Post by Commissioner Erick on Jul 5, 2019 23:18:00 GMT -5
Arizona Diamondbacks (87-68) @ Washington Nationals (95-60)
ARI: Kevin Gausman (10-7, 3.89)
WAS: Max Scherzer (9-11, 4.86)
On September 18th, the Arizona Diamondbacks entered the ninth inning of their game against the Los Angeles Dodgers down 4-3 and in danger of losing their fifth game in a row. Andy Ibanez grounded an RBI single up the middle to tie the game, Oscar Hernandez pushed a grounder through the right side to plate the winning run, and the Diamondbacks broke their losing streak to keep their playoff hopes alive.
That win started a stretch of seven wins in eight games that has on the cusp of the postseason. To seal the deal, the Arizona Diamondbacks will have to go through the best team in the National League, the Washington Nationals for this period's Game of the Week.
Arizona has a 2.5 game lead over the New York Mets for the second wild card and are tied with the Phillies in the loss column. The Mets and Phillies still play each other, which gives Arizona a hedge as well. They just need to survive a pair of tough opponents starting with the Washington Nationals.
Washington has clinched the NL East title, and has a 4.5 game lead for the best record in the league. It's possible they rest their starters today, or they can try to close the season out strong. The team is five wins away from their second 100-win season so there are perceptive reasons to go for it. However, they're also dealing with an injury to Anthony Rendon, who has been dealing with an inflamed knee for over a month and a half.
They can also use this start to continue to audition Max Scherzer. Scherzer has an ERA of 4.86 and gave up 10 runs in his last start. However, only three of those runs were earned and he's lowered his ERA by a full run since the start of August. In his last eight home starts, he's allowed one earned run or fewer in six of eight starts, with two runs allowed in a seventh. He's also pitched well against Arizona, firing his best start against them on August 2 when he worked 8 innings allowing one hit and one walk. A strong start may solidify a place in the postseason rotation.
Arizona will try to remind Washington of Scherzer's earlier months when he was giving up home run after home run. They have the former MVP Joey Gallo hitting exceptionally well to do just that. Gallo has seven home runs in his last nine games, with 14 RBIs in his last 10 games. Gallo's OPS is actually higher than it was in his MVP season as well. Gallo turned in a +10 Zone Rating that year, a mark he hasn't come close to since. Plus, the offensive environment is also higher this year than in 2018, a reason why his WAR is only half the number it was in 2018. Still, Gallo has 51 home runs, 120 RBIs, and a .363 ISO. Gallo is second in home runs, first in ISO, and sixth in RBIs.
Gallo's return to his prodigious power marks is a key reason why Arizona is on the verge of the playoffs. Another is the pitching of Kevin Gausman. In the All-Star's last start, Gausman turned in his best start of the year. He worked 7.2 innings in San Diego, allowing two hits, one walk, and no runs in a dominant outing. Gausman has been absolutely terrific for Arizona and deserves all the accolades for being a stabilizing force for a perennially shaky rotation.
One more good start for Gausman, and he may go from being unwanted by the Orioles and Brewers to being the best pitcher on a playoff club.
Questions for the GM's:
For Ben Nuzzo, you mentioned a few weeks ago that you were leaning towards going with Silvino Bracho as your closer the final few weeks. What does he provide that maybe Hansel Robles didn't?
Oscar Hernandez hasn't gotten a lot of publicity this season or at any point in the PBA. However, he leads all NL catcher in WAR. How key has his strong play been this season?
You have the third best defense by zone rating in the NL. How much of that was a factor when constructing your squad this year?
For Jake Pennel, will you give Anthony Rendon some time off this week with his injury?
With virtually all your regular season goals sewn up, will you rest any starters today?
Max Scherzer. Do you need to see more from him to give him a starting nod this postseason?
TRIVIA: Bryce Harper is third in Postseason OPS. Who is first?
ARI: Kevin Gausman (10-7, 3.89)
WAS: Max Scherzer (9-11, 4.86)
On September 18th, the Arizona Diamondbacks entered the ninth inning of their game against the Los Angeles Dodgers down 4-3 and in danger of losing their fifth game in a row. Andy Ibanez grounded an RBI single up the middle to tie the game, Oscar Hernandez pushed a grounder through the right side to plate the winning run, and the Diamondbacks broke their losing streak to keep their playoff hopes alive.
That win started a stretch of seven wins in eight games that has on the cusp of the postseason. To seal the deal, the Arizona Diamondbacks will have to go through the best team in the National League, the Washington Nationals for this period's Game of the Week.
Arizona has a 2.5 game lead over the New York Mets for the second wild card and are tied with the Phillies in the loss column. The Mets and Phillies still play each other, which gives Arizona a hedge as well. They just need to survive a pair of tough opponents starting with the Washington Nationals.
Washington has clinched the NL East title, and has a 4.5 game lead for the best record in the league. It's possible they rest their starters today, or they can try to close the season out strong. The team is five wins away from their second 100-win season so there are perceptive reasons to go for it. However, they're also dealing with an injury to Anthony Rendon, who has been dealing with an inflamed knee for over a month and a half.
They can also use this start to continue to audition Max Scherzer. Scherzer has an ERA of 4.86 and gave up 10 runs in his last start. However, only three of those runs were earned and he's lowered his ERA by a full run since the start of August. In his last eight home starts, he's allowed one earned run or fewer in six of eight starts, with two runs allowed in a seventh. He's also pitched well against Arizona, firing his best start against them on August 2 when he worked 8 innings allowing one hit and one walk. A strong start may solidify a place in the postseason rotation.
Arizona will try to remind Washington of Scherzer's earlier months when he was giving up home run after home run. They have the former MVP Joey Gallo hitting exceptionally well to do just that. Gallo has seven home runs in his last nine games, with 14 RBIs in his last 10 games. Gallo's OPS is actually higher than it was in his MVP season as well. Gallo turned in a +10 Zone Rating that year, a mark he hasn't come close to since. Plus, the offensive environment is also higher this year than in 2018, a reason why his WAR is only half the number it was in 2018. Still, Gallo has 51 home runs, 120 RBIs, and a .363 ISO. Gallo is second in home runs, first in ISO, and sixth in RBIs.
Gallo's return to his prodigious power marks is a key reason why Arizona is on the verge of the playoffs. Another is the pitching of Kevin Gausman. In the All-Star's last start, Gausman turned in his best start of the year. He worked 7.2 innings in San Diego, allowing two hits, one walk, and no runs in a dominant outing. Gausman has been absolutely terrific for Arizona and deserves all the accolades for being a stabilizing force for a perennially shaky rotation.
One more good start for Gausman, and he may go from being unwanted by the Orioles and Brewers to being the best pitcher on a playoff club.
Questions for the GM's:
For Ben Nuzzo, you mentioned a few weeks ago that you were leaning towards going with Silvino Bracho as your closer the final few weeks. What does he provide that maybe Hansel Robles didn't?
Oscar Hernandez hasn't gotten a lot of publicity this season or at any point in the PBA. However, he leads all NL catcher in WAR. How key has his strong play been this season?
You have the third best defense by zone rating in the NL. How much of that was a factor when constructing your squad this year?
For Jake Pennel, will you give Anthony Rendon some time off this week with his injury?
With virtually all your regular season goals sewn up, will you rest any starters today?
Max Scherzer. Do you need to see more from him to give him a starting nod this postseason?
TRIVIA: Bryce Harper is third in Postseason OPS. Who is first?
