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HOUSTON – The Astros knew they would play the Chicago White Sox in the American League Divisional Series for some time, and now they know where and when.
“It’s great for us,” said manager Dusty Baker. “It’s great for our team, it feels good for the city. That’s what you play for and what you want. We have yet another game to play. [Sunday against the A’s], and we’re going to try to win this game as well, finish strong and build momentum ahead of the playoffs.
The Astros, who will host Game 1 of the best of five ALDS on Thursday at Minute Maid Park, will finish with the second best AL record behind AL champion East Rays. Here’s how the ALDS schedule lines up (playing hours TBD):
Game 1: Thursday October 7 at Minute Maid Park
Game 2: Friday October 8 at Minute Maid Park
Game 3: Sunday October 10 at guaranteed rate field
Game 4 (if necessary): Monday October 11 at guaranteed rate field
Game 5 (if necessary): Wednesday October 13 at Minute Maid Park
Alvarez started the Astros with a three-run homerun in the first inning, and Castro (second) and Gurriel (third) had solo shots. Tucker, who stole Tony Kemp a three-run equalizer with a right-field wall catch in the sixth, hit a two-run homer in the seventh – his 29th of the year.
Baker said he was relieved to see his attack start to kick in. They have scored 16 points in the last two games after scoring 15 points in the previous seven games.
“We have guys who swing the bat pretty well,” he said. “We have guys who are in a bit of pain. I’m sure everyone at this time of year has guys in pain. We have to heal them, heal our wounds, and hopefully we’ll be strong and healthy when the series begins. “
Odorizzi anticipates assignment of the relievers’ pen in the playoffs
Astros starter Jake Odorizzi, who allowed three runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings on Saturday, finished his regular season with a 6-7 record, a 4.21 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP in 24 matches (23 starts). Odorizzi only signed with the Astros in March and he made three starts (10.13 ERA) to start the season before moving to IL on April 26 for a month with a right pronator strain.
Odorizzi has been in 21 games (20 starts) since his return and went 6-5 with a 3.84 ERA, missing a few starts in September with a sore foot. He hasn’t pitched more than five innings in his last six starts, which was a point of contention for him at one point.
“In fact, if we look at things from the point of view of the work as a whole, the first [three] start, take them and I think that was a pretty good job, ”he said. “I didn’t know what to expect at the start of the year from a workload standpoint with a late start and everything. … I am generally satisfied with the adjustments I have been able to make.
Now, it looks like Odorizzi’s most likely role in the playoffs will be in long relief. He and veteran right-hander Zack Greinke could both serve as long relievers and perhaps piggyback on a starter. The Astros did it with Charlie Morton and Lance McCullers Jr. in 2017 en route to a World Series title.
“It’s all I can do to contribute in any way,” he said. “I know the story that the Astros starters were used quite frequently in the playoffs and performed quite well, so I’m willing to do whatever I need to do to help us win a championship. “
Gurriel and Brantley chase titles at bat on final day
Gurriel and Michael Brantley will start the final day of the regular season, placing first and second in the AL in batting average. Gurriel (.318) leads Brantley (.313) by five points and Torontonian Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (.311) by seven points.
That being said, Baker hasn’t made a commitment to whether Gurriel or Brantley would be in the lineup for the Astros on Sunday in a game that won’t have any effect on their playoff standings. The only Astros player to win a batting title is Jose Altuve, who has done it three times (2014, ’16 -17).
Gurriel won a batting title in his final year with Havana in the Serie Nacional de Cuba, reaching 0.500 (87 for 174). He said he has come close a few other times in Cuba, mainly playing 12 seasons for Sancti Spiritus (2001-12). Gurriel’s resurgence comes after hitting just 0.232 in last year’s cropped season.
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