Both American League Division Series move to their fourth games Thursday. That leaves a pair of AL clubs staring down elimination. The West-winning Athletics dropped the first two against the division-rival Astros but survived the first of three potential elimination games yesterday. The Yankees, meanwhile, are on the ropes after dropping two straight in their set with the top-seeded Rays.
Each of the A’s and Yankees will need to win the final two games of their upcoming series to advance to the ALCS. Oakland will turn to Frankie Montas this afternoon, while the Astros will counter with staff ace Zack Greinke. New York is relying on Jordan Montgomery tonight, while Rays’ manager Kevin Cash will open with Ryan Thompson, presumably before turning to Ryan Yarbrough.
We’ll let the MLBTR readership weigh in. Can the Yankees’ high-powered offense overcome the Rays’ stellar pitching staff? Will the A’s star-studded bullpen right the ship and keep the Astros’ scorching lineup in check? Which team is more likely to dig themselves out of their current hole?
(poll link for app users)
Yankees have the fire power to do so, Oakland is largely overrated.
Saying they’re overrated yet adding no substance to that makes you sound bitter.
They are always overrated because the roster lacks stars. Moneyball does a good job of putting togethere ragtag groups that overachieve but when it comes time to win in October they just dont have the firepower.
Lacks stars, other than this year, Manaea is great, same with semien, and chapman and olson are stars. murphy shows a lot of potential, as do a bunch of their pitchers
Lack of stars, veterans, Fire power… typically it’s a light hitting team that plays small ball. And no one stays beyond their rookie contract.
Pretty much! Why are the A’s even considered a threat?
Except for their bullpen, the A’s are an ordinary team.
Why is that debatable?
Overrated? What year are you in?
Yankees, but i doubt either do
agreed
Yankees. They’ve done it before. As a matter of fact, the last team to overcome a 0-2 deficit in the Division Series was the Yankees over Cleveland in 2017.
When the Yankees did that they had a different manager who didn’t let Cashman meddle in the gameplan by doing dumb stuff like pitching your starter one inning and then pulling him for a mediocre lefty.
I don’t think either team will. Rays are just that good this year. Plus the yankees messed up by not pitching Tanaka in game 2. I don’t think it would of mattered because the rays lit him up anyway. Rays gonna go all the way.
angelsfan4life412 Actually they messed up by pulling Garcia out after 1 inning and going to Happ. That was definitely a Cashman/front office maneuver. No way do I believe that was Boone’s plan and he had final say on it.
Rays will struggle with stros, and the dodgers. The rays lineup is relatively weak and relies heavily on their pitching.
It will be some sort of belated balancing of scales(to small degree) if LA faces Houston and LA wins in 4 or 5
Rays have had the Yankees number all season and i don’t see that changing now
I think neither but the A’s have a slightly better shot. The Rays are clicking and Montgomery for the Yanks tonight isn’t doing much for my confidence in any sort of comeback.
Boone messed up by not starting Tanaka in game 2. But I don’t think it would of mattered.
Oakland is having a tough time replacing impact type player in Chapman. Too many holes in their lineup for any sustainable offense hope.
Pinder had the go ahead hit in game 3 vs white Sox and has 2 homeuns in ALDS thus far. He’s no Chapman but playing solid. The problem was jake lambs defense earlier this week
Yankees, the A’s HercuLiam effort last night was cool though.
a’s. i have never liked them but hope they round-kick cheatstros’ behind.
winners win little girl
The Rays are a much, much better team than the Astros in my opinion so I’ll say the A’s.
Lol
You guys suck!
Mam…I get it though. Yanks are in the same spot as Bump City & it looks like they’re playing the better squad.
Both have painted themselves into a corner.
Ok.
Let’s see a *couple* game fives in the AL.
Both teams are done. Umpiring is getting worse.
Umpiring has not been very good.
I don’t care for the way a lot of Yankee fans are blaming the umps, however.
The Ray’s are just simply outplaying us. Particularly on the mound. Hope we get ’em tonight & Cole comes through in game 5.
But…I implore my fellow Yankee fans. Let’s not resort to blaming the umpires. That’s unseemly. Takes credit away from a pretty nice team that’s – quite simply – had our number all year.
Or whatever.
Good take there….Triumph “Sweet Triple”
If we’re just looking at 6 playoffs appearances in last 9 years. They lost multiple game 5’s vs tigers and verlander. Had a late lead twice in 2014 wildcard game but Lester, bullpen blew it. 2018 and 2019 wildcard games were non competitive. Finally won a playoff series vs white Sox and angels series is yet to be determined
Yankees. But I’m hoping for A’s to comeback and TB is my pick to get to the WS. TB vs LA. Would like to see TB win it but tough matchup would be a good series
Most likely: Yankees
Most wanted: A’s
Yankees have the roster to do it, but do they have the willingness to be brutally honest with themselves about how to best deploy that roster? So far, it doesn’t seem like it. They really shouldn’t be throwing out a prospect for an opener/starter and it’s pretty obvious that J.A. Happ isn’t the pitcher they signed him to be and is a liability in tight situations, regardless of his salary….
