Post by Commissioner Erick on Feb 24, 2018 0:41:12 GMT -5
Miami Marlins (39-50) @ Washington Nationals (45-43)
MIA: B. Peacock (3-3, 4.39)
WAS: N. Sanburn (3-1, 4.17)
The Washington Nationals are hoping Bryce Harper can lead them into the Wild Card. In trading Christian Yelich, the Miami Marlins have signaled their exit from the postseason race.
The two teams square off in an NL East showdown for tonight's Game of the Week.
Washington was hoping around this time to have their best players returning to action. Instead, Daniel Murphy, Jose Abreu, and Anthony Rendon are expected to miss time. It's frustrating for a team that was starting to play some good baseball. Washington won its last three series against teams with winning records, when they beat the Rockies, Dodgers, and swept a two-gamer with the Cubs. However, they've only score four or more runs once in their last 12 games.
Bryce Harper has performed at an MVP-level since returning from his injury. In 18 games, he's hitting .318 with five home runs, a 23/10 strikeout-to walk ratio, a .506 OBP, and a 1.117 OPS. His walk rate is astronomical as pitchers are terrified of him and the lineup protection hasn't been there.
Andrew McCutchen has been in an icy slump, with a .159 average and one extra base hit in July. Brett Lawrie is hitting .184 with an OPS under .600. Drew Ward is hitting for a .612 OPS on the season. Victor Robles was recalled and he has a .410 OPS this month.
The hope is that Rendon and Murphy are back after the All Star Break, but it's an epidemic in Washington.
Thankfully, the pitching has settled in. Nolan Sanburn went 8 innings his last time out, allowing two runs and striking out eight over the Chicago Cubs. He's faced Miami earlier this year, and allowed a run in 5.1 innings, despite eight hits and three walks. He's far better against righties than lefties this year as he features a solid slider and curve, but his changeup is not MLB-caliber.
The Nats have also gotten good bullpen work. Tony Watson has been notable as he's only allowed a single run in his last 15 appearances. There are some short appearances in there, but Watson is working on his second straight year with an ERA under 3. He's walked only 10 and struck out 46, an excellent ratio in the back of Washington's pen.
Washington will take on a Miami team that has lost eight of 10 and traded away its star player. Yelich is on pace for close to 30 home runs, and has a solid 112 wRC+. However, that wRC+ is a decline from last season's, as Yelich' power gains have come at the expense of some on base ability. The outlier defensive campaign of 2017 is in the past, and he's stealing fewer bases than last year, when he had the fifth best wSB in baseball. In this regard, Miami may have sold high on the 26 year old.
The returns Miami has gotten from selling their best players their past two years are impressive. From the Yelich trade, Archie Bradley is a solid starting pitcher having a strong year as the major league headliner. Luis Robert is a top 100 prospect, with Taylor Clarke on the cusp. Victor Reyes is a 23 year old who tore up Double-A last season and is holding his own in the majors as a 23-year old.
Robert and Reyes are both outfielder, and with Miami's first and second round 2017 draft picks, Jeren Kendall and Stuart Fairchild, both outfielders and in Triple-A, Miami is close to locking up a terrific outfield for years to come.
Miami traded Dee Gordon last season and wound up with Mike Ford, a .300 hitting first baseman who is only 26, plus young infield defensive ace Thairo Estrada. For Giancarlo Stanton, Miami got Bobby Bradley, a 20-year old with 20 home runs in the Pacific Coast League thus far, plus Trevor Bauer who was flipped for Donnie Sands, a catcher with an intriguing bat in Double A.
In the aggregate, the moves give Miami a lot of depth coming up through their minors. However, in the short term, it leaves Marcell Ozuna and Mike Ford as their only players who combine power, average, and defense, and neither is a game-changer. That leaves them at a disadvantage against a team like Washington who has Bryce Harper.
The other issue is that the Marlins pitching has been the worst in the league at 5.70. Brad Peacock will get the ball, and though he's been good at home, his two road starts saw him give up nine runs in 9.1 innings. With a good changeup, how he fares against Harper, and maybe just as importantly, the guy hitting ahead of him, Adam Eaton, may determine the shape of the game.
Questions for the GMs:
For Ben Vincent, facing a superstar like Bryce Harper, what do you want the plan to be facing him?
You have a number of excellent outfield prospects in the upper reaches of your system, and your parent club. What will be the plan for them?
You were excited to trade for Tyler Naquin this year, but he's struggled on many fronts. Is the jury still out, or have you revised your expectations regarding him?
For Jake Pennel, Bryce Harper has returned—and your team has responded by winning a lot of pitching duels. What has been the key to your team's success the past few weeks?
Despite numerous stars on your team, you've fallen to ninth in merchandise sales. Does that upset you or do you not pay attention to that?
Trea Turner led the league in steals last year. This year's, he's third in wSB. His bat is also an asset with a .289 average and 10 homers to date. He hasn't given you good defense though. Are there any considerations on switching his position?
