Brewers vs Dodgers Open Thread: News / Notes / Predictions / Miscellaneous. What's on your Mind?

[HarryDoyle]

2 hours ago, young guns said:

Maybe it's dodger opponent playoff trauma, but I was extremely pessimistic about having to play them again this year.  Now being up 2-0, I actually have hope and don't fear the AL at all.  Though in the back of my mind I have Randy Quaid from Major League yelling this is what Wisconsin teams do in the playoffs to rip your heart out!

It looks like the Dodgers are starting to show their age. Add to that they've played more games than anyone the past three years and maybe they're just running out of gas. If we win this series, they should probably look into retooling and getting younger.

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

Gary Sanchez career vs. Blake Snell: 7 for 23 with 5 (!) HR and 8 (!) walks. His OPS is 1.484

I know we're very unlikely to see Sanchez and Contreras in the game at the same time. I know we're playing well. But part of me also thinks we might as well take a shot at a knockout punch. 

You absolutely could start Sanchez at DH and Vaughn at first. Turang and Mitchell would be the only lefties in the lineup. 

The drawbacks here are simple: You can't pinch run for Contreras at any point. He has to catch the whole game. You probably can't even pinch run for Sanchez until late, either, because you don't want your DH to have to play the field (which means the pitchers would have to hit) should Contreras get knocked out of the game for some reason, but you also need a guy who can catch available. 

Is 2 or maybe 3 Sanchez ABs worth all the downside risk? Close call, but I think I'd do it. It's the risk you can take with a 2-0 lead. And it's not a small sample. Sanchez is a 3TO monster vs. Snell. In 31 PA, he's got 13 Ks. and 13 BBs + HRs. He's got a double and a single. Only 3 balls in play have gone for outs. It's a good bet he's going to either K, BB, or do damage, and I think it makes Snell's trip through the order a little bit tougher.

I'd go: Chourio, Turang, Contreras, Vaughn, Sanchez, Mitchell, Pratt, Lara, Ortiz.

[Team Canada]

I'm with you. Especially since Snell could possibly not pitch terribly long, I think you load up on righties and swap the lefties in later as needed.