They just need to have a heart to heart with Verlander and figure out what is best for the team and if he's on board. If Verlander plays, it should be in relief or with a very very short leash. From his last game, I think he's only effective once through a lineup and that's not guaranteed.
Forget the ALDS. This is a lot of cart before the horse. We need to win the WC round, which is 3 games. JV is definitely not one of our 3 best starters. Neither is Blanco - his second half numbers include a 1.37 WHIP. Which makes sense when you consider how many innings he's pitched compared to his previous career highs. Yusei is pitching much better, right now. It's got to be: Framber, Hunter, Kikuchi, in that order. I think JV, Blanco, and Arrighetti are all viable options for the pen. I would leave one off in favor of a guy having a good season in relief, if we had an abundance. But I wouldn't classify Ferguson in that category. I'd rather see JV up than that dude in a playoff game.
Completely agree on Whitcomb over Kessinger. OF is where the potential juggling and pinch hitters are coming from. Shay is a better hitter, and can play LF if needed. If only they would start Heyward in CF vs RHSP. He should be ok over 3-4 weeks with frequent off days, right? I don't see JV on the WC roster. His start in Cleveland will determine if he gets a start (opener?) in the ALDS. I don't see him as a bullpen option. I also prefer King over Ferguson, King has been good Ferguson has been inconsistent, but would like to see Whitley instead of a 3rd lefty unless it's a matchup vs a lefty hitting lineup. Either way, if the 13th pitcher is the guy we disagree on that's pretty good.
I can't see any would where JV pitches in the WC series, even if he throws a complete game no hitter against Cleveland. therefore it hurts the teams chances to win if he's on the roster.
Imagine: Game 3 of the WC. Brown got knocked out early in Game 2, Blanco pitched 3 innings and all 4 leverage RP have pitched in both games. Kikuchi got through 3.1 innings and Arrighetti pitched 2.2. Astros use their big 4 plus Ort to get thru 9, and the game is tied going into the 10th. Who do you want in that 10th inning (and beyond): King, Ferguson, or Verlander?
King first, then hope and pray the game ends. JV has pitched out of the bullpen in the post season for the Astros before. It did not go well, and he was still very good back then.
JV has pitched once in his entire career out of the bullpen - 7 years ago in the playoffs, where he went 2.2 innings and gave up 1 run, 3 days after a playoff start. He's pitched over 3600 innings in his MLB career and a sample of 2.2 is all it takes for you to write off him forever in that role. You want him to have nothing to do with an emergency bullpen role over some nobodies, but you'll happily *start* him in a season where he has an ERA over 5 (over 10 in September!) over a guy who's in the top-5 in the AL in ERA. You have some of the weirdest decision-making logic I've ever seen.
If this was 2017 or even 2022 maybe I feel different, but those nobodies that you mention are used to pitching out of the bullpen and have better stuff than 2024 Verlander does. Most of the things that make 2024 JV a viable MLB pitcher - knowledge and preparation, ability to face a lineup multiple times, understand the umpires strike zone and exploit it, throw 80+ pitches, etc are mostly useless if he isn't starting. The only positive he has over the potential bullpen arms is his ability to limit walks. And at his age, nobody knows how his arm will recover. He may need more time than the other guys which would limit his appearances when the other guys are known quantities.
Why not Ort instead of Ferguson? Also, what happens if one of our starters gets injured. Do they get to add someone to the roster?
