Greinke’s ALDS role to be determined
McCullers, Valdez to start first two games instead of struggling ex-Cy Young winner
LOS ANGELES — The Astros acquired Zack Greinke two Julys ago with the postseason in mind. His presence as another ace atop a rotation with Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole stoked fear into baseball.
Fourteen months later, Greinke’s role in a playoff series is sketchy. The six-time All-Star and former Cy Young winner will not start Games1or 2 of the American League Division Series against the Oakland A’s.
Manager Dusty Baker did not divulge a Game 3 starter, but logic says it will be either Greinke or righthander Jose Urquidy. Lance McCullers Jr. will start Game 1 on eight days of rest Monday before FramberValdez goes in Tuesday’s Game 2 on one extra day of rest.
McCullers hasn’t allowed an earned run in his last 172⁄ innings,
3 while Valdez finished the season as the Astros’ most consistent starter. Valdez bailed out Greinke with five fabulous innings in relief during Game1 of the wild card series against the Twins.
Greinke’s absence from the rotation is surprising only due to his pedigree and place on the Astros’ payroll. His performance down the stretch does not warrant a start in either of the first two games — a fact Baker acknowledged in discussing the decision Sunday.
Greinke had a 6.08 ERA in his final five regular-season starts. In his Game 1 start against Minnesota, Greinke walked three Twins in four innings of one-run ball. A brilliant barehanded play by Alex Bregman with the bases loaded saved him fromaworse fate in the first inning.
“Greinke hadn’t been as sharp these last three starts,” Baker said. “Lance has been exceptionally sharp, andwewanted to keep Framber on a pretty regular rotation because Framber has been one of our best. We figured that Lance could use the extra time, and he knows how to work and how to get his act together. That’s why we went the way we went.”
Baker intimated that Greinke will not be available out of the bullpen in Game 1 or 2. Greinke hasn’t made a major league relief appearance since 2007.
The decision for Game 3 could be confounding. Urquidy had a 2.73 ERA in 292⁄ September in
3 nings. He yielded just one run in 42⁄ innings against the Twins in 3 Game 2 of the wild card series.