Comparative dates on which the Nationals notched their 85th win, each season:

2012 - 6th September (137th match of season)
2017 - 6th September (139th match)
2016 - 11th September (143rd match)
2014 - 14th September (148th match)
2019 - 21st September (153rd match)
2013 - 27th September (160th match)
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2015 - finished 83-79
2018 - finished 82-80
2005 - finished 81-81
2011 - finished 80-81
2007 - finished 73-89
2006 - finished 71-91
2010 - finished 69-93
2008 - finished 59-102
2009 - finished 59-103
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Old Chelsea: "It has got to be this year. It simply HAS to be THIS YEAR."
                
It is better to go for a fresh beer than to curse the darkness.

It's like little league baseball. The "B" pitchers are all in the bullpen- the rest of the team knows this, but has to act like they are an important part of the team. It's way past time to ditch the pitch counts and let our starters go 9 innings! We can do this in the playoffs, but we have to get there first.  Our bullpen have their own twisted version of 'relief"  Instead of putting out the fire, they come in and pour gasoline on it! When the 2019 season is done, the pitching stats will be brought to light. Any 5th grader will see that the Nats 2019 pitching staff makes history. 

We have 3 stud starters and Sanchez has come on like gang busters. And the really pleasant surprise has been the way the 5th starters have come out of nowhere.  But then we get to the bullpen and it’s a complete cluster freak. I don’t know how the starters particularly Stras haven’t mutinied yet.

But I don’t go along with the idea of ditching the pitch count. Having starters go 120-130 pitches every start is a recipe for disaster.

Right. Gotta burn out the young guy's arm. The Dusty Way.

Not sure what the definition of "young" is for a pitcher but Voth is 27. Seems like he is considered one of those twice through the order guys. The last time he was pulled at 80 pitches I looked up his stats and his 3rd time through the order numbers are not great. His 3rd time through the order consists of a whopping 4 innings. Give the guy a chance....

The home team is 2-5 in the Bl wild card game and 4-3 in the al.   Probably not a big enough sample size to matter.  I still think home field is preferred.  Not sure I’d pitch scherzer on the last game of the year if it was to determine home field though.

Is Nats Park really that much of an advantage? I think they might be "looser" playing in Milwaukee. Less pressure.