the Angels; next most likely to sign Kershaw are the Rangers," Heyman reported.
Scherzer had a 15-4 record with a 2.46 ERA and 236 strikeouts this season. After being traded to the Dodgers from the Washington Nationals at this year's trade deadline, Scherzer went 7-0 with four no-decisions in 11 starts.
Kershaw had an injury-plagued 2021 season. He was placed on the injured list with left forearm inflammation in July. The southpaw returned in September but experienced arm pain a month later and was shut down for the rest of the season. Kershaw went 10-8 this year with a 3.55 ERA, the highest since his rookie season.
Other notable Los Angeles free agents are shortstop Corey Seager, closer Kenley Jansen, first baseman Albert Pujols and utility man Chris Taylor. The Dodgers will have some decisions to make, and it will be interesting to see whether they focus on shoring up the rotation by retaining Scherzer and Kershaw or if they let them walk and spend money elsewhere.
Jon Gray Rejects Rockies Extension, Expected to Test Free Agency
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 01: Jon Gray #55 of the Colorado Rockies delivers a first inning pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on October 01, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
After three straight seasons with no playoff appearances and fourth-place finishes in the NL West, the Colorado Rockies roster is likely to be overhauled this offseason. But one of the players Colorado wants to retain has reportedly rejected the team's overtures.
Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reported Saturday that starting pitcher Jon Gray turned down an extension offer the Rockies made him before the end of the regular season. Saunders added that Gray is open to remaining in Colorado long term but wants to test the open market.
Gray went 8-12 in the 2021 season with a 4.59 ERA in 149.0 innings. He performed better at home, recording a 4.02 ERA in 78.1 innings and and holding opponents to a .205/.291/.365 line at the hitter-friendly Coors Field.
Saunders also noted that the Rockies could choose to tag Gray with a qualifying offer, which would entitle them to draft pick compensation if he were to sign elsewhere. With this year's qualifying offers set at $18.4 million, it wouldn't be a surprise if Gray accepted it to remain in Colorado.
The Rockies will be seeking improvements in multiple areas. The team needs to address its offensive deficiencies, but it would also be wise to try to retain a pitcher like Gray, who is used to pitching in Colorado.
If the Rockies allow him to walk, Gray could catch on with another team as a starter on the back end of a rotation.
World Series 2021: Full Schedule and Players Who Will Decide MLB Championship
Oct 22, 2021
Atlanta Braves' Freddie Freeman hits a two-run home run during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of baseball's National League Championship Series Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
There is an abundance of players with World Series experience still left in the Major League Baseball postseason.
The Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers are three of the last four Fall Classic champions. They also make up three of the last four runners-up. The Dodgers fell short to the Red Sox and Astros in 2017 and 2018 before they won in 2020.Â
Atlanta is the only franchise without a ton of World Series experience on its roster. The NL East champion is one win away from its first Fall Classic berth since 1999.
If Atlanta holds off the Dodgers in the NLCS, it will need its veteran players to shoulder the pressure, as they have in the first two rounds of the playoffs.Â
Houston can become the first team to secure a World Series berth on Friday. The Astros hold a 3-2 lead over Boston. Atlanta's second chance to win the NLCS comes on Saturday at Truist Park.
An argument can be made that Freddie Freeman is the most important player on any of the four LCS rosters.Â
The five-time All-Star and reigning NL MVP won Atlanta's NLDS series against the Milwaukee Brewers with a home run off Josh Hader.Â
Freeman has six hits in the last three NLCS games. He started off the series in an 0-of-8 slump with seven strikeouts.Â
Eddie Rosario, Joc Pederson and others have come up with clutch hits for Atlanta, but Freeman is the superstar of the lineup, and he can flip the complexion of a series with one swing of his bat.Â
Atlanta is 5-2 in the seven postseason games in which Freeman produced a home run. That record includes NLDS Game 4 and NLCS Game 4. He homered in Thursday's NLCS Game 5 to give Atlanta a two-run lead before the Dodgers exploded for 11 runs.Â
Freeman produced more home runs, doubles and a better OPS on the road in 2021 than he did inside his home ballpark.
Those numbers are important since Atlanta would open the World Series on the road if they win one of the next two NLCS games. Boston and Houston both finished with a better regular-season record.Â
As long as Freeman avoids another brutal slump to start a series, he will be a vital player for Atlanta in its attempt to win games on the road to start the World Series if it gets there.Â
     Â
Carlos Correa, SS, Houston
A handful of Houston players could be considered to be the team's most important hitter.Â
Carlos Correa, Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman were vital to Houston's 2017 World Series triumph. Correa was second on the team in hits behind George Springer.Â
The Houston shortstop owns a .875 postseason OPS and 75 playoff hits. He has four multi-hit games in the 2021 postseason.
The Astros have won each of the four games in which Correa produced two or more hits this postseason. The latest occurrence of that was the series-changing ALCS Game 4 in which they used seven ninth-inning runs to break the game open.Â
Correa hit safely in five of the seven games against the Washington Nationals in the 2019 World Series, and he had pair of three-hit performances versus the Dodgers in 2017.Â
Correa could have a more important bat in the World Series for Houston since he bats in the middle of the lineup.
Altuve is important because he can reach base early and often, but most times, he is not the one delivering a big two-or-three run hit.Â
Correa proved he could deliver in clutch situations throughout the regular season. He had a .915 OPS with two outs and runners in scoring position. He earned 10 walks, seven doubles and four home runs in those situations in the regular season.
