Nov 05

World Series Game Six, 2022

Phillies at Astros, 5:03 PM PDT, TV: Fox

The Phillies ask RHP Zack Wheeler (12-7, 2.82 ERA regular season; 1-2, 2.67 ERA postseason) to stop the Astros’ seeming juggernaut and force a Game Seven. The Astros hand the ball to LHP Framber Valdez (17-2, 2.82 ERA regular season; 2-0, 1.42 ERA postseason) and ask him to finish the Series tonight.

Today in baseball history is mostly filled with managerial moves, including Chuck Tanner’s ascent to the Pirates, Burleigh Grimes to the Dodgers, and Paul Molitor to the Twins.

Oct 29

World Series Game Two, 2022

Phillies at Astros, 5:03 PM PDT, TV: Fox

The Phillies came back from a 5-0 deficit and took Game One on a Realmuto HR in the 10th inning. For today’s game they hand the ball to RHP Zack Wheeler (12-7, 2.82 ERA regular season; 1-1, 1.78 ERA postseason). The Astros counter with LHP Framber Valdez (17-6, 2.82 ERA regular season; 1-0, 1.42 ERA postseason).

Today in baseball history was mostly a day of contract signing and manager movements, as until the advent of the playoff system the World Series had concluded by the end of October. There were still a couple of games played on October 29, though:

  • 2008. The Phillies complete the first-ever suspended game in World Series history, playing three innings at Citizens Bank Park, beating the Rays, 4-3, in Game 5 to win the Fall Classic. The World Championship is only the team’s second in franchise history and the first since 1980.
  • 2014 In Game 7 at Kauffman Stadium, the Giants clinch their third World Series in five years when the team defeats the Royals, 3-2. San Francisco’s 25-year-old southpaw Madison Bumgarner, the MVP of the Fall Classic, hurls the five final scoreless innings to earn the save in addition to his victories in Games 1 and 5.
Oct 20

ALCS Game Two, 2022

Yankees at Astros, 4:37 PM PDT, TV: TBS

The Yankees give the ball to RHP Luis Severino (7-3, 3.18 ERA regular season; 0-0, 4.76 ERA postseason). He’ll face the Astros’ LHP Framber Valdez (17-6, 2.82 ERA regular season; 0-0, 3.18 ERA postseason).

Gene Tenace hits yet another World Series HR, Orel Hershiser closes out the 1988 WS, the 2004 Red Sox come all the way back from an 0-3 deficit to beat the Yankees for the fourth straight time in the ALCS to move on to the World Series and much more today in baseball history.

Oct 13

ALDS Games Two, 2022

Mariners at Astros, 12:37 PM PDT, TV: TBS

RHP Luis Castillo (4-2, 3.17 ERA) pitches for the Mariners and LHP Framber Valdez (17-6, 2.82 ERA) pitches for the Astros.

Guardians at Yankees, 4:37 PM PDT, TV: TBS

RHP Shane Bieber (13-8, 2.88 ERA) gets the ball for the Guardians and LHP Nestor Cortes (12-4, 2.44 ERA) gets it for the Yankees.

Oct 31

World Series Game Five, 2021

Astros at Braves, 5:09 PM PDT, TV: Fox

LHP Framber Valdez (Postseason 1-1, 6.35 ERA) tries to halt the Braves’ march to the title, while LHP Tucker Davidson (0-0, 3.60 ERA) opens for the Braves. Valdez won Game Five of the ALCS, giving up just one run over eight innings to the Red Sox. Davidson was not initially on the World Series roster but replaced Charlie Morton, who broke his leg in Game One.

On this date in baseball history Derek Jeter hit a game-winning HR in the 10th inning of Game Four of the 2001 World Series, earning himself the nickname “Mr. November.” In Game Three of the 2009 World Series a fly ball off Alex Rodriguez’s bat became the subject of the first use of instant replay in a Series, and in 2010 the battery of Madison Bumgarner and Buster Posey were the first rookies to start a World Series game since Spec Shea and Yogi Berra in 1947.

Lineups when available.

