Timely Hitting, Clutch Defense, Bloodbath In LA - ALDS / NLDS Game 1 Recap!
Diving into a wild, wild first day in the Division Series...
What a start to the Division Series in the 2023 MLB Postseason.
I don’t think the higher-ups in MLB’s ivory tower could have come up with a better script compared to what unfolded on Saturday.
Both the ALDS and the NLDS got underway and, if the four Game 1’s acted as a tantalizing precursor to what is to come, then we’re in for a real treat over the coming week.
It was an electric, enthralling and hugely captivating 12 or so hours of postseason baseball from start to finish.
Texas’ powerful lineup came through to spoil the wild celebrations taking place at Camden Yards. The Houston Astros were, well, they were the Houston Astros as they got their repeat bid off to a winning start. The Phillies made a gargantuan statement in Atlanta. And then, saving the best for last, the Diamondbacks laid an absolute beat down in Hollywood. It was shocking.
In a Best-of Five Series, we now have a better understanding of what to expect now that the tone has been set. Some teams look unstoppable, others just need to iron out a few kinks and they should be fine. As for one team in particular, yikes is all I can say right now.
By the way, in the current 1-2-1 format, Game 1 winners have gone on to clinch the series 105 of 148 times, which equals out to a lofty 71%. Teams that have won on the road in Game 1 have advanced 30 of 42 times, which also comes out to 71%. For the teams that won on Saturday, especially those who won on the road and stole home-field advantage, they’ve got to be feeling pretty good about themselves this morning. All the omens are firmly on their side.
But, before we look too far ahead, let’s dive right into Saturday’s slate of four incredible games from a crazy start to the Division Round.
Let’s go…
ALDS Game 1 Recap
Texas Rangers (1-0) 3-2 Baltimore Orioles (0-1)
You want to know what the biggest difference was as the Texas Rangers ruined the party at a rocking, sold-out Camden Yards?
It’s simple, really. The Rangers’ young stars delivered, whereas Baltimore’s elite two-headed monster did not.
Texas got big time contributions in the clutch from the bottom of their lineup, while the Orioles got little production from the top of theirs in big spots.
The Rangers got timely hits from their powerful lineup and clutch defense all afternoon long.
And they just delivered in big spots.
Evan Carter went 1-for-2 with an RBI double in the top of the 4th. The rookie is hitting at an historic tear in his first taste of the postseason. With two walks and an RBI double in the first three games of his playoff career, Carter became the first player in AL / NL history to reach base three times in three straight postseason games before turning 22. And, per the excellent Sarah Langs of MLB.com, Carter is also the third-youngest player in playoff history with four extra-base hits in a three-game span. Only Miguel Cabrera, who was 20 years and 169 days when he accomplished the feat with the 2003 Marlins, and Juan Soto, who was 20 years and 355 days old with the Nationals, were younger.
By the way, Cabrera won a World Series in 2003, as did Soto in 2019. Is that a good omen for Carter and the Rangers?
Another young cornerstone of Texas’ lineup in Josh Jung also had a big day. Hitting eighth in the lineup, Jung’s solo home run in the sixth inning ultimately proved to be the game-winner, and he has now collected an RBI in each of the Rangers’ first three postseason games. That is tied for the third-longest streak in franchise history.
Texas may be primed to win now, but their future sure looks bright with Carter and Jung leading the charge.
Then there is catcher Jonah Heim. Batting sixth, Heim singled in the fourth to score Carter and give Texas a 2-0 lead. But, it was what Heim did later in the game that proved to be the decisive moment. Down 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth with no outs, Gunnar Henderson decided to make a break for it from first in order to steal second. Not so fast. Heim anticipated the move, throwing a laser to second to where Corey Seager was able to put the tag on Henderson.
Game over.
And therein lies the rub for Baltimore.
Costly decision at key times ultimately cost them. As did their pair of phenom hitters, who were unable to change the momentum of the game. Henderson went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts and then committed the game-ending play, while Adley Rutschman went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.
The Orioles are going to need a lot more from their franchise cornerstones in Game 2 if they are to tie this series. Especially if the Rangers’ two bright young stars continue to rake at an all-time pace. Although, the fact that Ryan Mountcastle hit an RBI double and Anthony Santander blasted a solo shot will give Baltimore plenty of confidence heading into Sunday.
As for Texas, they discovered the secret sauce to win this game. Their young stars came up with clutch hits, the defense came up with big plays in big moments and Andrew Heaney was solid, allowing one earned run on two hits while striking out one. Considering that their two big hitters in Marcus Semien and Corey Seager went a combined 1-for-8 in Game 1, there is a lot to feel good about for Rangers fans right now heading into Game 2.
Minnesota Twins (0-1) 4-6 Houston Astros (1-0)
There is just no defeating the Houston Astros. No matter what you do.
They are like a scary combination of The Undertaker and Michael Myers. You can’t kill them given this mythical aura they have around them in October but, even when you do wound them, they just keep on getting up.
That’s what it must have felt like for the Minnesota Twins on Saturday.
