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Astros vs Yankees Game 6: A battle of the bullpens

By Brian Murray

ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 08: Jose Urquidy #65 of the Houston Astros delivers the pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays during the fifth inning in game four of the American League Division Series at Tropicana Field on October 08, 2019 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 08: Jose Urquidy #65 of the Houston Astros delivers the pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays during the fifth inning in game four of the American League Division Series at Tropicana Field on October 08, 2019 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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The Astros return to the more comfortable confines of Minute Maid Park for Game 6 against the Yankees in a contest between the two teams’ bullpens.

With the Astros up three games to two over the Yankees, manager A.J. Hinch has announced that today’s game will be on the shoulders of the relievers out of the bullpen. Gerrit Cole will be held back to start game seven, if necessary. In turn, Yankees manager Aaron Boone will be going the same route and utilizing his pen.

Hinch has yet to announce which reliever will be on the mound when Slim Thug yells “Play Ball” at 7:08 tonight. The consensus is that Jose Urquidy will be the first pitcher called upon to start the game. He is certainly well-rested, considering he hasn’t thrown a pitch since Game 4 of the ALDS against the Rays eleven days ago.

Urquidy started seven of the nine regular-season games he appeared in and had a record of 2-1 with a 3.95 ERA. But he seemed to get better as the season progressed, posting a 1.50 ERA in the last four games of the season.

There is also the possibility that Brad Peacock could start it off, even though he pitched the last inning of Game 5 last night. It was his only postseason appearance this year and he breezed through the ninth inning with eight pitches and striking out Aaron Judge in the process. That may have been Hinch’s way to test out Peacock in advance of today.

Like Hinch, Boone isn’t revealing who will be his first reliever to take the mound, only saying that they would discuss it on the plane to Houston. He did make it clear that Luis Severino will be saved to start Game 7, if they’re lucky enough to even up this series. Chad Green seems to be the odds on favorite. Green hasn’t pitched since Game 4 when he surrendered a two-run homer to Carlos Correa.

Next. Astros: Offense sputters as Yankees avoid ALCS elimination. dark

No matter who starts or who gets the bulk of the innings, I’m sure it’s going to be a fascinating game to watch as the two managers match wits trying to get the upper hand. The Astros bats have struggled this postseason and what better game to break out of the funk and put this series away.

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