Astros:

Braves:

Oct 25

World Series Game One, 2021

Braves at Astros, 5:09 PM PDT, TV: Fox

The Braves send out righthander Charlie Morton (Postseason 0-1, 3.77 ERA), who’s got World Series experience with the Astros (2017) and the Rays (2020). He’ll face the Astros’ lefthander Framber Valdez (Postseason 1-0, 4.20 ERA). He had the longest outing of any starter this postseason on any team: eight innings of three-hit ball against the Red Sox in Game Five of the ALCS. This will be his first World Series.

I’m no fan of the Braves and their loathsome “tomahawk chop” and chant, but my disdain for the Houston Astros can be measured in metric tons, so I guess I’m very mildly rooting for the Atlanta team.

Addendum: Here’s what a guy at Deadspin says about these teams after making suggestions to improve the playoff system:

In the meantime, enjoy the baseball being played by two very good teams who were not the best in baseball this year but earned their way to the World Series. There’s no good rooting option — it’s the cheaters (yes, we’re still for Dusty Baker getting a ring) against the racists (yes, Freddie Freeman seems like a real good dude, and Tyler Matzek is a fantastic story, and so is Eddie Rosario, and not everyone who roots for that team is a racist, but seriously, we’ve been hearing the Chop for 30 years despite it being called out for what it is FROM THE JUMP — oh, and they had anti-vaxxer Travis Tritt sing the national anthem on Saturday) — but the games should be good.

Lineups when available.

Braves:

Astros:

Oct 20

ALCS Game Five, 2021

Astros at Red Sox, 2:08 PM PDT, TV: FS1

LHP Framber Valdez (postseason 0-0, 7.71 ERA) goes for the Astros and LHP Chris Sale (postseason 0-0, 14.73 ERA) goes for the Red Sox. Yes, it’s a rematch of the Game One pitchers. Houston won that one.

Lineups when available.

Astros:

Red Sox:

Oct 15

ALCS Game One, 2021

Red Sox at Astros, 5:07 PM PDT, TV: Fox

LHP Chris Sale (5-1, 3.16 ERA) tries to bounce back from a one-inning five-run outing in Game Two of the ALDS against the Rays. He’ll face the Astros’ LHP Framber Valdez (11-6, 3.14 ERA). His last outing was about as bad as Sale’s, although he lasted into the fifth inning of Game Two of the ALCS against the White Sox. He gave up four runs on seven hits in that game (which the Astros came back to win).

Today in baseball history the Yankees won their first World Series in 1923, Enos Slaughter scored as “Pesky held the ball” in Game Seven of the 1946 World Series and Ron Swoboda’s diving catch kept the Orioles off the scoreboard in the 1969 World Series:

Kirk Gibson hit a memorable HR for the Dodgers in Game One of the 1988 World Series:

And in 2017 the Dodgers’ Justin Turner emulated Gibson and hit a three-run walk-off home run against the Cubs in the twelfth inning of Game Two of the NLCS:

Lineups when available.

Red Sox:

Astros:

Oct 08

ALDS Games Two, 2021

Today’s first game features the White Sox at Astros, 11:07 AM PDT, TV: MLBN

RHP Lucas Giolito (11-9, 3.23 ERA) pitches for the Pale Hose and LHP Framber Valdez (11-6, 3.14 ERA) goes for the Astros.

The second game is between the Red Sox and Rays at Tropicana Field, 4:02 PM PDT, TV: FS1

LHP Chris Sale (5-1, 3.16 ERA) takes the ball for the Red Sox and RHP Shane Baz (2-0, 2.03 ERA) does the same for the Rays.

Lineups when available.

White Sox:

Astros:

Red Sox and Rays:

Oct 16

ALCS Game Six, 2020

Astros vs Rays, 3:07 PM PDT, TV: TBS

The Rays still lead the series 3-2 and can win it today. They’ll send LHP Blake Snell to try to do it. He’s already made three starts this postseason, defeating the Blue Jays in the Wild Card Series, losing to the Yankees in the Division Series, then beating the Astros in Game One of this series.

The Astros send LHP Framber Valdez to try to even the series. He lost to Snell in Game One. He pitched the Astros to wins against the Twins and the As in previous rounds of these playoffs.