I think if it gets to game 7... you probably have to throw him 3 innings. Then let the bullpen get you home.
Astros are 4-0 in Game #5s World Series, but 0-3 in Game #6s. Keep in mind Verlander went 2 of those 3 before. That needs to change tomorrow. Breakdown Game 1s 0-5 Game 2s 3-2 Game 3s 2-3 Game 4s 2-3 Game 5s 4-0 Game 6s 0-3 Game 7s 1-1
I believe Dusty said Javier is good for 3-4 innings for Sunday. So if that's the case when would you want them? Start Javier 3-4 innings follow with LMJ or Garcia for 2-3 Then Neris, Abreu, Montero, Pressly to close it out? Or do you start LMJ and follow him with Javier? LMJ makes me nervous but if he shows any indication that he's off take him out quickly. If Abreu doesn't see action on Saturday I would like to see him go 2 or maybe even 3 innings. Dude's nasty. Hopefully it will be over and the Sunday rotation won't matter, but they will have some interesting decisions to make. Either way it will be an Astros bullpen day vs. a Phillies bullpen day which is a big advantage for the Astros. Dusty will need to be aggressive with quick hooks on any pitcher struggling.
I wouldn't let LMJ get the ball. We have Urquidy and Garcia who have not yet gotten exposed yet. LMJ had a really bad performance. It was so bad people thought he was tipping pitches. This is a Yu Darvish in 2017 situation all over game.
You absolutely cannot roll the dice with LMJ game 7 of the WS. Love Lance but he hasn’t had it the last two starts and there’s too much on the line to let him start Sunday (if necessary)
Sometimes. I think this is more true for pitchers who came up during JV's era. Lots of newer/more recent pitchers don't change their pitching motion anymore. Especially since fewer guys are trying to steal bases, and holding the runner is not as important.
The Phillies didn't give game 5 away. The Astros were very close to hanging a crooked number on the Phillies in the 1st inning and later in the game didn't bring home a guy on third with no one out. Both teams were confident coming into game 5 and both REALLY wanted it badly. The difference is that the Astros are the better TEAM. When the Astros bats are not contributing, the pitching and the glove work is still there....... and the bullpen is deep and ready to put out fires. The Phillies lost because they just aren't as good at the other facets of the game. While the Astros line up (to be honest) isn't special and the GM screwed up the trade deadline..... the Astros bullpen and rotation is as consistently good as any I have seen in 40 years of watching baseball. The gloves are also well above average. Guys like Bregman, Pena, Gurriel, Valdez, Javier and the pen may not be Hall of Famers, but this Astros TEAM is one of the very best baseball teams I have ever seen because of the depth and how well rounded they are. We will never see a rotation and pen this good again and it isn't just about the numbers. The Phillies are really lucky in this series. They would have lost game 1 had Verlander been pulled like any other pitcher would have been. They easily could have lost this series in 5 games, and that is with a game where Lance tipped his pitches.
Maybe Lance more situationally, like say the back end of their order from Casty to Marsh. He just isn't a good match up for this opponent.