Wild Card watch

[nfotiu]

Starters in relief roles always seems pretty dicey.   Can you trust Corbin to come in with guys on base and not walk a couple?  Strasburg's first inning is typically his worst.  Do you want to bring him in a close game in the 8th?

[dracnal]

Starters in relief roles always seems pretty dicey.   Can you trust Corbin to come in with guys on base and not walk a couple?  Strasburg's first inning is typically his worst.  Do you want to bring him in a close game in the 8th?

Yeah, I'm not really a big fan of starters as relievers either. Don't know if Strasburg is still the same creature of routine he used to be, but if he is, he should definitely be the guy to open the game or not pitch.

[Baseball is Life]

All starters are notorious creatures of habit, and Scherzer and Stras are reportedly the worst. Don't know about Sanchez and Corbin. But if the starter can't go seven in the WG game I still think they're a better bet than anyone in that crappy pen.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Speaking of wildcard watch,watch the Phillies get eliminated!

[DCFan]

Speaking of wildcard watch,watch the Phillies get eliminated!

Just did.

[aspenbubba]

No one is addressing this but Rendon has gone 5 for 33 in his last 10 games not incliuding today and has dropped 13 points from his high of .338.
His fielding has been affected because he looks like he is pressing and making unforced errors. I also wonder what caused the laid back Ant to grab the ball out of Sotos hand last night. He was not grinning. I don't bring any of this up to belittle him but we need him and Soto to step up if we are going to play in October.

[djbaseball13]

Can’t really see it happening unless the Brewers stumble.

I can. The Reds are much better than the Pirates, so I bet they will win a game or 2.

[bluestreak]

No one is addressing this but Rendon has gone 5 for 33 in his last 10 games not incliuding today and has dropped 13 points from his high of .338.
His fielding has been affected because he looks like he is pressing and making unforced errors. I also wonder what caused the laid back Ant to grab the ball out of Sotos hand last night. He was not grinning. I don't bring any of this up to belittle him but we need him and Soto to step up if we are going to play in October.

It’s a slump. They need a day off. I’d also rather it happen now than next week.

[RobDibblesGhost]

I can. The Reds are much better than the Pirates, so I bet they will win a game or 2.

Dang. The Reds threatened in the ninth tonight but fell short. Hopefully they can take one or both of the next two games.

[GburgNatsFan]

Nice to see the team so stoked. And the few fans that are there... noisy!

[Slateman]

Holy freaking crap, they did it.

[GburgNatsFan]

[imref]

[Air Desmond]

The boys deserve to celebrate. A tremendous feat. I thought there was no hope at 19-31. 

Only one question left - Nats Park or Miller Park on Tuesday?

[Mathguy]

Cleveland's going to be tough, needing every game for an AL playoff berth.  But the Indians won't be able to use their DH

The boys deserve to celebrate. A tremendous feat. I thought there was no hope at 19-31. 

Only one question left - Nats Park or Miller Park on Tuesday?

[Duke of Earl]

The boys deserve to celebrate. A tremendous feat.

I had hoped they wouldn’t be celebrating a wildcard berth so conspicuously. Celebrate after you win the wild card game.

[rileyn]

Starters in relief roles always seems pretty dicey.   Can you trust Corbin to come in with guys on base and not walk a couple?  Strasburg's first inning is typically his worst.  Do you want to bring him in a close game in the 8th?

I would start Strasburg, and bring Corbin in to finish the game.  Maybe Stras goes 5, Corbin 4.  No Rodney, Suero, Rainey!

Game 1 - Scherzer
Game 2 - Sanchez
Game 3 - Corbin
Game 4 - Strasburg
Game 5 - Scherzer.

Easy.

[Slateman]

I had hoped they wouldn’t be celebrating a wildcard berth so conspicuously. Celebrate after you win the wild card game.

Celebrate what you can

[bluestreak]

I would start Strasburg, and bring Corbin in to finish the game.  Maybe Stras goes 5, Corbin 4.  No Rodney, Suero, Rainey!

Game 1 - Scherzer
Game 2 - Sanchez
Game 3 - Corbin
Game 4 - Strasburg
Game 5 - Scherzer.

Easy.

I really think you want Corbin to pitch twice vs. the Dodgers.

[rileyn]

I really think you want Corbin to pitch twice vs. the Dodgers.

Yes, but you have to get to the Dodgers first.

[imref]

I really think you want Corbin to pitch twice vs. the Dodgers.

Yes.  If we win the WC and Corbin isn't pitching game 1 against LAD we're doing it wrong.

10/1 - WC - Scherzer with Strasburg available

10/3 - NLDS-1 - Corbin
10/4 - NLDS-2 - Strasburg unless he went long in the WC
10/6 - NLDS-3 - Scherzer on normal rest
10/7 - NLDS-4 - Corbin on short rest
10/9 - NLDS-5 - Strasburg on normal rest with Scherzer available

I don't think Sanchez starts a game.

[bluestreak]

I’d really like for the Nats to rest some guys, but you can’t really do that because 1) you want the WC game at home and 2) The Cleveland series has playoff implications for them.

[imref]

Any guesses on the WC roster?

I'll throw a guess out there:

C: Gomes, Read, Suzuki (for his ability to pinch hit even if he's not able to catch)

INF: Zimmerman, Dozier, Cabrera, Turner, Kendrick, Rendon, Adams

OF: Eaton, Robles, Soto, Parra, Taylor (pinch running speed)

P: Scherzer, Strasburg, Strickland, Suero, Doolittle, Hudson, Guerera, Rodney, Rainey, Sanchez

That would leave Corbin, Voth, and Fedde off the WC roster.  My assumption is that you need to save Corbin for LA.

Definitely wish we had another LHP in the bullpen though.

[Slateman]

Yes, but you have to get to the Dodgers first.

This. If you have to use Scherzer, Strasburg, and Corbin, you do it.

[bluestreak]

I don’t really see how you leave Parra on the roster. He’s been absolute dogcrap at the plate for the last month and a half.