How Everything Can Be Sonny Against the Houston Astros

Assuming Gray wins game 3 (knocking on wood), I'm more worried about Ryan v. Verlander. If we pull out a miracle there, the Twins advance. 

"Having them be able to watch me play, play with them, them being able to come into the clubhouse, to just be a part of it, that and then winning a World Series, going on a playoff, going on a postseason run, that’s the things that still drive me in this game,” Gray told reporters. “That’s the reason that I still show up and put in the work that I put in.”

I always thought we would not have a chance at resigning Gray.  Because we wouldn't give him the best shot at winning in his eyes.  With Pablo and Correa,  that changes the dynamics.  Will be curious to see how his free agency plays out.  I still think the Twins are ok allowing him to walk, but I would be fine if they resigned him.  

I think all those vets in Houston will come ready to hit so I see Sonny having a good but not spectacular start... Maybe two runs in five innings... But I think the bigger advantage is we're past their top two starters and we can just outslug them in game 3 

1 hour ago, Muppet said:

Assuming Gray wins game 3 (knocking on wood), I'm more worried about Ryan v. Verlander. If we pull out a miracle there, the Twins advance. 

You're forgetting that famous joe ryan run support! Twins love pouring it on for him, so here's to lighting up verlander on short rest if that's the case.

Sonny Gray has pitched wonderfully all season for the Twins. The Twins batters have not supported him very well. The bats scoring runs early and often would make everyone, especially Gray, feel better. We can hope that Gray holds the Astros to 3 runs or less in 5 or 6 innings. The offense will have their opportunities and I would sure like to see our quartet of Julien, Kepler, Kirilloff, and Wallner step up on Tuesday.

1 hour ago, Muppet said:

Assuming Gray wins game 3 (knocking on wood), I'm more worried about Ryan v. Verlander. If we pull out a miracle there, the Twins advance. 

 Verlander will be on short rest and got lucky the first time. I hope they throw him out there. 

36 minutes ago, Markdumont25 said:

I think all those vets in Houston will come ready to hit so I see Sonny having a good but not spectacular start... Maybe two runs in five innings... But I think the bigger advantage is we're past their top two starters and we can just outslug them in game 3 

They weren’t ready to hit against Pablo?

I can see Sonny shutting them down just as easily. 

37 minutes ago, CoastiePilot08 said:

 Verlander will be on short rest and got lucky the first time. I hope they throw him out there. 

This. It's 2023. Not 2012. If they trot Verlander out there on 3 days rest, they'll regret it.

Gray's a bulldog and he's pitching with a sense of urgency. It won't be easy but I think he will outpitch Javier. And I think the homefield advantage is going to loom really large on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Houston is a strange team in that they scored 16 fewer runs than there opponent at home and scored 145 more runs than their opponent on the road.   From 8/31 their records against playoff contenders was 9-3 (Tx, Balt, Sea, AZ) but against the rest they were 4-11 (NYY, KC (1-5). Oak and SD).

Game 3 is just as important as game 2 in that I don't believe we can afford to lose it.  I feel we need a great start from Sonny, but I am hoping he will be able to go 5 innnings as Lopez was on but still had 105 pitches after 7 innings.  The Astros will make Sonny work.

You know Sonny will compete. He’s a bulldog. The worry I have is that the Astros will run his pitch count up quickly because Sonny doesn’t give in. Even though I like our playoff bullpen much more than our regular season bullpen I still see it as our greatest risk. Hopefully our lefty lineup breaks out and gets a lead. That might allow Sonny to attack more and stay in the game longer. 

Baseball Reference link to the boxscore for Sonny Gray's great appearance against the Astros in the 2017 playoffs. And this was with the trash can. https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA201710170.shtml

8 hours ago, Muppet said:

Assuming Gray wins game 3 (knocking on wood), I'm more worried about Ryan v. Verlander. If we pull out a miracle there, the Twins advance. 

Thankfully it sounds like it would be Pablo vs. Verlander in Game 5, with a TBD on the starter in Game 4 for the 'Stros.