Monday was supposed to be another four-game day in the MLB playoffs, but mother nature had other ideas. With both ALDS series extended to a fourth game, the league was set to have all four games going throughout the day. However, Game 4 between the Houston Astros and Chicago White Sox was postponed delayed until Tuesday.
Red Sox Move On
The Tampa Bay Rays won 100 games in the regular season, but they will go home empty-handed after being eliminated by the Boston Red Sox on Monday night. For the second game in a row, the Red Sox won via walk-off to advance to the ALCS. Boston will go on the road for Game 1, against either Houston or Chicago.
After dropping the opening game of the series 5-0 in Florida, Boston won 14-6, 6-4, and 6-5. The final two games were via walk-off with a Christian Vazquez home run in the 13th inning on Sunday, and a Kiki Hernandez sacrifice fly on Monday.
The ALCS won’t start until Friday, giving the Red Sox plenty of time to set their rotation. The time off also gives J.D. Martinez more time to heal his ankle. After missing Game 1, Martinez was the DH in the three Boston wins, going 7-for-15 with a homer, double, and four RBI.
After dispatching the Rays, the Red Sox are now +115 to win the American League pennant. They are +370 to win the World Series, the fourth-best odds of the seven teams remaining.
Braves Take Control
The Atlanta Braves took control of their NLDS series with one big swing of the bat on Monday. Pinch-hitter Joc Pederson launched a three-run homer in the fifth inning, and neither team scored again as the Braves won 3-0.
Atlanta’s bullpen limited the Brewers to two hits over the final four innings. The Braves employed a new reliever each inning and never let the Brewers get back into the game.
The key moment for Milwaukee came in the top of the fifth as they had runners on second and third with no outs against Ian Anderson. A groundout, a fielders’ choice with an out at the plate and a line out, ended the threat. Moments later, the Braves had control of the series with their second straight win.
The Brewers attempt to send the series back to Wisconsin, but neither team announced their Game 4 starter for Tuesday afternoon. The Braves are now -300 to win the series, with the Brewers at +245.
Rain Postpones ALDS
The weather wasn’t cooperating in Chicago on Monday, and as a result, the Houston Astros will change starting pitchers. Jose Urquidy was set to start on Monday, but now the Astros will hand the ball to Game 1 winner Lance McCullers Jr. in an attempt to close out the White Sox Tuesday afternoon.
Chicago struggled mightily against McCullers on Friday as they collected just four hits over 6 ⅔ innings. Two of those hits came in the seventh inning, and McCullers struck out four on the day.
The White Sox counter with lefty Carlos Rodon who hasn’t pitched since September 29 when he beat Cincinnati. Rodon missed multiple starts in August and hasn’t gone more than five innings since July 18.
Houston is +100 to close out the series and set up an ALCS showdown with the Red Sox. Chicago is -120 to send the series back to Houston for a Game 5 on Wednesday night.
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