MLB Playoffs: 2018 ALCS Preview
By Phil Akre
On offense
When you finish with 54 losses in a season, you know things went pretty darn well. Former Astros’ bench coach, Alex Cora, Uh, I mean, Red Sox skipper Alex Cora, did a heck of a job with his bunch this year.
With the help of two leading AL MVP candidates in Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez, he led the Sox to the most runs (876) and best team average (.268) in the game. After hitting just .188 against New York in the ALDS, one should expect Betts’ to pick things up soon.
The duo of Andrew Benintendi and Xander Bogaerts hit a combined .289 with 39 home run’s and 190 RBI’s in the regular season, too.
Boston’s offense doesn’t have much wrong with it, that much is clear. But, serious questions remain surrounding the potency of the bottom half of the lineup.
The triumvirate of Rafael Devers, Christian Vazquez and Jackie Bradley Jr. combined for a .226 average in the regular season. They will also be featured in the lineup against the ‘Stros. It’s not the ideal situation.
Brock Holt is the exception, as he’s proved his worth as a versatile jack-of-all-trade’s across the diamond.
He’s gotten it done at the dish, too, with a .277 regular season average and a cycle against the Yankees in the ALDS.
Another name who figures to get regular time is Ian Kinsler, who, while still effective, is a shell of his former self. But, don’t let the bottom half of the lineup distract you; this offense is explosive.
Countering will be A.J. Hinch’s bunch. Problem No. 1 is quite clear for Cora & Co; George Springer. He’s 5-for-14 against Chris Sale in his career, with a home run and a double against him. In the playoffs, he’s made a name for himself with some serious bombs.
Aside from Springer, stars’ can be found throughout Houston’s lineup. Carlos Correa, Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman make up a fearsome trio at the top half. Bregman looks like another bonafide star on the roster, after a breakout campaign that saw him club 31 home run’s and drive in 103 runs. His past success against Price, Eovaldi and Porcello in the past (6-for-16) should bode well for the series.
Also in the Astros’ favor is the fact that they’ve crushed left-handed pitching this season. Their combined .803 OPS against southpaw’s was the best in the American League, and that should play a factor with Sale and David Price.
Both offenses have the potential to drive up the scoreboard at any given time. Houston’s arms, from starters to the bullpen, will be tough to get past. The same can’t be said for Boston.