Winner Take All between Milwaukee Brewers and Washington Nationals
The Milwaukee Brewers and the Washington Nationals meet at Nationals Park on Tuesday night in the 2019 NL Wildcard Game. They will be fighting for their collective lives, as Major League Baseball has the asinine policy of a one-game “winner take all” setup. These teams fight for their collective MLB playoff lives over 162 games and then have their fate decided by one game. Milwaukee won the season series 4-2, but only one of those victories came in Washington.
TV: 8:08 p.m. ET, TBS; LINE: Nationals -168; O/U: 7.5 Under -115.
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Brandon Woodruff (11-3, 3.62 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Max Scherzer (11-7, 2.92)
The Brewers went on a tear in September despite missing their best player. They made a gallant run at the National League Central crown before settling for a wild card spot. The Brewers will see if some magic carried over to the postseason.
Milwaukee will send right-hander Brandon Woodruff to the mound. The BrewCrew had won 18 out of their last 20 games, and most of them, without reigning MVP Christian Yelich. They slipped past the Chicago Cubs and several others in pursuit of the second wild-card. The team dropped their final three games over the weekend and go into tonight as the underdog. “We’re going into a hostile environment, playing against a hot team with one of the best pitchers in the league,” Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun told reporters. “Certainly, it will be a challenge, but we’ve had our backs against the wall all month. We’ve been counted out many times. We kind of like being in that position.”
The Nationals recovered from a 19-31 start and ensured themselves the top wild card spot. They have some momentum heading into the postseason as well. They bring in an eight-game winning streak into the National League Wildcard game. The team hopes they can negate their biggest Achilles’ heel, the bullpen, in a one-game playoff by using starters in relief. “I feel fortunate to have Max Scherzer,” Washington manager Dave Martinez told reporters, referring to his Tuesday starter, “but also (Stephen) Strasburg and (Patrick) Corbin. All hands will be on deck.”
This, That, and a Dart Throw
Woodruff missed nearly two months with an oblique injury for the Brewers. He has made only two appearances since his return and threw four hitless innings. Woodruff posted a 1.46 ERA in four games (one start) in the 2018 postseason. He is not expected to go very deep into Tonight’s game. “It’s that time of year where you just get out there and get after it,” Woodruff told reporters. “It’s going to be a team effort. Obviously, I probably won’t be able to go six, seven innings, but I’ll be ready to go as long as I can until they take me out.”
Nationals ace Max Scherzer is fully recovered from back and shoulder issues that sent him to the injured list twice in the second half. He came back and racked up double-digit strikeouts in each of his last two outings. The former Cy Young Award winner struck out 10 and allowed one earned run over six innings in his lone start against Milwaukee this season. He is 4-5 with a 3.73 ERA in 16 career postseason games (13 starts). “Season’s on the line, I’ve pitched in these situations before, and it’s just crazy baseball,” Scherzer told reporters. “Intensity’s out of your mind. And you’ve got to go out there and be your best and just compete as hard as you can.”
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The Dart Throw: Rays 4, Yankees 3
2019 NL Wildcard Trends
Washington Nationals Trends
- Trend Over is 3-0-1 in Nationals last 4 games with the total set at 9.0-10.5. Hit % 100.00% (4) O/U 3|0 Push 1 W/L
- Under is 13-6-1 in Nationals last 20 games as a home underdog of +110 to +150. 68.40% (20) 6|13 1
- Over is 5-2 in Nationals last 7 home games with the total set at 7.0-8.5. 71.40% (7) 5|2 0
- Over is 18-7-1 in Nationals last 26 games a home underdog of +151 to +200. 72.00% (26) 18|7 1
Milwaukee Brewers Trends
- Trend Over is 5-2 in Brewers last 7 games with the total set at 9.0-10.5. Hit % 71.40% (7) O/U 3|0 Push 1 W/L
- Under is 5-0-1 in Brewers last 6 games with the total set at 7.0-8.5. 100.00% (6) 0|5 1
- Under is 5-2 in Brewers last 7 road games with the total set at 6.5 or lower. 71.40% (7) 2|5 0
- Under is 4-0-1 in Brewers last 5 games as a road favorite of -151 to -200. 100.00% (5) 0|4 1
Brewers vs Nationals Meetings Trends
- Trend Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Washington. Hit % 80.00% (5) O/U 4|1 Push 0 W/L
- Over is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings. 75.00% (8) 6|2 0
- Brewers are 5-2 in the last 7 meetings. 71.40% (7) 0 5|2
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