MLB Playoffs Games for 10/9

The ALDS and the NLDS continue today, let’s take a look at both games.

National League Division Series Game 3

San Francisco Giants vs. Cincinnati Reds

5:37 PM ET, October 9

Great American Ball Park

TBS

The Reds look for a three-game sweep of the Giants when the National League Division Series heads to Great American Ball Park for Game 3 on Tuesday. The Giants have been outscored 14-2 in the first two games of the series, and are facing an uphill battle after leaving home without a victory. None of the other 21 teams that have started an NLDS down 0-2 have come back to win the series. The Reds were 50-31 during the regular season at home, where they didn’t lose three consecutive home games all year. With Johnny Cueto (back spasms) questionable for the rest of the series, the Reds will start Homer Bailey in Game 3.

The Giants are in danger of an early postseason exit, and there’s plenty of blame to go around. The first two batters in the Giants lineup – Angel Pagan and Marco Scutaro – are 1-for-17, and the heart of their order has done little aside from Buster Posey’s solo home run in Game 1. After starters Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner failed to work past the fifth inning in the first two games, the Giants are hoping for a solid outing in Game 3 from Ryan Vogelsong, who got the nod over Tim Lincecum and Barry Zito. The Reds hit an NL-worst .230 as a team in September, but scored nine runs in Game 2 and outhit the Giants 13-2. Brandon Phillips is 5-for-10 with a home run and four RBIs for Cincinnati, which is seeking its first postseason sweep since beating the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first round in 1995.

Pitching Matchup:

Ryan Vogelsong (14-9, 3.37 ERA) vs. Homer Bailey (13-10, 3.68 ERA)

Homer Bailey is set to make his second career postseason pitching appearance and his first career playoff start. He is 1-0 with a 5.59 ERA in five career starts against the Giants, including one outing this year when he gave up three runs (two earned) over 6 1/3 frames April 26. Bailey finished the season on a strong note, allowing only 10 runs in his last seven starts covering 48 2/3 innings.

Ryan Vogelsong has gone 2-3 with a 5.08 ERA in 15 career appearances against the Reds, and had a 4.15 ERA in two starts this season. After struggling for much of the second half, he finished the season with a 0.53 ERA over his final three starts. Phillips is 7-for-14 lifetime against Vogelsong, who allowed three runs or fewer in 24 of his 31 starts this season.

American League Division Series Game 3

Detroit Tigers vs. Oakland Athletics

12:00 PM ET, October 7

O.co Coliseum

MLB Network

The Athletics trailed the Rangers by 13 games on June 30 and still found a way to win the American League West, so they’re used to seemingly insurmountable challenges. Down 2-0 in the AL Division Series, the Athletics return home to face a Tigers squad that’s riding a wave of momentum after two close wins. The Tigers are getting timely hitting, but are still waiting for Prince Fielder to heat up. The power-hitting first baseman is 1-for-8 with no RBIs in the series and batting .183 in 17 career playoff games. The A's are hoping right fielder Josh Reddick’s eighth-inning homer Sunday is a sign of things to come. Reddick, who led the Athletics with 32 regular-season homers, opened the series with six straight strikeouts.

The Tigers’ bullpen was a key part of Sunday’s 4-3 victory, but Joaquin Benoit allowed his 15th home run in 73 innings this season. Reliever Al Alburquerque drew the ire of some Athletics players when he kissed the ball and looked at the Athletics dugout before getting the final out in the ninth. The Athletics have fanned 23 times in the first two games, and that number figures to climb dramatically if the series goes five games. Games 4 and 5 starters Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander each had more than 200 strikeouts this season, and Verlander fanned 11 in the series opener.

Pitching Matchup:

Anibal Sanchez (9-13, 3.86 ERA) vs. Brett Anderson (4-2, 2.57 ERA)

Brett Anderson is set to make his first start since September 19, when he left his start against the Tigers in the third inning with a right oblique strain. He missed most of the season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but posted a WHIP of 1.03 in six starts down the stretch. In two home starts covering 13 innings, he allowed two earned runs while striking out 10. Anderson is 2-2 with a 3.66 ERA in four career starts against the Tigers.

Anibal Sanchez was a solid midseason addition, making 12 starts after being acquired from the Marlins in late July. He finished the season on a high note, allowing one run in his last two starts covering 15 1/3 innings. Sanchez struggled in his lone start against the A's this season September 20, giving up six runs (five earned) over 5 2/3 frames. He will be pitching on eight days' rest, which could bode well for Sanchez. He has posted a 3.07 ERA in 23 career starts on six or more days of rest.

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