Any idea that more pressure now sits on the Rays than the Astros heading into Friday's game six of the American League Championship Series, is of course silly. Only the Astros face elimination in game six. But the pressure scale sure is a lot more balanced than it was a couple of days ago.

If the Astros square it up and force a game seven, the starting pitchers would combine for quite a different game seven memory than the two already etched in Houston's sports memory forever. Lance McCullers would start opposite Charlie Morton.

Only half the job is done toward pulling off turning an 0-3 series deficit into a 4-3 victory. It is amazing that winning even the two games after trailing three-zip is a massive achievement. In the 37 prior baseball bests of seven that started 3-0, only the 2004 Red Sox wound up winning four straight to take the series. The Astros join the '04 Sox and just two others among the 38 shoved into the 0-3 hole to even force a game six. The two others lost game six: the Braves to the Padres in 1998 and the following year the Mets to the Braves.

Fox is rooting like mad for the Astros to pull it off. Given the alternatives the far and away most desirable World Series matchup for drawing eyeballs is Astros-Dodgers for the storyline (and two larger markets) of a rematch of the cheaters vs. cheatees 2017 Fall Classic. The Braves are in a strong position (up three games to one) to deny the Dodgers the NL end of the World Series stick.

As Carlos Correa continues to add layers to his huge postseason moments cake, reminder that he hit all of five homers in the 60 game regular season. He's at six (and counting?) in 11 postseason games this year.

Daryl Morey and the Rockets part ways

Daryl Morey working out a buyout of his contract with Rockets' owner Tilman Fertitta is quite the interesting development. Morey's 13 season tenure as General Manager was very good, but never achieved greatness. The Warriors' dynasty was a burr in Morey's saddle, but zero NBA Finals appearances much less an NBA championship precludes any stamp of greatness on Morey's run. That is a far cry from failure. Among highlights on the Morey ledger: Zero losing seasons, seven seasons winning at least 53 games, two Western Conference Finals appearances. No other NBA team has made the playoffs each of the last eight seasons. However, over those eight seasons six different teams won it all while the Rockets never played for it all.

Promoted from within, Rafael Stone will work as GM at a much lower salary than his predecessor. That's not breaking Fertitta's heart. Stone gets the keys (if he really has them) at a challenging time for the franchise. In an either/or scenario the Rockets are more likely to miss the playoffs in the next season or two than they are to win an NBA title. Who knows how 31-year-old James Harden and soon to be 32 year old Russell Westbrook will mesh with the new Head Coach. The Rockets are on the hook with each for more than 44 million dollars per season over the next three seasons. And with Eric Gordon for over 18 million per thanks to the absurd extension Morey granted him. The Rockets have zero good young players, defining that here as anyone who'd be thought of as a possible top three player on a title contender. Bubble violator Danuel House is closest and at 27 he's not young. That is not exciting. Morey has dealt away multiple first round picks going forward. So while Morey did a fine job overall, some piece in the jigsaw puzzle of his life and professional decision is getting out before things could seriously deteriorate.

Texans clash with Titans this Sunday

Beating the Jaguars in the first game after the firing of Bill O'Brien was nice and fun for the Texans but not exactly a grand accomplishment. The Jaguars are terrible. They have 16 rookies on their roster, and played last week minus their best pass rusher, linebacker, and cornerback. Still, any port in a storm. It's this week the Texans can breathe a little actual hope into this season should they upset the Titans Sunday in Nashville. The 4-0 Titans are only three point favorites. Seems low, but the Titans have a quick turn around from routing the Bills on Tuesday night.

Buzzer Beaters:

1. Yogi Berra once said "90 percent of baseball is half mental." See Jose Altuve throwing the ball right now.

2. Yogi could have said "momentum is all yours until you don't have it." See Astros-Rays.

3. Most dramatic in the moment Astros' game ending home runs: Bronze-Correa game two vs. Yankees 2019 Silver-Jeff Kent game five vs. Cardinals 2004 Gold-Jose Altuve pennant winner over Yankees 2019