I've made a case in the past that it seems a bit unfair that you play 162 games only to have one postseason series given to you, and it's a best-of-three.
asserted
it → make → three
I feel like there should be a minimum of five games for any playoff series.
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I → feel → series
I understand travel concerns and other issues for this opening round, but it just feels too short.
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it → understand → round
The only argument in favor would be that most regular-season series are three games; however, winning two of three in the regular season doesn't mean much.
asserted
winning → win → much
This afternoon, the White Sox look to close out the Astros in two games.
asserted
Sox → look → games
The Chicago White Sox, a team that had lost 100 or more games in each of the past three seasons, made the postseason this year.
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that → lose → postseason
In fact, they've lost 324 games combined over the previous three seasons.
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they → lose → seasons
Being in the playoffs should feel like an accomplishment, but winning a series would be even more impressive.
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winning → feel → series
They are on the verge of doing just that after a 6-3 victory over the Astros yesterday.
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They → do → Astros
The question now is if they can close it out against a team with significantly more experience than Chicago.
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they → close → Chicago
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uncertain
page → contain → partners
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News → sign → wager
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that → create → newsroom
Looking to give them that final game they need is Sean Burke.
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Burke → look → game
For the season, Burke went 11-7, posting a 3.34 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP.
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Burke → go → ERA
He also threw 185 strikeouts, and all of his numbers were first or better in the league.
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all → throw → league
That means that he really should be considered an elite starter.
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he → mean → ?
Burke has been better on the road this season with a 2.58 ERA compared to a 3.86 home ERA.
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Burke → compare → ERA
He faced Houston twice this season and allowed two earned runs over 11.2 innings of work.
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He → face → work
The Houston Astros were average this season, finishing at 81-81, and as a reward for winning the American League West, they got to host a series.
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they → finish → series
In the opening game, they sent eight different pitchers to the mound.
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they → send → mound
They had to use two pitchers and 49 pitches just to get through the first inning.
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They → have → inning
The Astros gave up five runs before they scored themselves in the bottom of the fifth.
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they → give → fifth
It should be interesting to see how they use the bullpen today with so many having to work yesterday.
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many → see → bullpen
That means the biggest role in this game falls on the Astros' Ace, Hunter Brown.
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role → mean → Ace
For the season, Brown went 6-4 with a 3.19 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP.
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Brown → go → ERA
He only pitched 107.1 innings this season, but he held hitters to a .208 batting average.
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he → pitch → average
He also turned in a great September, going 26.1 innings and allowing just eight earned runs.
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He → turn → runs
Brown did face the White Sox twice this season, and he allowed just two earned runs over 13 innings.
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he → face → innings
This game should be a bit more difficult for both teams given the quality of starters on the mound.
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game → give → mound
The Astros have home-field advantage, and Brown has experience in big games.
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Brown → have → games
Burke doesn't, and that is a bit of a concern.
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that → do → concern
However, the White Sox are playing better baseball, and the Astros really don't even deserve to be here.
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Astros → play → baseball
I think this game is likely to go under 7.5 runs, but I also think Chicago wins.
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Chicago → think → runs
I'll split a unit on the two plays.
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I → split → plays
The Aporia
