Re. their pen, another positive from Sat. night was that they got to a couple of their normally reliable arms. Leone had been especially tough.
agreed and he was rolling until going to colorado imo pitching there is akin to hitters facing a knuckleballer… it can fuck you up cautiously optimistic they’ve actually identified the problem or at least psyched max into believing either way, we’ll find out soon enough
I agree, very encouraging. That said, their pen could easily shut us down the rest of the series. Right now, we hold the advantage tonight, both from a matchup and momentum perspective. But if this game is 0-0 or 1-1 going into the 5th or 6th, that advantage is entirely gone and it becomes a 50/50 crapshoot. I'd love to see the top of the lineup get to Wood (no homo) in the first and put up a crooked number, and then Scherzer cruises from there.
This is a radical idea, and I'm not necessarily promoting it, but what if Urias leapfrogs Buehler and starts the potential game 5? Urias would be going on regular rest, has shown better success against the Gnats this year, and you still have Buehler for multiple innings behind Julio if needed. If not, Ferris gets extra rest (seems he could use some) and then is our game 1 starter in the NLCS, followed by Max and Julio in 2 and 3. I'd just hate to see us down 0-3 against Webb and then bringing in Julio might be a case of too little, too late.
Betts and TT batting 1 and 2 is something I've wanted to see since the trade was done. Hopefully we'll see them both on the base paths at the same time. Pujols gets to validate his spot on this roster tonight - this is the perfect scenario. Smith batting 8th - strength 1 thru 8 - I like it!
Is the idea here that if LA wins tonight we can go with a 4th starter for Game 4? I thought the order would have been Buehler going Game 4 anyway with Urias for Game 5 anyway.
.294 BA, .939 OPS vs LHP this year. Or Bellinger against the lefty or Beaty who's never faced Wood? I like the move.