Game of the Week: August 28: WAS @ PHI

[Commissioner Erick]

Washington Nationals (79-52) @ Philadelphia Phillies (82-48)


WAS: Peter Solomon (10-8, 4.13)
PHI: Franklyn Kilome (17-1, 2.26)


The Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals enter the home stretch neck and neck with the NL East finish line in sight. However, while the Nationals are a nose behind, the Phillies are in danger of being thrown from their steed right before the finish line. Philadelphia will need to avoid the fate of Yordan Alvarez if it wants the wreath of being the top thoroughbred in the division.

The Phillies enter tonight's contest without one of its key hitters. Yordan Alvarez was on pace to finish with a career high season in home runs, when he inexplicably decided to go horseback riding Sunday morning, leading to a headfirst fall and a rush to the hospital. Alvarez is lucky to be safe and alive, but doctors are already confirming he'll be out for the season while his brain recovers from the trauma. The Phillies could rally around their fallen teammate, but many were questioning why he was riding in the first place.

The timing couldn't be worse with the juggernaut Nationals riding into town for a big series and before September callups could provide reinforcements.

Fortunately, Philadelphia has a deep stable with ample reinforcements ready to gallop. Philadelphia could lean upon Max Schrock who hit .320 last year but is suffering a miserable campaign this year. Odubel Herrera has fallen out of favor with Matt Grubs, but could also be an option given his past success.

Either way, the Phillies will need to contend with a cadre of stallions in Washington. Bam Bam Bryce Harper is a safe bet to show in the home run and RBI races, though a .280 average will keep him away from any notions of a Triple Crown. However, Philadelphia's outfield also contains Victor Robles, who is second in the league in stolen bases, Mike Trout, who is second in the league in walks, and Juan Soto, whose .345 average would be second to none if he qualified.

The pitching matchup will be a rematch of a splendid battle last Wednesday. Peter Solomon pitched a great game, allowing no walks, fanning eight, and allowing a single run in 7 innings. Franklyn Kilome was better though, striking out 10 in 5.2 scoreless innings to improve to 17-1. Maniac Mickey Moniak hit a big two-run home run late off the inconsistent Blake Treinen to give the Phillies some breathing room in a 4-1 win.


Questions for the GMs:


For Jake Pennel, with Kolten Wong out and Luis Arcendo fracturing his thumb, who will be your second baseman going forward?

Peter Solomon has walked fewer players and yielded fewer home runs this year. However, he's struck out fewer players too, and his BABIP is up, leading to an elevated 4.13 ERA. Is he a different pitcher than he was when he was leading the league in ERA?

You have one lefty in your pen, and Luis D. Guzman has a 5.06 ERA against the Phillies this year. Do you have confidence in your team's ability to get their lefties out?

For Matt Grubs, for starters, what's your take on the Alvarez situation? What a major storyline to pop up during the home stretch of a division race!

It may have taken some time to land on him, but your team has really found something with young Dave Simon as your closer. What led you to put your trust in the young phenom?

Bryce Harper. Do you trust Kilome and company to get him out, or would you rather work carefully and take your chances with Wil Myers and Mike Trout?


TRIVIA: Which Philly arm is the pitcher Harper has the most hits and home runs against?

[Grubs - Philly]

What's your take on the Alvarez situation? What a major storyline to pop up during the home stretch of a division race!

It has thrown us. Yordan’s grandfather on his mother’s side is a tobacco farmer in the Viñales Valley in Cuba, and they use horses to get around there, so he’s not a rookie in the saddle. His horse startled when he came upon what he thinks was a fox, but we can’t know for certain. As you said, he’s lucky to be alive, but he has a long road back. His bat was really heating up and it leaves us with a huge hole. We’re still deciding how to handle it down the stretch. Recalling Tristan Gray is an option, but he hasn’t found his stroke in AAA. We’re in a tight spot.

It may have taken some time to land on him, but your team has really found something with young Dave Simon as your closer. What led you to put your trust in the young phenom?

It did take a little while to get Dave Simon into the closer’s spot, but that’s always where he’s been headed. We’re pleased he’s responded well and his ascendance gives us depth and helped in Dan Altavilla’s absence. Dan’s healthy, but he’s not his old self yet. Dave knows he was holding a veteran’s spot, but he’s a competitor and if Altavilla rounds into form, expect a battle.

Bryce Harper. Do you trust Kilome and company to get him out, or would you rather work carefully and take your chances with Wil Myers and Mike Trout?

I’d like to see us attack Bryce. He’s streaky, so if he gets hot, we might walk him in a given situation, but if we can keep Robles off base ahead of him, we hope we can limit damage.

TRIVIA: Total guess since I don’t feel like researching on my phone, but I’m saying Adam Conley due to his tenure in the NL East.

[Commissioner Erick]

Trivia answer is correct!

[Commissioner Erick]

And appreciate the color into Alvarez' family!