The Astros needed exactly just one pitch to become the postseason version of the Astros we’ve all become so accustomed to over the last few years. Jose Altuve - who else - led things off with a solo blast. Only Manny Ramirez has more postseason homers (29) than Altuve’s 24. He’s also now hit eight long balls in the first inning in the postseason, which is the most in MLB history. Altuve really is that guy. He always has been.
This just felt like the same story we’ve watched play out over and over again with the Astros in the playoffs. They were efficient. They came up clutch in the big spots. They were just dominant. Justin Verlander continues to absolutely deal in the postseason, not allowing a run on four hits while walking three and striking out six in six spotless innings of work.
Yeah, nothing has really changed. The Astros are just gonna do their thing in October.
That was further proved when Yordan Alvarez absolutely destroyed the living crap out of a baseball in the bottom of the third, scoring Alex Bregman. The usual suspects had their fingerprints all over this win for Houston, and they used their boatload of postseason experience to survive a late Twins fightback.
Jorge Polanco blasted a two-run shot in the top of the 7th to make it a 5-3 game, and then it was a one-run game in the blink of an eye as Royce Lewis continued to write his own postseason history by firing an absolute bomb to left field. Lewis has been unstoppable in the playoffs for Minnesota, and he’s now the first rookie to hit three homers across his first three postseason games. He’s something special. And he can absolutely mash.
But then the Astros did what they always do. They rose up from the canvas, ripped the knife out of their gut and then proceeded to throw it right in the eye of the Twins. Alvarez hit his second moon shot of the day - a 104.6 mph, 384 ft bomb - and closer Ryan Pressly was able to get the job done in the ninth with two strikeouts. Carlos Correa, on his return to Minute Maid Park, went 2-for-4 with a strikeout.
Oh, and that losing record Houston had at home during the regular season? Didn’t matter come playoff time.
This Astros team, with their wealth of playoff experience and know-how, will not give up their crown without one almighty dog fight.
That was proven emphatically in Game 1.
NLDS Game 1 Recap
Philadelphia Phillies (1-0) 3-0 Atlanta Braves (0-1)
I don’t think there was a more perfect game played than the one by the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 of the NLDS on Saturday.
I just don’t.
I watched all four games from start to finish and the Phillies were the only team to play an absolutely flawless game. They executed their game plan to absolute perfection.
And what a statement.
To go into Truist Park and shutout the Atlanta Braves at home for the first time since 8/28/21 was really something.
It was a win that put the rest of the postseason bracket on red hot alert.
These Phillies are for real.
And, not only are they a legit threat to make it all the way back to the World Series for the second consecutive year, but they have all the pieces needed to go and win the whole damn thing.
The tone-setter in this game for Philadelphia was no doubt Ranger Suárez, who, in a massive plot twist, provided the biggest surprise of any of the games on Saturday. He was inconsistent at best during the regular season, plus the Braves had mashed an MLB-best .871 OPS against lefties in 2023. The stage was set for Suárez to get shelled by one of the historically best offenses we’ve ever seen.
Only, that didn’t happen. Suárez absolutely dealt, retiring 10 of the first 11 batters he faced before leaving the game having not allowed a run on one hit. He was stellar. Philadelphia then used a total of six relievers, who combined to shut down this explosive Braves lineup, going scoreless the rest of the way while only allowing four hits.
It was an absolute masterclass.
And the Phillies offense, loaded and potent in its own right, did the rest. Bryson Stott, who hit a grand slam in Game 2 of the Wild Card against Miami, got things going with an RBI single to score Bryce Harper.
Harper, who absolutely thrives on the biggest stage in October, delivered as only Postseason Bryce Harper could. He dispatched an absolute bomb that flew off the bat at 115.3 mph in the top of the sixth. It was a laser off the bat from Philadelphia’s favorite showman that stunned Truist Park and absolutely galvanized the Phillies.
There’s few better sights in life than watching Bryce Harper do his thing in the playoffs. He’s magic to watch.
Okay, the third run of the game was more controversial. With J.T Realmuto at the plate and the bases loaded in the eighth inning, there was no room for error for the Braves. However, Realmuto’s bat brushed the glove of catcher Sean Murphy, triggering a catcher’s interference call which scored a run and effectively iced the game. It was just one of those nights for Atlanta where nothing went right.
Not only did the Phillies absolutely shackle an all-time dangerous lineup, they got to one of the best pitchers in the game. Spencer Strider, who will get some Cy Young consideration, has absolutely dominated Philadelphia throughout his regular season career. He’s a career 7-0 against them with a sparkling 2.07 ERA, striking out 67. However, he wasn’t untouchable in this one, giving up two runs on five hits with two walks and eight strikeouts. With Zack Wheeler on the mound in Game 2 and Aaron Nola getting the start in Game 3, the pitching matchups now favor the Phillies the rest of the way. This was a huge spot for the Braves to come up big and take all the momentum, but they failed to take advantage. And now it might cost them big time.
