Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead...
Houston, We Have A Problem
For the first time since 2016, the ACLS will not feature the team from Space City. The Detroit Tigers completed their 2 game sweep of Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman and the rest of the Houston Astros in what continues to be the most sensational story in baseball.
The Tigers are the hottest team in baseball after being all but left for dead just two months ago. Pitching continues to be the recipe for success one day after Tarik Skubal showed the league and everyone else why he will be winning the AL Cy Young award this season. But this time, it was the more unconventional approach that has fueled this Motor City surge. Opting to go with Tyler Holton as the opener, the Tigers used 6 more pitchers on the day while only allowing 2 ER.
Whatever the formula is, the Tigers will have a few days to get some rest before a best of 5 matchup with the Cleveland Guardians starting on Saturday. Oh, and this may have been Alex Bregman's last game as an Astro. Don't let the trash can hit you in the ass on the way out!
The Turnaround
After losing 106 games last year, the Kansas City Royals are advancing to the ALDS after their two game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles in Camden Yards. I guess that's what happens when you have one of the game's best and brightest stars in Bobby Witt Jr. It's no coincidence that his Pete Rose-esque hustle down the first baseline for an infield RBI single would be the difference maker in a closely contested 2-1 victory by the Royals.
As much as the story here is about the Royals hailing as the victors, we must put the spotlight on the Orioles inability to get the job done when it counts. In the last two years we've seen the Orioles win 192 regular season games just to post a 0-5 record in the postseason. The team faltered down the stretch and never seemed to be able to get their legs back under them.
Good luck to the Royals as they are set for a date with the New York Yankees in the Bronx starting on Saturday. Gerrit Cole will certainly be taking the mound for the Bombers as we await news on Kansas City's starter.
Can We See Some ID?
The Mets-Brewers series has delivered plenty of excitement thus far and yesterday we saw exactly why the Brewers locked up 20 year old Jackson Churrio to an $82 million contract last December. After tying the game in the 1st inning with a leadoff HR, the kid delivered one of the most memorable moments in Milwaukee postseason history by hitting another dinger to the opposite field, tying the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the 8th. That got the house rocking and gave Garrett Mitchell the confidence he needed to knock the go ahead two run blast that would help tie the series at one game apiece.
The Brewers and Mets will square off today in the decisive Game 3 battle. The winner earns a trip to Philadelphia for a late afternoon first pitch against the Phillies on Saturday. We're expecting to see another thriller in American Family Field today. Is this last time we see Pete Alonso, the Polar Bear in a Mets uniform? We shall see...
California Love
After shutting out the Braves on Tuesday 4-0, the Padres finished off Atlanta in convincing fashion yesterday at Petco Park and wrapped up the Wild Card series winning 2-0. Fueled by another Kyle Higashioka home run in the 2nd inning, the Friars jumped out to a 5-0 lead, which they never surrendered.
Chris Sale's late scratch earlier in the week may have just been the final nail in the coffin for the 2024 Braves. After losing their best hitter and pitcher early in the season, Ronald Acuna Jr. and Spencer Strider respectively, the Braves struggled to keep up with the Phillies in the NL East race and almost missed the playoffs if it weren't for a win in their last game of the season.
The Braves will certainly be back, and most likely better next year. But until then, we can enjoy the Los Angeles Dodgers and Shohei Ohtani's playoff debut against the Padres in what is certain to be an incredible series between the west coast rivals.
Well, that's a wrap on yesterday's action. Only one game today which is the Mets-Brewers which begins at 7:08 PM ET.