Astros vs. Cardinals, 7:05 pm, Fox (Astros lead series 3-2)
And here we thought there wouldn't even BE a game six.
Albert Pujols' miracle home run on Monday has elevated this series from mundane to interesting. If the Astros win tonight, the home run becomes a postseason footnote.
If the Cardinals win, it sets up a fascinating game seven on Thursday.
Comparisons have been made to the 1986 ALCS, where game five was won by the Red Sox in very similar fashion to what happened in Houston on Monday, and then the Red Sox went home, just as the Cardinals are doing now, and annihilated the Angels in game six 10-4, and game seven, 8-1.
There is a very significant difference. The Angels' starting pitchers in those two games were Kirk McCaskill, a 25-year-old 2nd-year player who was good, but not great, and John Candelaria, who had his ups and downs.
The Astros have two pitchers going, Roy Oswalt and Roger Clemens, who were among the very best in the National League this season.
There will be one thing that will be exactly the same as the 1986 ALCS, if this NLCS goes to game seven.
Clemens will be one of the starting pitchers. He started and won that game seven for the Red Sox, nineteen years ago.
Discuss amongst yourselves.