AL Division Series Game Thread: Astros Look To Sweep

The American League playoff bracket continues Sunday after a day off Saturday with two Game 3s.

One series could see the completion on a sweep, and another sees a pivotal matchup to take a 2-1 lead in a short five-game series in the divisional round.

Let’s look into the two matchups of the day.

Tampa Bay Rays (1-1) at Boston Red Sox (1-1)
RHP Drew Rasmussen (0-1, 4.24) vs. RHP Nathan Eovaldi (11-9, 3.75)
4:07 p.m. ET – Fenway Park, Boston, MA – MLB Network

The first game of the day sees the Rays traveling to Boston to play the Red Sox at Fenway Park.

Nathan Eovaldi, coming off a stellar performance (5.1 innings, one run) in the Wild Card game against the Yankees, will throw for the Sox. The righty had four starts against the Rays this year. Three turned out great, and one not so great (five earned runs in 5 1/3 innings). In total, though, Eovaldi threw 26 1/3 innings against the Rays this year and allowed seven earned runs (2.39 ERA).

After getting shut out 5-0 in Game 1 (which featured the Randy Arozarena steal of home), the Red Sox stormed back with five home runs and 14 runs in Game 2 in a 14-6 win, evening the series at one-a-piece.

The Rays will start Drew Rasmussen, a reliever-turned-starter after the trade deadline. Since transitioning to be a starter on August 12 (against the Red Sox, no less), Rasmussen has allowed just six earned runs in 27 innings. Each of his eight starts has gone either four or five innings. Expect the same today, even if he’s rolling.

Houston Astros (2-0) at Chciago White Sox (0-2)
RHP Luis Garcia (11-8, 3.30) vs. RHP Dylan Cease (13-7, 3.91)
8:07 p.m. ET – Guaranteed Rate Field, Chicago, IL – Fox Sports 1

Game 2 Sunday will see the Houston Astros try to sweep the Chicago White Sox on the south side.

The Astros will roll out rookie Luis Garcia to start the road game, and he’ll oppose Dylan Cease. The White Sox are also expected to use Carlos Rodón (who’s battled with shoulder fatigue in the latter months of the season) at some point, and the team still hasn’t used Michael Kopech, who’s been splendid out of the bullpen this season. They ought to throw the kitchen sink at the Astros to stay alive in the series.

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