Welcome to The Opener, our new weekday morning series here at MLBTR! Nick Deeds will take you through three things to watch around MLB, with our typical hot stove leaning.
Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world:
1. The World Series Sees Its Second No-Hitter
After watching Lance McCullers Jr. give up five home runs while Ranger Suarez shut the lineup out in Game 3, Astros fans were no doubt feeling a bit queasy headed into a Game 4 against Aaron Nola, one of the best pitchers in the NL. Just as they did in Game 1, however, the Astros lineup managed to get to Nolan, striking for five runs in the fifth inning. However, the Astros’ offense wasn’t the story of this game — Cristian Javier struck out nine over six shutout innings to combine with Bryan Abreu, Rafael Montero, and Ryan Pressly for a no-hitter. It was the second no-hitter in World Series history (preceded by Don Larsen’s perfect game in the 1956 World Series), and just the third-ever postseason no-hitter (also at Citizens Bank Ballpark, Roy Halladay tossed a no-no in the 2010 NLDS). While there’s still plenty of baseball to be played this November, it’s worth noting that both Larsen’s Yankees and Halladay’s Phillies went on to win their respective series. For tonight’s pivotal Game 5, the Phillies will start Noah Syndergaard against Houston’s Justin Verlander.
2. The Mets Brace For Losses, Eye Additions In Free Agency
After a 101-win season that ended abruptly at the hands of the Padres in the Wild Card series, the Mets now face some significant free agent losses, and center fielder Brandon Nimmo and closer Edwin Diaz are reportedly the free agents New York wishes to retain the most. Mets owner Steve Cohen is certainly unafraid of making a splash in free agency, and the team will have to devote some more resources to rebuilding it rotation, as three starters (Jacob deGrom, Chris Bassitt, and Taijuan Walker) are likely to hit free agency this offseason, and a fourth could join them if the Mets decline Carlos Carrasco’s club option. Few players with deGrom’s level of potential impact exist in the game, much less on the free agent market, but Verlander and Carlos Rodon are both arms who could take deGrom’s place alongside Scherzer at the top of the rotation in Queens. The likes of Nathan Eovaldi, Jameson Taillon and Tyler Anderson represent possible mid-rotation replacements for Bassitt, while Walker’s quality back of the rotation production could be replaced by a variety of pitchers, including Syndergaard, Corey Kluber, or Sean Manaea.
3. Brewers Face Tough Decisions In Arbitration
In yesterday’s opener, we discussed the massive arbitration class the Rays have heading into 2023, with their 19 players being the most of any club. Milwaukee isn’t far behind with an 18-player class that is projected to receive $79.9MM, and thus the Brewers are set to approach their 2023 payroll even before making additions this offseason. While there are some non-tender candidates in the group, most of the significant money in Milwaukee’s arbitration class is tied up in productive players too valuable to just cut, so a trade of one of these more expensive names (i.e.Hunter Renfroe, Willy Adames) could make some sense. Of course, then the Brewers face the new problem of finding adequate replacements for their production for a lower price. Whatever path he may choose, GM Matt Arnold’s first offseason at the helm of the Brewers’s front office will be one to follow.
A combined no-hitter is not a no-hitter. Period.
Even with a WS no hitter, this series has been a snore fest
Because the brewers excuse of an offense would make it so much better right? It’s actually been a really entertaining back and forth series with the momentum shifting after every game
Didn’t mention anything about the brewers? Keep being a window licker though
Keep being a hater I’m sure that’ll get you real far in life.
Wall
Mute
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Are you 12?
Trade Burnes, Renfroe and non-tender Wong and depending on the return for Burnes possibly trade Tellez as well. Play the rookies, add an innings eating starter and a HL bullpen arm or two. Contend for the WC if half the rookies perform, division if most do.
Playing a bunch of rookies with the Brewers hitting philosophy doesn’t sound like a recipe for success. If they struggle offensively the Cardinals could win that division by Memorial Day.
That’s pretty much the nuclear option. The WC could be in contention but the Cardinals (and even the Cubs) would have to really stumble if a downgraded Brewers want a chance at the division.
This isn’t a bad plan in the long-term but it’s definitely a “wait for Chourio” sort of plan. Adames, Tellez, Woodruff all have shirsey-selling power so it might make sense to keep them around or even work on extensions.
But if the Brewers are going to realistically compete for the division they definitely need to keep Burnes and would be foolish to let either Renfroe or Wong go without fully replacing their production. Beyond that, they would still need legit upgrades to keep pace with the Cardinals.
It’s almost a given that Wong’s option won’t be picked up and Turang will be playing second next season.
