Toronto at Texas, 1:30PM PT, TV: TBS
The Blue Jays and Rangers don’t like each other much, as shown by the fistfight between Rougned Odor and José Bautista back in May, which followed Bautista’s seventh-inning bat flip in Game Five of last year’s ALDS. They resume the argument tonight with LHP Cole Hamels (15-5, 3.32 ERA) on the hill for the Rangers and RHP Marco Estrada (9-9, 3.48 ERA) for the Jays.
Boston at Cleveland, 5:00PM PT, TV: TBS
The Red Sox send out RHP Rick Porcello (22-4, 3.15 ERA) to face RHP Trevor Bauer (12-8, 4.26 ERA) at Progressive Field in Cleveland. Porcello had a stellar second half, putting up a 2.62 ERA with 92 strikeouts and only 11 walks. Bauer had an excellent first half, putting up a 3.30 ERA prior to the All-Star break, but his last six starts have been less than optimal as he posted a 6.39 ERA.
NPUT at 0915PT tomorrow.
That wasn’t bad for an AL game.
Sadly, a VPN workaround we tried didn’t work, and the NL games are on pure ESPN blackout. I’ll have to go to the neighborhood Biergarten tomorrow.
NL games are on FS1, not ESPN, if that makes a difference. You’d probably enjoy the pub, though.
You’re right, but it’s still full-scale blackout. I’d rather watch from home, where I can get other things done between innings, but I refuse to pay the extortionists of the Comcast Crime Family.
Jon’s got a fistful of links to other blogs and papers about the Dodgers – Nats series. Good. Saved me the trouble. 😉
Justin Turner wrote a pre-playoff essay about the possibility of winning it all and having Vin be Grand Marshal of the parade afterwards.
VERY nice, Link — mahalo!
I liked his description of this team and how they like each other.
It answered the question I had before about a team meeting when Kersh went down. Since Kersh wrote to JT, is the latter considered a leader of the team? (Or did he text more than one?)
I think they’ve got a lot of leaders on this team.
I’m agnostic on the AL, but all these teams have some interesting players.
Beltre!
I have long missed Beltre, though I’m pleased the Dodgers have Turner.
Thanks a lot, Frank and Jamie!