Headlines

  • Jake McGee Retires
  • Royals Re-Sign Zack Greinke
  • Orioles To Decline Five-Year Lease Extension At Camden Yards, Seeking Longer-Term Agreement With Maryland Stadium Authority
  • Mariners, Dylan Moore Agree to Three-Year Extension
  • Blue Jays Sign Chad Green
  • Rays Extend Yandy Diaz
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • Top 50 Free Agents
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2023
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Arbitration Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Rays, Astros Set Game 5 Starters

By Steve Adams | October 15, 2020 at 12:45pm CDT

The Rays and Astros have set their starters for Thursday’s Game 5 of the ALCS. Tampa Bay will give the start to right-handed reliever John Curtiss in what should be a bullpen game, while Houston is turning to rookie right-hander Luis Garcia with their season on the line. Garcia has yet to pitch in the playoffs and pitched just 12 1/3 regular-season frames — his first career work above the Class-A Advanced level.

The 27-year-old Curtiss proved to be the latest gem unearthed by the Rays, as he gave the club 25 innings of 1.80 ERA ball with a 25-to-3 K/BB ratio during the regular season. The former Twins prospect was greeted rudely in his playoff debut earlier this month when the Yankees clobbered him for five runs in just two thirds of an inning, but he’s bounced back with a trio of scoreless outings. Curtiss didn’t pitch more than 2 2/3 innings in any appearance this season and hasn’t thrown more than 43 pitches in an outing, so it’ll be an all-hands-on-deck approach for the Rays today.

Garcia, 23, hasn’t pitched in a game since Sept. 27 and wasn’t asked to pitch more than two innings at any point after a five-inning effort back on Sept. 9. The Astros won’t be asking for bulk innings from the rookie today, as manager Dusty Baker told reporters his hope is that Garcia can navigate a potent Rays lineup once through the order (Twitter link via MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart). It’s a stark contrast from last year’s Astros club, which rode the trio of Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole and Zack Greinke to Game 7 of the World Series, but it’s also a testament to the club’s young pitching that their arms have been able to take them this far in spite of so many key injuries to veteran pitchers.

In other lineup news, Baker revealed that x-rays taken after Michael Brantley fouled a ball into his foot were negative. He’s batting second as the Astros’ DH in today’s elimination game.

Share 0 Retweet 3 Send via email0

Houston Astros Tampa Bay Rays John Curtiss Luis Garcia

Padres Still Deciding On Mitch Moreland’s Option
Main
Mallex Smith, Bryan Shaw, Jimmy Yacabonis Elect Free Agency
View Comments (20)

Comments

  1. Francys08

    2 years ago

    Let’s go Rays.

    Reply
  2. Rangers29

    2 years ago

    Astros just need to take this series day to day. Win today, then win tomorrow, that’s the mentality. I thought Valdez would start today, but I guess it’s a bullpen game? I’m not sure, but I wouldn’t do a bullpen game anyways with the lack of arms in the Astros pen as is.

    Reply
    • DarkSide830

      2 years ago

      dont sleep on Garcia. he’s probably not getting more then 3-4, but he could havw a good game today.

      Reply
      • bzam

        2 years ago

        Yup, he’s sneaky good & I’m surprised he doesn’t get more attention with how good he’s been, and jumping from High-A to MLB this year.

        Reply
        • DarkSide830

          2 years ago

          he signed at an advanced age a la former Pirates prospect Yeudy Garcia. usually guys who sign as amateur free agents after age 17 (save serie guys and guys who are holdovers from previous signing periods) are dismissed out if hand, but he’s aced every stop he’s played at.

    • TLB2001

      2 years ago

      It’s not like they’re benching a cy young candidate in order to pitch a guy who has only pitched 13 2/3 innings above a-ball. This isn’t a move of strategy it’s a move of necessity.

      Reply
  3. trendysayings

    2 years ago

    One team is doing a bullpen game by design, the other is doing it out of desperation.

