Less than one week into the 2015 MLB postseason, the road teams have debunked any home-field advantage.
After both away clubs advanced past the Wild Card Games, the road sides remained undefeated Thursday. The Texas Rangers beat the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre to open the American League Division Series, and the Houston Astros topped the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium to also take a 1-0 edge.
If this trend continues, the Blue Jays and the Royals will head into the weekend with their backs against the wall. Before either National League series begins, both ALDS Game 2 matchups will commence Friday’s full slate.
Here’s a look at the league’s schedule:
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Texas Rangers vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Thursday’s Game 1 matchup significantly favored Toronto on paper, but Rangers starter Yovani Gallardo outpitched Blue Jays lefty David Price to give Texas a 5-3 win. The team that finished 2015 with a plus-18 run differential now holds a lead on the club with a plus-221 scoring margin.
Given the earliest start of Friday’s four bouts, several stars must promptly heal from injuries sustained Thursday. MVP candidate Josh Donaldson left Thursday’s game after getting kneed in the head sliding into second base, and Jose Bautista left in the ninth inning. According to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, both Blue Jays are expected back:
Texas, however, faces more uncertainty with Adrian Beltre, who exited Game 1 in considerable pain. The third baseman teared up as he left with lower back stiffness. Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News provided updates on the situation after the game:
Following a rough start to an injury-plagued season, Beltre closed out on a tear. A huge reason the Rangers went from 50-52 to AL West champions, the notorious late-season scorcher hit .328/.379/.540 with 10 homers over their final 60 games. Losing him would sting while trying to trade blows with baseball’s best offense.
The opening game, however, provided less offense than anticipated; both teams combined for 11 hits and four walks. Friday has the potential for an even stingier afternoon at the Rogers Centre, as the Rangers’ Cole Hamels and the Jays’ Marcus Stroman will take the mound.
Texas has won each of Hamels’ last 10 starts, most recently a complete-game gem to clinch the division Sunday. He has recorded a 3.21 ERA over that stretch, but the southpaw will look to avoid Price’s path from hero to scapegoat due to one poor postseason showing.
Stroman‘s early return from a torn ACL has provided Toronto with an unexpected gift. Not only did he defy the early timetable by pitching, but he dazzled with a 1.96 ERA and 0.96 WHIP through four starts—all Blue Jays victories.
Based on his comments, per the team’s Twitter page, the 24-year-old doesn’t sound fazed by his first postseason appearance:
Game 2 of a best-of-five series is of course not a must-win, but the Blue Jays will face steep adversity if they trail 2-0 with the shaky bottom of their rotation forced to save their season on the road.
Houston Astros vs. Kansas City Royals
Back in July, this would be billed as a pitchers’ duel. Right now, neither team can feel confident behind its struggling midseason acquisition.
When Houston acquired Scott Kazmir, he held a 2.38 ERA for the Oakland Athletics. After two strong starts with the Astros, he allowed 42 runs (34 earned) through 58.2 innings. Per FanGraphs, his 23.3 strikeout percentage from the first half slid to 16.8 following the All-Star break, and his hard-hit percentage expanded from 23.3 to 28.4.
The Houston Chronicle‘s Evan Drellich also highlighted Kazmir’s unflattering playoff history:
The Royals’ Johnny Cueto has proven to be an even bigger disaster, recording a 4.75 ERA and 1.45 WHIP since relocating from the Cincinnati Reds. Upon his move to the American League, the 29-year-old righty notched an underwhelming 56 strikeouts through 81.1 frames.
Over his final seven starts, he posted a 5.58 ERA with 24 strikeouts and 12 walks. As Cueto explained to the Kansas City Star‘s Chris Fickett, that all goes down the drain with a fresh postseason slate:
Astros manager A.J. Hinch and Royals skipper Ned Yost both need to have one foot on the dugout step, ready to make a quick move if necessary. Name recognition and past success don’t (or at least shouldn’t) buy a longer leash in October.
Due to Thursday night’s rain delay, the Astros and the Royals will start this game less than 16 hours after concluding Game 1. Kansas City will head back to the park grumpy after dropping the opening tilt despite Kendrys Morales’ two home runs. Finishing 2015 with a .901 OPS against lefties, the designated hitter gets an even better matchup Friday.
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