As a Sox fan I’d gladly take Burnes and welcome Renfroe back. Problem is we don’t have a heck of a lot to offer in return unless they want Dalbec/Duran/a pair of low level minor leaguers
And that ain’t happening. For Burnes, the Sox would have to give up Mayer and a bunch more.
If Dusty would start Hunter Brown, he would no-hit the Phillies as well.
So far in this World Championship Series, veteran aces have been pounded – Verlander, McCullers, Wheeler, and Nola twice.
The postseason really is a crapshoot.
The only “World Championship Series” is the World Baseball Classic that takes place this winter.
Clap clap CLAP clap clap.
If teams really wanted to, they could bring in a fresh arm every inning and we’d see more so-called no-hitters every game. I don’t qualify this as a true no-hitter in the books but I understand that nowadays, we give trophies to everyone for participating. Yet, Madison Bumgarner’s seven-inning no-hitter wasn’t considered a no-hitter, despite pitching within the rules laid out by MLB for that season.
Mets gonna Met and sign up for all of Verlander’s decline phase…
He sure looked declined this year.
He looked great this year, but at some point soon, Father Time will catch up, and I’m certain it will be in the next couple of years. Mets are gonna pay for that,
It is worth noting that he’s been hit hard in the playoffs. It’s possible that age limits his full-season effectiveness.
Anyone who thinks the Astros aren’t cheating is delusional. Their pitching all year has been suspect, just watch how many times Javier touches his cap. He obviously has a substance and the whole astors pitching has used this all year long. They got caught cheating offensively, so they’re not trying defensively and it’s working. MLB is so ignorant and incompetent, it can’t seem to figure out what rules it wants to impose and enforce when it comes to pitching substance. Open your eyes people, investigate!
Get out your tin foil hats quick!
tanner829 2
Anyone who thinks the Astros aren’t cheating is delusional. Their pitching all year has been suspect
=================================
Suspect? Their pitching has been great all year.
Tanner goes waaaaaaaaah! Someone get him his baba. Arguably the best pitching staff in baseball all season just no hit his team so now he is crying.
That is a good way to put it. Arguably the best. fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&… 1st in WAR, 2nd in ERA, 1st in FIP, 1st in xFIP, 2nd in WHIP. Best in all those categories in the AL.
Funny.
I hear fans of other teams complaing all the time.
I don’t see a single person affiliated with any team or MLB complaining, checking them, or even mentioning it.
It’s 2022. Get over it and live in the present.
Like the Astros or hate them what Javier and the bullpen did was impressive, especially on the biggest stage in the world. It’s taken 66 World Series (384 games) to see another No-Hitter in the World Series, it may not be perfect game but still pretty awsome
Yes. The team needed it and they came through on the big stage. Impressive.
With deGrom opting out and wanting to be the highest paid pitcher, with his injury history the last couple of years, I would let him,Bassitt and Walker and replace them with Verlander, Rodon and Manaea. Def resign Diaz #1, than Ottavino and T. Williams. Sign Trea Turner, let McNeil play LF, if a good deal resign Nimmo and sign a DH (Abreu/JD Mart/ Josh Bell).
Nimmo, Turner, Lindor, Alonso, Abreu, McNeil, Marte, Baty and Alvarez with Escobar, Canha, Guillorme, Nido as backups
Rotation: Scherzer, Verlander, Rodon, Carrasco and Manaea
Manaea can’t pitch outside of Oakland.
I don’t know, but there’s an argument for pitching Verlander #1 in that rotation.
Just out of curiosity, what’s the price tag for all that?
If DeGrom signs with Atlanta, I can see the Mets going after Rondon, Taillon, Manaea, with Scherzer, Peterson and Megil filling out the rest. Personally I hope they don’t pursue Nimmo but rather look and see if a deal is out there for a player(s) whose FA/contract(s) are coming up and those teams cannot afford them. Nimmo isn’t a piece that’s going to put them over. And while Turner would be attractive and a piece I’d pursue heavily, I believe he’s also looking to be closer to Florida as well. I’d put my money on Turner and let him play CF. Sign Abreau and I feel that’s a solid top 5 with a couple of kids on the backend that should eventually produce.
DeGrom is going to the highest bidder. Do you really think that will be the Braves?
In the 2017 ALCS, the Yankees scored 3 runs on 19 hits in four games in Houston. By contrast, they scored 19 runs on 25 hits in three games in NY.
I’m not defending the Astros nor am I pointing a finger at the Yankees, but the numbers may cause a reasonable person to ask questions.
The Astros home/roads splits, while not as bad as the Yankees in the 2017 ALCS, were skewed, as well.
Mets are going to end up replacing Bassit with Syndergaard and trading McCann to St Louis for Matz to replace Walker.
They won’t be better, but it will be nostalgic.