NL Wild Card GameThread (Woodruff vs. Scherzer)

The Nationals will try to win their first-ever playoff series today as they take on the scrappy Brewers in the NL Wild Card Game.

Washington will deploy one of the best pitchers in baseball against a scrappy team of how-are-they-doing-this guys. Good luck to both teams, but especially the Nationals’ bullpen. Unless Corbin and/or Strasburg pitch in relief, the Brewers have no excuse for not scoring late in this one.

BREWERS

RF — Trent Grisham
C — Yasmani Grandal
3B — Mike Moustakas
2B — Keston Hiura
LF — Ryan Braun
1B — Eric Thames
CF — Lorenzo Cain
SS — Orlando Arcia
SP — Brandon Woodruff

Yes, Trent Grisham is real. No sign of a self-published novel, but he did put up a .364 OBP over his final 11 games of the season, with 9 walks against 10 strikeouts. He had just six hits in 34 at bats, though (.176). Just one stolen base all season (1/1).

NATIONALS

SS — Trea Turner
RF — Adam Eaton
3B — Anthony Rendon
LF — Juan Soto
1B — Howie Kendrick
2B — Asdrubal Cabrera
C — Kurt Suzuki
CF — Victor Robles
SP — Max Scherzer

Comparatively, Trea Turner has 35 stolen bases (35/5) and a .353 OBP on the season. If the Brewers plan to bullpen today, speed seems like a perfect equalizer. A lot of different pitching styles and delivery times but Turner’s speed threat will remain constant.

Without Christian Yelich, the Brewers don’t seem quite as formidable, but if it’s close, you have to like Craig Counsell’s edge over Dave Martinez in the experience department, even if I think the Nationals are far more talented — especially if Strasburg or Corbin pitch in relief.