Playoff Gameday Thread #7: Elimination Day, Redux

10:08 am: Houston Astros @ Boston Red Sox (Astros 2-1)

Charlie Morton (14-7, 3.62) vs. Rick Porcello (11-17, 4.65). This one might be interrupted by the weather, but they’re hoping the heavy stuff stays away from Fenway. The Red Sox trailed yesterday’s elimination game after two innings, but a six-run seventh for Boston blew this wide open, and so we’re back for a re-run here. Based on the 2017 outings by the starters, the home team will have an uphill struggle. Morton got the W when he faced the Red Sox on Sep 28, while Porcello was torched for seven earned runs in six innings, when he saw the Astros at Minute Maid Park in June.

1:08pm: Washington Nationals @ Chicago Cubs (1-1)

Max Scherzer (16-6, 2.51) vs. Jose Quintana (11-11, 4.15). Former Diamondbacks Scherzer finally makes his post-season debut. He was held out of the first two games, having tweaked his hamstring in his final regular season start. Cue Dusty Baker being Dusty: “There are a lot of guys that are pitching hurt right now, you know. There's a difference between being injured and hurt -- if you don't have something wrong with you, then you haven't played.” We’ll see how long Scherzer is able to pitch: even he doesn’t seem to know, saying “I'm going to be good on pitch one; it's how long can I go without re-injuring this.”

4:08 pm: Cleveland Indians @ New York Yankees (Indians 2-1)

Trevor Bauer (17-9, 4.19) vs. Luis Severino (14-6, 2.98). Sharply differing results for the two starters in their first post-season outing, Bauer getting the W and Severino being lifted one out into the wild-card game. The Yankees will have their work cut out, as Bauer (another former D-back) has owned them this year. In his three starts versus New York, he’s 3-0 with an 0.92 ERA and a K:BB of 19:7 in 19.2 innings. Severino hasn’t been bad - 2.70 over 13.2 innings, K:BB of 18:4 - but the memory of that disastrous playoff outing has got to be on his mind.

7:08 pm: Los Angeles Dodgers @ Arizona Diamondbacks (Dodgers 2-0)

But more on this one later, I suspect!