Astros: ALCS Game Four postponed, shaking up pitching schedule
ALCS Game Four has been postponed, creating some changes for the pitching schedule for the Astros and Yankees.
What had long been suspected was confirmed today as it was announced that ALCS Game Four, scheduled to be played today, will be postponed until Thursday due to rain. While the Astros and Yankees might enjoy the day off today, this could create some new problems for them.
With Game Four being moved to Thursday at 8:08 p.m. ET, Game Five is also moved to Friday at 7:08 p.m. ET. Friday had previously been a scheduled day off, but now that is no longer the case. Games Six and Seven will still take place on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, if needed.
This means the teams could play four games in four days, which will cause both managers to adjust how they handle their pitching staffs. It will have an effect on both teams, though perhaps more so for one team than the other.
Astros
The initial plan was for Game Four to be a bullpen game, possibly with Jose Urquidy or Brad Peacock getting the start. Now with the game pushed back to Thursday, the Astros will start Zack Greinke in Game Four on regular rest. Greinke had been in line to start Game Five on Thursday.
Justin Verlander will start Friday’s Game Five on regular rest after previously being in line to start Game Six. Gerrit Cole would still be in line to start a potential Game Seven on regular rest, so that probably won’t change. This just means that a potential Game Six would likely be a bullpen game.
AJ Hinch choosing to start Verlander on Friday has its benefits. If they win Game Four, Verlander pitching would be akin to going for the knockout punch, trying to clinch the series in Game Five. If they can do that, they would be set up well for the World Series.
If the Astros lose Game Four, Hinch going with Verlander on Friday would hopefully prevent the team from falling down 3-2 in the series and facing elimination. Verlander would essentially be the stopper in this scenario. Hinch would have to put together a bullpen game on Saturday, but hopefully the team won’t be facing elimination at that point.
The hardest part will be managing the bullpen itself. The travel days allow everyone to get a day of rest, but since there won’t be a travel day between Game Five and Game Six, that luxury goes away. He’ll have to figure out when to rest guys like Will Harris and Roberto Osuna, as you probably don’t want them pitching four straight days.
Yankees
The schedule change is probably harder on the Yankees pitching staff. For one, the four games in four days will make it harder for Aaron Boone since he relies on so many innings from his bullpen. Asking those guys to pitch four straight days is a tall order.
Thus, he’s going to need to get more innings from his starters, and that hasn’t gone particularly well this series. Masahiro Tanaka went six innings in Game One, but James Paxton only went 2.1 in Game Two and Luis Severino went 4.1 in Game Three. He’s already burned through his bullpen, with some relievers pitching in all three games.
It looks like Tanaka will start Game Four, and it will be imperative for the Astros to make him work. Getting him out of the game after no more than five innings would be a huge victory. Like Hinch, Boone will have to put together a bullpen game either on Friday or Saturday, depending on when he wants to use Paxton.
It’s doubtful he’d want to start J.A. Happ or CC Sabathia, so if the Astros can ensure Boone’s best relievers are tired after Game Five, they’ll be in good shape if the series shifts back to Houston. The Yankees would be desperate for innings from Paxton and Severino, and the relievers will all have faced the Astros multiple times.
If the Yankees force a Game Seven, the Astros will have a rested Cole, and the Yankees will have a tired bullpen. It doesn’t guarantee victory, but it works in the Astros favor. There’s still plenty left to be decided in this ALCS, so stay tuned.