2019-09-18 Other MLB Games with Playoff Implications - Nats and Cards at 12:15pm

[KeithStone53151]

Too bad Cardinals hung on. Amazing that a lost ball in the sun and a home run robbery both going the other way...turn this game into a Nationals win. At least this helps out WC chances. Lester has had some reeeeeeeeeally bad games lately, hopefully he posts another stinker today and the Cubs drop a game back.

 

I'm curious what the baseball nerds will think of our playoff chances with a Brewer win today. Hopefully we can figure that out tomorrow morning.

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

1 back of WC 1.

 

Can't be too upset about that. I think I will be rooting for the Cards to sweep the Cubs (ick). My loyalties swing day by day. I just think our best chance involves one of those teams getting lots of L's, and we are closer to the Cubs in the standings. Plus, I think CC is a great manager for a 1-0 situation.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

I am hoping the Cubs and Cards split ... then its a chance to gain ground on both if the Brewers continue to take care of business.

[owbc]

It's just such a thin margin at 2.5 games back with the Cardinals playing well. The Brewers can't afford to lose tonight. Wild card chances are looking fantastic though!

[KeithStone53151]

I am hoping the Cubs and Cards split ... then its a chance to gain ground on both if the Brewers continue to take care of business.

 

If the Cubs lose today, I'll be hoping the Cubs get 3 of 4...otherwise I think I'm with you on the split. A cubs loss today and 3 of 4 against the Cards, along with us getting 3 of the next 5 would make the standings

 

Wash 86-68(I'm assuming they sweep the Marlins, but you can do the math if they only get 2 of 3 here)

Chic 85-71

Stl 86-70

Milw 85-71

 

Obviously would be so much better to get 4 of 5...but let's be real, we're not winning out the rest of the way and 4 of 5 is also a pretty high expectation. I would be very content if the standings looked like this heading into the final week.

[BruisedCrew]

Oh well ... the Nationals can go away too. No interest in facing one of those aces in a Wild Card game.

 

I think the chances of the Nats missing the playoffs are pretty low. With 3 games against Miami and then 8 home games they should be good for at least 90 wins.

 

If the Brewers get a wild card game it will be against the Nats, Cards, or Cubs. I would rather it be the Nats because a loss to either of the other two would be infuriating.

 

Still hoping for a Nats comeback today.

 

Ehh. Their schedule might be the toughest of the 4 contenders for 3 spots in the NL. When in Miami, they'll roll out only 1 of their 3 horses. There's definitely a chance Miami takes a game off them.

 

Not sure how you can conclude that the Nats schedule is tougher than the Cubs or Cards schedules with their 7 head to head games. After Miami, their last 8 games are at home, including 5 against the fading Phillies, who have 10 games left on an 11 game road trip to Atlanta, Cleveland, and Washington and might on life support by the time they get to DC. And Miami is even worse than the Pirates and DBacks, , who are the Cubs and Cards other opponents.

[BruisedCrew]

I am hoping the Cubs and Cards split ... then its a chance to gain ground on both if the Brewers continue to take care of business.

 

If the Cubs lose today, I'll be hoping the Cubs get 3 of 4...otherwise I think I'm with you on the split. A cubs loss today and 3 of 4 against the Cards, along with us getting 3 of the next 5 would make the standings

 

Wash 86-68(I'm assuming they sweep the Marlins, but you can do the math if they only get 2 of 3 here)

Chic 85-71

Stl 86-70

Milw 85-71

 

Obviously would be so much better to get 4 of 5...but let's be real, we're not winning out the rest of the way and 4 of 5 is also a pretty high expectation. I would be very content if the standings looked like this heading into the final week.

 

That would be OK, but I’m afraid that if the Brewers only win 3 out of 5 they are putting themselves in a dangerous position. Getting 4 out of 6 next week is going to be tougher than 4 out of 5 on the home stand. The Reds pitching has the potential to give the Brewers a lot of trouble.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

The Reds series concerns me as well. And you have to think we'll slow down at least a little bit. That Nats loss dropped our odds a couple point. But, if we play well, we'll find a way in. Can't wait for the Cubs/Cards series to start. At least somebody is losing.

