Wiretowire
Pretty much a regular
YTD +557
2-0 last
Thanks Cash. GL
From a fan's perspective that was one helluva game last night! From the TV executive's perspective that was one helluva game! From an "experts" perspective that was one helluva game! But for me while it was fun to watch it was a horrible display of relief pitching. Neither team could hold the other. I'll come back to this point later.
From an offensive perspective if you ignore bad relief and credit it to the hitters the offenses came alive. Houston finally delivered in clutch situations (or did they?) and LA scored with the lineup change. And Puig still hit from a dropped spot.
But let's look at that closer for a minute. LA despite scoring 5 runs only had 5 hits. While Houston had 14 hits scoring 7 runs. Think that demonstrates great offense from Houston? Well it doesn't. Houston should have won that game going away by 5 or 6 runs. Why you ask? Because Houston left an incredible 22 runners on base. 22???!!! Holy shit that's a ton. And it's not good.
But the good news for Houston fans is their relief pitching couldn't have been that bad if LA only got 5 hits total in 11 innings.
What does this tell me? LA is still not hitting Houston pitching and that's not good for LA. Houston still is not delivering with runners on and that's not good for Houston. But I guess you could say LA relief is bad and at least Houston is getting lots of guys on. So where does that leave us for Friday's game?
LA +100 (20 units)
LA is throwing Darvish and he has been very, very good recently. Houston is starting McCullers and he is a spot starter that has not had a good year. The guy doesn't go much more than 4 innings even as a starter. Houston knows it and are willing to ask him for his usual 4 innings then they will go to the bullpen. But that puts a strain on a bullpen. (Seriously, you don't have a solid #3 starter? Not good.) Houston could maybe even pull the win out Friday despite starting a lesser guy and leaning on the pen. But every time you go to the pen you do two things badly.
First, they get tired. You just threw just about everyone in an 11 inning game and you are knowingly going to use that pen again? Further complicate that with the fact that Morton may be your Saturday starter and he sure as hell isn't expected to go more than 5 or 6 so it's back to the pen again. Even when you return to Keuchel he will probably need bailing out after 6. That is going to be a tired bullpen unless someone can go deep in a game but it isn't likely with who your next two starters are. LA doesn't even have to score on those rellievers. They just have to make them throw pitches because sooner or later they will catch up to them and score.
Second, the hitters get locked in on your relievers because they get to see a lot of pitches from them. Familiarity in baseball doesn't breed contempt it breeds hits.
Bottom line, I will go with the better starter laying no odds.
For the series, I lean now LA. They have a better rotation and even though they lost the home field for now they should get to this Astro staff. (which includes the bpen.)
For a total, pass, pass PASS! On a total of 8 1/2 Houston offense is showing signs life. Go over. McCullers isn't great and Darvish has been known to suck occasionally. Go over. Ump is a solid under ump. Go under. LA really isn't hitting the ball yet. Go under. Soooooooo PASS.
GL
2-0 last
Thanks Cash. GL
From a fan's perspective that was one helluva game last night! From the TV executive's perspective that was one helluva game! From an "experts" perspective that was one helluva game! But for me while it was fun to watch it was a horrible display of relief pitching. Neither team could hold the other. I'll come back to this point later.
From an offensive perspective if you ignore bad relief and credit it to the hitters the offenses came alive. Houston finally delivered in clutch situations (or did they?) and LA scored with the lineup change. And Puig still hit from a dropped spot.
But let's look at that closer for a minute. LA despite scoring 5 runs only had 5 hits. While Houston had 14 hits scoring 7 runs. Think that demonstrates great offense from Houston? Well it doesn't. Houston should have won that game going away by 5 or 6 runs. Why you ask? Because Houston left an incredible 22 runners on base. 22???!!! Holy shit that's a ton. And it's not good.
But the good news for Houston fans is their relief pitching couldn't have been that bad if LA only got 5 hits total in 11 innings.
What does this tell me? LA is still not hitting Houston pitching and that's not good for LA. Houston still is not delivering with runners on and that's not good for Houston. But I guess you could say LA relief is bad and at least Houston is getting lots of guys on. So where does that leave us for Friday's game?
LA +100 (20 units)
LA is throwing Darvish and he has been very, very good recently. Houston is starting McCullers and he is a spot starter that has not had a good year. The guy doesn't go much more than 4 innings even as a starter. Houston knows it and are willing to ask him for his usual 4 innings then they will go to the bullpen. But that puts a strain on a bullpen. (Seriously, you don't have a solid #3 starter? Not good.) Houston could maybe even pull the win out Friday despite starting a lesser guy and leaning on the pen. But every time you go to the pen you do two things badly.
First, they get tired. You just threw just about everyone in an 11 inning game and you are knowingly going to use that pen again? Further complicate that with the fact that Morton may be your Saturday starter and he sure as hell isn't expected to go more than 5 or 6 so it's back to the pen again. Even when you return to Keuchel he will probably need bailing out after 6. That is going to be a tired bullpen unless someone can go deep in a game but it isn't likely with who your next two starters are. LA doesn't even have to score on those rellievers. They just have to make them throw pitches because sooner or later they will catch up to them and score.
Second, the hitters get locked in on your relievers because they get to see a lot of pitches from them. Familiarity in baseball doesn't breed contempt it breeds hits.
Bottom line, I will go with the better starter laying no odds.
For the series, I lean now LA. They have a better rotation and even though they lost the home field for now they should get to this Astro staff. (which includes the bpen.)
For a total, pass, pass PASS! On a total of 8 1/2 Houston offense is showing signs life. Go over. McCullers isn't great and Darvish has been known to suck occasionally. Go over. Ump is a solid under ump. Go under. LA really isn't hitting the ball yet. Go under. Soooooooo PASS.
GL
