@mjp28 said:

0-1 in a 5 game series is up against the wall now. 

Fraid the wall just collapsed on 'em .

@hx214 said:

We really needed that opening game. Kluber shrinks in the playoffs again....

0-1 in a 5 game series is up against the wall now. 

The Red Sox and Yankees meet in the postseason for the first time since Boston shocked New York in the 2004 ALCS. Mookie Betts leads the explosive Boston offense in a matchup of 100-win squads in the ALDS at Fenway Park.  Full Story

2018 Head-to-Head Matchups (Astros 4-3, Over 5-2)

Cleveland vs. Houston (Minute Maid Park)
May 18 – Astros 4, Indians 1 (Under 7 ½)
May 19 – Indians 5, Astros 4 (Over 7)
May 20 – Astros 3, Indians 1 (Under 7 ½)

Houston vs. Cleveland (Progressive Field)
May 24 – Astros 8, Indians 2 (Over
May 25 – Astros 11, Indians 2 (Over 7 ½)
May 26 – Indians 8, Astros 6 (Over
May 27 – Indians 10, Astros 9 (Over

The Astros begin their title defense after winning over 100 games for the second straight season. Houston compiled as many road wins (57) as Boston did at home, while finishing with the seventh-best home mark in the American League at 46-35. On August 19, the Astros and Athletics were tied atop the AL West at 74-49, as Houston won the finale of a critical three-game set in Oakland, 9-4. Since that victory, the Astros went on a 28-10 run to grab the AL West championship, including a 12-2 record at Minute Maid Park.

Staff ace Justin Verlander will take the mound in Game 1 for Houston, as the Astros put together a putrid 2-8 record at Minute Maid Park from June through August to lose over 17 units in that span. However, Verlander rebounded in the final month of the season as Houston won all five of his starts, including a 3-0 mark at home. Verlander struck out double-digit batters in each of his last four starts, while not allowing a run in his final two outings. Verlander posted a 3-0 record at home in the playoffs during the 2017 championship run, while the right-hander is making his first start against Cleveland this season.

Gerrit Cole put together a 15-5 record in his first season in Houston, while the Astros won his final six starts. The right-hander yielded two earned runs or less in 21 starts this season, as Cole allowed three earned runs in seven innings of a 10-9 defeat to Cleveland back in late May. Houston led that game, 8-3 headed to the bottom of the ninth before Cleveland rallied for five runs to force extra innings and ........

Corey Kluber has won the AL Cy Young award twice in his career (2014 and 2017), but had never reached the 20-victory mark in a season prior to 2018. Kluber finished this season at 20-7, while owning an ERA below 3.00 (2.89) for the third time in his stellar career. In Game 1 on Friday, Kluber gets the ball at Minute Maid Park for an afternoon affair as the Cleveland ace put together a 9-0 mark with a 1.93 ERA in daytime starts this season. Kluber performed well in two outings against Houston this season by allowing two earned runs in 13 innings of work, including a 5-4 triumph at Minute Maid Park in May. However, Kluber has struggled in his last three playoff starts by giving up 13 runs, while not lasting past the fourth inning in any of those appearances.

Fellow right-hander Carlos Carrasco put together nearly the same numbers in 2018 as he did in 2017, winning 17 games each season while his ERA slightly jumped from 3.28 to 3.38. Carrasco struck out a career-best 231 batters compared to walking only 43, while the Indians finished UNDER the total in seven of his final 12 starts. Carrasco wasn’t sharp in two appearances against Houston this season by giving up 15 hits and eight earned runs in 13.1 innings of work.

The Indians and Astros are meeting in the playoffs for the first time ever as Cleveland has won four consecutive postseason series openers (all at home). During last season’s championship run, the Astros compiled a strong 8-1 record at Minute Maid Park, while limiting its opponents to three runs or less in its three playoff series openers in 2017.

By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com

phoynes@cleveland.com

Oh if you're interested the CLE/HOU has the early time slots for the ALCS games:

Updated Schedule - ALCS, BROWNS play early game Sunday.

CLEVELAND INDIANS, depending on how far they roll.

ALDS

ALCS