[Brewcrewin07]

Well, I think this game today REALLY put a damper on the Crew's hopes of winning the division now. Yes, it's only one game, I get that but it was against Scherzer. I was assuming this was a Cardinals loss without question. In fact, with who the Nats were throwing in the series, I was thinking the Cards chances of even winning one game were about .0001%. So needless to say the fact they won 2 of 3, REALLY torques me off. No way did I see that happening, at all. My "vision" before the week started were that come Friday the Brewers would have swept all 4 from the Padres, the Cardinals were going to get swept, and the Cubs were going to win 1 of 3(still could happen). That would have put the Crew in 1st place in the division heading into the weekend, had that happened, they would have REALLY been sitting pretty. Still being 2 out now, is NOT at all what I thought was going to happen and put them in a very tough spot IMO.

 

It is IMPERATIVE(IMO anyway), that they take the lead on the Cubs tonight. I just feel like once they get the lead, they are in a much better position because then it actually gives you a 1 game cushion where as if you are ahead by a game, if you lose one then, no big deal, the worst that happens is the Cubs tie you again on any given night.

 

If they can get the lead on the Cubs after tonight, then 100% as much as it makes me throw up, I'm rooting for a 3-1 series win(minimum) for the Cubs..assuming the crew sweeps the Pirates, you'd stay ahead of the Cubbies and would then be (at minimum)tied for the division lead heading into the last week. That's what I feel MUST happen for them to have any shot. Again, I think this Nationals series REALLY hurt the crew as far as the division goes. It also REALLY PO's me that the Cardinals are even in this spot, they shouldn't be. They just had the great fortune of getting to beat up on the Pirates most of the second half and won 11 games against them since the ASB(I think). That's just ridiculous.

[KeithStone53151]

If the Cubs lose today, I'll be hoping the Cubs get 3 of 4...otherwise I think I'm with you on the split. A cubs loss today and 3 of 4 against the Cards, along with us getting 3 of the next 5 would make the standings

 

Wash 86-68(I'm assuming they sweep the Marlins, but you can do the math if they only get 2 of 3 here)

Chic 85-71

Stl 86-70

Milw 85-71

 

Obviously would be so much better to get 4 of 5...but let's be real, we're not winning out the rest of the way and 4 of 5 is also a pretty high expectation. I would be very content if the standings looked like this heading into the final week.

 

That would be OK, but I’m afraid that if the Brewers only win 3 out of 5 they are putting themselves in a dangerous position. Getting 4 out of 6 next week is going to be tougher than 4 out of 5 on the home stand. The Reds pitching has the potential to give the Brewers a lot of trouble.

 

Oh agreed completely, these 5 games won't be as tough as the 6 road games. I guess I'm being cautious with the 3 of 5 prediction...don't want to be too greedy on paper. Definitely don't consider this me simply settling for 3 of 5 here...I want all 5 and to be ahead of all these teams heading to the final week.

[homer]

Cards and Cubs still play each other 7 times. Division is still well within reach.

[Jopal78]

If the Cubs lose today, I'll be hoping the Cubs get 3 of 4...otherwise I think I'm with you on the split. A cubs loss today and 3 of 4 against the Cards, along with us getting 3 of the next 5 would make the standings

 

Wash 86-68(I'm assuming they sweep the Marlins, but you can do the math if they only get 2 of 3 here)

Chic 85-71

Stl 86-70

Milw 85-71

 

Obviously would be so much better to get 4 of 5...but let's be real, we're not winning out the rest of the way and 4 of 5 is also a pretty high expectation. I would be very content if the standings looked like this heading into the final week.

 

That would be OK, but I’m afraid that if the Brewers only win 3 out of 5 they are putting themselves in a dangerous position. Getting 4 out of 6 next week is going to be tougher than 4 out of 5 on the home stand. The Reds pitching has the potential to give the Brewers a lot of trouble.

 

Oh agreed completely, these 5 games won't be as tough as the 6 road games. I guess I'm being cautious with the 3 of 5 prediction...don't want to be too greedy on paper. Definitely don't consider this me simply settling for 3 of 5 here...I want all 5 and to be ahead of all these teams heading to the final week.

 

You know the Brewers are going to see Sonny Gray in that final series with the Reds. However, the Reds have gone to a six-man rotation which means the Crew will likely miss Bauer and Castillo. The Reds are 36-24 when Gray or Castillo pitch. They're 35-57 when anyone else is the starting pitcher.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Well, I think this game today REALLY put a damper on the Crew's hopes of winning the division now. Yes, it's only one game, I get that but it was against Scherzer. I was assuming this was a Cardinals loss without question. In fact, with who the Nats were throwing in the series, I was thinking the Cards chances of even winning one game were about .0001%. So needless to say the fact they won 2 of 3, REALLY torques me off. No way did I see that happening, at all. My "vision" before the week started were that come Friday the Brewers would have swept all 4 from the Padres, the Cardinals were going to get swept, and the Cubs were going to win 1 of 3(still could happen). That would have put the Crew in 1st place in the division heading into the weekend, had that happened, they would have REALLY been sitting pretty. Still being 2 out now, is NOT at all what I thought was going to happen and put them in a very tough spot IMO.

