ALCS GAME 3 POST-MORTEM
Yankees 8, Astros 1
If you read the pitcher/batter matchups in the Game 3 preview then last night’s score shouldn’t be a terrible shock. Coming into last night’s game the Yankee lineup had over a .900 OPS on Morton. Hell, Frazier slugged .944 against Morton before his homer. It does suck that the Yankees took their first lead on a squibbler, a bloop, and a reaching, almost one-handed home run on a decent pitch, which kind of set the tone for the evening. Meanwhile, Astro hitters either hadn’t faced Sabathia much at all or had a significant track record of little success against him.
If there’s a silver lining to be had, it’s that the pitching exploded while the offense crumbled all in the same game. Hope they got it out of their system and can steal a game before the rotations turn over.
ALCS GAME 4 – HOU leads 2-1
Tuesday, October 17, 4:08pm CDT – Yankee Stadium
Lance McCullers Jr (0-0, 6.00) vs. Sonny Gray (0-1, 8.10)
McCullers gave up two runs in three innings in Game 3 of the ALDS and had two good/great starts against the Yanks this year: the first a six-inning shutout affair in the Bronx in May, the second allowing three runs in 5.1 innings in June. The Astros have lost eight of the last nine games in which McCullers has pitched. Will we see Good Lance or Bad Lance today? Who knows?
Gray turned in a 4-7 record and a 3.72 ERA with the Yankees since being acquired midseason, still a very solid performance despite an increase in WHIP (1.18 to 1.26) and homers (allowed three more in 32 fewer innings) and a decrease in K:BB (94:30 to 59:27). He was the losing pitcher in Game 1 of the ALDS when the Yanks got blanked 4-0, Gray allowing three runs on three hits and four walks in 3.1 innings.
Gray didn’t do so well against Houston as an Oakland A in June, allowing five runs in as many innings, but he has done decently well against the Astros in the past. Since 2014 he is 2-3 with a 4.35 ERA in seven starts against Houston.
Select pitcher/batter matchups:
Gregorius vs. McCullers: 8 AB, .625/.625/.750
Gardner vs. McCullers: 9 AB, .333/.333/.444
Hicks vs. McCullers: 7 AB, .143/.143/.143
Headley vs. McCullers: 7 AB, 0-fer
Ellsbury vs. McCullers: 8 AB, 0-fer
Altuve vs. Gray: 30 AB, .367/.367/.400
Beltran vs. Gray: 11 AB, .364/.417/.545
McCann vs. Gray: 12 AB, .333/.429/.667
Springer vs. Gray: 16 AB, .250/.368/.438
Gattis vs. Gray: 15 AB, .200/.294/.200
Correa vs. Gray: 14 AB, .071/.125/.071