I think they need to be relentlessly specific in the roster moves and personnel they deploy into the field and be heartless about it.
Gary Sanchez shouldn’t be batting. J.A. Happ shouldn’t be pitching. etc. I hate to say it, as I have nothing against either and I would love to see them thrive, but… it’s not gonna happen when the chips are down.
I’m rooting for the A’s and Jays, but because the Yankees have Cole going in game five, the Yankees have a better chance.
Only if they win game 4
Angelfan4life, of course only if they win game four.
But the Yankees and A’s both have to win game four and if the Yankees win game four, they have Cole.
News flash, they did win game 4. And they’ll probably win game 5.
I’ve got some bad news about your Jays…
Well, the Astros are back apparently.
Don’t think it really matters which team wins this series, I suspect it’s the end of the line for the AL West. Neither team can beat the Rays.
Hoping for a Rays / Braves World Series.
I’m also hoping for a Rays/Braves World Series, but any team can beat any team.
If the Braves/Rays are in WS and I take the Braves, I’ll bet you an “I told you so” if you take the Rays…… I saw an earlier post by you…..
Fair enough. I’ll take the Rays.
However, in baseball, anyone can beat anyone. I’m never confident of any baseball pick.
Truth be told, I’d be happy with either of them. Just as long as no Yanks or Dodgers.
The Rays have to win game 5 of the ALDS first, don’t they?
Anyone that doesn’t want the game destroyed by 16 team playoffs going forward should be rooting for the Astros to win it all… I know, I know, it makes me feel dirty too…but it’d be pretty hard to justify continuing it if a team with a losing regular season record won the World Series (I’d hope!)
Prior to the game I’d have said A’s as Houston’s bullpen problems are likely to be exposed the longer the series drags on.
But now that it’s 11-4 trashtros, I’m saying NY ha ha.
The A’s have no fans. The A’s should move to a city that needs an expansion team.
DJ, Stanton, judge, voit, torres… yankees will sweep the Ray’s. Can you name a player on the Ray’s? $200 mill vs $40 mill… who will win? LOL
Don’t know how they can sweep Rays…..series is 2-1 Rays going in to tonight’s game.
Arozarena has done nothing but hit for the Rays so far. Unless Baseball economics change you’ll never really be able to “name a player on the Rays” for the simple fact that by the time any player reaches stardom its time to leave to get paid elswhere
Will MLB implode if the Astros win the World Series with a losing record?
Look, I’ll say it as someone who doesn’t hate the Astros near as much as the next fan…. but look… yes… it’s bad for baseball and it’s a slap on the face that they are in the playoffs to beginning with, much less having some success. Even if they weren’t just a pure shame on baseball from their years of cheating, a playoff system that allows for a team with a losing record to get in the playoffs is brutal. I’ll tip my hat that they are taking advantage of this situation. But honestly, them losing and quietly hiding behind the bad season they had would have been better for baseball than this madness. They proved they couldn’t hit without cheating throughout the season and were given yet another chance. It’s not right and a really bad look on baseball.
A team winning with a losing record is a byproduct of an expanded playoff format, something that owners will have to think about if the expanded playoffs become a regular thing.
As for the Astros, it might be the redemption they need. No Luhnow, no Hinch, no Cora, no Beltran, no trash can, just playing the game right. And even if you are an ardent Astros hater you have to be happy for Dusty Baker if he finally wins a championship as a manager
If people even bothered to look at the dozens of injuries the Astros have dealt with this season they would see why they had a losing record. The offense is finally working and can score on almost any pitcher throwing at them. Just look at what they did to the #1 bullpen in baseball: scoring 17 runs against their relief pitchers in 4 games against Oakland. Now they’re in their 4th straight ALCS.
You can be the biggest Astros hater out there, but you have to respect how they have pieced together that pitching staff. Losing Cole and Verlander, plus having to use all of those rookies (none being Whitley, is that guy ever going to make it?) is impressive to have made it this far.
We will see how they hold up over a 7 game series, especially if Greinke can’t pitch many innings. The offense will need to stay hot.
Some posters think baseball is a sport of the team that spends the most money and a sport of talent.
*And not a sport of talent.
Some posters think teams with money dont have an advantage over those that dont.
The A’s choke in the playoffs every year. They have a built in excuse for losing every year. Bad Stadium, no fans, no money.
The Yankees.
I mean, I took the poll after the A’s lost and the Yankees won, so I may have done an Astros thing and cheated.
It’s okay, yankees cheat too.
BobGibsonFan, all teams and most players cheat. Even Bob Gibson. No fan of the game, however, should support the level of the Astros took it to. Your comment indirectly does. Fastball up and in.