The Orange Juice Series has been squeezed into a winner-take-all matchup on Thursday between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Houston Astros from Minute Maid Park. On Tuesday, Tommy Pham and Willy Adames each went deep during a 4-1 home victory versus Houston. Six Tampa Bay pitchers combined to strike out eight batters and walk just two on the night.
Twenty-six year old righty Tyler Glasnow (6-1 1.78 ERA) will take the ball for the Rays on Thursday. Through 60 plus innings, Glasnow struck out 76 batters and posted a dazzling 0.89 WHIP.
The Houston Astros won a major league best 60 home games during the regular season and need one win on Thursday to advance to the ALCS. In Game Four, Houston scored their only run on a solo shot by Robinson Chirinos in the eighth inning. SP Justin Verlander gave up four runs in three plus innings and took the loss for the Astros.
The Astros will counter with right-hander Gerrit Cole (20-5 2.50 ERA) in the series finale. In Game Two, Cole fanned 15 batters and allowed just four hits across seven plus innings to pitch Houston to a 3-1 home victory.
