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The Red Sox have been swept by the Indians in the ALDS, ending Boston’s season and the career of David Ortiz. They were the only team eliminated on Monday, but all that means is there are once again two opportunities for elimination on Tuesday. The Nationals took down the Dodgers in Game 3 of their NLDS, putting Washington up 2-1 in the series and setting up a win-or-go-home scenario on Tuesday afternoon. Meanwhile, it took the Giants all night to do it, but early this morning they staved off their own elimination by winning Game 3 in the 13th inning against the Cubs. Game 4 will take place on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m., so now they’ll have to do it all over again to force a decisive Game 5.
Boston just didn’t hit like expected, in large part because the Indians seemed to have a real plan of attack at the plate. The Sox kept trying to wait out Indians’ starters and find the perfect pitch to hit, but instead, Cleveland kept throwing strikes and putting Boston behind in the count until they were in a position where they were going to chase pitches to protect themselves. Boston could rarely string together successful plate appearances, never mind innings, and now they’re home for the winter.
The Dodgers are having more of an issue with their pitching, as Clayton Kershaw was just OK in Game 1, Rich Hill gave up four runs in 4 1/3 innings in Game 2, and Kenta Maeda allowed four runs in three frames on Monday night en route to an 8-3 defeat. Now, either Kershaw will start on three days rest in the NLDS again, or the Dodgers will turn to 20-year-old rookie Julio Urias. Neither sounds appealing in a must-win situation, but only because Kershaw’s back might be keeping him from being the usual untouchable version of himself.
The Giants don’t have things much better, as they need to turn to Matt Moore, acquired at the trade deadline, in the hopes he can topple John Lackey and a Cubs team convinced their destiny lies further down the postseason road. He’s no Madison Bumgarner, but not even Bumgarner was Bumgarner in the NLDS, so who knows what’s going to happen Tuesday.
- The Cubs lost, but Jake Arrieta did hit a three-run homer off of Madison Bumgarner, so it wasn’t like all the magic left them on Monday.
- In fact, Game 3 between Chicago and San Francisco was absolutely bananas, and you probably missed the end while you were asleep. Grant Brisbee stayed up for all of it, though, and recapped it for you.
- The Giants still need to win two more NLDS games to topple the Cubs, but they’ve won three in a row in the postseason pretty regularly in recent years.
- Are you familiar with @TheAmitie on Twitter, and his preseason bet about Joe Blanton’s performance? Whether this is new to you or not, you’ll want to read about his now having to eat every food item at Dodgers Stadium because he lost said bet.
- Here’s how to appreciate the Cubs’ defense from your couch, courtesy of Sam Miller.
- With the Red Sox eliminated, David Ortiz’s career is over. He cried, and you can, too.
- The Indians’ victory means they’ll take on the Blue Jays in the ALCS. Toronto is absolutely frightening right now.
- The Todd Frazier trade was worth doing for the White Sox, even if they didn’t manage to get back to October baseball.
- The Tigers also missed out on the postseason, and these five games are the most significant reasons why.