The A’s & Rays were the “home team” in the first ever neutral site MLB postseason games as the Astros & A’s kicked off the 2020 MLB Playoff Bubble with a back-and-fourth game between AL West rivals. Carlos Correa proved to be a major factor in the Division Series opener as did Giancarlo Stanton in the night game as his 9th inning Grand Slam put the game out of reach from Tampa Bay’s tenacious lineup.
Enjoy the best highlights, facts, & takeaways from Monday’s MLB Playoff action:
When in Slam Diego ...
— MLB (@MLB) October 6, 2020
(MLB x @UtzSnacks) pic.twitter.com/cMAxTrqpRF
Two big swings and the @astros tie it up. #ALDS pic.twitter.com/S7XL4WfMkR
— MLB (@MLB) October 5, 2020
2-out nightmare. #ForTheH pic.twitter.com/7Wqbmn7lOR
— Houston Astros (@astros) October 5, 2020
#AllRise pic.twitter.com/MouGgS928v
— MLB (@MLB) October 6, 2020
Out goes Frazier. 😱 pic.twitter.com/m1u09AJOXu
— MLB (@MLB) October 6, 2020
Hig Shot. pic.twitter.com/P39O1j8zwN
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 6, 2020
Mama, there goes that Ji-Man. pic.twitter.com/hgHt1n4aXl
— MLB (@MLB) October 6, 2020
KD goes oppo taco. #ALDS pic.twitter.com/mhHzAVwCel
— MLB (@MLB) October 5, 2020
Murph can mash. 💪 pic.twitter.com/OmKYSWbCK4
— MLB (@MLB) October 5, 2020
— MLB (@MLB) October 6, 2020
1. Yankees lineup cannot be contained
Blake Snell is one of the best pitchers in the game as a Cy Young winner two years ago, and even he couldn’t get through NY’s lineup two and a half times without allowing three dingers and four earned runs. No team should expect to shut down the Yankees offense the way it’s playing right now, off to a historic start against some of the most impressive pitchers this game has to offer. Opposing team’s only hope is to outscore the Bronx Bombers.
2. Carlos Correa is talking the talk & walking the walk
The Houston Astros SS made headlines when he said “what are they going to say now” after sweeping Minnesota. Astros haters can’t say much right now after a performance like this where Correa made sure Houston came out on top with his 3-5 day that included 2 HRs & 4 RBIs. Correa’s embracing the villain role and playing his best baseball as a result.
3. Expect more “road team” victories with no home-field advantage
The neutral sites for these games has evened the playing field more than it’s ever been and that proved true on Day 1 of the new format as the Yanks & Astros both pulled off the upset. Playoff experience could also be a key factor but all four of these teams were in the postseason last year and know what it takes to succeed in these high-leverage moments. When picking winners in close matchups, usually the tie goes to the home team, but that’s completely irrelevant in 2020.
Both NLDS’ begin Tuesday while these ALDS matchups play their Game 2 for a four-game slate. No team gets a day off in the middle of these series’ so bullpen strategies will be of the utmost importance to prevent overtaxing any individual pitcher or leaving him out there for too long that leads to undesirable results.
Tyler Glasnow is the best pitcher from these four teams taking the bump on Tuesday while the other three are mostly unproven, especially in October. Yankees rookie SP Deivi Garcia will notably get the start over Masahiro Tanaka, despite Tanaka’s ridiculous postseason track record (with a recent rain-delayed poor performance the exception). National League games feature aces all around with Max Fried, Sandy Alcantara, Walker Buehler, and Mike Clevinger (probably) all taking the ball for their teams in Game 1.
Full game highlights of today’s MLB Playoff games are posted below.
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