Plus: Game 4 starter options
ARLINGTON -- The Astros have never come back to win a playoff series after dropping the first two games, which is what they'll have to do in the American League Championship Series against the Rangers to keep their season alive. Teams that win the first two games in a best-of-seven playoff series have gone on to win the series 75 of 89 times (84 percent), including 26 of 29 times (90 percent) in the current 2-3-2 format. Each of the three exceptions came in the World Series: 1985 (Royals over Cards), 1986 (Mets over Red Sox), and 1996 (Yankees over Braves). "We just need to win one tomorrow and we're back in the driver's seat, I believe," Astros outfielder Chas McCormick said Tuesday. |
Astros manager Dusty Baker knows better than anyone that trailing by two games in a playoff series doesn't mean the series is over. While managing the Cubs in 2003, Chicago blew a 3-1 series lead to the Marlins in the National League Championship Series. As manager in Cincinnati, his '12 Reds blew a 2-0 series lead to the Giants in the best-of-five NLDS. "I've been up 2-0 and lost. I've been down 2-0 and won," Baker said. "I've been down as a player, three games back with three games to go, and we tied it up. So it's like -- I'm not giving it to them yet." Here's how the Astros have fared after trailing 2-0 in playoff series in their history: 1997 NLDS vs. Braves: Swept 3-0
2001 NLDS vs. Braves: Swept 3-0
2004 NLCS vs. Cardinals: Lost in 7
2005 World Series vs. White Sox: Swept 4-0
2019 World Series vs. Nationals: Lost in 7
2020 ALCS vs. Rays: Lost in 7 |
Several current Astros were on the 2019 and '20 playoff teams that forced a Game 7 after losing the first two games. In the 2019 World Series, the Astros lost the first two games at home, and then won three in a row in Washington before coming home and losing Games 6 and 7. It's the only time in playoff history the road team has won all seven games. In 2020, during the pandemic-shortened season, the Astros lost the first three games of the ALCS against the Rays in a series played in seven consecutive days at Petco Park in San Diego. Houston rallied to win the next three games before losing Game 7, allowing the Rays to advance to the World Series. "Even though we're down 2-0, I feel like we've got some momentum because we've played well here [in Arlington] this year and I think we can keep doing that," McCormick said. "Mentally, you've got to be strong this time of the season. There's a lot of ups and downs. I think we're in good shape, though. We played really well here so far, and I think we can do the same these next three games." |
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"I can go to sleep quicker than any man you've ever seen. My wife's talking to me, in 30 seconds I'm asleep. I'm what they call a mid-sleep insomniac. I had a friend of mine who was a clinical psychologist, and I was asking him, 'Why do I do that?' He said I'm a mid-sleep insomniac. Means you can go to sleep quick, but you can't stay asleep. One, two o'clock in the morning -- anybody in here a mid-sleep insomniac? Yeah. That's what wakes me up." -- Baker when asked if lineup construction keeps him up at night. |
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The Astros have yet to announce their starting pitcher for Game 4 of the ALCS, and they probably won't until Game 3 is finished. It's hard to imagine the Astros would bring back ace Justin Verlander on three days of rest, even if Game 4 is a must-win. "We haven't even talked about it," Baker said. "We're just trying to win this game [Wednesday]. So, I mean, if it presents itself, then we'll see. But right now, we haven't even discussed that." Verlander has pitched on three days of rest twice in the postseason, posting a 6.18 ERA in 11 2/3 innings. He started Game 3 of the 2011 ALDS for the Tigers against the Yankees on three days' rest, allowing four runs with 11 strikeouts in eight innings. But, he had thrown one inning in a rain-shortened game his previous outing, so he was fresh. He also started Game 4 of the 2019 ALDS for the Astros at the Rays on three days' rest and gave up four runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings. |
The most likely Game 4 starter remains José Urquidy, who is coming off a pair of clutch performances for the Astros. He made a spot start Sept. 29 in the final weekend of the regular season in Arizona and outdueled Arizona ace Zac Gallen with six scoreless innings, setting the tone for a crucial sweep of the D-backs. On the heels of that outing, Urquidy got the start in Game 4 of the ALDS in Minnesota and held the Twins to two runs and three hits in 5 2/3 innings, striking out six batters. He generated 19 swings and misses -- his most in a single outing all season and the third most in his career. |
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