[Commissioner Erick]

Phillies 8 - Nationals 7 (11)


WP: E. Garcia (6-2)
LP: B. Treinen (1-5)


Phillies right fielder Seth Beer put his stamp on his team's 8-7 win over the Washington Nationals. Beer went 3-3 with 2 home runs and 3 walks. He scored 3 runs and drove in 2 for Philadelphia in the contest. Philadelphia reliever Elniery Garcia picked up the win, upping his record to 6-2. Blake Treinen took the loss. Philadelphia improves to 83-48 with the win. They lead their division by 4½ games.

The clutch at-bat came in the bottom of the 11th inning, when Philadelphia second baseman Max Schrock, facing Blake Treinen, had a run-scoring sacrifice fly. It gave the Phillies the 8-7 win.

"We fed off the energy of the crowd at the end," Beer said.


Questions for the GMs:


For Jake Pennel, another disappointing outing for Blake Treinen. How much confidence do you have in him in a big spot?

Wil Myers went 0-5 batting behind Bryce Harper. Do you feel comfortable with him as Harper's protection in the order?

Rendon moved over to Second Base and had a few hits, while Hunter Watson had three hits at third. How did that combination look to you?

For Matt Grubs, Balls Silva had a great game, coming on as a pinch runner in the eighth and stealing a base, doubling and scoring the tying run in the 10th, and singling home the tying run in the 11th. With his style of aggressive play and performance in high leverage situations, has he earned himself more playing time?

You wanted your team to be aggressive against Bryce Harper, yet you walked him three times, and plunked him as well. What did you think of your staff's gameplan against him?

Tristan Gray got the start at DH in Yordan Alvarez' absence. How did he look to you?



TRIVIA: Blake Treinen is tied for second All-Time in Holds in the NL. Who is first?

[Grubs - Philly]

Balls Silva had a great game, coming on as a pinch runner in the eighth and stealing a base, doubling and scoring the tying run in the 10th, and singling home the tying run in the 11th. With his style of aggressive play and performance in high leverage situations, has he earned himself more playing time?

I think Balls knows that for right now, rolling in off the bench is the best way to juggle him. We asked him to make a big leap this year when we drafted him in Rule V, and he's largely paid dividends. It's a hard role for anyone to step into, especially considering he'd never risen above A ball, but we're pleased. The rest of the guys have taken to having him around the clubhouse. There was a hair-shaving incident early in the season, but that's all in good fun, and Balls showed his maturity by taking it in stride and even keeping everything trimmed up a little closer to his teammates' standards.

You wanted your team to be aggressive against Bryce Harper, yet you walked him three times, and plunked him as well. What did you think of your staff's gameplan against him?

Considering he scored once in five at bats and reached three times, I suppose I can get behind it. At this point, though, I want to see my guys trust their stuff and get after it. The playoffs are coming, and hopefully we'll have a chance to go deep. I think that only happens if we get a few special performances.

Tristan Gray got the start at DH in Yordan Alvarez' absence. How did he look to you?

This was a tough call. We decided to bring Tristan up after a couple decent games at AAA, and especially because of his defense at first base. Two for five with an RBI is a pretty good performance. We worry he tries to do too much (like getting caught stealing) when he's on the field. I think that's partly because of his limited playing time, but perhaps he'll settle down now that he's getting more consistent ABs.

TRIVIA: Mr. Rockie, Adam Ottavino

[Commissioner Erick]

May 4, 2020 17:39:11 GMT -5 Grubs - Philly said:

Balls Silva had a great game, coming on as a pinch runner in the eighth and stealing a base, doubling and scoring the tying run in the 10th, and singling home the tying run in the 11th. With his style of aggressive play and performance in high leverage situations, has he earned himself more playing time?

I think Balls knows that for right now, rolling in off the bench is the best way to juggle him. We asked him to make a big leap this year when we drafted him in Rule V, and he's largely paid dividends. It's a hard role for anyone to step into, especially considering he'd never risen above A ball, but we're pleased. The rest of the guys have taken to having him around the clubhouse. There was a hair-shaving incident early in the season, but that's all in good fun, and Balls showed his maturity by taking it in stride and even keeping everything trimmed up a little closer to his teammates' standards.

You wanted your team to be aggressive against Bryce Harper, yet you walked him three times, and plunked him as well. What did you think of your staff's gameplan against him?

Considering he scored once in five at bats and reached three times, I suppose I can get behind it. At this point, though, I want to see my guys trust their stuff and get after it. The playoffs are coming, and hopefully we'll have a chance to go deep. I think that only happens if we get a few special performances.

Tristan Gray got the start at DH in Yordan Alvarez' absence. How did he look to you?

This was a tough call. We decided to bring Tristan up after a couple decent games at AAA, and especially because of his defense at first base. Two for five with an RBI is a pretty good performance. We worry he tries to do too much (like getting caught stealing) when he's on the field. I think that's partly because of his limited playing time, but perhaps he'll settle down now that he's getting more consistent ABs.

TRIVIA: Mr. Rockie, Adam Ottavino

Balls needed hair shaved. Amazing.

And Ottavino is correct!