As if overcoming a 3-0 deficit to win four consecutive postseason games wasn?t hard enough, the Orioles are going to have to try to do it in four straight days, since Monday?s rainout took away the schedule Thursday travel day.
That?s problematic, since the Orioles have a rotation of six-inning guys and will need to rely heavily on the bullpen to mount a comeback against the Royals. Maybe they?ll survive Game 4, but expecting Andrew Miller, Darren O?Day and Zach Britton to carry the day four times in a row, without any sort of break? well, eventually someone is going to break.
Most likely, it won?t come to that anyway. The Royals are at home these next two days. They had to use their most important relievers in Tuesday?s win, but none threw more than 14 pitches. All will be ready to go again on Wednesday.
But, what if?
The ALCS has been an even matched series thus far, with the Royals just finding a way to win in the end. If there?s a recipe for an Orioles miracle, it would probably involve a late-inning come-from-behind victory against Greg Holland on Wednesday. If they can pull that off ? with Kelvin Herrera and Wade Davis also having worked ? they?ll have the benefit of the Royals? bullpen being tired in Thursday?s Game 5.
A stellar outing from Chris Tillman then could send the Orioles back home with new life, ready for Games 6 and 7. Scheduled Royals Game 6 starter Yordano Ventura left Game 2 with shoulder tightness and his velocity was down before his departure. He could be tired and beatable. Toppling him would set the stage for a Game 7 on Saturday in which neither team would have any planned starters available on normal rest (the result of the rainout). Anything could happen that one. Ideally, it?d mean a whole lot of Kevin Gausman for Baltimore, if he hasn?t already been burnt out in the previous victories.
First, there?s Game 4. They?ll be sending seven or eight right-handed hitters up against Jason Vargas, with Delmon Young making his first start of the series. The Orioles have been beaten, but they don?t appear beaten. Let?s see what happens with their backs up against the wall.
--HBT
That?s problematic, since the Orioles have a rotation of six-inning guys and will need to rely heavily on the bullpen to mount a comeback against the Royals. Maybe they?ll survive Game 4, but expecting Andrew Miller, Darren O?Day and Zach Britton to carry the day four times in a row, without any sort of break? well, eventually someone is going to break.
Most likely, it won?t come to that anyway. The Royals are at home these next two days. They had to use their most important relievers in Tuesday?s win, but none threw more than 14 pitches. All will be ready to go again on Wednesday.
But, what if?
The ALCS has been an even matched series thus far, with the Royals just finding a way to win in the end. If there?s a recipe for an Orioles miracle, it would probably involve a late-inning come-from-behind victory against Greg Holland on Wednesday. If they can pull that off ? with Kelvin Herrera and Wade Davis also having worked ? they?ll have the benefit of the Royals? bullpen being tired in Thursday?s Game 5.
A stellar outing from Chris Tillman then could send the Orioles back home with new life, ready for Games 6 and 7. Scheduled Royals Game 6 starter Yordano Ventura left Game 2 with shoulder tightness and his velocity was down before his departure. He could be tired and beatable. Toppling him would set the stage for a Game 7 on Saturday in which neither team would have any planned starters available on normal rest (the result of the rainout). Anything could happen that one. Ideally, it?d mean a whole lot of Kevin Gausman for Baltimore, if he hasn?t already been burnt out in the previous victories.
First, there?s Game 4. They?ll be sending seven or eight right-handed hitters up against Jason Vargas, with Delmon Young making his first start of the series. The Orioles have been beaten, but they don?t appear beaten. Let?s see what happens with their backs up against the wall.
--HBT
