The ALCS Preview Podcast

Welcome back to another episode on your OTM Podcast feed. Matt, Keaton, and Bob are back with you one day early for a preview of the upcoming ALCS against the Astros. Boston and Houston will be starting this series down in Texas for the first two games, with things kicking off Friday night at 8:07 PM ET.

We started off our discussion talking about lessons we may or may not have learned about each team in the ALDS before moving into the teams more specifically. We break down an Astros lineup that is deep and talented, singling out a few names to watch out for besides the big ones we already know, and also look at team tendencies as a whole. We do the same for the rotation and bullpen, and talk through some strategies the Red Sox might employ to beat this staff and potentially knock starters out early.

From there, we shift our attention to the Red Sox side of things, looking at potential changes on the roster compared to the ALDS. We mostly agree that any change will probably just come at the expense at one of the bottom-tier relievers on the roster. The rotation order also comes up, and more specifically what role Chris Sale may serve in this series. We also look at the bullpen, trying to figure out what Garrett Whitlock’s role is, and who is in the Circle of Trust.

Finally, we make our predictions, looking at keys to the series, individual X-Factors, and MVPs as well as series winners. We hope you enjoyed today’s show. If so, please subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and leave us a rating and a review. We’ll be back with you after every game of this series.