2018-09-25: Brewers (Gonzalez) at Cardinals (Gomber) 7:15 PM CDT [Brewers win, 12-4 -- Braun 2 HRs, Yelich for MVP of NL, AL, & Universe]

[Eye Black]

[pre]Brewers Lineup Cardinals Lineup

1. Lorenzo Cain ® CF 1. Matt Carpenter (L) 1B

2. Christian Yelich (L) RF 2. Jose Martinez ® RF

3. Jesús Aguilar ® 1B 3. Paul DeJong ® SS

4. Ryan Braun ® LF 4. Marcell Ozuna ® LF

5. Hernán Pérez ® SS 5. Jedd Gyorko ® 3B

6. Mike Moustakas (L) 3B 6. Yadier Molina ® C

7. Jonathan Schoop ® 2B 7. Harrison Bader ® CF

8. Manny Piña ® C 8. Kolten Wong (L) 2B

9. Gio Gonzalez ® P 9. Austin Gomber (L) P[/pre]

 

Link: Brewers Game Notes

[OldSchoolSnapper]

So, on paper this appears to be the most likely game we drop in the series. Paper can be worthless, but pulling this one off would obviously be big. They all are at this point.

 

We all want the sweep, but 2-1 is realistic, if the Cubs could go 1-2 T-TH, that'd leave us 1 back heading into the final series, with STL needing to fight for its life.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Brewers need Good Gio to show up tonight. I wouldn't say he's been a revelation for this pitching staff, but he's definitely been solid. I would think that we'll possibly see the "B" team of relievers tonight, including Barnes, Lyles and Woodruff. Jennings is obviously good to go, and Taylor Williams only threw 8 pitches last night, while Guerra only had 1, Cedeno 6, Burnes 9 and Soria 11. The pen should be in relatively good shape considering. Hader is probably down until Friday, and Peralta might be done for the year now. Hopefully Jeffress slept well and is good to go today or tomorrow.

[stoutdude04]

I'd rather see Anderson pitch.

[long ball]

JJ- unknown given the neck spasms

Hader- probably unavailable given the 27 pitches

Burnes- worked two days in a row. Probably unavailable

Peralta- obviously unavailable

Knebel- he's pitched two days in a row, but I think if they're in a position to need him late in the game they'll use him.

 

Everyone else is likely available based on recent workloads.

 

Gio vs a line up of almost all righties isn't super ideal. 4 innings + a couple from Woodruff might be the way to go to get the bulk of these innings

[bill hAll Star]

Yeah, this may be one where Woodruff needs to step up. Gio against basically all righties is not ideal as the last post noted.

[MDCrew]

I think if Gio can get us 5-6 range we could go with some combination of... Woodruff, Cedeno, Barnes, Knebel, Jeffress to finish the game.

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

I have to think Anderson gets a lot of work tonight. They see what Gio has, and then after (hopefully a solid) 3-4, it's the Chase show until the late innings. If Gio falters early, Chase comes in to try to keep the game within reach and give the Crew some length.

 

Edit: I mean, Woodruff makes sense too, but I'm wondering what they are holding Chase out for. I liked the call last night with a fresh bullpen. Tonight, I think having Anderson as a backup starter is the route I would take, especially with the BP a little taxed.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

I think if Gio can get us 5-6 range we could go with some combination of... Woodruff, Cedeno, Barnes, Knebel, Jeffress to finish the game.

 

I would guess Barnes will get an inning for sure tonight. He's surprisingly been very good against the Cardinals this year. I think Woodruff will be first up out of the pen regardless of how long Gio goes, unless it's 7 or more. I'd be completely happy with 5 solid out of Gio tonight, though. Don't tempt fate too much.

[YelichPosse]

Gio is going to toss a gem. Again making DS look like a genius.

 

Schoop will have the game winning homer in the top of the 8th.

 

Cubs will lose to the Pirates.

 

Things are about to get really interesting boys and girls. Really really interesting.

[adambr2]

My hunch is that unless Gio is especially sharp and efficient, the plan is tentatively that he gets removed shortly or immediately after the 2nd time he faces Carpenter.

 

Then Woodruff and/or Anderson for some time, with the sharper one getting more work.

[TURBO]

I am not asking for a lot of Gio, if he can go 4 good innings, I'll be happy. If he struggles early though, give him the hook.

 

Woodruff can get you 2 or 3 more. If those 2 can take us through 7, that is pretty decent.

 

No need to allow Gio to get into big trouble when we have Chase and Woodruff for long man relief.

[stoutdude04]

My hunch is that unless Gio is especially sharp and efficient, the plan is tentatively that he gets removed shortly or immediately after the 2nd time he faces Carpenter.

 

Then Woodruff and/or Anderson for some time, with the sharper one getting more work.

 

That plan seems pretty likely.

 

I don't think he will be especially sharp, but that's based on nothing.

