2019 MLB Division Series Day 5: Astros vs. Rays Game 3, Braves vs. Cardinals Game 4

Both of these series could end today. In fact, all four could:

The Astros have been utterly dominant with their pitching so far. Zack Greinke isn’t quite as dominant a pitcher as Justin Verlander or Gerrit Cole, but he could be good enough for Houston to win. He had a ridiculously low walk rate of 1.3 per nine innings this year. On the other hand, he has not pitched in 13 days. Perhaps that will be to the Rays’ advantage.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals might have blown their chance to win Sunday’s Game 3 when they intentionally passed Brian McCann with two out in the ninth. Per Joe Posnanski’s Intentional Walk Rage System, that was a 14-point (on a 25-point scale) IBB. It backfired spectacularly.

I can’t say I’m unhappy about that.

Here’s all the info you’ll need for this afternoon’s two games. There will be another thread posted at 4:30 p.m. CT for today’s two night games.

Game time for Astros/Rays: 12 noon CT. TV: MLB Network. Announcers: Bob Costas, Joe Girardi, Jim Kaat & Tom Verducci. Astros lead series 2-0.

Game time for Braves/Cardinals: 2 p.m. CT. TV: TBS. Announcers: Brian Anderson and Ron Darling with reporter Lauren Shehadi. Braves lead series 2-1.

Pitching matchups:

Zack Greinke (Astros) vs. Charlie Morton (Rays)

Dallas Keuchel (Braves) vs. Dakota Hudson (Cardinals)

Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.

MLB.com Gameday for Astros/Rays

MLB.com Gameday for Braves/Cardinals

Baseball-reference.com game preview for Astros/Rays

Baseball-reference.com game preview for Braves/Cardinals

Please visit our SB Nation Cardinals site Viva El Birdos, Braves site Talking Chop, Rays site DRays Bay and Astros site The Crawfish Boxes. If you do go there to interact with Cardinals, Braves, Rays and Astros fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.

This is the only thread for today’s afternoon games. As noted above, there will be a thread for today’s night games posted at 4:30 p.m. CT. Enjoy, and discuss amongst yourselves.