Today's game and starting pitchers:

NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES:

MILWAUKEE BREWERS VS. LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Milwaukee (Jhoulys Chacín, 15-8, 3.50 ERA) at Los Angeles (Walker Buehler, 8-5, 2.62 ERA), 7:30 pm ET, FS1

NLCS Game 3: MIL 4, LAD 0

W: Jhoulys Chacín (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

L: Walker Buehler (0-1, 5.14 ERA)

Today's games and starting pitchers:

AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES:

BOSTON RED SOX VS. HOUSTON ASTROS

Boston (Nathan Eovaldi, 17-6, 3.65 ERA) at Houston (Dallas Keuchel, 12-11, 3.74 ERA), 5:00 pm ET, TBS

NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES:

MILWAUKEE BREWERS VS. LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Milwaukee (Gio Gonzalez, 10-11, 4.21 ERA) at Los Angeles (Rich Hill, 11-5, 3.66 ERA), 9:00 pm ET, FS1

It's a cold, drizzly day here in Houston. But it's going to be hot inside the Juice Box - and I'll be there! If someone hits a real long foul ball into the third level down the left field line (just above the suites), look for me. I'll probably be the one ducking, LOL.

Go Astros!

ALCS Game 3: BOS 8, HOU 2
W: Nathan Eovaldi (1-0, 3.00 ERA)
L: Joe Smith (0-1, 27.00 ERA)

NLCS Game 4: LAD 2, MIL 1
W: Julio Urías (1-0, 4.50 ERA)
L: Junior Guerra (0-1, 1.93 ERA)

Last night's Dodgers-Brewers game was an intense marathon.

As for Red Sox-Astros, Jackie Bradley Jr.? Are you kidding me?

Today's games and starting pitchers:

NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES:

MILWAUKEE BREWERS VS. LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Milwaukee (Wade Miley, 5-2, 2.57 ERA) at Los Angeles (Clayton Kershaw, 9-5, 2.73 ERA), 5:00 pm ET, FS1

AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES:

BOSTON RED SOX VS. HOUSTON ASTROS

Boston (Rick Porcello, 17-7, 4.28 ERA) at Houston (Charlie Morton, 15-3, 3.13 ERA), 8:30 pm ET, TBS

I had a lot of fun last night and wouldn't you know it - a foul ball went right over my head! According to my wife, the back of my head was on TV. Ha!

The Astros just didn't have a spark last night. Completely unexpected, and I highly doubt a guy like Alex Bregman or George Springer or Brian McCann is going to let that continue. I expect the Astros go come out very motivated tonight.

Let's hope so!

NLCS Game 5: LAD 5, MIL 2
W: Clayton Kershaw (1-1, 4.50 ERA)
L: Brandon Woodruff (1-1, 2.45 ERA)

ALCS Game 4: BOS 8, HOU 6
W: Joe Kelly (1-1, 3.00 ERA)
L: Josh James (0-1, 7.71 ERA)

Dang. That call on Altuve's hit hurt. I have to admit that according to the rules, the umpire probably got it right. There was one guy whose hands ran into Betts' glove as the ball arrived. Even though that guy did not lean over the fence - it was Betts who went over the fence - that is the rule. Bottom line is that home team fans need to be smarter than that. Didn't Bartman teach us anything?

The only hope the Astros have is Verlander shutting down the Sox tonight, and then Boston's starting pitching imploding. I heard that Chris Sale may be out of the hospital, but was throwing up/pooping constantly for the last couple days.

The Sox blew the chance to use David Price tonight by warming him up so much last night; at least, that's what Ron Darling said on TV. If so, then Price would go in a Game 6, and I guess Eovaldi would go if there was a game 7.

I have little doubt we could beat Price, but Eovaldi looked really really good in Houston. I'd have to imagine he'd be even better in Boston.

The odds are against us but until someone beats us, we are the defending World Series Champions. Go Astros!

Jackie Bradley Jr. did it again.

The Astros really should win the next two games. Verlander vs. Price tonight is a clear mismatch. And a sick Chris Sale vs. Gerrit Cole in game six favors the Astros also. Yet the Red Sox offense has the ability to rattle normally great opposing pitchers like Charlie Morton last night and Roberto Osuna the night before so who knows?

Today's game and starting pitchers:

AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES:

BOSTON RED SOX VS. HOUSTON ASTROS

Boston (David Price, 16-7, 3.58 ERA) at Houston (Justin Verlander, 16-9, 2.52 ERA), 8:00 pm ET, TBS

I predicted this. East-Westfest coming.

ALCS Game 4: BOS 4, HOU 1
W: David Price (1-0, 3.38 ERA)
L: Justin Verlander (1-1, 4.50 ERA)

So much for the mismatch in Houston's favor. Boston's relentless offense got to Verlander just like they did to pretty much every other opposing pitcher this postseason. I wish whichever team that wins the NL pennant a lot of luck in the World Series because against Boston they will really need it.

All I can say is, hat's off to the Red Sox. They were the better team. A.J. Hinch trained Alex Cora too well!

Of course, the Altuve hit in Game 4 is still a hot topic of conversation. My feeling is that whether it was interference or not, we still had a 6-5 lead after six innings. Our pitchers could not do the job, and that's on us.

