Post by Commissioner Erick on Aug 18, 2018 1:37:23 GMT -5
New York Mets (68-68) @ Washington Nationals (85-52)
NYM: Chris Flexen (3-2, 5.91)
WAS: Austin Voth (2-0, 9.00)
Most teams in the playoff picture have excellent, deep starting staffs, and the Washington Nationals and New York Mets are no exception. However, thanks to injury and maddening ineffectiveness, tonight's starting pitching matchup may be one of the more disappointing September ones we've seen in some time.
With the Washington Nationals fighting for home field advantage in the NLDS, and the New York Mets trying to claw their way into the postseason, Chase Flexen and Austin Voth are scheduled to duel in the Game of the Week.
It's been a disappointing year for the New York Mets, and an 11-17 August combined with strong stretches from Atlanta and Colorado has seen the Mets 2.5 games out of the second wild card with only a few weeks remaining. Surprisingly, the offense has been mostly fine. There have been few standouts, and most of the players have been streaky, but there's been depth within the lineup and off the bench. The team has scored the fourth most runs in the league despite not having a prodigious talent.
Thankfully for the Mets, Michael Conforto is due off the disabled list. He's been terrific with a .302 average and 25 home runs, despite spending time on the disabled list. He's the stir that stirs the Mets drink, and the team will get extra zip in their lineup from having on board. While not a prodigious player, he's the Mets' best hitter, a two-time All-Star, and a candidate for a Platinum Stick award.
Especially with Conforto back, the Mets issue hasn't been hitting. Unthinkably, it's been pitching where they've unbelievably allowed the second most runs in the league. Noah Syndergaard has missed the entire year, but their other stars all have an ERA over 4, and none has double figures in wins. With a number of fifth starters being tried and deemed failures, Chase Flexen has been given a chance to start.
Flexen has an ERA of 5.91, and scouts don't think very highly of him. However, his home-road splits in the majors are extreme. At home in four starts, he has a solid 3.80 ERA. On the road for five starts, however, his ERA jumps to 8.18. He hasn't been able to avoid walking people and giving up home runs on the road, showing better command with better nerves working to the home crowd. He'll have to turn that around tonight as the Mets will be on the road for this game. In Flexen's last two road starts, he allowed five runs in 3 innings in Philadelphia, and gave up seven runs in 4.1 innings in Colorado.
Fortunately for Flexen, he'll be up against Austin Voth, a fifth starter in both designation and skill level for Washington. Voth had an unsuccessful season for the Nationals last year, and was lit up out of the pen earlier this year. He was called up to make a start August 4th, and was limited to just 3.2 innings. He pitched well, allowing just a pair of solo home runs for hits in the game, but he struck out only one. Voth gets good movement with a low-90's fastball, and he throws a good changeup and decent slider, but he doesn't have to stuff to escape his mistakes. If the 0.6 HR/9 he's carried in Triple A the past two years shows back up, the Nationals will have a pretty good back-end starter. At this point though, the Nationals likely won't catch the Cubs for best record in the NL, and are basically locked into a series with the Dodgers in the playoffs. May as well have him soak up innings.
Washington has been a fairly injured team this year, but they made a deal to give them more firepower, acquiring Edwin Encarnacion at the trade deadline. Encarnacion was going through the motions in Seattle, not helping the Mariners much at all, but he's been invigorated with a powerful team in Washington. Encarnacion's OPS in 95 Plate Appearances with Washington is 1.145, as he has seven home runs, 22 RBIs, 15 walks, and 13 strikeouts. He and Bryce Harper both walk a ton, making things juicy for Michael Brantley with all the RBI opportunities he'll have.
In fact, Washington is second in the league in OBP, and Encarnacion and good health will lift the Nationals to a greater position than sixth in home runs. They lead the league in stolen bases, and Harper is the best offensive player in the game. Washington's lineup may be able to hit a gear they've only hinted at, which would spell trouble for opponents in the playoffs.
Questions for the GMs:
For Steve Cox, Chris Flexen is scheduled to start. Why has he entered the rotation ahead of your other options?
You've had a rough year with your bullpen. What has been the main culprit behind the unit's struggles?
JaCoby Jones made his major league debut this year. What has the youngster given you in center field that Juan Lagraes hasn't?
For Jake Pennel, you've dropped Anthony Rendon to the number eight spot in the order. Why did you make that move?
Francisco Lindor has come over to the NL and leads the league in WAR. Do you still feel Harper is the best player in the league?
