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The previous week in MLB was about a club in the American League receiving a clutch hit to advance to the American League Championship Series, and a pair of clubs in the National League have advanced further in the postseason.
Mike Brosseau Sends Tampa Bay Rays to American League Championship Series
Mike Brosseau was the hero for the Tampa Bay Rays during Game 5 of the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees.
Brosseau crushed a home run in the eighth inning against Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman.
He had a tremendous approach in the at-bat facing Chapman, per Daren Willman of MLB.
Incredible plate appearance by Mike Brosseau. pic.twitter.com/b52dDYxSN8
— Daren Willman (@darenw) October 10, 2020
He hit the home run on the 10th pitch, which after a scoreless ninth inning gave the Rays a 2-1 victory over the Yankees.
On the 10th pitch of the at-bat … @mikebrosseau10 delivers! 😱 pic.twitter.com/STyQuOuKj0
— MLB (@MLB) October 10, 2020
The game was a pitcher’s duel from the first inning as Yankees starter Gerrit Cole yielded just one run on one hit with nine strikeouts in five and one-third innings pitched on three days rest.
The Rays had starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow on two days rest and gave the team his best for two and one-third innings, allowing zero hits with two strikeouts and two walks.’
The Rays had three other pitchers throw at least two innings each and the four pitchers combined to surrender just three hits.
There were just six hits from both teams in Game 5, and that is the fewest in a winner-take-all game in postseason history.
The previous mark was eight hits during the 2015 AL Wild Card Game between the Yankees and Houston Astros, per Sarah Langs of MLB.
There were 6 total hits tonight in ALDS Game 5 between the Rays and Yankees
That's the fewest in a winner-take-all game in postseason history.
Prior fewest: 8, in the 2015 AL Wild Card Game between the Astros & Yankees
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 10, 2020
Brosseau got revenge against Chapman as the Yankees reliever threw a pitch behind him about a month ago.
Brosseau’s homer was the first go-ahead postseason home run in the eighth inning or later for the Rays since Jose Lobaton in 2013 (ALDS Game 3), per MLB Stats.
Mike Brosseau's HR is the first go-ahead postseason HR in the 8th inning or later for the @RaysBaseball since José Lobatón in 2013 (ALDS Game 3).
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) October 10, 2020
Rays. Astros. This is going to be good. #ALCS pic.twitter.com/zMCSI1ojMs
— MLB (@MLB) October 10, 2020
The Rays are going to the American League Championship Series for the only the second time in franchise history, and they will face an Astros team with a potent lineup.
The Astros scored 33 runs in four games in the ALDS against the Oakland Athletics.
However, the Rays have a strong pitching staff to quiet the bats in the Astros lineup.
The Rays have a history of thriving with one of the lowest payrolls in MLB.
To provide some context, the total value of the contract that Cole signed last year with the Yankees is worth $324 million over nine years.
The combined payroll for the last five years for the Rays is $303.2 million, per CBS Sports HQ.
Gerrit Cole contract value: $324 Million
Rays payroll: 2020 + 2019 + 2018 + 2017 + 2016 = $303.2 Million pic.twitter.com/fTMDFywFhr
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) October 10, 2020
The ALCS between the Rays and Astros has the potential to be great.
Los Angeles Dodgers Sweep San Diego Padres to Reach National League Championship Series
SWEEP ⚾️
The @Dodgers are heading to the NLCS 🔵 pic.twitter.com/2w4eIxCaYp
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 9, 2020
The Los Angeles Dodgers are going to the National League Championship Series as they swept the San Diego Padres 3-0 in the National League Division Series.
The Padres began the series at a significant disadvantage as two of their best starting pitchers in Mike Clevinger and Dinelson Lamet were injured
Clevinger did start the first game of the NLDS, but only pitched one inning.
The Dodgers were the deeper team in the series, especially in terms of pitching.
The pitching for the Dodgers during the postseason has been phenomenal, per MLB Stats.
Dominant pitching is driving the @Dodgers. pic.twitter.com/9JJqA2iLuz
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) October 9, 2020
The best chance the Padres had of winning a game came in Game 2.
Padres young star Fernando Tatis Jr. crushed a ball to deep center field during the seventh inning, but Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger made one of the better catches you will see to rob Tatis of a home run, which would have given the Padres a lead.
NO WAY!! ARE YOU SERIOUS!?
Cody Bellinger ROBS Tatis of a 2-run HR!! pic.twitter.com/0VejV1v1ZJ
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 8, 2020
The depth for the Dodgers extends over to the lineup as catcher Will Smith had a historic Game 3.
He had five hits and three RBIs to become the first player since Albert Pujols (Game 3 of 2011 World Series) and the fourth player ever with five or more hits and three or more RBIs in a postseason game, per MLB Stats.
Will Smith is the first player since Albert Pujols (Game 3 of 2011 WS) and the 4th player ever with 5+ hits and 3+ RBI in a #postseason game.
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) October 9, 2020
Smith became the first player in Dodgers’ history with five hits in a postseason game, per FOX Sports MLB.
Will Smith is the first player in @Dodgers history to have 5 hits in a postseason game 🔥 pic.twitter.com/W1dCGKKaAK
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 9, 2020
He is also the first catcher in MLB history with a five-hit game in the postseason and the ninth player ever to reach that mark in a playoff game, per Jeff Passan of ESPN.
The Dodgers' Will Smith is the first catcher in baseball history with a five-hit game in the postseason and only the ninth player ever to reach five hits in a playoff game.
He is an absolute star. Scary that the Dodgers keep drafting and developing this well.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 9, 2020
The Dodgers already have great hitters in Corey Seager, Bellinger, and Mookie Betts, but Smith can make their lineup more deadly.
The Dodgers will have a big challenge in the NLCS against the Atlanta Braves.
Atlanta Braves Sweep Miami Marlins to Advance to NLCS
The Atlanta Braves quickly took care of business in the NLDS against the Miami Marlins.
They swept the Marlins and yielded just five runs in three games, including two shutouts.
The Braves have four shutouts in five games this postseason, and they are the second team in postseason history with four shutouts in their first five games of a single postseason, per Sarah Langs of MLB.
THE BRAVES!!!
They are the 2nd team in postseason history with 4 shutouts in their 1st 5 games of a single postseason.
The other team was the 1905 Giants.
1905!!! Baseball!
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 8, 2020
The team has allowed five runs total in their first five games of the playoffs.
This is tied with the 1983 Baltimore Orioles for the second-fewest runs allowed through five games in a single postseason.
The only team with fewer runs allowed is the 1905 Giants with three, per Sarah Langs.
The Braves have allowed 5 runs through their 1st 5 games this postseason.
That's tied with the 1983 Orioles for 2nd-fewest runs allowed through 5 games played in a single postseason.
Only the 1905 Giants (3) allowed fewer.
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 8, 2020
The Braves have a deep lineup with many talented hitters such as first baseman Freddie Freeman and outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr.
The pitching staff is highlighted by rookies Ian Anderson and Kyle Wright, who have been lights out during the postseason.
The Braves are back in the NLCS for the first time since 2001 and will face a stacked Dodgers club.
Author Profile
- Chris is a New Jersey native whose favorite sports team is the Arizona Diamondbacks. He previously attended Western New England College to study Sports Management. Chris has been following the Diamondbacks since he was 12. You can find him on Twitter at @aecanada12.
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