Three Thoughts on Orioles at Rangers, Gm 3

The Texas Rangers keep streaking all the way to the ALCS (and beyond?)...

Three Thoughts, everyone knows the rules. Shout out to Grant Wahl. We can sleep when we are dead, but playoff glory keeps us awake anyway. We write tonight.

The Texas Rangers have swept the Baltimore Orioles in the ALDS with a 7-1 win in Game 3 on Tuesday Night in Arlington. They have now won five consecutive playoff games and await their next opponent in the ALCS that starts Sunday.

These are my (top) three thoughts:

- Don’t you ever doubt Nathan Eovaldi in this sort of situation. We talked about this after his Tampa Bay start in Game 2 and let’s do it again here vs Baltimore in Game 3. He is nails in October and while we cannot fully explain how he has found this ridiculous level in the last two starts at the perfect time and place to resemble the playoff hero he has been in Boston in 2018 and 2021. His demeanor is impressive and he appears to be unflappable, but I imagine his command and his willingness to challenge hitters in the zone is what really makes that click. The Rangers have been so shorthanded in these two rounds that it was vital that they did not extend either series, but rather get the most they could out of Jordan Montgomery and Eovaldi. Well, guess what, they have both been a godsend and with Jose LeClerc, look like guys willing to do all the heavy lifting necessary. But wait, rumors of Jon Gray and Max Scherzer now emerge for the ALCS. Do they have decisions to make and maybe too many starting pitchers? We will believe it when we see it.

But, for now, let us marvel at the work of Eovaldi once again. After an absurd outing in Tampa Bay of 6.2 innings, 98 pitches, 1 earned run, 8 strikeouts and 0 walks, he rolls out 7 innings, 98 pitches, 1 earned run, 7 strikeouts and 0 walks against the Orioles. Seriously, he basically pitched the same gem twice in a week for a team that had no remaining options as starting pitchers. Talk about clutch! It was too good to be true.