The World Champion Houston Astros are one game away from their second straight ALDS victory. On the surface, probably to most outsiders, this team looks very similar to the one that took down the LA Dodgers in seven games last Fall. But it is a different team in many ways, and it has gotten here by a different path.
Compared to last year’s team, which stood in comparison to some of the best slugging teams ever, yes, 27 Yankees, yes, Big Red Machine, this is a pitching first outfit.
Not least of all because of the off-season acquisition of Gerrit Cole, who gives the Astros, along with late season 2017 acquisition Justin Verlander, a 1-2 starting pitching combo for the ages.