MLB playoffs 2015: Home-field disadvantage continues as Astros take Game 1 in KC

Ryan Fagan

MLB playoffs 2015: Home-field disadvantage continues as Astros take Game 1 in KC image

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Apparently, home teams just aren’t going to win any games this postseason. 

The Astros continued that trend Thursday night at Kauffman Stadium against the Royals, copying the same formula that worked for them in New York during the wild-card game — score a couple runs early and hold on for the victory. This time, the final score was 5-2

MORE: Top ALDS photos | MLB postseason schedule

It’s the same pattern that worked for the Cubs in their win in Pittsburgh in the NL wild-card game — having that Jake Arrieta fellow on the mound didn’t hurt (in a 4-0 victory) — and the same pattern that lifted the Rangers over the Blue Jays in Toronto on Thursday afternoon, in what ended as a 5-3 win for Texas

So what’s going on? Are the hometown starting pitchers just too nervous? Visiting teams have scored nine runs in the first four games of this postseason, which is something. 

Maybe. 

MORE: KC's Young sets franchise mark for relief Ks

On Thursday, the Astros loaded the bases with no outs in the first inning and scored on back-to-back RBI groundouts, then added a third run in the second on a double by Jake Marisnick and a single by Jose Altuve. Solo home runs, by George Springer in the fifth and Colby Rasmus in the eighth, finished off Houston's scoring. That was enough for Houston starter Colin McHugh, who allowed two runs in six solid innings, and four Astros relievers. 

Maybe it’s just #baseball, though, one of those things that’s hard to pin down. This much is certain, of course — four games is not nearly enough of a sample size to draw any conclusions. It’s a curiosity, at this point. 

The Dodgers and Cardinals host NLDS Game 1s on Friday, and you can bet their fans are at least aware of what’s happened so far.

Ryan Fagan

Ryan Fagan Photo

Ryan Fagan, the national MLB writer for The Sporting News, has been a Baseball Hall of Fame voter since 2016. He also dabbles in college hoops and other sports. And, yeah, he has way too many junk wax baseball cards.