Thursday, May 18, 2023

Series Thread (Games 45-48): May 18-21 @ Cardinals

Thu 18 4.45p: Julio Urias vs. Wainwright
Fri 19 5.15p: Tony Gonsolin vs. Metz
Sat 20 4.15p: Noah Syndergaard vs. Mikolas
Sun 21 11.15a: Clayton Kershaw vs. Flaherty

Prior to Opening Day, everyone picked the Cardinals to win the NL Central (to be fair, that "everyone" also chose the Padres over the Dodgers in the NL West). And the Cardinals still might.

But their 17-26 record is curently worst in the National League, and they've got issues. Local product Jack Flaherty is not the 2019 ace they need him to be in 2023 (though he did come to life last start with 10 Ks). Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol doesn't like Tyler O'Neill's lack of hustle on the basepaths.

And by going 8-2 over the last 10, while the Pirates have falle back to earth and the Brewers scuffle around, the Cardinals are only 6.5 games out (the smallest distance to first place for all six MLB divisions).

Meanwhile, the Dodgers have won their last six series including going 5-1 at home this past week, the lone blemish being a rare loss for the bereaved Clayton Kershaw, for his first home loss since June 2021. But wait, there's more: in Wednesday's 7-3 victory over the Twins, we may have lost Dustin May for what's being called "at least a month," but will probably be a lot more. It's a flexor pronator strain, which in layman's terms is really fucking bad.

May's slot in the rotation isn't due for this four-game series in St. Louis, but everyone else's is. So here we go: a hot start to May, precariously set up for a let down. Sounds like a house of cards, no? Or at least a visit to one? Sigh.

19 comments:

Steve Sax said...

Late with the lineup! We're already up 2-0 on the JD Martinez double, top 1

Betts RF
Freeman 1B
Smith C
Muncy 3B
Martinez DH
Vargas 2B
Outman CF
Peralta LF
Rojas SS

P Urias

QuadSevens said...

Home Run Derby came early this year! Freeman with a grand slam and Muncy with a solo bomb to get the Dodgers to within one. 9-8 birds.

QuadSevens said...

The Cards have hit 5 bombs.

Steve Sax said...

Geez, Almonte.

Steve Sax said...

Well we used to be close. Oh well

QuadSevens said...

That went south fast.

Steve Sax said...

Game 2

Chris Taylor Ks with Martinez on second.

Chris Taylor is now batting .183.

Steve Sax said...

And, CT3 comes through with a two-out double, to put the Dodgers ahead 1-0.

Steve Sax said...

We're winning 1-0, but we are 2-for-14 with RISP tonight. That is awful.

Steve Sax said...

Two-out three-run HR by MOOKIE BETTS!!!

Steve Sax said...

4-0 LA, T8

Steve Sax said...

Smith pokes one to right, to score Freeman (who doubled after Mookie's HR).

5-0 LA

Steve Sax said...

Going to the ninth, Dodgers up 5-0

Steve Sax said...

WIN

Fourth shutout of the season!

Steve Sax said...

Game 3

Betts RF
Freeman 1B
Martinez DH
Muncy 3B
Vargas 2B
Peralta LF
Heyward CF
Taylor SS
Barnes C

Syndergaard P

Steve Sax said...

Oh man, no Smith and no Outman. That's not good.

Steve Sax said...

And, we have no offense. What a surprise.

Steve Sax said...

We are losing 3-0

Steve Sax said...

Dammit. Victor’s luck ran out.