Cardinals (Mathews) vs Brewers (May): 9/26/26, 6:10pm

[Brandon Glick]

This will be my last game thread of the regular season (Brock is on desk tomorrow), but since I'll see you all in the playoffs, there's no need for me to soliloquize just yet... I'll spare you that until the Brewers win the World Series in a month.

For now: Dustin May takes on his old team. Go Crew!

[Brandon Glick]

	MON	TUE	WED	THU	FRI	TOT
Trevor Megill	0	0	11	0	11	22
Shane Drohan	0	0	0	47	0	47
Kyle Harrison	0	14	0	0	0	14
JoJo Romero	0	0	0	17	0	17
DL Hall	0	0	36	0	0	36
Chad Patrick	0	0	0	16	0	16
Bryse Wilson	0	0	0	0	25	25
Antonio Senzatela	0	0	0	19	0	19
Abner Uribe	0	0	14	0	11	25
Aaron Ashby	0	0	0	33	0	33

[Frisbee Slider]

How should we feel that Baseball Savant says Dustin May pitches like Nolan McLean and Brandon Sproat?

[willie key]

Can Turang get to 100 RBIs?    

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

1 hour ago, Frisbee Slider said:

How should we feel that Baseball Savant says Dustin May pitches like Nolan McLean and Brandon Sproat?

Not sure how sarcastic/rhetorical this is (all good no matter the answer), but I thought it was a good question in terms of Sproat, and it got me thinking.

Sproat's issue has really been the walks, the inability to harness the stuff and to reset after giving up baserunners or experiencing bad batted ball luck. If this is about "stuff," then it's maybe a good thing, assuming May can command his stuff better, which it seems like he can.

On the other hand, if May has Sproat's stuff and better command and still can't get results, maybe we should re-evaluate our assessments of Sproat's talent too.

May seems like a one time through the order guy in the postseason to me. That's not a bad guy to have in that role. But, obviously, there's plenty of reason to be concerned.

My reason for optimism is this: if the Brewers bullpen continues to pitch this well, all we need is Gasser and May to be serviceable.

[Frisbee Slider]

5 minutes ago, Cool Hand Lucroy said:

Not sure how sarcastic/rhetorical this is (all good no matter the answer), but I thought it was a good question in terms of Sproat, and it got me thinking.

I’m actually conflicted. The stuff is there, under the hood.

[RobertCrawley]

It's time for Mayday to bear down and earn the millions the Brewers are paying him.

[Jim French Stepstool]

If they want another in-game look at Harrison this is perhaps the best last chance. You might see Misiorowski throw 5-6 innings tomorrow & then a host of people for an inning each.

Sounds like not much concern re Ortiz; just a bruise that he picked up in Philly. But I wouldn't be shocked if he's off today.

[edfunderburk]

Two games to go, but I love looking at the MLB Standings …

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

Just to math out what's at stake today in the NL:

Padres magic number to clinch the 4 seed (over Philly and Chicago): 1 (one SD win does it over both; if they lose twice, they need each of Philly and Chicago to lose once)

Chicago magic number to clinch the 4 seed: 3 (need to win and see SD lose twice)

Phillies magic number to clinch the 4 seed: 5 (CHC lose Sunday, SD lose today and tomorrow, Philly win today and tomorrow).

Phillies magic number to clinch a playoff spot (over Arizona): 2

Arizona's magic number to clinch a playoff spot (over Philly): 3

If Arizona and Philly win: All 4 teams are alive and could be seeded anywhere from 4-6 going into Sunday. Arizona, however, could not be the 4, as they'd lose out in a three-way tie with the Padres and Cubs. The Padres would lose out too, but they'd still have the chance to win on Sunday to clinch HFA in the WC round.

If SD and Philly win: Phillies clinch a playoff spot. San Diego clinches the 4. Arizona is eliminated, and Chicago would have the 5 seed, unless they lose and the Phillies win on Sunday.

If Arizona and Tampa win: Cubs clinch at least the 5 seed. Arizona controls its own destiny for the playoffs. 

If SD and Tampa win: Padres clinch the 4 seed. Cubs clinch the 5. Phillies control their destiny for the 6.

I believe that factors in all tiebreakers. Here's hoping for some final day drama.

In the AL, the races are simpler.

NYY is the 4. Boston is the 5. 

Houston holds the tiebreaker over Texas and has a magic number of 2 to clinch the 3.

CHW holds the tiebreaker over Cleveland. Guardians have a magic number of 2 to clinch the 2 seed.