Raul Mondesi has a really bad foot bruise that has him listed out. Who will take his place in the lineup?
NYM: Chris Flexen (3-2, 5.91)
WAS: Austin Voth (2-0, 9.00)
Most teams in the playoff picture have excellent, deep starting staffs, and the Washington Nationals and New York Mets are no exception. However, thanks to injury and maddening ineffectiveness, tonight's starting pitching matchup may be one of the more disappointing September ones we've seen in some time.
With the Washington Nationals fighting for home field advantage in the NLDS, and the New York Mets trying to claw their way into the postseason, Chase Flexen and Austin Voth are scheduled to duel in the Game of the Week.
It's been a disappointing year for the New York Mets, and an 11-17 August combined with strong stretches from Atlanta and Colorado has seen the Mets 2.5 games out of the second wild card with only a few weeks remaining. Surprisingly, the offense has been mostly fine. There have been few standouts, and most of the players have been streaky, but there's been depth within the lineup and off the bench. The team has scored the fourth most runs in the league despite not having a prodigious talent.
Thankfully for the Mets, Michael Conforto is due off the disabled list. He's been terrific with a .302 average and 25 home runs, despite spending time on the disabled list. He's the stir that stirs the Mets drink, and the team will get extra zip in their lineup from having on board. While not a prodigious player, he's the Mets' best hitter, a two-time All-Star, and a candidate for a Platinum Stick award.
Especially with Conforto back, the Mets issue hasn't been hitting. Unthinkably, it's been pitching where they've unbelievably allowed the second most runs in the league. Noah Syndergaard has missed the entire year, but their other stars all have an ERA over 4, and none has double figures in wins. With a number of fifth starters being tried and deemed failures, Chase Flexen has been given a chance to start.
Flexen has an ERA of 5.91, and scouts don't think very highly of him. However, his home-road splits in the majors are extreme. At home in four starts, he has a solid 3.80 ERA. On the road for five starts, however, his ERA jumps to 8.18. He hasn't been able to avoid walking people and giving up home runs on the road, showing better command with better nerves working to the home crowd. He'll have to turn that around tonight as the Mets will be on the road for this game. In Flexen's last two road starts, he allowed five runs in 3 innings in Philadelphia, and gave up seven runs in 4.1 innings in Colorado.
Fortunately for Flexen, he'll be up against Austin Voth, a fifth starter in both designation and skill level for Washington. Voth had an unsuccessful season for the Nationals last year, and was lit up out of the pen earlier this year. He was called up to make a start August 4th, and was limited to just 3.2 innings. He pitched well, allowing just a pair of solo home runs for hits in the game, but he struck out only one. Voth gets good movement with a low-90's fastball, and he throws a good changeup and decent slider, but he doesn't have to stuff to escape his mistakes. If the 0.6 HR/9 he's carried in Triple A the past two years shows back up, the Nationals will have a pretty good back-end starter. At this point though, the Nationals likely won't catch the Cubs for best record in the NL, and are basically locked into a series with the Dodgers in the playoffs. May as well have him soak up innings.
Washington has been a fairly injured team this year, but they made a deal to give them more firepower, acquiring Edwin Encarnacion at the trade deadline. Encarnacion was going through the motions in Seattle, not helping the Mariners much at all, but he's been invigorated with a powerful team in Washington. Encarnacion's OPS in 95 Plate Appearances with Washington is 1.145, as he has seven home runs, 22 RBIs, 15 walks, and 13 strikeouts. He and Bryce Harper both walk a ton, making things juicy for Michael Brantley with all the RBI opportunities he'll have.
In fact, Washington is second in the league in OBP, and Encarnacion and good health will lift the Nationals to a greater position than sixth in home runs. They lead the league in stolen bases, and Harper is the best offensive player in the game. Washington's lineup may be able to hit a gear they've only hinted at, which would spell trouble for opponents in the playoffs.
Questions for the GMs:
For Steve Cox, Chris Flexen is scheduled to start. Why has he entered the rotation ahead of your other options?
You've had a rough year with your bullpen. What has been the main culprit behind the unit's struggles?
JaCoby Jones made his major league debut this year. What has the youngster given you in center field that Juan Lagraes hasn't?
For Jake Pennel, you've dropped Anthony Rendon to the number eight spot in the order. Why did you make that move?
Francisco Lindor has come over to the NL and leads the league in WAR. Do you still feel Harper is the best player in the league?
Raul Mondesi has a really bad foot bruise that has him listed out. Who will take his place in the lineup?