Speaking of pitching, our two stud/All-Star relievers from last year - Brad Peacock and Chris Devenski - never saw the field. Heck, Devenski didn't even make the playoff roster. I know neither had a particularly sterling playoff last year, but still - they were complete studs in 2017, and minor studs this year. Oh well.

We still need an All Star closer and better middle relief. Osuna ain't it.

Springer, Bregman, Altuve, Verlander, Correa, Josh Reddick are all signed for next year. Gerrit Cole goes to arbitration, which I think means he'll definitely be an Astro. Jake Marisnick also goes to arbitration.

Charlie Morton, Dallas Keuchel, Marwin Gonzalez, Martin Maldonado, Evan Gattis and Tony Sipp are unrestricted free agents. I doubt we'll keep Keuchel - too up-and-down. But hopefully we can keep Charlie Morton.

We have one more year of Brian McCann for $15,000,000. Ouch. I love McCann but he's not a $15 mil player.

The X factor is Colin McHugh. He was a good starter in 2017 but when we got Cole, he went to the bullpen. He was tremendous out of the pen this year, and never once complained about not being a starter. That's the kind of guy you want on your team. He goes to arbitration this year (which he has done and won the last two years). I'm really glad he'll be an Astro next year.

All the studs except Charlie Morton are definitely coming back. The minor league system is loaded. Forrest Whitely is the #1 RHP prospect in all of minorleague baseball. Look for Josh James and Kyle Tucker to challenge for starting spots. Miles Straw may also see some big league time.

All in all, I'm optimistic for 2019. We'll still be loaded. The A's were a flash-in-the-pan; neither the Angels or the Mariners have enough talent; and the Arlington Rangers suck. The American League West should be ours for the taking.

Go Astros!

Today's game and starting pitchers:

NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES:

MILWAUKEE BREWERS VS. LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Los Angeles (Hyun-Jin Ryu, 7-3, 1.97 ERA) at Milwaukee (Wade Miley, 5-2, 2.57 ERA), 8:30 pm ET, FS1

NLCS Game 6: MIL 7, LAD 2

W: Corey Knebel (1-0, 1.42 ERA)

L: Hyun-Jin Ryu (0-1, 8.59 ERA)

Today's game and starting pitchers:

NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES:

MILWAUKEE BREWERS VS. LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Los Angeles (Walker Buehler, 8-5, 2.62 ERA) at Milwaukee (Jhoulys Chacín, 15-8, 3.50 ERA), 8:00 pm ET, FS1

My prediction is whichever team wins will get swept by the Red Sox in the World Series.

NLCS Game 7: LAD 5, MIL 1
W: Ryan Madson (1-0, 1.80 ERA)
L: Jhoulys Chacín (1-1, 2.45 ERA)

Today's game and starting pitchers:

WORLD SERIES:

BOSTON RED SOX VS. LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Los Angeles (Clayton Kershaw, 9-5, 2.73 ERA) at Boston (Chris Sale, 12-4, 2.11 ERA), 8:00 pm ET, FOX

Now that David Price has his mojo back, Boston has the edge in every game.

WS Game 1: BOS 8, LAD 4
W: Matt Barnes (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
L: Clayton Kershaw (0-1, 11.25 ERA)

Today's game and starting pitchers:

WORLD SERIES:

BOSTON RED SOX VS. LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Los Angeles (Hyun-Jin Ryu, 7-3, 1.97 ERA) at Boston (David Price, 16-7, 3.58 ERA), 8:00 pm ET, FOX

WS Game 2: BOS 4, LAD 2
W: David Price (1-0, 3.00 ERA)
L: Hyun-Jin Ryu (0-1, 7.71 ERA)

Today's game and starting pitchers:

WORLD SERIES:

BOSTON RED SOX VS. LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Boston (Rick Porcello, 17-7, 4.28 ERA) at Los Angeles (Walker Buehler, 8-5, 2.62 ERA), 8:00 pm ET, FOX

WS Game 3: LAD 3, BOS 2
W: Alex Wood (1-0, 3.86 ERA)
L: Nathan Eovaldi (0-1, 1.13 ERA)

sexton said:

WS Game 3: LAD 3, BOS 2
W: Alex Wood (1-0, 3.86 ERA)
L: Nathan Eovaldi (0-1, 1.13 ERA)

Wow. Did you watch the whole game? I went to bed in the 12th inning, as it was getting late here. If you watched the whole game, I hope you wanted the Dodgers to win. It is hard to sit through a game that long and have your team lose.

gandorb said:

sexton said:

WS Game 3: LAD 3, BOS 2
W: Alex Wood (1-0, 3.86 ERA)
L: Nathan Eovaldi (0-1, 1.13 ERA)

Wow. Did you watch the whole game? I went to bed in the 12th inning, as it was getting late here. If you watched the whole game, I hope you wanted the Dodgers to win. It is hard to sit through a game that long and have your team lose.

I turned the game on in the fifth inning and watched until the end--3 am EST! I'm not a fan of either team, but was relieved when the Dodgers won because I want every series to be somewhat balanced and not have one team sweep the other. That's not an exciting series.

Nathan Eovaldi, even though he was the losing pitcher was the player of the game--six innings in relief--two runs, one earned--after scoreless relief appearances in the two previous games, throwing 100 mph. He's going to be very much in demand when he's a free agent this offseason.

sexton said: