It's hard to understate how big it isn't that the astros can hide their two aces in this last series, in the probable scenario we play Boston in the ALDS. On the flip side, it would really be nice to win today and forcethe Red Sox to blow their Chris Sale card tomorrow if the Yanks win and they need to win just to avoid that 163rd game and possible collapse to the wild card game. Either way, if Sale has to go tomorrow then he likely won't be available until game 2. And our guys will have gotten a recent look at him too.
I think we have our answer now that McCullers shouldn't be a playoff starter. So I'd go Verlander, Keuchel, Peacock, Morton as starters. Have McCullers and McHugh ready for long relief in the event either of the above make an early exit (prayerfully not). Then Giles, Musgrove, Devo, Liriano, and Harris rounding out the pen.
Why would we even trust LMJ in long relief at this point? Hes basically throwing 3-4 innings (long relief) while hes starting now and getting raked. Give mccugh the spot and carry 11 pitchers.
Whoever is better on 3 days rest should go in Game 1. That way you only need a 3 man rotation. Keuchel did well on 3 days in 2015. Not sure about Verlander. The Game 1 starter could come back for Game 4 on three days rest while the Game 2 starter could pitch Game 5 on regular rest.
I think this is exactly what Hinch will do in the ALDS. If so, our bullpen should be: Giles, Harris, Devenski, Musgrove, Peacock, Liriano McHugh, Morton, McCullers (I'm sure Gregerson will take the place of McHugh or McCullers, but I'd prefer Gregerson stay off the roster.)
They're only going to carry 11 pitchers, so you can just take off McHugh or McCullers. I think they'll go with a 4 man rotation and have Morton throw game 4.
I guess it would come down to who is the best bet to function in 1-2 high leverage innings--McHugh or McCullers. I'd be fine with Morton in game 4. If it were the WS, throw Verlander back in there.
It's a shame , but I think they should probably be looking to next year for Lance . He had a great start to the season . But peacock , Morton , and mchugh all deserve to be ahead of him in the postseason pecking order. Lance out of the bullpen doesn't sound like a good idea to me . It's too short of a time to expect him to be comfortable coming out of the pen. Plus the last thing I want Lance to do is have excess gas coming in relief and injure himself . Get healthy , work on that change and come back next year an even better starter.
Lance's stuff is too good to let sit on the bench. Would make a great guy to help Morton or Peacock bridge the gap to Musgrove/Giles.
His stuff is great no doubt ... But he hasn't been able to consistently locate since coming back from injury. No matter how good your stuff is , if you either leave pitches over the plate or walk batters ... The postseason will make you pay. The scouting and preparation is at a heightened level. I'd rather someone come out of the pen that has experience doing so . Lance would be used only in "bridge the gap" scenarios . Frankly we have musgrove and devenski that can pitch multiple innings . I think it's asking too much of Lance and the potential reward is too limited .
Good stuff dont mean d!ck if his command and consistency is lacking, which should be obvious to be the case at this point.
Im in total agreement with this. Lance just hasnt done anything to convince me that he is 100 percent right now...especially in a high leverage situation. Uncle charlie has playoff stuff and mccugh has been solid if not great.
Yea. I think we carry 11 pitchers. That means one of McCullers, Gregerson or McHugh doesn't go to the 1st dance. Frankly take a quarter and toss it. Heads LMJ tales Luke. I trust both as much as a wet fart right now.
If Hinch was really taking this week as an audition, McHugh definitely beat out McCullers and Gregerson. It's probably safer for Hinch to take Gregerson given that McHugh and McCullers don't routinely pitch out of the pen, but Gregerson hasn't done much to prove he deserves a spot.
Does Verlander have a track record with 3 days rest? I'm in favor of a 3-man with the better starter on short rest going in Game 1.
The 5th starter (McHugh or McCullers) and the 6th member of the pen (Gregerson) will only see action in there's a blow out or extra innings.
He's never done it. The only time he pitched on short rest was because he only pitched 1 inning due to a rain delay so he didn't need 4 days of rest.