 

It is IMPERATIVE(IMO anyway), that they take the lead on the Cubs tonight. I just feel like once they get the lead, they are in a much better position because then it actually gives you a 1 game cushion where as if you are ahead by a game, if you lose one then, no big deal, the worst that happens is the Cubs tie you again on any given night.

 

If they can get the lead on the Cubs after tonight, then 100% as much as it makes me throw up, I'm rooting for a 3-1 series win(minimum) for the Cubs..assuming the crew sweeps the Pirates, you'd stay ahead of the Cubbies and would then be (at minimum)tied for the division lead heading into the last week. That's what I feel MUST happen for them to have any shot. Again, I think this Nationals series REALLY hurt the crew as far as the division goes. It also REALLY PO's me that the Cardinals are even in this spot, they shouldn't be. They just had the great fortune of getting to beat up on the Pirates most of the second half and won 11 games against them since the ASB(I think). That's just ridiculous.

 

Wow, that's a lot of overreactions to unpack.

 

Welcome back to the bandwagon!

[dlk9s]

Cards and Cubs still play each other 7 times. Division is still well within reach.

 

Perhaps, but I understand his point. It's a double-edged sword with the Cubs and Cards playing each other so much. One of them is always going to lose, so that's obviously good. But to pass the Cards, we likely need the Cubs to dominate them. That, then, would make it tough to pass the Cubs for the division.

 

Clearly, if somehow we win out or only lose once, we could still jump everyone, but I wouldn't expect it.

 

Here would be the really fun scenario:

 

Tonight: Brewers win, Cubs lose

Tomorrow: Brewers win, Cubs win

Friday: Brewers win, Cubs win, Nats lose

 

Take the Wild Card lead, pull into a tie with the Cards for the division, and a game ahead of the Cubs with 8 games left. That would make for a very entertaining final week.

[Jopal78]

Why not just hope for a 4 game sweep by either the Cubs or Cardinals?

 

If swept 4-0, it would make the Cubs maximum possible wins for the year 89.

 

If the Cards got swept 4-0 they’re maximum win total could only be 91.

 

The victim of the four game sweep would then have to run the table to have a real chance if the Brewers keep pace. Probably the best scenario for the Brewers to get to the post season for a second consecutive season.

 

I don’t have a good feeling on the math, so if the Brewers could slide into a wild card spot I’d feel pretty good about 2019 no matter what happened thereafter.

[BruisedCrew]

 

You know the Brewers are going to see Sonny Gray in that final series with the Reds. However, the Reds have gone to a six-man rotation which means the Crew will likely miss Bauer and Castillo. The Reds are 36-24 when Gray or Castillo pitch. They're 35-57 when anyone else is the starting pitcher.

 

Are they going to a true 6 man rotation or just a 6 day rotation for their best pitchers?

 

The Reds have off days on Thursday and Monday and Castillo is scheduled Friday. You might think they would have Castillo make his final start against a contending team on Thursday instead of having him pitch against the Pirates, especially since he almost no hit the Brewers in July.

[long ball]

Castellanos stretched a single into a double. The throw beat him at second base by a wide margin, but the reds infielder made no attempt to tag him. Just had the glove resting in front of the bag and he slid around it.

 

He then scored on a short sac fly and evaded the tag by inches.

 

Baseball.

[Ennder]

Cubs are really lucky they aren't losing like 7-1 here. Reds threatening every inning and just can't seem to score. Meanwhile the Cubs have 1 run on 1 hit. Tie game.

[ThisIsMyCrew]

Gotta like seeing extra innings! Burn through that bullpen Joe!

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Cubs go down 3-2.

[pacopete4]

Annnnnd Cubs lose!

[markedman5]

Cubs lose baby

[willie key]

That’s a huge loss. Lots of pressure on cubs this weekend now. We just need to win games this weekend

[treego14]

Cubs lose baby

Yippee!

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Nice! Makes me feel better about tonight's game. Yeah, the Brewers lost ground to the Cards, but not the Cubs. Cubs have to feel like their backs are against the wall going into their 4-gamer against the Cards this weekend.