THE PROFESSOR’S MLB PLAYOFFS CODE RED BLOWOUT
(MLB) Tampa Bay vs. Houston,
Money Line: 102.00 Houston (Home)
Result: Loss
The Tampa Bay Rays have taken the first two games and can all but guarantee a place in the World Series with another win today. The Rays are an impressive 7-2 in this postseason but what is more impressive is the fact that they have allowed two or fewer runs in five of those nine games. The Rays pitchers are giving up an average of 1.3 runs in their last three games. They will look to keep things going with Ryan Yarbrough taking the mound. This season he posted a 1-4 record with a 3.56 ERA. He is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA and two strikeouts in his postseason career.

This is a must-win game for the Houston Astros if they hope to win this series. The Houston Astros have lost three of their last four games and have scored just three runs in this series. It is not like they have not had their chances, the Astros have left 21 guys on base in the first two games of this series. The Astros will look to turn things around by handing the ball to Jose Urquidy. He is 1-1 with a 2.73 ERA and 17 strikeouts this season. He is 1-0 with a 2.89 ERA and 18 strikeouts in his postseason career.
The Astros’ bats should be able to get going against Ryan Yarbrough. He has been solid in the postseason, but he doesn't strike out a lot of hitters. The Astros have generated offense but just haven't been able to get them across the plate. Astros’ starter Jose Urquidy has been consistent in all but one of his starts this season. He has held his opponents to two or fewer earned runs in six of his seven starts. The Rays have only collected 10 base hits in this series, and a couple of errors led to three of their runs in game two. I will take my chances on the Astros in this one.

Play on Houston.