If Correa comes up with a few more clutch hits this postseason, Houston will have a strong chance of winning its second World Series in five years.Â
Astros Primed for World Series Return Thanks to Framber Valdez's Throwback Gem
Oct 20, 2021
Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez celebrates the end of the seventh inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game 5 of baseball's American League Championship Series Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
The Houston Astros traveled to Fenway Park, needing to win at least one game out of three to keep their season alive and force the American League Championship Series back to Houston.
Boston had taken over the home-field advantage with a win at Minute Maid Park in Game 2, then capitalized on that advantage with another convincing win at home in Game 3.
Then the league's best offense in the regular season revealed itself.
The Astros scored 17 runs over 11 innings across Games 4 and 5, tying and eventually retaking the series lead.
The Astros head back to Houston just 27 outs away from punching a ticket to their third World Series appearance in the past five seasons, led by one of the most impressive pitching performances in franchise history and a lineup to be feared.
It's difficult to know where the damage is going to come from with this team. Arguably their best hitters this year, right fielder Kyle Tucker and AL batting champion Yuli Gurriel are buried in the sixth and seventh spots of the order.
The only easy out is catcher Martin Maldonado, in which case Dusty Baker can pinch-hit Jason Castro for the win.
Astros Players of the Game
LHP Framber Valdez: The 27-year-old became the youngest starter to go eight-plus innings while allowing one run or less in the postseason since Madison Bumgarner in 2016. He was perfect through four innings without even allowing a batter to hit the ball out of the infield. Valdez is known as a groundball pitcher, but he took his reputation to another level. He dominated the Red Sox lineup, which had been baseball's hottest this postseason, and provided enough length to spare the Astros from further taxing their bullpen. In the previous four games, no Astros starter had pitched deeper than 2.2 innings, leaving the bullpen to shoulder a massive workload until Wednesday.
Dusty Baker on what he told Framber Valdez during his fifth-inning mound visit after the no-hitter vanished: "Hey man, you're the best. Just be natural and do your thing."
DH Yordan Alvarez: This goes down as the signature postseason performance in a young career for Alvarez. He homered, singled and doubled in his first three at-bats. The homer and two-RBI double accounted for the first three runs of the game. Alvarez, who was the unanimous AL Rookie of the Year in 2019, ended that year with a putrid postseason performance, slashing just .241/.323/.345 in 18 games. Now, Alvarez is on a roll, hitting .421 with a 1.086 OPS in the ALCS.
2B Jose Altuve: He followed up Tuesday's game-tying homer to start the Astros' rally with a hit, a walk and two runs scored Wednesday in Game 5. Altuve was a few feet away from hitting a grand slam of his own in the eighth inning but just pulled it foul.
Red Sox Players of the Game
LHP Chris Sale: More would be made of how well he pitched if not for the Astros being a little better in this game. Sale gave up just three hits and struck out seven batters in 5.1 innings of work. However, things unraveled in the sixth when he walked Jose Altuve to lead off the inning, and a Kyle Schwarber error allowed Michael Brantley to reach base. Alvarez's double knocked him out of the game and sparked a five-run inning Boston couldn't overcome.
3B Rafael Devers: Only two Red Sox collected hits off Valdez. Devers did it twice, including a solo homer in the seventh inning for Boston's lone run. It was too little, too late.
The Astros' Offense Flipped the Script
It was mentioned before but is still worth repeating. Seventeen runs over 11 innings.
That's after the pitching staff gave up more grand slams (three) than ever allowed in a postseason series. That's after managing just eight runs combined in the previous two games.
Consider how the momentum in this series changed with just one swing of the bat. The Astros trailed Boston 2-1 going into the eighth inning of Game 4, in serious danger of going down 3-1 in the series with a potential closeout game at Fenway.
Then Altuve hit a solo shot to tie it. Carlos Correa led the ninth with a double that spurred a seven-run ninth inning.
Perhaps most impressive: 41 of the Astros' runs this postseason have been recorded with two outs, which is sixth-most in a single postseason, per MLB.com's Sarah Langs.
That's clutch and timely postseason hitting.
With a rested Astros bullpen and a lineup as hot as can be, it's hard to imagine the Red Sox taking the next two games.
In Altuve, the Astros have the fastest player in MLB history to reach 20 career postseason home runs. Bregman, who homered in Game 4, has the second-most postseason home runs by a third baseman behind only Justin Turner. Only five players have batted in more runs in the postseason than Carlos Correa.
And Gurriel, who leads all Cuban-born players in career postseason hits, RBI and games played, is hitting .473 in the ALCS with a homer and six RBI.
Good luck on picking the poison here.
What's Next for the Astros and Red Sox?
It's now down to a two-game series, with both Game 6 and potentially Game 7 at Minute Maid Park in Houston.
In Game 6, watch for how the likely pitching matchup plays out between Astros rookie starter Luis Garcia and Red Sox veteran Nathan Eovaldi. It's a rematch of the Game 2 "pitchers' duel," which Garcia could not make it out of to the second inning after the Red Sox gave Eovaldi an eight-run lead via two grand slams.
Garcia, who left that game with knee discomfort, has not pitched since. Eovaldi threw 24 pitches in Tuesday night's Game 4 loss at Fenway.
How will Red Sox manager Alex Cora's decision to gamble with their best starter in relief impact Eovaldi on just three days rest against an Astros lineup swinging the way his own did earlier in the series?
Will the Red Sox hitters pick up where they left off with Garcia? Baker has not decided on the Game 6 starter, but if healthy, Garcia is the most likely candidate.
Regardless, one thing is for sure—the bats have set the tone for this series, and Game 6 will likely see plenty more offensive fireworks.
