hrubes20 Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 Matchups are likely to be (assuming no short rest): Game 1: Hendricks vs. Strasburg Game 2: Lester vs. Gonzalez Game 3: Arrieta vs. Scherzer (both have hurt hammies) Game 4: Quintana vs. Roark Game 5: Hendricks vs. Strasburg These are the best two NL teams since the AS break. Nats have a sizeable advantage in games 1 and 5, so the Cubs really need to win it in 4 if they are going to advance. I like the matchups for the Cubs in games 2 and 4, so game 3 is the true wild card for me. How badly will the respective hammy injuries to Arrieta and Scherzer affect them? Arrieta had been really good before the injury, but even then, Scherzer is clearly the better pitcher if he's healthy enough. Offensively, the big key for both teams will be how well Anthony Rizzo and Bryce Harper are able to bounce back. Rizzo ended the year in a really bad slump (.191/.345/.255, 62 wRC+) over his last 60 or so PAs. Harper looked really rusty coming back after his long stint on the DL, going 3 for 20 (0 XBHs) with 7 Ks. The Cubs' offense has been a good bit better than the Nationals' in the 2nd half (team wRC+ of 110 vs 90), but that was without Harper. If he can get back up to game form, watch out. After last year, I can never count this Cubs team out in a playoff series so I'll go Cubs in 4. But honesty, the Nats in 5 seems probably more likely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slateman Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 Pitching Quintana as the number 4 is a mistake, but it won't cost the Cubs as they will sweep a Nationals team that floundered the last month of the season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hrubes20 Posted October 4, 2017 Author Share Posted October 4, 2017 12 minutes ago, Slateman said: Pitching Quintana as the number 4 is a mistake, but it won't cost the Cubs as they will sweep a Nationals team that floundered the last month of the season. I agree about Quintana. Lester should be the #4, but he has the sparkling playoff resume that Joe loves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slateman Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 2 hours ago, hrubes20 said: I agree about Quintana. Lester should be the #4, but he has the sparkling playoff resume that Joe loves. Eh, if Arrietta is really hurt, and you have to start him for some reason, he should be number four. Looks like the rotation is going to be Hedricks, Quintana, Lester, Arrietta. I'm putting $100 on the Cubs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hrubes20 Posted October 4, 2017 Author Share Posted October 4, 2017 24 minutes ago, Slateman said: Eh, if Arrietta is really hurt, and you have to start him for some reason, he should be number four. Looks like the rotation is going to be Hedricks, Quintana, Lester, Arrietta. I'm putting $100 on the Cubs. He is. Rotation was announced as Hendricks/Lester/Quintana/Arrieta Also, Scherzer played catch on flat ground today and abruptly stopped the session without throwing a bullpen. This is definitely something to monitor, as no Scherzer would be a huge game changer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeT14 Posted October 5, 2017 Share Posted October 5, 2017 So, as a Nats fan, I finally get Stras, but Scherzer is hurt. I hate DC sports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slateman Posted October 5, 2017 Share Posted October 5, 2017 Strasburg announced as Game 1 starter. Now we find out if the years of kid gloves will pay off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malak1 Posted October 5, 2017 Share Posted October 5, 2017 I’m nervous Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holt_bruce81 Posted October 5, 2017 Share Posted October 5, 2017 Lets go Nats!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slateman Posted October 5, 2017 Share Posted October 5, 2017 Gio announced as Game 2 starter. When the Nats are down 0-2, they'll be forced to pitch Max. He'll be great for about 4 innings and then the hammy will be a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slateman Posted October 6, 2017 Share Posted October 6, 2017 Lol, all the pre-game pundits picked the Nats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slateman Posted October 7, 2017 Share Posted October 7, 2017 I guess blue has somewhere to be before midnight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hrubes20 Posted October 7, 2017 Author Share Posted October 7, 2017 7 minutes ago, Slateman said: I guess blue has somewhere to be before midnight For sure. Put it anywhere near the black and you’ll get the call. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hrubes20 Posted October 7, 2017 Author Share Posted October 7, 2017 42 minutes ago, Slateman said: Lol, all the pre-game pundits picked the Nats I did too. They have a huge pitching advantage tonight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mission27 Posted October 7, 2017 Share Posted October 7, 2017 I'm sorry, did I just wake up in 2010? Woooww Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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