GETTING PAST THE NLDS
Of the 45 scheduled innings during this year’s five-game loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the four Washington starters pitched 23.1 innings. Slightly more than half. If it makes you feel better, the Dodgers got 22.1 from their three including Clayton Kershaw.
Yes, all playoff games except in rare occasions are bullpen games now. Outside of Max Scherzer’s two starts Roark, Gonzalez and Ross pitched 11 innings in three starts. Somehow, the bullpen pulled two wins out of that mess but burnt by the time Scherzer pitched Game 5.
Sure, Strasburg probably lasts longer and Roark will not be as nervous his next time around. Watching Roark overthrow in Game 2 was painful. That is playoff baseball, all the pressure of a football game in a sport designed to be a marathon.
If the front office thinks getting into the sixth inning by another starter aside from Scherzer gets them into the NL Championship Series, they need to do it. Washington will be competitive for the near future as there is too much talent. They, however, need to win a series.
Although there are no guarantees come October, recognizing their rotation was weak is a huge step moving forward.