Nationals v. Dodgers, NLDS Game 4

[Five Banners]

It’s the age old conundrum: do you burn all your good pitching in an elimination game to actually give the best chance of a decider, knowing you will at a great disadvantage in that game since your top arms are unavailable. Or do you spread thin in both games meaning less chance of winning the first but more chance in game 2...

For the record I have no clue what we should do!

Max has plenty of complete games. Maybe he shocks the world and cruises

[awbb]

Max has plenty of complete games. Maybe he shocks the world and cruises

FP says: That would be awesome! Officially the coolest thing I’ve seen this year.

[imref]

Max has plenty of complete games. Maybe he shocks the world and cruises

playoff Max is way too intense to pitch a complete game.

[imref]

no Nats lineup yet, but here's LA's:

1. Joc Pederson (L) RF
2. Max Muncy (L) 1B
3. Justin Turner (R) 3B
4. Cody Bellinger (L) CF
5. Corey Seager (L) SS
6. Matt Beaty (L) LF
7. Gavin Lux (L) 2B
8. Will Smith (R) C
9. Rich Hill (L) P

[NatsAllThe Way]

playoff Max is way too intense to pitch a complete game.

  He's also not very good in the playoffs.  A complete game while giving up 8 runs isn't going to help us much.

[imref]

No Zimmerman.

1. Trea Turner (R) SS
2. Adam Eaton (L) RF
3. Anthony Rendon (R) 3B
4. Juan Soto (L) LF
5. Howie Kendrick (R) 1B
6. Asdrubal Cabrera (S) 2B
7. Victor Robles (R) CF
8. Yan Gomes (R) C
9. Patrick Corbin (L) P

[mitlen]

No Zimmerman.

1. Trea Turner (R) SS
2. Adam Eaton (L) RF
3. Anthony Rendon (R) 3B
4. Juan Soto (L) LF
5. Howie Kendrick (R) 1B
6. Asdrubal Cabrera (S) 2B
7. Victor Robles (R) CF
8. Yan Gomes (R) C
9. Patrick Corbin (L) P

I'm still curious about the Howie thing.    I'm over the "good bat" theory.

[UMDNats]

I think starting Howie is a mistake. I'd have give Zimm 4 at-bats tonight and bring in Howie off the bench when needed.

[mitlen]

I think starting Howie is a mistake. I'd have give Zimm 4 at-bats tonight and bring in Howie off the bench when needed.

This   ...  that's not even considering the glove aspect.

[spidernat]

No Zimmerman.

1. Trea Turner (R) SS
2. Adam Eaton (L) RF
3. Anthony Rendon (R) 3B
4. Juan Soto (L) LF
5. Howie Kendrick (R) 1B
6. Asdrubal Cabrera (S) 2B
7. Victor Robles (R) CF
8. Yan Gomes (R) C
9. Patrick Corbin (L) P

Corbin?

[nfotiu]

Have to wonder if Zimm is healthy.

[spidernat]

Have to wonder if Zimm is healthy.

It's about putting your best lineup out there, not sentimentality

[nfotiu]

Corbin?

[UMDNats]

Is Robles in the lineup? I'm seeing MAT in there on twitter

[Bookman]

Corbin starting? Is that correct?

[mitlen]

Is Robles in the lineup? I'm seeing MAT in there on twitter

I don't think the lineup is set yet  ....   according to rotowire.

[spidernat]

It's Taylor not Robles (confimed)

[RobDibblesGhost]

Per MLB

Turner
Eaton
Rendon
Soto
Kendrick
Zimm
Suzuki
Taylor
Scherzer

[mitlen]

It's Taylor not Robles (confimed)

I wanna wallow in it so I think Taylor gave up on the first double by the Dodgers last night.     I think Robles would have kicked Kingman to the curb and ran out the route   .....

[mitlen]

Per MLB

Turner
Eaton
Rendon
Soto
Kendrick
Zimm
Suzuki
Taylor
Scherzer

Thanks RDG.     

[Mathguy]

I think you're right.  Taylor & Soto weren't sure who would go for it and who would back up.  If Robles was out there, there would not have been any question.

I wanna wallow in it so I think Taylor gave up on the first double by the Dodgers last night.     I think Robles would have kicked Kingman to the curb and ran out the route   .....

[nfotiu]

I wanna wallow in it so I think Taylor gave up on the first double by the Dodgers last night.     I think Robles would have kicked Kingman to the curb and ran out the route   .....

I thought so too.   If Robles was in the game, then Corbin pitched great, Davey makes amazing decisions and we are playing to win the series today :-)

[nfotiu]

I think you're right.  Taylor & Soto weren't sure who would go for it and who would back up.  If Robles was out there, there would not have been any question.

I feel like Soto has been worse without Robles too.   I don't know if his position has changed, or Robles tells him where to go, but there are at least a couple hits that I was expecting Soto to catch that he didn't.

[spidernat]

I wanna wallow in it so I think Taylor gave up on the first double by the Dodgers last night.     I think Robles would have kicked Kingman to the curb and ran out the route   .....

that ball was not catchable

[mitlen]

that ball was not catchable

I still think it was closer than a lot of folks think.     There's a camera angle (home plate area) that shows Taylor almost coming to a stop as he approaches Kingman and the ball.    I think Robles runs through the caution and gets real close.     Anyway, doesn't matter now.     We gotta get some  today.

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