Open Games Thread, LDS Game 2 (NL) and 3 (AL)

the face when you have been Raysed | Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Some teams are already in trouble...

A five-game series is interesting because it almost feels like a three-game series initially, in the importance of winning at least one of the first two games; statistically, going down 0-2 and having to battle to stave off elimination for the remainder of the series is not where you want to be. Yet that’s where the Athletics find themselves after dropping the first two games of their series to the Astros, who...you know I’m not going to put the tweet here, you can find it yourself if you’re curious, but just imagine what you think the Astros are saying about being up 2-0, and that’s what they’re saying. Elsewhere, the Padres have only played and lost one game, but it feels like they’re playing with their backs against the wall, with Mike Clevinger only making it a couple innings into his start in his return from an elbow impingement and showing a serious dropoff in both command and velocity in the pitches he did throw. Who is going to pitch for the Padres from here on out? Guess what, it’s you.

Today’s games are about to get underway, starting with the Braves-Marlins, who got off to a ripsnorter of a series yesterday with an exciting, back-and-forth contest that featured plenty of offense and more than a little drama. Atlanta pulled away late in the game, but the Marlins gave them a good run. Game 2 starts at 11 AM and is on MLB Network, which might not be as accessible for those of you who don’t have that in your cable package but good news! MLBN is doing a free preview; go to MLBNetwork.com for more info or visit MLBNetwork.com/watch or use the MLB app for a stream.

Lineups for that game:

Next up is the Athletics and Astros at 12:37; this game airs on TBS.

This game is a must-win for the A’s and they’ll send their best pitcher Jesús Luzardo to the mound to try to stave off elimination. Should be a good one, even though I’ve been disappointed with the A’s so far in this series. [Cue Tyra Banks “we were all rooting for you” .gif]

The afternoon/evening slate of games starts with Game 3 of the Yankees-Rays series at 4:10 on TBS, immediately-ish following the conclusion of the A’s-Astros game. After getting the doors blown off them late in Game 1 by the Yankees’ big bats, the Rays Raysed their way to a victory last night behind strong pitching. It was a genuinely exciting game from start to finish and my only rooting interest now is for the series to go a full five and for whoever emerges triumphant to crush the Astros in the ALCS.

The nightcap is Game 2 of the Dodgers-Padres, and I love my Dads, but I’m not sure without any pitching they can hang with the Big Bad Dodgers. It’s not technically a must-win game for San Diego, but it feels must-win. That game gets underway at 6:08 on FS1. We’ll post lineups for the later two games when they become available.