The starters for the first two matches of the American League Championship Series have been announced. As far as the NLCS is concerned, only one name is known.
Manager Alex Cora of the Boston Red Sox made a commitment to MLB Network Radio on Wednesday: Chris Sale will start game 1, game 2 will be taken over by David Price.
Concerning Price, Cora added: “We trust him” after Price started game 2 of the ALDS against the New York Yankees and didn’t get out of the third inning. The Sox lost the encounter 2:6. “He came back earlier from setbacks. We’ll talk to him and make some adjustments. And then we’ll see,” Cora said.
For the games 3 and 4 Nathan Eovaldi and Rick Porcello are expected as already against New York.
The Astros, on the other hand, will not change their ALDS rotation either: Game 1 will be pitched by Ace Justin Verlander, while Gerrit Cole is ready for Game 2. For game 3, left-handed Dallas Keuchel is expected, while game 4 is expected to go to Charlie Morton.
As far as the National League Championship Series is concerned, it is only clear that Clayton Kershaw, who dominated the NLDS against the Colorado Rockies in game 2, will pitch game 1 for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Milwaukee Brewers. All other spots are open.
This is especially true for the Brewers, who have so far been fully committed to “bullpenning” and used numerous (relief) pitcher in every game. This approach is unlikely to change.
This article was published without prior review by Major League Baseball.