NL Central Talk 2014

[Bombers]

Crunch time ...

Brewers @ Cardinals (3) , Brewers @ Pirates (3)

Red Sox @ Pirates (3) , Reds @ Cardinals (3)

Nationals @ Braves (3) , Mets @ Braves (3)

 

.500 keeps us in it (but puts us in a bad spot for the final week) ...

4-2 sets us up well.

2 - 4 - probably knocks us out.

5-1 flips us and the pirates.

[JohnBriggs12]

Anthony Rizzo returns for Cubs AFTER the Pirate series.

[fondybrewfan]

Who are we facing in the Cards series? Also anyway of knowing how the Pirates rotation will lineup later this week?

[Dead Simmons]

Who are we facing in the Cards series? Also anyway of knowing how the Pirates rotation will lineup later this week?

It's going to be Wainwright, Lynn and Shelby Miller. I don't know in what order. Miller has been the most effective of the three lately, but none of them have been shelled for a while.

 

FYI the two acquisitions, Lackey and Masterson have been sent to the pen. Lackey is in Matheny's doghouse for getting himself tossed in that game last week for arguing with the ump in the third inning of the game.

[Polish Falcons]

Pitching probables for rest of year are up on ESPN:

http://espn.go.com/mlb/schedule?date=20140915

 

STL 9/16-18

Tues: Peralta vs Lynn

Wed: Fiers vs Wainwright

Thurs: Lohse vs Miller

 

PIT 9/19-21

Fri: Gallardo vs Locke

Sat: Garza vs Volquez

Sun: Peralta vs Morton

 

CIN: 9/23-25

Tues: Fiers vs Cueto

Wed: Lohse vs tbd (possibly Corcino per Reds rotation)

Thurs: Gallardo vs Holmberg

 

CHI: 9/26-28

Fri: Doubrant vs Garza

Sat: Turner vs Peralta

Sun: Wood vs Fiers

[MDBrew]

The next 6 games are the key. They need to win to show they belong. If they flop here the rest won't really matter. It has been an exciting season now to show what they are made of.

[dlk9s]

They need to win to show they belong? They've shown they belong through the first 150 games of the season. They need to win now not show anyone anything, but to actually get into the playoffs.

[MDBrew]

I agree that they have, but when the pressure is on and against their rivals if they want to get in these are the teams they must defeat.

[fondybrewfan]

Not optimistic for the Cards series. Hopefully Pit loses a game or two against Boston so the inevitable 1-2 against STL doesn't put us too far behind. Those PIT matchups don't scare me at all and the only real tough pitcher after that is Cueto.

[torts]

I think thats mortons first start coming off the DL

[Dead Simmons]

The next 6 games are the key . They need to win to show they belong. If they flop here the rest won't really matter. It has been an exciting season now to show what they are made of.

You said a mouthful! I would say that going at least 4-2 is an absolute must. Who knows? Lohse and Gallardo could surprise everyone.

[dlk9s]

I agree that they have, but when the pressure is on and against their rivals if they want to get in these are the teams they must defeat.

Well, yeah, obviously.

[fondybrewfan]

If the Brewers can be within a game of a playoff spot heading into the last 6 games of the year against a struggling Cincy and beatable Cubs team I really like our chances. The Pirate series is going to be huge. The Red Sox better at least take one game.

[reillymcshane]

If the Brewers can be within a game of a playoff spot heading into the last 6 games of the year against a struggling Cincy and beatable Cubs team I really like our chances. The Pirate series is going to be huge. The Red Sox better at least take one game.

Sadly, the Red Sox seem to be in tank mode.

[Bombers]

If the Brewers can be within a game of a playoff spot heading into the last 6 games of the year against a struggling Cincy and beatable Cubs team I really like our chances. The Pirate series is going to be huge. The Red Sox better at least take one game.

Sadly, the Red Sox seem to be in tank mode.

Their best chance to win is tonight with Buchholz on the mound. Bad news is he is facing Liriano who has been great in the 2nd half. Tomorrow, the Sox throw out Brandon Workman who is downright horrendous. 10.95 ERA in his last 3 starts and is 1 - 9 on the season with a 5.27 ERA. He faces Cole who, since coming back in August has 4 quality starts in 5 outings. So umm, ya - hopefully Buchholz has a gem and we somehow beat Wainwright.

[bm1090]

The pitching matchups for this Cardinals series are not ideal but I really like the way it lines up for the following 3 series. We avoid Liriano and Cole in Pittsburgh. We run into Cueto but counter with Fiers. Then we avoid Arietta and Hendricks in Chicago .

[Dead Simmons]

If the Brewers can be within a game of a playoff spot heading into the last 6 games of the year against a struggling Cincy and beatable Cubs team I really like our chances. The Pirate series is going to be huge. The Red Sox better at least take one game.

Yep. The Pirates are 8-2 last 10 while Atlanta has dropped 5 straight. The Giants were doing fine until they ran into the Dodgers. Another loss tonight by the Cardinals and Giants will make this thing very interesting.

 

As to the Sox beating the Bucs....it could happen.

[Dead Simmons]

Cincinnati Reds

 

Kris Negron, SS

Ramon Santiago, 3B

Yorman Rodriguez, CF

Ryan Ludwick, LF

Donald Lutz, RF

Jack Hannahan, 1B

Jake Elmore, 2B

Tucker Barnhart, C

 

That's the lineup that Price ran out there yesterday to face the Cubs. No Bruce, Hamilton, Morasco or Phillips. (Frazier and Votto laid up I think) Just a complete tank job.

 

I'm not familiar enough with the Red Sox, so I wonder if they're doing the same thing vs. the Pirates? Those lop-sided scores indicate YES.

[fondybrewfan]

Well we probably need to sweep the Pirates now. At least we don't have to go through Liriano and Cole.

[torts]

Well we probably need to sweep the Pirates now. At least we don't have to go through Liriano and Cole.

 

nope, instead we have to face Morton, Volquez and Locke... fingers crossed we can figure out how to hit volquez/Locke this weekend and just destroy Morton. nothing would bring more joy this weekend than sweeping the pirates.

[dlk9s]

Well we probably need to sweep the Pirates now. At least we don't have to go through Liriano and Cole.

Change "probably" to definitely. Sweep and we have a good chance to make the playoffs, though we still need help since that half game is a Brewers loss. Simply win the series and we're probably dead, but I suppose stranger things have happened.