Here Come the Astros

[RobDibblesGhost]

Astros Roster:  No LHP is interesting.

Oof. Nats seem to feast on LHP so that’s a bummer.

[imref]

fan graphs did a simulation comparing us saving our best pitchers to go up against pitchers other than Cole, essentially punting on trying to beat Cole. That approach increased our odds of winning the series by about .3%

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/should-the-nationals-duck-gerrit-cole/

[Five Banners]

fan graphs did a simulation comparing us saving our best pitchers to go up against pitchers other than Cole, essentially punting on trying to beat Cole. That approach increased our odds of winning the series by about .3%

When Cliff Lee was on fire for the Phillies in 2009, the Yankees lost both of his starts (although almost pulled out the second one), and still won in six.

[Five Banners]

fan graphs did a simulation comparing us saving our best pitchers to go up against pitchers other than Cole, essentially punting on trying to beat Cole. That approach increased our odds of winning the series by about .3%

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/should-the-nationals-duck-gerrit-cole/

I thought Sanchez would've been the perfect Game 1 starter, then Max, and Stras set up as a stopper at home.

[imref]

Rizzo's dream WS: https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2019/10/21/world-series-national-vs-astros-features-diamondbacks-influence/4055256002/

[spidernat]

wow, punting a game because people are terrified of Gerrit Cole!

[tenken627]

That's weird.

Eaton and Soto are lefties. Rendon, Cabrera, and Kendrick crush everything. Robles and Turner are actually a bit better against RHP. Zimmerman is only Nats regular in the field who struggles against RHP.

I was told the Astros were a perfect machine, but realizing they have no left handed pitcher in the pen raises my hopes.

Soto seems to actually bat better against lefties. Other than a few clutch at bats, Eaton has been silent for the most part. Asdrubal has been in a slump at both sides of the plate.

While our righties have bat decently against righties, you still wanna pitch righties against them.

If your best pitchers are all righties, I don't see anything wrong with not bringing a lefty.

[Natsinpwc]

Cole is due. For a loss.

[Five Banners]

Cole is due. For a loss.

He gave up 29 homers in 33 appearances as well

[tenken627]

Cole is due. For a loss.

He gave up 29 homers in 33 appearances as well

Verlander has also given up 36 homers in 34 appearances as well. Might be a lot of explosions

[Count Walewski]

Cole has been amazing in this postseason but Verlander and Greinke have looked human. Like very talented humans, but still human. Cole can't start 4 games.

[Smithian]

wow, punting a game because people are terrified of Gerrit Cole!

There may be a statistical argument around pitching Sanchez against Cole and going with the big three afterwards, but that is why decisions are not made by computers alone.

You never know when Cole will have an off night. More importantly, baseball is a game of habit. If Dave Martinez walked in the clubhouse over the break and said, "We are going with Sanchez in Game 1" it would have caused confusion and taken the team out of their zone. Let the Astros be afraid of playoff Strasburg, I want our Big 3 going Games 1, 2, and 3.

[imref]

Dougherty and Sverluga guessing:

Pitchers:
Scherzer
Strasburg
Corbin
Sanchez
Voth
Hudson
Doolittle
Rainey
Rodney
Suero
Guerra

Catchers:
Suzuki
Gomes

Infielders:
Zimmerman
Kendrick
Adams
Cabrera
Dozier
Turner
Rendon

Outfielders:
Soto
Robles
Eaton
Parra
Taylor

[Natsinpwc]

Not a betting man but I put $100 on the Nats to  win the series. They had some kind of bonus and I had another $50 in my account. So I bet that to win $500 if the Nats are up 3 games to 0.

[Smithian]

Not a betting man but I put $100 on the Nats to  win the series. They had some kind of bonus and I had another $50 in my account. So I bet that to win $500 if the Nats are up 3 games to 0.

Always safe to bet on Strasburg, Scherzer, and Corbin.

[mitlen]

Not a betting man but I put $100 on the Nats to  win the series. They had some kind of bonus and I had another $50 in my account. So I bet that to win $500 if the Nats are up 3 games to 0.

Did they give you a parking pass to make sure you come back?

[Natsinpwc]

Did they give you a parking pass to make sure you come back?

It’s some guy in some overseas location. They know I’m hooked.

[imref]

Nats 25-man:

Right-Handed Pitchers
Javy Guerra
Daniel Hudson
Tanner Rainey
Fernando Rodney
Joe Ross
Anibal Sanchez
Max Scherzer (probable game 1 starter)
Stephen Strasburg (probable game 2 starter)
Wander Suero

Left-Handed Pitchers
Patrick Corbin
Sean Doolittle

Infielders
Matt Adams
Asdrubal Cabrera
Brian Dozier
Howie Kendrick
Anthony Rendon
Trea Turner
Ryan Zimmerman

Outfielders
Adam Eaton
Gerardo Parra
Victor Robles
Juan Soto
Michael A. Taylor

Catchers
Yan Gomes
Kurt Suzuki

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

Jeckyll or Hyde Suero?

[mitlen]

Jeckyll or Hyde Suero?

    Please don't make us find out.

[nfotiu]

Elias made the NLCS, but not the WS?  I was hoping he'd be ready and useful the deeper we went.   I guess Corbin is definitely in play the first game or 2.

[Smithian]

Elias made the NLCS, but not the WS?  I was hoping he'd be ready and useful the deeper we went.   I guess Corbin is definitely in play the first game or 2.

I know it has worked so far, but I don't like using our starters as bullpen pieces unless we hit elimination games. This isn't the NLDS, a 7 games is a long time.

I would stick strictly to the bullpen until we hit an elimination game, then every single hand on deck. If they're going to be calling on any of our starters as relievers then they should have dropped Suero and Ross for Stevenson/Difo and Read.

[Slateman]

Oof. Nats seem to feast on LHP so that’s a bummer.

It's almost like Houston has an analytics department

[Natsinpwc]

It's almost like Houston has an analytics department

So LHPs are bad?   Interesting.

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

I don't mind using Corbin for a couple lefties in Games 1 and 2.  It acts in replacement of his "throw day" anyway between starts.  10-15 pitches at most...no harm.