[tmwiese55]

I don't know about you guys, but I know I'd feel more comfortable with Woodruff these days than Anderson. Hopefully 4-5 from Gio, 2 from Woodruff and then you're into the backend. Let's just have a great night from the offense and not sweat it, how about that.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

I don't know about you guys, but I know I'd feel more comfortable with Woodruff these days than Anderson. Hopefully 4-5 from Gio, 2 from Woodruff and then you're into the backend. Let's just have a great night from the offense and not sweat it, how about that.

 

I personally would love to see Matt Albers and Jordan Lyles pitch multiple innings tonight, because it would likely mean we are up by at least 6 runs.*

 

 

 

 

 

(*I refuse to acknowledge the other scenario that would lead to those two pitching multiple innings this evening.)

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Anderson's last few starts haven't been great and he's still averaging 4 1/3 and just over 1.5 runs. Something like that would be fine and he is easily capable of better. We need to hit the ball no matter who is pitching.

[coolhandluke121]

I have to think Anderson gets a lot of work tonight. They see what Gio has, and then after (hopefully a solid) 3-4, it's the Chase show until the late innings. If Gio falters early, Chase comes in to try to keep the game within reach and give the Crew some length.

 

Edit: I mean, Woodruff makes sense too, but I'm wondering what they are holding Chase out for. I liked the call last night with a fresh bullpen. Tonight, I think having Anderson as a backup starter is the route I would take, especially with the BP a little taxed.

 

I was asking about this in the Anderson thread. Gio can get a few innings, but he shouldn't hit. It depends a little on the Cardinals' lineup, but I would PH for Gio even if it's the top of the 2nd. Then Anderson and Woodruff are obvious choices for about 4 innings of relief, with neither of them hitting and with Jennings or Cedeno each facing Carpenter.

 

Anderson would still be available for a start against the Tigers, so I see no issue with this approach.

[tigerbrew]

Go Brewers! gotta win this game

[rcc]

Go Gio go! Another win tonight and we will stay happy.

[long ball]

Gio is going to toss a gem. Again making DS look like a genius.

 

Schoop will have the game winning homer in the top of the 8th.

 

Cubs will lose to the Pirates.

 

Things are about to get really interesting boys and girls. Really really interesting.

 

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^ This is what I'm talking about!

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

I have to think Anderson gets a lot of work tonight. They see what Gio has, and then after (hopefully a solid) 3-4, it's the Chase show until the late innings. If Gio falters early, Chase comes in to try to keep the game within reach and give the Crew some length.

 

Edit: I mean, Woodruff makes sense too, but I'm wondering what they are holding Chase out for. I liked the call last night with a fresh bullpen. Tonight, I think having Anderson as a backup starter is the route I would take, especially with the BP a little taxed.

 

I was asking about this in the Anderson thread. Gio can get a few innings, but he shouldn't hit. It depends a little on the Cardinals' lineup, but I would PH for Gio even if it's the top of the 2nd. Then Anderson and Woodruff are obvious choices for about 4 innings of relief, with neither of them hitting and with Jennings or Cedeno each facing Carpenter.

 

Anderson would still be available for a start against the Tigers, so I see no issue with this approach.

 

Plus, I think Chase is a guy you may want to carry in a potential one-game WC scenario, and it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to see how he does in a new role coming out of the pen. I like the plan to get as many offense-minded ABs as possible too.

 

From the other side of this, Gomber has been pretty all over the map lately. He's given up 3 runs to the Tigers, 7 to the Dodgers, and 1 to the Braves in his three Sept. starts. 21 hits and 7 walks in 14 innings. Only one Sept. homer given up, though, and only 3 total on the year. Granted, he's mostly pitched out of the pen, so we'll see. Hopefully, the Crew can put together good ABs and actual get the big, run-scoring hits tonight rather than depending on errors and misplays.

 

The bit of good news for me is that, for as much as the Cards announcers were talking (more like crowing) about Hader's availability after that blow-up sixth inning, the STL bullpen is pretty taxed too. Hicks has been unreliable, and though Martinez has brought consistency to the latter innings, there really isn't a shutdown guy out there. So, hang close, and you can get to that pen.

[istanbultaye]

Hader's pitch count was still <30 when he came out, wasn't it? He could probably be available for an inning on Wednesday if the situation was right.

[FVBrewerFan]

Carpenter vs Gio (career):

 

19 ABs, .316 OPS

[MrTPlush]

I wonder if they did the bullpen game partially because where it lined up on the schedule. The "bullpen day" will be up for it's next start on Saturday. Coincidently it will give all those player two days rest before the WC game. Food for thought I guess.

[jerichoholicninja]

Carpenter vs Gio (career):

 

19 ABs, .316 OPS

 

[sarcasm]So you're saying they're going to pull Gio after Carpenter's first AB?[/sarcasm]