As of Tuesday morning, we are two games into the 2020 American League Championship Series and one game into the NLCS. The Tampa Bay Rays have cooled off the hot bats of the Houston Astros and lead the series, two games to none, while permitting just three runs in the first two games. The Atlanta Braves went into the ninth inning of their series opener with the L.A. Dodgers tied at a run apiece and broke open the game with four runs in the last frame to pull off a 5-1 win.
As you consider your sports betting for the rest of the series, let’s recap Monday’s action and look to Tuesday’s games.
MLB News: Playoff Rundown
National League Championship Series
Atlanta Braves vs L.A. Dodgers
(Atlanta leads, 1-0)
Game Details
6:05 pm ET, FS1, at Globe Life Field
Game 2: Tuesday
Projected Pitching Matchup
Ian Anderson (ATL)
Tony Gonsolin (LA)
The Los Angeles Dodgers have had their bullpen emerge as a problem at just the worst time. Closer Kenley Jansen had some struggles in the NLDS, and so the team decided that matchups would serve as the determining factor for relievers. So when they went to the ninth tied at a run apiece with Atlanta in Game 1, it was Blake Treinen who came into the game. He posted a 3.86 ERA in 27 games in the regular season and had a spotless 0.00 ERA in the postseason. However, Austin Riley greeted him with a leadoff blast, and Treinen gave up two other hits, including an RBI single by Marcell Ozuna. On game Jake McGee, who got the second out of the inning before grooving a fastball that Ozzie Albies sent out of cavernous Globe Life Field for a two-run homer.
The Braves have the bats to hang with the Dodgers, and if the Dodgers aren’t in this series mentally, they will suffer yet another postseason disappointment without even advancing to the World Series. After too many late-inning meltdowns in consecutive playoffs, eventually a monkey will climb up on the team’s collective backs, and it won’t matter which reliever comes in for the ninth inning, because they’ll all be pressing too hard. The Dodgers need to jump on the Braves early in Game 2 to help Tony Gonsolin, who will make his first pitching appearance since September 26, when he gave up four runs over six innings against the Angels.
American League Championship Series
Tampa Bay Rays vs Houston Astros
(Tampa Bay leads, 2-0)
Game Details
8:40 pm ET, TBS, at Petco Park
Game 3: Tuesday
Projected Pitching Matchup
Ryan Yarbrough (TB)
Jose Urquidy (HOU)
In Game 2 of the ALCS, the Astros really did as much harm to themselves as the Rays did to them. Jose Altuve made an error on a routine fielding play in the first inning, giving the Rays an extra out. The Rays took advantage as Manuel Margot hit a three-run homer before Lance McCullers Jr, who otherwise pitched a gem, could get out of the inning. Altuve’s error came on a short hop throw to first, and Yuli Gurriel could have scooped it, but it clanked off his glove.
The Astros left 10 runners on base in Game 1…and 11 in Game 2. So far in the series, they are 2 for 14 with runners in scoring position. In the first inning of Game 2, they had runners on first and third with one out and failed to score. In the ninth inning, Houston loaded the bases against Nick Anderson with no outs. Then George Springer grounded into a double play. A run scored, but that just made it 4-2. Then Alex Bregman overswung at the first pitch and hit a weak fly ball. Failure to take advantage of opportunities is costing the Astros.
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