Houston in desperate need of a win
ALCS Game 3 Preview: Rays vs. Astros
Oct 13, 2020, 8:35 am
Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images
Astros Jose Urquidy
It's (practically speaking) now or never for the Astros. After dropping Games 1 and 2, Houston faces a potential 3-0 deficit should they lose ALCS Game 3 on Tuesday night, a point in a seven-game series that, even in baseball, is just about impossible to come back from and win.
Houston does have some good points of their game to consider, along with some bad luck and small yet costly mental errors to avoid to turn this series around. Here are some facts and storylines for Game 3:
Game Facts
When: Tuesday, October 13th, 7:40 PM Central.
Where: Petco Park - San Diego, California.
TV: TBS.
Streaming: Watch TBS App.
Pitching Matchup: Ryan Yarbrough vs. Jose Urquidy.
Series: TB leads 2-0.
Series Schedule
| Date & Time (Central) | Pitching Matchup | Home Team | |
| Game 1 | Final: Rays 2, Astros 1 | Framber Valdez (L) vs. Blake Snell (W) | Rays |
| Game 2 | Final: Rays 4, Astros 2 | Lance McCullers Jr. (L) vs. Charlie Morton (W) | Rays |
| Game 3 | Tue 10/13, TBD | Ryan Yarbrough vs. Jose Urquidy | Astros |
| Game 4 | Wed 10/14, TBD | Tyler Glasnow vs. TBD | Astros |
| Game 5* | Thu 10/15, TBD | TBD vs. TBD | Astros |
| Game 6* | Fri 10/16, TBD | TBD vs. TBD | Rays |
| Game 7* | Sat 10/17, TBD | TBD vs. TBD | Rays |
All games played at Petco Park.
* If necessary
Game Storylines
The smallest changes can have the biggest impacts
The Astros can use any excuse to treat this like a new series and shrug off the first two games. The ultimate way to do that would be winning the next two games and making it a fresh, best-of-three over the last three games. Until then, they can at least take the change of outlook by batting second in Game 3 as they play the home team.
That allows them the opportunity to build some confidence on the field behind Jose Urquidy before they step into the box. That confidence could be the difference between their hard-luck outs so far in this series and putting some runs on the board, something they'll need to do early on Tuesday. Houston must improve with runners in scoring position, where they currently sit 3-for-16. If they can cash in on a few of those chances when they come up, Game 3 will look vastly different from the prior two.
Keep fighting the pitching battle
With the three-run home run allowed by Lance McCullers Jr. in Game 2 coming after an error, those runs would go down as unearned. He allowed just one earned run over his seven impressive innings, following Game 1 starter Framber Valdez, who allowed two earned runs over six. Combine the two, and they've gone 13 innings of three-run baseball, with three innings of scoreless bullpen work after them to finish both games.
On the other side, the Rays have just ten innings out of their starters and already eight from their relievers. That gives the Astros, at least in terms of rest, a bullpen advantage in Game 3 and potentially beyond. If they can chase Tampa Bay's starter out at five innings or less once again, ideally with runs already on the board, the Astros will be in a position to stress the Rays' bullpen further, which could be a pivotal component to the final games of the series.
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
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Patrick Mahomes threw for 260 yards and a touchdown while running for a score on his ailing ankle, and the Kansas City Chiefs took a big step toward securing the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs with a 27-19 victory over the Houston Texans on Saturday.
The AFC West champion Chiefs (14-1), who have won four straight against the AFC South champ Texans (9-6), can clinch the postseason bye if Buffalo loses to or ties New England on Sunday. If the Bills win, Kansas City can wrap it up by beating Pittsburgh on Christmas Day.
Xavier Worthy had seven catches for 65 yards and a touchdown, Kareem Hunt ran for 55 yards and another score, and Marquise Brown had five catches for 45 yards for Kansas City in his first game this season after recovering from a shoulder injury.
C.J. Stroud had 244 yards and two touchdown passes with two interceptions for Houston, though one of those TD throws came at great expense. Tank Dell, who had six catches for 98 yards, hurt his left knee on the play and was carted from the field.
Dalton Schultz also had a TD reception for the Texans. Joe Mixon was held to 57 yards rushing.
*Be sure to watch the video above as the crew from Texans on Tap reacts live on YouTube.
There were questions early in the week about whether Mahomes would play after sustaining a high ankle sprain late in last week's win over Cleveland. But the two-time MVP was off the injury report by Friday, and Mahomes showed no problems on the Chiefs' opening drive Saturday, finishing it off with a 15-yard scramble to the end zone.
It was merely the start of a back-and-forth first half.
The Texans answered with a 33-yard field goal, then went on a 13-play, 82-yard drive that ended with Stroud's touchdown toss to Schutlz. But the Chiefs quickly regained the lead when Hunt barreled into the end zone, and they tacked on a field goal after Stroud's second interception to lead 17-10 at the break.
Dell was hurt on the Texans' opening drive of the third quarter. He came across the back of the end zone and made a spectacular catch but collided with teammate Jared Wayne on his way to the ground. He immediately grabbed his left knee, and Stroud was tearful and visibly shaken as one of his top wide receivers was loaded on a cart and driven from the field.
Ka'imi Fairbairn promptly missed the extra point, and any momentum Houston might've had disappeared.
Kansas City marched the other way, relying heavily on Worthy, who touched the ball four times on the drive. He finished it off with an 8-yard reception, giving the first-round a season-high for receiving yards and his eighth touchdown.
The teams matched fourth-quarter field goals, and the Texans took over trailing 27-19 with just over five minutes to go.
They promptly went three-and-out and Kansas City ran out the clock from there.
Taylor time
Pop star Taylor Swift was on hand for the Chiefs' regular-season finale. She has been spending more time with her boyfriend, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, in Kansas City since she wrapped up her Eras Tour on Dec. 8 in Vancouver, British Columbia, including making a surprise visit to Children's Mercy Hospital.
Injuries
Houston: OG Shaq Mason (left knee) left on the fourth play of the game. FS Jimmie Ward (foot) was hurt late in the first half.
Kansas City: LB Jack Cochrane (ankle) left in the first quarter. RT Jawaan Taylor (knee) left in the third quarter and DT Chris Jones sustained a minor calf injury in the fourth.
Up next
The Chiefs head to Pittsburgh and Houston welcomes Baltimore for the NFL's doubleheader on Christmas Day.