POINT BLANK IS PRESENTED BY FITZ ROOFING
The Houston Rockets got a big win over the weekend against the Jazz, and seem to really be playing well right now with their new pieces.
ESPN 97.5's Joel Blank weighs in on the Rockets' upcoming schedule, and how they can gain some ground in the standings over the next few weeks.
Point Blank is presented by Fitz Roofing.
It took all nine innings, but the Astros rallied late and took Game 1 by a score of 4-1 and are in the driver's seat in this best-of-three series. They'll return to Target Field, home of the Twins, on Wednesday afternoon to try and get the win and advance to the ALDS. Here's what you need to know about Game 2:
When: Wednesday, 12:08 PM Central
Where: Target Field - Minneapolis, Minnesota
TV: ESPN 2
Streaming: ESPN App
Pitching Matchup: Jose Urquidy+ vs. José Berríos.
Series: HOU leads 1-0.
| Date & Time (Central) | Location | Pitching Matchup | |
| Game 1 | Astros 4, Twins 1 | Target Field, Minneapolis | Greinke vs. Maeda |
| Game 2 | Wed 9/30, 12:08 PM | Target Field, Minneapolis | Urquidy+ vs. Berríos |
| Game 3* | Thu 10/1, 12:08 PM | Target Field, Minneapolis | McCullers Jr.+ vs. Pineda+ |
* If necessary.
+ Projected starters.
The Twins' error in the ninth inning in Game 1 was a gift for the Astros that they were able to take advantage of and score the winning runs. It's unlikely to be handed another chance like that in the postseason, so in Game 2, it's paramount that Houston creates their own opportunities at the plate.
The good news is, every batter in the lineup was able to reach base in the first game, either by hit or walk. However, they would go 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position while leaving nine on base during the game. Because they can't expect to have two pitchers to combine for a one-run game on Wednesday, they will have to carry over the momentum from the end of Game 1 into Game 2 to build a lead their bullpen can carry.
Whether it's Jose Urquidy, who is the likely candidate, or anyone else who ends up starting Wednesday's game, the Astros have to be prepared to have a longer stretch of innings filled by their bullpen. Despite his struggles to end the regular season, Greinke did well only to allow one run to the Twins over his four innings in Game 1.
You should expect a similar outcome in Game 2, where hopefully your starter can hold the Twins at bay for as long as they can before needing to make the change to relievers. It will be interesting to see how Dusty Baker plays that situation, mostly dependent on the score at the time, as he could have someone like Cristian Javier come in for multiple innings. The only thing the Astros shouldn't do is fire too many of their bullets and put their chances in a potential Game 3 at risk.
Be sure to check SportsMap after the final out for an in-depth recap of the game, and follow me on Twitter for updates and reactions throughout each playoff game: @ChrisCampise
