Don’t be shocked if the Houston Astros lose game five

The Tampa Bay Rays stormed back against Greinke and Verlander so although Gerrit Cole is on the mound, don’t be shocked if the Houston Astros lose the series.

The Houston Astros were the best team in the league before the postseason started. They easily had the best rotation with Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole, and Zack Greinke but things have quickly changed.

Greinke and Verlander have shown that they are human in Games 3 and 4, which have also energized the Rays lineup which could favor Tampa Bay on Thursday.

Astros fans cannot be shocked if they lose because their bullpen has not been as dominant as their counterpart.

More from Call to the Pen

• Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
• Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
• Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
• Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
• 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals

Rays manager Kevin Cash executed his ‘bullpen game’ plan, so although a lot of arms were used, they weren’t for long periods of time which means they are all fresh including Blake Snell.

Ryan Yarbrough and Blake Snell will probably get in the game and they might just be the X-factors that shut down the Astros offense after Glasnow exits the game to seal the Astros fate.

Another plus for Tampa is their whole lineup is clicking, unlike Houston. An example of that was Game 4 at the Trop when Tommy Pham took Verlander deep in the first inning and then innings later the 9 hitter, Willy Adames, joined in on the fun as well.

I realize that Houston is still going to be favored to win the game and they should win the game, as they have the hottest pitcher in the American League on the mound for them but there have been signs from past games in the series that leads to the fair question of if they will be able to stave off elimination against the Wild Card winning Tampa Bay Rays.

That question will be answered on Thursday night at Minute Maid Park.