ALDS PREVIEW

Examining the key factors in Astros ALDS matchup against White Sox

Astros Dusty Baker, Jose Altuve, Kyle Tucker
Composite image by Jack Brame

After winning their division over the weekend, Houston is set to take on the American League Central Division champion Chicago White Sox in the ALDS.

This is the first time these two clubs have played postseason baseball against each other since the 2005 World Series.

The Astros won the regular season series 5-2 and outscored the South Siders 35-21.

As playoff rosters are being constructed for both teams, here are some key players to watch when the Astros meet the White Sox in the ALDS.

Impact Players:

The Astros "Magnificent Seven" can compete with any lineup in baseball.

This offense led the league in batting average, hits, RBI's and runs scored this season.

They are top 10 in home runs and walks as well.

One of the best players for the Astros this season has been the American League batting title winner Yuli Gurriel.

The 37-year-old is the second-oldest player to win this accolade in either league behind Barry Bonds (38) who won it in 2002.

Gurriel, along with his teammate Michael Brantley, finished with the highest and second-highest batting average in the American League respectively.

Both players hit above .300 for the year, and have gotten on base consistently all season.

Yordan Alvarez supplied the power numbers this year, as he led the team in home runs (33) and RBI's (104).

The 3rd-year slugger played a handful of games in the outfield this season, and could be used in the field or a designated hitter in the playoffs.

Carlos Correa and Kyle Tucker had career years in homers with 26 and 30 respectively.

Finally, Jose Altuve is having a better season than he did in 2020 and Alex Bregman has returned to form since his quad injury sent him to the injured list back in June.

Here is what the postseason lineup could look like for the Astros.

2B Jose Altuve

LF Michael Brantley

3B Alex Bregman

DH Yordan Alvarez

1B Yuli Gurriel

RF Kyle Tucker

SS Carlos Correa

CF Jake Meyers

C Martin Maldonado

This is one of the best batting lineups in baseball and could be the determining factor in deciding a playoff series.

Impact Pitchers:

Lance McCullers Jr. (13-5) and Framber Valdez (11-6) have been a great one-two punch for the starting rotation this year. The former will start Game 1 on Thursday and the ladder will most likely take the mound Friday.

Valdez had some issues with command as of late and leads the majors with 76 walks, but is great at not allowing home runs, with only a 0.7 HR/9 on the season.

The White Sox have a right-handed heavy lineup, but his elite curveball makes him a great asset to have against these righties.

With the announcement from Astros' manager Dusty Baker that veteran pitcher Zack Greinke could come out of the bullpen this postseason, Luis Garcia and Jose Urquidy to be the likely Game 3 and Game 4 (if necessary) starters. Jake Odorizzi could be an option out of the pen as well this postseason.

The White Sox rotation will most likely be Lance Lynn, Lucas Giolito, Dylan Cease, and Carlos Rodon.

These starters went a combined 2-3 against the Astros this year and look to be a formidable staff to face in the first round.

Impact Bullpen:

Although Ryan Pressly had an All-Star season this year, the Astros still needed to improve their bullpen at the trade deadline.

Houston acquired Kendall Graveman from their division rival Mariners, and Yimi Garcia from the Marlins, while moving Cristian Javier to a full-time relief pitcher role.

These corresponding moves improved the bullpen dramatically, and gave the Astros many opportunities to hold leads throughout the season.

Odds:

According to FanDuel, The Astros are -124 to win the series and the White Sox are +106.

Up Next:

The ALDS will start on Thursday at Minute Maid Park with the game start time still TBD.

McCullers will get the start Game 1 and will most likely face White Sox ace Lance Lynn.

Here is how the ALDS format will play out.

Game 1: Thursday, Oct. 7 at MMP

Game 2: Friday, Oct. 8 at MMP

Game 3: Sunday, Oct. 10 in Chicago

Game 4 (if necessary): Monday, Oct. 11 in Chicago

Game 5 (if necessary): Wednesday, Oct. 13 at MMP

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Jalen Green does it again! Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images.

Jalen Green scored 27 points to lead the Houston Rockets to a 110-92 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night.

It was the Rockets' ninth straight win, their longest winning streak since 2019.

At 36-35, Houston is now just a half game behind Golden State for the final spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament.

“For sure, I’m looking at it,” Green said of the standings. “I was watching the Warriors last night. We’re making a push, and we’re executing so we’ve just got to stay the course.”

Green entered Monday tied for fourth in the NBA in scoring in March with 27.8 points per game on 51.4% shooting. Against Portland, he made 9 of 26 shots, including 4 of 12 from 3.

“He was kind of forcing it a little bit early and looked a little anxious, but he grinded it out and played the right way,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “It was huge for him to come out in the second half like that.”

Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. was out, serving a one-game suspension for his Saturday night fight with Jazz guard Kris Dunn. In his place, Jock Landale had a season-high 17 points and added nine rebounds.

“His energy really got us back in the game,” Udoka said. “His energy has been huge lately, and we really needed it tonight with a few guys struggling early.”

Houston outscored Portland 33-20 in the third quarter, taking an 80-71 lead into the fourth after trailing 51-47 at halftime.

Portland suffered its seventh straight loss and fell to 4-13 since the All-Star break.

Dalano Banton led the Blazers with 28 points and 11 rebounds off the bench, while Scoot Henderson added 15 points.

“We need to keep our defensive intensity up,” Henderson said. “That’s going to give us a chance every night — defensive intensity, moving the ball and just making the game easier for ourselves and not trying to one-on-one the whole game because we can’t win like that.”

In Saturday night’s loss to Denver, Portland became the second team to start five rookies since NBA box scores started tracking starters in the 1971-72 season. The Blazers started the same five rookies on Monday night.

Portland briefly held a nine-point lead in the first quarter but entered the second quarter down 28-25.

“I thought we had a really good first half and had some good moments in that third quarter, but the game kind of turned,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. “They picked up their defensive pressure, and we just didn’t respond well to it. Give them credit. They turned it up when they needed to, defensively, against a young group.”

The Blazers were missing Deandre Ayton (left elbow tendinitis), Anfernee Simons (left knee tendinitis), Malcolm Brogdon (right elbow tendinitis) and Jerami Grant (right hamstring strain).

UP NEXT

Trail Blazers: At Atlanta on Wednesday night.

Rockets: Visit Oklahoma City on Wednesday night.

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