Medlen

If Minor can't go a first inning without giving up a run or runs, I do not want him pitching against Kershaw. That's why winning game 3 is so important. Then you could start Garcia on a short leash in game 4.
 
Medlen actually pitched really well in the play-in game last year. If not for the error he would have gone 6+ innings giving up only 2 runs and would have exited with the lead. Now his bad start does make me weary of bringing him back on short rest though. I am really leaning towards Garcia for 5 innings then Medlen for 2 innings to get thru 7 for game 4. I know thats not the sexy option but he has pitched very well in his 3 starts with solid peripheral stats.

No, he wasn't bad, but he could have been better when we really needed it. Some pitchers seem to have that ability to rise to the occasion and get it done with the game on the line.
 
If Minor can't go a first inning without giving up a run or runs, I do not want him pitching against Kershaw. That's why winning game 3 is so important. Then you could start Garcia on a short leash in game 4.

Medlen gave up 5 earned runs in 4 innings, how exactly is that better than giving up ONE run in the first inning?
 
Medlen gave up 5 earned runs in 4 innings, how exactly is that better than giving up ONE run in the first inning?

It was one start. Medlen was close to being our MVP in my book for the second half after Hudson went down. Minor has settled down in pretty much all of his most recent starts to his credit, but you can only fall behind 1-0, 2-0 so many times.
 
Medlen actually pitched really well in the play-in game last year. If not for the error he would have gone 6+ innings giving up only 2 runs and would have exited with the lead. Now his bad start does make me weary of bringing him back on short rest though. I am really leaning towards Garcia for 5 innings then Medlen for 2 innings to get thru 7 for game 4. I know thats not the sexy option but he has pitched very well in his 3 starts with solid peripheral stats.

Or Garcia for 5, then Tony La Russa the bullpen the rest of the game.
 
I dont really trust the pen all too much right now outside of Kimbrel. Thats why I want to use Medlen to bring the gap from Garcia to Kimbrel. Garcia for 5, Medlen 1 maybe 2 innings then Tony La Russa the pen till you get to Kimbrel. I would actually use Kimbrel 2 full innings but I know Fredi wont do it.
 
To me the pen has looked really good. The homer Hanley hit off Carpenter was a freakish thing and Carpenter deserves a lot of credit for coming back and striking out Gonzalez and Puig.

Walden gave up a run in game 1, and isn't back to his old self. But the rest of the pen has pitched extremely well in the first two games.
 
It was one start. Medlen was close to being our MVP in my book for the second half after Hudson went down. Minor has settled down in pretty much all of his most recent starts to his credit, but you can only fall behind 1-0, 2-0 so many times.

We were down 2-0 in the 2nd and 4-0 in the third, but being down 1-0 after the first is somehow worse? I'll take a pitcher who give up 1 or 2 runs early and settles down any day over someone who gives up 3+ runs.
 
I think it is a slam dunk. Your options are

#1 - Medlen starts game 4 on short rest and Minor starts game 5 with Garcia available out of the pen
#2 - Garcia starts game 4 and Minor game 5 with Medlen available out of the pen for both
#3 - Garcia starts game 4 and Medlen game 5 with Minor who keeps allowing runs the first inning available out of the pen

#1 and #2 is debatable. #3 is just a bad idea.
 
If we're up 2-1, Garcia will start game 4, I'm pretty sure of that. If we're down 2-1, Medlen needs to start. The good thing about Minor starting game 5 is with this year's schedule, he'll be on normal four-day rest.
 
Again, Medlen was incredible the second half. I don't think it's a slam dunk you take Minor over him in Game 5.

I don't think it's a slam dunk either, they're both close. I'd rather see Medlen in game 4 and Minor in game 5.

I can't remember exactly what happened in the wildcard game, but didn't Medlen fail to hold the Cards after the error? Game one he gave up 2 runs in innings 2 and 3. Yes, you can blame bad defense, but in the end, the pitcher gave up the runs. Minor gave up a run in the first, and nothing after that. He got into trouble too, but pitched his way out of it. That's the kind of pitcher I want starting a win or go home game against a pitcher like Kershaw.
 
It is amusing how much predictive power some around here ascribe to one start by Minor and one start by Medlen.

smh
 
I like Medlen a lot but Minor is arguably just as good if not better. If I have to choose between them I go with the one that had the better start.
 
I really wish we had Hudson so this wouldn't be an issue.

and id rather go with a 3 man rotation and have Medlen pitch game 4 and Minor game 5 than give Freddy freaking Garcia a playoff start

even if Garcia pitches game 4, if there is a game 5 Minor sure as hell better start it.
 
I like giving Medlen another chance vs Kershaw. He'll want to redeem himself and his been pitching well. He was just too amped up.
 
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