Morning Mound Visit: It’s beginning to look a lot like a Rays, Braves World Series

Barring unlikely comebacks, it appears as if we’re getting a Rays-Braves World Series. Tampa is just one win away from advancing after going up 3-0 against the Houston Astros. Likewise, Atlanta has taken the first two games of the NLCS and is firmly in command.

For the Astros to come back, they would have to become just the second team in MLB history to win a seven-game series after dropping the first three. Something tells me the Astros wouldn’t enrapture the hearts of baseball fans in quite the same way as the 2004 Red Sox.

To prolong their season, Houston will put Zack Greinke on the mound. Greinke has made two starts this postseason, totaling just 8 ²⁄₃ innings while giving up five runs, two home runs, and striking out five.

To end Houston’s season, Tampa will counter with Tyler Glasnow who has struck out 20 batters in 13 ¹⁄₃ innings though he has given up six runs and four homers.

Over in Texas, the Dodgers suddenly find themselves without Clayton Kershaw. The face of the franchise Hankook Tires was scratched with back spasms before yesterday’s Game 2 and he won’t be available for Game 3 either. Instead, Julio Urías gets the ball for his first start of the 2020 postseason. In eight innings, Urías has struck out 11, walked 1, and given up just 1 run.

Opposing him for Atlanta is Kyle Wright who has made just one start this postseason. (The Braves have been making quick work of their opponents.) Last time out he went six innings, struck out seven, walked two, and didn’t allow a run.

Shakeia Taylor | MLB.com: In her MLB.com debut, Shakeia Taylor highlights the life and career of Cumberland Posey who both played for and owned the Homestead Grays.

Ben Clemens | FanGraphs: It used to be that a hitter would automatically take on a 3-0 pitch, but Ronald Acuña Jr. is nearly the opposite. Acuña has swung at five 3-0 pitches already this postseason, and though those swings haven’t benefited him yet, it shows how careful pitchers must be at all times when he’s in the box.

Zach Kram | The Ringer: The Dodgers are in a tight spot in part because they allowed the Braves to score four runs in the ninth inning of Game 1. Curiously, Kenley Jansen never made it into that game nor did he appear in Game 2. A comeback will be tough, but with Kershaw hurt and confidence lost in Jansen it might be impossible.