Post by Commissioner Erick on Oct 21, 2023 20:38:35 GMT -5
Milwaukee Brewers (37-22) @ Washington Nationals (25-33)
MIL: Tim Kierstead (5-3, 3.95)
WAS: Sixto Sanchez (6-2, 3.89)
Brewers 3 Key Stats
.811: Milwaukee’s May OPS: The Brewers have been very critical after a brutal start to the year by their offense. They scored only nine runs in four March games, and had a .213 average and .686 OPS in April. Only two teams had a lower OPS and the average was last in the NL. However, Milwaukee did turn things around in May. Their .270 average was second to the Giants and their .811 OPS led the league. The team may still be eighth in runs and 13th in average, but it’s likely that the start was a fluky outlier.
.655: Nick Rollins’ OPS: Usually Nick Rollins only plays a half season due to injures, but produces at a high level when he plays. This year, Rollins is on pace to only play half a year due to injuries, but has not been productive. His .226/.290/.366 triple slash would easily be a career low, and he’s currently banged up with a strained oblique. Milwaukee can handle some loss of his performance as he’s playing Second Base this year, but it’s still hard playing a negative WAR player. Rollins will need to turn things around if Milwaukee wants to win another NL Central title.
3: Brewers relievers with an ERA of 2.00 or under: The Brewers have the best bullpen ERA in the league at 2.79. Three relievers have been outstanding for them. Josh Ruben was acquired from the Angels and has been sensational, walking nary a batter over 23.1 innings. With a .237 BABIP, he’s put up a 1.54 ERA with a 0.73 WHIP. Josh Blystone has an even better ERA at 1.45. Pigpen has been a great reliever for awhile, with three seasons with an ERA of 2.47 or under. Blystone’s dominance stems largely from his ability to manhandle righties. Same side hitters have a .590 OPS against him in his career. Finally, 2030 All-Star Luis Orellana was great for the Mets last year, and has been even better this year. Despite an elevated BABIP, he’s allowed just one homer and he’s allowed lefties to hit for just a .438 OPS. Washington will need to produce early in the game if they want to win with relievers like that locking things down for Milwaukee.
Nationals 3 Key Stats
15: Home wins in 25 games: Washington has struggled this year, but they’ve been a strong team at home. They’ve gone 15-10 and have wins in six straight home games, plus eight of nine, and their only loss was in extra innings. The home schedule hasn’t been exceptionally easy either. Washington has series wins against the Dodgers, Mariners, and Diamondbacks this year, plus a split against the Cubs. They’ll be stingy today.
1: Lefties in Washington’s pitching staff: The Nationals’ only left-handed arm is swingman Bobby McConnel who often starts for them. This means the team may not have the split of arms needed to handle Milwaukee’s extreme platoon advantages. The Brewers don’t platoon as much as they have in the past, but they have a few left-handers on their bench they can put into the starting lineup for today’s game without fear of losing the platoon advantage.
3: Home runs hit by Jahmai Jones yesterday: Jones has hit three homers in a game twice in his career, yesterday and a game in 2024. He only has five homers this year and 14 RBIs, but half his RBIs have come the last two days, and 60% of his homers. He’s never faced Tim Kierstead before, setting up an exciting showdown between the two veterans.
Questions for the GMs:
For Luke Grimmelbein, Hideki Yamada will be out for more than a month. Who will replace him on the active roster?
Nick Rollins is banged up a little. Will he play today?
You recently DFA’d Luis Rivera. Why did you DFA him?
For Darby Butynski, your starter’s ERA has been horrendous this year. What steps are you taking to try to improve your rotation?
Manuel Ortiz isn’t hitting for any power, but is hitting over .300 after a rough 2030. What do you make of his season?
You traded for Tsuro Toguchi in the offseason as part of the Eric Pena trade. What do you make of his prospects?
TRIVIA: Who is the only player who has double digit career homers and double digit career steals for the US National Team?
MIL: Tim Kierstead (5-3, 3.95)
WAS: Sixto Sanchez (6-2, 3.89)
Brewers 3 Key Stats
.811: Milwaukee’s May OPS: The Brewers have been very critical after a brutal start to the year by their offense. They scored only nine runs in four March games, and had a .213 average and .686 OPS in April. Only two teams had a lower OPS and the average was last in the NL. However, Milwaukee did turn things around in May. Their .270 average was second to the Giants and their .811 OPS led the league. The team may still be eighth in runs and 13th in average, but it’s likely that the start was a fluky outlier.
.655: Nick Rollins’ OPS: Usually Nick Rollins only plays a half season due to injures, but produces at a high level when he plays. This year, Rollins is on pace to only play half a year due to injuries, but has not been productive. His .226/.290/.366 triple slash would easily be a career low, and he’s currently banged up with a strained oblique. Milwaukee can handle some loss of his performance as he’s playing Second Base this year, but it’s still hard playing a negative WAR player. Rollins will need to turn things around if Milwaukee wants to win another NL Central title.
3: Brewers relievers with an ERA of 2.00 or under: The Brewers have the best bullpen ERA in the league at 2.79. Three relievers have been outstanding for them. Josh Ruben was acquired from the Angels and has been sensational, walking nary a batter over 23.1 innings. With a .237 BABIP, he’s put up a 1.54 ERA with a 0.73 WHIP. Josh Blystone has an even better ERA at 1.45. Pigpen has been a great reliever for awhile, with three seasons with an ERA of 2.47 or under. Blystone’s dominance stems largely from his ability to manhandle righties. Same side hitters have a .590 OPS against him in his career. Finally, 2030 All-Star Luis Orellana was great for the Mets last year, and has been even better this year. Despite an elevated BABIP, he’s allowed just one homer and he’s allowed lefties to hit for just a .438 OPS. Washington will need to produce early in the game if they want to win with relievers like that locking things down for Milwaukee.
Nationals 3 Key Stats
15: Home wins in 25 games: Washington has struggled this year, but they’ve been a strong team at home. They’ve gone 15-10 and have wins in six straight home games, plus eight of nine, and their only loss was in extra innings. The home schedule hasn’t been exceptionally easy either. Washington has series wins against the Dodgers, Mariners, and Diamondbacks this year, plus a split against the Cubs. They’ll be stingy today.
1: Lefties in Washington’s pitching staff: The Nationals’ only left-handed arm is swingman Bobby McConnel who often starts for them. This means the team may not have the split of arms needed to handle Milwaukee’s extreme platoon advantages. The Brewers don’t platoon as much as they have in the past, but they have a few left-handers on their bench they can put into the starting lineup for today’s game without fear of losing the platoon advantage.
3: Home runs hit by Jahmai Jones yesterday: Jones has hit three homers in a game twice in his career, yesterday and a game in 2024. He only has five homers this year and 14 RBIs, but half his RBIs have come the last two days, and 60% of his homers. He’s never faced Tim Kierstead before, setting up an exciting showdown between the two veterans.
Questions for the GMs:
For Luke Grimmelbein, Hideki Yamada will be out for more than a month. Who will replace him on the active roster?
Nick Rollins is banged up a little. Will he play today?
You recently DFA’d Luis Rivera. Why did you DFA him?
For Darby Butynski, your starter’s ERA has been horrendous this year. What steps are you taking to try to improve your rotation?
Manuel Ortiz isn’t hitting for any power, but is hitting over .300 after a rough 2030. What do you make of his season?
You traded for Tsuro Toguchi in the offseason as part of the Eric Pena trade. What do you make of his prospects?
TRIVIA: Who is the only player who has double digit career homers and double digit career steals for the US National Team?
