I really hope he doesn't risk it with Montero unless it's absolutely necessary(i.e. a bad McCullers start). Go with Neris, Abreu, Stanek, and Pressly if 4 innings of relief are needed. I'd save Hunter Brown for Game 4. Urquidy and/or Garcia for Game 5 if Verlander needs to be pulled early. No argument about Hensley at DH, but sadly I think we're stuck with Diaz at least one more game.
You can’t let them see Montero every damn game. They already hit him a lot harder the 2nd time they saw him. If we have such a deep pen, no need to use the same reliever every time. That’s playing with fire.
Abreu, Neris, Montero, Stanek, Pressley with Urquidy, Luis Garcia, Hunter Brown ready to go... we need QUICK HOOKS on starters if they don't perform. This is not regular season baseball -- we cannot have a fatigued pitcher or a less-than-confident pitcher throwing a single pitch.
They saw everyone in Game 1, so whoever Dusty threw out there in game 2 was going to be the 2nd time around. He managed to only go through 2 guys instead of 3 or 4 by using Montero for so long.
Exactly. You don't want to get Will Harris'd. But of course to some the manager can't do anything wrong. In the past, I was always consistent with wanting to piggy back with a starter and if they get got, they get got. But there are so many good arms in that bullpen. it's an abundance of riches. There is no need to trot the same guy game after game.
Or nothing right. Should have pulled Verlander earlier! Should have pulled Framber earlier! Should have used the bullpen less! I wonder how the math works there.
Saw an interesting stat that the vaunted Phillies two headed ace Nola and Wheeler have given up 10 runs while their suspect bullpen none. It seems like if we can hit there other pitchers as well as those two we should take the series.
Please McCullers be in filthy mode tonight. This series will be won by good starting pitching, we need Seattle Lance, not NYY Lance.
I dreamed last night that the Astros scored eight runs in the first inning and that McCullers was dominating and the Astros won going away. The Phillies used several pitchers in the first inning, but could not stop the Astro rally before eight runs were scored. I hope that one comes true!
Lance has done well against the likely Phillie starters in the past (.214 BA, 12 for 56 with 18 SO, only 3 XBH allowed). If he is on, could be a long night for Philly. Unfortunately, Syndergaard has been even better albeit in fewer AB (.188 BA, 6 for 32 with 6 SO, only 1 XBH allowed). Should be a tight, low-scoring game especially early on. Astros get to the Phillie bullpen late and win 4-2.
I worry about Lance in any sort of not perfect weather. He did well in Chicago last year... weather should be similar tonight.
I'm fine with your plan. I think Abreu has passed Stanek for leverage so pitches after him. I think with a lead of 4+ Brown and Neris can pitch instead of Montero and Pressly. Montero and Pressly have both been used in both games so far. They likely will only be available for 1 of games 3 and 4. If the Astros have a big enough lead they can both be saved for game 4 and also be ready for game 5. Its tough to plan out ahead of time but I say: 4+ lead: Lance 5-6 (Brown 6) Stanek 7 Abreu 8 Neris 9 3- lead Lance 4-5 (Garcia 5-6) (Stanek 6) Neris 7 Abreu 8 Pressly 9 - Pressly out for game 4. Tied game or behind and not blowout Lance ? Garcia -5 Brown 6 Abreu 7 Neris 8 (Stanek 9) Everyone available game 4 unless extended pitches. Blowout down Lance -3 Urquidy 4-5 Smith 6 Garcia 7-8
Lance (5) > Smith > Abreu > Neris > Pressly Javier (4) > Garcia (2) > Montero > Neris > Pressly JV (7) > Smith > Abreu
I think both Diaz and Mancini have been bad enough to sit them. I think Dusty is too loyal to veterans and continues to start them. They are both established MLB hitters with career OPS of over 700. They are both capable of getting a key extra base hit or having a very good plate appearance. And it could happen any time. I'm just not very hopeful. Although I still am really pulling for Mancini to get a big hit in the Series. He deserves it so very much. Other than the Astros winning it, there's nothing I want to see more.
We're all pulling for Mancini. But at some point, you have to admit he can't buy a hit. This isn't an Altuve situation where he's an everyday starter and your leadoff hitter. There are other options at DH. Dusty's loyalty kept him from moving Bregman down in the lineup in the 2021 World Series til it was too late. Had he done that in Game 4 instead of Game 5, maybe the Astros return to Houston up 3-2 instead of down.
Who starts in LF tonight? Diaz or Alvarez? Not sure what Philly's left field is like. Really need Diaz to have some good AB's. That is all I ask for now. Once he puts together some good AB's you know he is seeing the ball well and will likely start producing soon after. I just hope it happens now rather than later. Team should be locked in feeding off the Philly hate just like they do when they play NY. Let's go get it!
