Wainwright shows why he’s an “Ace.” Photo: talksportsphilly.com
As much as it pained me and most sentimental baseball fans, I called St. Louis’ NLDS game five victory last night. Gerrit Cole pitched well, but nothing beats a complete game shutdown performance from an Ace like Adam Wainwright. The Cards continue to get clutch hitting when they need it and remain a difficult out. I honestly wanted the Cardinals to lose as penance for putting Shelby Miller in the bullpen, so that I could use the same line that others have used against the Nats for an entire year. But the Cards gutted out wins in two straight elimination games and now get LA in the NLCS.
With last night’s correct prediction, I’m now 14 for 18 now in per-game predictions this post-season. Lets put it on the line for another pretty tough game to predict.
ALDS Game 5: Detroit at Oakland. Verlander versus Gray. A rematch of game 2’s starters.
Verlander just destroyed Oakland in Game 2; 7 innings, 4 hits, 11 K’s. No real reason not to think that may happen again. His big problem was pitch count; he was at 117 pitches through 7 because Oakland sees a ton of pitches. Billy Beane in action, Oakland walks at the 3rd highest rate in the game. But, Gray was better; going 8 shutout innings and allowing just 5 baserunners. Gray was more efficient and probably could have gone another inning; instead Bob Melvin brought on his closer in a tie game late and was rewarded with a bottom of the 9th walk-off win….
Quick Tangent: see Fredi Gonzalez; isn’t it nice when you use your best reliever to help win games, instead of managing to the stupid save category and watching a lesser reliever give up the game-winning bomb while Kimbrel sits in the bullpen with his hands on his hips?? You deserved to lose that game, and its karmic that the Braves are now out after all the whining, the showmanship, and the beanball wars they brought on the league this year.
Anyway. On tonight’s game something tells me the A’s are going to get to Verlander slightly more than the Tigers get to Gray. Oakland’s bullpen is in tatters, but Detroit’s isn’t much better. If Gray can hand the ball directly to Balfour again, and if Oakland can squeeze Verlander out of the game after 7 innings again … I think Oakland hangs on for the win.