5:07 pm
October 15

Rays v. Astros

Who will WIN this matchup?

Tampa Bay Rays

Houston Astros

 

Starting Pitchers:

Curtiss (TB): 0-0; 10.38 ERA (opener)

Garcia (HOU) 0-0; 0.00 ERA

 

Current odds:

Tampa Bay Rays: (-140)

Houston Astros: (+130)

 

•  Altuve homered in the first inning for the third time in the series and had two RBIs. Springer’s two-run home run in the fifth stood up as the game-winner. Springer, who entered the night hitting .143 in the series, went 3-for-4 in the victory.

• The Rays, despite holding a 3-1 advantage in the best-of-seven series, are still looking to see who will step up for them on offense. Tampa Bay is batting a collective .197 in the ALCS.

• Randy Arozarena continues to lead the way for Tampa Bay after slugging a two-run blast Wednesday night for his fifth home run of the postseason. Willy Adames added an RBI double with two outs in the ninth, but Yoshi Tsutsugo lined out to end the game.

• The Rays played Game 4 without center fielder Kevin Kiermaier, who injured his left wrist when he was hit by pitch the night prior. Cash indicated Kiermaier could have played. Brandon Lowe also was given a day off from the starting lineup before striking out as a pinch hitter in the ninth.

• Curtiss will take the mound as an opener as the Rays look to clinch the pennant. The right-hander had a 1.80 ERA in 17 regular-season outings (three starts). After allowing five runs in 2 1/3 innings against the Yankees in the ALDS (19.29 ERA), Curtiss has rebounded with two scoreless innings of relief against the Astros in the ALCS.

• The rookie, who had not pitched above Class A prior to the season, will make his postseason debut. Garcia hasn’t pitched since throwing one-third of an inning on Sept. 27 and hasn’t thrown more than two innings since a five-inning outing Sept. 9 in his second big league game.

 

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Tampa Bay Rays
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