    Reply
  4. racosun

    2 years ago

    *Astros

    Reply
  5. daysauce

    2 years ago

    Amazes me to see Dusty Baker managing a bullpen game. Who would’ve thought?

    Reply
  6. mlbnyyfan

    2 years ago

    Rays have chance to goto the World Series. Don’t give those cheaters any heartbeat. They needed to go with Snell. TB hoping to save Snell for Game one is a mistake.

    Reply
    • Clayton_Chokeshaw

      2 years ago

      Why would they pitch him on short rest if they don’t need to? He wasn’t sharp Game 1

      Reply
      • mlbnyyfan

        2 years ago

        Because I don’t want to give the cheaters any glimmer of hope. Finish them off now.

        Reply
        • richla

          2 years ago

          Lolololol! Unseal the letter!

  7. Billthecat123

    2 years ago

    Historically, the Rays don’t perform well (offensively) against pitchers that they’re not familiar with, especially young-guns that have little experience in the Bigs. For this writer to suggest that the Astros have had MORE injury woes, pitching or otherwise, than the Rays is ridiculous! Please! ⚾⚾⚾

    Reply
    • Dorothy_Mantooth

      2 years ago

      Correct! McKay, Honeywell, Roe, Kittredge, Beeks & Chirinos are all out for the year, not to mention the pitcher they acquired from the Reds too. Tampa’s pitching has been devastated by injuries, yet they still have great, healthy options to choose from. Just goes to show how talented and deep this Rays pitching staff is.

      Reply
      • mlbnyyfan

        2 years ago

        So very true something the Yankees know nothing about and that’s finding and developing great pitchers. The only way Yankees get solid pitchers is to over pay them.

        Reply
        • Mo4ever

          2 years ago

          The Yankees have to overpay everyone, in part to pay people adequately for performing on the big stage. You expect to pay peanuts for that?

        • luckyh

          2 years ago

          LOL pinstripe delusion.

  8. Briffle2

    2 years ago

    So does Altuve officially have the yips or what? He got bailed out big time but he threw a dirt ball from about 75 feet.

    Reply
  9. DarkSide830

    2 years ago

    the redemption arc is alive and well.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.
Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Jake McGee Retires

    Royals Re-Sign Zack Greinke

    Orioles To Decline Five-Year Lease Extension At Camden Yards, Seeking Longer-Term Agreement With Maryland Stadium Authority

    Mariners, Dylan Moore Agree to Three-Year Extension

    Blue Jays Sign Chad Green

    Rays Extend Yandy Diaz

    Dexter Fowler Announces Retirement

    Mets Sign Jeff McNeil To Four-Year Extension

    Red Sox, Marlins Swap Matt Barnes For Richard Bleier

    Darren O’Day Announces Retirement

    Braves Extend Manager Brian Snitker Through 2025

    Rays Sign Pete Fairbanks To Extension

    Royals Sign Aroldis Chapman To One-Year Deal

    Athletics Sign Jesús Aguilar

    Orioles Acquire Cole Irvin From A’s

    Astros Name Dana Brown General Manager

    Rays Extend Jeffrey Springs

    Royals, Red Sox Swap Adalberto Mondesi For Josh Taylor

    Red Sox Designate Matt Barnes For Assignment

    Scott Rolen Elected Into Baseball Hall Of Fame

    Recent

    Jake McGee Retires

    Latest On Yuli Gurriel’s Free Agency

    Dodgers Sign Luke Williams, Yusniel Diaz, Robbie Erlin To Minor League Deals

    Mariners Outright J.B. Bukauskas

    Twins’ VP Of Player Personnel Mike Radcliff Passes Away

    Padres Promote Ryan Christenson To Associate Manager

    Diamondbacks Sign Yairo Munoz To Minor League Contract

    Big Hype Prospects: Cowser, Bleday, Alvarez, Outman, Steer

    White Sox Acquire Franklin German, Designate Jason Bilous

    Rangers Sign Bernardo Flores Jr. To Minor League Contract

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Offseason Outlook Series
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Go Ad-Free
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2023
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • MLB Player Chats
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • Feeds by Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top
    Close

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version