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It all comes down to this. Game 163. Washington’s Nationals and Milwaukee’s Brewers battle for the right to move on and face the Los Angeles Dodgers. It all starts at 8:08 PM EDT. Have fun. Be safe. Make good choices. Go read your links...
NATS BEAT:
Wild Card Mania:
Max Scherzer’s fire, as seen by his catchers through the years - (WaPost)
“'How much do you really know Max?' the Miami Marlins catcher asked, grinning, because that’s a complex question when discussing one of the best pitchers of his generation."
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) October 1, 2019
Eaton's plan for wild card success: "Turn it down" - (MASN)
"This is a problem that previous Nats teams have fallen into. In the postseason they’ve faced the best pitching in the league, and hits and on-base opportunities were greatly minimized."
After the grind of 162, season comes down to one game - (MASN)
"Point is, after 162 games we know who’s legitimately good and who isn’t. If you reach the postseason in baseball, you earned it."
With a playoff history full of nightmares, the Nats enter this year eyes wide open - (WaPost)
"Let’s do a little exercise, then, which could be read as some exorcising instead. Zimmerman and Stephen Strasburg are the only Nationals players or coaches who have witnessed, up close and personal, how horrifying a coin-toss game can be."
Soto's and Robles' all-around play takes center stage in postseason - (MASN)
"From the numbers the pair have put up at the plate - combining for 65 doubles, 51 homers and 175 RBIs - it’s important that they can be a factor on offense in the postseason."
Dave Martinez and the power of 1-0 - (Washington Times)
"That one-day-at-a-time approach has brought Martinez and his Nationals, after a rocky season start, to Tuesday night’s winner-take-all wild card game at Nationals Park with the Milwaukee Brewers."
Nationals, Brewers lay out wild-card game plans for pitchers - (WaPost)
"The contrasting philosophies on display for the one-game playoff reflect the heart of these organizations."
Metro to run extra trains for Mystics and Nationals games - (WTOP)
"Washington sports fans can rely on Metro to get to and from the Mystics and the Nationals games on Tuesday night."
Metro wants Nationals, Mystics fans to take the train to the game tomorrow -- so here's a statement regarding Metro's plans for late service, should it be necessary: https://t.co/sc4RG9Xwah#wmata #Nationals #Mystics pic.twitter.com/ZsJOBWdXyE
— Metro (@wmata) September 30, 2019
Nationals are rolling into the playoffs, and we might need a bigger bandwagon - (WaPost)
"According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Nats’ 93 wins are the most for a team that was 12 games under .500 at any point during a season since the 1914 Boston Braves finished 94-59 after being 28-40."
For those of us who have been fortunate enough to have a life behind the microphone calling Major League Baseball, I received this message reminding me how our love of the game on the radio began. 1/6
— Charlie Slowes (@CharlieSlowes) October 1, 2019
Anthony Rendon Chatter:
Nationals offer Anthony Rendon seven-year deal worth $210 million-$215 million - (WaPost)
"The Washington Nationals have offered third baseman Anthony Rendon a seven-year contract in the range of $210 million to $215 million, according to multiple people with knowledge of the proposal."
Some back-of-the-envelope math:
— Neil Greenberg (@ngreenberg) September 30, 2019
If Nats offer Rendon $210 million over seven years with $110 million due over the first seven years and $100 due over the next seven it’s as if they offered him a deal valued at ~$170 million in today’s dollars.
Rizzo on Rendon, 'He's one of the best players that nobody knows about' - (NBC Sports Washington)
"Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo talks about third baseman Anthony Rendon and his unrecognized contributions both on and off the field."
NATIONAL(S) BEAT:
NL Wild-Card Preview: Keys to Milwaukee Brewers–Washington Nationals - (The Ringer)
"For the Washington Nationals and Milwaukee Brewers, the season comes down to a one-night engagement in D.C. on Tuesday."
The Patrick Corbin Signing Made the Difference for Washington - (Fangraphs)
"With one full season in the books, it’s clear that Corbin has come to Washington exactly as advertised."
.@Plakata and Hall of Famer Jim Thome take a look at the #Nationals strengths and weaknesses as the #Postseason begins! pic.twitter.com/LCNDOuTvwI
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) October 1, 2019
Next hero up: Each postseason team's X-factor - (MLB.com)
"Nationals: Howie Kendrick, UTIL: His .344 batting average was the highest on the Nats (min. 300 PAs), and only Anthony Rendon had a higher OPS+."
Nationals in search of elusive MLB playoffs win this October - (SI.com)
"And if you want to know how Martinez steered this team through early storms into the postseason port, you have to know how he handled a hidden predicament Sept. 6."
Nationals attendance drops nearly 12% - (Washington Business Journal)
"The Washington Nationals saw attendance fall this season to its lowest total since 2011 — a sizable drop for a club that rebounded on the field in a big way."
Brewers' injured Lorenzo Cain hopes to play in NL wild card game - (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)
"It takes a lot to get Lorenzo Cain out of the lineup. A lot. But he couldn’t say Monday if he would be in the Milwaukee Brewers’ lineup Tuesday night for the National League wild-card game against the Washington Nationals."