It’s the playoff for the playoffs. Except it’s a one game elimination tournament for the Mariners in their forlorn and perpetually unfruitful efforts to displace the Stros as champions of the West.
Let’s clinch this tonight. And let’s sweep. Because even though the Mariners are on the outside looking in for the WC, if they get the last seed, the Stros face them in a three game series. No one wants to face that rotation in a three game elimination tournament.
No Yordan tonight. Nothing has come easy this year for the Astros. That they’ve even gotten this far is something just short of a miracle. It speaks to some deep, institutional strength of this championship era franchise.
I think leadership is a big part, starting with Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman.
Two great pitchers tonight. Let’s look at their second half records.
Hunter Brown: 2.33 ERA, 3.21 xFIP, .260 wOBA
Bryce Miller:… 2.10 ERA, 3.55 xFIP, .242 wOBA