Rays, Braves Win; Game Times, TV and Starting Pitching for Wednesday

The Tampa Bay Rays won their third straight game against the Houston Astros in the ALCS and can end the series on Wednesday. The Atlanta Braves won again in the NLCS, putting the Los Angeles Dodgers in a big hole.

Author:
Tom Brew
Updated:
Oct 14, 2020 2:06 PM EDT

Houston Astros All-Star Jose Altuve suddenly can't do the most simple of baseball moves. For the second straight night, he made a throwing error on a ground ball, and the Tampa Bay Rays took advantage, scoring five runs in the sixth inning to win Game 3 of the American League Championship Series 5-2 on Tuesday night.

Altuve did the same thing Monday, with two throwing errors. After one of them, the Rays hit a three-run homer to win that game.

Altuve's case of the yips has now basically cost the Astros two games in a row.

"We're giving him all the support that we can," Astros manager Dusty Baker said. "Nobody feels more sorry than Jose, because he takes it very serious and takes it to heart. It hurts us all to see him hurting."

Tampa Bay now has a 3-0 lead in the series and turns to big gun Tyler Glasnow to close out the series on Wednesday

“Still a long way 9to go,'' Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. “There are reasons to be excited for how we played, but we’ve still got to find a way to win a game on Wednesday.

"I’m very confident the mindset with this group will stay consistent, and we’ll do everything we can behind (starter Tyler) Glasnow to make plays and see where that takes us.”

In the National League, Atlanta has jumped out to a 2-0 over the Los Angeles Dodgers after an 8-7 win on Monday night.

MLB announced the game times for the remainder of both the ALCS and NLCS. Here's the schedule and the series recaps:

ALCS: Rays vs. Astros

Game 1, RAYS 2, ASTROS 1: Blake Snell allowed only a first-inning home run, going five innings and then let the bullpen do its thing in Tampa Bay's 2-1 win over Houston. Snell struggled with his control, but kept working out of jams. Four bullpen pitchers threw four scoreless innings, allowing only three hits. The Rays tied the game in the fourth inning on a Randy Arozarena home run and won it on Mike Zunino's single in the fifth. (Tampa Bay leads series 1-0.)
Game 2, RAYS 4, ASTROS 2: Manuel Margot hit a three-run home run in the first inning after an error and made a tremendous catch while falling over the wall to help Tampa Bay beat Houston, 4-2. Houston starter Lance McCullers Jr. was really good, but was victimized by his own defense, which made two errors. He pitched seven innings and struck out 11. Charlie Morton got the win for the Rays, pitching five scoreless innings. Houston had plenty of chances to score, but left 11 men on base. (Tampa Bay leads series 2-0.)
Game 3, RAYS 5, ASTROS 2: Tampa Bay took advantage of another Jose Altuve error and exploded for five runs in the fifth inning to break the game open. Ryan Yarbrough went five innings for the Rays to get the win, and the bullpen pitched four scoreless innings. For the third straight night, Houston squandered all sorts of scoring opportunities, leaving 10 men on base. (Tampa Bay leads series 3-0.)
*** Game 4, Wednesday, 8:40 p.m. ET (TV: TBS): Tampa Bay will pitch Tyler Glasnow on full rest. Glasnow was 5-1 with a 4.08 ERA during the regular season, but has been Tampa Bay's most important pitcher in the postseason. He has started three games, all wins, including two series clinchers against Toronto and the New York Yankees. Houston will go with veteran Zach Greinke, who has been battling arm issues and isn't 100 percent. He was 3-3 with a 4.05 ERA in the regular season, and has allowed five runs in 8 2/3 innings in the playoffs over two starts. He's yet to make it through the fifth inning.
Game 5, Thursday, 5:07 p.m. ET, if necessary (TV: TBS):
Game 6, Friday, 6:07 p.m. ET if necessary (TV: TBS):
Game 7, Saturday 8:37 p.m. ET, if necessary (TV: TBS):

NLCS: Braves vs. Dodgers

Game 1, BRAVES 5, DODGERS 1: The Braves broke a tie in the ninth inning, scoring four times thanks to home runs from Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies to break the game open. The Dodgers, who had the best record in baseball this season (43-17), lost in the postseason for the first time after five straight wins. Starter Max Fried was great for Atlanta, allowing just one run and striking out nine over six innings. Three relievers pitched three hitless innings to grab the early lead in the series. (Atlanta leads series 1-0.)
Game 2, BRAVES 8, DODGERS 7: Ian Anderson, a 22-year-old rookie, continued his consecutive scoreless innings streak and the Braves survived a ninth-inning scare to beat the Dodgers. Anderson pitched four stressful innings, walking five but not allowing a run. He's now gone 15 2/3 innings without giving up a run in the playoffs. Freddie Freeman was 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs and a homer and Ozzie Albies was 3-for-4 with 2 RBIs. The Dodgers, who trailed 7-0 at one point, scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth to make it interesting, but A.J. Pollock grounded out to end the game with a man on third. (Atlanta leads series 2-0.)
*** Game 3, Wednesday. 6:05 p.m. ET (TV: FoxSports1): Right-hander Kyle Wright will start for the Braves. He was 2-4 with a 5.21 ERA in the regular season, but pitched six scoreless innings in his only playoff start, scattering three hits in the series-clinching win over the Miami Marlins. The Dodgers will start Julio Urias, who was 3-0 with a 3.27 ERA in the regular season. He has pitched eight innings in the playoffs thus far, and has been very good, not allowing a run.
Game 4, Thursday. 8:08 p.m. ET (TV: FoxSports1): The Dodgers are hoping that Kershaw, who was scratched from Game 2, will be ready by then.
Game 5, Friday 9:08 p.m. ET, if necessary (TV: FoxSports1):
Game 6, Saturday 4:38 p.m. ET, if necessary (TV: FoxSports1):
Game 7, Sunday 8:15 p.m ET, if necessary (TV: FoxSports1 or FOX):

