(09-20-2016 10:09 AM)Seahawk Nation 08 Wrote:  

(09-20-2016 07:32 AM)bricksnivy Wrote:  Nation, looks like the Mets are in solid position to make the WC. Assuming they hold on and make the playoffs, how is the rotation setting up for the playoffs? Thor as the WC starter, I assume; how does the rotation look after him? Thoughts on the potential matchup with Chicago?

Naturally, we'd prefer to avoid having to face the Giants in the WC game. Even with Thor on the mound, a potential matchup with Madison Bumgarner does not sound fun. Thus, I'm rooting for the Cardinals to be the other WC.

Beyond that, we have no DeGrom (elbow surgery) and of course no Harvey. Steven Matz will be back soon from the 15-day DL to be the # 2. Then we have Bartolo, and a mixture of guys like rookie Gabriel Ynoa, 26-year old Seth Lugo and 23-year old Robert Gsellman, who have actually all pitched fairly well. Granted, it's been against a fairly weak schedule, and the playoffs are a different beast entirely.

We swept the Cubs last year on the back of our pitching, so even with the injuries, it can't be ruled out that we can pull the upset again. But after using Thor for the WC game, that opens the door quite nicely for the Cubs, as our top 3 starters in the next round would be Matz, Colon, and either Thor on short rest or a youngster. Not exactly a murderer's row of starters like we had last year.

On a side note, it's kind of amazing that the only Mets starter NOT to get hurt over the course of this season has been 43-year old Bartolo. I love that beautiful, beautiful man.

Yeah, a 1-game playoff, facing Bumgarner is less than ideal. As a Cubs fan, I wouldn't mind seeing the Giants though. They have serious issues, and we could potentially only face Bugarner once in the series.

Honestly, St. Louis is the team that I fear the most. They don't have any starter that scares you, and their defense has been suspect, but man they're loaded offensively. Power throughout the lineup.

From Cubs perspective, they've been much more patient this year. Still strikeout higher than league average, but Zobrist is a huge addition in that respect. Fowler's pretty good contact guy as well, and Bryant and Russell are better hitters this season (plus Russell was hurt last year).