Despite one rainout, there are three Division Series games on the schedule, including the Red Sox trying to clinch.
Our dreams of a full slate of four Division Series games today were dashed, as the Astros/White Sox Game 4, scheduled for 3:37 ET, was postponed due to inclement weather. In Chicago? Who would’ve thought? At least we’ve still got three games to watch, including the Red Sox trying to clinch their series against the Rays, and the two NL series shifting to new locales.
Milwaukee Brewers at Atlanta Braves, Game 3, 1:07 PM, TBS (series tied, 1-1)
Freddy Peralta (10-5, 2.81) vs. Ian Anderson (9-5, 3.58)
After an easy Milwaukee win in Game 1, the Braves evened the series behind Max Fried’s sterling effort in Game 2. Now the series moves to Atlanta, so prepare your mute button for whenever the Tomahawk Chop starts up. Peralta becomes the third consecutive 2021 All-Star to take the hill for the Brewers, following Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff. Man, that Brewers rotation is stacked. This will be Peralta’s first career postseason start, though he also pitched twice in relief.
The Braves will counter with October hero Anderson, who, despite being a rookie, has plenty of postseason experience. Last year, after being called up late in the season, he made four postseason starts and posted an incredible 0.96 ERA, including three consecutive scoreless outings in the Wild Card Series, Division Series, and NLCS. The Brewers will have their work cut out for them.
Houston Astros at Chicago White Sox, Game 4
POSTPONED— rescheduled for 10/12 at 2:07 PM ET
Tampa Bay Rays at Boston Red Sox, Game 4, 7:07 PM, FS1 (Red Sox lead, 2-1)
Collin McHugh (6-1, 1.55) vs. Eduardo Rodriguez (13-8, 4.74)
Last night’s Game 3 in Fenway was an absolutely bonkers contest that stretched 13 innings, lasted more than five hours, included a controversial ground-rule double on what would’ve been a go-ahead hit for the Rays, and saw the two teams combine for 16 hurlers, throwing their Game 4 pitching plans into chaos. Both clubs will start today with pitchers who have already worked in this series. Rodriguez started Game 1 for the Sox but was chased from the game after just 1.2 innings, so I guess he’s fresh enough, if not exactly a confidence-inspiring choice.
McHugh pitched even more recently, giving up three runs in 1.2 innings of relief in Game 2 of the series. Again, not exactly a confidence-inspiring choice for the Rays, but options are limited. He was pretty stellar during the regular season, at least, and has ample postseason experience as a member of the 2017 world champion* Astros.
Come on, Rays. Please don’t get yourselves eliminated today. Nobody wants to see the Red Sox in the ALCS.
San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers, Game 3, 9:37 PM, TBS (series tied, 1-1)
Alex Wood (10-4, 3.83) vs. Max Scherzer (15-4, 2.46)
Wood, a longtime Dodger now in his first year with the Giants, will be pitching in familiar terrain; in his career, he’s 17-9 with a 3.05 ERA at Dodger Stadium. This will be the seventh year of his nine-year career that he’s pitched in the postseason. All seven have involved the Dodgers — he pitched for them five of those years, and pitched against them in both 2013 (as a Brave) and now 2021. He has a lifetime 3.55 ERA in 20 postseason games (two starts).
He’ll be opposed by Scherzer, who went a perfect 7-0 in the regular season after joining the Dodgers. The team has won all 12 games he’s started, including the Wild Card Game, in which he didn’t make it through the fifth inning. I’m not betting against Scherzer here, but this series is far from over no matter what happens. It’s not often you see a 107-win team battle a 106-win team in the first round of the playoffs. It’s going to be a barnburner.