2020 Playoff Push

[Tom Servo]

Cards lost game one, and are losing game two. If the Reds hold on to sweeping the Pirates tonight, that would put them half a game behind the Cards.

Cardinals won the second game, the Brewers with just a pathetic effort there.

[adkindo]

11 games remaining - 09/14/2020
NL Central 1st - -5.5 Games
NL Central 2nd - -1.5 Games
NL Final Playoff slot - -1.0 Games

Cardinals come back and get the win in xtra innings of Game #2. We move into 3rd place in front of the Brewers and 1.5 games behind the Cardinals for 2nd place in the NL. We are only 1 game behind the Giants for the final NL Wildcard.

[Reds Freak]

I'm not letting myself get too excited. This team hasn't shown the ability to string together wins this year. The Reds matched their longest winning streak of the year tonight with three straight. That ain't gonna cut it when you're trying to dig outta the hole. Always nice to beat the Cards and the Pirates but seemed to me more due to sloppy play by opponents than anything different Reds have done.

[Kc61]

I'm not letting myself get too excited. This team hasn't shown the ability to string together wins this year. The Reds matched their longest winning streak of the year tonight with three straight. That ain't gonna cut it when you're trying to dig outta the hole. Always nice to beat the Cards and the Pirates but seemed to me more due to sloppy play by opponents than anything different Reds have done.

But Reds have two advantages.

They play 8 of 11 at home.

Cards and Brewers have 8 games head to head.

[Reds Freak]

But Reds have two advantages.

They play 8 of 11 at home.

Cards and Brewers have 8 games head to head.

Haha stop trying to pull me back in!

I'd say 7-4 the rest of the way gets them in. It sure'd be nice to have a healthy Sonny Gray starting three of those games.

[jup]

That Bauer determination displayed on the mound over the last few starts is starting to rub off on the team behind him.

They have just looked like a different team in the last week. That guy is just a winner through and through.

[Reds Freak]

Are we assuming no Gray the rest of the way? Gotta find a way to get as many starts out of Bauer and Castillo as possible. How's this look? Obviously scrap all the short rests if they fall out of it.

9/15 vs. Pit - Lorenzen
9/16 vs. Pit - Castillo
9/18 vs. CWS - Mahle
9/19 vs. CWS - Bauer
9/20 vs. CWS - Disco
9/21 vs. Mil - Castillo
9/22 vs. Mil - Lorenzen (or Mahle on short rest)
9/23 vs. Mil - Bauer on short rest
9/25 @ Min - Disco
9/26 @ Min - Castillo
9/27 @ Min - Bauer on short rest

[Tom Servo]

That Bauer determination displayed on the mound over the last few starts is starting to rub off on the team behind him.

They have just looked like a different team in the last week. That guy is just a winner through and through.

Laying it on a little thick lol

[jup]

Laying it on a little thick lol

Seen it before, whether it is thick or not, seems to be something that follows him around. Followed him since HS out here in SoCal on the recruiting trail for UCLA. Saw it in college and into the pros, so say what you want, but it is just a straight up observation

[757690]

But Reds have two advantages.

They play 8 of 11 at home.

Cards and Brewers have 8 games head to head.

Disadvantage: Six of the eleven are against the White Sox and Twins, two of the best teams in the majors right now, who are in a tight battle for the AL Central.

[jup]

Are we assuming no Gray the rest of the way? Gotta find a way to get as many starts out of Bauer and Castillo as possible. How's this look? Obviously scrap all the short rests if they fall out of it.

9/15 vs. Pit - Lorenzen
9/16 vs. Pit - Castillo
9/18 vs. CWS - Mahle
9/19 vs. CWS - Bauer
9/20 vs. CWS - Disco
9/21 vs. Mil - Castillo
9/22 vs. Mil - Lorenzen (or Mahle on short rest)
9/23 vs. Mil - Bauer on short rest
9/25 @ Min - Disco
9/26 @ Min - Castillo
9/27 @ Min - Bauer on short rest

You push Mahle to the first start against the Twins on the 25th and fill on the 22nd with Lorenz, Antone or Disco. No reason to have him go on short rest if you aren't going to get but one start out of him anyway. And if you are still in it, the tougher team between the Brewers and the Twins will be the Twins, so start the lesser guys against the Brewers.

The Twins are locked in a fierce battle for the AL central and have been playing with their backs against the wall for a week or so already. That team will be playoff tested and tough come that last weekend. The Reds have to win all their games at this point, so no reason to risk Mahle's health starting him on short rest when you aren't going to get an extra start out of him anyway.

9/22 vs. Mil - Lorenzen, or whomever didn't pitch on the 20th between Antone and Disco
9/23 vs. Mil - Bauer on short rest
9/25 @ Min - Mahle

[Kc61]

Disadvantage: Six of the eleven are against the White Sox and Twins, two of the best teams in the majors right now, who are in a tight battle for the AL Central.

Absolutely, yes. And Reds still need 7-4 finish for .500, assuming that gets them in.

Probably will need help to make it, as of now need to overtake Cards and/or SF Giants to gain playoff position so root against them.

[Kc61]

You push Mahle to the first start against the Twins on the 25th and fill on the 22nd with Lorenz, Antone or Disco. No reason to have him go on short rest if you aren't going to get but one start out of him anyway. And if you are still in it, the tougher team between the Brewers and the Twins will be the Twins, so start the lesser guys against the Brewers.

The Twins are locked in a fierce battle for the AL central and have been playing with their backs against the wall for a week or so already. That team will be playoff tested and tough come that last weekend. The Reds have to win all their games at this point, so no reason to risk Mahle's health starting him on short rest when you aren't going to get an extra start out of him anyway.

9/22 vs. Mil - Lorenzen, or whomever didn't pitch on the 20th between Antone and Disco
9/23 vs. Mil - Bauer on short rest
9/25 @ Min - Mahle

Disco starts should be in combo with Antone. Disco hasn’t made it through 5 innings in his last 5 starts. If he’s to start games now, should be with a short leash and Antone warming up.

If Lorenzen pitches well tonight he could pitch on the 20th instead of Disco, with full four days’ rest. That would eliminate one Disco start if they are so inclined. Only would use him once more in that scenario.

Ideal would be Gray returning for the last series so Sonny, Luis, and Trevor throw against Minnesota. Even if Sonny is limited to 4-5 innings. Mahle should be available to back him up.

[Old school 1983]

Disadvantage: Six of the eleven are against the White Sox and Twins, two of the best teams in the majors right now, who are in a tight battle for the AL Central.

The flip side of that is, both of those teams are likely in. Minnesota May know it’s fate by the time they play the Reds and might be in rest guys for the playoffs mode.

[TheBigLebowski]

T-Bone is going to be punished violently at GABP facing two of the best hitting teams in the league. Baseballs will drop into the Ohio like East India teabags into Griffin's Wharf.