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[Leonard Gore joined our staff just as we largely moved from South Side Sox to South Side Hit Pen, and recently returns from a Sox sabbatical to join back up with us back at SSS. Here’s his first writing on site, as we look forward to much more from him.]
Starting with the first elimination game of the Championship Series, Dave Wills’ Rays of Tampa Bay look to wrap up the franchise’s second American League Pennant and punch their ticket to the Wrld Srs (abbreviated seasons lose their right to vowels). They’ll be facing the Houston Astros, looking to pull off an ’04 Red Sox miracle run and save their asses from a trip back to Oscar’s trash can on 123 Sesame Street.
Tampa will send Tyler Glasnow to the mound to slam the lid on the Trashtros. He last pitched in the ALDS clincher, with 2 ⅓ scoreless innings in an abbreviated starting appearance. The Cash Man may feel a bit frisky and let Glasnow go an absurd three full innings.
The Astros are sending out Zack Greinke as their lifeline to bang on the garbage drums for as long as they can. Greinke, who was recently derided by Garbage Twitter trolls for saying how he has enjoyed pitching with no fans in the stands, will hope to gumption his way past the Rays bats for as long as possible.
Game 4 will be on TBS with an always enjoyable 7:40 p.m. CST start time. (MIDNIGHT BASEBALL IS COMING)
Over in the Senior Circuit Bracket, the Dodgers, currently stepping on a banana peel for the eighth consecutive October, are sending up Julio Urias in hopes to avoid Kershaw’s inevitable self-immolation in a sweep situation.
The Braves (not Barves) will let young righthander Kyle Wright pitch them to a commanding 3-0 lead. Like Glasnow, Wright also clinched the Division Series in his last start, filleting the Marlins with an Uber-quality start (6 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K). Oh look, that’s Sad Kershaw warming up in the bullpen already. Poor fella.
Game 3 will be tonight at 5:05 p.m. CST on FOX.
Who’s ready for some Gamethread?! Tampa’s got the champagne on ice and the boom box ready, so let’s get it poppin!