PSO Premium Review: ALCS Game 6 & NLCS Game 5

The Tampa Bay Rays and Atlanta Braves could be 2020 League Champions by now but the resilience from the 2017 AL & NL champions showed up on Friday. The Houston Astros forced a Game 7 after mounting a 3-0 comeback, becoming the second team ever to do so after the 2004 Boston Red Sox, who won the whole thing. The Dodgers saved their season after it seemed to get out of hand for them early thanks to a game-changing double play by RF Mookie Betts which gave LA enough momentum to put runs on the board and clinch a Game 6 against Atlanta’s ace waiting for them.

Enjoy PSO’s Premium Review for NLCS Game 5 & ALCS Game 6:

Facts to Know

ALCS Game 6

Astros are the 2nd team in MLB history to fall behind 3-0 in a best-of-7 series and force a Game 7 (2004 Red Sox)
Carlos Correa has the most postseason RBIs (48) of all-time among any player before turning 27 years old
Correa is now tied with Reggie Jackson for the 7th most RBIs in MLB postseason history
Framber Valdez got the most curveball swing & misses (15) by a pitcher in a playoff game in the pitch-tracking era (2008)

NLCS Game 5

Corey Seager has the most HR (4) & RBI (10) in a single playoff series by a SS and by a Dodgers player ever
RP A.J. Minter became the 1st pitcher in MLB history to make his 1st career major league start in a postseason game
A.J. Minter’s 7 strikeouts in Game 5 were the most by a pitcher in a postseason outing of 3 IP or fewer

Best Highlights

Corey Seager had himself a game

Corey Seager, STILL HOT. pic.twitter.com/7R1tDvb3EM
— MLB (@MLB) October 17, 2020

Stay hot, Corey. 🔥#NLCS pic.twitter.com/l1hM70qveu
— MLB (@MLB) October 17, 2020

Will Smith took Will Smith deep

Will Smith vs. Will Smith.

Advantage, Will Smith. 😱 pic.twitter.com/RxjuhY5hek
— MLB (@MLB) October 17, 2020

Mookie’s game-changing double-play

This Mookie Betts catch 😱 pic.twitter.com/D9wPv1370T
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 17, 2020

Astros broke it open in the 5th & 6th

Back-to-back hits on back-to-back pitches.@astros take the lead! #ALCS pic.twitter.com/UNggwLCyKS
— MLB (@MLB) October 16, 2020

Carlos comes through again. 💪#ALCS pic.twitter.com/pssk4ZeQEU
— MLB (@MLB) October 17, 2020

The first career #postseason homer for @KTuck30. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/UGsRHJTlID
— MLB (@MLB) October 17, 2020

Cristian Pache brought this one back

.@cristianpache25 brought it back! 😱 pic.twitter.com/WQK2KNnZlL
— MLB (@MLB) October 17, 2020

A.J. Minter was electric in his 1st start

First career start coming in #NLCS Game 5.

A.J. Minter was ELECTRIC. pic.twitter.com/6JlE5i79o0
— MLB (@MLB) October 17, 2020

Framber Valdez’s curveball is ELITE

Trouble with the curve. #ALCS pic.twitter.com/vZNU61Y4b7
— MLB (@MLB) October 16, 2020

Most Valuable Intel

1. Corey Seager is having the greatest Dodgers postseason ever

If the Dodgers are going to pull off a 3-1 comeback, they’re going to need someone to step up and lead the way. Even with two MVP’s on the team, it’s been Corey Seager who has turned it on in October. He’s already recorded the most HR (4) & RBIs (10) in a single playoff series by a Dodgers player ever, and it’s only through five games so far. After a bounce back 2019 season from injury, he’s officially beginning to reach his potential as a MVP-caliber SS with an excellent .307/.358/.585 slash line in 2020. The 26-year-old still has a lot of career ahead of him, but a postseason run like this, combined with him just starting to scratch the surface of his first round ceiling, and he could possibly one day go down as the greatest Dodgers hitter ever besides Jackie Robinson if he can continue to produce like this for the next 6-8 years.

2. Framber Valdez is a future All-Star ace

Blake Snell has a Cy Young award already to his name so Framber Valdez had his work cut out for him in Game 6 to help his team get a win with their season on the line. While Zack Greinke may be viewed as the team’s current ace due to his name, the Houston Astros starter in Game 6 (and Game 1) is their true No.1 right now. Top prospect Forrest Whitley might give him a run for his money as the team’s ace in a few years, but Valdez’s ridiculous curveball that broke records on Friday gives him one of the most dangerous pitches in the game that can help him earn a few All-Star appearances throughout his promising career.

3. The Rays bats have gone ice cold

As good as Framber Valdez was in Game 6, Tampa’s lineup has struggled well before he even took the mound. The American League’s No.1 team has never been known for its offense, but always seemed to come through when they needed hits and runs the most. However, that hasn’t been the case in this series, especially in the last three games. They’re not even hitting above .200 in the ALCS and need someone other than Randy Arozarena to step up soon or this team could be on the wrong side of history after Game 7.

Future Outlook

For a primer on what the colors mean, click here. For LAD’s full Team Outlook, click here

The Astros and Dodgers delivered on Friday to set up an epic day of baseball on Saturday before the NFL takes over on Sunday (unless LA can force a Game 7). Instead of having no pro sports to watch on the best day of the week (Saturday), MLB fans can now enjoy an ALCS Game 7 at 8:30 and NLCS Game 6 at 4:30.

Charlie Morton and Lance McCullers both have experience in winner-take-all games as Morton has more wins (3) in those situations than any pitcher in history. Atlanta has their ace Max Fried on the hill in Game 6 as they look to close it out, but if Corey Seager can stay hot and LA can find a way to win with Walker Buehler doing his thing, it’ll lead to their own Game 7 with an all hands on deck approach from both teams with their seasons on the line.