Rangers Win 5-3, Up 1-0 in ALDS

As you’ve most likely heard by now, David Price is now 0-6 in his career in games he’s started in the playoffs.

Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Price (L, 0-1)	7.0	5	5	5	2	5	2	6.43

The Rangers’ eight and nine hitters Rougned Odor and Robinson Chirinos each went deep, with Odor also getting plunked twice, scoring three of the Rangers’ five runs, and turning in a couple of nice plays in the field. He seemed to be at the heart of everything big that happened in this game.

Yovani Gallardo was good enough, limiting Toronto’s high-octane offense to two runs over five.

A lot of key injuries in this one, as Adrian Beltre strained his back early in this one, and had to leave after hitting a bullet up the middle for an RBI single. He’s tough as nails, but not playing in today’s game.

For the Jays, likely MVP Josh Donaldson got kneed in the head by Odor while breaking up a double play, and had to leave with concussion-like symptoms.

Jose Bautista also left the game with hamstring tightness. Both are in the lineup for Toronto today.

Red Sox Spin:

-Not so sure I’m crazy about throwing a long-term deal at Price. I know that given his body of work, Price is bound to have playoff success at some point. But the way things stand now, I don’t want him anywhere near my playoff roster.

-Mike Napoli was 0-3 with two strikeouts and a walk.

Astros Win 5-2, Up 1-0 in ALDS

Quintessential Collin McHugh in this one, going six, allowing two runs, and only striking out one, but inducing a lot of weak contact. However, both of the runs McHugh surrendered were solo home runs by the Royals’ Kendrys Morales, neither of which qualified as “weak contact.”

The Astros’ flavor of offense similarly surprised no one. They got three hits from Jose Altuve, slugged a pair of dingers, and struck out FOURTEEN times.

Homers from George Springer, who had a great game:

And Colby Rasmus, who for the second time in two games, ambushed an unsuspecting pitcher by going deep on the first pitch he sees from said pitcher.

Springer’s homer came off Chris Young, who entered in relief for Royals’ starter Yordano Ventura in the top of the third after a long rain delay. He struck out six straight Astros at one point, and the announcing crew couldn’t get over how tall he is (6’10”). When he faced Altuve it was apparently the biggest height discrepancy in playoff history.

Today:

-March Madness style slate of four back-to-back-to-back-to-back games today. Great one going on right now in the Jays-Rangers series.