Quick notes on the playoff rotation, today's lineup, who makes October roster
By Byron Kerr
The Nationals are the 2014 National League East division champions. Tonight, it's likely that manager Matt Williams will give several regulars the day off. The Braves had scheduled right-hander Alex Wood.
Here's a possible starting scenario for the Nationals tonight:
Starting pitcher - right-hander Blake Treinen
Catcher - Sandy Leon
First base - Tyler Moore
Second base - Asdrubal Cabrera
Shortstop - Danny Espinosa
Third base - Kevin Frandsen
Left field - Scott Hairston
Center field - Michael Taylor
Right field - Steven Souza Jr. or Nate Schierholtz
Here's the possible starting rotation for the first playoff series if the Nationals have home-field advantage:
Game 1 at home - Stephen Strasburg
Game 2 at home - Jordan Zimmermann
Game 3 on road - Gio Gonzalez
Game 4 on road - Doug Fister
Game 5 at home (if necessary) - Strasburg
It makes sense to place Tanner Roark in the bullpen as the team goes to a four-man rotation for the first round of the postseason. Roark can be a long man in the bullpen and an emergency starter.
Is it possible that reliever Rafael Soriano and infielder Danny Espinosa are battling for one spot?
Speculating on the 25-man playoff roster and also that third baseman Ryan Zimmerman returns healthy from his hamstring strain, the Nationals can go with 13 pitchers and keep Soriano on the active roster. It would appear in that scenario that Espinosa would not make the playoff roster. Asdrubal Cabrera is also a switch-hitter, and can play several infield positions. He also has been a starter for his entire tenure since the Nationals acquired him from the Indians.
The Nationals might not want to leave their $14 million (former) closer on the outside looking in, despite Soriano's recent struggles. Soriano was brought in after the 2012 playoff loss at a serious premium. General manager Mike Rizzo would want to see this through and see what a veteran like Soriano can do in the postseason. Soriano has a couple of weeks to continue to work on improving the movement on his slider.
But it's a big couple of weeks. If Soriano can't get right, Rizzo has a big decision to make. He doesn't want to repeat 2012 and not have the back end of the bullpen lethal and confident in October.
And what if Zimmerman isn't right?
If he isn't completely healthy for the postseason, Espinosa's versatility becomes a strength. He could make the the postseason roster and Soriano could be dropped. The Nationals don't want to go eight strong innings with a lead and all that work left on the field only for it to all evaporate when Soriano can't get anyone out.
It makes sense to place Tanner Roark in the bullpen as the team goes to a four-man rotation for the first round of the postseason. Roark can be a long man in the bullpen and an emergency starter.
Is it possible that reliever Rafael Soriano and infielder Danny Espinosa are battling for one spot?
Speculating on the 25-man playoff roster and also that third baseman Ryan Zimmerman returns healthy from his hamstring strain, the Nationals can go with 13 pitchers and keep Soriano on the active roster. It would appear in that scenario that Espinosa would not make the playoff roster. Asdrubal Cabrera is also a switch-hitter, and can play several infield positions. He also has been a starter for his entire tenure since the Nationals acquired him from the Indians.
The Nationals might not want to leave their $14 million (former) closer on the outside looking in, despite Soriano's recent struggles. Soriano was brought in after the 2012 playoff loss at a serious premium. General manager Mike Rizzo would want to see this through and see what a veteran like Soriano can do in the postseason. Soriano has a couple of weeks to continue to work on improving the movement on his slider.
But it's a big couple of weeks. If Soriano can't get right, Rizzo has a big decision to make. He doesn't want to repeat 2012 and not have the back end of the bullpen lethal and confident in October.
And what if Zimmerman isn't right?
If he isn't completely healthy for the postseason, Espinosa's versatility becomes a strength. He could make the the postseason roster and Soriano could be dropped. The Nationals don't want to go eight strong innings with a lead and all that work left on the field only for it to all evaporate when Soriano can't get anyone out.
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