Game Thread: ALDS settled, NLDS Game 4

It’ll be Astros vs. Red Sox in the ALCS

The American League half of the 2021 postseason has completed its divisional round. The Boston Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night to win their ALDS matchup, and now on Tuesday the Houston Astros wrapped up their series against the Chicago White Sox. It’ll be Astros vs. Red Sox in the ALCS. Gross.

For Boston, the clincher was another classic thriller. They took a 5-0 lead but blew it, as the Rays came back to tie it in the 8th. Then in the bottom of the 9th the Sox put runners on base, and Enrique Hernandez delivered a walk-off sac fly.

• Recap from Over The Monster
• Recap from DRaysBay

For Houston, it was a decisive 10-1 victory this afternoon, after being postponed yesterday by rain. Five different Astros drove in runs, and the bullpen tossed five innings of relief.

• Recap from Crawfish Boxes
• Recap from South Side Sox (coming soon)

Both series lasted four games.

Over in the National League, both NLDS matchups have also reached Game 4. The Atlanta Braves have a 2-1 lead over the Milwaukee Brewers, and the San Francisco Giants have a 2-1 edge over the Los Angeles Dodgers, putting the Brewers and Dodgers on the brink of elimination tonight.

Braves vs. Brewers

In Game 3 yesterday the Braves won 3-0, the same score they’d won by in Game 2. Former A’s pitcher Jesse Chavez chipped in a scoreless inning of relief.

• Recap from Talking Chop
• Recap from Brew Crew Ball

The big news before Game 4 is that Atlanta outfielder Jorge Soler tested positive for COVID-19 and was placed on the injured list. The slugger batted leadoff in the order for the first three games.

On the pitching side, Charlie Morton makes his second start of the series for the Braves, after taking the loss in Game 1 despite a quality effort. Milwaukee sends out Eric Lauer, coming off a solid regular season.

Brewers lineup (home)

1. 2B Kolten Wong (L)
2. SS Willy Adames (R)
3. LF Christian Yelich (L)
4. RF Avisail Garcia (R)
5. 1B Rowdy Tellez (L)
6. 3B Luis Urias (R)
7. C Omar Narvaez (L)
8. CF Lorenzo Cain (R)
9. LHP Eric Lauer (R)

Braves lineup (home)

1. SS Dansby Swanson (R)
2. 1B Freddie Freeman (L)
3. 2B Ozzie Albies (S)
4. 3B Austin Riley (R)
5. LF Adam Duvall (R)
6. RF Joc Pederson (L)
7. C Travis d’Arnaud (R)
8. CF Guillermo Heredia (R)
9. RHP Charlie Morton (R)

How To Watch

• Date: Tuesday, October 12
• Time: 3:15 p.m. PT
• TV: TBS

Dodgers vs. Giants

In Game 3 last night, the Giants shut out the Dodgers for the second time in the series. Los Angeles almost had an RBI single late in the game but San Francisco made a highlight catch to rob it, and then L.A. almost hit a homer in their final at-bat of the 9th inning but unusually strong winds knocked it down. It was like watching the frustrating 2021 Oakland A’s.

The final score was 1-0. Dodgers starter Max Scherzer struck out 10 batters over seven sparkling innings but took the loss, on a solo homer by Evan Longoria.

• Recap from McCovey Chronicles
• Recap from True Blue LA

Game 4 sees the return of L.A. starter Walker Buehler, who took the loss in Game 1 despite a quality performance. For the Giants it’s Anthony DeSclafani, who faced the Dodgers six times this year but was only good twice.

Giants lineup (away)

1. 2B Tommy La Stella (L)
2. 1B Darin Ruf (R)
3. SS Brandon Crawford (L)
4. C Buster Posey (R)
5. RF Kris Bryant (R)
6. LF LaMonte Wade Jr. (L)
7. 3B Evan Longoria (R)
8. CF Mike Yastrzemski (L)
9. RHP Anthony DeSclafani (R)

Dodgers lineup (home)

1. RF Mookie Betts (R)
2. SS Corey Seager (L)
3. 2B Trea Turner (R)
4. C Will Smith (R)
5. 3B Justin Turner (R)
6. CF Gavin Lux (L)
7. 1B Cody Bellinger (L)
8. LF Chris Taylor (R)
9. RHP Walker Buehler (R)

How To Watch

• Date: Tuesday, October 12
• Time: 6:07 p.m. PT
• TV: TBS