DAT 8/1: Tampa Bay (Archer) @ Houston (Fiers) 7:10 CT - Battle of the Aces Edition

Assuming that everyone is still healthy (and McCullers is back) and assuming the Astros go with a 4-man playoff rotation... who's the odd man out?

Based on the last month or so it would probably be McCullers, right?



Probably a moot point though, someone else will hurt something by then.

Did Sipp get DFA'd yet?

Too early to speculate on that. Ideally it's Keuchel-LMJ-McHugh-insert #4 here

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insert #4 here

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Has to be fiers, right?


I am not worried about LMJ in the playoffs. He is a gamer. Call it the moxy or whatever cliche, he will be clutch.

Some rest should do him right.

I think it would be Fiers, as well as he's pitched lately.

That helps bolster the bullpen some, with Morton and Peacock available for 2-3 innings to bridge the gap if a starter can't go deep.

I'll try to help on the 50 page deal...

Per peter gammons-

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The Astros are 11 1/2 game up for post-season home field, and were not going to trade Whitley, Tucker, Perez, Alvarez, Martes. Period.

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Assuming everyone is healthy I think the playoff rotation is Keuchel, McCullers, McHugh, Morton. Morton seems like an excellent 4th starter for the playoffs. Just limit him to twice through the lineup. He's been money early in games. Fiers has been great and if he continues it the next two months that would change things. But I'm not sold and prefer a limited use Morton as of now.

And a playoff pen is probably Giles, Harris, Devo, Peacock, Gregerson, Martes. If Martes can get his control in check (a big if) he's got the stuff to be a dominant reliever in Oct. Hoyt is a wild card for me. He's got to figure a lot out, maybe he's tipping pitches. But I don't understand how he can have such great K% and BB% and still be so terrible. I really wanted one more good arm, but alas.

You don't think Fiers or Liriano will be in the playoff pen?

Or Guduan, if Liriano sucks it up as a reliever. You know there will be at least one lefty down there.

Morton has been very good through the first and sometimes second time through lineups. I could see him giving you a consistent 5 and having a Fiers or Peacock setup to give you 3 in Morton's starts. If Morton can't keep the momentum going, I would lean more to Peacock. Morton, being that he gives you a solid 4 innings, could be a good innings chewer in relief as well (assuming he can adjust to the role).

Agree. If Morton can get you somewhere between 4 & 5 innings and Peacock can get you to the 7th, then Harris/Devo/Giles close it out. That feels like a playoff recipe.

But I do think Morton profiles as a better reliever than Fiers. May end up depending on how Fiers and Morton look in September.