2020 NLDS Preview - Washington Nationals vs. Chicago Cubs
Feb 5, 2019 12:01:43 GMT -5
Commissioner Erick and friscoranger like this
Post by Grubs - Philly on Feb 5, 2019 12:01:43 GMT -5
Washington Nationals (93-69) vs. Chicago Cubs (112-50)
After a stunning fall from the NL East title, Washington came roaring back in the Wild Card game, toppling Colorado and barging into the NLDS. Their reward is the best team in baseball: the Chicago Cubs.
The Cubs are an extremely well-balanced team with a ton of talent and no obvious weak spot. Their starting pitching staff rolls out in the playoffs as right, left, right, left. All four of the Cubs starters had a sub-4.00 ERA, led by Kyle Hendricks, who delivered a career year at age 30. Hendricks allowed just nine homers all year, and will look to quiet Bryce Harper, relying on a year that saw lefties hit a minuscule .627 OPS against him. Chris Sale was even more ruthless against lefties, allowing a .605 OPS. Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester round things out quite nicely. The Cubs' bullpen has been dominant, and as it stands now, Chicago will carry 14 pitchers into the postseason, relying on a trio of lefty specialists to tamp down Harper's power in the later innings. Juan Carrizales pitched a whopping 87 innings with a 1.54 ERA and a 13.7 K/9.
Chicago's lineup is mortifying, topped by Francisco Lindor, who amassed 41 homers from the leadoff spot and a stunning zone rating of 23.2 in the field. He may be the PBA's most complete player and the only man who comes close to Bryce Harper's level. His awards line next to his photo is starting to look like a South American dictator's military uniform. Freddie Freeman and Kris Bryant follow Lindor, and together the three hit 128 home runs and drove in 379. That's incredible production from the top of the lineup, and it has rarely failed the Cubs. They have power up and down, even with a diminished Jaimer Candelario and reliance on the untested promise of Ryan Cordell at DH (and occasionally in center or right). Steven Vogt and Justin Upton are the only bench guys.
Washington stumbled hard in June and July, and despite pouring on the gas down the stretch, couldn't catch Philly. They came into the playoffs with a full head of steam, though, and trounced a tough Colorado squad. Bryce Harper, the Triple Crown winner, had a season for the ages, staking his claim as one of the best offensive players baseball has ever seen. He's the engine of Washington's offense, and despite his 63 homers, no other player topped 19 round-trippers. Washington can hit, get on base and run. Trea Turner is back for manager Jake Pennel, who got unexpected heroics from replacement Drew Ward against the Rockies. Raul (Adalberto) Mondesi, Victor Robles and Turner provide steals, as do a handful of others. If this offense gets on base, look out.
The Nats' pitching hasn't been as stellar as in years past, but it's been plenty good. Joe Ross anchors a staff that once was Max Scherzer's. The two form a formidable pair, and Cole Hamels' revival has given Washington a top three that matches up well against everyone—even the Cubs. The bullpen isn't mightier for Washington, though, and they need their starters to go deep to have a chance against Chicago. Despite a staff that isn't deep, manager Jake Pennel is going with just 11 guys and opting for a deep bench in the series.
Key matchups: The Cubs against Bryce Harper. Stealing home is hard, and even with all that speed, Washington needs Harper to drive in runs. He hasn't let them down all year. Despite a lackluster playoff run in 2019, Harper seems ready to go, tallying three hits from the leadoff spot against Colorado. That's a weird choice (which may have been AI), and the Nats have to get that locked down if they expect to push Chicago aside.
The Nationals against Willson Contreras. Washington can flat-out run. They're a terror on the base paths. Contreras led the NL in assists, but had a middling 23 percent caught stealing rate. He also led the league in errors. He's a terrific game caller, but if he lets three out of four guys who attempt a steal reach the extra base, a single can score them. And Washington can hit those.
Prediction: This could be a great series, but Chicago stayed sharp down the stretch, going 23-10 from September 1 on, despite having the division locked up. The Cubs are just too much.
Chicago in five.
After a stunning fall from the NL East title, Washington came roaring back in the Wild Card game, toppling Colorado and barging into the NLDS. Their reward is the best team in baseball: the Chicago Cubs.
The Cubs are an extremely well-balanced team with a ton of talent and no obvious weak spot. Their starting pitching staff rolls out in the playoffs as right, left, right, left. All four of the Cubs starters had a sub-4.00 ERA, led by Kyle Hendricks, who delivered a career year at age 30. Hendricks allowed just nine homers all year, and will look to quiet Bryce Harper, relying on a year that saw lefties hit a minuscule .627 OPS against him. Chris Sale was even more ruthless against lefties, allowing a .605 OPS. Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester round things out quite nicely. The Cubs' bullpen has been dominant, and as it stands now, Chicago will carry 14 pitchers into the postseason, relying on a trio of lefty specialists to tamp down Harper's power in the later innings. Juan Carrizales pitched a whopping 87 innings with a 1.54 ERA and a 13.7 K/9.
Chicago's lineup is mortifying, topped by Francisco Lindor, who amassed 41 homers from the leadoff spot and a stunning zone rating of 23.2 in the field. He may be the PBA's most complete player and the only man who comes close to Bryce Harper's level. His awards line next to his photo is starting to look like a South American dictator's military uniform. Freddie Freeman and Kris Bryant follow Lindor, and together the three hit 128 home runs and drove in 379. That's incredible production from the top of the lineup, and it has rarely failed the Cubs. They have power up and down, even with a diminished Jaimer Candelario and reliance on the untested promise of Ryan Cordell at DH (and occasionally in center or right). Steven Vogt and Justin Upton are the only bench guys.
Washington stumbled hard in June and July, and despite pouring on the gas down the stretch, couldn't catch Philly. They came into the playoffs with a full head of steam, though, and trounced a tough Colorado squad. Bryce Harper, the Triple Crown winner, had a season for the ages, staking his claim as one of the best offensive players baseball has ever seen. He's the engine of Washington's offense, and despite his 63 homers, no other player topped 19 round-trippers. Washington can hit, get on base and run. Trea Turner is back for manager Jake Pennel, who got unexpected heroics from replacement Drew Ward against the Rockies. Raul (Adalberto) Mondesi, Victor Robles and Turner provide steals, as do a handful of others. If this offense gets on base, look out.
The Nats' pitching hasn't been as stellar as in years past, but it's been plenty good. Joe Ross anchors a staff that once was Max Scherzer's. The two form a formidable pair, and Cole Hamels' revival has given Washington a top three that matches up well against everyone—even the Cubs. The bullpen isn't mightier for Washington, though, and they need their starters to go deep to have a chance against Chicago. Despite a staff that isn't deep, manager Jake Pennel is going with just 11 guys and opting for a deep bench in the series.
Key matchups: The Cubs against Bryce Harper. Stealing home is hard, and even with all that speed, Washington needs Harper to drive in runs. He hasn't let them down all year. Despite a lackluster playoff run in 2019, Harper seems ready to go, tallying three hits from the leadoff spot against Colorado. That's a weird choice (which may have been AI), and the Nats have to get that locked down if they expect to push Chicago aside.
The Nationals against Willson Contreras. Washington can flat-out run. They're a terror on the base paths. Contreras led the NL in assists, but had a middling 23 percent caught stealing rate. He also led the league in errors. He's a terrific game caller, but if he lets three out of four guys who attempt a steal reach the extra base, a single can score them. And Washington can hit those.
Prediction: This could be a great series, but Chicago stayed sharp down the stretch, going 23-10 from September 1 on, despite having the division locked up. The Cubs are just too much.
Chicago in five.