PSO Premium Review: ALCS Game 7 & NLCS Game 6

After blowing a 3-0 lead, Tampa Bay got it done when it mattered most with Charlie Morton solidifying himself as the greatest winner-take-all pitcher of all-time and Tampa Bay proving they’re the new team to beat in the American League. The Los Angele Dodgers are in the midst of a comeback of their own and they have a much better chance than Houston to complete the comeback to clinch a World Series berth. With a World Championship featuring the best two teams in the league on deck, let’s look at the major impact Saturday’s games had on the outcome of a historic 2020 MLB season.

Enjoy PSO’s Premium Review for ALCS Game 7 & NLCS Game 6:

Facts to Know

Charlie Morton has 4 wins in winner-take-all games, 2x as many as any other pitcher in postseason history
Randy Arozarena became the 1st rookie position player to EVER win League Championship MVP
Randy Arozarena’s 7 HRs this postseason are the most ever by a rookie. He is 1 shy of the all-time single postseason record
Tampa Bay Rays OF Randy Arozarena’s .839 SLG in the postseason is the highest in MLB history (min. 50 PA)
This is the 1st postseason ever where 4 players hit 6+ HR in a single postseason (Seager, Correa, Arozarena, & Stanton)
Tampa Bay’s 71.9% of their runs via HRs this postseason is the most for any team entering a World Series
The Rays are the 1st team to make the WS with a payroll ranked 28th or lower since the 2008 Rays (29th)
Carlos Correa is now tied for the most RBI as a SS during a single postseason year (17)
Randy Arozarena is the 1st rookie with a go-ahead HR in a Game 7 since Miguel Cabrera ’03 NLCS
Charlie Morton is the 2nd pitcher ever with multiple career starts of 5+ scoreless innings in a Game 7

Pete Fairbanks became the 1st rookie to save a Game 7 since David Price in the ’08 ALCS. Both sent TB to the WS
Only Nelson Cruz has more HR (6 in 2011 ALCS) in a single playoff series than Corey Seager in the 2020 NLCS (5)
LA Dodgers SS Corey Seager tied the MLB record for the most HRs in a playoff series when facing elimination (3)

Best Highlights

Mookie made an amazing grab

MOOKIE. 😱

What. A. Catch. pic.twitter.com/jev5QHfdGf
— MLB (@MLB) October 17, 2020

Araozarena & Zunino went deep in Game 7

Randy Savage. #ALCS pic.twitter.com/0atgL1H5kd
— MLB (@MLB) October 18, 2020

Mike to the moon. 😱 pic.twitter.com/TZT4lbgvtT
— MLB (@MLB) October 18, 2020

The rookie saved the pennant

Pete Fairbanks was anything but fair.

(MLB x @GoogleCloud) pic.twitter.com/qUMK3YGvaG
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) October 18, 2020

Dodgers went back-to-back in the 1st

The @Dodgers jump on the board early going back-to-back. pic.twitter.com/FGYr4LZnPJ
— MLB (@MLB) October 17, 2020

Morton was on his A-game in Game 7

14 outs in a row for Charlie Morton pic.twitter.com/EkwgMcPeeg
— Nick Pollack (@PitcherList) October 18, 2020

Astros made it interesting in the 8th

Correa cuts the deficit in half. 👀

📺: Game 7 on @TBSNetwork pic.twitter.com/N70Nr8cnZD
— MLB (@MLB) October 18, 2020

Spinning Willy showing his moves

Let Willy spin! 😮 pic.twitter.com/Ii7SXaWZRr
— MLB (@MLB) October 18, 2020

Most Valuable Intel

1. Charlie Morton is the greatest pitcher in winner-take-all games ever

In four career winner-take-all postseason starts, Charlie Morton is 4-0 with a 0.46 ERA. He’s been absolutely dominant when his team’s seasons are on the line and has proven himself to be the premier pitcher when it matters most. Madison Bumgarner has a legendary legacy for his performance on the biggest stage, and Charlie Morton is now solidified as the best there is when only one team can move on after that game.

2. Randy Arozarena makes Tampa Bay the best team in the AL

The Tampa Bay Rays were named a dark horse title contender by PSO before the season began, but that was due to their dominant bullpen, excellent rotation, and superb defense. Now that Randy Arozarena has broken out as one of the best hitters in the game (as a rookie), Tampa Bay is solidified as the best team in the American League. The results of having the best record in the AL wouldn’t be enough if they fell short of the World Series to New York or Houston, and they wouldn’t have beaten either of those AL powerhouses if it wasn’t for Arozarena, who can now be considered the best player on the best team in the American League.

3. Walker Buehler is becoming LA’s best pitcher

Clayton Kershaw deserves the recognition of being the greatest pitcher of this generation. However, that’s solely due to his outstanding success during the regular season in the 2010s. The lanky lefty was great again in the 2020 regular season, but after postseason disappointment after postseason disappointment, and it’s hard for any Dodgers fan to have more faith in Kershaw than Walker Buehler’s, who is off to a fantastic start to his playoff career. Buehler’s electric stuff is great during a 162-game (or 60-game) season, but it’s even better during the final matchups in October. Buehler proved once again why he’s quickly become the best pitcher among LA’s stacked rotation.

Future Outlook

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

The Rays have won thier second AL pennant in franchise history as one of the few teams in MLB history to do so with a bottom-tier payroll. They’ll enjoy two days off to celebrate their win and prepare for the World Series where they’ll have a fierce opponent either way as the Dodgers and Braves are now in line for a Game 7. This is only the third year in history that both Championship Series’ went a full seven games. LA and ATL square off at 8:15 p.m. ET on Sunday with Ian Anderson and a great Braves bullpen ready to take on LA’s entire pitching staff (besides Buehler).