One more note before we move on. Trea Turner was sensational in Game 1. I’ve already preached chapter and verse about his tear down the stretch after a slow start to life in The City Of Brotherly Love, so I won’t go into that again, but man was he a game-changer on Saturday. Turner went 1-for-4 but he stole a couple of bases, again highlighting the absolute art form he has turned stealing bases into. Watching the shortstop glide and slide his way around the base paths really is like watching Picasso paint a masterpiece in real time. Talking of masterpieces, Turner delivered an absolute work of art with his glove in the eighth inning. With two runners on and two outs and Ozzie Albies at the plate, Turner dove full length to make a last-ditch snag. But that wasn’t the remarkable part. On his knees, Turner was able to toss the ball to second to start a double-play sequence that was the absolute definition of clutch as the Phillies escaped the inning without any damage.
This Phillies team is absolutely clicking right now, and they may be the team to beat the rest of the way. They landed a huge blow on the chin of the Braves, and it will be interesting to see if Atlanta can now recover.
Arizona Diamondbacks (1-0) 11-2 LA Dodgers (0-1)
Ho, ho, ho, holy crapoli. That was my immediate reaction watching that absolute car crash of a first inning unfold for the LA Dodgers.
It is a good job we’re in October because that whole game must have resembled a bloody, gory horror film more than a baseball game for Dodgers fans.
Man was it brutal.
With Clayton Kershaw on the mound, even with a bum left shoulder, the presumption was that the Dodgers would get through Game 1. As I noted in my NLDS Preview, it was the rest of the series I was concerned about as it pertained to LA.
However, instead, Kershaw proceeded to absolutely crap the bed and lay a Godzilla-sized egg in easily the worst start of his postseason career. If not of his lengthy career period.
Here is exactly how Kershaw’s painful first inning unfolded:
Double, single, single, double, home run, groundout, walk, double.
Yikes, Yikes. Yikes.
Kershaw allowed six runs on six hits in the first and he was promptly pulled, with his postseason legacy perhaps now soiled forever.
There were no strikeouts either.
In the wake of an absolute horror show of a first inning, Kershaw became the first starting pitcher in MLB postseason history to allow five hits and five runs before recording an out, per ESPN Stats & Info.
Double yikes.
Or, in the words of the great Frank Barone, HOLY CRAP.
Now, this Diamondbacks offense is hardly going to draw comparisons to the great Murderer’s Row Yankees teams of the 1920’s, but they absolutely feasted on Kershaw. And on the Dodgers in general. Gabriel Moreno’s three-run home run opened the floodgates, and they never really closed. Corbin Carroll continued his absolute postseason tear with a solo shot - he finished 2-for-5 with 2 RBIs - and Tommy Pham, of all people, went 4-for-5 with a homer.
Just wow.
Arizona managed to shut down LA’s lethal two-headed monster of Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, who went 0-for-3 and 0-for-2 respectively, with Will Smith’s eighth inning triple that scored Betts and Freeman the only damage of the night for the Dodgers.
If LA doesn’t get an absolute gem from rookie Bobby Miller in Game 2, then this could spiral out of control very quickly. And, based on what we saw in Game 1, I’m even more convinced that this could result in an upset. Just, now I’m starting to think maybe the D-Backs could sweep…
What a rough, rough night for the mighty Dodgers. A bounce-back to end all other bounce-backs will be needed in Game 2 on Monday.
Getting You Set For Sunday
There are two games today with the Orioles and the Twins both hoping to avoid falling into two 0-2 holes.
Here’s everything you need to know…
Rangers (1-0) At Orioles (0-1) - 4:07 P.M. ET (FS1)
LHP Jordan Montgomery, Texas (1-0, 0.00 ERA) - RHP Grayson Rodriguez, Baltimore (7-4, 4.35 ERA)
Jordan Montgomery was stellar in his Wild Card Series start, tossing seven scoreless innings against the Rays, and he’s going to have to be unbeatable in Game 2 on Sunday against the O’s. If he can toss another gem, then the Rangers will be in great shape. For the Orioles, they need to get back to basics, loosen the grip on the bat and remember that they are here because they deserve to be. They need to play more loosey-goosey. They were far too uptight on Saturday, and it showed in their at-bats. Baltimore went hitless with runners in scoring position, including hitting into a couple of double plays, and there is no doubt that both Adley Rutschman and Gunner Henderson need monster days at the plate. If they can deliver, then the O’s will be right back in this thing.
Twins (0-1) At Astros (1-0) - 8:03 P.M. ET (FS1)
RHP Pablo López, Minnesota (1-0, 1.59 ERA) - LHP Framber Valdez, Houston (12-11, 3.45 ERA)
The good news for the Minnesota Twins is that they will have Pablo López on the mound, who was absolutely dealing in the Wild Card Series. Carlos Correa should also be primed for a huge day given that October is when he’s at the very peak of his powers. However, this Houston Astros team just doesn’t do a lot of losing in the postseason, and they showed exactly why in Game 1. However, with López on the mound today and Sonny Gray set to go in Game 3, coupled with the fact that Royce Lewis just can’t stop hitting dingers, there is a path for the Twins to nudge ahead in this series, but they will need to take the next two games. Starting with Game 2 on Sunday.
We’re all set for another day of postseason baseball.
See you on Monday with our recap of today’s two games, plus a look ahead to the two NLDS Game 2’s tomorrow night.
Happy Baseball Sunday!