American League Division Series

Tampa Bay Rays vs. New York Yankees

Best-of-5 series, all games played at Petco Park, San Diego
Game 1, Yankees 9, Rays 3: Gerrit Cole struck out eight batters over six innings and Giancarlo Stanton hit a grand slam in the ninth inning to help the Yankees win the series opener. (New York leads series, 1-0.)
Game 2, Rays 7, Yankees 5: Rays starter Tyler Glasnow struck out 10 Yankees in just five innings and earned the win in Tampa Bay's 7-5 victory. The Rays' bullpen was very good, too, allowing just one run and two hits over four innings, racking up eight more strikeouts. The Yankees' 18 strikeouts were a postseason record for a nine-inning game. Giancarlo Stanton hit two homers for New York. (Series tied 1-1).
Game 3, Rays 8, Yankees 4: The Rays' Randy Arozarena is turning into a superstar right before our eyes. The 25-year-old Cuban rookie hit a home run for the third straight day and went 3-for-4 in the Rays' second-consecutive win. He has 11 hits in the Rays' first four playoff games, which ties a major-league record. Starter Charlie Morton went five innings, allowing just one earned run and striking out six, and the vaunted Tampa Bay bullpen took it from there. (Tampa Bay leads series, 2-1)
Game 4, Yankees 5, Rays 1: Gleybar Torres hit a two-run homer, Jordan Montgomery pitched four solid innings, and the Yankees bullpen was perfect, pitching five hitless innings to beat the Rays and send the series to a deciding fifth game. Former Indiana star got the last four outs for Tampa Bay, allowing one run and three hits in his first outing since Sept. 26.
Game 5, Rays 2, Yankees 1: Austin Meadows hit a home run off Gerrit Cole and reserve Mike Brosseau homered off of Aroldis Chapman in the bottom of the eighth to lead Tampa Bay to a 2-1 win. The Rays won the series 3-2, and that was after dominating the Yankees 8-2 during the regular season.

Oakland A's vs. Houston Astros

Best-of-5 series, all games played at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
Game 1, Astros 10, A's 5: Carlos Correa hit two home runs and George Springer had four hits to help Houston beat Oakland in a slugfest. (Houston leads series, 1-0.)
Game 2, Astros 5, A's 2: The Astros got an outstanding starter from Framber Valdez, who went seven innings and allowed only two runs in the 5-2 win. George Springer had another huge night at the plate, hitting two home runs and driving in three runs. He's had six hits in the first two games to help give Houston a commanding lead. (Houston leads series, 2-0.)
Game 3, A's 9, Astros 7: Oakland kept its season alive with a huge rally from three runs down, tying the game on a three-run homer from Chad Pinder in the seventh and then scoring two runs in the eighth on sacrifice flys. Closer Liam Hendriks pitched the final three innings to get in the win, allowing just one hit and striking out four. (Houston leads series, 2-1.)
Game 4, Astros 11, A's 6): Michael Brantley hit two home runs and a worn-out Houston bullpen closed out the deal as the Astros won the series and moved on to the AL Championship Series for the fourth consecutive season. Carlos Correa had a three-run homer for Houston to give them the lead after behind 3-0.

National League Division Series

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Diego Padres

All games played at Globe Life Park, Arlington, Texas
Game 1, Dodgers 5, Padres 1: The Dodgers' pitchers allowed only three hits and struck out 14 in an easy win over the Padres in the series opener. The Dodgers broke the game open with a four-run sixth inning. San Diego's starting rotation is decimated by injuries and Mike Clevenger, who tried to give it a go despite dealing with an elbow injuries, had to be pulled just two pitches into the second innings. San Diego wound up using nine pitchers, and allowed 10 walks. (Los Angeles leads series, 1-0)
Game 2, Dodgers 6, Padres 5: Clayton Kershaw pitched six solid innings and the Dodgers survived a ninth-inning scare to put the Padres in a big hole. Cody Bellinger hit a home run for the Dodgers and saved a home run with a great catch over the wall. Corey Seager was 3-for-4, with two doubles. (Los Angeles leads series, 2-0.)
Game 3, Dodgers 12, Padres 3: San Diego finally ran out of arms and got pounded by the Dodgers, who completed the sweep with a 14-hit performance. Catcher Will Smith led the way, going 5-for-6 with three RBIs. Cody Bellinger had three hits and 3 RBIs, as well.

Atlanta Braves vs. Miami Marlins

All games played at Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas
Game 1, Braves 9, Marlins 5: The Braves came from behind with a six-run explosion in the seventh inning to take down the Marlins in the season opener. Braves catcher Travis D'Arnaud had a huge day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double, a home run and two walks, driving in four runs. Robert Acuna Jr. and Marcell Ozuna also had multi-hit games for the Braves. (Atlanta leads series, 1-0). '
Game 2, Braves 2, Marlins 0: The Braves' pitching continues to dominate in the playoffs, getting their third shutout in four games to take a commanding lead. Rookie Ian Anderson went 5 2/3 innings and struck out eight, and the bullpen took it from there, pitching 3 1/3 innings without even allowing a hit. (Atlanta leads series, 2-0.)
Game 3, Braves 7, Marlins 0: The Braves' Kyle Wright pitched six scoreless innings, allowing only three hits as the Braves pitched their fourth shutout in five playoff games. Atlanta became the second team in history to throw four shutouts in the first five playoff games, joining the 1905 New York Giants behind Hall of Famers Christy Mathewson and Joe McGinnity.