MIA: B. Peacock (3-3, 4.39)
WAS: N. Sanburn (3-1, 4.17)
The Washington Nationals are hoping Bryce Harper can lead them into the Wild Card. In trading Christian Yelich, the Miami Marlins have signaled their exit from the postseason race.
The two teams square off in an NL East showdown for tonight's Game of the Week.
Washington was hoping around this time to have their best players returning to action. Instead, Daniel Murphy, Jose Abreu, and Anthony Rendon are expected to miss time. It's frustrating for a team that was starting to play some good baseball. Washington won its last three series against teams with winning records, when they beat the Rockies, Dodgers, and swept a two-gamer with the Cubs. However, they've only score four or more runs once in their last 12 games.
Bryce Harper has performed at an MVP-level since returning from his injury. In 18 games, he's hitting .318 with five home runs, a 23/10 strikeout-to walk ratio, a .506 OBP, and a 1.117 OPS. His walk rate is astronomical as pitchers are terrified of him and the lineup protection hasn't been there.
Andrew McCutchen has been in an icy slump, with a .159 average and one extra base hit in July. Brett Lawrie is hitting .184 with an OPS under .600. Drew Ward is hitting for a .612 OPS on the season. Victor Robles was recalled and he has a .410 OPS this month.
The hope is that Rendon and Murphy are back after the All Star Break, but it's an epidemic in Washington.
Thankfully, the pitching has settled in. Nolan Sanburn went 8 innings his last time out, allowing two runs and striking out eight over the Chicago Cubs. He's faced Miami earlier this year, and allowed a run in 5.1 innings, despite eight hits and three walks. He's far better against righties than lefties this year as he features a solid slider and curve, but his changeup is not MLB-caliber.
The Nats have also gotten good bullpen work. Tony Watson has been notable as he's only allowed a single run in his last 15 appearances. There are some short appearances in there, but Watson is working on his second straight year with an ERA under 3. He's walked only 10 and struck out 46, an excellent ratio in the back of Washington's pen.
Washington will take on a Miami team that has lost eight of 10 and traded away its star player. Yelich is on pace for close to 30 home runs, and has a solid 112 wRC+. However, that wRC+ is a decline from last season's, as Yelich' power gains have come at the expense of some on base ability. The outlier defensive campaign of 2017 is in the past, and he's stealing fewer bases than last year, when he had the fifth best wSB in baseball. In this regard, Miami may have sold high on the 26 year old.
The returns Miami has gotten from selling their best players their past two years are impressive. From the Yelich trade, Archie Bradley is a solid starting pitcher having a strong year as the major league headliner. Luis Robert is a top 100 prospect, with Taylor Clarke on the cusp. Victor Reyes is a 23 year old who tore up Double-A last season and is holding his own in the majors as a 23-year old.
Robert and Reyes are both outfielder, and with Miami's first and second round 2017 draft picks, Jeren Kendall and Stuart Fairchild, both outfielders and in Triple-A, Miami is close to locking up a terrific outfield for years to come.
Miami traded Dee Gordon last season and wound up with Mike Ford, a .300 hitting first baseman who is only 26, plus young infield defensive ace Thairo Estrada. For Giancarlo Stanton, Miami got Bobby Bradley, a 20-year old with 20 home runs in the Pacific Coast League thus far, plus Trevor Bauer who was flipped for Donnie Sands, a catcher with an intriguing bat in Double A.
In the aggregate, the moves give Miami a lot of depth coming up through their minors. However, in the short term, it leaves Marcell Ozuna and Mike Ford as their only players who combine power, average, and defense, and neither is a game-changer. That leaves them at a disadvantage against a team like Washington who has Bryce Harper.
The other issue is that the Marlins pitching has been the worst in the league at 5.70. Brad Peacock will get the ball, and though he's been good at home, his two road starts saw him give up nine runs in 9.1 innings. With a good changeup, how he fares against Harper, and maybe just as importantly, the guy hitting ahead of him, Adam Eaton, may determine the shape of the game.
Questions for the GMs:
For Ben Vincent, facing a superstar like Bryce Harper, what do you want the plan to be facing him?
You have a number of excellent outfield prospects in the upper reaches of your system, and your parent club. What will be the plan for them?
You were excited to trade for Tyler Naquin this year, but he's struggled on many fronts. Is the jury still out, or have you revised your expectations regarding him?
For Jake Pennel, Bryce Harper has returned—and your team has responded by winning a lot of pitching duels. What has been the key to your team's success the past few weeks?
Despite numerous stars on your team, you've fallen to ninth in merchandise sales. Does that upset you or do you not pay attention to that?
Trea Turner led the league in steals last year. This year's, he's third in wSB. His bat is also an asset with a .289 average and 10 homers to date. He hasn't given you good defense though. Are there any considerations on switching his position?
