Here Come the Astros

[Smithian]

When the only lefty on your 40 man roster is Wade Miley, you really don't have a lefty for Soto like the Doyers  did.

They should have probably thought in August about the need for a left in October, especially in the world series where you end up in an NL Park and will need more bullpen arms.

The Nationals pen is a disaster, but at least the Nats tried to address the left handed issue in the regular season. I would have liked them to hold onto Elias in the World Series over Wander Suero or Tanner Ross.

[nats4ever]

Soto hit .285/.371/.478 against LHP this season. While this isn't as good as what he posted against RHP, it's also not poor. Outside of Matt Adams, this Nationals team crushes lefty pitching.

The Astros also have two RHP who are fantastic against lefties this season. Pressley and Harris both kepth lefty hitters to a sub .500 OPS all season. And they really don't have anyone to put on the roster. I guess they could put Wade Miley on it, but he isn't very good in the first place. Framber Valdez is another lefty they've used this season, but his ERA is over 5. I mean, are you going to trust either one of those guys over Will Harris or Ryan Pressley, who have been studs all season? Do you really want Wade Miley to face Soto instead of Gerrit Cole?

Secret Astros fan...

[JCA-CrystalCity]

That's nice, but what's the plan?

I just don't think you can expect anyone to go up against this lineup for 7 innings. Tanaka went 6. Morton went 5. This lineup is really strong and grinds out at bats. We saw what Max went through last night.

You gotta have a plan to get through innings 7 and 8 with your guys who didn't start the game. Maybe that means Ross takes an inning. Maybe you get something out of Rodney and Doolittle.

Even if you have a big lead, you still gotta get through the game and this offense can score runs real quick.

the plan is obvious.  If the Nats have a lead through 6, Davey sees how much of the 7th he can get out of Rainey, then goes to Doo and Hudson for the rest of the outs through 9.  The tougher call is what do you do if Stras has a lead but can't give you 6?  I could see Rodney in the mix if the lead is large enough tonight.  If Stras doesn't go 6, maybe Rainey or possibly Doo gets a shot at snuffing out a rally in the 6.   Bullpen B if we trail is some combo of Ross / Guerra / Suero.

[GburgNatsFan]

Secret Astros fan...

LoL. Slate is back to doing his keep-it-real-and-pessimistic shtick. It's worked in the past. I mean, if you believe that anything fans do influences the game.

[Slateman]

Secret Astros fan...

LoL. Slate is back to doing his keep-it-real-and-pessimistic shtick. It's worked in the past. I mean, if you believe that anything fans do influences the game.

I'm sorry I follow baseball and understand metrics

[tenken627]

LoL. Slate is back to doing his keep-it-real-and-pessimistic shtick. It's worked in the past. I mean, if you believe that anything fans do influences the game.

7 playoff wins in a row. I dont care if you believe stuff works or not. Whatever you did for the past 2 weeks keep on doing it!

[DCFan]

Dave is clearly scared to use any reliever short of Hudson and Doolittle.

You say that like he's misguided for thinking such.

[spidernat]

I'm sorry I follow baseball and understand metrics

[Slateman]

You say that like he's misguided for thinking such.

[imref]

7 playoff wins in a row. I dont care if you believe stuff works or not. Whatever you did for the past 2 weeks keep on doing it!

that's 7 straight 1-0's

[spidernat]

I've already heard someone say the Nats should pitch Sanchez tonight after "stealing" a game in Houston to save Strasburg for game 3

[Count Walewski]

Strasburg vs. Verlander is actually the pitching matchup I feel best about in this whole series. Better than Corbin vs. Greinke. Certainly better than Cole vs. Scherzer. Yet the oddsmakers have the Houston Astros as strong favorites to win Game 2.

[spidernat]

Vegas has its paws on tonight's outcome

[Bookman]

Vegas has its paws on tonight's outcome

Game 2 GDT? When?  Need it up......

[nfotiu]

I've already heard someone say the Nats should pitch Sanchez tonight after "stealing" a game in Houston to save Strasburg for game 3

Yeah, let's move our 33:1 K:BB, 1.64 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 3-0 pitcher from facing their 29:8, 3.70,1.07, 1-2 guy!   Strasburg is the one who knocks!

[imref]

Yeah, let's move our 33:1 K:BB, 1.64 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 3-0 pitcher from facing their 29:8, 3.70,1.07, 1-2 guy!   Strasburg is the one who knocks!

gotta think that 'someone' was spider talking to himself again

[bluestreak]

gotta think that 'someone' was spider talking to himself again

No one with two functioning neurons thinks Strasburg should not pitch tonight. 

[imref]

No one with two functioning neurons thinks Strasburg should not pitch tonight. 

Maybe some Astros fans?

[Bookman]

No one with two functioning neurons thinks Strasburg should not pitch tonight.

protons maybe?

[imref]

protons maybe?

I'm sure Slate will give us a reason why Strasburg shouldn't pitch tonight, something along the lines of we're not going to win the WS anyway so better to save him for next year.

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

I'm sure Slate will give us a reason why Strasburg shouldn't pitch tonight, something along the lines of we're not going to win the WS anyway so better to save him for next year.

We should stop pitching Max and playing Turner, Soto, etc and keep them healthy as trade bait for the big offseason blow up.  No way we can compete with the Braves next year. 

[djbaseball13]

Pray Strasburg goes 7.

Strasburg will go 7 without prayers. Have faith and pray that he goes all 9 innings!

[GburgNatsFan]

On another note, when Fernando Rodney gets into a game, he will have pitched in the AL Wild Card, the NL Wild Card, the ALDS, the NLDS, the ALCS, the NLCS, and for both leagues in the World Series.

Rice and beans.

[djbaseball13]

Strasburg vs. Verlander is actually the pitching matchup I feel best about in this whole series. Better than Corbin vs. Greinke. Certainly better than Cole vs. Scherzer. Yet the oddsmakers have the Houston Astros as strong favorites to win Game 2.

The Nats have been beating the odds all year. why stop now?

[tenken627]

Now that Cole got knocked around last night, Strasburg has been the best pitcher this postseason.