Moments after the Nationals released their Wild Card roster, the Brewers have followed suit. The Milwaukee group notably includes center fielder Lorenzo Cain, who has been limited of late by injury and could be a game-time decision.
Otherwise, the club is preparing for a contest in which manager Craig Counsell will likely call upon quite a few members of this 25-man unit:
Right-Handed Pitchers
- Brandon Woodruff (probable starter)
- Chase Anderson
- Junior Guerra
- Jay Jackson
- Jordan Lyles
- Freddy Peralta
Left-Handed Pitchers
Infielders
- Orlando Arcia
- Tyler Austin
- Keston Hiura
- Mike Moustakas
- Hernan Perez
- Travis Shaw
- Cory Spangenberg
- Eric Thames
Outfielders
- Ryan Braun
- Lorenzo Cain
- Ben Gamel
- Trent Grisham
- Tyrone Taylor
Catchers
With four lefties on hand, it’s fair to presume that the Brewers will aim to match up whenever possible. But the team is also going to need to get a number of innings out of each arm. Woodruff will presumably take two or three frames, with righties Lyles, Anderson, and Guerra options to fill volume behind him.
It’d be a surprise if Josh Hader doesn’t end up throwing more than one inning, but it remains to be seen whether the club will deploy him early or save him for the end of the contest. Don’t forget that the team suddenly has another southpaw strikeout weapon in the form of key mid-season trade acquisition Pomeranz. He and fellow lefty Suter are also capable of working multiple frames. By mixing these pitchers in with the aforementioned starters, Counsell could go back and forth between lefties and righties all game long. Though the Brewers have long foregone significant rotation additions, they’ll trust that their deep and talented pitching staff can defeat the Nats’ more traditional trio of top-shelf starters (each of whom will be available this evening).
Cain remains the big question on the position-player side. He obviously feels well enough to be a possibility to play, though that could end up being determined by pre-game workouts. Perhaps there’s a chance he opens the game and goes as long as he can, or is held back for late-game need. Whatever approach the club takes, it’ll have a significant impact on the way the contest unfolds.
It’s possible to draw up an anticipated strategy for a game like this, but odds are it’ll go out the window as soon as things get underway. Counsell will be trying to get the best possible matchups from the jump while also keeping an eye on how early-game moves impact his options as the contest proceeds.
Soto is going to face one righty the entire game.
He has an .850 OPS against LHP this year
Not saying that as a slight or anything. Just a statement. Four lefty relievers and their main assignment will be shutting him and maybe only him down (except Hader)
He hit .285 vs left-handers and.281 vs right-handers. But only 3 hits vs. the Brewers this year, all Homers.
Cain could be impactful, but I wouldn’t say his availability is a crucial hinge for this game.
I wouldn’t either, but when you see a lineup missing arguably your two best hitters it’s a little concerning knowing your seasons on the line.
Two best hitters? Yelich and who? Moose is probably second and grandal/Keston 3A/3B
Brewers are in trouble tonight. Of course, it’s a one game playoff so anything can happen. Nats will score so if Scherzer brings his A game it’s a one and done for the Crew.
Surprised about Gio and Davies. Those guys can both throw some great relief too. Claudio appeared in many games but also blew many games
Those are probably the 2 guys in line for the early innings in game 1 of the NLDS..obviously if they win tonight. Along with Houser. Bullpen would still be fine with the day off, as long as Hader doesn’t end up going 3 innings or throwing 50 pitches…
I think the Brewers are set up well for one game but the Nats are set up better for a series.
So while I like the Brewers, I think the Dodgers are more likely to lose to the Nats. And the Dodgers losing is what’s important here.
You should worry about your team on 3 managers in 3 years
Ahh yes, fans of the redheaded stepchild with nothing better to do than hate the bigger brother.
You mean the team who was here first and originated the logo on top of the brooklyn transplants heads. Not that Dodgers fans know either of those two facts.
Regional rivalries are fun. You think Giants fans are rooting for the A’s or Mets fans wants the Yanks to win? No.
The rivalry only exists from the Angels fans’ perspective. It’s like the Padres fans thinking there’s any rivalry there with LA.
The Dodgers have rivalries with the Giants, Cardinals, and the Yankees. Don’t kid yourself.
Go BREW CREW!
Man, I love wildcard games
Ugh, as a Nats fan, this is terrifying.
The recent spate of Game 5s (especially that LA/WAS game Kershaw saved) and Game 7s have made me glad the Dodgers continually win their division. They are hard to watch, nerve-wracking and intense as a fan of an involved team.
I love the Wild Card games immensely, but I’ve yet to have to watch one from anything but a baseball fan perspective. MLB doesn’t always get it right in their attempts to bottle excitement, but the co-opting of the play-in game by adding a second WC got it very right IMO.
This year is especially interesting, and it makes me glad teams like Milwaukee exist. I just read the chat and the answer concerning the Nats countering the Brewers bullpen-heavy roster by loading up on bench options is fascinating. My love of baseball stems from it being very much a chess-like sport, in that moves are made in turn, rather than on the fly. All sports have adjustments, but baseball is the only one to me that’s nearly fully turn-based. Washington’s roster construction is just another example of it.
Good luck!
I should add that the Nats “countering” was apparently in advance, as they released their roster first. But barring some abnormal usage of Woodward (against both the recent and historical usage), the Nationals clearly built their roster expecting the Brewers to use many arms in this game.
I really do love the Wild Card games.
Brewers have no issue with everyone saying they have no shot. Theyve been saying that all season and they proved everyone wrong. They may not win tonight but everyone who says Scherzer is a “stud” in the postseason needs to realize, hes had some clunkers mixed with some success. All it takes is a couple bad pitches and some bad defense and then the game is lost. Its ridiculous to say anyone is a lock in a one game playoff. If this was a series, then yeah, the brewers would have no shot with Stras, Max, and Corbin, but in a one game playoff, anything can happen. The Brewers gritted out a 163 at Wrigley last year and came to play for that one. They dont seem to intimidated playing in Washington–they do well there. Either way, this game is going to be fun tonight–hope we pull it out!
Fun!?!?!?! I’m going to have no fingernails and watch half this thing between my fingers….
Playoff baseball is the best!
I don’t understand why MLB sets “Wild Card Rosters” and doesn’t make these wild card teams lock in for the whole LDS series. It seems like there’s so much opportunity to game the system by loading up on relievers, and leaving your 4th starter off for another 1 inning guy.
One game vs. a series, not to mention the roster changes depending on opponents. Neither team wants to be in the WC game, but it’s only fair that they get to construct their rosters for the best chance to beat the other team they play, in the format they’re in.
Just as the Astros and the Dodgers don’t have to select their roster until they know which team they get, the team they get shouldn’t be stuck with building a roster for multiple opponents.
After 162 games, they get a one-game playoff. It’s the least baseball can do for these poor Wild Card teams. Let them set up for this one game and then go from there. I’m okay with it.