Also in today’s Five-Tool Newsletter … the poetics of Freddie Freeman, so-called hostile environments and more.
Alvarez is 4-for-8 with two game-winning home runs in the first two ALDS games against the Mariners.
Kevin M. Cox/AP
Sometimes, there is absolutely nothing you can do. A hitter is so locked in that it doesn’t matter how good your pitcher is or where you pitch to him, or even whether you pitch to him at all—he’ll find a way to beat you.
That’s Yordan Alvarez right now against the Mariners. The Astros' slugger, this generation’s Willie McCovey, swatted his second game-winning home run in as many games in the sixth inning yesterday off Seattle ace Luis Castillo to give Houston a commanding 2–0 series lead in this best-of-three ALDS.