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<blockquote data-quote="Buzzbomb" data-source="post: 833136" data-attributes="member: 1134"><p>Astros lead 3-2, last two games scheduled for Houston at home.</p><p></p><p>Because of injuries and the Astros’ penchant for giving key offensive players occasional rest, the top seven hitters in their lineup -- Jose Altuve, Michael Brantley, Bregman, Yordan Alvarez, Correa, Kyle Tucker and <a href="https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/yuli-gurriel-american-league-batting-title-race" target="_blank">AL batting champion Yuli Gurriel</a> -- were all in the lineup at the same time in only 29 games during the regular season, during which the Astros went 18-11.</p><p>When it comes to the postseason, Gurriel, Altuve, Correa and Bregman have all had huge moments for the Astros in the last few years. Altuve has 18 career playoff homers and is a .306 career hitter in the postseason, while Correa has 17 homers and 50 RBIs in 63 games. Bregman has 11 career playoff homers. Then there’s Brantley (.311 career hitter in playoffs) and Tucker (.279 in the postseason).</p><p></p><p>If the Astros aren’t putting up tons of runs on offense, they’ll need their starters to work deep, especially right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. and lefty Framber Valdez, who are their top two starters. Luis Garcia wasn’t as effective down the stretch as he endured a career high in innings, but he has the ability to shut teams down for six innings. He pitched more than six innings three times in 28 starts, and José Urquidy went more than six innings five times in 20 starts.</p><p>From there, it’s about the back end of the bullpen. If their starters can go six innings, the Astros will have it lined up the way they want with Ryne Stanek pitching the seventh, Kendall Graveman in the eighth and All-Star closer Ryan Pressly in the ninth. Like they did so well in 2017, the Astros could piggyback starters, which means Zack Greinke or Jake Odorizzi could be a factor out of the ‘pen.</p><p></p><p>What’s the one reason for concern?</p><p>Despite midseason trades to acquire relievers Graveman, Yimi García and Phil Maton, the Astros’ bullpen isn’t as reliable as the club would like. With starters not pitching as deep into games as the season ended, Houston relievers had a 6.31 ERA in the final 11 games of the regular season. </p><p>The Astros ranked 24th in Major League Baseball in save percentage at 55.7 percent and were tied for seventh with the most blown saves (27). That’s why the Astros’ record in close games isn’t great. If Chicago gets into the Houston bullpen early in the series, the Astros are vulnerable.</p><p></p><p>Stanek, Graveman and Pressly can be a formidable 1-2-3, and Brooks Raley has put together a solid second half, but Maton (4.97 ERA with Houston) and García (5.48 ERA with Houston) have been shaky, and lefty Blake Taylor’s effectiveness has waned. Adding Greinke to the bullpen could help eat some innings, but the Astros’ best chance to win is having their starters to go six innings before turning it over to their most effective arms.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Buzzbomb, post: 833136, member: 1134"] Astros lead 3-2, last two games scheduled for Houston at home. Because of injuries and the Astros’ penchant for giving key offensive players occasional rest, the top seven hitters in their lineup -- Jose Altuve, Michael Brantley, Bregman, Yordan Alvarez, Correa, Kyle Tucker and [URL='https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/yuli-gurriel-american-league-batting-title-race']AL batting champion Yuli Gurriel[/URL] -- were all in the lineup at the same time in only 29 games during the regular season, during which the Astros went 18-11. When it comes to the postseason, Gurriel, Altuve, Correa and Bregman have all had huge moments for the Astros in the last few years. Altuve has 18 career playoff homers and is a .306 career hitter in the postseason, while Correa has 17 homers and 50 RBIs in 63 games. Bregman has 11 career playoff homers. Then there’s Brantley (.311 career hitter in playoffs) and Tucker (.279 in the postseason). If the Astros aren’t putting up tons of runs on offense, they’ll need their starters to work deep, especially right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. and lefty Framber Valdez, who are their top two starters. Luis Garcia wasn’t as effective down the stretch as he endured a career high in innings, but he has the ability to shut teams down for six innings. He pitched more than six innings three times in 28 starts, and José Urquidy went more than six innings five times in 20 starts. From there, it’s about the back end of the bullpen. If their starters can go six innings, the Astros will have it lined up the way they want with Ryne Stanek pitching the seventh, Kendall Graveman in the eighth and All-Star closer Ryan Pressly in the ninth. Like they did so well in 2017, the Astros could piggyback starters, which means Zack Greinke or Jake Odorizzi could be a factor out of the ‘pen. What’s the one reason for concern? Despite midseason trades to acquire relievers Graveman, Yimi García and Phil Maton, the Astros’ bullpen isn’t as reliable as the club would like. With starters not pitching as deep into games as the season ended, Houston relievers had a 6.31 ERA in the final 11 games of the regular season. The Astros ranked 24th in Major League Baseball in save percentage at 55.7 percent and were tied for seventh with the most blown saves (27). That’s why the Astros’ record in close games isn’t great. If Chicago gets into the Houston bullpen early in the series, the Astros are vulnerable. Stanek, Graveman and Pressly can be a formidable 1-2-3, and Brooks Raley has put together a solid second half, but Maton (4.97 ERA with Houston) and García (5.48 ERA with Houston) have been shaky, and lefty Blake Taylor’s effectiveness has waned. Adding Greinke to the bullpen could help eat some innings, but the Astros’ best chance to win is having their starters to go six innings before turning it over to their most effective arms. [/QUOTE]
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