Elimination Game

Tonight is an elimination game in the MLB playoffs. We win and we stay alive. We lose and we’re done.

What is our record in MLB playoff elimination games?

Let me get the non-MLB stuff out of the way.

Commentary is not going to say much about Donald Trump’s chief-of-staff appearing before the press yesterday. He only did so because Trump s__t all over himself on Monday in politicizing the issue of calling Gold Star families.

Early Vote in Person starts on Monday and Commentary is starting to get some mail – five pieces so far – I think.

Let’s remember this about the ALCS. The Yankees won the three played at their crib and we’ve won the two at our crib.

Here is what the Chron’s Jake Kaplan says today:

With their backs against the wall, the Astros have called on Justin Verlander to save their season.

Their ace of only seven weeks has been in this position.

“This is why I’m here,” he said Thursday.

Friday night’s Game 6 of the American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees will be Verlander’s fifth career start in a potential postseason elimination game. During the Detroit Tigers’ last best run, when they made the ALCS or World Series in three consecutive Octobers from 2011-13, do-or-die games like this were reckoned with annually.

Verlander will take the Minute Maid Park mound Friday with a 1.48 ERA in his four career elimination games. In three of those previous four, his Tigers won. The defeat came in Game 5 of the 2006 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, when a 23-year-old Verlander was charged with one earned run in six innings of a 4-2 loss.

In each of his last two elimination games, Verlander dominated. Both came against the Oakland Athletics in fifth games of a Division Series. In 2012, he struck out 11 and allowed only four hits in a complete-game shutout. The next year, he struck out 10 and held the A’s to two hits in eight scoreless frames.

That’s why he’s here.

We don’t do so hot when it comes to elimination games in our MLB playoff history.

In 1980, we lost Game 5 of the NLCS to the Phillies 8-7 in 10 innings and were done.

1981, lost Game 5 of the NLWDS to the Dodgers 4-0 – done.

1986, lost Game 6 of the NLCS to the Mets 7-6 in 16 – done.

1997, lost Game 3 of the NLDS to The ATL 4-1 – done.

1998, lost Game 4 of the NLDS to the Padres 6-1 – done.

1999, lost Game 4 of the NLDS to The ATL 7-5 – done.

2001, lost Game 3 of the NLDS to The ATL 6-2 – done.

2004, we WON Game 5 of the NLDS over The ATL 12-3 to advance.

2004, lost Game 7 of the NLCS to San Luis 5-2 – done.

2005, lost Game 4 of the World Serious to the White Sox 1-0 – done.

2015, won the AL Wild Card Game over the Yankees 3-0 to advance.

2015, lost Game 5 of the ALDS to the Royals 7-2 – done.

That’s a 2-10 record in MLB playoff elimination games of course.

In all fairness, with the exception of The Fish, MLB clubs lose more MLB playoff elimination games than they win. Got it?

If you are going to the game, try the METRO Rail. It’s free if you have a game ticket.

Let’s hope the bats come alive tonight.   Let’s hope we have a game tomorrow night.